Consumer Reports is not happy with the way Samsung is handling the Note 7 recall

Following days of heavy rumors, Samsung has moved in to quell fears about the safety of the Note 7. The company assured that only a very small number of devices pose a risk and announced a worldwide recall program, "out of an abundance of caution."

While some have praised Samsung for acting decisively in the interest of customers, not everyone is happy with the way the Note 7 recall program is being conducted.

Consumer Reports, a respected US-based consumer rights organization, said Samsung should have conducted an "official recall" together with the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), a US government body that oversees consumer products recalls.

Consumer Reports says that a CPSC-sanctioned recall would have made it illegal to sell the Galaxy Note 7 in the United States until the remediation of the problem. The consumer rights group said that it identified stores that still had the Note 7 on sale on Friday.

"Samsung should immediately initiate an official recall with the Consumer Product Safety Commission given the serious nature of the safety problem it identified with the Galaxy Note7," said Maria Rerecich, Consumer Reports director of electronics testing. "We are particularly concerned that phones continue to be available for sale today."

An official recall entails providing customers with clear steps to get their devices replaced, something that Samsung has not done, according to Consumer Reports.

Samsung announced yesterday that US Note 7 buyers would be able to get Note 7 replacements from next week. Alternatively, customers can get Galaxy S7's or Galaxy S7 Edge's and receive refunds for the price difference. Samsung asked customers to contact their retailer or call 1-800-SAMSUNG to initiate the exchange.

It's not the first time Consumer Reports goes after Samsung. In July, the organization conducted tests on the Galaxy S7 Active and found that the phone did not live up to Samsung's water resistance claims. Following the report, Samsung said it identified and fixed a problem in the manufacturing process of the S7 Active.

Talking to Recode, a CPSC official said that an official recall would have ensured that customers understand the risks of using the Note 7. The Commission will still like to see an official recall, the unnamed official said.

What do you think? Are you satisfied with the way Samsung is handling the Note 7 issue?

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Deal: Pre-owned Galaxy Note devices going for $350 or less

Sure, these aren't Samsung's latest and greatest, but if you act today, you can snag a Galaxy Note 5 from Woot for just $350. The bonus part is that these are even less likely to explode than the Galaxy Note 7, which is currently experiencing a global recall.

Don't let the name fool you. The Note 5 is last year's addition to the Note line, Samsung just elected to skip the 6 to bring their Note series into numerical harmony with the S-series. If you're interested in going further back, the Note 4 is available for $190, and the Note 3 is going for $145.

These devices are refurbished and come with Woot's standard 90-day limited warranty.

Related: Samsung Galaxy Note 5 review42

Be sure to pay close attention to which devices are available for which network. Band support varies across devices in this sale.

What do you think? Will you be jumping aboard this flash sale from Woot, or are you going to let it pass? It only lasts until the end of today or until supplies runs out, so you'll have to act quickly if you want to take advantage of it!

Check it out on Woot! See also: Samsung now selling refurbished devices in the US12

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Instagram will be gaining pinch-to-zoom on Android

Soon it looks like pinching an Instagram picture or video on your Android device will actually do something. Although this ability is already available on iOS, pinch-to-zoom functionality now appears to be just a week or two away from arriving on Android.

It's a UI feature we're used to on practically every other app and on our browsers, so it arriving on the world's largest photo sharing social media platform is kind of a no brainer.

"Dive into an adorable puppy's smile or into every detail of your friend's new shirt," Instagram stated in a blog post. The company announced the introduction of the feature on Wednesday, Aug. 31, and said then that pinch-to-zoom would arrive on its Android app "in the coming weeks."

See also: Facebook steals Snapchat "story" feature for Instagram4

It's far from a revolutionary feature, but it's sure to please Instagram's millions of daily users. In case you lost track, Instagram is now home to a staggering 300 million daily users and half a billion monthly visitors.

 

I for one have found myself attempting to use this pinch to zoom feature in the past only to be puzzled by a lack of response from the picture I was looking at. This update will bring a natural design element that has been lacking for some time.

What are your thoughts on this Android app finally gaining pinch-to-zoom? Let us know in the comments below!

Next: Instagram update brings you live events around the world1

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Samsung and BlackBerry cooperate on ‘spy-proof’ tablet

Blackberry and Samsung have joined forces to build one of the most secure tablets in the world. Indeed, their goal is to create a secure enough tablet that it is suitable for use by government officials in Germany.

This affair between BlackBerry and Samsung has born what the pair call SecuTablet. The German Federal Office for Information Security's approved the tablet and gave it a security level of "classified – for official use only."

The tablet leverages BlackBerry Hub for secure messaging and an encryption card from BlackBerry subsidiary SecuSmart. The SecuSmart card encrypts all data stored on the SecuTablet, and transferred to and from the tablet.

See also: Android unable to revive BlackBerry71

BlackBerry and SecuSmart also integrated a certification management system, which wasn't detailed, and a VPN. BlackBerry plans to retrofit the tablet with SecuSmart's secure voice tech before the year comes to a close.

On top of contributing its hardware, Samsung also brought its Knox security platform to the table. Knox adds another level of security for Android on Samsung and facilitates the development of solutions for mobile security, stated Samsung Electronics' Sascha Lekic, director of B2B Sales, IT & Mobile Communication. "The SecuTablet is an impressive example of this," Lekic said.

