Android Central: January 2017

Tuesday, January 31, 2017

OnePlus 3 vs. OnePlus 3T: Which phone should you buy in India?

Unable to decide between the OnePlus 3 and the newer OnePlus 3T? We're here to help.

OnePlus moved away from its usual summer release window last year by unveiling the OnePlus 3T in November — five months after the launch of the OnePlus 3. The OnePlus 3T is a mid-cycle refresh, offering a slightly faster SoC, 128GB storage option, larger battery, and a new front camera, accompanied by a minor price bump to the tune of $40.

OnePlus has since discontinued the older OnePlus 3 in most markets, and is now selling just the 3T. However, that isn't the case in India, where both the OnePlus 3 and 3T are up for sale on Amazon, OnePlus' exclusive sales partner in the country.

The OnePlus 3 is available for its launch price of ₹27,999 ($410), with the newer OnePlus 3T debuting for ₹29,999 ($440). The OnePlus 3 is sold in Graphite and Soft Gold color options, and the OnePlus 3T is available in a Gunmetal variant along with the Soft Gold option. Below are the major differences.

Category	OnePlus 3T	OnePlus 3
Processor	Qualcomm Snapdragon 821 Quad-core 2.35 GHz Adreno 530 GPU	Qualcomm Snapdragon 820 Quad-core 2.2 GHz Adreno 530 GPU
Storage	64/128GB	64GB
Front Camera	16MP 3P8SP, 1-micron pixels f/2.0, fixed focus 1080p video	8MP IMX179, 1.4-micron pixels f/2.0, fixed focus 1080p video
Battery	3400 mAh Non-removable	3000 mAh Non-removable
Colors	Gunmetal Soft gold	Silver Soft gold
Price	$439 (64GB) $479 (128GB)	$399 (64GB)

Newer hardware, same software

Visually, the OnePlus 3T is identical to the OnePlus 3. The OnePlus 3 didn't break new ground with its minimalist aluminum design, but it set the bar for other mid-range phones thanks to its execution.

The craftsmanship and premium design made the OnePlus 3 stand out in this segment, and the same holds true for the OnePlus 3T. If anything, the gunmetal color option makes the phone look even more gorgeous.

Along with hardware similarities, both phones are on the same update cadence, and run the same version of OxygenOS. Both devices have picked up the Nougat update, and the user interface is clean and devoid of any bloat.

You do get a lot of customizability in the form of gestures, a system-wide dark mode, and other additions, but for the most part, OxygenOS is uncluttered and a lot of fun to use.

Similar camera, larger battery

The back camera is the same on both the OnePlus 3 and 3T, but it's the front camera where you'll notice a difference between the two devices. The OnePlus 3T has a 16MP sensor up front, an upgrade from the 8MP unit on the OnePlus 3. Photos from the rear camera are identical on both devices, and although the front camera is of a higher resolution on the OnePlus 3T, it doesn't lead to better photos.

OnePlus 3 on the left, OnePlus 3T on the right.

The 3400mAh battery on the OnePlus 3T is 13% larger than the 3000mAh unit on the OnePlus 3, and it makes a difference in day-to-day usage. There were times when the battery life on the OnePlus 3 was flaky, but the OnePlus 3T lasted a day consistently without fail.

In situations where you need to top up the phone quickly, you can turn to Dash Charge. OnePlus's proprietary charging tech is amazing, offering ridiculously-fast charging times. The only drawback is that you need to carry the OnePlus charger to use it.

Dash Charge offloads a bulk of the charging circuitry to the charger, and as a result you won't get lightning-quick charging speeds without it. That said, you can it to rejuvenate your other devices around the house, since it's backwards compatible with regular USB charging standards.

Which should you buy? OnePlus 3T

If you're looking to buy a OnePlus phone, it's an easy choice: just get the OnePlus 3T. The OnePlus 3 turned out to be one of the best mid-range phones of 2016, and the updates to the OnePlus 3T make it an even more compelling device.

