Apple made it easy to pair AirPods across all of its devices in a matter of seconds. But just because AirPods are made by Apple and integrated with Apple products, that doesn't mean you can't use them as Bluetooth earbuds with non-Apple devices.
You can pair AirPods to an Android phone, a PC, or your Apple TV with the same Bluetooth pairing method we've grown accustomed to -- and grown to loathe, for that matter.
Open the Bluetooth settings screen on the device you're going to use your AirPods with.
With the AirPods in the charging case, open the lid.
On the back of the case is a small button, press and hold it for a few seconds.
Once the indicator light between the earbuds begins blinking white, let go.
The AirPods will show up in the pairing menu on your device, select them and follow any prompts.
Naturally, if you aren't using an Apple product you'll lose out on some features. You won't have the simplicity of switching between devices or a battery indicator. But they'll still do the job. When I briefly connected a pair of AirPods to an S7 Edge, a double-tap on either earbud paused and restarted the music.
Repeat this process on each device you want to use the AirPods with. If you run into issues during the pairing process, Apple suggests opening the lid and holding in the button on the back until the indicator light blinks amber. Let go of the button, close the lid, and try again.
Jealous that Pixel owners get to have all the VR fun? Pick up one of these newly compatible Android smartphones and you'll be Daydreamin' in no time
When Google revealed its Daydream View in October, it was announced alongside the Google Pixel and Pixel XL. These two "phones by Google" and headset were a match made in VR heaven in some ways, but that also meant you could only experience Daydream by using a Pixel.
After that, Google added compatibility to the Moto Z. Now it's expanding the list of Daydream-compatible phones a bit more with the Huawei Mate 9 Pro, Asus ZenFone AR and ZTE Axon 7.
If you're in the market for a Daydream phone, you have a few options to choose from. The six compatible phones bring different things to the table. For example, the Pixel phones will automatically get the latest Android updates as they're made available, while the Moto Z has the option to attach Moto Mod accessories. The three new phones offer their own unique features, like the dual cameras in the Mate 9 Pro, the dual SIM in the Axon 7 or Tango AR compatibility in the ZenFone AR. So which phone you pick depends on the features you want -- and the price, of course.
Luckily CNET's got your back and came up with the following chart for easy side-by-side comparison.
Huawei starts off the new year with the 5X successor, the Honor 6X, that brings a dual camera experience with a long battery life and sleek all-aluminum form factor to the US market.
Huawei is bringing the Honor 6X to the US with some important upgrades while keeping the price low at just $249.99.
Huawei announced the Honor 6X in China on 18 October 2016 and today made the US release announcement at CES in Las Vegas. The Honor 6X packs in a lot of smartphone at an affordable price and I've spent the last 10 days testing one out.
HARDWARE
In 2016, my favorite smartphone hardware maker was Huawei. There's something about 2.5D glass, beveled metal edges, an extremely fast rear fingerprint scanner, and solid performing camera. The Honor 8 is an incredible device that can be found for just around $300 with near-flagship specifications. The Honor 6X is a bigger phone and competes in the large display market with specs that are near flagship level.
Rather than having a rear beveled edge on the back of the Honor 6X, we see that Huawei took the sides and curved it into the back panel so the phone fits well in your hand. The dual cameras are positioned on top of each other, like the Mate 9, and also have a bump that sticks out the back. The fingerprint sensor is centered below the cameras.
The SIM/microSD card slot tray is on the left with the volume and power buttons on the right. The mono speaker and microUSB port are found on the bottom. An IR port and the 3.5mm headset jack are on top.
Specifications of the Honor 6X include:
Processor:HiSilicon Kirin 655 octa-core
Display: 5.5 inch 1920 x 1080 pixels resolution IPS LCD, 403 ppi
Operating system: Emotion UI 4.1 built on Android 6.0 Marshmallow
RAM:3 GB
Storage:32 GB internal storage with microSD storage card
Cameras:12 megapixel and 2 megapixel dual rear cameras. 8 megapixel front facing camera
Wireless technology:FM radio, NFC, 802.11 b/g/n WiFi, Bluetooth 4.1
Battery:3,340 mAh battery with fast charging technology
Dimensions:150.9 x 76.2 x 8.2 mm and 162 grams
The Honor 8 has an USB Type-C port, but the Honor 6X still has a microUSB port on the bottom for charging up the device. You will still find a 3.5mm headset jack, as well as a FM radio.
