Enable these things on your Android phone now [Video]
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Android 11’s new ‘Gabeldorsche’ Bluetooth stack was given its name for a great reason
For those of us on the Android 11 Developer Preview, if you open the Developer Options page, you’ll find a new option amidst various Bluetooth settings offering to “Enable Gabeldorsche.” Of course, that leaves a burning question of “What’s Gabeldorche?”
Chrome OS can show your Bluetooth device’s battery level, but there’s a catch
Our accessories are increasingly powered by Bluetooth, especially our smartphones, and even devices like the Google Pixel Slate are not offering a headphone jack. Catching up with the likes of Android and iOS, Chrome OS can now show you how much battery life your Bluetooth accessories have left, but there’s a major caveat.
Google brought Fuchsia demo to official Bluetooth testing event, UnPlugFest
Our avid readers know that Google is working on a third operating system, Fuchsia, that has the potential to eventually replace both Android and Chrome OS, being designed for laptops, phones, and even smart home appliances. One thing all of these gadgets have in common is Bluetooth capability. It seems Google is already testing the new OS’s Bluetooth capabilities by quietly bringing devices running Fuchsia to an official Bluetooth testing event.
Android 9 Pie will support Qualcomm’s new aptX Adaptive for better Bluetooth audio
As the headphone jack disappears, we’re all counting on wireless audio to fill the gap. Today, Qualcomm is announcing its latest way to make Bluetooth audio better, aptX Adaptive.
‘BlueBorne’ Bluetooth vulnerability addressed by Android’s September security patch
Yesterday, security firm Armis Labs disclosed a Bluetooth exploit dubbed “BlueBorne.” This insidious vulnerability puts billions of Android devices, among many others, with Bluetooth enabled at risk for take over. Fortunately, Google has issued a fix as part of the September security patch, but it will undoubtedly take a while for OEMs to push their updates.
Android O introduces in-band ringtones on connected Bluetooth devices
Other than fragmentation, one of Android’s biggest problems has always revolved around poor Bluetooth performance. While we already know that Google is focusing on improving this with Android O, the company snuck an in-band ringing feature for connected Bluetooth devices in one of the latest Developer Previews…
Does Android’s poor Bluetooth performance make you want to jump ship? [Poll]
For as long as Android has been around, the platform has struggled with Bluetooth. While Android O features a great deal of Bluetooth improvements, the competition is still far ahead in many aspects.
Is Android’s poor Bluetooth performance enough to get you to switch to a different platform?
Google may be finally adding Bluetooth battery indicators in an upcoming Android version
Sometimes it’s the little things that are the most frustrating, and you can say that about Android quite a lot, unfortunately. One of those issues which users have complained about for years is the lack of a Bluetooth battery indicator in the OS, but it seems that Google is finally delivering on that feature in a future version of the OS.
Google has fixed the Bluetooth shutdown issue on the Pixel, Pixel XL w/ ‘server-side changes’
For the past month, some Pixel and Pixel XL owners have reported that Bluetooth on their device randomly shuts down. The issue seemingly began in February after that month’s security patch and has persisted through this month’s update. However, according to Google, the issue has now been remedied server-side.
Sony apparently played a big role in bringing high-quality wireless audio to Android O
Android O doesn’t look all that different from Nougat on the surface, but under the hood it packs numerous enhancements. Apparently, Google didn’t decide what Android O would be on its own, with some Android partners contributing bits and pieces, including Sony…
Many Google Pixel owners are experiencing random Bluetooth disconnects, issues with calls over Bluetooth
Google’s Pixel and Pixel XL are both fantastic devices, but they aren’t without flaws. Since launch, we’ve seen several issues pop up on the devices, including the speaker and problems with the camera. Google has been able to fix some of those via software updates, but now another issue is popping up ─ random Bluetooth disconnects.
Bluetooth 5 is now official, arriving in new devices in the coming months
Earlier this year we got our first look at what changes and improvements would be introduced with Bluetooth 5. What was promised was an increase in transfer speed, better range, and much more. Today, with the official release of the Bluetooth 5, we’ve received everything we wanted and more…
Lenovo teases new Moto Mods for IFA, possibly a new Moto 360 as well
Ahead of IFA later this month, Lenovo has just released a new teaser video for its upcoming product announcements. This new teaser looks back at some of the previous tech Lenovo has released at IFA such as its Yoga Windows laptops, tablets, and even give us another look at those crazy flexible phones and tablets from Tech World earlier this year.
