Carriers start testing Android Nougat update for the Galaxy S7/S7 edge

Samsung's Android Nougat update for the Galaxy S7 and Galaxy S7 edge might be in the final stages of testing, as some carriers have already been given final builds they can test.

Australian carrier Vodafone has just refreshed its software update weekly wrap and both the Galaxy S7 and Galaxy S7 edge smartphones have been listed with the mention that Android N is now being tested.

If no issues are found during testing, then Vodafone Australia may go ahead and release the update to Galaxy S7/S7 edge units bought through its official channels. Otherwise, the carrier will inform Samsung about the problems and will wait for a new build.

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Morgan Stanley: T-Mobile could merge with Sprint or buy out U.S. Cellular in 2017

Morgan Stanley analyst Simon Flannery says that the 2017 outlook for the telecom sector resolves around the letter "T." Flannery says that the telecom industry's direction next year depends on taxes, Treasuries (meaning the direction and magnitude of changes in interest rates) and T-Mobile. The nation's third largest carrier has a number of balls in the air according to the analyst, and what the carrier decides to do with them could result in a bullish or bearish telecom sector next year.

The best scenario for T-Mobile and the industry would be a merger with Sprint, Flannery says. He also sees this as being the least likely of all the options open to T-Mobile president and CEO John Legere. A merger between the third and fourth largest U.S. carriers would allow for some huge synergies, but could face a tough regulatory climate. In addition, you have two pretty tough executives running each company in John Legere and Marcelo Claure. Could both of them work together? Legere has pretty much insulted every executive in the industry and has gone after Sprint with T-Mobile's MetroPCS pre-paid unit.

Another scenario where T-Mobile could be bought involves one of the cable/satellite companies looking to get into the business. Comcast is said to be interested in becoming a carrier, and is expected to launch an MVNO in 2017 using the Verizon LTE network and the cable firm's 15 million Wi-Fi hot spots. There wouldn't be room for T-Mobile with Comcast. But Dish Network has long been rumored to be interested in buying a carrier, and actually made a $25.5 billion bid for Sprint in April 2013. However, a rival bid by Japan's SoftBank won out as the latter picked up 70% of Sprint for $20 billion.

Flannery says that T-Mobile might be a buyer next year instead, and could pick up U.S. Cellular. This would be the third largest U.S. carrier buying the fifth largest, which might result in fewer objections by state-side regulatory agencies. We hasten to note though, that there is no word that U.S. Cellular is interested in being bought out.

T-Mobile being in the midst of the wireless industry has been nothing new over the last few years. The most innovative of the major U.S. carriers, T-Mobile has been setting the tone for the industry, leading the way in the removal of subsidized phones and two-year contracts, offering zero-rated music and video streaming, and using weekly giveaways and aggressive promotions to boost the head count of subscribers.

"In our view, this could be the most attractive outcome, but also the least likely. We think opex synergies could be between $3b-$5b (~15%-20% of FY17 Sprint opex). For context, In 2011, AT&T offered $39bn for T-Mobile (pre- MetroPCS) and indicated that synergies would exceed the purchase price ($40bn in NPV). There could be significant savings from network, distribution, customer care rationalization, reduced churn, avoided capex, and spectrum purchases. This approach would face a long regulatory review given anticompetitive concerns."-Simon Flannery, analyst, Morgan Stanley

Investors might think that T-Mobile is in play. The stock has risen over 13% since the beginning of November.

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Yet another report indicates that sales of the iPhone might not be as strong as years past

With 2017 marking the ten-year anniversary of when Steve Jobs first took the wraps off of the iPhone, we're expecting big things from Apple come next year. Since so much hype is being placed on the next-generation iPhone, it makes sense as to why Apple played it a bit safe this year with the iPhone 7 and 7 Plus. The introduction of true water-resistance, a brighter screen, and a refined design were all certainly nice additions, and while there's no doubt that the iPhone 7 line is the best one yet, it's also no surprise that this year's iPhone is a bit boring when compared to previous iterations.

