Find your unseen messages in Facebook’s other hidden inbox – CNET

Last year, many a Facebook user was surprised to learn of the “Other” inbox, a dumping ground for private messages from people you don’t know or haven’t friended. The big problem: You never received notification when one of these messages arrived.

Later in the year, the service phased out Other in favor of something called Message Requests, but it was largely aimed at users of the Facebook Messenger app. At least it showed notifications when new requests came in.

But, lo and behold, Facebook is still holding out on you. There’s yet another inbox of sorts that’s even more tucked away than the first one. And it may be holding all kinds of important messages (or it may be all spam). Here’s how to peek inside the desktop version; mobile instructions follow below.

Step 1: Open Facebook in your browser.

Step 2: Click the Messages icon that’s in the blue toolbar.

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Screenshot by Rick Broida/CNET

Step 3: By default, it shows you the Recent list; click Message Requests, then scroll down and click Filtered Requests.

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Never knew these were there. Sorry, people who tried to reach me on FB!

Screenshot by Rick Broida/CNET

(Another way to get there: In the left-side toolbar, click Messages, then the More pulldown and then Filtered Requests.)

If you’re mobile, fire up the Messenger app, tap Settings > Message Requests, then See filtered requests.

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Et tu, Messenger app?

Screenshot by Rick Broida/CNET

As I said before, you might find yourself looking at messages Facebook legitimately filtered as spam, or you might discover important contacts who thought you were ignoring them.

Either way, it’s probably a good idea to check this inbox on a regular basis to make sure you don’t miss something important.

In the meantime, yo, Facebook: How about a better system of dealing with messages like these?

Win a Samsung Galaxy S7 or S7 edge from dbrand and Android Central!

We’ve partnered with dbrand for another amazing contest! This time we are going to have two winners, and each is taking home either a Samsung Galaxy S7 or S7 edge phone plus a bundle of 23 skins from dbrand. Keep reading for all the details!

The Samsung Galaxy S7 & S7 edge are not only super hot right now, they are also arguably the greatest fingerprint magnets of all time. Covering the device with a skin resolves this with no added bulk. Also, the glass back can be quite slippery, especially once hand sweat and grime has accumulated on the glass. A dbrand skin adds texture and grip, which ensures your phone is not going to go flying across the room unexpectedly.

How to Enter: Head down to the widget at the bottom of this page. There are multiple ways to enter, each with varying point values. Complete all of the tasks for maximum entries and your best shot at winning!

The giveaway is open until April 22nd and winners will be announced on the blog shortly after the close date.

The Prize: Two super lucky Android Central readers will take home a brand new Samsung Galaxy S7 or S7 edge PLUS the complete line of dbrand skins for their new phone!

Please note that service is not included with the phone. Also, in the event that the winner resides outside of the United States, the prize maybe be subject to duties and taxes, which are the responsibility of the winner.

Good luck everybody!

Win a Samsung Galaxy S7 or S7 edge from dbrand and Android Central!

The Galaxy S7 edge: A second opinion

The Galaxy S7 edge is both the Galaxy S7 that we wanted, and the Galaxy S7 that we deserved.

There are a whole lot of people on this little planet who eagerly wait to see what new products big tech companies like Samsung introduce every year. If you’re reading this — either as a regular Android Central reader or someone who found us for the first time, you’re probably one of them. And this year, when we first got to see the Samsung Galaxy S7 and Galaxy S7 edge, we saw the very best that Samsung — and possibly anyone else — could produce today.

We knew how special the S7 (in my case, the edge model in particular) was when we first got our hands on it. As part of our job we get early access to a lot of the latest tech, and we talk amongst ourselves before we’re allowed to talk in public. All of us knew that we had something different here, and things can and will never never be the same.

I have the T-Mobile variant of the Galaxy S7 edge now, and have been using it for a while. See what I think of one of the best phones you can buy.

I love the way it’s built

I appreciate things that look good. Whether we’re talking about the iconic design of a classic Chevrolet El Camino, or a stately yet beautiful oak table, I enjoy things that show me that a bit of thought and engineering went into the way a thing looks. And not everything that looks good needs to look the same. We’re a blog about Android phones. We touch and use and write about a lot of Android phones. The HTC One M7 and the Nexus 4 have a very thoughtful design that most of us can appreciate even if we don’t particularly like it. The Galaxy S7 edge gives me the same appreciation when I see it that the Nexus 4 or One M7 do.

