Here are the videos you don’t want to miss this week – September 3, 2016

Every week at Android Authority we produce a ton of great news coverage and exceptional videos; but during events things kick it up a notch, taking it to eleven. While IFA 2016 admittedly was absent of massive flagship announcements, there were plenty of interesting mobile news including the release of several new tablets, a few mid-rangers and Sony's latest high-end darling.

So let's jump right in and take a look at all the big videos of the week!

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IFA 2016: V-log videos

Want to see what happens behind the scenes? Getting all this content together is always an adventure, and we want to share it with you. During IFA 2016, the team brought a pair of V-logs, talking a bit about IFA as it started to unfold. We already have a couple videos tho show off, so kick back and enjoy them.

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Samsung Gear S3 hands-on and comparison

Samsung might have already released the Note well ahead of IFA, but they did keep at least one notable announcement for the event – the announcement of the new Samsung Gear S3 line. We had the opportunity to not only go hands on with it, but we also pitted it against its predecessor.

For even more details on the Gear S3, be sure to check out the following companion posts:

• Samsung Gear S3 hands on
• Samsung Gear S3 vs S2

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Nubia Z11 hands-on

With the Nubia Z11, the company continues to prove it can make a hell of a device. This is not your usual affordable handset; it is a powerhouse with a Qualcomm Snapdragon 820, 4 GB of RAM and 64 GB of internal storage. Neat, right? Click through the links below and watch the video to learn more.

• Nubia Z11 hands-on

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Moto Z Play Droid & Hasselblad True Zoom reviews

During IFA Lenovo took the wraps off the Moto Z Play Droid and we managed to get earlier enough access that we were able to immediately deliver a full review of the phone, as well as its unique Hasselblad True Zoom accessory.

The True Zoom aims to add 10x optical zoom to the Moto Z Play, as well as all the existing members of the Z series, utilizing the company's excellent mod attachment feature.

• Moto Z Play review
• Hasselblad True Zoom review

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Sony Xperia XZ hands-on at IFA 2016

The Xperia X series is growing, and this time around Sony is not playing. The Sony Xperia XZ is has all the specs you can expect from a high-end smartphone, as well as a more minimalistic design we are pretty fond of.

• Sony Xperia XZ hands-on
• Why Sony deserves some credit – but not too much

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Sony Xperia X Compact hands-on

The Xperia X Compact is essentially a smaller version of the Xperia XZ, although it hasn't exactly followed the same flagship-specs-in-a-compact-body recipe Sony employed with previous compacts. Some of the high-end features are there, but others are not.

• Sony Xperia X Compact hands-on

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ZTE Axon 7 Mini hands-on

Those seeking for performance at a good price will be hard-pressed to find a better deal than this affordable smartphone. It comes with a great design, a Quad-HD screen, Qualcomm Snapdragon 820 chip and an incredible 20MP camera.

• ZTE Axon 7 Mini hands-on

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Huawei Nova and Nova Plus hands-on

Huawei also has a couple devices for us (and one looks a lot like a Nexus 6P). These phones may be named under the same series, but they look quite different. You will find more similarities in the spec sheet, though.

• Hands-on with the Huawei Nova and Nova Plus at IFA 2016

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Lenovo YogaBook hands-on

This is… an interesting product, to say the least. It is kind of like an Ultrabook with a focus on taking notes. And Lenovo is doing something very interesting here, as the product is offered in both Windows 10 and Android flavors.

• Hands on with the Lenovo YogaBook

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10 best new Android apps and games from August 2016!

Looking for awesome apps and games? Every month we bring you a video featuring the best new Android software available from the Google Play Store. Check them out. You might find something to keep you occupied this weekend!

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Honor 8 Review!

Bailey Stein has been spending some quality time with the Honor 8 and put together a neat review for you. It has a gorgeous design, compact form factor and competent camera, but it does come with its downsides. It is a $400 phone, after all!