Since the iPhone 7 hit the market, we've seen reports that sales for Apple's latest smartphone were a bit lukewarm and not as great as the company was anticipating. New information by way of Barron's reiterates this fact, as it states that multiple manufacturing plants in Taiwan that create various components for the iPhone have faced losses as a result of the phone's lackluster sales reception. It's reported that a total of 19 different companies in Taiwan have been faced with losses, with their total cumulative profits down about 0.4-percent when compared to this time last year. Some of these 19 companies include the likes of Foxcon and Largan Precision, and while this is just one outside report and nothing official from Apple, it's still quite interesting.

As mentioned above, the lower sales for the iPhone could be a result of so much anticipation being placed on next year's model. We've heard reports that the 2018 iPhone could feature a revolutionary wireless charging standard and long-awaited OLED panels, so it makes sense as to why some customers would be inclined to hold off on this year's offering. In addition to this, the iPhone 7 marks the third-year in a row that Apple has stuck with the same general design for their smartphone, so customers could also be getting fatigued by more of the same.

Ming-Chi Kuo is one of the best analysts in the industry, and a few weeks ago Kuo reported that lower iPhone sales could also be a result of no planned refresh for the iPhone SE and overall lower demand over in China. These reported weaker sales for the iPhone certainly don't mean that Apple is falling to its demise, but it'll be interesting to see how the company responds to these claims and reports with their product line in 2018.

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DoT may allow phone calls on flights, are you on board? (poll results)

Тhe US Department of Transportation and aviation experts will be taking passenger input as part of the discussion process on the way to a final decision whether to lift the in-flight phone calls ban or not. That is why we asked you last week whether you consider this a good idea, and just 27% of our respondents say it's no biggie, while the rest are either accommodatingly or firmly against the initiative. Food for thought, DoT.

The Department of Transportation considers waiving its restrictions on in-flight phone calls, and is looking for industry, as well as passenger input on the matter. Needless to say, it will be left up to the airline, and even up to the particular flight in more granular detail to decide whether they will lift the ban on airborne calls, plus there will have to be an announcement before take-off whether that flight permits calls.

Even then, it might take many months and even a year or two until the process of lifting call restrictions is complete, but, still, the reactions are pretty telling. Comments range from the level-headed "I'll have to invest in noise cancelling headphones" through the realistic "you'll have to listen to..."We're about to land...Were flying over our neighborhood... Can you see me waving?" to the more ominous "You are stuck in an aluminum tube 5 miles above the earth listening to an a**hole for 5 hours." 

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UK residents who own a Note 7 won't be able to charge the phone past 30%

The Galaxy Note 7 is, without a doubt, the most infamous phone of 2016. What could have been the best phone of the year turned out to be the most hazardous, resulting in not one, but two recalls. At the time of this writing, it's been around two months since Samsung officially pulled the plug on the Note 7, but despite those 60+ days, there are still Note 7 devices out in the wild that have yet to be handed over to the company. According to Samsung, around 10% of Note 7 handsets that were sold in Europe are still in the hands of consumers. This poses a safety hazard, and in an attempt to get remaining owners of the phone to finally exchange their handset for a different one, Samsung has announced that they'll be rolling out a software update to Note 7's in the United Kingdom that will limit them to charging to only 30% of the internal battery capacity.

If you've been following the news recently, then you're aware that this isn't the first move Samsung has made over the past few days to try and kill off any and all remaining Note 7 units. Note 7 smartphones in the United States will receive a software update on December 19th that will prevent them from charging entirely, and December 15th will see Note 7 handsets in Canada no longer being able to connect to cellular networks in the country. With these two main countries taking similar steps, it's no surprise that the UK is receiving similar treatment.

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Want a Black or Jet Black iPhone 7 case? These ones will have you covered

Apple started somewhat of a trend with its two new IPhone colors - Black and Jet Black - as Samsung now reissued the S7 edge in Black Pearl, in addition to the Onyx Black it had before, and other makers are seen following suit with glossed up versions of their darkest shades.

