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Monday, August 31, 2020
Sennheiser's CX 400BT are its most affordable true wireless earbuds yet
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This could be our first look at the OnePlus 8T
The phone's tech specs, however, still remain a mystery.
What you need to know
- A render of OnePlus' next flagship phone has been found in the latest Android 11 Developer Preview for the OnePlus 8 series.
- The render suggests the OnePlus 8T will look just like the current OnePlus 8, at least from the front.
- The OnePlus 8T is rumored to come with Qualcomm's latest Snapdragon 865+ chipset and a 64MP primary camera.
OnePlus' next flagship phones may not look very different from the company's current OnePlus 8 and 8 Pro models. A render of the upcoming OnePlus 8T has been found in the fourth Android 11 Developer Preview for the OnePlus 8 series.
The leaked render reveals the design of the upcoming OnePlus 8T from the front, which appears to be nearly identical to the current OnePlus 8. It features a tiny hole-punch cutout in the top-left corner of the display with slim bezels all around. OnePlus doesn't usually introduce major design changes with its T series flagships, so it isn't surprising that the OnePlus 8T looks fairly similar to its predecessor.
OnePlus' 8T series phones are expected to feature Qualcomm's latest Snapdragon 865+ processor, paired with at least 8GB of RAM and 128GB storage. In the camera department, the OnePlus 8T and 8T Pro phones are rumored to come equipped with 64MP primary sensors.
While there is no word yet on exactly when the OnePlus 8T series will be announced, we expect the duo to arrive sometime in the fourth quarter of the year. The OnePlus 7T series was launched in October last year, while the 6T and 5T series made their debut in November.
Get More OnePlus 8
OnePlus 8 & 8 Pro
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What's on TV this week: 'Mulan,' 'The Boys,' 'Tony Hawk' and 'NBA 2K21'
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'Pokémon Go' will stop working on old Android and iOS devices in October
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Facebook threatens to block all news in Australia
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Twitter makes sure Quote Tweets are just one click away
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Google is bringing a kids mode to some Android tablets
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Lenovo is giving premium Android tablets another go
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Motorola's latest mid-range phone is a sub-$500 stunner with 5G
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Lenovo's new $50 smart clock keeps things stupid simple
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Facebook and Instagram reveal content ‘recommendation guidelines’
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Lenovo's latest flagship Yoga laptops are clad in leather
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Netflix offers a collection of original movies and shows for free
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Grab a free Philips Hue smart bulb and $30 off Amazon's Echo Studio
Not only is Amazon's Echo Studio discounted by $30, but you can also choose the option that includes a Philips Hue smart bulb and get it at no extra cost. The bulb itself is worth about $30, so you're saving $60 total with this deal. The Echo Studio normally goes for around $200. The lowest price we've ever seen it drop to was around $150, but that deal came from a different retailer and required some coupon finessing. This is basically just a direct drop and includes the freebie smart bulb you wouldn't have gotten during that previous sale.
The review of the Echo Studio last November gave it 4.5 stars out of 5 and a The Best badge. Daniel Bader said, "...this is the speaker to buy for anyone who wants to play in the big leagues of sound without getting overly complicated. The Echo Studio has enough amplification to fill a room without distorting and the aural chops to back it up, including three 2-inch mid-range speakers providing distinct coverage directions, along with a front-firing 1-inch tweeter and a downward-facing woofer."
The Studio uses five speakers to create that immersive and powerful sound, and it's also compatible with Dolby Atmos. It doesn't matter where you place the Studio, either. It can optimize its sound based on any room. It automatically senses how the acoustics are in any space and fine-tunes the playback.
The Amazon Alexa voice assistant built right in lets you control the speaker and all its features with your voice. You can even control your regular smart home, stream from your favorite apps, and more. You can use Alexa to control Zigbee-compatible devices with the Studio, a feature that's only available in select Amazon devices.
If you just want to dive into lossless audio and music streaming and don't want Alexa listening in on you, the Studio is outfitted with plenty of privacy controls. You can even electronically disconnect the mics if you prefer it that way.
The bulb is easy to setup. Just make sure your Echo Studio is set up, plug in the bulb, and say "Alexa, discover my devices." Your Studio will walk you through the rest.
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Motorola One 5G has a Snapdragon 765 and 90Hz display for under $500
The phone is heading to AT&T and Verizon in the U.S.
What you need to know
- The Motorola One 5G is Motorola's most affordable 5G phone for the U.S.
- Key specs include a Snapdragon 765, a 6.7-inch 90Hz display, and a 5,000 mAh battery.
- It'll have a "sub-$500" price when it launches on AT&T and Verizon later this year.