Bluetooth 5 will feature 2x speed and 4x range, official announcement next week
Late last year we got an early look at improvements coming to the next version of Bluetooth, and now the Bluetooth Special Interest Group has revealed the name of the upcoming version plus more specifics about the new standard. Bluetooth 5 will be the successor to Bluetooth 4.2, which was released at the end of 2014, suggesting a notable release this year. The new standard will be announced next week, and this is what we know so far.
9to5Toys Lunch Break: Huawei Watch + band $300, Lumsing Bluetooth Adapter $17, more
Keep up with the best gear and deals on the web by signing up for the 9to5Toys Newsletter. Also, be sure to check us out on: Twitter, RSS Feed, Facebook, Google+ and Safari push notifications.
TODAY’S CAN’T MISS DEALS:
Huawei Watch Stainless Steel with Leather Strap + extra Mesh Band: $300 shipped ($449 value)
Smartphone Accessories: Lumsing Wireless Bluetooth Audio Stereo Receiver Adapter $17 Prime shipped, more
Save $120+/yr. by owning your cable modem: refurb Motorola DOCSIS 3.0 options from $30 shipped
Apple’s latest 256GB Retina MacBook Pro: $1,200 (Reg. $1,499) – $99 less than list price of 128GB model
Apple 12-inch MacBook w/ Retina display 1.2GHz/8GB/512GB: from $1,250 w/ .edu
JBL’s new Reflect Aware C headphones are powered by USB Type-C
MORE NEW GEAR FROM TODAY:
It’s free cone day at Ben & Jerry’s! Here’s how you can grab a dip on the house
- Games/Apps: Ratchet & Clank (Prime only) $32, iOS freebies, more
- Fashion: Haggar dress clothes 60+% off at Amazon, Tommy Hilfiger 40% off w/ free shipping
- Daily Deals: Apple 60W MagSafe 2 Power Adapter for 13-inch MacBook Pro $27, more
- Apple 12.9-inch iPad Pro 128GB Wi-Fi + Cellular in all colors: $860 shipped (Reg. $1,079)
- Apple Milanese Loop knockoff for a tenth of the price ($16 Prime shipped)?
- Apple Watch 42mm Space Gray Milanese Loop Band: $27 Prime shipped (Reg. $35)
- App Store Free App of the Week: Cut the Rope Time Travel for iPhone and iPad goes free for the very first time (Reg. $1)
- Anthill for iOS drops down to its lowest price in years: $1 (Reg. $2)
- Apple’s Pay Once & Play 50% off iOS game sale: Transistor, Brothers, Rules!, Implosion, Radiation Island, more
- Brothers A Tale of Two Sons iOS puzzle-adventure game gets its first price drop: $2 (Reg. $5)
- Apple offers Day One 2 iOS journal app for free ($10 value)
MORE DEALS STILL ALIVE:
Philips Hue discounted bundles: 4-pack A19 white & color bulbs (2nd gen) $199 shipped (Reg. $240), more
- Audio-Technica ATH-M30x Professional Studio Monitor Headphones: $49 shipped (Reg. $69)
- Audio-Technica’s best selling ATH-M50x studio headphones + FiiO A3 amp $130 ($180+ value)
- Samsung HDTVs: 65-inch 1080p Smart $799, more
- TP-Link Archer C7 AC Gigabit Wi-Fi Router + DOCSIS 3.0 Cable Modem $110 (Reg. $145+)
- Affordable RCA 4K Android TV will be available in June, starting at $499 for 50-inch model
- Green Deals: 2-pack Litom LED Solar Outdoor Spotlights $26 Prime shipped (Reg. $35), more
- Sports/Fitness: $50 Cabela’s gift card for $40 (20% off), more
- Upgrade your TV audio w/ Sony’s Bluetooth 2.1-Ch. Soundbar System for $90 (Orig. $140)
- Canvas Vintage-Style Messenger Bags: 15-inch $45 (Reg. $60), 13-inch $20 (Reg. $44), more
- Green Deals: Aukey 20W Solar Dual-USB Port Charger $39 (Reg. $47), more
- Bags: Tamrac Messenger for 15-inch MacBooks $25 (Reg. $43), more
- Add Bluetooth to nearly any speaker w/ the Mpow Streambot Mini for $14 Prime shipped
- LEGO Deals: Big Bang Theory Living Room $46, Minecraft Ender Dragon $49, more
- Mojang reveals 27 new skins for Minecraft Story mode, here’s how you can get them for free
- Browse reddit like a boss with a free 3-month gold membership upgrade ($12 value)
- iPhone SE and Galaxy S7/Edge cases in a variety of styles/colors from $3 shipped
- Walmart launches iPhone SE $100 discount, other Apple/Samsung devices too!
