Samsung Offers $$ To Keep Note 7 Owners in the Fam; Chipmaker Revenue Shows iPhone 7’s Selling Well; Google Pixel Phones on Verizon Get Android Updates With Unlocked Phones

Samsung is making the extra effort to hold on to customers burned (some literally) but the burning and exploding Galaxy Note 7. They will give $100 credit to exchange one for a Galaxy S7 Edge or other Samsung device. Engadget.com says this comes on the official Consumer Product Safety Commission recall of all Note 7’s. There have been 96 battery issues in the US alone since mid-August when the Note rolled out.

Chipmaker TSMC is reporting record profit and sales in Q3, and has raised its forecast for 2016 revenue. Yeah, so? This points to strong iPhone 7 sales, according to 9to5mac.com. After crunching the known numbers, like what percentage of TSMC business comes from the A10 chip in the new iPhones, it looks like Apple shipments of iPhone 7 models will be around 82 million…notably higher than earlier estimates. In other words, it’s not the boring dog of an iPhone a lot of the tech press predicted!

Contrary to earlier reports, Google says Pixel phones on the Verizon system will get Android updates simultaneously with unlocked phones. 9to5google.com reports that this indicates Google will be pushing out the updates like Apple does on iOS, not delivering them to Verizon, who many feared would sit on them.


Trade In Your Old Surface for a Surface Pro 3

Because everybody likes a deal, Microsoft is offering trade in credit on the Surface Pro 3. Cnet.com says you can get up to $650 in credit for your old Surface tablet on a 3, but only at Microsoft’s online site and from now until March 8th.

That OTHER tablet now has Inbox by Gmail. According to thenextweb.com, Google has released its invite only mail app for the iPad now. It works with Safari and Firefox, as well as Chrome. If you do have an invite, it’s available at the App Store now.

IF triple T has released a flurry of ‘DO’ apps for Android and iPhone. Gigaom.com says they just give you a big, simple button to do something when you’re ready…send pics to your family, turn on your connected thermostat, or send a document to Evernote with one press instead of a series of clicks and swipes.