7 Days is a weekly roundup of the Editors' picks of what's been happening in the world of technology - written with a dash of humor, a hint of exasperation, and an endless supply of (Irish) coffee.
The weekend is here once again, which means that it's time to take a look back, and what a week it was. We saw tons of news on all fronts, so sit back and enjoy the ride while we take you through the past 7 Days.
Nintendo's NES Classic Edition went on sale this week. It happened after months of anticipation, but the retro console quickly sold out just about everywhere.
But while one console is born, another Nintendo product dies. After poor sales - and the company denying rumors of it a month ago - production is to be halted on the Wii U console. It's unclear exactly when production will end, but if you want a Wii U, you should grab one now.
If you can't get your hands on an NES Classic Edition this holiday season, you might want to pick up a Nintendo 3DS. The company is releasing two limited edition consoles for Black Friday, which will sell for $99 at various retailers.
If you're a subscriber of Sony's PlayStation Vue service, you've got some good news this week, as the service is now available in your web browser. The service will be supported in Safari, Chrome, Firefox, Edge, and Internet Explorer.
Later in the week, the company dropped all Viacom-owned services from Vue. You want your MTV? Better look elsewhere.
For the fourth month in a row, the Xbox One outsold the PlayStation 4 in the United States. In case you're entertaining the notion that this might be a fluke, please see the following Major League II reference.
Xbox One Backward Compatibility turns one-year-old today, and Microsoft added six new games to the list this week. Mass Effect 2 and Mass Effect 3 were added on Monday, Guardian Heroes and Operation Flashpoint: Red River were added on Tuesday, and Thursday saw Skate 3 and Scarygirl.
We all want to be able to play video games in both comfort and style, but sadly, we won't all be able to do it in an Xbox Onesie. As it turns out, availability of the Onesie will not be expanding to markets outside of Australia, and it's not even available there anymore.
We learned a bit more about Microsoft's future Xbox plans this week. Project Helix is the company's plan to unify gaming between Xbox and Windows with UWP. The plan should come together with the firm's upcoming console, codenamed Project Scorpio.
However, in case you were looking forward to the Xbox streaming stick that was rumored to be announced at E3, it looks like the $99 device has been canceled.
Microsoft has reduced the price of Xbox One consoles in the UK, bringing it down to as little as £179.99. If you want an Elite Bundle, you can grab that for £199.99.
Microsoft released the Holiday Update for the Xbox One this week. The company had promised that the Anniversary Update would arrive in two separate waves, so this is the second part. Next up will be the Creators Update.
New features include Clubs, Looking for Group, Arena, and Achievement Rarity. You'll also find a new Gamerscore Leaderboard, along with emojis for the onscreen keyboard. The Xbox app got a major update on all platforms as well.
And for those that want early access to the Creators Update on Xbox One, there's good news and bad news. The Xbox One Preview Program is now the Xbox Insider Program, and for the first time, anyone can join. Great news, right? Sadly, new members won't have access to early system updates.
If one new Insider Program this week simply isn't enough for you, you can sign up for the Skype Insider Program. This will allow you to get early access to new builds of the app for macOS, iOS, Android, and Windows; however, the UWP Skype Preview app is now included. You can also check out what's new in the first previews for macOS, iOS, and Android.
Office Insiders got an Android update this week. The new build includes the new maps in Excel feature that Microsoft announced at its Ignite 2016 conference, as well as quite a bit more.
This week's Fast ring build for Windows was 14965, and it's available for PCs and phones. It contains a number of minor new features, such as updates for Sticky Notes and Ink Workspace.
Microsoft launched its Bug Bash for the Windows 10 Creators Update this week. If you want to go squash some bugs, head over to the Feedback Hub and look for quests.
It was also Patch Tuesday this week, which means cumulative updates all around. For Windows 10 PCs, it was 14393.447, 10586.679, and 10240.17190, depending on which version your PC uses.
Windows 10 Mobile was left out, until the next day. Build 14393.448 for phones is available in Production, Release Preview, and Slow rings.
The Surface Pro 3 received an important firmware update, which fixed an issue with batteries discharging too quickly. Only models with LGC batteries were affected, unlike the last issue, which only affected Simplo models.
Many customers that were complaining about the problem ended up having to pay for out-of-warranty repairs; luckily, Microsoft will be refunding them.
AT&T's Lumia 640 XL finally received approval for a Windows 10 Mobile upgrade, almost eight months after unlocked devices got it. One has to wonder what took so long, when the carrier's other three eligible devices got approval months ago.
As you might know, the upcoming Creators Update is codenamed Redstone 2, and the next feature update to Windows 10 will be Redstone 3. As it turns out, there will be a Redstone 4 as well, which is slated for an early 2018 release. We know literally nothing else about it.
And as it turns out, Dell was working on a Windows phone, once upon a time. The 'Stack' was a 6.4-inch x86 device that would run Windows 10 Mobile and utilize Continuum to bring the full power of desktop apps. Of course, Windows 10 Mobile doesn't support x86 processors, and we've been told numerous times by numerous sources that there are no plans to bring the OS to Intel's hardware platform at the current time.
