The LG G6 ($150 at Amazon) is quite the phone. I’ve been trying it out for the past few days, and while its premium build and nearly edge-to-edge screen have made it a joy to use, it’s not perfect.

Although the G6 is running the latest version of Android, LG‘s custom interface takes some getting used to. I found that changing these settings helped improve my overall experience.

Bring back the app drawer

By default, the G6 will show all of your apps across multiple home screen. It’s very iPhone like, which some people may prefer, but I’m not one of those people. There is a way, however, to get the traditional Android app drawer back.

Head to Settings and open the Display tab. Then select Home Screen, tap Select Home and then choose the Home & App Drawer option.

Fix the icon shapes

Another option that is enabled by default is the square icon setting. All of the icons on the G6 will be placed in a square box with rounded corners. Yet again, this was a little too iPhone like for my liking — we buy Android phones for a reason, right?

To switch back to normal icons, head to Settings and open the Display tab. Then select Home Screen, followed by Icon Shape and then tap Original.

Explore different themes

Want to change things up a bit? You can actually change the entire theme on the G6. Again, you’ll want to select the Display tab in Settings. Then tap Theme. Here you can choose from one of the preinstalled themes, or choose a new one from the LG store by clicking the download icon in the top right corner.

Alternatively, you can install a third-party launcher to further customize the homescreen and app icons. My favorites are the Google Now Launcher and Nova Launcher.

Turn on the always-on screen

One of my favorite G6 features is the always-on screen. When this is enabled, a small section of the screen will stay switched on to show helpful information such as the time, date, battery life and icons for any unread notifications.

Turn on the always-on feature by going to Settings, selecting the Display tab, scrolling down to “Always-on Display” and toggling the switch to the on position.

Check out CNET’s first impression on the LG G6 to learn more.

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You can now preorder the Galaxy S8 and Galaxy S8 Plus.

Samsung new smartphones pack a lot of punch. Both the Galaxy S8 and larger Galaxy S8 Plus are equipped with speedy Snapdragon 835 processors (or Exynos 8895 chip) and high-end cameras, but the biggest draw will be the new design.

The phones feature a curved display and nearly edge-to-edge screen with almost no bezel. Samsung somehow managed to squeeze a 5.8-inch (S8) and 6.2-inch (S8 Plus) display into phones that aren’t much bigger than last year’s models.

Are you excited? Here’s everything you need to know about getting your hands on one of Samsung’s new phones.

When can I buy them?

Preorders begin on Thursday, March 30 at 12:01 a.m. ET. Customers who preorder the phones will also receive new Samsung Gear VR with Controller plus an Oculus game pack. Orders are expected to arrive by April 21, the same day the phones will be available for purchase in stores.

Where will they be sold?

The Galaxy S8 and Galaxy S8 Plus will be sold in the US, Canada and South Korea on April 21. On April 28, the phone will arrive in the the UK, France and Germany. Samsung said availability will expand to Latin America and additional Asian markets in May.

What colors will they come in?

Both phones will be available in midnight black, orchid gray, maple gold, coral blue and arctic silver, depending on the region. In the US, for example, they will only be offered in midnight black, orchid gray and arctic silver.

How much will they cost?

The Galaxy S8 and Galaxy S8 Plus will be available in only one configuration — with 64GB of internal storage — by all four major US carriers: Verizon, AT&T, T-Mobile and Sprint. A carrier unlocked version of the phone is expected to arrive sometime in May.

Samsung Galaxy S8 launch

• Samsung Galaxy S8 looks amazing, but we have big questions
• Samsung Galaxy S8 gives Samsung a second chance
• Everything announced at Samsung Unpacked

Verizon

Big Red will sell the S8 for $30 per month, for 24 months ($720 in total), with the S8 Plus adding $35 per month to your bill, costing $840 in total. Visit this page to learn more.

AT&T

AT&T’s pricing breakdown comes out to $750 for the S8 and $850 for the S8 Plus. Those prices break down to $25 and $28.34 per month for 30 months, respectively, on AT&T Next. Visit this page to learn more.

T-Mobile

Both models will set you back $30 per month for 24 months, after a down payment of $30 for the S8, or $130 for the S8 Plus. Full retail pricing is $750 for the S8 and $850 for the S8 Plus. Visit this page to learn more.

Sprint

Sprint’s pricing falls in line with other carriers. The S8 will cost $750 or $31.25 per month for 18 months, while the S8 Plus will cost $850 or $35.42 per month. Visit this page to learn more.