It's a new day, which means it must be time for a new Motorola phone. 2020 has seen the company usher in a lot of devices, with its latest one being the Motorola One 5G. It's an exact copy of the Moto G 5G Plus that launched in Europe back in July, though the handset is now heading to the U.S. with a much better name.
It can be easy to feel overwhelmed and tired with all of the phones Motorola's released thus far, but the Motorola One 5G does have the potential to be one of the most interesting releases of the year. Starting with the display, you get a 6.7-inch Full HD+ panel with HDR10 and a 90Hz refresh rate. There are two hole-punch cutouts to accommodate the 16MP and 8MP dual selfie cameras, the latter of which is an ultra-wide lens.
Speaking of cameras, the back of the Motorola One 5G is home to a total of four — a 48MP primary camera, 5MP macro camera with a "Ring Light" flash around the sensor, 8MP ultra-wide camera, and a 2MP depth camera. You'll also notice that there's no fingerprint sensor on the back, and that's because it's on the right frame and built into the power button.
As for other key specs of the Motorola One 5G, we're looking at a Qualcomm Snapdragon 765 processor, 4GB of RAM, 128GB of expandable storage (up to 1TB), a 5,000 mAh battery, and 15W USB-C charging. You still get a 3.5mm headphone jack, and at long last, Motorola has an affordable Android phone with NFC 🙌.
All of that sounds great, especially when you consider the "sub-$500" price Motorola's committed to for the phone. A final number has yet to be decided, but Motorola is trying hard to reach a number well below that $500 threshold.
Unfortunately, the Motorola One 5G does come with a couple of caveats that could keep potential buyers at bay. For starters, it's only being sold on AT&T and Verizon with no unlocked model being offered. The AT&T version is "coming soon" and will connect to the carrier's sub-6 5G networks, whereas the Verizon model will support mmWave 5G but won't be available until early October.
Just as damning is Motorola's consistently bad policy for software updates. The Motorola One 5G is guaranteed one single platform update, and since it ships with Android 10, that means it won't be updated beyond Android 11. This is always one of the weakest aspects of any Motorola phone, but it feels especially lazy this time around when Android 11 is expected to drop any day now.
The Motorola One 5G could be a solid purchase if you're an AT&T or Verizon customer and don't care that the phone will be end-of-life within a couple of months, so once we know official pricing and availability details, we'll be sure to let you know.
On the edge
Motorola Edge
$700 at Amazon $700 at Best Buy $700 at B&H
A 5G Moto phone that you can buy now
If you like the idea of the Motorola One 5G but don't want to be stuck with AT&T or Verizon, check out the Motorola Edge. It's available for purchase right now and offers a 90Hz AMOLED screen, a Snapdragon 765 processor, and a curved design that really is something.
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No curved screen? No problem for finding OnePlus Nord screen protectors!
The best OnePlus Nord screen protectors are as durable, smooth, and sensitive as the native glass, while adding an extra layer of impact protection and insurance against nicks, deformations, and scuffs. The OnePlus Nord is the first OnePlus in almost two years to not have a curved screen, meaning we have less to worry about when it comes to finding screen protectors that fit. These are the best of the bunch so far.
First-party fit
OnePlus Nord 3D Tempered Glass
Staff pick
You'll pay more for OnePlus's tempered glass screen protector, but you can be absolutely certain of the fit and finish here. Just be careful during your application because of the thin border around the camera.
Easy application
Supershieldz Tempered Glass (2-Pack)
This dual-pack from Supershieldz has one of the best installation methods around, using a pocketbook style to let you line things up. Then all you have to do is peel off the plastic and plop it perfectly into place.
Case-friendly
Mr.Shield Tempered Glass (3-Pack)
This multi-pack isn't quite as edge-to-edge, which means that it'll play nice with a wider variety of cases. Since it goes over the selfie cameras, you don't have to fret over perfect placement.
Camera clear
UniqueMe Tempered Glass (3-Pack)
Like OnePlus's screen protector, the UniqueMe tempered glass has a cutout so that there's no chance of obscuring your selfie cameras. Resistant to scratches, smudges, and shatters, this should protect your Nord well.
Bye bye bubbles
Foluu Tempered Glass (2-Pack)
This scratch-resistant screen protector has a black border around the outer edges, like OnePlus's, and it should be every bit as responsive as the native glass while protecting it from shatters and smudges.
Go slim and sleek
Supershieldz Anti Fingerprint Shield (6-Pack)
If you're not a fan of glass screen protectors, Supershieldz also makes a multi-pack of film protectors so that you can get some scratch protection without the added bulk or sensitivity loss of glass.