Metal and glass look good. You don’t have to think they are the best materials to use for building a phone to say that. Curves “feel” organic and futuristic, especially when done with glass. And Samsung has refined and perfected what they started with the Note edge and continued with last year’s edge phones with the Galaxy S7 edge. When you pick it up, you no longer feel the angular lip where the metal meets the glass and instead you have the same construction with a seamless feel on all sides of the phone, front and back. Is that a huge change from the S6 edge? No, not really. But it’s an important one, and allows the S7 edge to feel as good as it looks.

The screen amazes me. I can’t sit here and tell you that anything looks better on the LG V10 or the Nexus 6P or the Galaxy S7 edge unless I’m reading tiny print (the V10 and its LCD wins that one). But I can’t get over the viewing angle on the S7 edge. No matter how far I tilt it away from my face, I can still tell exactly what I’m looking at until I basically reach the point when I’m looking at the side or the bottom of the phone. I don’t know how they do it. I don’t even care other than the nerd part of me who wants to read white papers. I just think it’s cool. Be suspicious if anyone tells you the screen isn’t incredible.

That makes sense — Samsung is one of those companies that makes the screens all the other companies want to use. Is AMOLED super saturated? Yup. Does using blue pixels to make the color white cause a tint on certain images in certain conditions? Yup. I just don’t care. I have an AH-IPS 100 percent sRGB factory calibrated monitor on my desk if I need to inspect something for color accuracy. On my phone — the computer in my pocket — I love the vivid and bright screen. Look around, most everyone else does, too.

I used to have a big problem with giant phones. Not so much using them, but carrying them around. Because they kept getting bigger and nobody was making smaller models with top-end parts inside but Sony, I gave up. I embraced my Nexus 6 and learned to accept a phone that I couldn’t carry in my shirt pocket like your weird IT guy at work does. Since then, people making phones have started making them more narrow. I’m good with it. The size of the GS7 edge is no issue, and I like the extra battery. You’ll now find me with my Nexus 6P in one pocket, and the GS7 edge in the other.

The dynamic duo.

I understand the argument about fragility with this design when used on something that lives a large part of its life in a pocket or bag. And I can’t argue that the materials and the finish — I’m using the silver titanium model — are always in need of a cleaning and covered with fingerprints and smudges. I just don’t care. I’ll take the trade off because I love the design and the materials used. Because of them, my $700 phone almost looks and feels like it’s worth $700.

And I don’t give a damn that the holes don’t line up.

Cameras and features

While I appreciate an elegant and premium look, I value the way a product works even more. Samsung has three standout features that help make the S7 edge very compelling on the function side — the edge screen, the camera and the multifunctional home button and fingerprint reader.

A lot of words have been said about the camera on the Galaxy S7 edge. Aside from a few controversial ones from a fellow I trust here, they’ve all been positive. I told myself from the beginning that I didn’t care what anyone else thought and would form my own opinion after using it. I came to what I think is a pretty reasonable conclusion — the camera on the GS7 edge is good enough that all the fuss made no longer matters. Sorry, Dan. I just don’t see what you’re seeing.

There is a very slight lip around the camera and flash.

We’re at the point where the cameras on our phones are mostly good enough that none are really better than the others. The camera on the Galaxy S7 edge is great. Add it to the list of phone cameras that are so good that you need a real camera to get anything “better.” You will never need another camera unless you’re one of those prosumers or need to produce photos that you’re paid for.

Enjoy your Lumia, or your G5 or Nexus 6P or iPhone camera. They all take pictures that are better than we should expect from a cell phone. Sometimes a certain picture from a certain phone will look better than other pictures from other phones. Let people who have to hash out things like which is “best” worry about it. Take your pictures (or video) and enjoy how nice they look, then share them with the world so we all can enjoy them as much as you do. The Galaxy S7 edge lets you do just that, and you won’t find anything to complain about.