Samsung

You can also buy the Galaxy S8 and S8 Plus directly from Samsung, although this won’t be an unlocked version of the phone. Samsung is selling models from Verizon, AT&T, T-Mobile and Sprint for the same price as the carriers. Click here to learn more.

Best Buy

Best Buy is offering up to $100 off of either device for those who preorder through its website. Visit this page to save some extra cash.

Walmart

Walmart has the Galaxy S8 for $659 and the Galaxy S8 Plus for $759 when purchased on the retailer’s StraightTalk wireless network. A down payment of at least $50 will be required to reserve the phone.

Walmart will also be offering discounts to customers who purchase either the Galaxy S8 and Galaxy S8 Plus through a monthly installment plan on AT&T, Sprint or Verizon, although the offer will only be available in stores. Visit this page to find a Walmart store near you.

Customers who pre-order at Walmart will still be eligible to receive a free Gear VP with Controller.

UK and Australian pricing

In the UK, the S8 and S8 Plus have been priced at £689 and £779, respectively. (The equivalent Australia page has yet to add prices.) You can find more details on UK networks’ S8 offers here.

Last updated on Friday, March 31 at 2pm PT: Additional pricing information has been added.

The post How to preorder the Galaxy S8 and S8 Plus first appeared on Joggingvideo.com.

The Samsung Galaxy S8 and larger Galaxy S8 Plus are two of the most anticipated phones of the year, and now they’re official it’s easy to see why. Between the stunning design and high-end specs, Samsung’s newest phones have many people ready to throw down some serious cash, but should you take the plunge?

Here are two reasons why you should, four reasons why you may want to hold off — and one great big question mark.

Samsung Galaxy S8, S8 Plus and Bixby pix: Come and get ’em

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Reasons to take the plunge

The stunning design

Samsung has outdone itself. The Galaxy S8 and Galaxy S8 Plus are genuinely spectacular. Both phones have large displays that curve on each side and the bezel around the screen is almost nonexistent. But despite all this screen real estate, the phones aren’t massive.

Samsung managed to squeeze a 5.8-inch 2,960×1,440-pixel display on the Galaxy S8 into a body that is only a wee bit larger than last year’s Galaxy S7. Meanwhile, the larger Galaxy S8 Plus has a massive 6.2-inch display, but in a body that is only slightly larger than an iPhone 7 Plus, which has a 5.5-inch screen.

The latest and greatest specs

Samsung Galaxy S8 launch

• Samsung Galaxy S8 looks amazing, but we have big questions
• Samsung Galaxy S8 gives Samsung a second chance
• Everything announced at Samsung Unpacked

To complement the beautiful design, the Galaxy S8 and Galaxy S8 Plus pack cutting-edge hardware. Both phones will be the first you can buy with an octa-core Snapdragon 835 processor (or Exynos 8895 depending on region), which includes support for superfast gigabit LTE.

This high-end chip is paired with 4GB of RAM, 64GB of internal storage (with support for more through the microSD slot) and a 12-megapixel rear camera. Other features include wireless charging, IP68 water resistance, Android Nougat 7.1, and, yes, a headphone jack.

The big question mark: Bixby

Hardware is only half the story. Samsung has also refined its software. Along with a lighter version of its TouchWiz interface, the Galaxy S8 and Galaxy S8 Plus are the first phones to launch with Bixby, Samsung’s new smart digital assistant that is designed to compete with Apple‘s Siri, Amazon’s Alexa and (sort of) Google Assistant.

Bixby promises to do more than other digital assistants. Samsung has said that anything you can do with touch can also be done through Bixby, but we’ll have to actually use it for awhile to verify how true that is. The assistant uses machine learning to help improve your experience with the device. It can remind you of upcoming appointments, recommend activities and more. For example, if you always call your significant other at noon, Bixby will notice the trend and remind you on days you forget to call. There’s even an image recognition element, so you can use the camera to translate and scan things.

The problem? In our initial (admittedly very short) hands-on time with Bixby, it wasn’t terribly smooth. We’ll reserve judgment until we fully review the phone, but this service is very much in beta until further notice.

Reasons to hold off

They’re undoubtedly expensive

The stunning design of the Galaxy S8 and Galaxy S8 Plus will come at a hefty cost. The S8 will cost $750, £689 or AU$1199, while the larger model is priced at $850, £779 or AU$1349. Monthly installment plans, which will vary by carrier, will make that pill easier to swallow, but be prepared to pay.

You might break it

Or at least buy a case. The all-glass body and large screen doesn’t look like it will be able to handle many drops. We shattered our Galaxy S7 and if you’re clumsy, you may want to hold off on the Galaxy S8.

