About Ryne Hager
Ryne was ostensibly a senior editor at Android Police, working at the site from 2017-2022. But really, he is just some verbose dude who digs on tech, loves Android, and hates anticompetitive practices. His only regret is that he didn't buy a Nokia N9 in 2012.
Latest Articles
[Update: Now $47.99] Deal alert: Nyne Adventure Bluetooth Speaker is $55.99 at Best Buy ($94 off)
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Tiny Bluetooth speakers are almost literally a dime a dozen these days, but high-quality larger units can be harder to track down. Nyne, in addition to having a 3/4 of a pretty rad name, makes a wide selection of contemporary Bluetooth boombox replacements. And today the "splash-proof" 40W Nyne Adventure is just $55.99 at Best Buy, in stark contrast to the $149 price at the OEM's site.
With the vast selection of pre-existing, inexpensive Android phones, Android Go and its worse-spec'd ~$100 handsets were quickly dismissed by many. To be honest, I shared the attitude, but I wanted to give the concept a fair shake before I shrugged it off as another well-intended but misguided effort on Google's part. So I willingly gave up all my fun flagships—my Pixels, OnePluses, Essential, etc.—and spent one calendar-precise month as a digital monk on the mountain, using only my Android Go-powered Alcatel 1X.
Samsung Galaxy J7 arrives at AT&T and T-Mobile, joined at the house of Legere by LG's Stylo 4
Most of us probably focus on flagships in the news—after all, it's the high-performance, expensive devices that get all the fun new features first—but there are plenty of other phones out there. The majority of people probably don't concern themselves with picking up the latest and greatest gadgets, and mid-range phones like Samsung's Galaxy J7 fill that niche. So those on a budget picking up a phone from T-Mobile or AT&T now have some added choice starting today, as Samsung's Galaxy J7 has arrived at both carriers. As an added bonus, T-Mobile also now has the LG Stylo 4.
Note9 details and leaks have been picking up steam in recent days, and the latest addition to the growing pile of evidence surrounding the new phone comes courtesy of renowned leaker Ice universe. Just earlier today he showed off what is claimed to be a print advertisement picturing "the new super powerful Note," stylus and all.
OnePlus Gallery update adds video editing tools, lets you trim clips and mix in background music
The OnePlus 6 has more than a few advantages over the company's previous hardware, which is to be expected, given it's the latest model. But, a handful of the phone's smaller benefits are now trickling down to older handsets via an update to the OnePlus Gallery app. Rolling out now, the app update is bringing some of the OP6's video editing tools—including slow-motion video editing, background music, and general clipping/trimming—to older phones.
It's no secret that HTC isn't doing too well these days. Between lackluster overall sales and the U12+'s lukewarm reception, the former OEM heavyweight is in a tight spot. Earlier this spring the company revealed a set of nebulous plans for a blockchain-powered phone that sounded more like an act of marketing desperation than a consumer product (complete with a "Decentralized Chief Officer" and promises to "Take back the internet"). Following all this, today HTC has announced exclusive support for CryptoKitties, a Beanie Babies-esque set of Ethereum ERC-721 token-powered collectibles.
Finney, the 'first blockchain smartphone' by Sirin Labs, shows off dual sliding 'Safe Screen' design
If you had asked me about the topic yesterday, I'd have said that tech has already hit "peak blockchain," but based on today's developments, I'm reassessing my views. Sirin Labs revealed its specs for the "first blockchain smartphone" earlier this year, and in a surprising twist, the specs for the Finney were actually realistic. Now the company has some visuals which show the industrial design for the phone, including a secondary "Safe Screen" running standalone firmware for enhanced wallet security.
OnePlus has developed a habit of releasing jazzed-up colors for its phones, including both red and white variants of last year's OnePlus 5T. The release of the Oneplus 6 Red, taken together with the Silk White announced in June, brings the options for the company's latest model up to parity with that history. But it's more than just a return to the theme, this new red color has a stunning degree of depth that photos and descriptions just can't do justice—though I'll try.
OnePlus revealed the new red version of its flagship last week, with sales for both this new color and a restocking of the OnePlus Bullets Wireless Bluetooth headphones set to happen on July 10th. Well, according to the most reliable calendars we can find, today is that day. Whether you've had the color on your mind since it was first revealed, or it was merely the tipping point in your consideration of the company's latest flagship, you can pick one up starting today.