- Learn to build amazing apps with the Apple TV Developer Course: $19 (Orig. $199)
- Buy 3 accessories, save 20%: iPad Pro Keyboard $143, Apple Pencil $87, more
- Twelve South brushed metal HiRise Apple Watch stand: $40 Prime shipped (Reg. $50)
NEW PRODUCTS & MORE:
You probably won’t own Lytro’s new 755MP Cinema Camera but you’ll enjoy its benefits
- GoPro’s new Omni Virtual Reality rig leverages six HERO4 Black action cameras
- Epson’s latest ‘Small-in-One’ printer weighs in at a fraction of the competition
- Twelve South introduces new TimePorter capsule for Apple Watch and charger
- Ryobi’s new Ultra Quiet Garage Door Opener has a Bluetooth speaker and more
- Roku introduces a new quad-core streaming stick with a slimmed down design
- Apogee releases its most affordable full-featured Mac recording interface yet
- The Yecup 365 travel mug uses your iPhone to heat or cool your drink
- ROAM-e follows you around in the sky and takes selfies on demand
- Sprint customers can now (but probably shouldn’t) pay monthly for Amazon Prime
- Seagate unveils the “world’s first” USB-powered 8TB desktop hard drive
Unboxing the awesome, pricey C-3PO and Stormtrooper Bluetooth speakers [Video]
Towards the end of last year, a company called AC Worldwide launched a promising Kickstarter project. Essentially, these were fully licensed, to scale Star Wars Bluetooth speakers in the shape of C-3Po and Stormtrooper heads. Not long after the speaker project launched, an investor came in and offered the company all the money they needed to get the speakers to market. Now they’re here, and I just had to try them out…
Amazon launches more affordable Echo Dot and Amazon Tap Bluetooth speaker
We heard a couple of months ago that Amazon was working on a smaller, more portable version of its Echo voice assistant speaker, and now it’s here. Actually, Amazon has announced today two new Alexa-enabled devices, the Echo Dot (which is the aforementioned smaller version of the larger Echo), and the Amazon Tap, which is essentially an Alexa-enabled portable speaker…
Review: Aukey Sport Bluetooth headphone, $25 you won’t regret spending
Aukey is a Chinese company more commonly known for producing charging accessories like in-car chargers and multi-port USB stations. But, it also builds headphones. I’ve been testing the wireless Bluetooth earphones while out running for a few months now. For $25, it’s really hard to argue against the Aukey Sport Bluetooth Headphone…
9to5Toys Lunch Break: LG G4 (unlocked) $380, JBL Charge 2 Bluetooth speaker $80, more
Keep up with the best gear and deals on the web by signing up for the 9to5Toys Newsletter. Also, be sure to check us out on: Twitter, RSS Feed, Facebook, Google+ and Safari push notifications.