You already have Google Assistant

Bixby sounds cool, but is it worth shelling out a ton of money? Probably not, especially since the fully capable Google Assistant is slated to come to all Android phones running Marshmallow and Nougat. (Yes, Google Assistant and Bixby will exist side by side on the Galaxy S8.)

Your current phone is still great

That brings us to our last point. Your current phone is probably still great. If you bought a Galaxy S7 (or one of the other great flagship phones we saw last year), there’s no imperative to upgrade. Your phone already has a high quality display, a great camera and high-end specs.

But if your phone is an older model (two-plus years) or a budget phone that has been hampered by software updates, the Galaxy S8 and Galaxy S8 Plus could be right for you.

To learn more about the phones, check out CNET’s first impression on the Galaxy S8 here and the Galaxy S8 Plus here.

The post Samsung Galaxy S8: Should you upgrade? first appeared on Joggingvideo.com.

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Samsung announced its newest flagship smartphones at a lavish event in New York City on Wednesday. The South Korean company showed off the Galaxy S8 and larger Galaxy S8 Plus. Both phones are equipped with fast Snapdragon 835 processors (or a Exynos 8895 chip) and high-end cameras. They also include an “infinity display” that offer large screens with almost no bezel in a compact design.

You can read CNET’s first impression on the Galaxy S8 here and the Galaxy S8 Plus here. Below you will also find a chart outlining how the specs of the Galaxy S8 Plus compare with some of the best large phones on the market. The list includes the LG G6, Google Pixel XL, OnePlus 3T and Apple iPhone 7 Plus.

You can see how the Galaxy S8 compares to the competition here.

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Fossil Group is going all-in on connected watches. The company previously announced that it planned to release 300 new smartwatches, hybrid watches and fitness trackers across multiple brands in 2017. Fossil is now making good on that promise and has shown off a variety of new models at the Baselworld watch and jewelry expo in Switzerland.

Later this year we will see new smartwatches from brands like Diesel, Emporio Armani, Fossil, Michael Kors and Misfit. All of the watches will run the new Android Wear 2.0 operating system and be powered by a Snapdragon Wear 2100 chip. Fossil has also said they will feature high-resolution full-AMOLED displays. Other details such as mobile payments or cellular connectivity weren’t announced.

Fossil also announced 14 new hybrid watches from DKNY, Marc Jacobs, Michele, Relic, Tory Burch, Armani Exchange, Chaps, Diesel, Emporio Armani, Fossil, Kate Spade New York, Michael Kors and Skagen. All of these watches resembles traditional analog watches, but are also able to provide discreet notifications and track all-day activities like steps, distance and calories burned.

Fossil has been one of the most aggressive companies in the wearable market. Since launching its first smartwatch in late 2015, the company has released more than 150 smartwatches, hybrid smartwatches and activity trackers throughout 40 countries.

The Android Wear watches and hybrid watches are slated to arrive later this year in time for the holiday season.

The post Fossil has a ton of new smartwatches coming out later this year first appeared on Joggingvideo.com.

The lightweight and breathable bands from the Apple Watch Nike+ edition are now available to all Apple Watch users. Apple on Tuesday announced that it will now be offering the bands separately. Color options include black, white and a two-tone black band with yellow-green (a shade Apple calls “Volt”) accents.

The company also announced a wide-stripe woven nylon band and new colors of the Apple Watch Hermès bands. The straps are compatible with both sizes (38mm and 42mm) of the original Apple Watch, Apple Watch Series 1, Apple Watch Series 2 and Apple Watch Nike+ Edition.

The Nike sport and woven nylon bands cost $49 (£49, AU$79), while the classic leather buckle retails for $149, (£149, AU$229). The bands are available now.

The post You can now buy those cool Nike bands for your normal Apple Watch first appeared on Joggingvideo.com.

It’s not me, Google. It’s you.

We had some great times together. Starting with the Galaxy Nexus all the way through the final Nexus phone, the 6P, I have owned three of Google’s flagship phones. Unlike phones from nearly all other Android vendors, Google’s Nexus phones came with an unskinned, crapware-free version of the operating system and they were the first Android devices to get software updates.

Google followed the Nexus line with the Pixel phones last October. The new Pixel and Pixel XL come with an unskinned version of Android and continue the trend of timely software updates. They are also the first phones with the new Google Assistant, the company’s answer to Siri and Alexa, aka the next-gen step-up “OK, Google.” (That feature is now in the process of rolling out to all other Android models with the latest Nougat operating system.)

I really wanted a Pixel, but I couldn’t in good conscience justify it. My Nexus 6P was still a more than capable device. But when my 6P suddenly died, I began to question whether I should purchase a Google phone at all.