We already covered the idea behind the two black editions of the iPhone 7 and 7 Plus, but one thought was always at the back of our minds then - what's the point of all those color versions, if you are going to have your handset covered most of the time by a case, as happens with the majority of our precious and pricey phones these days immediately after purchse.

Well, fret not, as case makers have taken note as well, and are starting to issue wrappers in the body hue of the phones they cover, so as to retain as much of the original desing intention as possible, and still offer protection from the gravity and the elements. Granted, you can always go with a clear case, but those are never refracting light in the same way as the phone's surface, altering the color within, and often yellow with time and outdoor use. 

That is why we have rounded up a few of the cases meant to keep your Black or Jet Black iPhones safe from harm, and at the same time relay to the outside world the dark beauties within them.

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The Samsung Galaxy S7 edge is now receiving the Android security patch for December

Updates for Android are always great. Whether a new update brings substantial new features or small improvements here and there, there's always something rewarding about getting the notification that there's new software to download for your handset. The Galaxy S7 edge is one of the most recent Android handsets to get updated, and although the update isn't a new version of the Android OS, it is the most recent security patch for the month of December.

It's likely that this most recent update doesn't bring any real changes or improvements to the way the S7 edge runs, but having the latest and greatest security software is always a plus. The update is officially hitting S7 edge units in Australia, and while there isn't any confirmation as to what other countries will be next, expect the update to start making its way across the globe over the next few days and weeks.

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Win $5,000 in Amazon Credit, an HTC Bolt, and more free goodies from Sprint

It used to be said that everyone loves a clown. But these days, Bozo and his pals are pretty much on the bottom of the list as clowns are now considered to be scary and frightening. So what does everyone love? How about a free phone! Sprint has a sweepstakes for its subscribers that offers among its prizes, a free HTC Bolt. There also is a $5,000 Amazon credit, an Amazon Echo (Echo...Echo....Echo) and a full year's subscription to both Amazon Prime and Amazon Music Unlimited. The former streams video and the latter handles streaming Music.

All you have to do to enter the sweepstakes is to head to Sprint's "Snow Place Like Home" page and follow the directions. And yes, with a title like that, we do think that the carrier does need to find a new Executive Punmaster. To get to the right spot to enter the sweepstakes, click on the sourcelink. You can enter once a day until December 23rd. You can also earn one extra entry per day by following @Sprint at Twitter and tweeting a picture of your favorite holiday tradition with the tag #SprintSnowSweepstakes. 

One Grand Prize winner will be drawn from the entries on January 3rd 2017 and will be notified approximately a week later. The grand prize winner will receive the following prize package valued at $7,746.67:

• $5000 in Amazon.com gift cards
• An HTC Bolt
• Amazon Echo
• 1 year of Amazon Prime & Amazon Music

Twenty HTC Bolt handsets (valued at $600 each) will be handed out to the runner ups. Remember, to enter the sweepstakes you need to be a legal resident of the fifty United States, the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico. You also have to be a Sprint subscriber in good standing. If you qualify, Good Luck!

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Did you install the Android 7.0 Nougat beta update on your Galaxy S7 or S7 edge? (poll results)

We asked you yesterday if you were intrigued enough to install the Nougat update beta on your Galaxy S7 or S7 edge, or if you are still holding the fort, waiting with bated breath for the stable OTA rollout to hit your Galaxy in the not-so-distant future. It turned out that the brave souls who ventured into the big blue Samsung unknown are no less than 40%, at least from those who responded, while the others figured out that the OTA rollout is nearing anyway, so why not wait for the real thing a few weeks or so. Moreover, not everyone who wanted to install the beta got approved, so the percentage of folks who would run it on their S7 and S7 edge might have been even higher.

Samsung outed the Android 7.0 Nougat beta for its spring flagships like the S7 or S7 edge already, and the TouchWiz of yesterday is apparently done with, at least in the settings, submenus and notifications shade. Oops, that's actually a lot, and when you add all the features that good guy Samsung brought over from Note 7 as a tribute to its fans, the new Samsung UX is shaping up to be a revelation.