For many of us, an external battery pack comes in near the top of our accessory priority list. Whether you travel for work or pleasure, topping up your gadgets on the go can be important, and that need can extend into durations or locations that require a few extra features or added durability. So, for all you outdoorsy types prepping for summer trips, we're taking a quick look at two new RAVpower batteries. One is "waterproof," both are solar-powered, and they clock in at 10,000mAh and 25,000mAh respectively. Before you get too excited about harnessing the functionally infinite power of the sun for yourself, keep in mind that the small size of the solar panels equates to a pretty slow charging speed. You won't be topping either of these batteries up to full just laying them out in the sun for the day. At the fastest possible speeds, it might give you, say, an extra 800-1200mAh per day. They're more perk than point if you decide to pick one up. Even so, it's an extra free bit of power that could make a difference out on the trails, giving your electronic safety net the ability to replenish itself without an outlet.The larger 25,000mAh battery offers a durable rubber-encased "waterproof" design with plenty of capacity, while the smaller 10,000mAh battery brings solar power to a pocketable form-factor. In my opinion, it's the bigger battery that's worthy of your attention, but either way, we've also got a pair of exclusive coupons (good until the end of July) that make them both a little cheaper.
[Not much of a Deal Alert] eBay gives one-day-only coupon for 10% off tech — less than previous site-wide deals
eBay really, really wants to make sure you don't forget that it exists during Amazon's Prime Day hubbub. To that end, it's introducing a one-day-only promo code that will save you 10% off eligible items (up to a $100 maximum discount, minimum $50 purchase) classified in "tech" categories like computers or cell phones. If that sounds like a mediocre and overly-restrictive deal, well, that's because it is. eBay regularly runs far better 15-20% off promos for site-wide use.
Newton Mail raises prices for new subscribers to $10 a month and $100 a year, adds Recap feature for follow-up reminders
Newton has been rolling out a lot of intelligent Gmail-esque features to its app, all to help you achieve that zen-like state of "Inbox Zero," or a complete and total sorting of all inbound emails. Now, Newton wants to ensure that outbound communications are also managed as responsibly as possible, so the company is introducing a feature called Recap, which is basically a more centrally-organized version of Gmail's Nudge.
[Update: Fixed] Viacom apps mysteriously breaking compatibility with Android TV, play disappearing act with launcher
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We might be fans of Android in general here, but we've also been vocal critics of Android TV—though Google promises to make things better someday. But even in its current form, it's a popular platform for many via devices like Nvidia's SHIELD TV. In a strange development, Viacom appears to have removed Android TV support for many of its apps, including Comedy Central, VH1, MTV, and BET. Even weirder, for a brief period some of the apps themselves seemed to have disappeared from Android TV devices.
Starting with the recent HTC 12+ and continuing since then, we have decided to switch up our review format for phones a bit, breaking down the facts to be more direct and less prosaic. After all, brevity is the soul of wit (and tedious reviews the limbs and outward flourishes). Our original style for assessing hardware hearkens all the way back to 2011 and phones like the HTC ThunderBolt and Inspire 4G, but we know some of you may have grown attached to it. So, we'd like to know, how are you enjoying the changes in our review format so far?
A lot of our favorite things come from California. Artichokes, Android, almonds, even those newfangled talking pictures. But thanks to a law that recently went into effect in the state, an accidental export might update the cancellation process across the US for recurring payments when it comes to services like newspapers.
Last month, the EU Committee on Legal Affairs (which somehow works out to the initialism JURI) voted in favor of a new copyright reform plan called the EU Copyright Directive, sending it to a parliamentary vote. On its face, the idea of copyright reform is good considering how old many governments' legislation on the subject is, but two parts of the plan—Article 11 and Article 13—were a bit draconian in their perspective. Thankfully, the European Parliament has sent the whole idea back to be reworked.
[Update: Downloads, screenshots] OxygenOS Open Beta 13 and 11 for OnePlus 5 and 5T will bring Treble support
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OnePlus' OxygenOS Open Betas give us an illuminating glimpse into the company's future software plans. Although it's possible that not every feature that makes it into the Open Betas will be deemed fit for stable release, they give us an advance look at the company's intentions, if nothing else. Today OnePlus has released a new pair of Open Betas for the OnePlus 5 and 5T, and the changes are quite substantial, including "Supported [sic] for Project Treble."
Last year, Google released v2.0 of its "Nearby Connections" API, which allows for your gadgets to communicate with other devices in close proximity via Wi-Fi and Bluetooth. It was a part of the overall "Nearby" package, which also includes a few other systems for more specific applications, including messaging and notifications. According to a pair of commits recently spotted by the folks at XDA Developers, these Nearby APIs may be coming to Chromebooks.
The US government has been growing increasingly critical (perhaps even paranoid) when it comes to the operation of Chinese companies in the US. Between the on-again-off-again ZTE snafu and Huawei's allegedly government-influenced issues with its US carrier deals, Chinese tech companies are running into progressively more problems doing business in the United States. This is just the start, though, as according to a recent report by Bloomberg, the FCC is set to deny China Mobile's application to provide telecommunications services in the US.
Bluetooth section and NFC toggle in Android P DP4 moved to 'Connection preferences' settings submenu
One of the more minor additions to the previous Android P DP3 release was a series of Bluetooth changes, including an aptly descriptive "Previously connected devices" section and a reorganization for the Bluetooth toggle into its own Bluetooth section. Now DP4 has further reorganized both that Bluetooth subsection and the NFC toggle into the "Connection preferences" subsection.