The camera performs well and may be one of the best I've ever used at this price point. I included inside, exterior, outside sunset, and wide aperture photos from the Huawei Mate 9 and Honor 6X in my image gallery below. The Honor 6X will likely satisfy most folks, especially if photos are just shared on social networks.
SOFTWARE
The Honor 6X runs Emotion UI 4.1 and Honor stated it will be upgraded to version 5.0 in the future. While some people have issues with EMUI, I find it to be a functional UI that adds to Android without being overly complicated or obtrusive.
There is no app drawer in EMUI 4.1, but you can always install something like the Google Now Launcher and be satisfied with the home screen experience. The software performs the same as the Honor 8 so check out that review if you are interested in EMUI 4.1.
One aspect of the dual camera Huawei devices like the P9, Mate 9, and Honor 8 is the advanced camera software. While the iPhone and Google Pixel devices have a very basic camera user interface, Honor brings an advanced experience similar to what we see on Samsung and LG phones. You will find wide aperture mode, professional mode, food mode, perfect selfie, beauty mode, makeup mode for the front camera, panorama, HDR, watermark, audio note, ultra snapshot, best photo, smile snapshot, audio control, timer function, touch to capture, and time-lapse mode.
Honor is a brand that targets millennials and believes that providing slick camera functions is better than a simple automatic interface. I personally enjoy using some of these modes and get more comments from people when I take unique shots using these modes.
INITIAL EXPERIENCES
I've had the Honor 6X in hand for about 10 days and if I wasn't such a flagship-loving smartphone user I could easily get by with a device like the Honor 6X. People who are looking for great value and solid specifications may want to consider the 6X. It's nice to have a smartphone that lasts a couple of days and helps you be creative with photography.
The Honor 6X has dual cameras for faster focus and wide aperture tricks. The main rear camera is a 12 megapixel shooter, but the second one is only 2 megapixels. It is not a monochrome lens like the Huawei P9 and Mate 9, but is a color one that is used to improve focus times and provide wide aperture effects.
Huawei has some fantastic hardware design language and the Honor 6X continues that trend. It definitely does not feel like a low price Android smartphone and thankfully it also performs better than you would expect for a mid-level device.
People looking for a big screen phone at a very affordable price will appreciate the Honor 6X. It will be available on Amazon, Newegg, ebay, and other online retailers with in-store available in Best Buy, Costco, and others. You will be able to purchase the Honor 6X for $249.99 in gray, gold, and silver.
The 2017 Galaxy A7, A5 and A3 are aimed at young, trendy phone buyers who may be looking for devices that don't cost a fortune.
Samsung's Galaxy A5 and A7 are ready for 2017.Photo by Samsung
Samsung is kicking off 2017 with budget-phone buyers in mind.
The electronics giant on Monday introduced its updated Galaxy A series phones: the 5.7-inch A7, 5.2-inch A5 and 4.7-inch A3. The 2017 versions of these phones come with a handful of upgrades, like IP68 water and dust resistance and improved 16-megapixel front- and rear-facing cameras.
Samsung's Galaxy A range of phones is designed for a younger, trendier crowd who can't afford its high-end flagships. While many eyes are trained to the upcoming Samsung Galaxy S8, those seeking a lower-cost phone may want to shift focus to the 2017 A series.
The Galaxy A will be available in Russia in early January and later expanded to global markets. Samsung didn't immediately respond to a request for more information on availability and pricing.
With phone display sizes getting bigger and bigger, the biggest way of distinguishing between Samsung's Galaxy phones and Galaxy Notes has been the stylus support for the latter - but that could be about to change over the next 12 months.
Rumors coming out of China are suggesting that when the Samsung Galaxy S8shows up, it's going to come with the option of an S Pen accessory, the stylus that until now has been exclusively bundled with (and integrated into) the Note devices.
In fact, reports suggest that some Galaxy S8 prototypes did indeed feature an integrated stylus. Apparently that idea has now been shelved, but you can still pick up an S Pen as an added extra to use with your S8 phone.
Shuffling the Samsung pack
So what does this mean for the Galaxy S8 and indeed the Note 8 - if the rumors are true? It might point to an even larger pair of screen sizes for next years phones, and the 5.7-inch and 6.2-inch display size points have been mooted.