The brand new SamsungOne font makes the fresh UX look very different and more minimalistic, the clean and simplified settings list brings back fond memories of the Note 7's Grace UX, and the extra Always-On screen options from the deceased phablet are also brought in to sooth the mourning a little bit. Samsung also brought over the new battery saver modes from the Note 7, but provided the screen resolution changes they contain as a standalone feature, too, and added different performance modes you can choose from, depending on what you want to do with your device.

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5" Galaxy J3 (2017) may be unveiled December 1, leaked press render tips

The Samsung Galaxy J3 (2017) has been popping up in benchmarks and FCC databases for a while now, indicating an imminent launch. How imminent? Well, judging from the leaked press render of the new J3, it might be as soon as December 1, as that's the date shown on the homescreen widget. The J3 (2016) was released in January this year, so December announcement of its successor is not out of the question. 

Based on the leaked benchmarks, the upcoming Galaxy J3 refresh sports a 5-inch display with either HD (720p) or FHD (1080p) resolution. In fact, there's a high chance that Samsung will launch two version of the Galaxy J3 (2017) with different displays, as the leak here suggests. Evan Blass writes that the press render here is from the "regular" SM-J327P model, not SM-J3119, which will be denoted as the J3 Pro.

Aside from the 5-incher, he Galaxy J3 (2017) will pack a 1.4GHz quad-core Qualcomm Snapdragon 430 processor and 2 GB of RAM, which should be more than enough for an entry-level handset. Samsung Galaxy J3 (2017) is also said to feature an 8-megapixel rear camera and a decent 2,600 mAh battery under the hood. The smartphone is expected to ship with Android 6.0.1 Marshmallow onboard, but it's not clear yet if or when the Nougat update and Samsung's new UX will be in the cards.

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OnePlus 3T vs Google Pixel XL vs Samsung Galaxy S7 edge: specs and size comparison

Poof! The OnePlus 3T is no longer a figment of our collective wishful thinking. The device became official yesterday, November 15, after a low-key announcement.

The new handset improves the specs of the phone in a few key areas - it has a larger battery crammed in the same body, snappier chipset, new 128GB storage option, as well as a large 16MP front-facing camera (up from 8MP). You can get all that for $439, $40 more than the price OnePlus 3 featured at launch.

While it's gradually escaping its ultra-affordable origins, OnePlus has still kept the price of its newest phone pleasantly low. It's not the best deal on a Snapdragon 821 device we've seen, but it will probably end up being a great value for money to those folks not willing to spend $769 or more on a Google Pixel XL.

Here's how the OnePlus 3T fares against the Google Pixel XL in our specs and size comparison combo. We've also thrown in a Galaxy S7 edge for good measure in there, too. First up, we will have to take the size comparison out of the way. 

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Best Android phones you can buy right now (November 2016)

Looking for a new phone? Of course you are. We, the fans of the smartphone industry, are always on the hunt for the next great gadget that will make its way to our pockets. Provided that you swear by Android, you have quite the selection ahead of you. 

True, there are lots of Android phones you can buy at the moment, but as usual, only a select few are actually good enough for us and all the hardcore fans out there who desire only the very best. Luckily, there always seem to be at least a couple of extremely good Android devices that can satisfy the needs of even the-hardest-to-appeal Android zealots. 

Here's what are some of the best high-end devices you can get in October 2016.

Google Pixel XL

Price: $769 - $869

Turns out that Google's on the right path with its latest attempt to become a mainstream hardware company -- the Pixel XL is undoubtedly among the very best Android devices you can get right now. Aside from the top-of-the-line specs, namely the 5.5" quad HD display, the Snapdragon 821 chip, the 4 gigs of RAM, and the large battery, the Pixel XL also boasts a selection of intriguing software features and services that will remain exclusive ones for the time being. For example, you could technically get the Google Assistant on other Android Nougat devices, but officially, it's only the Pixel XL and the smaller-sized Pixel that have said feature on board.

Prices start at $769 for the base 32GB version and $869 for the 128GB one.