For under ₹30,000, there isn't a handset available today that offers as much as the OnePlus 3T. The 128GB variant is costlier at ₹34,999, and if you're one to store a lot of media locally, the higher-storage variant is a better option considering the phone doesn't have a microSD slot. Either way, you're buying the best mid-range phone available in the market today.

See at Amazon

OnePlus 3T and OnePlus 3

OnePlus Amazon

from Android Central - Android Forums, News, Reviews, Help and Android Wallpapers http://ift.tt/2jUhsaw
via IFTTT

Samsung teases tablet on MWC 2017 event invite, announcement set for Feb 26

A tablet announcement is a lock for the end of February.

On the same day that we saw our first major spec leak of a purported Galaxy Tab S3, Samsung has sent out invites to its MWC 2017 event with a sneaky image of a tablet on it. The event will be held on February 26 at 7 p.m. in Barcelona, which translates to 1 p.m. in New York and 10 a.m. in San Francisco.

The image doesn't do much to give us an actual clue about the design of the tablet aside from what looks to be a standard Samsung physical home button. The earlier specs leak points to solid internals on par with a mid-2016 phone, which would be a great improvement over what we have in the current-gen Galaxy Tab S2

We'll be at the event, of course, covering whatever comes of it — though at this point we can expect to see at least one tablet, probably named the Galaxy Tab S3 unless Samsung wants to call an audible on us. The whole thing will be streamed over at Samsung's website.

from Android Central - Android Forums, News, Reviews, Help and Android Wallpapers http://ift.tt/2koXZiC
via IFTTT

RCS for T-Mobile subscribers could be here any day now

Users have reported seeing the RCS support option sprout up in Messenger for Google's settings panel.

T-mobile users, your text messaging prowess is about to get more rich — in the sense of Rich Communication Services, that is.

T-Mobile customers have mentioned on Reddit and Google Plus that they're seeing the RCS option pop up in the settings panel on the Messenger for Google app. But it's been difficult to parse whether RCS is ready on the network given the lack of confirmation that it's life. Other subscribers have suggested that with Digits in beta, the functionality is inevitable.

RCS as often been poised at the "SMS Killer," and that's partially true. The standard will essentially infuse your plain old text messaging app with the same powers as Apple's iMessage. Here's how my colleague, Jerry Hildenbrand, explained it:

Combined with FaceTime, iMessage already offers exactly the things RCS is trying to achieve. Voice and video calls are simple and messages are rich with great media sharing and read receipts and typing indicators and everything else. And it uses SMS in tandem with regular data to do it. It's the best SMS app you'll ever use until RCS becomes ubiquitous (if it ever does.)

Spring, T-Mobile, and AT&T were the three carriers who had initially signed on to the standard last year. But at present, only Sprint and Canada's Rogers has signed on. If T-Mobile is indeed ready to adopt, it'll be great news for RCS for the rest of us.

from Android Central - Android Forums, News, Reviews, Help and Android Wallpapers http://ift.tt/2kNRILr
via IFTTT

Google boosts Snapseed by adding a Curves tool and fixing Face detection

It's as if Google finally realized that a real photo-editing app has Curves.

blank

Snapseed is getting its first major update of the year. The photo-editing app, which Google purchased from Nik Software back in 2012, finally features a Curves tool, which helps provide precise control over the brightness levels and varying colors of the picture you're editing. And with smartphones becoming almost as capable as the some of DSLRs, this is a welcome feature for those who may not want to carry laptop with them just to edit photos on the road.

Google has also improved Snapseed's face detection feature. If Snapseed fails to detect a face, for instance, you can essentially ask it to "try harder." And if you're hoping to get a bit kooky with your captions, the Text tool now lets you choose where to wrap lines.