Why the Best OnePlus Nord screen protectors are made of tempered glass
Screen protectors come in two flavors: thinner film protectors that are cheaper and only offer scratch protection, and thicker tempered glass screen protectors that will hopefully shatter in a big fall while leaving the Nord's actual glass intact. The official OnePlus Nord 3D Tempered Glass has the best fit and finish because, after all, OnePlus puts a lot of care into its accessories. The only downside of their protector is the black border around the camera module, which can help it look like the native glass when lined up just perfectly, but can stick out if you're even a little off.
If you want a screen protector that doesn't have the black borders, go with the Supershieldz Tempered Glass. The pocketbook installation is so easy my mom can do it all on her own with no help. These tempered glass protectors have done their duty and saved phones from drops off ladders and pebbles thrown by weed-whackers. You might need to swap to the second film when something happens, but at least you won't be looking for a phone repair shop to replace the front glass of your phone.
Of course, the protection of your OnePlus Nord isn't complete until you grab yourself an excellent case to protect the back glass as well.
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Big savings on Philips Hue smart lights are here for one day only
Woot's latest sale on refurbished Philips Hue smart lighting gives newcomers the perfect opportunity to score their first setup at quite the discount. With prices starting at just $27.99, this sale includes picks such as color-changing bulbs, light strips, and even the essential Philips Hue Hub that you'll need to get the lights working properly. The only catch is that this sale is limited to just today only; these products have the potential to sell out at any moment too, so be sure to take a look and complete your purchase soon if you're interested.
Today's sale at Woot includes a good mix of Philips Hue lighting, though as mentioned previously, the one thing every setup needs is the Philips Hue Hub. If you're new to the Philips Hue ecosystem, you'll want to pick that up in today's order. Luckily, it's one the most affordable options in today's sale at just $36. It helps ensure all of your Philips Hue lights can work together and even lets you begin voice controlling them using Alexa or Google Assistant.
Alternatively, you could pick up the White + Color Ambiance A19 4-Bulb Starter Kit at $149.99. It comes with smart LED bulbs as well as the necessary hub to get them set up (and add more lights later). Once up and running, you can control the lights with the switch or remotely from your phone. You can also set timers and schedules to automate your lights and even make it seem like someone is home even when you are away. If you have a smart speaker like the Echo Dot, you can use just your voice to adjust your lighting too. This bundle is usually nearer $200 if purchased brand new.
If you're already using Hue elsewhere, you can still use this refurb sale to add some ambience to another area of your home with a 4-pack of White A19 bulbs for only $38, discounted light strips, and even Hue's Go Portable LED Table Lamp with $25 off.
Though the items in today's sale might not be brand new, each has been inspected and tested to ensure it's in proper working condition. They're certified to look and work like new, and you'll even receive a 90-day warranty with the purchase.
Be sure to take a look at the full sale at Woot to see what other options you might want to pick up today. Shipping is $6 per order, or free when you login with an Amazon Prime membership before checking out.
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Edison's new email app lets you block senders before they hit your inbox
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Are you sad that Samsung Cloud is being shut down?
Having a chat with the AC forums.
Samsung's partnership with Microsoft seems to be getting stronger with every year that passes, with the two companies finding new ways to integrate their services and products with each other.
In one of the most recent moves, it was reported that Samsung Cloud is in the process of being shut down and will be replaced by Microsoft OneDrive as the go-to cloud storage solution for Samsung devices.
This has gotten quite a few of our forum members talking, with some of them sharing the following thoughts:
bandofbrothers211208-25-2020 03:20 PM“I hope they don't personally.
Reply
bhatech08-25-2020 03:37 PM“Leave the those things to Microsoft/Google who are way better at it. Yeah I know unpopular opinion here in the Samsung forum but nevertheless my opinion. But even though personally wouldn't use Samsung cloud doesn't hurt people having choices. Probably financially makes sense for Samsung not to concentrate/invest in this area and instead partner with Microsoft.
Reply
mustang775708-25-2020 03:43 PM“This will be bad news if they do that
Reply
L0n3N1nja08-26-2020 06:51 AM“As a Verizon customer I can't use Samsung cloud. Lol Carriers blocking it might be a part of the reason they're getting rid of it. Besides why use OneDrive when Google provides 15Gb?
Reply
What about you? Are you sad that Samsung Cloud is being shut down?
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Call of Duty: Black Ops Cold War cross-gen editions and upgrades explained
Best answer: It's a complicated mess but the short answer is if you're interested in playing the next-gen version of Call of Duty: Black Ops Cold War, you should buy a cross-gen edition copy.