Google Pixel

Price: $649 - $749

In case the Google Pixel XL looks appealing to you but you can't be bothered with large 5.5-inch devices, then you're lucky, since the smaller Google Pixel clocks in at 5 inches only, making up for a more pocketable experience. Apart from the smaller display and battery, the Pixel is otherwise identical to the Pixel XL in terms of hardware. This means you still get a Snapdragon 821, 4GB of RAM, and an exceptional 12.3MP camera, as well as the full scope of novel software features that Google introduced – the Pixel Launcher, the Google Assistant, unlimited photo/video storage on the cloud, Pixel Camera, and 24-hour support over the phone.

OnePlus 3T

Price: $439 - $479

While it's technically not available for purchase yet (OnePlus will let you buy one come November 22), we feel that the OnePlus 3T deserves its place in our Android phone recommendations, much like its predecessor. Getting a OnePlus 3T will get you a Snapdragon 821 chipset, 6GB of RAM, a 3,400mAh battery that charges quite fast, and a set of great front and rear cameras. True, some folks will likely find some issues with that phone if they wish, namely the display that is still Full HD display, but we feel that this device overall is great bang for the buck and should be definitely high on your wishlist for Christmas.

LG V20

Price: $672 - $799

With the Galaxy Note 7 out of the picture, LG has less competition than usual and the rare chance of capturing a larger market share. We feel that with the V20, LG really has a winner up its sleeve - it's a multimedia powerhouse aimed at more advanced users and content creators. It's not merely covering all the bases, but also building on the strong foundation established by the LG V10. Apart from the top-end hardware, the V20 also raises the bar when it comes to high-quality audio playback and sound recording. Oh, and it's worth noting that it has a removable battery despite having a metal body, which is a rarity these days.

Samsung Galaxy S7 edge

Price: $749 - $799 

The larger variant of the Galaxy S7 is not only larger in size, it also arrives with a compelling hardware feature on board - thanks to its curved screen, the phone is considered by many as being among the most visually-appealing ones at the moment. Well, that edge display also allows users to access various features of the phone easily, but that's not as useful as you might think. Regardless, it's an excellent phone with lots of other useful features and pretty good all-around performance. With the very same hardware setup that powers the Galaxy S7, but with a larger, 3,600mAh battery, the S7 edge is the very best Android device right now.

Samsung Galaxy S7

Price: $649.99 - $669.99

Samsung's current flagship smartphone is certainly the very best Android device at the moment. It's an excellent all-around performer that hardly boasts any flaws. With a posh design, excellent build, admirable performance and extremely good camera, the Galaxy S7 is a fan favorite. You can't go wrong with this one. With a top-end Snapdragon chipset (Exynos in non-US markets), 4GB RAM,3.000mAh battery, and a very good Super AMOLED display aboard, the Galaxy S7 has all the bells and whistles that make a good flagship. Add up the waterproof glass/metal body, the microSD card slot, and the excellent 12MP camera at the back, and you have yourself a winner.

LG G5

Price: $624 - $688.99

The LG flagship is pioneering a pretty promising niche in a niche - that of modular smartphones. You can pop off the lower part of the phone and easily swap the battery or employ any of LG's Friends, i.e. additional modules for the handset that range from external DAC to a camera grip. While the concept is pretty appealing, there are still some issues that need to be ironed out. Don't take us wrong, the G5 is an excellent phone, though it falls a bit short compared with the Galaxy S7 and S7 edge. Still, it's a pretty good offering for all those who want a great camera, removable battery, a rather bright display, and reliable fingerprint scanner. Of course, the LG Friends modules are another intriguing selling point, but  we can't call them a "must-have" just yet. 

HTC 10

Price: $549

Although it might seem a bit mundane due to the lack of any "еxciting" feature, the HTC 10 is an excellent all-around device that offers a consistent user experience. Being a flagship, it arrives with excellent hardware and also one of the best Android manufacturer skins around, Sense 8 UI. The official price of the device has been gradually lowered down to $549, which is 150 dollars lower than the initial price tag of $699.