Fool me once, shame on you

Let’s back up a bit to the Nexus 5. I purchased one a few months after its release in late 2013. Things were good, initially. The phone was fast and had great software, and I loved the feel of it. I ended up using it for a little over a year with no problems, but then one day it randomly rebooted and refused to fully power on. I was stuck in what is called a bootloop, when the phone will boot up to the company logo, restart and then repeat.

There were two likely causes for this: faulty software and faulty hardware. I was never given a straight answer as to why this had happened. I contacted Google customer service (as a customer, not a representative of CNET) and worked with them to try to fix the problem, to no avail. When I asked about a replacement I was told my warranty had expired a few days earlier. I didn’t contact LG (the company that manufactured the phone) since I had purchased it via the Google Play Store.

Feeling angry and helpless, I searched the Web hoping a fix would pop up somewhere. It turns out I wasn’t alone. Users on multiple online forums had similar problems, many of which were caused by either a faulty power button or faulty software update. For me, I believe it was an update to Android 5.0.1 that caused the problem. The phone was still in near perfect condition and the power button worked fine and could still be used to shut the phone down.

I called Google again and explained how I believed the software update the company had issued may have caused the problem. I was told the same thing as before — my warranty was expired and there was nothing they could do.

Fool me twice, shame on me

I wasn’t happy, but what could I do? I moved on with my life.

I decided to skip Google’s next phone, the Nexus 6, but that was due to the massive size of the device rather than my disappointing experience with the Nexus 5. When the more reasonably sized Nexus 6P was announced in late 2015, knew I had to have it.

In hindsight, it’s frightening how similar my 6P experience ended up being. The Nexus 6P was everything I could have wanted in a smartphone. It was fast, it had a great display and a good camera and it felt great in my hands. It will go down as one of my all-time favorites, even with the blemish I’m about to discuss.

After a little more than a year, the Nexus 6P randomly rebooted and remained in a bootloop. As was the case with the Nexus 5, the phone was in great condition with no modifications. It was running pure Android straight from Google.

This time I was certain it was the software. A few days earlier a notification on my phone had prompted me to update it to Android 7.1.1. I contacted Google customer service (once again, as a customer and not a representative for CNET) and was given the same spiel as last time: They weren’t able to fix the problem.

When reached for comment by CNET, a Google spokesperson said the company was “not aware of a bootloop issue for the Nexus 6P” and noted that “if the Nexus 6P was purchased from the Google Store, we will replace the device regardless of warranty status.” I purchased mine from Best Buy, an authorized third-party retailer, and was told to contact Huawei, the phone’s manufacturer.

It took only a minute for the Huawei customer service representative to identify the problem. The man told me, “This is a known issue,” adding that “the issue completely bricks the phone and it would need a completely new motherboard.” I was shocked that a software update, one that was approved and sent directly from Google, could do this to my device. The rep informed me that “the Android update 7.1.1 caused a lot of issues on all devices.”

I was told that because the device was out of warranty (by only two weeks), Huawei wouldn’t replace it. The customer service representative suggested I check out a local repair shop. I reached out to uBreakiFix, a repair shop recommended by Google, and was told the shop “doesn’t perform motherboard replacements because it comes out to be too close to buying a used device of that same model.”

It seemed no one wanted to take responsibility for my broken phone. Unfortunately, I’m not the only person who experienced problems with the Nexus 6P. Despite Google’s claims that it wasn’t aware of any bootloop issue, users across multiple online forums complained of similar problems.

I’m not ready to trust Google’s customer service again

Part of the reason those two customer service tales were so convoluted was because of the weird status of Google’s Nexus hardware. Google essentially worked with manufacturers such as Samsung, LG and Huawei to make customized versions of their phones, which Google then sold as “hero” Android devices. But that left the product with two corporate parents — Google and the manufacturer — and a confusing customer service path.

But with 2016’s Pixel, Google took a different hardware approach. While the phone was still manufactured by a third party — in this case, HTC — it was designed by Google from the ground up. While the Nexus phones were essentially “Google Nexus 5 by LG,” the Pixel phone is the “Google Pixel,” full stop. The buck stops with them: Google controls things front to back, including all customer service obligations.

That’s all fine and good, but it ultimately feels like a distinction without a difference. From my vantage point, Google’s software updates bricked two phones in a row — models that the company effectively put forth as the best Android experience at the time.

As mentioned above, a Google representative told CNET that the issues with a Nexus 6P with the bootloop issue would be replaced “regardless of warranty status” — but only if it was purchased through the Google Store. That seems crazy to me. If Apple, Microsoft and Samsung products have different warranty terms when you purchase them through their respective stores, that’s news to me.