Today’s can’t miss deals:
LG G4 brand new smartphone 32GB (unlocked): $380 shipped (Reg. $800) | eBay
JBL Charge 2 Bluetooth speaker, 9to5mac’s ‘2014 Bluetooth speaker of the year’: $80 shipped, (or 3 for $70/ea)
This mini Segway hopes to take-off with its affordable price tag and compact design
USB Roundup: Lumsing 6700mAh Power bank $12, 2-Pack of RAVPower 3-ft MFi Lightning cables $8, more
Save $20 on select Kindle e-Readers, deals start at just $59 with free shipping
More new gear from today:
Ditch the cable modem rental fees w/ these refurb deals: Motorola SB6121 $45 shipped (Orig. $100), more
- Amazon Gold Box – at least 50% off winter activewear + Old Navy clearance sale
- Display your iPhone 6/s w/ this Mpow Car Air Vent Mount $5 shipped (Reg. $9)
- Games/Apps: Zelda Link Between Worlds $30, Dragon Age Inquisition from $20, freebies, more
- Daily Deals: Sony Bluetooth Speaker $40, OtterBox iPhone 5/5s Power Case $30, more
- Save on apps, games, movies and more: $100 iTunes Gift Card for $90 shipped
- Unlocked iPhones (refurb): iPhone 5c 16GB 4G LTE $170, iPhone 6 64GB $430
- 21:9 Displays: Dell UltraSharp 34″ Curved $650, LG 34″ Curved $720, more
More deals still alive:
Free MP3 Downloads: Greatest Hits from TLC, Muddy Waters, more plus Shakira Deluxe Edition
- Aukey 3-in-1 clip-on smartphone camera lens kit $10 Prime shipped (Reg. $16)
- The original Bluetooth-enabled August Smart Lock drops to $199 (Orig. $250)
- App Store Free App of the Week: Sky Gamblers Air Supremacy
- Apple’s new 4K & 5K iMacs already seeing the first price cuts and tax-free options
- Apple is dishing out free downloads of the award-winning puzzle game Shadowmatic
- HGST Touro 1TB USB 3.0 Portable Hard Drive $40 shipped (Orig. $69)
- Amazon slashes prices on Levi’s jeans for Men, Women and Boys
- Griffin Technology merch credit 50% off
- Adjustable iPad mount for $17 Prime shipped (Orig. $30)
- D-Link PowerLine AV+ Network Extender Mini Adapter Kit $20 shipped (Reg. $35), more
- Goal Zero Nomad 7 USB 12V Charger w/ 7W Solar Panel (Refurb) $30 shipped (Orig. $80)
- Aukey adjustable wireless selfie stick w/ Bluetooth $6 Prime shipped (Reg. $11+)
- RuggedTec FlashBang mountable Bluetooth Speaker/Flashlight: $28 shipped (Orig. $79)
- Sony SRSX3 Portable Bluetooth/NFC Speaker: $60 shipped (Orig. $140)
- Audio-Technica Headphones + Blue Microphones USB Mic $200 shipped ($292+ value)
- Brother Color Duplex Laser Wireless Printer w/ AirPrint: $150 shipped (Reg. $200)
- Bluetooth Speakers: Inateck Honeycomb $30, SOL REPUBLIC DECK $40
- Freebies: Runtastic Sit Ups PRO for iOS + LEGO building event + More!
- Samsung Gear Virtual Reality headset for Galaxy S6/Edge $100 shipped (Reg. $200)
- OtterBox SYMMETRY Series iPhone 6/6s Case $20 Prime shipped (Reg. $40)
New products & more:
It took about 500,000 LEGO bricks to put this life-size Batmobile together
- These futuristic looking headphones could be straight out of the Transformers movie series
- Amazon and Toys R Us give a peek at this year’s must-have holiday gifts
- NBA 2K16 hits iOS and Android with new gameplay, controls and updated graphics
- Minecraft: Story Mode launches on iOS and Android with a new multi-episode campaign mode
- Electric Jukebox doesn’t want to be Spotify or Chromecast, so what is it?
- This is the Apple TV remote that Cupertino should’ve made…
- The BLOCKS modular smartwatch has flown past its Kickstarter goal in a just a few hours
- Waylens is the iOS-connected dashboard camera you’ve been waiting for
9to5Toys Lunch Break: LG Watch Urbane (first-gen) $225, UE ROLL Bluetooth Speaker $90, more
Keep up with the best gear and deals on the web by signing up for the 9to5Toys Newsletter. Also, be sure to check us out on: Twitter, RSS Feed, Facebook, Google+ and Safari push notifications.
