Zone Telechargement Gratuit

jeudi 4 août 2016

Best Android phones (August 2016): 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.

Best Android tablets
Best Android watches

Editor's note: We will be updating this list regularly as new devices launch.

Update, August 2016: This month we added the Moto Z/Moto Z Force and the ZTE Axon 7 to our list. We also removed the Huawei P9 and Samsung Galaxy Note 5.

Samsung Galaxy S7 and S7 Edge

Samsung did a killer job with their 2015 flagship smartphones, the Galaxy S6 and S6 Edge. Design-wise, many would say those two phones were close to perfect. The company forwent a plastic design and instead included glass front and back panels with an aluminum frame. They weren't without their flaws, though. The S6 and S6 Edge didn't offer expandable storage or removable batteries — two features Samsung has been known to include in all its smartphones for years.

Now the Galaxy S7 and S7 Edge have made their way to the masses, and they fix many of the problems the S6 line introduced last year. While they don't offer removable batteries, Samsung included expandable storage on both handsets in case the 32 GB of on-board storage isn't enough. Samsung mostly stuck to the same design this time around, though they did shrink down the camera bumps on the back and made the devices a little thicker to make room for larger batteries.

In terms of specs, these are top-of-the-line smartphones. They come with Quad HD Super AMOLED displays, Qualcomm Snapdragon 820 processors, 4 GB of RAM, great 12 MP rear-facing cameras and run the latest version of Android. Instead of featuring the same screen sizes this time around though, Samsung kept the S7 at a smaller 5.1 inches, while the S7 Edge has been bumped up to a larger 5.5-inch panel.

Seriously, these are some incredible smartphones. They are a little pricey, but all in all, we think the high asking price is worth it.

Specs

Samsung Galaxy S7

5.1-inch Super AMOLED display with 2560 x 1440 resolution, 577 ppi
Quad-core Qualcomm Snapdragon 820 processor
4 GB of RAM
32 GB of on-board storage, microSD expansion up to 200 GB
12 MP rear camera, 5 MP front camera
Non-removable 3000 mAh battery
Android 6.0.1 Marshmallow
142.4 x 69.6 x 7.9 mm, 152 g

Samsung Galaxy S7 Edge

5.5-inch Super AMOLED display with 2560 x 1440 resolution, 534 ppi
Quad-core Qualcomm Snapdragon 820 processor
4 GB of RAM
32 GB of on-board storage, microSD expansion up to 200 GB
12 MP rear camera, 5 MP front camera
Non-removable 3600 mAh battery
Android 6.0.1 Marshmallow
150.9 x 72.6 x 7.7 mm, 157 g

Buy the Samsung Galaxy S7 Buy the Samsung Galaxy S7 Edge

Moto Z and Moto Z Force (Droid Editions)

Motorola (well, Lenovo actually) is doing something different with their flagship phones this year. Instead of releasing just one flagship under the Moto X moniker, they've decided to release two new smartphones that do things a bit out of the ordinary. The Moto Z and Moto Z Force not only bring flagship-level specs, but also support for modules.

These modules, called Moto Mods, attach to the back of both phones via magnets. There are only a few available right now, but they actually bring some handy features to the phones. You can purchase an external battery module, a powerful speaker, and even a projector!

They both have killer specs, too. Both devices come with a 5.5-inch Quad HD AMOLED display, a Snapdragon 820 processor, 4GB of RAM, plenty of on-board storage, expandable memory, and run Android 6.0 Marshmallow out of the box. You might be wondering – what's the difference between these two phones? The standard Moto Z is super thin at only 5.2mm in thickness, but it only comes with a 2600mAh battery. The Moto Z Force is thicker, has a 3500mAh battery, and also has a shatterproof display.

These aren't the cheapest phones on the market, but they're certainly some of the best.

Specs

Moto Z

5.5-inch AMOLED display with 2560 x 1440 resolution, 535ppi
Quad-core Qualcomm Snapdragon 820 processor
4GB of RAM
32/64GB of on-board storage, microSD expansion up to 256GB
13MP rear camera, 5MP front camera
Non-removable 2600mAh battery
Android 6.0 Marshmallow
153.3 x 75.3 x 5.2mm, 136g

Moto Z Force

5.5-inch AMOLED display with 2560 x 1440 resolution, 535ppi
Quad-core Qualcomm Snapdragon 820 processor
4GB of RAM
32/64GB of on-board storage, microSD expansion up to 256GB
21MP rear camera, 5MP front camera
Non-removable 3500mAh battery
Android 6.0 Marshmallow
155.9 x 75.8 x 7mm, 163g

Buy the Moto Z from Verizon Buy the Moto Z Force from Verizon

Nexus 6P

As the successor to last year's Motorola Nexus 6, Google recently unveiled the Huawei-made Nexus 6P. This device is the higher-end of the two Nexus phones announced at Google's event, and that's incredibly apparent when looking at the spec sheet.

