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The Moto E4 Plus offers a huge battery without a huge price tag
Slowly but surely, Lenovo's Motorola is updating all of its major smartphone lines. We got the refreshed Moto Gs while traipsing around at MWC, the Moto Z2 Play just recently broke cover, and now we have a new pair of low-cost Moto E4s to consider.
Android Device Manager has a new name: Find My Device
Since Google introduced Android Device Manager in 2013 it has updated the feature periodically, but the latest change gives it a new name -- Find My Device -- and a few new features. It's now a part of the Google Play Protect service mentioned earlier during I/O, and most Android owners should see an update for it on their devices. The standard features (similar to iOS' Find My iPhone) are still intact with the ability to locate, ring, lock down or wipe your hardware remotely -- you can even Google Search "Find My Phone" to use it -- while it has added information about the current battery level and WiFi network connection. For all the latest news and updates from Google I/O 2017, follow along here.
Google Assistant now accepts typed and verbal cues
Google Assistant is becoming more conversational with better AI, but what happens when you want to ask a question that you'd rather not say out loud? Today, Google added the ability to type into Google Assistant, making it easier to converse with the AI helper -- even if you're in a loud (or extra quiet) environment. Even though the company says the new feature is available starting today, it doesn't appear to be live just yet. The ability to query Assistant with text has been part of Allo for a while, but this is the first time it's been enabled directly in Google Assistant, which is also now on your iPhone.
iPhone 8 renders point to glass back and wireless charging (updated)
Rumor has it that we won't be seeing the next flagship iPhone until much later this year, but we may have just the right thing to keep y'all entertained for the time being. Earlier this week, a reliable source in the accessory industry showed Engadget a highly detailed CAD file of the "iPhone 8's" chassis, which allowed us to generate several renders for publishing. The most obvious takeaway here is the dual camera's new orientation, and that both the microphone plus the flash will be part of the camera bump.
Xiaomi still isn't ready to sell phones in America
Whenever I write about a new Xiaomi product these days, the response is usually sour comments along the lines of, "Why bother telling us when these won't be coming to our side of the world?" I, too, get frustrated (as if the poor data connection in Beijing wasn't enough to wind me up), because it has indeed been a long wait since I attended Xiaomi's first product launch almost six years ago. That bitterness has only gotten worse as the company's smartphones have become increasingly more appealing. Case in point: There are no plans for its new Mi 6 to enter the US or Europe. Meanwhile, Shenzhen-based OnePlus -- a much smaller and younger competitor, mind you -- has been able to form impressive lines in the US, UK and other places Xiaomi doesn't dare go.
Xiaomi Mi 6 mimics the iPhone's camera tricks without the bump
After the swanky limited edition Mi MIX, you'd think it'd be pretty hard for Xiaomi to top that with its next flagship phone, but the new Mi 6 unveiled today still had some tricks up its sleeve. First off, the company has revived the Mi 5's awesome curved glass back design along with a special ceramic edition, and this time it's complemented by a piece of 2.5D front glass panel plus two new color options: metallic blue and glossy silver. To my surprise, Xiaomi has also gone back to the more expensive stainless steel (as used on the Mi 4) instead of aluminum for the mid-frame: not only is it tougher, but it's also more luxurious with that high-gloss finish -- a much welcomed feature on the blue version's gold-colored frame.
Early Galaxy S8 owners complain of red-tinted screens
Samsung started shipping the Galaxy S8 to customers in South Korea who pre-ordered the flagship phone almost a full week ago. They were probably thinking of how lucky they were to get the phone early until some of them noticed something off about their screen. According to multiple reports posted on Korean forums like PPOMPPU and social networks like Instagram, some S8 units' displays have a very noticeable reddish tint. It's unclear how widespread the issue is, but it seems to be serious enough for "Galaxy S8 Red Screen" to be a trending search term on Korean search engine Naver.
FCC axes plan to allow phone calls on flights
There hasn't exactly been a groundswell of support for in-flight phone calls in the US, and regulators are now ready to drop the idea. FCC Chairman Ajit Pai has proposed that his agency cancel a 2013 proceeding that would have let people make cellphone calls on aircraft. It's in the "public interest," he claims, and removing the option from the table would be a win for people who "value a moment of quiet" in the skies.
