Amazon Echo Spot is a Smaller, Less Expensive Version of the Echo Show

Amazon is holding an Alexa-themed hardware launch event at their headquarters today and has announced a number of new products. Likely as a way to compete with the likes of Google and Apple who are both gearing up for the holiday season, Amazon is not holding back either and has just announced a flurry of new products. The latest announcement is a device they’re calling the Amazon Echo Spot wish looks to be a smaller version of the Echo Show and will fit perfectly on your nightstand.

When it comes to Amazon’s Echo products, they seem to be trying to cover as many bases as possible. The company’s first Echo connected speaker was big, expensive and high quality for 2014. They realized that it would be difficult to get people to outfit their entire home with that product, so they released the Echo Dot. This was less expensive than the regular Echo and was also a lot smaller too. So not only did customers save money compared to the bigger version, but they could also fit it in more places.

Amazon took the same approach with their new Echo Show product as well. This was the company’s first Alexa-enabled device that also came with a big tablet sized 7″ touchscreen display on it. It has a lot of features packed into it but also comes with a $230 price tag as well. So to compliment the new Echo Show, they have just announced the Amazon Echo Spot for $130. So we can already see that it’s smaller and less expensive and that will definitely attract a certain type of customer.

Amazon says this new product combines what people love about the Echo Dot with the new Echo Show and we can see how that describes it perfectly. It comes with a built-in 2W 1.4″ speaker, microphone, Bluetooth and audio out thanks to a 3.5mm stereo cable. It also features a 2.5″ screen, offers free calls to the US, Mexico, and Canada and includes support for Amazon Music, Spotify, Pandora, and more. The device is available for pre-order right now from here, and will be shipping in December.

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Source: Amazon

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The Ground Zero Open Source Project (GZOSP): an Android Oreo Base for Custom ROM Development

Ground Zero ROMs, the ROM development team that brought us the popular custom ROMs Tesla, Tipsy, and Validus, has provided a central Android Oreo repository from which custom ROMs can be built without having to start from scratch (meaning straight from AOSP). The idea of the Ground Zero Open Source Project (GZOSP) is to give custom ROM builders a better starting point with both the necessary AOSP code and the CAF (Code Aurora Forum, Qualcomm’s own repository which is useful for non-Nexus devices with Snapdragon SoCs) code to build for a wide variety of devices.

It should not be confused with the popular ROMs Tesla, Tipsy, and Validus because it contains none of the features that make those ROMs unique. Accordingly, when you build from this repository, the team requests that you do not brand your ROM as an unofficial Tesla, Tipsy, or Validus build until they’ve released the first official version for public consumption.

This repository includes the following:

• Basic features expected of all custom ROMs (such as advanced reboot menu, night mode, and Quick Settings brightness slider control)
• Bug fixes that Google won’t be pushing out until the next monthly security patch or even the next Android maintenance update
• AOSP features that Google deactivates by default such as System UI Tuner
• Other Android Oreo-specific additions listed here or on the repository’s home page here

As mentioned previously, GZOSP does not include the set of custom features we’ve come to expect from the popular Ground Zero ROMs Tesla, Tipsy, and Validus. For example, you won’t see any built-in dark system themes, the Wolves Den custom settings section, or Validus wallpapers. The reason for this is simple: the team’s goal is to provide a base for any and all developers to build their own custom ROMs without being limited to the three Ground Zero ROM brands that the project is best known for.

If you build straight from the GZOSP repository, you’ll get a stock Android 8.0 Oreo build with the additions listed previously, but with none of the features specific to existing custom ROMs. It’s an alternative to building from LineageOS 15.0 as a base or from Slim or Paranoid Android in which you have all of their custom features included by default. Meanwhile, you have any CAF code you need available to run the non-Nexus devices listed here (more will be added in time) and you’re not being limited to what Google has merged in AOSP.