You can read all the details of the Snapseed update at the official Google Plus post on the matter. Or you can wait for the app update to hit your device.

from Android Central - Android Forums, News, Reviews, Help and Android Wallpapers http://ift.tt/2jshd7O
via IFTTT

Coin officially shutting down product support by end of next month

Coin will be shutting down product services and support as of February 28.

The end is nigh for Coin cards, secure smart payment devices that allow you to store information from up to eight credit, debit or gift cards onto one, digitally secured, wallet-sized card.

Coin had already begun shutting down all their business operations since Fitbit officially acquired the start up back in June of 2016. Now, just seven months after the sale, the company took to the company blog to officially announced that product service and support would be shutting down as of February 28th:

"Effective from February 28, 2017, the Coin product services will officially be shut down. As a result, support through the Coin website or through social media channels will no longer be available.

"If you have a working Coin device, it will continue to work for the duration of the device's battery life, which is two years from activation date. Please note that functionality will be reduced as a result of the February services shutdown.

For example, the Coin mobile app will no longer work once product services are shut down. Among other things, this means that you will not be able to add or change the cards that are stored on your Coin device."

If you're still using your Coin card, you will definitely want to make your final arrangements and shuffle around the cards you plan to be using before that drop dead date, as you will still be free to continue using your Coin cards at your favorite supported merchants until its internal battery finally bites the dust. However, if anything goes haywire after February 28th, you're officially out of luck.

Also worth noting is that, as of today's date (January 31), Coins will no longer be covered by or eligible for warranty exchanges.

Fitbit bought Coin for their compact use of NFC technology for secure in-store payments. While neither the Fitbit Flex 2 or Charge 2 featured NFC capabilities to allow you to pay for things with your fitness tracker, we should hopefully start to see the tech included in the next round of product updates — or perhaps in a brand new Fitbit-branded smartwatch?

from Android Central - Android Forums, News, Reviews, Help and Android Wallpapers http://ift.tt/2jS2JN4
via IFTTT

We're celebrating 10 years of CrackBerry here at AC!

THE RETURN OF CRACKBERRY KEVIN... ON AC?!

It's hard to believe that 10 years ago, Kevin Michaluk laced up his boots, walked to the local internet cafe and wrote Matrix levels of HTML to get CrackBerry.com up and running (that is what happened, right?).

Well, CrackBerry is still very much alive, and while its output has slowed with the changing nature of BlackBerry the company, it still has hundreds of thousands of diehard readers visiting every month.

'Mercury' is the perfect throwback to the halcyon days of QWERTY phones, but running the most powerful mobile OS on the planet.

Many of those readers now also visit Android Central on a regular basis after BlackBerry made the necessary changes to keep itself afloat, first with the Priv then the DTEK50 and DTEK60 — and soon, the 'Mercury'!

We're expecting the BlackBerry 'Mercury' to be fully unleashed at Mobile World Congress, almost 10 years to the day that CrackBerry.com opened its virtual doors, and to celebrate this momentous occasion, CrackBerry Kevin — yes, that Kevin — is coming out of retirement! You can expect him to be very active on CrackBerry, of course, but because 'Mercury' is an Android phone, AC wants to get involved, too. That means tons of coverage on the home page, through social media, and in the forums, going over every aspect of the brand new phone.

If you haven't checked it out already, we have a wicked hands-on review of the BlackBerry Mercury from CES earlier this year, and while we don't know everything about it, we know a few things.

First, that it's the perfect throwback to the halcyon days of QWERTY phones, this time running the most powerful mobile OS on the planet (sorry, BB10 lovers ❤️).

Second, it's getting all the fans excited for the renewed BlackBerry Mobile, which is now separate from BlackBerry the software company. Of course, the 'Mercury' will run BlackBerry's homegrown flavor of Android 7.0 Nougat, and we'll be here to dissect all the subtle changes and improvements over the already-great Marshmallow build.