• Honor 8 review

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And that's a wrap! What's your favorite video this week?

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More leaked images of the Samsung Folder 2 show up

Nothing ends a conversation with the same intensity as closing a flip phone. Many would believe those simple pleasures have ended with the introduction of smartphones, but Samsung seems to believe we can have our cake and eat it too.

Rumors of a new flip smartphone coming from the Korean manufacturer have been circulating the web, and they are not stopping. Today we are taking a look at some new images featuring the upcoming device. The photos are not blurry, and they actually look amazing.

We got to see some press renders earlier this week, and the new leaked photos seem to go right in line with the last ones. But we are not only getting a good look at the phone. A set of specs have been attached to the rumor, and they do seem to corroborate previous speculation.

Samsung Folder 2 specs:

• Android 6.0
• 3.8-inch (480×800)
• Qualcomm 1.4GHz processor
• 2GB RAM
• 16GB ROM
• 1950mAh
• 8MP rear camera, 5MP front camera
• $285

As always, we need to remind you these are rumors and nothing is for sure until an announcement comes around. And even if the industry does see it, there's a big chance you won't, as it is said to be coming only to China.

How many of you would like to get an Android-powered flip phone, though? Do you think this is a product that would be popular in other markets? Let us know in the comments!

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Want to make an app but don’t know where to start?

So you have a puzzle game or productivity app rattling around in the back of your head. You know there's an audience for it, you know users would love it… heck, you even think you could make some cash if you monetize it right.

There's just one problem.

You have no clue how to develop an Android app.

It's a daunting position, especially if you're someone with zero coding experience. All the hot ideas in the world don't amount to zilch unless you can actually bring them into reality, but learning how to code is often expensive and time consuming.

That's where Rob Percival comes in.

Rob is a 35-year-old self-described code geek who really just loves teaching people how to code. Every year he runs a Code School for kids in the city of Cambridge, and he's also the brains behind the environmentally conscious hosting service Eco Web.

Over the last two years, Rob has established himself as the leading creator of online coding courses. He has taught over 400,000 students how to go from idea to finished app, and he's been featured on Business Insider for his success in this regard.

Right now, Rob is offering a complete Android developer course that can take you from novice to expert in just six weeks, even if you don't know a lick of Java in the beginning.

After you download and setup Android Studio, Rob will guide you through the process of creating a variety of simple apps like currency converters and timers, but by the end of the course you'll be building robust, complex apps like Uber and Snapchat clones.

You'll learn:

• Basic programming concepts
• Java language
• Layout on Android
• Animation
• Best design practices for app development
• App-Web interface
• Maps and Geolocation
• Data storage and handling
• User accounts and login
• Sprites and gameplay elements
• Bluetooth interaction
• Android Wear development
• How to submit your app to Google Play
• How to setup a marketing website for your app

That's 232 lectures that you can move through at your own pace, over 30 hours of step-by-step video tutorials, and active support from Rob himself in the course forums.

The deal gets even sweeter, though.

Rob is offering all of his students a free year of hosting on Eco Web in case you're interested in building a site to publicize your completed products. The course also comes with a package of images and sound files that you can use to flesh out your apps. This media package is valued at $500.

You're probably waiting for the catch.

Well, normally there would be one. The price tag.

Rob's complete Android developer course usually goes for a whopping $180. However, Udemy is currently offering a 94 percent discount to Android Authority readers.

That means if you act today, you can snag the entire package for only $10. Just click the button below or use the promocode UDMY10ALL when you check out.

If you're already an advanced developer, this course probably isn't for you, to be frank. Rob starts with the basics and builds upon them very gradually. At the original cost, it probably wouldn't be worth it for intermediate developers either, but for just ten bucks, this might be a good opportunity to round out your skills.

Heck, it's probably worth it for the media package and the free year of hosting alone.

Don't let your dream app waste away in your brain. Get it out into the world! You might just be sitting on the next Flappy Bird or Snapchat.