Although BlackBerry has struggled to survive in the waters of Android with the lackluster launch of the Priv, it's clear that the company still shines in its original keystone strength: privacy.

The SecuTablet will be priced at around €2,250 ($2,380) and hardware-wise is essentially the Samsung Galaxy Tab S2, which normally runs for about $400. What do you think? Is $2000 extra worth it for the added security? Let us know your opinion in the comments below!

Next: BlackBerry DTEK50 review51

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Alcatel just revealed a new budget smartwatch

Seemingly unaware of the industry standard to give wearable devices ludicrously silly names (I'm looking at you, LG Watch Urbane 2nd Edition LTE), Alcatel marched into the smartwatch realm a few years back with a wearable of their own creatively named "Watch." This week at IFA, the company finally announced their follow-up.

The MoveTime WiFi is a device that tells time on the move and connects to WiFi networks, so you can see that Alcatel is sticking with their what-it-says-on-the-tin strategy for naming conventions. However, this device seems like a much more mature offering than its predecessor.

The display is a 400 x 400 1.39-inch AMOLED offering that should be sufficiently visible in broad daylight. WiFi and Bluetooth connectivity are both intact here, and you can send and receive calls from your wrist thanks to the MoveTime WiFi's speaker and microphone.

See also: Alcatel Vision is an all-in-one VR headset, but is it really worth getting?7

This is still an Android Wear device, but Alcatel has elected to move closer to vanilla Android Wear design with this skin. The company unveiled this watch as part of a whole family of Move-themed devices including a fitness band, a portable GPS tracker, and a product for keeping track of your kid.

We don't have a set price on the MoveTime WiFi, but we'd expect for it to fall into a similar range as the original Watch, which hit the market for $150. Check out the full press release in Alcatel's on words if you're interested in learning more.

What are your thoughts regarding the MoveTime WiFi? Something you'd be interested in picking up for the right price, or a solid pass? Let us know your take in the comments below!

Next: Best Android Wear watches67

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Pokemon Go preps ‘Buddy’ system in upcoming update

Now that you're armed with the Pokemon Appraisal system, it's time to use that to help you decide which pocket monster in your Pokedex is your best bud. Up next for Pokemon Go: the Buddy Pokemon system.

Once the new system arrives and you designate a Pokemon as your bff, the two of you will enjoy special advantages from simply walking together. One of those shared benefits is Candy, which you can use to hurry the evolution of your Pokemon or boost its combat points. The Pokemon Go team didn't offer more details about the "in-game rewards and experiences" generated from buddying up with a Pokemon from your collection, but alluded to more than just candy.

You can swap Pokemon buddies out of your collection anytime you want to do so. Whichever one you designate at your current buddy will appear next to your Trainer avatar on the game's profile page.

So when is it coming? The introduction of Buddy Pokemon is "just around the corner." The update logically follows the introduction of the Pokemon Appraisal system. If you've been away for a while, and there's a fair chance of that, the recently released appraisal system gives you insights as to the effectiveness of a given Pokemon in battle.

In announcing the latest update heading to the augmented reality game, developer Niantic's Pokemon Go Team declined to offer details about some of the highly anticipated features we know are embedded deep within the app.  Last month, some Reddit detectives unearthed artifacts of incomplete or stripped features for the game. Those features include the frequently requested trading system and PvP (Player vs Player) support. The dig also uncovered upcoming item variations, all of which is laid out in our previous coverage of the game.

So what do you think of the upcoming Buddy system and do you already know which Pokemon you'll give a rose of they compete for you affection? And if you've stepped away from the game, are the latest developments temping you to return to Pokemon Go? Let us know you thoughts in the comments.

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Native USB Type-C HDMI output is now a reality

Yeah, we know it's irritating that it seems like every time a cord becomes standard for mobile devices they come out with a new one, but the USB Type-C is demonstrating a lot of flexibility and power that makes us think it might be sticking around for quite some time. With its capability for alternate modes, some pins can be arranged to carry signals other than standard USB data. Today the HDMI consortium announced that they have developed an HDMI alt mode for USB Type-C cables.

Now if you have some strange aversion to ChromeCast or are just incredibly picky about your video quality, you can now plug your smartphone directly into your television and output content onto the big screen. The more common use is likely going to be users taking advantage of increasingly common USB Type-C ports on laptops to throw content from their computer to a display with an HDMI port.

See also: Best USB Type-C cables17

It's worth noting that this alt mode is specifically suited for HDMI 1.4b, not HDMI 2.0. The speculation is that technical limitations prohibit the USB Type-C from conveying the higher data rate of HDMI 2.0, but really all this means for end-users is that your maximum resolution will be 4Kp30. Since not a lot of smartphones can even output 4Kp60, this shouldn't be a concern for the vast majority of phone users.

The technology is here but the hardware is not. Manufacturers will have to begin integrating HDMI alt mode before we see supported devices, but given the established popularity of HDMI and the growing popularity of USB Type-C, we wouldn't be surprised if we start seeing supported devices as early as CES 2017.

What are your thoughts on this alt mode and USB Type-C in general? Sound off with your opinion in the comments below!

Next: Amazon officially bans bad USB Type C cables, but you still need to be careful3

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