There have, of course, been other attempts to build a central repository designed for custom ROM development, but in the case of GZOSP, the team has assured us that they will keep it updated because it’s the starting point from which they will create their Validus repository (until further notice, Validus will be the only Ground Zero ROM being developed for Android Oreo). If you have any further questions about GZOSP, you can post them in the team’s Google+ community or in the XDA forums.

Thanks to the GZOSP team for reaching out to us on their new project. If you are a developer and would like to share an interesting project you or other members have been working on, please reach out to us on our contact form.

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HMD Global: No Official Bootloader Unlock Method for the Nokia 8

A lot of people have a soft spot for the Nokia brand due to the company’s history in the cell phone market. Before smartphones were a thing, Nokia was a big player in the mobile phone business, with millions of devices sold around the world. As smartphones took over, the dominance of Nokia fell to the wayside. Eventually, Microsoft acquired the company’s phone business, but that venture died down as well once Microsoft started to give up on the Windows Mobile business. Some of the founding members of Nokia branched off to form HMD Global, and this fledgling company secured a licensing agreement to start selling smartphones with the Nokia brand name.

This made a lot of Android fans happy, and many of us eagerly waited for the company to start selling new devices. They started off competing in the low-end and mid-range market with the Nokia 3, Nokia 5, and Nokia 6 and there are even rumors of a Nokia 2 currently in development. But was the Nokia 8 that enthusiasts had their eye on because it would be their first flagship Android smartphone. Reports went back and forth about which countries it would be released in, though, and there’s some indication it might come to the United States.

HMD Global has done rather well in the eyes of many Android enthusiasts. They’ve shipped phones with stock Android and have often times beat out Google when it comes to monthly security updates. They have even promised all of their current devices will receive the Android Oreo update.

They’ve ticked a lot of the right boxes to fancy our interests, but one piece of the puzzle has been left out: the bootloader. Juho Sarvikas is the Chief Product Officer at HMD Global, and in a recent tweet speaking about the Nokia 8 he confirmed they would not be offering an official bootloader unlock method “due to security.” While this could change in the future, this announcement is disappointing for those of us who may have wanted to flash a custom ROM or kernel onto the device.

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Source: @sarvikas

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Second Generation of Amazon Echo is Smaller, and More Powerful and Less Expensive

The first connected smart speaker from Amazon, dubbed the Echo, was released back in 2014 and received mixed reviews at first. As time has gone by the device has become more popular and has spawned a number of other devices such as the Echo Dot and the Echo Show. Today, the company is holding an Alexa-themed launch event and has just announced the second generation Amazon Echo which will launch for just $100.

Since the initial launch of the Amazon Echo, the company has seen a number of competitors from the likes of Google, Microsoft and soon to be Samsung and Apple. To stay ahead, they have been working with a ton of 3rd-party companies to add support for the Alexa platform. They even launched the Amazon Echo Dot as an affordable way for customers to outfit their entire house without spending a fortune while also offering the Echo Show for those who wanted more out of the device.

Today, Amazon has announced the second generation Amazon Echo that is smaller than the original while actually being more powerful too. This new product will go on sale later today for less than its predecessor (at $100), and it will have its own dedicated bass tweeter to help improve the audio experience for the new multi-room audio feature. The new Amazon Echo also received a new design with a cloth exterior that is similar to Google Home to help it fit in with modern house decor.

Along with the new Amazon Echo, the company has also announced the Echo Connect which will be priced at $35. The goal here is to take advantage of the product’s new calling feature by letting land line phones plug into the Echo Connect and take advantage of Amazon Alexa’s new calling feature, with free calls to the United States, Mexico and Canada. Both devices will go on sale later today with the new Amazon Echo being offered in a 3-pack for $150.