It comes with a big 5.7-inch Quad HD AMOLED display, super fast Snapdragon 810 processor, a giant 3450 mAh battery and an impressive 12MP rear-facing camera. Want to get your hands on one? The Nexus 6P is pretty cheap, considering the specs and build quality. You can purchase it from the Google Store starting at just $499!

Specs

5.7-inch AMOLED display with 1440 x 2560 resolution, 518 ppi
Qualcomm Snapdragon 810 processor
3 GB of RAM
32/64/128 GB of on-board storage, no microSD card expansion
12 MP rear-facing camera, 8 MP front-facing camera
Non-removable 3450 mAh battery
Android 6.0 Marshmallow
159.3 x 77.8 x 7.3 mm, 178 g

Buy now from Amazon

ZTE Axon 7

ZTE's Axon Pro from 2015 was a good phone, but it fell short in a few key areas. It came to market with only one storage option, no expandable memory, and the dual camera setup on the back of the device felt a bit gimmicky. Not only does the company's latest flagship fix all of those problems, it brings much more to the table.

It has a big 5.5-inch Quad HD AMOLED display, the latest Snapdragon processor, plenty of RAM, multiple storage options, and yes, expandable memory up to 256GB. It also sports some killer front-facing speakers, all-day battery life, a great camera, and a sleek, attractive design. While certain parts of the software could use a little more polish, the ZTE Axon 7 goes toe-to-toe with the best in the Android market. It's also inexpensive at only $400, making this an even more attractive option for folks looking to score a solid flagship device.

Specs

5.5-inch AMOLED display with 2560 x 1440 resolution, 538ppi
Qualcomm Snapdragon 820 processor
4/6GB of RAM
64/128GB of on-board storage, microSD expansion up to 256GB
20MP front camera, 8MP rear camera
Non-removable 3250mAh battery
Android 6.0.1 Marshmallow
151.7 x 75 x 7.9mm, 175g

Buy now from Amazon

HTC 10

HTC needed a saving grace this year, and the 10 just may be it. The Taiwanese company finally designed a phone that's different enough from its predecessor yet still sports a familiar design language. With an all-metal chassis, front-mounted fingerprint sensor and a new-and-improved speaker setup, the HTC 10 easily made its way to our best Android phones list.

Under the hood, the 10 comes with some killer specs. A 5.2-inch Quad HD display, Snapdragon 820 processor and 4 GB of RAM are in line with most other flagships this year, and it also comes with expandable storage up to 200 GB and a 3000 mAh battery that will have no problems lasting an entire day on a single charge. HTC also improved the camera this time around, which was a big flaw in last year's One M9 flagship.

All in all, the HTC 10 is an awesome device. Great specs and a solid build quality are what you'll get here… what more could you ask for?

Specs

5.2-inch Super LCD5 display with 2560 x 1440 resolution, 565 ppi
2.15 GHz Qualcomm Snapdragon 820 processor
4 GB of RAM
32/64 GB of on-board storage, microSD expansion up to 200 GB
12 MP rear camera, 5 MP front camera
Non-removable 3000 mAh battery
Android 6.0 Marshmallow
145.9 x 71.9 x 9 mm, 161 g

Buy now from HTC

LG G5

While the Galaxy S7 series is a minor refresh in terms of design, the LG G5 sees a massive departure from the design language used in the G series, ditching the rear volume/power setup that first debuted with the LG G2. The G5 also adopts a unibody metallic design that has a removable cap for access to the removable battery and a port for modules that allow users to expand the phone's capabilities by adding a camera grip and other special accessories.

The distinctly different design of the LG G5 may not be for everyone, but there's little denying that LG has went out of its way to try and innovate in a market where big changes like this aren't all that common.

Spec wise, we're looking at a Qualcomm Snapdragon 820 with 4 GB RAM, a 5.3-inch display, and 32 GB storage with microSD for expansion. The specs here are certainly impressive all across the board. It's also worth mentioning that LG has revamped its software, making it faster and less bloated. One controversial move with the software, however, is the removal of the app drawer in favor of what LG says is a "simplified experience."