Click the button below to start developing for Android right away!

Get Started!

Disclosure: This offer is brought to you by AA Picks. Our purpose is to highlight products or services we think you as our readers might be interested in and, if you buy them, we may get a share of the revenue. We operate independently from our advertising sales team, and we welcome your feedback and questions. Email us at aapicks@androidauthority.com.

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Hands-on with the Lenovo Yoga Tab 3 Plus at IFA 2016

Lenovo has made a name for itself in the tablet market with some innovative designs that stray from the basic "rectangle with rounded corners" recipe. The new Yoga Book, with its capacitive keyboard, is a great example, but in this post we'll be looking at another Lenovo tablet with a distinctive design, the Yoga Tab 3 Plus.

Lenovo's Yoga Tabs are tablets that stand on their own, literally. The Tab 3 Plus is no exception – like the Tab 3 Pro from 2015, this 10-inch tablet features a distinctive, asymmetrical design that incorporates a kickstand, allowing you to place it upright, for easy hands-free use.

The Tab 3 Plus is built of metal, hard plastic, and leather. It's relatively heavy, at 644 grams, but the leathery material makes it easy to hold in the hand. And, when you get tired of holding it, it's easy to just pop the kickstand open by pushing the button in the middle. From there, you can place the Tab 3 Plus on any flat surface or you can even hang it on the wall like you would with a picture.

The stand lets you view the Tab 3 Plus from just about any angle, which makes it easy to enjoy the 10-inch Quad HD display. This is a device made for watching videos and its "spine" really helps with that, also because it incorporates some very loud and clear JBL-branded speakers.

One feature that was present on the Tab 3 Pro but has been removed from the Tab 3 Plus is the integrated projector, that allowed you to beam images and videos onto any surface. It's not clear whether this cool, if gimmicky feature will return on future devices in the Yoga Tab family or if it's gone for good.

The Tab 3 Plus features a Snapdragon 652 processor, with 3GB of RAM and 32GB of built-in storage, that can be supplemented via microSD. As you can see in the video, performance leaves to be desired, though that might be because this demo unit wasn't set up properly.

The 9,300 mAh battery should be good for up to 18 hours of mixed usage, according to Lenovo, which is quite impressive for a tablet with a 2K display.

Fans of stock Android will be happy to see that the Yoga Tab 3 Plus features a very clean user interface, without any of the heavy UI modifications that Lenovo loads on some of its smartphones. This tablet runs Marshmallow, but the chances of it ever getting Nougat are unfortunately quite slim. Also, there's a bunch of apps that you'll likely consider bloatware, though some of them might be removable.

The Tab 3 Plus will be priced at $299, which is not a bad proposition for the features this tablet has to offer.

Stick around for more coverage of tablets and much more, straight out of IFA Berlin 2016!

This post was originally published on our sister site Tab Times, your source for tablets, ultrabooks, and more.

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Motorola shows off its Moto Mods in two hilarious new ads

Motorola just released two new TV commercials for Moto Mods – one for the Moto Insta-Share Projector and the other for the JBL Soundboost Mod – and they are pretty funny.

The first is for the Moto Insta-Share Projector, which projects up to 70 inches on any flat surface. It comes with an integrated kickstand and even provides you with an extra hour of battery life. This portable projector will set you back $299.99. In the ad, we see a couple running away from zombies. And what do you when you're being chased by vicious zombies? Well why, you project a cute cat video against the wall and distract them!

The second ad is for the JBL Soundboost Mod, which features powerful stereo speakers, a built-in kickstand, and 10 hours of extra battery life. The speaker module will cost $79.99. We see a police officer chasing after a thief, and the kind-hearted thief stops for a moment to get some jams going for the tired cop.

Pretty funny, eh?

