Even though it got off to a fairly rocky start, Samsung's implementation of its Bixby AI seems to have leveled out a bit. Now that Samsung has Bixby up and running on its flagship phones around the world, it's looking to the future. The future is apparently bright for Bixby, as Samsung plans to have its AI assistant everywhere.
This year's SDC brought together several Internet of Things brands/groups together into one: SmartThings Cloud. Each of the following names is now part of one bigger group: Samsung SmartThings, ARTIK, Samsung Connect. All three are now under the brand SmartThings Cloud. Of important note - this SmartThings Cloud all-encompassing platform name is what Samsung suggests will be both connected and open - open to 3rd-party brands and developers of many sorts.
The original Monument Valley was one of those mobile games that stands out in a sea of free-to-play cash grabs. It was a game that showed us just how great smartphones and tablets can be as a gaming platform, so it's no surprise that it managed to net itself a sizable fanbase. For the past four-and-a-half months, a portion of that fanbase has been waiting for its follow-up - Monument Valley 2 - to arrive on their platform of choice.
This morning the latest build of Pokemon GO for Android revealed a collection of changes just before Halloween. This set of changes falls in the category of "oh my goodness this could mean something big" - with regard to the third full generation of Pokemon in the game. An in-game data update just like the one we're seeing today occurred just days before the full release of Pokemon GO's Gen 2.
Of all the Pixel 2 surprises, top of the list has to be just how good the Google smartphone's portrait mode photography is, despite only using a single camera. Although phones that simulate background bokeh aren't new, the iPhone 8 Plus and others rely on two cameras side-by-side to pull off the trick. Now, Google is explaining how it's done - and giving some tips as to how to maximize the impact.
Motorola's latest Moto Mod is the Moto Smart Speaker, a device with Amazon Alexa onboard. All Android devices can access Alexa to some degree - with the Amazon Alexa App or through more direct means. With the Moto Smart Speaker, Moto Z devices will be able to access Alexa on the fly - with an extra large speaker, battery, and 4 far field microphones.
When Huawei made its big AI splash earlier this week with the Mate 10 models, there seemed to be one member missing. Already launched in China, the Huawei Mate 10 Lite was also expected to debut alongside its more powerful siblings. But perhaps the Chinese OEM preferred to keep things separate to prevent the already confusing mix of features. Better late than never, though, as it did finally put up the Mate 10 Lite for sale, without much fuss or fanfare, and perhaps rightly so.
It is no surprise that Google as started acting a bit like other OEMs when it comes to its darling Pixel phones. It’s still not as bad and not as permanent, but some features end up being available only on the Pixel phone or at least first on a Pixel phone. The Pixel 2 is no different, especially when it comes to the Pixel Launcher. Fortunately, this is Android so the situation is easily resolved. By, for example, using a launcher like Nova Launcher, whose latest brings a smidgen of Pixel 2 features to any other, older device.
Smart home speakers are the in thing in tech these days and Sony is jumping in as well but in a different way. Back when it redefined its Xperia brand last year, it introduced a few new non-phone smart devices, including a certain Xperia Agent. Formerly a prototype, that stationary robot butler has just become a full-fledged commercial product to take on the likes of Google Home, Amazon Echo, and Apple HomePod. Meet the Xperia Hello! And, yes, the punctuation is part of its product name.
Android users might have been distracted by the shiny new Google Pixel 2 or even the “intelligent” Huawei Mate 10, but let’s not forget some phones that, while just a wee bit older, might offer just as much or even more. One such model is the BlackBerry KEYone, so far the last QWERTY Android phone in the market. While not exactly the strongest link in this year’s chain, it offers a few special features that might make it worth its price. Especially now that, for 24 hours only, the phone will be available $50 cheaper on Best Buy.
Google's new Pixel 2 and Pixel 2 XL have become the go-to Android phones for those wanting the latest and greatest, and there's more on offer than ever before. Android 8.0 Oreo is jam-packed with new features, to the point where it's easy to overlook some of the more charming or useful additions for 2017's flagships. Read on for our top five Pixel 2 features you won't want to miss.
WhatsApp has pushed out a new feature that enables its users to share their location in real time, making it possible for family and friends to see where you're at and, depending on circumstances, whether you're safe. The feature could come in handy during times when you're venturing out into the unknown alone, or when you're meeting someone for the first time, among other things.