Today’s can’t miss deals:
First-gen LG Watch Urbane smartwatch: $225 shipped (Reg. $280)
UE ROLL 360 Bluetooth Speaker (all colors): $90 shipped (Reg. $100)
Motorola Nexus 6 Unlocked 32GB: $300 shipped (Orig. $650) | eBay
Chromecast, Chromecast Audio, Nexus 5X & 6P pre-orders now live on the Google Store
More new gear from today:
Daily Deals: FitDesk v2.0 Exercise Bike w/ Massage Bar $205, SanDisk Ultra 32GB Micro USB/USB 3.0 Flash Drive $11, more
- Inateck MercuryBox Aluminum Bluetooth 4.0 Ultra-Portable Speaker: $37 shipped (Reg. $46)
- Games/Apps: Mad Max (PS4/Xbox One) $50, Videoshop & Cloud Spin go free, more iOS freebies
- VisionTek 120GB USB 3.0 Pocket Solid State Drive: $80 shipped (Reg. $100)
- Download Cole Swindell’s debut album for free ($10 value)
- Under Armour Gear 40% Off: Fleece Hoody $30, Caterpillar Work Boots 50% Off: Steel Toe $78
More deals still alive:
Free PS Plus Games for October: Super Meat Boy, Broken Age, Kickbeat, more
Free Xbox Live Gold Games for October: Valiant Hearts, The Walking Dead, more
Networking: ZyXEL AV500 Powerline $25 shipped (Reg. $50+), travel routers, more
- WD My Cloud 4TB Personal Cloud Storage NAS $160 shipped (Orig. $220)
- Anker 14W Dual-USB Port Solar Charger: $40 shipped (Reg. $50+)
- LG 34-inch 21:9 UltraWide LED IPS Monitor: $620 shipped (Reg. $780+)
- GoPro HERO3+ Silver Edition Camera (Refurb): $169 shipped (Orig. $240)
- Klipsch STATUS Over-Ear Headphones $100 shipped (Orig. $150), more
- Samsung 850 EVO 2.5-inch Internal SSDs: 500GB $150 (Reg. $175+), 250GB $80 (Reg. $90)
- USB Power: Anker 15,600mAh Battery Pack $24 (Reg. $30), more
- CowBoom 20% off sitewide: iPad mini 3 64GB Wi-Fi + Cellular (pre-owned) from $292, more
- Toshiba Canvio Basics 2TB Portable USB 3.0 Hard Drive: $70 shipped (Reg. $85+)
- SanDisk Connect Wi-Fi Flash Drive for iOS: 64GB $50 (Reg. $60), 32GB $30 (Reg. $40)
- Beyerdynamic T5p Tesla Audiophile over-ear headphones $650 shipped (Reg. $850+)
- Canary All-in-One Internet-Connected Home Security Device: $199 shipped (Reg. $250)
- Keep your Wi-Fi running during a power outage – APC Network Backup UPS: $40 shipped (Reg. $65)
- Buy 2 Board Games, Get 1 Free: Star Wars Pictopia $25, Jenga $9, Monopoly $20, more
- Belkin QODE Ultimate Keyboard Case for iPad Air 2 in White/Gold: $49 shipped (Reg. $100)
- Learn to hack a Raspberry Pi: $115 (Orig. $804, CA Tax Only)
- First Generation Lytro 16GB Digital Camera $80 (Orig. $199)
- Skybell Wi-Fi Doorbell livestreams video of anyone who calls: $169 Shipped (Orig. $199)
- Loot Crate: 3-Month Subscription: $49 Shipped (Orig. $58, CA Tax Only)
- SKEYE Pico Drone fits inside its own controller, packs gyro-stabilization: $35 Shipped (Orig. $49)
- Typinator Family Pack (5 licenses) for $21.99 (48% off)
- KeySmart 2.0 Titanium Key Organizer: $30 Shipped (Orig. $44, CA Tax Only)
- Lyrix Axis Levitating Wireless-Charging Speaker: $140 Shipped (Orig. $200, CA Tax Only)
- Private Internet Access VPN offers browsing protection, 2-year subscription now $60 (Orig. $80)
New products & more
TiVo makes the DVR sexy with 4K content, AirPlay and one-click commercial skipping
- Bose’s latest connected speaker lowers the entry price into the SoundTouch family
- Keurig’s new KOLD brewer lets you make Coca-Cola at home but it’s going to cost you
- Amazon snags exclusive streaming rights for Back to The Future trilogy
- Amazon’s Prime Music adds new artists to its streaming service
- GoPro introduces a new cost-effective action camera with Wi-Fi capabilities
- Exploride combines the best iPhone features into one safe head-up display unit for your car
- Microsoft is announcing a new Xbox One bundle every day this week
- Review: JBL’s new Xtreme Bluetooth speaker goes big on sound and design
- You can make the new J-Force electric surfboard go 0-35MPH with the bend of your finger
Sony’s IFA press conference is about to kick off, here’s your live stream
Next up at the IFA trade show in Berlin is Sony’s press conference scheduled to kick off at 10am ET/ 3:00pm BST. And the good news is we’ll be able to watch the whole thing as it unfolds as Sony’s plans to stream the event live on its website.