Specs

5.3-inch IPS LCD display with 2560 x 1440 resolution, 554 ppi
Qualcomm Snapdragon 820 processor
4 GB of RAM
32 GB of on-board storage, microSD expansion up to 200 GB
16 and 8 MP dual rear cameras, 8 MP front camera
Removable 2800 mAh battery
Android 6.0 Marshmallow
149.4 x 73.9 x 7.7 mm, 159 g

Buy now from Amazon

Cast your vote, and participate in our giveaway!

There you have it – our picks from the best Android has to offer right now. Out of those listed, which do you feel is the very best? Be sure to sound off in the poll below. Each month we will also be conducting a giveaway, giving our readers a chance to win the phone with the most votes.

Winner, July 2016: Samsung Galaxy S7 Edge (11,475 total votes)

Congratulations to Adrian N from Romania, the winner of our July 2016 giveaway!

Best Android Phones (August 20160

Check out our related best lists:

from Android Authority http://ift.tt/1vpU3iq
via IFTTT

LG releases an Android SDK for robots. Seriously

Pepper robots at trade show Pepper (Facebook)

LG CNS is a subsidiary of LG Electronics that provides IT services including consulting, systems integration and now… robots. That's right, LG CNS has revealed an Android SDK for Pepper, the two-legged robot made by Japan's Softbank (who also own Sprint).

You probably know Pepper already, but if not, remember that six months ago, Softbank announced plans to open a phone shop entirely staffed by robots. That would be staffed by Peppers. LG is also the sole supplier of the tablets affixed to Pepper's chest.

Pepper is, in fact, currently in San Francisco preparing for an 'internship' that starts on August 11. So if you're at all curious and are around the Bay Area, head on over to the b8ta retail store to say hello. But before Donald Trump starts telling Americans that Japanese robots are coming to take your jobs, keep in mind Pepper is only Stateside for a week.

But back to the SDK. It will allow Android developers to "build applications to control the movements of Pepper using the Animation Timeline program co-developed by LG CNS and Software Robotics". Basically, building Android apps for, well, what will one day eventually become a full-blown Android.

Pepper may not be the most convincing Replicant in the neighborhood right now, but getting the support of developers and the world's most popular mobile OS behind her is a sure-fire way to kickstart that life-like evolution. Now, all we need is living tissue over a metal endoskeleton.

The finished SDK (a beta was made available in May during Google I/O) is available now for Windows and Linux users. If you think you've got the skills to make Pepper pay the bills, then you can grab everything you need from the Softbank Robotics website.

How well have you prepared for the robot apocalypse? Think you could take out Pepper when the time comes?

from Android Authority http://ift.tt/2aVWW7g
via IFTTT

Samsung explains how the Galaxy Note 7 iris scanner works

Samsung-Galaxy-Note-7-hands-on-first-batch-AA-(18-of-47)
The just released Galaxy Note 7 has become the first handset from Samsung to feature iris scanning technology, which could possibly pave the way for the company to do away with other security methods, such as PIN, pattern, simple swipe, and even fingerprint, even if that is quite unlikely.

With iris scanning arriving in the Galaxy Note 7, you don't need to touch the device to verify your identity and can access the phone by just looking at the screen. Our tests with the iris scanner in the were pretty positive, particularly given the number of times we have seen the same security feature in other devices failing to respond, or proving unreliable.

Samsung-Galaxy-Note-7-hands-on-first-batch-AA-(19-of-47)

For the uninitiated, iris scanning uses mathematical pattern recognition of images of the iris – the thin, colored ring of your eye that opens and shuts the pupil to regulate the amount of light reaching the retina. Just like your fingerprints, your iris pattern is also uniquely different and cannot be changed or replicated, making devices with iris scanning technology highly secure.

Now, in a post on its website, Samsung explains the hardware and technology behind its iris scanner in the Galaxy Note 7. According to the company, the device stores your registered iris information as an encrypted code safely in its hardware using its KNOX security platform. Whenever you want to access content, such as a protected app, the device first captures your iris pattern for recognition, extracts and digitizes it, and then proceeds to match it with the encrypted code to provide access. You can be sure that no one else apart from you can access your device in case it is stolen or lost because the Note 7 registers the iris information of only one person.

