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We just got a look at images and pricing for the Pixel 2 XL, but now it's the smaller Pixel 2's turn. This HTC-made device will actually be fairly reasonably-priced at $649 for the 64GB storage size and $749 for 128GB, and it'll come in three uniquely-named colors.
The Pixel 2 and Pixel 2 XL have been two of the most highly-anticipated phones of 2017, and now, we're finally getting a good look at one of them. The Pixel 2 XL (yes, that's the official name) has just leaked with images of its two color variants and pricing information for the 64GB and 128GB storage sizes in the United States.
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- We've been informed of this relevant SMBC comic relating to the issue Google has with rounding. It's pretty funny. Thanks, August.
Google does a lot of things right, but sometimes, it's the most minute errors that we take notice of. Specifically, Google Assistant, Google Home, and Google Search seem to have some problems with rounding when converting from pounds/ounces to kilograms. And since Home actually speaks responses, it makes for one pretty funny video.
Yesterday we published an article criticizing Motorola for not updating the Moto G4 line to Android Oreo, as numerous marketing materials had promised this update. Motorola seems to have had a change of heart, and will now be updating the Moto G4 Plus (yes, just the Plus) to 8.0 Oreo.
We all know Android Pay as Google's mobile payments app, but to date, it still only supports 14 countries. In India, however, the landscape is a little different, leading Google to develop Tez, an India-exclusive app that will allow users to make payments, split bills, and more.
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- Motorola has decided to update the G4 Plus to Oreo, but not without a bunch of catches. Check our post for the full details.
You know who everyone hates? Liars. Nobody likes being promised something, only to have it taken away without explanation. At launch, Motorola advertised Android N and O updates for the Moto G4 line, but to the shock of many G4 owners, none of these phones were listed in the company's official Oreo update list. In fact, all mention of this promise has been wiped away. Motorola, this is bullshit.
Google has two apps that it most frequently performs server-side tests on: YouTube and the Play Store. The most recent test that's been spotted is on the latter, and it's an interesting one: the star ratings have been ditched for the app sizes: both useful metrics to see when you're installing an app.
Phone speakers are getting better, but they're still no match for a proper standalone speaker. So if you're looking for a way to get better, louder audio while you're on the go, look no further than a Bluetooth speaker like this Altec Lansing Porta unit. It's currently discounted to just $39.99 at Best Buy, a whopping $60 off its MSRP.
Those of you who read about the Essential team's AMA on reddit yesterday probably saw that Essential was working on Verizon certification for the PH-1 (PH-One, get it?). Andy Rubin has lived up to his word; just a day later, the Essential Phone has indeed gotten fully certified for Big Red.
Bose's QuietComfort 35 have been a huge hit in spite of its $349 MSRP. The headphones are comfortable, put out good sound, and the noise cancellation works very well. There's really no need for an imminent successor, but that's not how the tech industry works. The appropriately-named QuietComfort 35 II has been leaked with Google Assistant support, meaning that this is one of Google's "Bisto" headphones.
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- Motorola has published a blog post confirming all the devices above, along with the as of yet unreleased Moto X4. We also forgot about the Moto Z Play Droid - whoops. We've added both to the list above.
Back in the days when the Moto X could be used with one hand and Moto Maker was a cool new thing, Motorola was one of the best manufacturers with software updates. Since their skin is so minimal, anything else would be disappointing. But Motorola is not what it once was, and it's fallen behind in terms of software support. The Lenovo-owned company has just released its update roadmap for Android 8.0 Oreo.
AMAs on reddit are a good way for tech companies to communicate with fans and potential customers and answer any concerns they may have. Of course, not all of them go well, but if you're honest and respond to important questions, it's easy enough to do. Essential may have had a couple of screw-ups in the past, but at least it did its AMA right. Here are some responses we thought deserved a spot in this recap.
Moto Voice is one of the main selling points of Motorola phones. The ability to set your own always-in voice launch phrase is something that other OEMs can't just match even today. The latest update for Moto Voice on the Play Store has added support for British English and German.
About a month ago, the smaller, HTC-made Pixel 2 made its way through the FCC, revealing the device's Snapdragon 835 processor and an "Active Edge" squeezable frame. Now, its big brother has stopped by for the same treatment. Unfortunately, not much information can be gleaned from the various documents on the FCC's site, but this is progress.
Google Assistant is the main selling point behind the Google Home, but Assistant can't really help you if there's audio blasting in the background and it can't hear you. To alleviate this, Google Home will now automatically lower the volume of any music or video playing on speakers or TVs that it's casting to when a user is speaking to Assistant.
Need a battery for an upcoming trip? Did your dog chew up your charging cable? Not to worry - we've got exclusive discount codes for a few Anker products that might come in handy. Plus, there are even more batteries, cables, chargers, and Bluetooth audio products that you can grab on the cheap.Here are our three exclusive discounts (they'll expire September 22nd):
Two of Amazon's 2017 additions to its popular Fire TV lineup have been leaked courtesy of AFTVnews: a mid-range dongle and a flagship set-top box. Both will be capable of 4K60, and the cube-shaped one is notable because it reportedly has new built-in hardware that allow it to act as an Amazon Echo Dot when you want it to.
JerryRigEverything does teardowns and torture tests pretty often, but a drop test from the channel is rare to see. The torture tests that Zack does compromise the devices' strength, and drop tests are pretty expensive in the first place. But for the titanium- and ceramic-constructed Essential Phone, an exception was made, giving us the video you see here.
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- Amazon has lowered its G6 pricing to $449.99 for both black and platinum models. You'll get free one-day shipping if you're a Prime member and purchase the platinum mode. However, the black version is backordered, and you'll have to wait 1-4 weeks for it to ship.
All phones drop in price as they become older and newer competitors come onto the scene. The LG G6 is only six months old, but with fierce rivalry from the Galaxy S8/S8+ and the brand new V30, it's been seeing some major discounts lately. This latest one by B&H brings the price down to just $449.99, a full $250 off its MSRP.This $449.99 price is $20 cheaper than the deal from a few days ago. The G6 is rocking a 5.7" 1440p LCD display in an 18:9 aspect ratio, a Snapdragon 821, 4GB of RAM, 32GB of storage with microSD expansion, dual cameras, a 5MP front-facing camera, and a 3300mAh battery. Also on board are IP68 water and dust resistance and wireless charging.To get one, just head over to the B&H link in the source. Both black and platinum colors are available. Expedited shipping is free, and you can also choose to pick it up from B&H's giant NYC store. Tax is only charged in NY and NJ, making this deal even sweeter for most of you.
After a lot of leaking, the Moto X4 made its formal debut at IFA. But it looks like even a released phone can still be leaked if it has two small words printed on the back of it: Android One. That's right - the latest leak from pro leakster @evleaks depicts a Moto X4 with a small Android One tramp stamp on its back. Could this be the first Android One phone for the US?