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Researchers say some Android phone makers hide missed updates
A number of Android phones have a tendency to skip the occasional security patch while making it appear that the device is fully up to date, Wired reports. Researchers with Security Research Labs (SRL) looked into 1,200 phones from manufacturers like Google, Samsung, Sony, Nokia, Huawei, Motorola, LG, HTC, ZTE and TCL and found that there's often a gap between what the phones say have been updated and what patches have actually been installed. "It's small for some devices and pretty significant for others," SRL founder Karsten Nohl told Wired.
BlackBerry wants you to shill in return for prizes
Let's say you're in charge of marketing BlackBerry phones. You don't have nearly as much cachet as you did in BlackBerry's heyday, and all the social media buzz tends to surround the latest Galaxy or iPhone. What do you do? If you're TCL, it's simple: turn the fans into marketers. It's launching a BlackBerry Smartphone Fan League that rewards the faithful for sharing social network posts, creating original posts about their phones, filling out surveys and recruiting more into their fold. Participants earn points they can use to enter weekly and monthly contests, and they'll also have access to closed beta tests for new features.
TCL's wallet-friendly 6-Series Roku TVs will be available by May 1st
Earlier this year, TCL announced that it was once again teaming with Roku on a line of affordably priced 4K TVs. We now know that the 6-Series television sets will debut by May 1st, though some of the pricing is still unclear.
BlackBerry calls 2017 a success amid reports of soft sales
TCL unveiled the Blackberry KEYOne at MWC 2017 and now, a year later, we have an idea of how well it sold as well as a glimpse into the company's outlook going forward. IDC's Francisco Jeronimo says that just 850,000 BlackBerry devices shipped last year, a very low number that's well behind those of companies like Apple and Samsung. But according to The Verge, who spoke to two members of the BlackBerry Mobile team, the company considers last year's sales a success.
Alcatel crams flagship features into its affordable smartphones
When I first saw its 2018 phone lineup, Alcatel was clear: Its plan for this year was to make premium smartphone features available for much less than typical flagship prices. In this case, Alcatel means giving 18:9 screens, fingerprint sensors, and elaborate camera setups to as many people as possible. Based on some hands-on time here in Barcelona, Alcatel seems to have done a fine job democratizing these features; the real question is how the phones will stand up to the rest of the impressive low-cost devices we expect to see as the show goes on.
BlackBerry Mobile commits to "at least" two new phones in 2018
It wasn't that long ago that the BlackBerry brand seemed stagnant, but devices like the KEYone and the more recent Motion seem to have gotten some people feeling the faith once more. Based on a strong response from longtime fans and users who switched from other smartphones, TCL's BlackBerry Mobile has promised to release "at least" two smartphones in 2018. We're not talking about Bronze Edition-style color variants, either — these will be entirely new devices, and both of the phones BlackBerry Mobile has in mind will pack physical keyboards.
Alcatel's redesigned low-cost phones get 18:9 TCL screens
Although CES 2018 has almost every electronics company in the world announcing new devices, most phone makers are saving their big reveals for the upcoming Mobile World Congress in February. It's no surprise, then, that Alcatel didn't have new devices ready to unveil. But the company did give us a preview of the low-cost handsets it plans to give more details about later this year. The new phones will not only use (parent company) TCL's screens with 18:9 aspect ratios and feature sleek designs but also use a simplified naming system. We saw prototypes of the Alcatel 1x, 3v and 5 -- which are potential models of the sub-$100, sub-$200 and sub-$300 series, respectively.
TCL taps Roku's wireless speaker tech for its Alto soundbar
After Roku announced its wireless speaker platform last week, it's no surprise we're seeing new devices at CES with the tech built in. TCL already bakes Roku into some of its televisions, and now it's using Roku Connect for a new soundbar. The audio device will be part of TCL's Alto line, a collection of gear that company will offer that includes both "standard and smart solutions."
TCL's 6-Series Roku TVs sport a metal design, 4K and Dolby Vision HDR
Building off of the success of its budget-friendly P-Series TVs, TCL is teaming up with Roku again on new 4K HDR sets for 2018. First up, the company has introduced its 6-Series premium line, which feature a slim, metal design, Dolby Vision and will be available in 55- and 65-inch models. The 6-Series models also come with a new Roku TV voice remote, 802.11ac WiFI, Ethernet and three HDMI 2.0a ports. TCL says that its latest TVs are designed to be a powerhouse in image quality, with things like a Contrast Control Zone Technology and an HDR Pro Gamma that's meant to reproduce the smallest of details in the darkest and brightest scenes.
The best TVs and media streamers to give as gifts
Unless the person on your list already owns a smart TV, media streamers are almost fool-proof as far as gift ideas go, and they're reasonably affordable too. We put several in our holiday gift guide, including the Apple TV 4K at the high end and the Roku Ultra, which is nearly half the price. Rounding out the list, we recommend this universal remote from Logitech (though the company's cheaper models are solid, too). And, if you have the means to gift a TV (whether to yourself or someone else), we included two models in different price ranges.