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Source: The Verge[/button

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OnePlus is Seeking Feedback on Potentially Revamping the Alert Slider

For years, virtually all Android smartphones and tablets primarily handled their sound profiles via software. Sure, you could press and hold the volume down button until it triggers this sound profile, but that took more time or effort than the solution found on other platforms, namely the iPhone. Not unlike its fruity competitor, OnePlus decided to incorporate a piece of hardware that was dedicated to handling these sound profiles. It is now known as the alert slider, and the company is asking for feedback on how it is currently implemented, and what can be improved.

Over in the /r/OnePlus subreddit, an employee spoke about a comment they received from a OnePlus 5 owner. In said comment, the company received some constructive criticism about how OnePlus was using the alert slider. Some people in the community feel they only need two options (vibrate and silent) while others would rather it switch between ring, vibrate, and then total silence.

It’s definitely hard to please everyone with such a feature so they decided to reach out to the community and learn how most wanted the alert slider implemented. So, if you have a OnePlus smartphone or simply want to offer your thoughts and ideas, click through the source link below to take the survey that has been created using Google Forms. Your thoughts and ideas may help transform how the company is using the alert slider on their phones.

Interestingly enough, I remember that back when the OnePlus 3 and OnePlus 3T were being criticized for their “touch latency” issues, the company had said that they were working on it. And when it was fixed, a tweet from co-founder Carl Pei read “touch latency” with a checkmark next to it followed by “alert slider”, without such checkmark. So it’s possible that OnePlus has been discussing whether or not to adjust how the alert slider works since April of this year.

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Source: Google Forms

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Are You Excited for the Pixel 2 / Pixel 2 XL and Other Google Announcements?

We are exactly one week away from Google launching a new batch of hardware to the world. So far, we have heard about a miniature version of Google Home, a premium Google Pixel Chromebook, an updated version of Daydream View and two new Pixel smartphones from both HTC as well as LG. The smaller of the two new Pixel smartphones will be from HTC and we’ve seen it stop by the FCC, some colors and pricing details, and an alleged live photo of the device.

The Pixel 2 XL will be manufactured by LG and seems to be taking design cues from their LG G6 and LG V30 smartphones. Our own sources have revealed what should be the new hardware specs for these two devices, features such as stereo speakers, always listening and portrait mode, and an always on display, HTC’s squeeze feature and multiple display profiles. So with all of this in mind, we ask you:

Are you looking forward to a specific device at Google’s hardware launch event next week? What do you think of the new Pixels based on what we know so far? Are you considering an upgrade at all, and if so, what do these devices need to convince you?

Join the discussion in the comments below! 

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Sony’s Next Flagship Smartphone to Feature a New Design

Last year we saw a big transition in the smartphone market where OEMs were focusing on improving the quality of their camera like never before. This year, there’s been a clear trend where the goal is to reduce the bezels any way possible. Sony though, they’ve been using the same design for their smartphones for a few years now and they’re starting to look dated. However, Sony’s India managing director Kenichiro Hibi has announced their next flagship smartphone will feature a completely new design.

Sony calls their current hardware design Ominbalance, and it definitely offers a focused and signature style for the company. They’ve been using it since they launched their first X series smartphone and now it seems the company is looking to change that up with their new generation of products. They were unable to give specific details about the changes that were coming with this new design (such as a 2:1 aspect ratio, or bezel-less design), but they were able to confirm that changes are coming.

Many feel this is definitely long overdue too as customers have been asking for a new design for a couple of years now. HTC felt the wrath of the community when they were unable to make significant improvements to the design of their smartphones. And with the G5, LG learned that making changes just for the sake of making changes wasn’t a good idea either. So it will be interesting to see what the Japanese smartphone OEM can come up with for their next flagship.

We weren’t given a date for when we should expect this new flagship design, but Mr. Hibi did say it was coming “soon.” They have a history of releasing a new flagship every 6 months so it’s possible that we’ll see it in the first half of next year. The company also confirmed they are holding their ground in the mid-range segment and that they do not have any plan to leave anytime soon.

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Source: The Indian Express

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