Computer World

OnePlus 5T design As with many things in the technology industry, once it's clear that a new feature or specification has everyone talking, almost every company under the sun will race to adopt it. It's interesting when it comes to taller screens, because for the first time in a very long time, there's something visibly different about smartphones right now. It's easy to feel that there is a tangible reason to upgrade when you see a nearly borderless 18:9 screen on a smartphone for the first time - more so than improved camera quality, software or battery life, this is something physical that you can see in front of you. It's aesthetically pleasing, and immediately a line is drawn between the old and the new. OnePlus isn't the first company to launch such a phone; not by a long shot. When placed side by side with the   Oppo F5  ( Review ), the similarities in their proportions are obvious. Much the same can be said about the   Honor 9i  ( Review ),   Vi...

Google on Wednesday announced its powerful Assistant technology will start rolling out to even more devices, including tablets running Android 6.0 Marshmallow. Google Assistant’s wider rollout is great news for Android users, as it brings the technology to many more consumers. Seeing it on tablets is especially exciting since the market of Android tablets hasn’t exactly been on fire. The rollout also applies to phones running Android 5.0 Lollipop, which is still a big contingent of Android’s larger user base. If you’re in the U.S., UK, India, Australia, Canada, or Singapore, you should see Assistant sometime today or in the next few days. Google said Assistant for tablets should be available in the coming weeks to users in the U.S. If you haven’t had the opportunity to use Google’s Assistant, the platform is capable of engaging in two-way conversations, along with setting reminders and integrating with smart home devices.

Samsung announced a new duo of phones on Tuesday, and they’re offering high-end qualities on a budget. The Galaxy A8 (2018) and Galaxy A8+ (2018) resemble the company’s flagships but don’t carry the premium price tag. Both have an Infinity Display, which has never left the Galaxy S and Galaxy Note series until now, and two front-facing cameras. Design-wise, these do look similar to the   Galaxy S8   and   Galaxy Note 8   from earlier in the year. Samsung gave them curved glass on the front and back while the frame is made of metal. Usually, it’s plastic relegated to its mid-range products. There’s also Samsung Pay, the mobile payments platform working with MST- and NFC-ready terminals. And, like the flagships, the Galaxy A8 and Galaxy A8+ have IP68 water and dust resistance. Even virtual reality support through the Gear VR was worked in, making these the first phones from the Galaxy A series to be compatible with the headset. Samsung didn’t spare much. T...