- Guaranteed upgrade: Call of Duty: Black Ops Cold War Cross-Gen Edition ($70 at PlayStation)
- Upgrade later on: Call of Duty: Black Ops Cold War Standard Edition (PS4) ($60 at Best Buy)
- No upgrade required: Call of Duty: Black Ops Cold War Standard Edition (PS5) ($70 at Best Buy)
- Upgrade and extras: Call of Duty: Black Ops Cold War Ultimate Edition ($90 at PlayStation)
What are the differences between Call of Duty: Black Ops Cold War cross-gen editions?
Activision has opted not to provide free next-generation upgrades for Call of Duty: Black Ops Cold War. Trying to decide which edition to get though is going to get complicated. Buckle up, because there are inconsistencies depending on whether you're getting a cross-gen version of the game on PS5 or Xbox Series X.
To try and keep things simple, we've separated this into physical and digital copies by platform, breaking down what you need to know:
Physical Editions
- If you get the PS4 physical standard edition, you can pay for a PS5 upgrade later on. This upgrade will entitle you to a digital version of the PS5 standard edition, but you'll need your PS4 disc to access it. You can also play the PS4 disc on the PS5 without upgrading.
- If you get the Xbox One physical standard edition, you can't pay for an Xbox Series X upgrade, though the game can still be played on Xbox Series X through backward compatibility.
- If you get the physical standard edition on PS5, you can't play the disc in your PS4.
- If you get the physical standard edition on Xbox Series X, you can play the disc on your Xbox One.
Digital Editions
- If you buy the digital standard edition on PS4, you can pay for a PS5 upgrade later on.
- If you buy the digital standard edition on Xbox Series X, you can pay for an upgrade later on.
- If you buy the cross-gen edition on PS4, you'll get a digital PS4 copy and a digital PS5 copy.
- If you buy the cross-gen edition on Xbox One, you'll get a digital Xbox One copy and a digital Xbox Series X copy.
- If you buy the Ultimate Edition on PS4, you'll get a digital PS4 copy and a digital PS5 copy.
- If you buy the Ultimate Edition on Xbox One, you'll get a digital Xbox One copy and a digital Xbox Series X copy.
Overall, it you plan on playing this cross-gen, it's the best idea to get the cross-gen edition. It'll cost you $70 instead the standard $60, but you can play the new game immediately and then pick it up again on your new console.
Call of Duty: Black Ops Cold War cross-gen editions What are the next-gen benefits?
The next-generation versions of Call of Duty: Black Ops Cold War will benefit from heavily-reduced load times, hardware-based ray-tracing, and 120hz refresh rate support. Players on PS5 will get to enjoy haptic feedback through the PS5 DualSense controller.
Call of Duty: Black Ops Cold War is set to release on Nov. 13 and will be available PS5, PS4, PC, Xbox Series X and Xbox One. The campaign promises a thrilling tale of player choice and espionage, while multiplayer is returning alongside the famous Zombies mode.
Our pick
Call of Duty: Black Ops Cold War Cross-Gen Edition
Two copies, one price
The cross-gen edition of Call of Duty: Black Ops Cold War is exactly what it sounds like: you get one copy for the PS4 and another for the PS5.
Basics
Call of Duty: Black Ops Cold War Standard Edition (PS4)
Simple and basic
This is the standard copy of the game on PS4 with no extra frills. You'll still be able to play it on your PS5 but it won't take advantage of the new hardware.
Upgraded
Call of Duty: Black Ops Cold War Standard Edition (PS5)
A little more special
This is the standard version of the game for the PS5. It can only be played on the PS5, but it advantage of the new system with hardware ray-tracing and heavily reduced load times.
All the extras
Call of Duty: Black Ops Cold War Ultimate Edition
Nothing missed
The Ultimate Edition includes the cross-gen edition of the game alongside tons of extras, including the battle pass and 20 tier skips. Grab this if you're going hard in Warzone.
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The Morning After: A Toyota-backed flying car completes piloted test-flight
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I'm equally excited and terrified of Amazon and Fitbit's newest wearables
A stress-tracking smartwatch sounds incredibly stressful.
Seemingly out of nowhere, 2020 is quickly shaping up to be one of the biggest years for wearable tech that we've had in a long time. Samsung's Galaxy Watch 3 proved to be a hit, there's a new Apple Watch on the horizon, OnePlus is expected to drop its first smartwatch very soon, and we have new health-focused wearables from Fitbit and Amazon. For the purpose of this editorial, those are the ones I want to focus on.
What's interesting about these two releases is that while they're coming from two very different companies, both Fitbit and Amazon are taking unique approaches to the world of holistic health. With both the Fitbit Sense and Amazon Halo wearables, we have two devices that aim to help you live a better life by focusing on things other than your step count and exercise minutes. I'm all for new ways of using technology to improve one's quality of life, but the transition of getting used to these things could be a challenge in itself.
