From giving you flight reminders and airport maps, to tracking traffic on your usual commute, to keeping an eye on weather conditions, the Pixel 2 XL is constantly working in the background to ensure you're seeing what you want to see without you needing to ask for it. While this might sound creepy on many levels, I've long gotten used to the idea of having the big companies crunch my data into meaningful material that helps me. I quite enjoy the thrill of having my phone work for me without my needing to tell it what to do, and the Google Pixel 2 XL is quite possibly the best phone on Android that will do that. There are plenty of other subtle touches in the software that I found incredibly useful. One of these is the ability to unlock the phone with a simple'OK Google' command that recognizes your voice specifically, and won't unlock the phone if it's anyone else's voice. And just like the squeezable functionality on the HTC U11, the Google Pixel 2 XL also brings up Google Assistant with a quick squeeze, a feature it calls the'Active Edge'. Additionally, if you turn on the'Now Playing' feature, the phone can identify songs playing in the background and show them right on your lock screen. The function works offline on a small set of pre-programmed tracks, so it won't always work.

Samsung has come back from last year's Note 7 disaster with the Galaxy Note 8, a phone so jam-packed with features, you might still be learning things about it when the time comes for your next upgrade. The Note 8 includes all the cool stuff Samsung bakes into all its phones, and then adds all the S Pen stuff. So why not accelerate your learning process? Here are 10 tips that will guide you to the very best features the Note 8 offers. The Galaxy Note 8 has one of the best displays available on a smartphone, and you can make a few adjustments to tweak it just right for your eyes.

Apple this week unveiled its new iPhone X, and with it, a host of security concerns. Apple this week unveiled its new iPhone X as part of the smartphone's 10th birthday, and with it comes a host of security concerns. One of the major features of the iPhone X (X for the roman numeral 10) is FaceID, a facial recognition feature for unlocking the phone by just looking at it. Apple has a solid track record on personal privacy when it comes to securing its devices, but FaceID raises major issues, such as whether the tool be used against an owner's will to gain access to their phone or what happens if a hacker steals your facial identity? A staff attorney with the American Civil Liberties Union argued that law enforcement could use someone's face against their will to unlock their phone, possibly without violating the person's' Fifth Amendment right against self-incrimination.

When Samsung unveiled its Galaxy Note 8 smartphone last month, it was widely considered to be one of the most impressive phones ever. But with Apple since announcing the iPhone X, is that still the case? Prospective smartphone buyers are now wondering whether the iPhone X or Samsung's latest alternative, the Galaxy Note 8, is better. Although some may choose an Apple device merely because they're Apple fans--and visa versa for Samsung fans--not everyone is so willing to buy whatever their favored company offers. So, for those people and others who want to know which device is most appealing, Fortune has compiled the following comparison of what's good and bad in both new smartphones.

The good: Beautiful screen, long battery life, helpful iris scanner for unlocking the phone, better multitasking The bad: Live Focus camera isn't as good as Apple's Portrait Mode, facial recognition is unreliable, not significantly different than Galaxy S8 and S8 though more expensive Who should buy: Android fans that really care about having a stylus and two cameras should opt for the Note 8, but the Galaxy S8 offers similar features at a lower price. Each year near summer's close Samsung releases a new top-of-the-line Android-powered Galaxy Note phone. It's typically a showcase for the best the industry has to offer, like bold new screens, longer battery life, a superb camera and apps designed to tout these touch-ups. Then, like clockwork, Apple follows with a new iPhone that matches or surpasses Samsung's Note in key areas. With its massive edge-to-edge screen, facial recognition system and dual camera, Samsung's $929 Galaxy Note 8 -- out September 15 and the first new Note since last year's ill-fated Note 7 -- is a shot across Apple's bow as anticipation soars for Cupertino's 10th anniversary iPhone.

Samsung has confirmed that its next major smartphone launch will take place next month. The South Korean firm is holding an event on 23 August, called "Unpacked". Last year's Unpacked event saw the launch of the Samsung Galaxy Note 7, the now infamous smartphone that had to be recalled twice after models started exploding. The I.F.O. is fuelled by eight electric engines, which is able to push the flying object to an estimated top speed of about 120mph. The giant human-like robot bears a striking resemblance to the military robots starring in the movie'Avatar' and is claimed as a world first by its creators from a South Korean robotic company Waseda University's saxophonist robot WAS-5, developed by professor Atsuo Takanishi and Kaptain Rock playing one string light saber guitar perform jam session A man looks at an exhibit entitled'Mimus' a giant industrial robot which has been reprogrammed to interact with humans during a photocall at the new Design Museum in South Kensington, London Electrification Guru Dr. Wolfgang Ziebart talks about the electric Jaguar I-PACE concept SUV before it was unveiled before the Los Angeles Auto Show in Los Angeles, California, U.S The Jaguar I-PACE Concept car is the start of a new era for Jaguar.

The Galaxy Note 7 was not only a big disappointment to fans, it was also an expensive learning experience for Samsung. Nevertheless, the overall success of the Note series is far greater than the fiasco the problematic handset caused the South Korea tech giant. So, just like what many tech sites are saying, Samsung is not at all done with the Galaxy Note brand and it is far from abandoning its famous phablet line. Ever since Samsung mobile unit head D.J. Koh announced last month that the company is releasing a Galaxy Note 7 successor, many fans of the Note series were pleased and have since started to keep tabs on updates regarding the next phablet. If the latest report on the upcoming handset is to be believed, Samsung may have derived the device's codename or working title from the deepest lake in the world.

New rumors about the Samsung Galaxy Note 8 keep emerging ahead of its expected released later in 2017. The device will is said to have some new cool features designed to lure consumers back to the Note series after the Note 7 scandal of 2016. Samsung seems to have picked up from its vast market experience and might position its smartphone display and camera to woo customers. According to Netherlands-based YouTuber MobySmartCat, who specializes in smartphone leaks and rumors, the Note 8's display might have some interesting features. In a video uploaded Dec. 24, MobySmartCat said the device will come with an edge-to-edge 5.7-inch flexible display which will transform into a 6.2-inch display by pushing a button on the side of the device.

Samsung might be thankful that 2016 is over as the year hasn't been great from the company. From being sued globally for exploding Note 7s to a loss-making third quarter and news of the company expecting to split up, the year hasn't been a joyride. The company was earlier rumored to discontinue the Note series entirely following the Note 7 scandal, but the presence of a Note 8 device is becoming more evident every day. Dual Screen Display: Samsung is expected to move as far away from the Note 7 as possible. The Note 8 is expected to come with an outwardly folding dual display.