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Xiaomi Mi A1 review

If you’ve been tempted by Xiaomi’s often well-designed smartphones, but put off by the custom MIUI “theme” layered over the Android software; then the Xiaomi Mi A1 is the answer to your problems. There are no software tweaks from Xiaomi because the Mi A1 runs Android One  — the Google operating system designed for low- and mid-range phones. It promises regular software and security updates, like a Google Pixel smartphone, plus all the usual Goo gle apps including the Google Play Store pre-installed. In our Xiaomi Mi A1  review, we explain how it’s not just the software that’s a winner, but the hardware too. There is one glaring flaw we should mention first: The lack of 4G LTE support in the U.S. The Xiaomi Mi A1, even the so-called Global version, won’t connect to GSM 4G networks in the U.S., meaning you’ll have to make do with 3G speeds. Buyers in the U.K. and much of Europe will be fine. We’ve had ours running on the O2 network in the U.K. without issues. Great specs, low pric
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Best Android phones (February 2017): our picks, plus a giveaway

With Android thoroughly dominating the mobile industry, picking the best Android smartphones is almost synonymous with choosing the best smartphones, period. But while Android phones have few real opponents on other platforms, internal competition is incredibly fierce. From sleek devices that impress with premium design, to powerhouses brimming with features, to all-around great devices, and affordable phones that punch above their weight, the Android ecosystem is populated by a staggering variety of attractive phones. But “greatness” is subjective, and sometimes spec sheets and feature lists are not enough to make an idea of how good a phone really is. In this roundup, we’re looking at the absolute best – the Android phones you can’t go wrong with. 1.Google Pixel and Pixel XL Google’s Pixel and Pixel XL are here, and they truly are some amazing smartphones. Not only are they the first phones to ship with the Google Assistant on board, they also come with plenty of 
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Android Pay description updated to add instructions on using Android Wear for payments

If today’s expected announcement hasn’t already tipped you off, you’ll soon be able to pay for goods and services by using Android Pay on your smartwatch. Google has updated the description of the Android Pay app on the Play Store to show us how to use the mobile payment service on Android Wear. As expected, the process is quite simple, as all you have to do is hold the watch next to the terminal until the transaction is approved. After its done, you’ll be able to view the details of the transaction on your smartwatch as well as check out previous purchases you have made by scrolling down. Of course, you’ll need an Android Wear smartwatch with an NFC chip in order to use Google’s mobile payment service. Luckily, one of them is expected to be announced today, along with Android Wear 2.0. Google has teamed up with LG and will take the wraps off two smartwatches called LG Watch Style and LG Watch Sport. The latter is the one that will sport an NFC chip and will, therefore
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Lenovo Chromebook N22 review

Chromebook N22  Chromebooks have been rising in popularity for quite a while now. They come in many different form factors and specs, but can all achieve essentially the same thing. Running Chrome OS, these notebooks can surf the web, use Chrome applications, and use Google apps in the specialized dock to do many of the things you would be able to do on a Windows or macOS notebook. Because of this, Chromebooks have become increasingly popular over the last couple of years, which is why they’ve made their way into the education sector, something that the Chromebook N22 was designed for in particular. This is the Lenovo Chromebook N22 review. Body The Lenovo Chromebook N22 is made of a thin black plastic material, and weighing just 2.7 lbs, can be thrown in a backpack without having to worry about ruining your back. It uses a clam-shell form factor which houses the keyboard and screen, which is relatively recessed into the top half of the notebook. One thing to note – this is
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After five years, the Apple v. Samsung case goes back to where it all began

Apple v. Samsung The Apple v. Samsung Electronics trial is returning to where it all began: the Northern District Court of California. After five years going through the legal system — and reaching the highest powersof the US late last year — a federal appeals court has handed the trial back to the lower San Jose court for it to decide whether additional proceedings are necessary. The case concerns Samsung’s patent infringement on Apple’s iPhone designs and how much it should pay in damages for the offence. Apple claims Samsung copied physical aspects of its phones – like rounded corners, and software features – such as representing apps as a grid of icons. The trial has been ongoing since 2012, during which time Samsung has agreed to pay more than half a billion dollars to Apple. The case reached the Supreme Court towards the end of 2016 and Samsung scored a victory when it was decided that the infringement could only be applied to device components, rather than the ent
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Xiaomi launches special edition ‘Hatsune Miku’ Redmi Note 4X

Xiaomi Xiaomi took the wraps off the Redmi Note 4X Hatsune Miku limited edition smartphone in China today. Based on the information the company shared with the public, the newly announced smartphone is identical to the Redmi Note 4  (Indian version) but will appeal to all fans of the Japanese hologram pop star. The company will announce pricing details closer to launch, which is scheduled for February 14. We do know some specs though: 5.5-inch Full HD display, Snapdragon 625, 4 GB of RAM and 64 GB of expandable storage. There’s a 4,100 mAh battery and a 13MP/5MP camera combo with a fingerprint scanner on the back. The special edition Hatsune Miku Note 4X will be available in a quite a few different colors including Hatsune Green, Champagne Gold, Matte Black, Cherry Powder, and Platinum Silver. Strangely, this version of the Note 4X doesn’t match up with some rumored high-end specs for a device with that same name. Xiaomi has partnered with Crypton Future Media, the creator
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State of Mobile Networks: USA 2017

Networks OpenSignal  is back with another yearly investigation into the state of the major mobile networks in the US. The data looks at the 3G and 4G data speeds offed by the big four – AT&T, Sprint, T-Mobile, and Verizon – along with latency data and network availability. If you’re keen to know which is the best and most reliable network to pick for your next contract, here’s the information you need to see. Data speeds According to the research, it’s a tie between Verizon and T-Mobile for the fastest 4G LTE network in the US, with 16.89Mbps and 16.65Mbps average speeds respectively (as seen by users). AT&T is not far behind on 13.68Mbps, but Sprint is considerably slower on average at just 9Mbps. Although it’s a closely-run race for 4G, T-Mobile retains its title as the fastest 3G network in the US, with 4Mbps typical, followed by AT&T on 3Mbps. Verizon and Sprint both clock in below 1Mbps, meaning a much slower experience on average when roaming out of 4G rang
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