It could also suggest that Samsung is planning to ditch the Note series completely and focus all of its attention on the phones - one of which would effectively become the new Note - though that does contradict earlier reports.
Based on what we've heard so far, it sounds like Samsung is intent on pulling out all the stops to make sure its 2017 is much better than its 2016 was.
MIL-STD 810G/IP67 ruggednessFewer apps avaible that on
Windows Continuum supportLeading mobile platforms
Desk Dock and Lap Dock options
Excellent battery life
Good security and manageability features
HP has come up with what may be the most compelling Windows 10 Mobile phone yet -- the Elite x3. According to the company, this phablet-sized handset is "the one device that's every device". Deconstructed, that means the Elite x3 is part of a suite of kit that stretches its capabilities well beyond its 5.96-inch display and on-screen keyboard.
To that end, HP is selling the Elite x3 in bundles that include a Desk Dock (providing a range of connectors), and a Lap Dock (a 12.5-inch 'dumb' laptop), along with a flexible computing experience centred around HP Workspace and Windows Continuum.
We waited (and waited) for HP to deliver us a Lap Dock to review, but in the end our patience wore thin, and so we're reviewing the Elite x3 and Desk Dock, a bundle that costs £673.20 (inc. VAT, or £561 ex. VAT) in the UK ($799 in the US). Expect an update when the Lap Dock -- which costs $599 in the US -- finally shows up.
The 5.96-inch Elite x3 Windows 10 Mobile phablet can be attached to a desktop monitor via the Desk Dock, or used in conjunction with the laptop-format Lap Dock.
Images: HP Inc.
Some are saying that the Elite x3 and HP's hardware/software ecosystem approach is the last chance for Windows 10 Mobile to prove itself. Be that as it may, what the Elite x3 must do is hold its own compared the high-end smartphone competition. Comparable flagship phablets -- all with 5.5-inch screens -- include the iPhone 7 Plus at £719, Google Pixel XL at £719 and Samsung Galaxy S7 Edge at £629.99.
Design and build quality are very important at this end of the market, and fortunately HP has put in a lot of effort here. Not only does it look smart, the Elite x3 is also tough, meeting both the MIL-STD 810G and IP67 standards. The former covers a range of environmental conditions, while an IP67 rating signifies that the handset is 'dust tight' and can withstand submersion in up to 1m of water for up to 30 minutes.
A slightly rubbery finish to the back and sides makes the Elite x3 nicely grippy, which is important for such a big phone. The phablet-sized 5.96-inch screen means an overall footprint of 83.5mm wide by 161.8 mm deep, and 7.8mm thick. This I found too large for the pockets that normally accommodate my everyday phone; it was also a little unwieldy in the hand -- I couldn't reach right across the screen for one-handed use, for example.
Of course, the Elite x3's size also makes for a heavier than average handset. It tips the scales at 194g, compared to 188g for the iPhone 7 Plus, 168g for the Google Pixel XL and 157g for Samsung's Galaxy S7 Edge.
The AMOLED screen's resolution of 1,440 by 2,560 pixels delivers extremely sharp content with a pixel density of 494ppi (ahead of the iPhone 7 Plus's 401ppi, but behind the Google Pixel XL's 531ppi and Samsung Galaxy S7 Edge's 537ppi). Text is a pleasure to read, and graphics look sharp and bright. Email, websites, e-books and work documents all display well on this screen, which offers a maximum brightness of 350 nits.
The Elite x3 may be great for information consumption, but it's not great for document creation. No on-screen keypad is anywhere near as efficient as a physical keyboard, especially for protracted periods of use. That, of course, is why HP has provided a supporting hardware/software ecosystem around the Elite x3 phablet.
The speaker sits on the front of the device below the screen, behind a grille with a B&O logo, adding about 8mm to the phone's overall height. Streamed YouTube video is loud enough, although audio quality could be better: as so often with smartphone speakers, there's a lack of solid bass tones and a bit too much treble.
The main camera is a 16-megapixel unit with an f/2.2 lens and 1.31-micron pixels. It will shoot 4K (and full-HD) video at 30 frames per second (fps). You get a panorama mode, but otherwise there are few of the photographer's tricks and tweaks that are commonly offered on other flagship smartphones. There's a fair bit of choice in the app store if you want to augment the camera's abilities, though. The 8MP front camera also has an f/2.2 lens but smaller 1.12-micron pixels, and will shoot full-HD video at 30fps.