The finger smudges bother me as much as they bother you. I immediately wiped them away once I took the picture to show them.

Fun fact — I don’t think a fingerprint is a good security method. My fingerprints are my identity, not my password — they never change. But I also agree that using a fingerprint sensor makes security easy, and that means more people will use it. That’s nothing but win in my opinion.

The key is building hardware that is accurate and convenient. That’s where previous phones, like the aged Motorola Atrix, the iPhone 5s and the Galaxy S6 failed me. Don’t get me started on the LG V10. If I’m going to use fingerprint authentication, it needs to work all the time, every time. The Galaxy S7 edge nails it.

If I’m going to use fingerprint authentication, it needs to work every time. The GS7 edge nails it.

I don’t know if the technology of the past is to blame, but fingerprint scanning never worked well for me. I have some pretty ugly fingerprints. There are burns. There are scars. There are callouses. Partially because of disregard for safety when handling hot equipment, and partially because of my amazing guitar-shredding skills. Mostly the disregard for safety part. OK, only the disregard for safety part then.

Until we saw the Nexus 6P, fingerprint scanning was always hit or miss with me. You’ve probably seen others talk about how good the Nexus 6P and 5X were at fingerprint scanning. The Galaxy S7 edge is every bit as good. Other than the placement — I like it in the back where my finger rests when I’m holding a phone — I think it’s perfect. People who want to unlock a phone while laying flat on a table will enjoy it in the front. This is a small quibble that’s easy to get used to — the Galaxy S7 edge has an amazingly accurate and fast fingerprint scanner. You now have no excuse to not lock your phone.

On the edge.

The most intriguing feature to me is the edge screen. It’s been revamped with Samsung’s version of Marshmallow, and it’s now bigger and arguably better than before. You can do various things from having contacts live there, or having a compass, but I use it for my calendar. I have instant access to things I need to see with a quick swipe of my thumb. More importantly, I don’t have a calendar widget looking at me every time I unlock my phone. I want my home screen — yes, I only ever use one — to be clutter free. Something in my life has to be simple and easy.

I want to see amazing people do amazing things here. We all can make fun of having a ruler on the edge screen, but that’s handy for a lot of people. Little things that some of us might need have a cool sliding shelf to live on, quietly tucked away when we don’t need them. Samsung’s annual developer conference is coming up. I hope the seats are filled with people smarter than me who have ideas how to put something as simple and fantastic as a ruler on my edge screen. There’s a lot of potential here, and something many regard as a gimmick can be made absolutely cool with the right ideas. If nothing else, how about a scrolling daily classic Doonesbury comic to go along with the stock tickers and sports scores?

The new TouchWiz

I’m not buying the line about how Google convinced Samsung to change TouchWiz or how they rode into South Korea on a shining white stallion to “fix” it. It was never broken, and millions and millions of sales tell you you’re wrong when you say it was. But it is better, and not all of it is because of the hardware.

Samsung’s take on Android still looks colorful and messy to me. Not because it is too colorful or messy, but because it’s not what I like. You can never account for taste. The “clown puke” colors of the past — which did a great job of showing off an AMOLED display and were totally not an accident — are replaced with an equally vivid (and for many, equally as horrible) new design palette that looks more like Google’s Material Design. You can love it, or you can hate it. Or you can theme it through Samsung’s Galaxy App store.

Change your theme in the phone settings.

Samsung doesn’t stop there. The base software on the S7 edge is filled with apps and programs that Samsung is proud of. They’ve also changed just about every part of the vanilla Android source code — both visually and functionally — that they can. Some of it’s better, and some of it is worse. Again, that’s purely a matter of what you like. There are really only two things I can say about it.

• I want Samsung to never stop messing around with Android and making it their own. The open source part of Android is made better by companies doing stuff to it and changing it. That’s how open source software works. I wish more of what they do was available to everyone at the code level, but the ideas and the critical changes that improve Android make their way back to Google. They then make their way to everyone. Every good thing Samsung does makes Android better. Every stupid thing Samsung does makes Android better.
• I can take 20 minutes and strip away the stuff I don’t want. I can disable or uninstall some of it. I can hide most of the remainder. Buh-bye Milk Music. Adios Gear Manager. Go away forever Flipboard Briefing. You can do the same things to the stuff you don’t want.