Samsung-Galaxy-Note-7-hands-on-first-batch-AA-(33-of-47)

Samsung has made all this possible by including a dedicated iris camera for recognizing the composition of the user's eyeballs. The dedicated iris camera uses a special image filter to receive and recognize the reflected images of the irises through an infrared light on the other end of that panel. The light emitted from the Galaxy Note 7's display allows the scanner to receive data even in low light environments.

Along with iris scanning technology, the Galaxy Note 7 offers a separate Secure Folder for storing private apps and files that can be accessed using your fingerprint, iris scanner, pattern, or PIN. You can use the Secure Folder to keep your private and personal information, like your banking details, completely separate on the device, as well as block access to specific games or content for children. If this sounds familiar to you, that's because it is similar to Samsung's KNOX security platform found on its other devices that allows you to manage two different profiles for work and normal usage.

The Note 7 also brings Samsung Pass, a security feature which you can use to log into websites on the Samsung Internet Browser using biometric authentication without having to input your username and password. Samsung now plans to partner with major financial institutions such as Bank of America, Citibank and U.S. Bank to allow the integration of its iris scanner into mobile banking apps.
Even as Samsung looks to expand the use of its iris scanning technology, you can be sure that the company is likely to introduce the biometric security feature in other future devices, including its mid-range smartphones.

Related Note 7 content:

Let us know in the comments below if you would like to see the Galaxy Note 7's iris scanner in other Samsung smartphones!

from Android Authority http://ift.tt/2aok2hq
via IFTTT

The best Android wallpapers

Changing the wallpaper on your smartphone is one of the easiest ways to make an aging device look new and improved. There are tons of ways to find new wallpapers, too. From downloading a third-party wallpaper application to performing a Google search to find what you're looking for, there are tons of ways to find new wallpapers that will breathe some life into your Android device.

We've rounded up some of the best Android wallpapers we could find. In this list you'll find the wallpapers from some of the top Android devices on the market, wallpapers from the latest versions of Android, and much, much more. Without any further ado, let's jump right in!

Looking for custom wallpapers, not those direct from an OEM? Here's a few great places to look:

HD Wallpapers and QHD Wallpapers for Android

Wallpapers from the top smartphones

Many of the wallpapers in this section can also be found in the wallpapers category of the Android Authority forums. Here you'll find the wallpapers that come preinstalled on devices such as the Samsung Galaxy S7, HTC 10, LG G5 and more.

BlackBerry

blackberry priv review aa (14 of 32)

BlackBerry Priv

HTC

htc 10 by autom3otives (24 of 28)

Huawei

huawei-p9-11-aa

Huawei P9

LG

LG G5-21

Motorola

Moto X Pure Edition-4

Nextbit

Nextbit-Robin-1

Nextbit Robin

Nexus 6P and 5X

nexus 6p vs nexus 5x 2 aa (3 of 3)

OnePlus

oneplus 2 review aa (6 of 38)

Samsung

Samsung-Galaxy-Note-7-hands-on-first-batch-AA-(3-of-47)

Sony

sony xperia z5 aa 25

Xiaomi

Xiaomi Mi 5-16

Xiaomi Mi 5

ZTE

ZTE Axon 7-18

ZTE Axon 7

Wallpapers from Marshmallow, Android N Dev Preview and more

Android N Dev Preview 3 Nexus 6P 1-AA

Here you'll find the stock wallpapers included in the most recent versions of Android, such as Marshmallow, Lollipop and a few others.

Stock Android wallpapers are great, but sometimes other smartphone manufacturers include some nice wallpapers in their software overlays. Here are some of the best that we've found around the internet:

Are there any wallpapers you'd like us to add to our list? Be sure to give us some suggestions in the comments below!

from Android Authority http://ift.tt/1PHsoOD
via IFTTT

Zone Telechargement Gratuit

jeudi 4 août 2016

Best Android phones (August 2016): our picks, plus a giveaway

Samsung Galaxy S7 and S7 Edge

Specs

Read more

Moto Z and Moto Z Force (Droid Editions)

Specs

Read more

Nexus 6P

Specs

Read more

ZTE Axon 7

Specs

Read more

HTC 10

Specs

Read more

LG G5

Specs

Read more

Cast your vote, and participate in our giveaway!

LG releases an Android SDK for robots. Seriously

Samsung explains how the Galaxy Note 7 iris scanner works

The best Android wallpapers

Wallpapers from the top smartphones

BlackBerry

HTC

Huawei

LG

Motorola

Nextbit

Nexus 6P and 5X

OnePlus

Samsung

Sony

Xiaomi

ZTE

Wallpapers from Marshmallow, Android N Dev Preview and more