Naturally, that brings us to one very important question: Who the heck is Terry Wong?
But Dell's abandoned plan for a Windows phone isn't the only thing we saw this week that shows what might have been. We also got a look at the long-canceled Microsoft Lumia 750, as you can see from the image above.
MSN Weather was updated this week to include a transparent tile, finally. It's one of the last pre-installed Windows 10 Mobile apps to utilize the feature.
After five months in beta and three months of broken promises, Microsoft Authenticator finally came out of beta on Windows 10 Mobile. The app comes as an update to Azure Authenticator, as it did on iOS and Android back in August.
You might recall that Microsoft's Photosynth apps were killed off a while ago, but the service was kept alive. As it turns out, that too will shut down on February 6, 2017.
It might come as a shock, but former CEOs Steve Ballmer and Bill Gates disagreed on getting into the hardware business. This caused the two friends to drift apart over the years.
Microsoft's new Surface Dial went on sale, alongside the new Surface Book with Performance Base. Sadly, the Dial is already out of stock.
Microsoft is offering $100 off of its NFL Type Covers (normally $159.99) with the purchase of select Surface Pro 4 models. Here are your options:
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Intel Core i5 / 8GB RAM / 256GB SSD | $1,299
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Intel Core i7 / 8GB RAM / 256GB SSD | $1,599
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Intel Core i7 / 16GB RAM / 256GB SSD | $1,799
We finally found out the full specs of Eve's V, which it claims will be a "Surface killer". Here are some highlights:
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CPU: Intel Core m3/i5/i7
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RAM: 8GB/16GB LPDDR3
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Storage: 128/256/512 GB
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Connectivity: 802.11ac 2x2 MU-MIMO, Bluetooth 4.2
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Ports: 2xUSB 3.1 Gen 1, 1xUSB 3.1 Gen 1 USB-C, 1xThunderbolt 3 USB-C, 1x3.5mm audio, 1xMicroSDXC reader
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Display: 12.3-inch IGZO LCD, 2736x1824 resolution, 1:1400 contrast ratio, 450 nits brightness, anit-reflective coating
Feature Pack 1 for SharePoint Server 2016 was released this week, and it includes a number of new features. These include administrative actions logging, a OneDrive for Business modern experience, custom tiles, and more.
Just in case you never go on the Internet, are somehow reading this, and are unaware, the United States of America held a presidential election this week, and Donald Trump won. Microsoft's Chief Legal Officer Brad Smith commented on the results.
Microsoft Selfie showed up on Android, as it was previously an iOS exclusive. Of course, if it follows the same path that it did on Apple's mobile OS, the next step would be to release Pix for Android, leaving users confused as to which app takes the best selfies.
OnePlus is definitely working on something new. Qualcomm first confirmed that the company was working on a device that would use a Snapdragon 821 chipset, and then OnePlus said that it would announce it on November 15.
But for those that are happy with the firm's current flagship, the 3, OnePlus has promised an update to Android 7.0 Nougat before the end of the year, with a beta coming soon.
Speaking of the latest version of Google's mobile OS, the company released its monthly usage stats, which it skipped last month. Nougat made its first appearance on the list, coming in at 0.3% two months after its release to the public.
Of course, there were devices that got upgraded this week. The BlackBerry Priv finally got Marshmallow from Verizon, as did the Samsung Galaxy Tab S 10.5 on US Cellular, and owners of LG's G5 in South Korea are eligible for Nougat.
The GM 5 was announced this week, which is an Android One handset that runs Android 7.0 Nougat out of the box. Here are some key specs:
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5-inch 720p IPS LCD display
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Qualcomm 1.2 GHz 64bit processor
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2GB RAM with 16GB storage
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13MP rear camera with dual flash / 5MP front-facing camera
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2500mAh battery
Huawei is offering a beta of Android Nougat for its Honor 8 handset. "EMUI 5.0 comes with a cleaner interface, better performance, and security improvements in terms of privacy, mobile payments, and app usage."
Sony launched a new build for its Concept for Android program, which brings Android 7.0 Nougat to its Xperia X smartphone. It also offers a "sneak-peek at some of the latest features that will be part of future Xperia products".
CyanogenMod 14 (CM14) was announced, which should breathe new life into older devices. Interestingly, the LG G3 and Samsung Galaxy S5 are on the list, which should give hope to anyone with a Snapdragon 800/801 device.
Samsung announced a Nougat beta program, but it's only for the Galaxy S7 and S7 edge. It launched in the UK on Wednesday, and then in the US on Thursday.
But if the current selection of Galaxy S7 edge models isn't enough for you, you can now buy the device in Coral Blue. They will begin shipping from AT&T by November 22.
Samsung issued a full-page apology for its Galaxy Note7 fiasco, which was in various print publications. The letter said that the company will "will re-examine every aspect of the [Galaxy Note7], including all hardware, software, manufacturing and the overall battery structure. We will move as quickly as possible, but will take the time needed to get the right answers."