Ideally, all the things we don’t want could live in Google Play or Samsung’s Galaxy App store. That isn’t going to happen. If it did, nobody would know about them. We all give a strong opinion about what Samsung should do with all the things we don’t want — and those things are different for each and every one of us. But until someone has a solution that lets people discover the things Samsung has to offer, they belong right where they are.

This needs to be a new AT&T meme.

Carrier apps are a similar but different story. I’m with the rest of the happy bandwagoners when we say they need to die. But carriers want people to see these apps, use these apps and make money from these apps. Luckily, I have the T-Mobile S7 edge and it’s not been ravaged the same way some others have. After seeing what AT&T in particular has done, I would have a different opinion about it all. That’s not fair to Samsung, nor is it fair to anyone seeking the input of industry experts about a phone purchase. If things ever reach a point where sales are affected — and we’re not even close to that — something will change.

I wish carriers didn’t mess with things. But the GS7 edge can handle it either way.

The most important thing about all of it is that with the GS7, it doesn’t matter. Hardware plays a part, as does Samsung’s skilled engineering team. The S7 edge does not suffer from having things you don’t use running in the background. Those days ended with the Note 5. Even with a mountain of services and software features I’ll never need and didn’t want, my S7 edge is enjoyable to use. Forget benchmarks and timed tests about opening apps or side-by-side scrolling death match showdowns. I feel no difference in how fluid the things I want my smartphone to do happen between my Nexus 6P and my S7 edge. That’s a game changer for Android enthusiasts, and it’s not just hype. Samsung has an extremely complex (on the user-facing side) computer operating system running amazingly well on mobile hardware. The new bar has been set.

This is how you do it.

Getting the latest security update the same day it became available, as an OTA right to the phone, seals the deal.

Should you buy a Galaxy S7 edge?

Hell yeah.

This is the best smartphone you can buy today. The cons I find in the way the software looks and is presented are more than outweighed but a long list of pros. The features like the camera or screen are as good or better than advertised, and it’s going to be very difficult for anyone to make a better phone on any platform.

That’s the best part. As great as my Galaxy S7 edge is, I know it’s going to force someone to build something even better. Fans of every platform benefit because this thing is so damn good.

The Galaxy S7 edge isn’t the first phone from Samsung I think is good and I could recommend, but it is the first one I want to use myself. I’m picky when it comes to spending lots of money, and have pretty simple wants and needs. If HTC or Motorola show me something amazing later this year that I just have to use, I’ll have a tough decision to make between my S7 edge and my gold Nexus 6P.

Yeah. I never thought I’d say that either.

See at Amazon See at Verizon See at Sprint See at T-Mobile See at AT&T

T-Mobile to shutter Mobile Money prepaid debit card program on July 27

T-Mobile is set to kill Mobile Money, the prepaid debit card program that the Un-carrier launched in early 2014. According to Fierce Wireless, T-Mobile has begun alerting Mobile Money users that the service will shut down on July 27. Additionally, users won;t be able to add money to their accounts or use the mobile app after June 27.

If you’re unfamiliar with Mobile Money, it was a quasi-banking effort introduced in January 2014 that very much stood out from T-Mobile’s traditional carrier operations. Users could sign up and receive a T-Mobile-branded prepaid Visa card that worked much like others of its ilk. The mobile twist was that users could access their accounts through a dedicated app to easily make deposits and manage their money.

LG V10 on T-Mobile should get its Marshmallow update next week

LG V10 owners on T-Mobile should get ready, because Marshmallow should be coming your way soon. According to the Un-carrier’s Senior Product Manager Des Smith, Marshmallow should arrive on the phone beginning next week.

Guess who should start seeing #Android #Marshmallow next week! #LGV10 #tmobile pic.twitter.com/jRR7cuUjzU

— Des (@askdes) April 8, 2016

A more specific timeframe for the update has yet to be announced. We’ll be sure to let you know when it hits. T-Mobile will be the second major U.S. carrier to bring Marshmallow to the V10, as the Verizon version got its update late last month.