What can we expect from Sony today? Judging by past leaks, some of the announcements we’d expect include the new Sony Xperia Z5 family including a Compact and Premium model alongside a refreshed design for the flagship lineup and camera improvements. Based on recent leaks, we’re expecting to see a 5.2-inch Xperia Z5, along with the larger Xperia Z5 Premium with a large 5.5-inch QHD or 4K display and the smaller Z5 Compact with a 720p, 4.6-inch display.
We’ll of course be following along and offering up coverage on the big announcements from the event. But you can check out the full live stream of the event for yourself through Sony’s website here.
Huawei Ascend Mate S photos and press render leak ahead of launch
Just one day before it’s due to unveil its next smartphone and give us a refreshed look at its smartwatch, Huawei’s next Ascend Mate has shown up in form of leaked photos and press renders. Previous leaks showed us pre-release versions of the device and suggested it would be an all-metal device, similar to the Ascend Mate 7. Taking design cues from the HTC One series, it has the familiar antenna bands on the top and bottom as well as a rear-mounted fingerprint sensor.
Rumored specifications suggest this isn’t a flagship phone. The supposed 5.7-inch display on the front has a resolution of 1080×1920, and it’s powered by a Kirin 935 processor with 3GB RAM. One interesting feature mentioned by Steve Hemmerstoffer is that the device could feature Force Touch-like technology, similar to the pressure sensitive touch screen tech found on modern MacBooks and the Apple Watch. The camera on the back is expected to pack in a 20MP sensor while the front camera will allegedly be 8MP.
Evan Blass had his say on the device today too, with what looks to be the official press render of Huawei’s Ascend Mate S. If accurate (which his leaks almost always are) we can expect the device to ship in black, white and gold hues.
It wasn’t long ago that Huawei started sending out invites to its IFA event. The invites themselves strongly hinted at the ‘S’ in the device name, a rumor which is seemingly confirmed on the screen of the leaked device. Sadly, for those who like a pure Android experience, it looks as though these devices will ship with the opinion-dividing EMUI custom skin. Still, it won’t be long until we finally see how a Huawei smartphone runs on stock Android. The Chinese manufacturer is expected to be one of Google’s partners for the two rumored Nexus phones due to land later this year.
Samsung reveals its Gear S2 smartwatch ahead of IFA 2015 kick off
Samsung has — notably 4 days before IFA 2015 is set to kick off in Berlin — announced its round Gear S2 smartwatch by way of a press release. The device, which is absent of any hint of Google’s Android Wear smartwatch operating system, has a circular 1.2-inch screen, sports Tizen-based software, has 4 GB of onboard storage, and packs fitness features like S Health and Nike+ Running. Also, there’s a 3G model…
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New renders show ‘Moto 360 Sport,’ purportedly coming in November
The Moto 360 is set to get a complete refresh at IFA later this week, and up to this point we’ve only seen what look to be two variants of the device. There’s apparently a smaller watch and a larger watch (reportedly called Moto 360S and Moto 360L, respectively). Now, well-known leakster Upleaks is giving us a look at a “Sport” variant of the smartwatch, featuring bright colors and some kind of fitness tracking software on board…
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