Modular phones may be the future. LG and Motorola are two major players in this arena with their flagships G5 and Moto Z. The G5 makes you take out the battery in order to switch between modules, which is a bit inconvenient. Unlike the G5, however, the Moto Z and Moto Z Force employ an easier method for attaching modules or Moto Mods: you simply place it on the back of the device, and the ultra-strong magnets hold it in place.

See also: Just add Mods: Moto Z/Z Force Droid Edition unboxing and first setup18

The all new Moto Z and Moto Z Force are set to launch very soon around the world, so it'd be interesting to see how Motorola's implementation of modules will fare compared to LG's not-so-successful attempt.

Will you be purchasing the Moto Z or Moto Z Force? Do you think modularity could be the future of smartphones? Let us know by leaving a comment below!

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LG V20 reportedly won’t be modular but there is an interesting twist

CNET Korea

According to CNET Korea, the upcoming LG V20 won't have a modular design that we saw in the LG G5. However, you will be able to access the battery by sliding open the back of the device. Well, half of the back, to be more precise.

We've seen a few renders of the upcoming phone: it looks sturdy, it will have a dual-lens set up, but there was one very important thing that was never confirmed. Will the V20 be modular like the G5? According to multiple sources reportedly from within LG, the answer is "no."

The V20 will have a sliding door on its back kind of like the HTC Desire HD. There will be a button on the side of the device, which will allow you to "open up" the left half of the device. There you will find the battery, a SIM card slot, and a micro-SD card slot. According to one LG employee, LG is hoping that the design change will help boost its yield rate and subsequently its sales:

We employed a modular design with the G5 where you could detach the bottom part of the device, but it had a poor yield rate. However, with the V20, you simply remove the battery cover, so we won't have any issues [regarding yield rates].

Below are some renders of the V20, but keep in mind that these are not official renders. They were created by CNET Korea based on an eyewitness account, but you get an idea of how the V20 will work. We see from the images that the bottom part of the V20 looks removable, but CNET Korea specifies that in fact, the bottom part will not be removable.

The G5 – with its unique modular design – was initially met with much enthusiasm but ultimately reported poor sales. And even those who did buy the device didn't seem to happy: modules would malfunction, the battery had serious issues, boot loops, etc. If the G5 is any indication, it certainly makes sense for LG to change its strategy a bit.

V20 may look similar to the G5, but it will still stand as a unique line focusing on multimedia just like its predecessor. We know so far that the V20 will be the first smartphone to feature a 32-bit Hi-Fi Quad DAC and Android 7.0 Nougat. And as we've seen from previous leaks, the second ticker screen will support Nougat's new In Apps feature that allows users to search for keywords within their apps.

See also: The LG V20's world's first Quad DAC stakes a claim for wired headphones52

Are you relieved that the V20 won't be modular? Disappointed? Let us know by commenting below!

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Samsung Gear S3 vs Gear S2 comparison

With the new and improved Samsung Gear S3 unveiled, it's time to see just how much better it is than its predecessor, the legendary Gear S2. Samsung got so much right with the S2 it might seem like there was little left to improve upon, but Samsung arguably has managed to do it. Let's get into the thick of it with a quick Gear S3 vs Gear S2 comparison.

See also: Best smartwatches14

First, a note on nomenclature: there were three versions of the Gear S2: the regular sporty version, a 3G-equipped sporty version and the classier Gear S2 Classic. The Gear S3 comes in two flavors: the Gear S3 Classic and the rugged Gear S3 Frontier.

This comparison largely compares the regular Gear S2 with the Gear S3 Classic (the "base" model of the new range, as the Gear S2 was before it), but we do cover the other variants where relevant due to their visual and other similarities.

Design

The first thing you'll notice about the Gear S3 Classic is perhaps that it looks more like the LG Watch Urbane than the Gear S2 Classic (although the Gear S3 Frontier looks like the S2 Classic on steroids). That point aside, it's all Gear underneath, running Samsung's Tizen wearable OS 2.3.2 with that same great rotating bezel to navigate its circular interface.