LG V10

• Read our full review
• LG V10, a second opinion
• LG V10 specs
• All the latest LG V10 news
• Join the discussion in our forums
• LG V10 vs. the LG G4

Verizon AT&T T-Mobile Amazon

The best free Android games

Here’s our roundup of the very best free Android games available in the Google Play Store right now.

You’ve got some time to kill and only your trusty Android phone to keep you company? Take a gander at some of the most exciting, engaging, and absolutely free games that you can download from the Google Play Store. We’ve got a healthy mix including shooters, city-builders, puzzle games, racing, and lots more.

If you’re itching for something new and you’re able to stomach a few in-app purchase prompts, read on!

Asphalt 8

Asphalt 8: Airborne is easily one of the top racing games on mobile right now. It skips all pretensions of realism and provides an over-the-top, high-octane experience with all the fixings. Players can work their way through the career mode, unlock new rides, upgrade the ones they have, or take the competition online in multiplayer. The usual race modes are there, plus a new Infected one where players have to tag other racers before succumbing to an explosive virus.

The incredibly polished graphics and outstanding soundtrack make Asphalt 8 an adrenaline trip you won’t soon forget.

DOWNLOAD: Asphalt 8: Airborne (Free, IAPs)

Threes!

Threes! is a thoughtful and lighthearted puzzle game. By sliding a board of numbered cards in four directions, players aim to get adjacent and identically-numbered cards to stack on top of one another. Every turn introduces a new tile on the board, which means you’ve got to keep stacking to make room. When the board fills up, you’re given a score based on the value of the cards left, which in turn gets posted to the Google Play Games leaderboards.

Threes! is elegant, fun, and challenging, and you should definitely pick it up if you haven’t tried it yet.

DOWNLOAD: Threes! (Free, ads)

Hearthstone

Hearthstone is a free turn-based card game that follows a familiar formula: players summon creature cards and cast spell cards based on the fantasy Warcraft universe in an effort to defeat online opponents. Every one of the nine heroes has their own unique special ability as well as a sizable batch of collectible and craftable cards. Casual online games, ranked matches, wacky weekly Tavern Brawls, and grueling Arena games appeal to varying levels of commitment.

Hearthstone is without a doubt the best free card game to come to Android to date.

DOWNLOAD: Hearthstone: Heroes of Warcraft (Free, IAPs)

Crossy Road

All you have to do in Crossy Road is get the chicken to cross the road so he can get to the other side. The catch is that there is no other side, and you’re just dodging speeding trains, traffic, torrential waters, and hungry eagles for as long as possible before meeting an inevitable and grisly demise. Single taps move you forward, and swipes move left or right. Old school gamers will sense plenty of familiarity with Frogger. Over time, you earn adorable new characters to hop along as.

Between the adorable graphics and dead-simple controls, Crossy Road is incredibly addictive.

DOWNLOAD: Crossy Road (Free, IAPs, ads)

Spaceteam

Spaceteam is a truly unique local multiplayer game. Once paired, players are presented with ridiculously-labeled spaceship consoles. All manner of sliders, knobs, switches, and buttons show up on each screen. Each player then has a message flashing telling them which control needs to be tweaked in order to save their ship from being swallowed by an exploding star. The thing is, that control could be on anybody’s device, so everybody ends up barking ludicrous orders at one another with straight-faced urgency.

Spaceteam is one of the most fun, free multiplayer games you can play.

DOWNLOAD: Spaceteam (Free, IAPs, ads)

Smash Hit

Smash Hit is a minimalist target practice game where players tap the screen to toss a marble and shatter glass obstacles. If you bump into something, you lose marbles. Lose all your marbles, and it’s game over. Every section is littered with powerups and fresh batches of marbles to keep you going. If you manage to keep hitting the marble refill crystals without missing, you can fire off two, three, or five marbles at once.

Though it’s a simple on-rails shooter, Smash Hit’s polished physics make for a massively accessible and compelling experience.