But the company isn't ditching the Galaxy Note brand just yet, as it reportedly has a Galaxy Note8 in the works. There will also, of course, be a Galaxy S8, which might have a larger display than its predecessor. Samsung is also rumored to be using a new AI assistant, which could have a dedicated hardware button.
If you thought that you were done hearing about exploding Samsung handsets, you clearly haven't been paying attention. This time it was a Galaxy J5, which exploded in France.
Samsung filed a patent for what would be a foldable smartphone, which is rumored to be called the Galaxy X. If those rumors are to be believed, it could launch in early 2017, but usually it takes a couple years for something to go from patent to market.
The company also announced the newest iteration of its smartwatch, the Gear S3. It will start off in South Korea, but beginning next week, it will be available to try out in other regions.
Google launched an Android Auto app this week, which will allow you to use the product directly from your phone. Users will no longer need a compatible system in their car.
Meizu might be working on a bezel-less phone, according to some leaked images. We don't know much else, but it looks cool.
If you've got a website, it's time to make sure that your design is responsive, as Google will be changing the way that it indexes sites. Previously, search rankings were heavily based on the desktop experience.
You can now watch YouTube videos in HDR, assuming that you have the hardware to support it, and the content is available with it. You'll also be able to upload HDR content.
Google is cracking down on websites that don't comply with its Safe Browsing initiative. It will now tag certain websites as repeat offenders. Qualifying sites would be those that complied in order to have the warning lifted, and then began spreading malware again.
HTC is having a big sale. If you were considering buying any of the company's devices, check out the following deals:
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HTC 10 for $500 ($200 discount)
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HTC One M9 for $300 ($200 discount)
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HTC One A9 for $275 ($155 discount)
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HTC RE camera for $75 ($55 discount)
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UA Band for $79 ($40 discount)
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M8 and M9 cases for $10
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All other accessories are 40% off
You'll need to hurry though, as the sale ends on the 14th.
Lenovo bought Motorola from Google almost three years ago, and earlier this year, the company promised to phase out all Motorola branding from future products. As it turns out, the firm has changed its mind, as it will use Motorola branding on all of its upcoming smartphones.
Kantar released its monthly stats, and the results are the same as usual. Android and iPhone sales are up, and Windows phone is down.
But while the iPhone SE has been a popular seller since it came out, it looks like we shouldn't expect a new model of the device anytime soon. The news isn't exactly a surprise, as Apple clearly wants to focus on its larger models, and doesn't typically work along the mid-range.
Apple seems to be releasing new beta software weekly lately, and this week was no different. The company seeded new developer betas for iOS 10.2, tvOS 10.1, and watchOS 3.1.1, introducing the new TV app, among other new features. The next day, iOS 10.2 beta to was offered to Public Beta testers, and macOS 10.12.2 Sierra beta 2 was released to developers, bringing Unicode 9 support (yup, that's the one with bacon and avocado emojis).
Apple might be looking to manufacture iPhones in India. To sell a handset in the country, it must be 30% sourced locally, so opening a manufacturing plant there would open India for potential sales.
Apple has finally begun selling refurbished iPhones. You can head over to Apple.com right now and get some heavy discounts on anything except an iPhone SE, 7, or 7 Plus.
Last week, Apple discounted a number of its USB Type-C adapters and cables, amid backlash over its new MacBook Pro models. But this week, it took that a step further, promising automatic credits to those that have already purchased the products.
Apple is also offering limited time discounts on its new 4K and 5K monitors from LG. Updated pricing is as follows:
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21.5" 4K UltraFine Display - £471/$524 (discounted from £629/$700)
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27" 5K UltraFine Display - £884/$974 (discounted from £1179/$1300)
A couple weeks ago, Twitter announced that it would be shutting down its Vine mobile apps, but leaving the service active. As it turns out, the company may end up selling the service, which would allow it to live on. Apparently, the company has received ten different offers.
Twitter's COO Adam Bain left the company after six years. According to reports, the company has already replaced him with Chief Financial Officer Anthony Noto.
Back in September, Snap Inc. announced its plans for Spectacles, which are glasses that record video for Snapchat. This week, the company began selling them in vending machines. Well, to be more specific, it's just one vending machine right now.
Finally, while GoPro announced its Karma drone back in September, but it is now recalling the product. It's only been on the market since October 23, so there are about 2,500 units to recall. Apparently, a small number of units are unexpectedly losing power during use. Needless to say, it might be best to keep aware of your surroundings for a while.
But seriously, who is Terry Wong?
Bonus content
This week's Tech Deals is a new weekly feature from Neowin. Steven Parker has lined up deals for everything from an Xbox One S to a 55-inch 4KTV from Vizio.
Of course, if you're looking for deals and you're into PC gaming, Adrian Potoroaca has you covered with This Weekend's PC Game Deals.
I unboxed HP's new Spectre x360 convertible laptop, and it's fantastic so far. Check out the video for more.
Stay tuned to Neowin in the days ahead for what’s sure to be another exciting week, filled with official news, lots of updates, and plenty of insights from around the world of technology.
For now, though, there’s lots more to read across the site – including all sorts of interesting discussions over on our forums.
From all of us
on the Neowin team,
have a great weekend!