From the Gear S2's sporty plastic curves, the Gear S3 matures into more of a dress watch style, with minimal ridging on the bezel and two classic-looking crowns (buttons) on the right hand side at two and five. The rubber strap has been replaced with a leather strap and standard 22 mm pin in a metal body like the S2 Classic. Like their S2 predecessors, the Gear S3 Classic and Frontier are both IP68 dust-proof and water-resistant.

It might be more faithful to compare the Gear S3 Classic to the Gear S2 Classic, which had a standard 20 mm leather strap, even though the Gear S2 Classic shares more visual features with the bulkier Gear S3 Frontier. Inversely, the Frontier is the more sporty, outdoorsy version of the new S3s, a title previously held by the regular Gear S2. Confusing, we know.

The Gear S3 Frontier also uses a standard 22 mm pin, but it comes with a rugged rubber strap and uses chunkier flat buttons similar to the ones found on the original Gear S2. It's also the heaviest Gear smartwatch yet, weighing in at 62 grams, but it packs an LTE antenna for getting into the great outdoors without the need for a paired smartphone.

Size and Display

Compared to the standard Gear S2, the Gear S3 Classic is thicker, heavier and has a larger screen than its predecessor. The Gear S3 is 12.9 mm thick, weighs 57 grams and has a 1.3-inch 360×360 pixel AMOLED display with a pixel density of 278 ppi. Both new Gear S3's also up their scratch protection with Corning's Gorilla Glass SR+.

The Gear S2 by comparison is 11.4 mm thick, weighs 47 grams and has a slightly smaller 1.2-inch AMOLED display with the same resolution but slightly higher pixel density of 302 ppi that no one would be able to spot with the naked eye.

If you like your displays measured on paper, the Gear S2 technically has a sharper but smaller display. To make up for that, the Gear S3 can display more on its always on display, which also keeps color rather than going to grayscale and supports more customization.

The more stylish version of the Gear S2, the Classic, was a lot smaller than both the Gear S2 and the new Gear S3's. At just 44 mm tall, compared to 50 mm for the Gear S2 Classic and 49 mm for both new Gear S3's, the Gear S2 Classic was also the lightest of the bunch at just 42 grams. While the Gear S2 Classic was among the smaller smartwatches available last year, the Gear S3's are just as bulky as the rest now.

Specs

Besides its new looks, the Gear S3 takes a significant leap in terms of a few specs, including adding 50% more RAM and a 50% larger battery. At the very least, its 768 MB of RAM should help with those familiar smartwatch stutters. Wireless charging makes a comeback, as does the heart-rate monitor and NFC/MST support for Samsung Pay. GPS, previously only found on the Gear S2 3G, is standard on both S3 models.

Battery

The Gear S3's larger 380 mAh battery should get you better battery life than the Gear S2's 250 mAh supply, but we'll have to wait for a full comparison to tell you just how much better it is. Samsung is claiming "up to four days" for the S3s, but we'll just have to see about that.

Software

The software experience on the Gear S3 is the same as that found on the Gear S2, except you can now rotate the bezel to accept or dismiss calls and there are a few minor visual changes as well. As before, the built-in mic and speaker lets you make and receive calls with your watch but we can't say yet whether there has been an increase in sound quality on the newer models.

Price

There's no official Gear S3 price yet for the Classic or Frontier version but the Frontier will obviously be the more expensive of the two. You can expect the price of all Gear S2 models to drop when the Gear S3 price becomes official, which may make it a better buy if you're not sold on the additional features on the Gear S3. The Gear S3 Classic and Frontier will be available sometime in October 2016.

With the Gear S3 officially not "replacing" the Gear S2, both lines are intended to complement each other. So even though the Gear S3 has more features than the Gear S2, the shift in design and bulk may mean styling will be the biggest differentiator when thinking about picking one of them up.

Which watch design do you prefer? Which one gets the essential features right?

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