The Galaxy Note 7 may double download speeds via 4×4 MIMO

What is 4x4MIMO, I hear you ask? MIMO stands for Multiple Input Multiple Output and 4×4 indicates four transmission and reception streams. The reason this is interesting is because no commercial smartphone has supported 4×4 MIMO – apparently until the Galaxy Note 7. While still unconfirmed, the Note 7 apparently has the four antennas 4×4 MIMO needs for faster and more stable connections with higher data transfer rates and better efficiency.

See also: DisplayMate says Galaxy Note 7 has the best smartphone display40

The revelation came when a Redditor someone shared an engineering screen showing the tell-tale line '4RxD' which roughly translates to four-way receive antenna diversity. If that still makes no sense, it means the Note 7 looks to have twice as many antennas as normal smartphones. This means the presence of hardware support for 4×4 MIMO, which is evidently still being field-tested.

@milan03 (Reddit)

What is 4×4 MIMO?

According to Quantenna, MIMO systems "offer superior data rates, range and reliability without requiring additional bandwidth or transmit power". What this means for connection performance is this: "A 4×4 MIMO system with dynamic digital beamforming and MIMO receiver processing supports two maximum-rate data streams, 99 percent of the time."

If all of that sounds a bit complicated, focus on the "two maximum-rate data streams, 99 percent of the time". Or as one Redditor put it "20MHz markets would go from 150 Mbps to 300 Mbps. If it has 256 QAM, then add 33% for about 400 Mbps peak speeds."

20MHz markets would go from 150 Mbps to 300 Mbps. If the Note 7 also has 256 QAM, then add another 33% for about 400 Mbps peak speeds.

This is what has everyone over on Reddit all in a tizz, because the Note 7 looks to be the first commercial smartphone to be available with 4×4 MIMO. It's not necessarily the kind of thing you want to jam into a press conference – the previous few paragraphs should tell you why – but it is pretty exciting news.

Why is 4×4 MIMO something I want?

Simple: when optimum conditions are met, the Galaxy Note 7 would be capable of downloading data at double the normal rate. This would then allow the CPU and other resources to idle down more quickly, saving you battery life as well. In poor reception areas, four antennas would maintain a more stable connection for calls as well. Various other benefits – of varying degrees of complexity – were also discussed in the Reddit thread.

The Note 7 on which 4×4 MIMO was discovered was T-Mobile branded, but T-Mobile's cell towers currently only support two network layers. Ideally, both the transmitter (cell tower) and receiver (smartphone) would support four layers, although two-to-four still works. It must be noted though that Samsung still needs 4×4 MIMO certification for the Note 7 (which wasn't mentioned in the original FCC documents).

Support for 4x4 MIMO is only found in the Qualcomm X12 LTE Modem in the Snapdragon 820.

While 4×4 MIMO will work on other carrier networks as well, the radio that supports 4×4 MIMO is only found in the Qualcomm X12 LTE Modem. The Snapdragon 820 includes this modem, but the Exynos-equipped Note 7 variants do not.

Of course, we cannot confirm the Note 7 actually includes the four antennas required until someone does a hardware teardown (which won't be long).

To release the full potential of 4×4 MIMO, both the carriers and Samsung would need to enable support for four spatial streams on both the transmitter and receiver. T-Mobile has already indicated that this would happen in 2016 and all Samsung would need to do is send out an OTA update enabling the feature.

The possibility of more stable cell phone connections, better reception in areas with a weak signal, up to double the download speeds and general efficiency improvements, all adds up to a big win for Samsung. But we can't help but wonder why no public comment has yet been made regarding field-testing 4×4 MIMO for the Note 7 or a timeline discussed for its release.

We've reached out to Samsung for details on its plans for 4×4 MIMO and will update this post with any further information we receive.

Would this convince you to buy a Note 7 over another phone? When do you think full support will roll out?

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Fossil’s Q Wander and Q Marshal go up for preorder on August 12

Fueled by last year's acquisition of Misfit, the Fossil Group continues it march towards its goal of offering more than 100 wearables by the end of the year. The latest pair of smartwatches to join that collection are the Q Wander and Q Marshal, which go up for early order on August 12.