From CrackBerry:

TEN YEARS is a HUGE milestone, and I want to make sure we celebrate 10 Years of CrackBerry this February in true CrackBerry fashion. To me, and to the many of you that weighed with ideas on how we should celebrate, that means bringing back the same crazy energy we had in our early years, both here on the "blogs" and within the CrackBerry and broader BlackBerry Community. Expect crazy giveaways, crazy podcasts, crazy videos, crazy confessions (untold stories of the years gone by), stories highlighting our amazing community members, and way, way, WAY more.

We're excited to share some of that love, and a few of those giveaways, here on AC! Because even though we operate independently, all the Mobile Nations channels work very closely to ensure that you get a 360-degree view of the mobile ecosystem. With BlackBerry Mobile exclusively releasing Android phones from here on out, look for AC and CB to work even more closely in the months and years ahead. To start, Kevin will be helping us out with some of the 'Mercury' coverage, and the rest of the AC team is looking forward to getting our hands on the phone when it is finally unleashed.

Better start exercising our thumbs again!

The Good 'Ole Days of CrackBerry Are Coming Back for our 10th Anniversary!

from Android Central - Android Forums, News, Reviews, Help and Android Wallpapers http://ift.tt/2jRWTLB
via IFTTT

How to replace Shield Android TV remote batteries

When your remote batteries finally die, swapping them out is a quick task.

NVIDIA redesigned its TV-style remote that comes with the new Shield Android TV so it's no longer rechargeable, but that's not necessarily a bad thing. In turn, you get a remote that gets one year of battery life with average use, meaning you don't have to think "is my remote charged?" when you go to turn on your TV.

But after a year of use — or perhaps a bit less if you use it a ton — you'll want to replace the integrated batteries. Thankfully it's a job that only takes a few minutes and will cost you just a couple of dollars once you know the right batteries to buy.

The batteries you'll need

Before you can replace the batteries in your remote, you'll need to buy new ones. The new Shield Remote requires coin cell batteries that you aren't guaranteed to find in your local drug store, but you can always find them online or at a specialty electronics store (if one still exists near you). The specific version you need is a CR 2032 3V battery, and you'll need two for your remote.

You can get a two pack for less than $2 on Amazon, so this is an extremely small investment. A reminder when buying batteries online is to check the expiration date if possible — some specialty batteries can often be old and not work very well.

How to replace them

To replace the batteries in your new Shield Remote, pick it up and look at the bottom for the little circular button in the middle — you'll press that to open the battery tray. You'll need to use a pretty small implement in order to press the button — I'd recommend a ballpoint pen or perhaps the tine of a small fork — but once you do it'll pop right out.

Pull the tray out and gently remove the two batteries. Make note of the direction the batteries sit in the tray — the lettering denoting the battery type will be facing you. Once you have them settled in their slots, slide the tray back in snugly and it'll click closed.

And that's it! You now have another year of use in your Shield Remote. It's that easy.

NVIDIA Shield Android TV

Amazon

from Android Central - Android Forums, News, Reviews, Help and Android Wallpapers http://ift.tt/2kNecvV
via IFTTT

Google has open-sourced Chrome for iOS

Welcome to the club, iOS.

After years of being completely separated from the rest of the Chromium project, Google has merged Chrome for iOS into the open-source repository it uses for Chrome on other platforms. The move comes with quite a bit of work on the backend as Apple's constraints on the iOS platform require Chrome for iOS to be built on WebKit rather than Google's own Blink rendering engine.

Thanks to a bunch of hard work, all of those hurdles have been overcome and there's a full upstream flow of the Chrome for iOS code into Chromium. Google says that development speed will also improve now that all of the tests done on Chrome for iOS will simply be part of the larger Chromium community.

If you're the sort of person who likes to check out the open-source code for massive projects like Chromium, you can do so now and see the inclusion of the iOS code as well. You can even compile the iOS version of Chromium on your own.

from Android Central - Android Forums, News, Reviews, Help and Android Wallpapers http://ift.tt/2kOrgVd
via IFTTT

Best Playstation 4 Bundle Deals for February 2017

Looking to pick up a PlayStation 4 for yourself or as a gift but don't want to pay full price for it? Here are some of the best bundles available right now!