Sony Xperia XZ

Price: $699

The Xperia XZ has some things going for it: it has stylish looks and a clean design, it’s conveniently water-proof and features properly positioned dual front-firing speakers. However, there are just so many places where it falls short, especially compared to the strong competition: its display features bluish and not properly balanced colors, it sometimes stutters, it has a fairly scarce 20GB of user-available storage space, its camera is slow and often counter-intuitive, with images and videos that are not on the same level as the ones from iPhones and Galaxies, it lacks quick charging and in the United States it even ships without a fingerprint scanner.

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Analyst Ming-Chi Kuo believes iPhone 7 demand has peaked, predicts yearly sales decline

The final quarter of 2016 might not be the most prolific for Apple's sales, as renowned KGI Securities analyst Ming-Chi Kuo believes that demand for the iPhone 7 has peaked – just two months after its announcement. His reasons to think iPhone shipment forecasts will have to be revised include lack of technological surprises in the 4.7-inch iPhone 7 and shorter times for delivering online orders of the formerly hard-to-procure iPhone 7 Plus, which could imply slowing demand. However, the analyst isn't fixated on the latter, noting that fixed manufacturing capacity is also a factor in defining whether a device goes out-of-stock.

However, Kuo has reiterated that a year-over-year iPhone shipment decline is possible in the first quarter of 2017, due to the lower-than-expected demand and the strong competition in China, which keeps Apple from capturing highly desirable market share in the country. Low-cost domestic smartphones and intense shopping promotions, such as festivals and flash sales will make it hard for foreign brands to benefit from the Holiday season shopping sprees.

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LG V20 Review

Introduction

Power user – this is a term associated with individuals who operate a computing device with advanced skills and elevated privileges. In other words, that is someone who knows their gadgets inside out and, more importantly, who knows how to make the most of them. The LG V10 was a phone suitable for that kind of folks. Released about a year ago in a limited number of markets, it was quite the unusual handset – large, rugged, and packed to the brim with outstanding features, including a secondary display, dual front-facing cameras, premium sound hardware, and full manual camera controls.

Fast-forward to present day, and the LG V20 is here to pick up where the V10 left off. Sticking to the same formula, this new and improved model comes with a sizzling-hot specs sheet complemented by a list of goodies to wow the tech crowd. We’re talking about an enhanced secondary screen, dual cameras at the back with full manual controls, a Quad DAC setup for superior sound reproduction capabilities, microphones good enough to record a concert in high fidelity, and all of that sprinkled with a sweet dash of Android 7.0 Nougat. 

To say the least, the LG V20 is a phone that tech enthusiasts, audiophiles, and media creators would be intrigued by, but does it live up to the high expectations that it sets? I spent some time in its company to find out.

Design

Durability over grace is the main theme with this extra-large handset.

When the team and I saw the LG V20 for the first time, it wasn’t a case of love at first sight. The phone appeared tough and manly, but lacked in elegance and sophistication, not unlike the Tumbler Batmobile. And you know what, I’d say that I’m okay with that, now that I’ve used the V20 for a while. Sure, it isn’t gorgeous, but what it lacks in grace, it makes up for in durability. 

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Google Pixel vs Apple iPhone 7

Introduction

What's the quintessential Android smartphone now? With Apple and iOS, it's easy, and while there will be a holdout or two shouting about the virtues of the iPhone SE until no one's left to listen, it's not at all controversial to award the iOS version of that honor to the iPhone 7. But with Android? There was a time we'd point to the uber-popular Samsung flagships as probably the most obvious example of how to successfully make an Android phone, but with the huge PR hit the Galaxy brand has taken as a result of the Note 7meltdown, we're accepting new nominations.

As fate would have it, Samsung's struggles coincide with the launch of Google's own phones, its first models to bear the Pixel name. And while Nexus devices of years past may have been received more as tech demos, or hardware for fanboy enthusiasts (though that image has been lightening in recent years), Google's really going out of its way with the Pixel phones to make a big commercial push, getting smartphone shoppers excited about unique hardware that taps into the Android software and service ecosystem at a core level.