The pair of Android Wear watches are compatible with both Android and iOS smartphones. They'll relay notifications from your phone to your wrist, alerting you via vibrations form their haptic sensors. They'll also play nice with Google Fit, Under Armour's UA Record, Jawbone's UP and MyFitnesPal.

Both the Q Marshal and Q Wander start at $295 and each come in a 45 mm case size. The Q Wander, with its wire-frame lugs and multi-finish case, is the beauty of this pair, while the more rugged Q Marshal plays the part of the beast. But you can pretty up both watches with interchangeable straps that come in leather, stainless steel and silicon.

The two watches include magnetic chargers for wireless charging, microphones to listen out to voice commands and dictation, speakers for talking back, and sensors for activity tracking. All of that is tucked behind an always-on display, which is ready to wake up whenever it has a new alert for you.

The Q Marshal and Q Wander join a lineup of Q family smartwatches that now numbers more than 20. They're part of a large collection of wearables that Fossil says will number more than 100 watches by the end of the year, all of which will ship to more than 40 countries.

Show Press Release

Fossil Q Wander and Q Marshal Smartwatches Available for Pre-Order August 12

Smaller Android Wear™ Smartwatches In-Store & Online August 29

---

DALLAS, Aug. 9, 2016 /PRNewswire/ — Pre-orders begin August 12 for the newest display smartwatches by Fossil Brand, an innovator in both fashion watches and wearables. The Q Wander and Q Marshal smartwatches can be pre-ordered atwww.fossil.com/q and will be available August 29 in Fossil stores and online at www.fossil.com.

"Q Wander and Q Marshal beautifully marry form and function for a stunning addition to your everyday style," said Jill Elliott, chief creative officer. "Fossil is known for its quality timepieces and we're proud of the seamless expansion to our wearables collection. These slim yet highly functional smartwatches reflect the elevated design of a Fossil watch while incorporating a digital experience that's important to today's customer."

Enhanced Design and Dependable Performance

A perfect balance of function and fashion, Q Wander and Q Marshal pack the power you need to efficiently accomplish all your daily tasks in a smaller, sleeker package. Features include:

• Touchscreen, always-on display
• 45 mm case size
• Notifications with vibration
• Compatible with Android™ and iOS
• Refined steel and classic leather accents
• Microphone & Speaker
• Activity tracking & Step Goal Setting
• Customizable watch face design
• Interchangeable straps
• Automatic Time Zone
• Magnetic Charger
• Partner Activity Integration including Google Fit™, UA Record™ by Under Armour, UP by Jawbone® and MyFitness Pal™

Q Wander has a beautiful soft curving, multi-finish case with artfully sculpted wire lugs while Q Marshal has a striking rugged case. Both devices have limitless options for personalization including interchangeable straps in leather, silicone and stainless steel, and thousands of customizable options per dial choice, including the dial's color, numbering, hand style and color, and sub-eyes.

These smartwatches help you stay on track with timely traffic and flight updates, allowing you to get the information you want, when you need it. Both Q Wander and Q Marshal feature always-on displays and feature a haptic sensor that vibrates when you receive a notification, so you'll always be aware of important information like time, calls, text messages, emails, and app alerts. You can also easily view text messages and emails on your smartwatch when it is paired with an Android smartphone or iPhone. Android smartphone users can also respond to these messages from the smartwatch by tapping the touchscreen or by using voice commands. Not your standard-looking activity trackers, Q Wander and Q Marshal stylishly track walking, jogging and running so you can see your progress over the course of seven days.

And with no exposed pins or connectors, charging both smartwatches is a breeze. The back of each smartwatch easily connects to the magnetic charging unit.

Q Marshal and Q Wander are compatible with both Android smartphones and iPhones and start at $295.

There are now more than 20 products in the Fossil Q line-up – including activity trackers, smartwatches, and a variety of straps and accessories.

For more information on Fossil, visit www.fossil.com or follow us on Twitter and Instagram, and like us on Facebook.