Consoles are always going on sale, and there are always different deals that include games, controllers, and other accessories, but hunting them down isn't always the easiest thing. Whether you are looking for an original PlayStation 4, the refined PlayStation Slim, or the newest PlayStation Pro, we've got you covered on the best deals available.

If you aren't quite sure which console to be looking for deals on, be sure to check out our amazing comparison which breaks it all down for you.

PlayStation 4

Target offers the PS4 with Call of Duty: Infinite Warfare for $299

PlayStation 4 Slim

PlayStation 4 Pro

There are no current bundle deals for the PS4 Pro, but you can pick up the standard 1TB package for $399.

Amazon sells the PS4 Pro with a 1TB hard drive and a single controller for $399

Your favorite deals?

Have you found a great deal that isn't listed here? If so, be sure to drop a link in the comments along with a line about what makes it such an awesome deal!

from Android Central - Android Forums, News, Reviews, Help and Android Wallpapers http://ift.tt/2gxq29Z
via IFTTT

We have a free NVIDIA Shield Android TV for an Android Central reader!

The new NVIDIA Shield Android TV is awesome, so why not enter to win one to satisfy all of your entertainment needs?

The second iteration of the Shield Android TV is a proper successor that shows NVIDIA knows just how to iterate on this platform. In an Android TV space that still lacks a robust number of choices — and even fewer good choices — the Shield Android TV stands as the box to get if you want a no-compromise complete experience. When you buy a new Shield Android TV you're not just getting a simple little box that you'll plug in and then forget about a couple months in — you're getting as close to a full entertainment system in a single box as you can reasonably expect. Awesome! So now that you want one, let's give one away! Keep reading for the details!

THE PRIZE: One Android Central reader will be taking home a brand new updated NVIDIA Shield Android TV!

THE GIVEAWAY: Head down to the widget at the bottom of this page. There are multiple ways to enter, each with varying point values. Complete all of the tasks for maximum entries and your best shot at winning! Keep in mind that all winning entries are verified and if the task was not completed or cannot be verified, a new winner will be chosen. The giveaway is open until February 8th, and the winner will be announced right here shortly after the close date. Good luck!

We're giving away the new NVIDIA Shield Android TV!

from Android Central - Android Forums, News, Reviews, Help and Android Wallpapers http://ift.tt/2j2DR4V
via IFTTT

Google launching new security features for G Suite admins

It isn't fun, but data security is of the utmost importance in big companies.

Google's enterprise-focused application offering, G Suite, is getting new tools that certainly won't be considered sexy from the end-user perspective but will have network admins and CTOs jumping for joy. The new features are all centered around security, and more importantly keeping sensitive company data locked up tight inside the company while still visible and usable to employees who need it.

Though G Suite customers have had the ability to use a physical security key as part of a two-step systems, but now admins have the ability to force the use of something like a YubiKey for all company sign-in activity. In turn, admins will be able to manage the deployment of those security keys and see reports on their usage.

Accidents can happen, but with this system they won't turn into disasters.

Once employees are logged in and have access to sensitive corporate data, it's imperative that it stays inside the system. Google is now implementing DLP (Data Loss Prevention) in Google Drive in the same way it originally implemented it in Gmail. With these new tools, admins can identify sensitive data using OCR (Optical Character Recognition) and secure it before it is accidentally shared outside the company.

At a higher level, G Suite is expanding its logging to include preconfigured BigQuery integration for Gmail so admins can troubleshoot issues and see where email is headed throughout the company. Google is also announcing third-party email archiving, making it easy to back up email that was previously managed outside of the Gmail system and have it stored in Google Vault right alongside your other internal email.

from Android Central - Android Forums, News, Reviews, Help and Android Wallpapers http://ift.tt/2kOmiI1
via IFTTT

How to set up GameStream on your NVIDIA Shield TV

Play your favorite PC games on your Shield TV with GameStream.