Bipartisan bill aims to curb warrantless phone searches at the border
The Trump administration revealed its "extreme vetting" procedures on Tuesday and hoo boy, are they draconian. They'll require foreign visitors -- even close allies like France and Germany -- to potentially reveal passwords, phone contacts and even financial records in order to enter the country. Americans are being searched as well, with Border Patrol forces increasingly demanding the same information from US citizens as they cross the border, but a newly introduced bicameral bill could help safeguard their privacy.
Telegram's voice calls are secured by emojis
Questions about security have plagued messaging app Telegram recently, since the platform was supposedly cracked by Russia's state security agency during the election. Telegram uses its own security protocols instead of more tried-and-true options, which has been a point of criticism. Now, Telegram is adding voice calls to its offerings, and those calls will be secured by emojis.
Microsoft has its own version of the Samsung Galaxy S8 (updated)
Samsung has been bundling Microsoft apps like Skype, OneDrive, OneNote and more on its phones and tablets for a while now. However, when it comes to the Galaxy S8, the two companies are taking their partnership a step further. Microsoft is selling a Samsung Galaxy S8 Microsoft Edition and it's accepting pre-orders starting today at its retail stores in the US ahead of the April 21st launch.
Verizon offers pre-paid FiOS service plans
Verizon announced on Monday that it is making its FiOS fiber-optic data, voice and television package available as a pre-paid service. That means you won't need to submit to a credit check, pay a deposit fee or even leave a credit card number to get access.
T-Mobile upgrades its unlimited plan again to one-up AT&T
T-Mobile added HD video streaming and 10GB of LTE hotspot tethering to its unlimited One plan earlier this month, possibly as a response to Verizon's new unlimited data plan. Yes, the mobile carrier wars have been intense lately, and they're getting even hotter. Just hours after AT&T announced it was also adding 10GB of tethering data to its unlimited plan, T-Mobile fired back with another tweak to its One plan. Now, new and existing customers with two lines can get a third for free.
The Morning After: Monday, February 27 2017
Welcome to your Monday. The world's premier mobile show, MWC, kicked off over the weekend, and the biggest launch might have been a 17-year-old dumbphone. Yes, as rumors suggested, Nokia (well, the company that now owns its phone branding) has resurrected the 3310. That was just the start, however.
LG G6 ditches modularity in favor of essentials
LG's handful of recent teasers for its new G6 flagship left us wondering if there'd be any surprises left for us at its launch event today. Back in early January, the company was rather frank about moving away from the G5's modular design due to a lack of consumer interest, followed by a promise of increased safety measures after the Samsung Note 7 fiasco. While it may seem as if LG has taken a more conservative approach this time, it used three teasers to emphasize the G6's unique 18:9 "FullVision" display.
Live from LG's G6 Day at Mobile World Congress!
The time has come. The LG G6 hasn't exactly been a well-kept secret, but we're poised to finally meet the company's new handset in Barcelona. Keep your browser locked here to our liveblog to catch all the news as it happens. And who knows -- we may even be in for a few surprises.
Get your LG MWC 2017 liveblog here
Coming to you live from Barcelona, we're delivering coverage of the LG MWC 2017 press event. Keep it locked here for all the news as it's announced at 12:00PM CET (6:00AM ET). We're expecting to finally meet the much-teased G6 in an official capacity. Who knows, we might hear some news about a few accessories as well. Whatever the case may be, we'll bring you all the news as it's announced here in Spain. We'll have all the announcements here in our liveblog starting at noon local time.
We're live from MWC 2017 in Barcelona!
It's the end of February, which means we're back in Barcelona once again. For the next few days, we'll bringing you coverage of Mobile World Congress 2017 as news breaks here in Spain. BlackBerry kicks things off with a press conference this evening before the likes of LG, Motorola, Samsung, Sony and many more take the stage at the start of the week. To easily follow all the announcements as they happen, click the link down below. Click here to catch up on the latest news from MWC 2017.
Amazon Echo and Google Home want to be your new house phone
Right now, you can order a pizza, manage your to-do list and call an Uber on Amazon Echo and Google Home. The latest development from the smart speakers would give us yet another reason to leave our phones in our pocket. The Wall Street Journal reports that Amazon and Google are considering adding telephone functionality to their devices, but it won't be easy.
The LG G6 promises superior sound with an upgraded quad-DAC
Details continue to emerge about LG's upcoming G6 smartphone, and today the company revealed that the device will feature a 32-bit quad-DAC system promising improved sound quality.