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Nexus 6 devices aren’t working on T-Mobile for some reason (UPDATE: fixed!)

Update – August 9, 2016: We have good news for all those Nexus 6 users experiencing data issues. A Google employee named Orrin has taken it to the Nexus Help Forum to inform us that the issue at hand has been fixed.

It seems the problem was related to GPS problems and has been corrected from the back end. Those still experiencing problems are advised to restart their devices. Happy browsing! 

Original – August 4, 2016: In a turn of events that's frustrating Nexus fans across the nation, T-Mobile's LTE network has suddenly stopped working with many Nexus 6 devices. T-Mobile has acknowledged that the problem exists and announced that they're looking for a solution, but so far nobody really knows why this is happening.

This isn't the first time the Nexus 6 has had a dodgy time on the 'Uncarrier's 4G network. Although it was recently proven that T-Mobile has the fastest LTE speeds in the nation, Nexus 6 users have had a consistently spotty experience with the network.

See also: T-Mobile has the fastest LTE in the U.S.142

This latest instance of coverage suddenly cutting out without warning doesn't seem to follow any rhyme or reason. It's not associated with any recent updates, and the best T-Mobile reps can do is encourage those experiencing the problem by manually updating their device via Wi-Fi. However, most who have tried this are reporting that their problems with LTE coverage return after too long.

Whatever that fix entails, it may not arrive until Monday

T-Mobile claims that the issue isn't solely affecting their network, and that they are working with Google to come up with a fix. Whatever that fix entails, it may not arrive until Monday, leaving some Nexus 6 owners stranded without wireless coverage for the weekend.

What are your thoughts regarding this upset in data? Are you a T-Mobile user affected by sudden loss of service on your Nexus 6? If so, let us know in the comments below!

Next: Best T-Mobile Android phones (July 2016)69

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Deal: Samsung Gear S2 Classic 4G for $239.99

Interested in the Gear S2? Right now dailysteals is offering a great deal on what is arguably Samsung's most beautifully designed smartwatch. For $239.99, you get a black Gear S2 Classic with 4G capabilities. Considering the fact that most refurbished Gear S2 Classic devices without 4G are priced at $249.99 or more, $239.99 is quite a steal.

• Gear S2 Classic review
• Gear S2 Classic hands-on

This 4G-enabled Gear S2 Classic will work with Verizon in the US as well as GSM carriers, but if you don't want to buy a separate SIM card, you can always use it on Wi-Fi.

The Gear S2 Classic features a 1.2 inch circular Super AMOLED display with a screen resolution of 360 x 360. It features a rotating bezel and a Tizen-based UI that makes full use of the bezel. With the most recent update, you can make payments with the Gear S2 Classic using Samsung Pay, and as we've come to expect from most wearables, it is IP68 certified.

Are you interested? The deal only lasts for four more days, so if you're looking to buy a high-end smartwatch, you might want to hurry!

Buy Now from Daily Steals

 

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Pokemon Go beta-testing new and improved Nearby tracker

It's no surprise that updates to Niantic overwhelmingly smash hit, Pokemon Go, are in full swing. Just a few hours ago we reported about weighty revision just administered, which addressed several bugs and improvements to be had. We've now learned about another incoming change that will significantly help our hunt – a new 'Nearby' tracking system that can make the location of your next prize more apparent.

See also: Pokémon Go hits 100 million installs on Android, made $200 million in its first month7

We've caught wind of the feature by word of a select few who Niantic are allowing to beta test the update (via Twitter and Reddit). Specifically, with the new tracker, the nearby Pokemon get associated with a picture of the nearest Pokestop to them. Tapping it shows the trainer the where to go to claim the monster, on the bird's eye view map.

Another nifty feature is that, if the sly creature manages to slither away before you get there, the system will notify you so that you don't waste your time (and avoid extreme disappointment). It is said that the new tracker is limited to a max of 500 meters, so it only applies to Pokemon in your vicinity.

We don't have any word on when the best testing will be done and the update rolled out to all Pokemon Go trainers, so stay tuned. How do you feel about what's coming? Is this the right move for the Nearby tracker?