The Elite x3 runs on a quad-core Qualcomm Snapdragon 820 MSM8996 processor supported by 4GB of RAM. Of the 64GB of internal storage, 58.2GB is available to the user -- and of this, just 4.73GB was used out of the box. Fifty-plus gigabytes is a decent amount of free storage space for a smartphone, but it's important to note that, because the Elite x3 is billed as the only computing device a worker needs, this falls far short of the local storage available on your average business laptop.
If it becomes necessary to boost the internal storage via a microSD card, then one of the Elite x3's two Nano-SIM slots will have to be sacrificed. This shared slot system, which forces you to choose between either two SIMs or one SIM and a microSD card, is not one I'm particularly fond of, but it is increasingly widely used.
HP includes an array of apps in addition to the Windows 10 staples, including HP Workspace, HP Device Hub, HP All-in-One Remote and HP Touchpoint Manager. Other additions include Salesforce universal app and Winzip Universal.
HP Workspace is an app catalogue that authenticates to Active Directory, pulling up a tile for each of the apps to which the user has access. When the Elite x3 is docked, clicking on an app tile initiates a VPN session to the data centre, bringing up the virtualised desktop app on an attached monitor or Lap Dock. A per-seat environment, HP Workspace is charged on a range of scales depending on usage requirements.
Battery life is absolutely critical for a device that's intended to function as "the one device that's every device". HP has squeezed a 4,150mAh battery into the Elite x3, which if my anecdotal experience is anything to go by, should get most users through a working day. I managed a full weekend without recourse to mains power, although this was working in my usual smartphone mode, rather than using the Elite x3 with a Lap Dock for all my computing activity.
The battery is charged via a USB-C Cable, fast charging is supported, and a (Qi) wireless charger is available as an add-on purchase (£46.80 inc. VAT, or $49 in the US).
Security is vital for mobile professionals, and device security on the Elite x3 is managed via a front-mounted iris scanner and a fingerprint reader on the back. Windows 10 Mobile incorporates 128-key Bitlocker encryption and enterprise-grade VPN technology.
As noted earlier, two vital accessories turn the HP Elite x3 into more than just another smartphone: the Desk Dock and the Lap Dock.
The Desk Dock supports fast charging, and connects to an external monitor via a DisplayPort connector. USB 3.0, USB-C and Ethernet ports are also provided.
Images: HP Inc.
The Desk Dock is a desktop stand for the Elite x3 that includes fast-charging support, an RJ-45 Ethernet port, a DisplayPort, two full-size USB 3.0 ports and a USB-C connector.
The Desk Dock is robustly made, but quite heavy, and if you work in multiple environments you may need a Desk Dock in more than one location. This might necessitate either carrying it around or having several Desk Docks. At the time of writing I was unable to find a price for individually purchased Desk Docks.
The Lap Dock connects wirelessly or via USB-C to the Elite x3, providing a 12.5-inch FHD screen and a full-size keyboard, along with additional connectors.
Image: HP Inc.
The Lap Dock looks like a standard laptop, but has no local processing or storage capability, and only functions when used in conjunction with the Elite x3 phablet. Weighing around a kilogram (2.3lbs), the Lap Dock has a 12.5-inch FHD (1,920-by-1,080-pixel) screen and a full-size keyboard, providing a working environment for tasks that can't be completed with the Elite x3 handset alone. It also features three USB-C ports, a Micro-HDMI connector, B&O stereo speakers, a pair of noise cancelling microphones, a stereo headphone jack and a 4-cell, 46.5Wh battery.
As noted earlier, it's unfortunate that HP has not been able to provide a Lap Dock to review at this time. We hope to be able to evaluate it working alongside the Elite x3 in due course.
Conclusions:
HP is positioning the Elite x3 as a phablet that, in combination with the Desk Dock and the Lap Dock, can satisfy the computing requirements of mobile professionals in sectors like healthcare, field service, retail and logistics.
This only really makes sense if organisations buy into the full package, which includes seats on HP Workspace as well as the hardware combination of phablet, docking station and dumb laptop.
In the UK, that hardware trio costs £1,099 (inc. VAT, £915.83 ex. VAT) per user (or $1,318 in the US). This can only be a viable spend where organizations can access all the apps they require and are convinced they don't need any additional computing facilities that a traditional laptop might offer.