The best 4K TV on a budget
By Chris Heinonen This post was done in partnership with Wirecutter, reviews for the real world. When readers choose to buy Wirecutter's independently chosen editorial picks, they may earn affiliate commissions that support their work. Read the full article here. After spending 80 hours testing new models for 2017, we found that the 55-inch TCL 55P607 is the best 4K TV if you're on a budget. Not only that, but it's also our pick for the best TV, period. Even when viewed side by side with TVs that cost two and a half times as much, the TCL won over our viewing panel. It's simply the greatest value we have ever seen in a TV.
BlackBerry Motion arrives with no keyboard and a giant battery
That didn't take long -- mere days after images emerged, BlackBerry has launched the Motion. As expected, it's effectively a KEYone without the keyboard... and a couple of extra perks. You're still looking at a mid-range device with a Snapdragon 625 chip, 4GB of RAM, 32GB of storage and a 12-megapixel rear camera, just with a 5.5-inch 1080p display taking up most of the front (there's still a fingerprint reader). However, it's what you can't see that makes the difference. The Motion is IP67 water-resistant, and it packs a whopping 4,000mAh battery. Given the middling processor, this likely translates to a phone that can easily handle a full day off the charger.
BlackBerry's water-resistant Motion revealed in leak
BlackBerry's decision to embrace Android may not restore the brand to its former glory, but it's been a promising start. We were impressed with its latest phone, the KeyOne, which catered to classicists with its hardware keyboard. But, its followup, will once again ditch the brand's defining physical characteristic -- at least, if a new leaked render is anything to go by. The image, tweeted by Evan Blass, gives us our first look at the front of the touchscreen handset.
BlackBerry KEYone Black Edition first look: More of the same
When the BlackBerry KEYone was officially unveiled at Mobile World Congress this year, we were excited for its marriage of modern Android software with an old-school keyboard. It appears lots of other people were eager for the phone, too. TCL, the company that bought the BlackBerry brand, says the KEYone "exceeded our expectations," and that it is "very happy now to expand" the line. The black edition of the phone, which has already launched in India, is coming to the rest of the world, starting with the UK, Germany, France, Canada, Japan and the Middle East. It's called the Black Edition and will cost €649 (£549 or about $700) when it arrives in mid-September. Yep, that's more expensive than the original KEYone ($549).
TCL is reportedly reviving Palm with new devices in 2018
Chinese electronics company TCL boldly claimed it would release devices under the BlackBerry name to revive the brand, and its recently-released KEYone smartphone proved them right. But according to Android Planet, the company is eyeing another classic tech name to resurrect: Palm. And they could have new devices under its name by 2018.
The three TVs that made our buyer's guide
Hot on the heels of updating our buyer's guide, we have three more additions, and they're all TVs. Of all the models out there, we've edited our selection to just three: two reasonably priced ones, and another for the "money is no object" crowd. So which nabbed the crown? You might want to revisit our Best of CES Award winners for a hint.
TCL limits its budget-friendly 4K smart TV to one size
When we picked TCL's P-Series Roku 4K Smart TV for our Buyer's and Back to School Guides, we noted a perfectly good television with an "extra-bright screen, good contrast and accurate colors" — a steal for $650. The Wirecutter named it "The Best 4K TV on a Budget," and CNET loved it. At the time, the TV was also available at a more budget and space-friendly $500, 50-inch model as well as a higher-end 65-inch display for $1000. Now the company has confirmed to Engadget that it is dropping the smaller and larger sizes and will only make the 55-inch version of this budget TV.
RCA's new Roku TVs are dirt-cheap, if you can live without 4K
RCA is the latest brand to offer a line of Roku TVs and while they aren't 4K, they are super affordable. Three models are included in the line -- 50-inch, 43-inch and 32-inch versions priced at $499, $380 and $250, respectively. The larger two models are 1080p HD while the 32-inch is 720p.
The best gear for building a home theater in your dorm
To the extent that your shoebox of a dorm will be your home for the next nine months, you should do whatever you can to make it feel cozy and inviting. To that end, we've included some home-theater items in our back-to-school guide, and we've ensured everything is reasonably compact (you can hold off on your first 65-inch set until you have your very own pad). From media streamers to speakers to a handful of small- to medium-sized TVs, you have options if you want to upgrade from watching Netflix off your 13-inch laptop.
Engadget giveaway: Win a 55-inch TCL P-Series 4K Roku TV!
TV prices are dropping and quality is on the rise, at least compared to my initial foray into HD over a decade ago. Now, you can pick up a set with 4K, HDR and a built-in streaming platform for well under a grand, like this $650 55-inch P-Series from TCL. This unit is in our Back to School guide for its bang-for-buck value, but it's also a good deal for anyone who wants to upgrade from an aging display and still save a few bucks. The P-Series offers 4K resolution paired with support for Dolby Vision HDR, along with 72 contrast zones and a wide color gamut for your viewing pleasure. On top of that, this TCL set is a Roku smart TV with access to over 4,000 streaming channels and includes a built-in tuner so you can pluck HD content from the air if you pick up an antenna. The price for this 55-inch set with these features is a pretty good deal, but thanks to TCL, one lucky winner will get one for free. All you need to do is head to the Rafflecopter widget below for up to three chances at winning this 4K HDR Roku Smart TV from TCL! Winner: Mike S. (TBC)