The PC vs. console debate has raged on amongst gamers on forums and chatrooms for decades. But it's 2017, and there's more parity between console and PC gaming than ever before. Furthermore, thanks to GameStream for the [NVIDIA Shield Android TV], you can stream your favorite PC games straight from your computer to your living room TV and play from the comfort of your couch with your Shield controller in hand.

There are over 200 titles compatible with GameStream, so you're bound to find some of your favorite PC games to play on your Shield. Do note that your PC will be inaccessible while streaming games to the Shield, an important thing to note if you share your PC with your family or roommates.

See the NVIDIA Shield TV at Amazon

But before we go any further, here's what you'll need to get things set up:

NVIDIA Shield Android TV box
PC with a GeForce GTX 650 or higher graphics card. View full system requirements here.
A strong Wi-Fi signal in your home

To maximize your Wi-Fi strength, you'll want to ensure that your PC is connected to the internet via a wired ethernet connection so that your Wi-Fi can maintain a strong connection between your Shield and your PC no matter where they are in your home.

Once you've confirmed your PC is compatible, you're ready to get things set up.

On your PC, download and install GeForce Experience.
Log into your NVIDIA account in GeForce Experience. If you have yet to set up an account with NVIDIA, you can create one from scratch, or use your Google or Facebook account.
Check for the latest updates to the GeForce Game Ready driver in GeForce Experience.
Download and install latest updates.
Once the updates have installed, go to the GeForce Experience Settings — the icon looks like a gear.
Select Shield from the side menu.
Ensure that GameStream is turned on.
Switch over to your NVIDIA Shield TV.
Go to GameStream from the main menu.
Log into the same NVIDIA account logged into GeForce Experience.

Now you're PC and NVIDIA Shield are connected and you're good to stream any of the GameStream-supported games that are installed on your PC to the Shield. GeForce Experience will automatically scan your computer for any compatible games installed. When you go to the GameStream menu on your Shield, you should also see Steam as an option, which allows you to stream any games you've got installed on your PC from your Steam library.

Some games may require a keyboard and mouse setup. The NVIDIA Shield TV offers support for both Bluetooth and wired USB keyboards and mice, so you should hopefully be able find something that works around the house. If not, we'd recommend getting the Logitech K400r, which includes a keyboard and trackpad for a great wireless experience in your living room.

Once you've got everything set up, your favorite PC games will load and play just as fast and smoothly as any Android games or apps downloaded onto your Shield TV.

Android Gaming

from Android Central - Android Forums, News, Reviews, Help and Android Wallpapers http://ift.tt/2jRGggS
via IFTTT

Android 7.1.1 was the end of the line for Nexus 6 and Nexus 9

This could be the end of the line for two of 2014's Nexus devices.

With the release of a small maintenance release, Android 7.1.2, in beta yesterday, speculation kicked up around the Nexus 6 and Nexus 9 missing from the list after being included on previous beta releases. At the same time, the Nexus 6P was missing but explicitly mentioned as having an update coming soon. With no mention of either the Nexus 6 or 9, it seems as though these phones have received their final platform update — and it shouldn't be surprising.

The Nexus 6 and Nexus 9 launched together in October 2014, meaning we're comfortably beyond two years of software support for the phone and tablet. With the launch of the new Pixel and Pixel XL, the Nexus 6 and Nexus 9 were the next two to drop off of the update pile, and we're simply getting a bit of an earlier glimpse now that the Android Beta Program exists.

We still have nearly a year of security patches to look forward to.

Though the major platform updates have stopped for the phone and tablet, Google's official commitment to Nexus devices includes a total of three years of security patches, meaning we should see monthly security updates arrive for the Nexus 6 and Nexus 9 until at least October 2017. That gives owners a bit of extra time knowing their devices are secure while they consider their options for a new phone or tablet.