DOWNLOAD: Smash Hit (Free, pro upgrade)

Modern Combat 5

Modern Combat 5 offers some of the greatest shooting action you’ll find on Android. Dive into an action-packed single-player campaign, and once you’re comfortable with the myriad of classes, weapons, and attachments, dive into a variety of multiplayer modes. Challenges invite players to really test their skill in short, specialized scenarios. For those that are really serious, Modern Combat 5 supports hardware controllers for the real FPS experience.

Modern Combat 5 is perfect for hardcore gamers.

DOWNLOAD: Modern Combat 5: Blackout (Free, IAPs)

Seabeard

In an ocean of samey city-builders, Seabeard introduces a rich economy, colorful style, and lots of variety. Players are tasked with putting the small island nation of Accordia back together, piece by piece. Doing so involves making peace with estranged tribes, gathering resources, and completing minigames. Over time, you can develop specializations in combat, exploration, crafting, and lots more. Anybody that has put time into classics such as Animal Crossing will instantly feel at home.

Seabeard manages to mesh a kid-friendly, relaxed atmosphere with engaging economic and action mechanics.

DOWNLOAD: Seabeard (Free, IAPs)

Ingress

Ingress continues to be a unique beast in the world of location-based gaming. Players pick one of two factions to battle over real-world points of interest. By attacking nodes attached to nearby spots, players can claim them for their own, gather resources from them, build defenses, and link them to other nodes to establish territorial control. You’re likely to establish dominance in spots along your regular daily commute, but it can also act as an impetus to travel and spread your influence new places.

The real magic of Ingress is that it’s the kind of game that’s only possible on a phone.

DOWNLOAD: Ingress (Free, IAPs)

Vainglory

Vainglory is a highly competitive 3 vs. 3 lane defense game (a genre also known as MOBAs). Players go head-to-head online in order to push through waves of enemy minions, powerful heroes, and defensive turrets to destroy their base. Maintaining control of secondary mines will ensure you stay ahead of your opponent’s equipment. You’ll also need to be well aware of your hero’s abilities, and be mindful of when to fall back and when to press the assault.

Dota 2 or League of Legends fans will want to jump right into Vainglory.

DOWNLOAD: Vainglory (Free, IAPs)

Your favorite free Android games?

Nobody made us the Fun Police, though. Shout out in the comments with your favorite free Android games, as we’re constantly on the lookout for the next great timewaster.

Huawei P9 camera explored: A lot to Leica?

At the Huawei P9 phone launch in London’s Battersea on Wednesday 6 April the Chinese company made a lot of noise about its new camera features. And for good reason: it’s the only company to brandish Leica co-engineering and a unique dual camera arrangement (other makers have dual cameras, but not with one as a black-and-white-only monochrome sensor).

Sure, there was a Scarlett Johansson selfie as part of the promo, while Henry Cavill took to the stage to talk about something or other – whose autocue couldn’t keeping up with his Superman speeds – but despite Huawei throwing its Hollywood stars up in the air the P9 is, first and foremost, aimed at the everyday user.

READ: Huawei P9 phone preview

So is its camera any good? Why would you want two cameras anyway? Does having one as black and white only make practical sense? We explore the ins and outs – plus the highs and lows – of the Huawei P9 camera experience.

Huawei P9 camera explored: What’s the Leica link all about?

Leica is the ultimate high-end camera maker, based in Germany. It’s renowned for producing among the best optics in the world, while its cameras are typically hand-made (and usually cost an absolute fortune). Leica has a cult-like following and many classic images have been taken by photographers using its cameras.

The pairing with Huawei is about the new-world Leica; a company branching out, reaching the masses as the world of digital imaging evolves. And pairing its optical know-how with a phone maker certainly makes sense – as does spreading its name to a new, younger (and probably less affluent) audience.

Huawei P9 camera explored: Why two cameras?

The first obvious question: why the heck are there two cameras? They’re here for a number of main reasons.

One, the two lenses (which are identical 27mm f/2.2 equivalent optics) can be used to perceive depth by offsetting one overlapping image to the other, which is useful for not only long-distance focus purposes, but also delivering relevant data for post-shooting depth adjustment via software – more on that later.