Times may change as we roll into the new year and get to meet the next generation of Android heavyweights, but for now, the Pixel is arguably the best example of what Google's smartphone platform has to offer. 

Now that we've identified the Androidiest Android and the iPhoneiest iPhone, what better to do than to see how these two phones at the top of their game stack up against each other? They're very different handsets, sure, but what does each have to offer – where are their strengths and weaknesses? You're about to find out, as we compare the Google Pixel against the Apple iPhone 7.

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Leakster says: Android 7 Nougat coming to the HTC 10 in Europe really soon

Back in August, HTC promised that owners of their latest flagship — the HTC 10 — and its one-year-old HTC One M9 and One A9 should expect an Android 7 Nougat update some time in Q4 of 2016. Well, we are well into the middle of Q4 and said users may be getting a bit anxious. Back in October, a benchmark leak showed us that there is (allegedly) a Nougat-based UI on an HTC 10 somewhere out there. Well, it seems that it may be almost ready for a full release!

According to ROM developer and HTC leakster with a respectable track record LlabTooFeR, European HTC 10 units will receive its major Android 7.0 (not 7.1?) update by the end of November or the beginning of December. Nothing is said about the US crowd, but we don't imagine it would take long for the new software to cross the pond. Unless your phone has been issued by a carrier — that usually results in some delays.

What's the big deal? Well, Nougat brings about new features, such as "App Shortcuts" (long-press acts like the iPhone's 3D Touch), actionable notifications, multi-window, better Doze mode, and lots more. Being a relatively light Android re-skin, Sense is most likely to benefit from those features.

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Poll: would the presence of an audio jack sway your smartphone buying decision?

So, the HTC Bolt is now official and so is its lack of a 3.5 mm headphone jack. Yup, HTC went the way of Apple and got rid of this “archaic technology”, supposedly to make more room inside the handset for other components and for easier water-proofing of the device. Whatever the reason, we could easily be witnessing the start of a trend here. The Moto Z and Moto Z Force also do not have a dedicated stereo jack, and some less-known Android phone manufacturers have also done this on a model or two. We wouldn't be surprised if about 40% of next year's flagships lack the headphone port. Or, if not next year, the year after that.

So, how do you feel about this supposed future? Do you reckon you'd abandon your manufacturer of choice if they omit the headphone jack from their next flagship, or is it not enough of a feature to make you jump ship and buy a different phone? Let us know!

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The HTC Bolt and its USB-C earphones adapt to your ears to sound their best; here's how the magic happens

Last week, we added another handset to the list of modern smartphones without a headphone jack. The phone in question is the HTC Bolt, and in its box, you'll find a pair of earphones that plug into its USB Type-C port. "That's ridiculous" you might be thinking to yourself right now, but there's a good reason why you should keep reading before reaching for that pitchfork. You see, HTC didn't drop the analog standard in favor of a digital solution only because the cool kids are doing it. It is aiming to deliver a superior listening experience, and frankly, its approach sounds pretty clever.

It all starts with the premise that the way the user's ear is structured can have an effect on sound fidelity – kind of like how your voice sounds all weird and funny if you speak through a hollow pipe, but on a much smaller scale. Yet everyone's ears are slightly different – both on the outside and on the inside. This is where HTC's BoomSound Adaptive Audio technology comes into play. The USB Type-C earphones bundled with the HTC Bolt can analyze the user's ear specifics using what HTC describes as "sonar-like" technology. 

The earphones detect a person's ear structure by sending sound waves to the ear canal and collecting how the sound waves reflect in the ear back to a mic built into the earphone. The return signals are sent to the phone where they are analyzed, and a personalized sound profile is created. When setting up the profile, the phone also checks for ambient noise and uses that check to further personalize the audio output. – Jeff Gordon, HTC

On a related note, the HTC Bolt is not the first phone that has the option to fine-tune its audio output to better suit the user's hearing. The HTC 10, for instance, also lets the user create a personal sound profile, but through a different calibration process. In a nutshell, it plays a series of different frequencies, and the user adjusts the volume for each tone. Based on the user's feedback, a personalized equalizer preset is created and applied. Also, an identical sound personalization option is present on higher-end Samsung phones (Galaxy S4 and newer) under the name Adapt Sound. 

