Virtual reality is quickly becoming one of the most competitive realms of technology. The long-awaited Oculus Rift is finally coming to market and other competitors such as Samsung, HTC and Valve are entering the scene to get in on the action. Google was one of the first companies to release a VR headset with Google Cardboard, its low-cost alternative to other more expensive devices. Cardboard took off in a much bigger way than Google expected, leading the company to do some reorganizing in order to place a larger focus on virtual reality.

According to a report from the Financial Times, Google is in the midst of developing a more advance VR headset. This new VR headset will be far more sophisticated than Google Cardboard and will compete directly with Samsung’s Gear VR, and also with higher-priced devices like the Oculus Rift.

Much like the Gear VR, Google’s headset will be smartphone-based, allowing users to insert a smartphone to act as the display and processor. The new VR headset will be a successor to Cardboard, but will be more practically-oriented and advanced. It will feature improved lenses, a stronger plastic casing and more advanced motion sensors.

In addition to the new motion sensors, Google will be integrating VR software directly into Android rather than relying on an app, as Google Cardboard does. Together, these two things will reportedly reduce latency, lowering the likelihood of users becoming dizzy or nauseous due to lag between the headset and the user’s movements.

The primary selling point of Google’s new VR headset will be its wide range of compatibility. Samsung has only opened the Gear VR up to a small amount of users by offering compatibility only with a select few of its smartphones. Google will extend compatibility to a range of Android devices from all different manufacturers.

Google hasn’t commented directly on this report, but the company has given some indicators that it’s working on new VR technology. Google recently did some restructuring and created a new virtual reality department led up by Clay Bavor. This new department encompasses Google Cardboard and related technology. In addition to creating a VR department, Google CEO Sundar Pichai recently stated that Google Cardboard was “just the first step”. Pichai also had this to say, “Beyond these early efforts, you’ll see a lot more from us and our partners in 2016.”

2016 looks to be a big year for VR. Stay tuned and we’ll keep you informed on Google’s moves for virtual reality.

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In the market for a new phone? You may want to take a look at Sprint’s offerings, as the carrier has some pretty great promotions running at the moment. The latest deal to join the pack is a trade-in offer on a couple of popular devices. Customers interested in purchasing a Samsung Galaxy S6 or Galaxy Note 5 can trade in their current smartphone for a guaranteed $200 trade-in credit. This would bring the price of the Galaxy S6 (32GB) down to just $9.67/month for well-qualified customers using Sprint Lease. The Galaxy Note 5 (32GB) is also very affordable at $16.67/month for 24 months when using Sprint Lease.

The only caveat is that customers must own the device that they’re trading in (it can’t be in a lease). That’s a bit of a given, but it’s still worth pointing out.

In addition to receiving a $200 trade-in credit, you can also combine this offer with Sprint’s other promos. The carrier is still offering its “Cut Your Bill in Half” offer for customers who switch from Verizon, AT&T or T-Mobile. The carrier has other offers depending on what you’re looking for, so be sure to head into a Sprint store or give them a call to see just how much you can save.

Sprint has done a lot of work over the past year to remain competitive. The carrier is continuing to improve and expand its network while also working to undercut the other carriers in its pricing and offerings. Even though the carrier has had a varied history, now is an excellent time to take a look at switching to Sprint and scoring some serious value.

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If you missed the Amazon sales before the holidays last year, then your wait for the next round of deals is finally over. Whether it is to celebrate the Amazon Super Bowl ad or Valentine’s Day, there are deals on a number of products in the Amazon lineup, and most are good through February 13th.

Android Deals

While the Fire tablets aren’t running Android proper, they are still excellent content consumption, reading and simple gaming devices. Amazon has dropped the price on a few of the most popular Fire tablets.

Fire – $49.99 $39.99

Fire HD Kids Edition – $99.99 $79.99

Fire HD 10 – $229.99 $179.99

E-Reader Deals

If you made reading more in the new year a resolution for 2016, then you might want to consider a traditional Kindle. Despite always having a couple Android tablets around, I actually picked up a Kindle e-reader myself as the weight, size and screen, combined with the lack of temptation to jump out to an app or game, make for a considerably better reading device.

Kindle – $79.99 $59.99

Kindle Paperwhite – $119.99 $99.99

You can take a look at the full deals page by hitting the source link below. If you are interested in previous generation hardware or an Amazon-assembled bundle with one of the tablets or e-readers above, there are a couple other options that might catch your eye. Unfortunately, there are no deals on the Echo or on the Fire TV lineup, which are some of the more interesting products in Amazon’s portfolio at the moment. We’ll keep our eyes peeled for those deals in the future.

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One of the common rumors swirling around Samsung’s upcoming Galaxy S7 focuses on the camera and the belief that Samsung managed to slim down the rear camera’s bump. Turns out that may actually be the case.

In a new leak that reportedly shows off the Galaxy S7 out in the real world, the one major takeaway is that Samsung has indeed slimmed down the camera bump quite a bit, especially compared to the Galaxy S6′s protrusion. There appears to still be a slight bump, but it looks practically negligible.

The source of the leaked image also confirms the Galaxy S7 will boast a 12-megapixel camera and that the device does indeed feature a water resistant design. The report also points to a March 18th release date for the Galaxy S7 in the Vietnamese market.

Samsung will be hosting its Unpacked event on Sunday, February 21, where it is expected to unveil the Galaxy S7 and the Galaxy S7 edge.

Based on all the rumors and this latest leaked image, are you looking forward to Samsung’s newest flagship?

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