Fitbit Sense
Let's start with the Fitbit Sense, which at first glance, looks like a pretty modest upgrade to Fitbit's Versa series of smartwatches. It does all of the usual Fitbit stuff you've come to expect, allowing you to log exercises, track your sleep, monitor your water intake, etc. None of that is going away, but on the Sense, it's joined by an all-new feature — stress tracking.
Fitbit Sense is equipped with an EDA sensor, which is able to scan your body's electrodermal activity. Electrodermal activity can measure how your body responds to stress, and on both the Sense's display and in the Fitbit app, you'll be able to see a graph of your stress throughout the day and understand how it changes over time. It's a very timely feature for the world we currently live in, and by understanding how we deal with stress, Fitbit hopes that the Sense will urge you to "understand your stress, reflect on your mood, and make time for mindfulness."
Proper stress management goes beyond an app on your phone.
All of that sounds amazing in theory, but I'm not yet convinced about its real-world performance. The idea of having my watch remind me of just how stressed I am sounds incredibly stressful on its own, and while that data can be put to good use, it's still up to you to actually do something about it. If you don't, you'll be just as stressed as before, except this time you have a screen on your wrist making sure you don't forget.
There's also the possibility that some people could see that their stress levels are high, do a recommended meditation session through the Fitbit app, and think that's all there is to it. That could be enough for some individuals, but relying on a smartwatch instead of seeing a therapist for working on your mental health is not a good alternative.
Fitbit obviously isn't responsible for what its users decide to do or not do with the data they get from something like the Fitbit Sense, but this big push of improving mental health from a consumer electronics brand instead of just seeking out a doctor all feels a bit icky to me. I have no doubt that Fitbit's intentions are good and pure, but effectively turning your mental health into another app on your phone doesn't seem all that healthy.
Amazon Halo
Perhaps even more unsettling for some people, there's the next product we need to talk about — Amazon Halo. Amazon unveiled the Halo on August 27 with virtually no fanfare, which is especially interesting given that it's the company's first-ever fitness band. It's also pretty unique in how Halo operates, as it has no on-device display and doesn't do the traditional step/exercise tracking that you get on something like a Fitbit. Instead, Halo tracks your daily activity and sleep as numbered points and uses sensors on the back to measure the intensity of your activity and the quality of your sleep.
There's nothing inherently troubling or concerning about that, but where things start to get weird is with Amazon Halo's body fat tracking. Using Halo's sensors and your phone's camera, Amazon creates a personalized 3D model of your body to show you your body fat composition, weight, and body fat percentage.
Ignoring the questions regarding how technically accurate something like this can be, it also sounds like a nightmare for someone with a disorder like body dysmorphia. Amazon isn't forcing anyone to buy Halo, but the fact that we have a device that is so heavily focused on body image is concerning. As pointed out by Dieter Bohn at The Verge, there's even a feature that allows you to move a slider and see what you would look like with less body fat. To say that's troubling would be a massive understatement.
Then there's the "Tone" feature, which sees the Halo periodically listening to your voice throughout the day and providing feedback on how you sound — whether it be friendly, delighted, overwhelmed, etc. This brings up the same concern I have with the Fitbit Sense's stress tracking, which is that it could potentially cause more stress for users than intended. I'm someone that often reflects on how I speak with people, even for something as simple as picking up my food from a restaurant. Wearing a gadget that tells me I spoke the wrong way when I was already anxious about it doesn't sound like a fun time.
Getting comfortable with the future of health care
I'm not saying any of this with the intent of bashing Fitbit and Amazon for trying something new with wearable tech. In fact, I think it's really exciting that these two companies are using their resources to try and better the lives of people through the means that they think are best.
That said, I am concerned about this transitional period. Health and technology go hand-in-hand more than ever before, especially in the world that we live in now where doctor appointments are held over video calls. The merging of these two things is great to see, but it's going to take some time for companies to learn what is and isn't appropriate for their approaches — just like we need to learn how to get comfortable with these new offerings.
A stress-monitoring watch and vocal-training fitness band might be the norm a couple of years down the road, but right now, I can't help but feel a little apprehensive.
Stress-tracker
Fitbit Sense
$330 at Amazon $330 at Best Buy
Monitor your steps, sleep, stress, and more
The Fitbit Sense is the most capable Fitbit yet, offering robust features for physical activity tracking and holistic health. It's the first Fitbit with stress-tracking, ECG readings, and a skin temperature sensor— all on top of everything you already know and love from the company.
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