The massive Nexus 6 was hardly the mainstream device that Google had hoped it would be launching in 2014, and the Nexus 9 had its own slate of problems that meant it never really took off. Still, they were both solid devices for their time and the Nexus 6 in particular aged quite well through the transition into Android 7.0 Nougat. There will no doubt still be a good number of people using both throughout 2017, even as Google moves on.

Android Nougat

from Android Central - Android Forums, News, Reviews, Help and Android Wallpapers http://ift.tt/2kMtQI3
via IFTTT

Everything we hope to see in the Android Wear update

Google is rebooting Android Wear, and that's exciting!

Despite repeated reports that smartwatches are dead, we know for a fact that Android Wear is about to get a massive refresh. Rolling out alongside Google's Wear 2.0 update are two new watches meant to act almost like the Nexus program of old, and we know several manufacturers will be following up quickly with new hardware of their own. With new hardware and new software, Android Wear as we know it is being rebooted.

The big questions now lie in our expectations. What do we as Wear users want from this new generation of watches? Here's a lap around the Editor's table with all of our thoughts!

Andrew

Android Wear has a bit of an identity crisis, and I hope that the launch of Android Wear 2.0 helps spur manufacturers to lock in and put out some compelling hardware that can meet a variety of needs. Though external case designs of Android Wear watches have differed, they're all basically the same: a too-big watch with clunky bands and very little feature differentiation.

Going forward I hope companies can bring in some variety with smaller, thinner watches, as well as mid-sized watches that skip out on trying to do everything to focus in on the core features people use these watches for. This new era will hopefully introduce a better variety of offerings to fit more needs and styles, though I know the business models of these companies may not be compatible with hitting niches inside of an already small market.

Jen

While I'm really excited to have longer battery life and Assistant on my watch, what I really want to see are smaller watches. I am a teensy human, and having a watch that actually properly fits me without looking like a child playing dress up would be amazing.

I'm also pretty stoked about the activity trackers. I'm terrible at remembering to open up my activity apps before I start working out, [and if what we saw at Google I/O is true](http://ift.tt/1U2g6o3, this won't be a problem for me anymore.

Jerry

I want to see watches that look better and feel better while I'm wearing them.

I have been in situations where being able to discreetly check notifications was a plus. I think we all probably have. But in general, I've found that there isn't much reason for me to wear a smartwatch. I have my phone in my pocket no matter where I am, and when I wear a watch it's because I like the way it looks on my wrist. And I don't mean it looks better than other options like my Huawei Watch does. I mean I like the way it looks. Everyone wants things that look good, right?

I know it's hard to pack everything into a watch to make it smart, then put a big enough battery in it to keep it running. I'm hoping new processors and smarter software that is easier on battery life means someone can make a smartwatch that doesn't look like a smart watch. Samsung got very close with the Gear S3 Classic (it's not necessarily a size thing), so I have hope.

Flo

Someone give me a reason to wear Android Wear. It's been a few years since they've come into existence, but I'm still struggling to find a reason to take my Asus ZenWatch 2 out of its drawer.

Here's the problem with Android Wear: Google and its partners have failed to convince me, the consumer, that it's worth buying one for any reason other than it's a way of showing allegiance to the Android brand. I want seamless interconnectivity between my phone and my watch, but I also want a watch that doesn't try too hard to cram everything my smartphone does into a 1.5-inch display. Features like Google Assistant and Android Pay are certainly worth looking forward to, but they fail to solve the problem of why I'd wear a computerized wristwatch in the first place.

Alex

My first wish is for the watchmakers themselves, not Google. Just as Android Wear has adopted some of Samsung's Gear features in the 2.0 release, manufacturers should steal Samsung's rotating bezel idea for rotating through notifications and menus. It's more convenient than blocking the screen as you swipe and would allow for some neat design flourishes.

From a purely software perspective, I've already written at length about how I think smartwatches, including Android Wear, need to do fewer things and then do them better. Focus on the essentials, make notifications awesome, and everything else can just be gravy.