Does the same thing apply to Pixel phones? Who knows. And as Google offers more and more of its own branded hardware beyond the Pixel — Google Home, Chromecast streamers, Wi-Fi routers and maybe even more Chromebooks — the question becomes ever more pertinent. (Some glitches have already been reported on Pixel phones and Google Home speakers, but they’re both well within their one-year warranty.)

Ultimately, so long as you’re purchasing a product through an authorized retailer — new and sealed from, say, Best Buy — Google should back the hardware with the same guarantees that it’s offering to Google Store customers. Simply put, when a software update from Google breaks a device, Google should feel obligated to fix it, regardless of where it was purchased.

Until then, I won’t be buying a Pixel phone.

The post Why I’m skipping the Google Pixel first appeared on Joggingvideo.com.

There is one setting I change every time I take a Garmin watch out of the box. Many of Garmin’s devices offer the choice of two different recording options: Smart Recording and Every Second Recording. I always make sure to use Every Second Recording.

Smart Recording will only record data points when there are changes in direction, speed, heart rate or elevation. Meanwhile, Every Second Recording does exactly what it says — data points will be recorded every second.

By default, Smart Recording is enabled on most of Garmin’s GPS watches. This isn’t to increase battery life, but rather because Smart Recording allows for smaller files that take up less memory. File size, however, isn’t as much of a concern as it was 10 years ago. For example, Garmin’s Forerunner 235 ($350 at Amazon), which is our favorite running watch, can record up to 200 hours of activity data before it will be overwritten.

I have found Every Second Recording to produce more detailed and accurate tracking. Here’s how to enable it on your watch:

• Head to Settings
• Select System
• Click on Data Recording
• Choose Every Second Recording

The post The one setting you should change on your Garmin watch first appeared on Joggingvideo.com.

Fitbit on Thursday announced a software update that will add a variety of new features to its Blaze smartwatch. The watch will be receiving two features that debuted on the Charge 2 — Cardio Fitness score and guided breathing sessions.

The Cardio Fitness score is based on VO2Max, a metric used to determine how much oxygen an athlete can use during exercise, and is designed to help users better track their overall heart health. This is measured using your resting heart rate, age and gender, although Fitbit recommends running with GPS enabled for at least 10 minutes for a more accurate reading.

You can view your Cardio Fitness score in the Fitbit app under the heart rate section. Fitbit will also show your score stacks up against others in your age group and provide tips on how to improve your score.

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The other new feature, called “Relax” mode, is a guided breathing session that aims to encourage relaxation. Like we saw in the Charge 2, the Blaze will guide you through timed inhale-exhales exercises over two or five minute sessions to help you clear you mind and lower your heart rate. You can read more about Cardio Fitness score and guided breathing sessions in our review of the Fitbit Charge 2.

Fitbit also added three new watch faces to the Blaze. All of these updates will be available to Blaze users around the world sometime in February.

UPDATE: As of Monday, March 6, the software update to the Blaze has not yet been released. A Fitbit spokesperson confirmed that the update has been delayed and is now expected to arrive in the coming weeks.

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Feeling fit isn’t all about steps and calorie burn. A good night’s sleep plays a critical role in your health and overall well being.

That’s why Fitbit is adding new features to its trackers that provide more insight on your sleeping habits and guidance on how to improve them.

The health and wellness company on Monday announced two new sleeping tools that will be coming to its existing products.

The first, Sleep Stages, will utilize the optical heart-rate sensor to estimate how long you spend in light, deep and REM sleep cycles, as well as how frequently you wake up in the middle of the night. Sleep Stages will be available on the Fitbit Charge 2, Blaze and the new Alta HR.

The second tool, known as Sleep Insights, will be available to all Fitbit trackers that are capable of tracking sleep. That includes the Fitbit One, Flex 2, Alta, Alta HR, Charge 2, Blaze and Surge, along with older trackers like the original Flex, Charge and Charge HR.

Sleep Insights will provide users with personalized guidance and coaching to help improve the quality of their sleep. An example of this would be your Fitbit noticing how you sleep 20 minutes longer on days you run, or pointing out that you sleep longer on the weekend, which could be a sign that you’re not getting enough sleep during the week.

Sleep Stages and Sleep Insights will be available globally to Fitbit users in the coming weeks.

Tech Enabled: CNET chronicles tech’s role in providing new kinds of accessibility.

CNET Magazine: Check out a sampling of the stories you’ll find in CNET’s newsstand edition.

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