Get it in the Play Store See also: What your Pokémon GO team says about you49

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Google Inbox update sorts annoying Trello, Github notifications and more

Project management app Trello and the code collaboration platform Github can be pretty chatty with their notifications. That's why Google has updated Inbox by Gmail so that the email app now groups together messages from these never-ending streams of notifications. The rest of your Inbox will thank you for the breathing room offered by this update, which also brings us some new features that are based on user feedback.

Even if you've already setup additional Gmail folders with filters meant to divert Trello or Github notifications away from your main inbox, you'll want to take a look at this update. These changes sew together several notification emails from Trello or Github into a single email thread, which you can expand or collapse with the tap of a finger. It works just like Inbox's original bundles: Social, Promotions, Purchases and so on.

See also: Inbox by Gmail now groups calendar events and newsletters5

Furthermore, because the Inbox app was built with the goal of helping you keep your inbox clean, you can swipe bundled notifications to the right to mark the whole batch "Done" and archive them all.

This latest update for Inbox also bundles Google Alerts into what the Inbox team describes as a "newsletter" format. It uses the same expand, collapse, swipe formula to make Alerts more manageable. With an unobtrusive delivery system like this, you might be more likely to subscribe to them.

This latest update for Inbox also bundles Google Alerts into what the Inbox team describes as a 'newsletter' format.

The Inbox team also added Drive integration into the app. You can embed Drive links into your messages and adjust permissions. You can also drop email attachments directly into Drive. Also, it's much easier to delete messages now.

Related: Best productivity apps for Android42

While we're on the topic, he web version of Inbox received an exclusive update as well. You can now drag and drop your contacts between the To, CC and BCC fields. Not a major change, but once you start using it you'll find it's pretty intuitive.

This update is live now. If you gave up on the Inbox app early on, check out our earlier coverage of the app to find out about some of the developments you missed. As always, let us know what you think in the comments below.

Get it in the Play Store

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DisplayMate says Galaxy Note 7 has the best smartphone display

According to DisplayMate, Samsung's latest phablet has the best smartphone display out there, trumping its Galaxy S7 siblings.

DisplayMate is well-known for its comprehensive tests that determine the quality of smartphone displays, and more often than not, when DisplayMate makes the headlines, it's accompanied by a Galaxy device. Samsung's Galaxy S5 was crowned the best performing smartphone display by DisplayMate way back in 2014, only to be topped by the Galaxy Note 4. The following year, the Galaxy S6 siblings usurped the title, which was claimed by the Galaxy Note5 later that year. So on and so forth.

It shouldn't come as a surprise then that the upcoming Galaxy Note7 has surpassed the Galaxy S7 series to feature the best smartphone display available in the market right now. According to DisplayMate's President Raymond Soneira, the Galaxy Note7's display is so impressive that it's almost futuristic:

Since the Note series generally leads in display technology, the Note 7 should really have been called the Note 8 so that its name will be in better sync with the future Galaxy S8.

The analysis shows that the Note7's display outperformed the Note5 and the Galaxy S7 in almost every display lab test. With its maximum brightness of 1,000 nits, Note7 has the brightest smartphone display ever, and its reflectance measures at 4.6%, one of the lowest ever tested by DisplayMate.

Soneira concludes that Note7's wide range of display features – such as color modes – along with its color gamut and dual ambient sensors should make it one of the most ideal phones to use directly under the sun.

See also: Samsung Galaxy Note 7 vs Galaxy S7 Edge First Look76

Samsung's efforts to refine its Super AMOLED technology not only benefits the end-user, but it could have significant implications for the smartphone market. Whereas in its nascent stages, OLED technology was criticized for color inaccuracy and relative dimness, it is now growing at an unstoppable rate.

With even Apple rumored to be employing the technology in its future iPhones, Samsung's lead in smartphone OLED technology may bode well for the Korean electronics giant. Do you think Note7's outstanding display is enough of a reason to upgrade? What are your thoughts on OLED screens? Let us know by leaving a comment below!

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