Russell

Bring on the watches that last me more than a single day! With the new Snapdragon Wear 2100 processor and denser batteries, we should see thinner watches with one day of life and thicker watches offering two full days. I want to leave the charger at home, especially if the charger is one of those ridiculous pin things.

I'm also looking forward to Assistant on my wrist, but only if it's available without needing to press a button. I'd even be happy with a gesture to activate Assistant if an always-on mic isn't good for power consumption.

Ara

I'm more than ready for Assistant on my wrist, but more than anything, I want Android Pay on my wrist. I've had an OG Moto 360 that's been bootlooping intermittently for the last six months, and the only reason I refuse to upgrade yet is the lack of tap-and-pay. We've seen NFC in a number of watches, including in leaks of 2.0 devices, and Apple and Samsung already have tap and pay on their wearable platforms. It's time for Android Wear to catch up.

Beyond that, I'm hoping that with full-fledged watch apps comes more finessed controls for media apps. Even before Android Wear, even before I was an Android nerd, I had a singular vision for wearables: controlling my music. I could fast-forward and rewind my iPod Video's click wheel inside a folio case in my pocket with frankly disquieting consistency and accuracy. When I came to Android and Google Play Music, I had to give that up. Now, to fast-forward through 90 seconds of a 25-minute show or rewind 30 seconds to replay the sweet bridge that my coworker interrupted, I have to wake my phone, unlock my phone, open the music app, and seek as desired. I want a click wheel on my wrist. Or at the very least, I want a button in Android Wear that can let me rewind and fast forward in 30-second intervals.

Daniel

More than anything, Android Wear 2.0 has to show me things I didn't know I needed. I think it's a given that the platform will integrate Google Assistant, but what I really enjoyed about Android Wear's early forms was its occasional perfectly timed Google Now card. Give me that experience more consistently, and use the new watch's GPS and/or cellular connection to show me more accurate location data — and the contextual information around it — without having to rely on the slow Bluetooth connection from my phone.

I typically find that, aside from the push notifications mirrored from my phone, smartwatches are no better than phones at doing most things, and even as a companion to my phone, don't excel at anything particularly well. So start to use AI and machine learning to adapt what's shown at any particular time in a way that, because your smartphone is turned off in your pocket for most of the day, only a smartwatch can do. Google is well-positioned to offer a solution like this, but it really has to bring all of its separate pieces together.

Your turn!

Got some thoughts on what you want from the next wave of Android Wear? Share it with us in the comments!

from Android Central - Android Forums, News, Reviews, Help and Android Wallpapers http://ift.tt/2jziUvB
via IFTTT

HTC loses another high-level executive as it continues to struggle

HTC is losing execs, and gaining a reputation.

HTC has lost another big-name executive in Jason Mackenzie, the face of the company's U.S. division where he served as president for over two years before moving onto an executive vice president role of the Taiwanese outfit's global arm in early 2016.

After 12 amazing years, today is my last day @htc. It was a great run & I feel blessed. Thank you Peter Chou, @cherwang, & TeamHTC.
— Jason Mackenzie (@JasonBMac24) January 31, 2017

The Seattle-based exec had been with HTC for 12 years, moving over from Siemens in late 2005 to take on the then-powerhouse's growing smartphone sales division. He moved through the ranks, switching over from U.S. sales to global and back, finally settling on a more expansive role early last year.

The loss comes just five days after Claude Zellweger, HTC's VP of Design, left for Google's Daydream VR division. Both departures leave gaps in the company's executive team at a time when it is struggling to transition from a smartphone OEM to a global player in the VR market with the HTC Vive.

Its recent smartphones, the HTC U Ultra and U Play, were announced shortly after CES, and will go on sale in early March.

from Android Central - Android Forums, News, Reviews, Help and Android Wallpapers http://ift.tt/2jRqCCh
via IFTTT