Two, each of those lenses has its own sensor: one is full colour, the other is monochrome (black and white only). And here’s the Leica connection again: no other mainstream camera maker produces a monochrome sensor (a larger one featured in the Leica M Monochrom), which, thanks to an absence of an RGB colour array – used to calculate colour using a 4×4 red, green and blue grid per pixel – therefore has “pixels” three times larger than a colour sensor of equivalent size, translating as greater possible quality.

Huawei P9 camera explored: Does mono make sense?

So here’s a thing, who is ever going to shoot in black and white anyway? It’s not 1955 any more, right? Why not just shoot colour and convert it with a filter after?

That’s a valid point in many regards. However with the monochrome sensor there’s potential for images with less image noise because, as we say, those “pixels” are that much larger.

Pocket-lint

Huawei P9 camera sample – monochrome sensor in action

A monochrome sensor also has the potential for more dynamic range (ignoring that once data is lost to clipped highlights its irretrievable, colour conversions have more room available in the upper-end) and absolute tonal range, because it’s not basing values on surrounding data, but absolutely on what is being seen.

But back to the big question: will it ever be used? Will we swipe across to the right on the P9’s screen, select monochrome, then snap an image? It’s going to be a personal taste thing. Once you have a monochrome-captured image you can’t suddenly make it colour again. Are today’s smartphone users really that savvy with B&W photography that this is a feature they’ll not be able to live without? We doubt it.

Huawei P9 camera explored: Casual or manual use?

Which brings us to the usability of the P9’s camera arrangement. First up, the positioning of the cameras so very close to the top edge of the phone means, when in landscape orientation, fingers are perilously close to the lenses. Unless, that is, you use the physical volume buttons to snap an image, which helps keep your hand out of the way – but if you’re right-handed this feels somewhat backwards (lefties will be all over it).

Pocket-lint

Software-wise, Huawei was making it loud and clear that the “co-engineered with Leica” label means great things for software. Funnily enough, though, Leica isn’t renowned for having the best or most usable menu systems; if anything it’s renowned for having the most finicky ones.

And this shows in use with the P9’s cameras: you need to swipe right to bring up a full-screen display of shooting options, selecting between Photo or Monochrome here. But it would make more sense to use an LG G5-like solution here and have an on-screen software button to switch between those two critical options (in the G5 it toggles between normal and super-wide cameras).

READ: LG G5 review

In addition, not all modes are available from this screen. To access “Pro” (i.e. manual controls) mode you’ll need to swipe up/down on the shooting screen. To take advantage of the pseudo aperture control – which isn’t based on a real, mechanical aperture, but applied using software – you’ll have to be in the colour camera and not using said Pro mode.

Pocket-lint

Huawei P9 camera explored: Software aperture controls rarely work

Which brings us to the whole aperture situation. It’s become a real battle ground in phone cameras these days, with an f/1.7 in the Samsung S7, f/1.8 in the LG G5, f/2.2 in the iPhone 6S all vying for top spot. The smaller that number is the wider the opening and, therefore, the more light that can reach the sensor – which is useful for low-light shooting and, in certain focus situations, blurring the background. All useful things for creativity.

So Huawei’s f/2.2 isn’t class-leading, but it’s pretty good – if it’s good enough for Apple, right? What’s not so good, however, is the option to apply a pseudo aperture effect – which can be done in the standard mode either pre- or post-shooting. It’s something HTC has offered in the past with its M8/M9 handsets and something that, well, has never really worked that well.

Same goes here: Huawei, Leica, whoever, the software solution simply doesn’t match-up to a real aperture solution. There are too many glitches. Sure, using two lenses on the P9 to obtain depth information is better than a single lens solution by far, but if the software messes up then the image just looks wrong.

And with an f/0.95 post-shooting option available – that’s based on the famed Leica Noctilux 50mm f/0.95 lens – many shots will quickly become a dog’s dinner, especially if there’s a lot going on in the frame. You can see it in action in real-time pre-shooting, which is kind of fun, but after taking a shot you might notice a whole section that’s blurred when it shouldn’t be, for example.

Pocket-lint

Huawei P9 camera sample – pseudo f/0.95 aperture example breaking the subject edges in image

We’ve even had whole subject edges considerably distorted at “f/0.95”, fake bokeh really blown out of proportion in white/highlight areas and, well, it’s just best avoided. You won’t find this aperture control in the Pro mode, because pros won’t likely stand for it.

