1. GALAXY NOTE7
NOTE: Regarding the Samsung Galaxy Note7 Battery Safety Recall and Exchange Program
After we went to press last month, Samsung issued a voluntary recall of the Note7 after a number of the phones had problems with batteries overheating. Here is Samsung’s recall notice:
“Samsung has announced a voluntary recall and exchange program on certain Galaxy Note7 devices in cooperation with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC). The affected devices were sold in the U.S. before September 15, 2016. Since the affected devices can overheat and pose a safety risk, if you own a Galaxy Note7, it is extremely important to stop using your device, power it down and immediately exchange it using our U.S. Note7 Exchange Program.
Through the U.S. Note7 Exchange Program, you can:
- Exchange your current Galaxy Note7 device with a new Galaxy Note7 as approved by the CPSC available no later than September 21, 2016; or
- Exchange your current Galaxy Note7 for a Galaxy S7 or Galaxy S7 edge and replacement of any Note7 specific accessories with a refund of the price difference between devices; or
- Contact your point of purchase to obtain a refund.
Customers who exchange a Note7 device will also receive a $25 gift card, in-store credit, in-store accessory credit or bill credit from select carrier retail outlets.
Note: The battery cell issue applies only to the Galaxy Note7 sold in the U.S. before September 15, 2016.”
Go to the Samsung page at www.samsung.com/us/note7recall/?cid=ppc- for full details.
In August, Samsung released the latest version of its very successful Galaxy Note large-screen smartphone. The Note7 has biometric authentication with iris scanning as well as a fingerprint sensor, and the phone is water resistant to IP68 (tested at up to five feet for 30 minutes). The S Pen stylus lets you take notes without unlocking the screen using Screen Off Memo, and the new Air Command functions, Magnify and Translate, zoom and translate (respectively) when you hover with the stylus. The stylus also has a finer 0.7 mm. tip and improved pressure sensitivity. Samsung Knox provides a defense-grade security platform that includes an additional layer of security for its Secure Folder. The screen is 5.7" Quad HD Dual-edge Super AMOLED protected with Corning’s Gorilla Glass 5. The overall size is 6.04" × 2.9" × 0.3", and it weighs 6 oz. The processor is a 2.15GHz, 64-bit Quad Core running Android 6.0.1 Marshmallow. Memory includes 4GB of RAM and 64GB of storage, expandable to 256GB with microSD cards. The 3,500mAh battery provides fast wired or wireless charging. The Note7 is available in three colors: blue coral, silver titanium, and black onyx. www.samsung.com
2. INSTAX SHARE SP-2
At 3.5" × 5.2" × 1.6" and 8.8 oz., Fujifilm’s latest instax SHARE smartphone printer, the SP-2, is an almost pocket-size printer. The battery is rechargeable, and the film packs hold 10 sheets per cartridge. The actual print size is about the size of a business card (3.4" × 2.1"), and the SHARE is designed to give you quick prints of images directly from your smartphone. The prints take about 10 seconds, and both JPEG and PNG formats are supported. The color prints are 320 dpi with 256 levels per color (RGB). The battery takes about 90 minutes to charge, and it can be done via a USB connection. Handy indicators on the top of the printer display how much film remains and what’s left of the battery charge. A handy reprint button provides quick additional copies. www.instax.com
3. LOGITECH IPAD COVER
When the smaller iPad Pro 9.7 tablet was released, it had a keyboard cover that was pricey, a little short on protection, and without a place to store Apple’s amazing Pencil stylus. Logitech has solved those issues with its new CREATE keyboard cover. The keyboard is backlit, it doesn’t require batteries because it runs off the tablet’s power, and it connects instantly using the Apple Smart Connector technology. The keys use a scissor mechanism that provides a positive 1.4 mm. travel (the action in a pressed key), and there are handy iOS shortcut keys. A built-in holder protects your Apple Pencil, if you have one, and the cover provides wraparound protection. Technical fiber on the outside cover can be wiped clean, and a lightweight polycarbonate frame inside protects the screen, corners, and back. www.logitech.com
4. AUKEY POWER BANK
A back-to-school item that might not have crossed your mind is a pocket backup power supply. A fully charged AUKEY 20,000mAh Power Bank will recharge your Galaxy S6 phone five times or your iPad Air 1.5 times. You can even simultaneously charge your smartphone and tablet at rapid speed using the dual USB ports. The two ports provide a combined 3.1A output. And the Power Bank adjusts to provide the safest maximum recharge rate for all USB-powered devices. The lithium ion Power Bank weighs 1.19 lbs., and it measures 6.1" × 3.1" × 0.6". It’s available for about $30 on Amazon and at other electronics suppliers. www.aukey.com
September 2016