Going back to the HTC Bolt, we must stress on one thing – it is in no way guaranteed to be the best-sounding smartphone you've ever heard. While the BoomSound Adaptive Audio technology might have potential, it will be of little use to an audio enthusiast who doesn't find the bundled earphones good enough. They'll also be disappointed by the fact that Type-C to 3.5mm audio adapters are coming no earlier than December. Yet we'll remain optimistic for the time being, hoping that the Bolt delivers the "unique audio adventure" that it promises. Expect our in-depth review to land in the near future.

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No place left at the Android 7.0 Nougat beta table for your Galaxy S7? Here's how to sideload it

Samsung made the S7 and S7 edge Nougat beta official through the Galaxy Beta Program app the other day, expanding the countries that will dole out the sweet desert from its servers to U.S., U.K., and, shortly, China. 

There are caveats, of couse - in the UK, the beta will be available only on "a non-operator locked device or have purchased an open market version," and overall it will be distributed on a first-come-first-served basis, so no need to hurry up, the invites might have been taken already. Ditto for the US. Fret not, though, as you can sideload the thing with minimum trouble - no need for root, TWRP, etc. -  following the steps below.

Needless to say, this is still a pre-release version, so there might be more bugs and freezes than usual, but the new Samsung UX version with a lot of features brought over from the Note 7, and a lot more visual polish, seems worth the troubles. Here's what you need to do to get it if you have the G930F model (for some carrier models the Nougat beta will arrive today or over the weekend as you can see in the screenshot on the right):

1. First and most important order of business - go to the "Lock screen and security" settings, and set up a PIN number! You will be asked for one on first reboot after the official Nougat firmware is installed. Go to Settings > Lock screen and security > Secure startup > Require PIN when device powers on;

2. Download and extract Samsung's firmware upgrade Odin software, v3.11.1;

3. Download the Android 7.0 Nougat beta firmware for your Galaxy S7 G930F model;

4. Press and hold Home + Power + Volume Down buttons to enter download mode on your phone;

5. Start Odin on your computer, and connect the phone to it until you get the blue sign in Odin;

6. In Odin, add the respective firmware files in the slots on the right, and make sure the Re-partition box on the left isn't checked;

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Kyocera DuraForce Pro and its action camera capabilities land on Sprint's network

Remember the Kyocera DuraForce Pro, the rugged smartphone that features a wide-angle action camera and decent hardware specs overall? The phone landed on AT&T's network back in late August but now Sprint subscribers can get one too. 

The main highlight of the DuraForce Pro is its unusual camera setup. The regular 13MP back camera is flanked by a wide-angle (135-degree) action camera that lets users snap photos and shoot video in a GoPro-like fashion.

Maintaining Kyocera's tradition of selling rugged smartphones, the DuraForce Pro is dust- and water-resistant and can also survive drops from up to 5 feet. Those IP68 and Military Standard 810G certifications make perfect sense on a phone that aims to double as an action camera. 

The raw specs are not too shabby either. The hardware includes a 5-inch display running at a perfectly acceptable resolution of 1080 by 1920 pixels, a Qualcomm Snapdragon 617 SoC with an octa-core processor, 2GB of RAM and 32GB of expandable internal storage, and a 3240mAh battery. Other specs include a dedicated button for EPTT as well as a side-mounted fingerprint scanner.

Sprint will price the Kyocera DuraForce Pro at $18 per month for 24 months or a total retail price of $432.00. That's out of Kyocera's usual pricing range, but the DuraForce Pro does up the ante with its neat action camera and decent hardware specs.

The Kyocera DuraForce Pro was rumored to make its way to T-Mobile as well, although nothing was confirmed yet.

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