Sometimes though, just sometimes, it does work a treat. Have something close-up to the lens with nothing else close to the focal plane and it’s easier for the two cameras to differentiate depth and blur accordingly. We shot in a bicycle shot and this worked well.

Stick to f/2.2, though, without fiddling around, and you’ll be happy with what you shoot in the first instance.

Huawei P9 camera explored: Focus speed

We’ve mentioned the two lenses operating to assist focus, but that’s not all Huawei is calling on in the P9. For closer shooting there’s a laser-assisted focus, much like that of the LG G5.

As we concluded in our LG G5 vs Samsung Galaxy S7 vs iPhone 6S camera head-to-head, however, because it’s laser doesn’t always mean it’s the very fastest – the Samsung is typically quicker.

READ: Best smartphone camera – iPhone 6S Plus, Samsung Galaxy S7 or LG G5?

But accuracy, on the other hand, that’s where it’s a winner. Click anywhere on the screen and focus is swift enough and accurate; the focus area is larger than the G5’s, though, which makes it more generalised.

We also like the click-and-drag ability to offset the auto-exposure away from the focus point – a feature we’ve seen in plenty of Android phones, but that works well.

All in all, whichever focus option the Huawei P9 opts for, critically it’s up to scratch against it’s main competitors now. Hats off for that.

Pocket-lint

Huawei P9 camera sample – pseudo f/16 aperture

Huawei P9 camera explored: Wrap-up

Typically with Huawei cameras – and it’s a trait of many Chinese brands – there’s a big song and dance about so-called Beauty modes. At the launch event this wasn’t the focus, but such modes – which blurs the face of blemishes, enlarges the eyes and so forth – do still exist in the Modes panel. As do other modes: from video, to slow-mo, time-lapse, HDR (high dynamic range), panorama, night shot and more.

That such modes have been pushed to the back leaves a greater focus on the camera interface itself. We like that it’s easy to switch between manual and point-and-shoot, we like that the speed and quality is up there with the other flagships on the market, we like usability quirks like a horizontal level and grid overlay, and we like the ability to shoot raw files in addition to JPEGs.

But does having two cameras really make it better than one? You’re paying for that monochrome sensor in there, the one that you’ll probably never use, and the defocusing for pseudo wide-aperture effect is just as broken (while simultaneously being full of potential) as it was in HTC’s iteration.

What people really want is a single, fast camera that can take great images, easily. Huawei has that here, but the distraction of the second lens and sensor does begin to partially detract from the goodness that’s within too.

Facebook is making product endorsements more obvious

Ads have been a staple in your Facebook News Feed for quite sometime. Today, the social network announced changes to its branded content policy that will make it more obvious when a celebrity or other publisher posts about third-party goods and services. There’s a new tagging feature that must be used by anyone posting something tied to a marketer. The tag will alert the company being referenced so that they can view analytics, share and boost the post. What’s more, the original post from the publisher or “influencer” will get a “with” tag just like you see when you tag friends in updates. Adding “with” will help users identify brand posts, but the content still won’t be obvious if you’re only giving the News Feed a passing glance.

Facebook says that based on feedback, it’s also banning “overly promotional” content like “persistent watermarks” and pre-roll ads in any sponsored videos. It also won’t allow products, brands or sponsors to be used in profile pictures or cover photos. However, things like product placement and logos are allowed. The changes to the branded content policy are rolling out today, and Facebook says that the features will soon extend to its live video push as well.

DJI app helps you find fellow drone lovers

There’s a social network for everything. Dog owners, foodies, gamers — you name it, there’s an app that will connect you with like-minded people. So of course, it was inevitable that one would eventually be made for drone owners too. DJI has taken the plunge with DJI+Discover, a major update to its DJI Store app on iOS and Android. It allows anyone to create a profile and connect with fellow drone enthusiasts, whether that’s simply to hang out, get tuition or ask which model you should be buying next.

It’s also geared towards professionals that want to sell their piloting and photography skills to commercial clients. When you launch the app, you’ll see a map of the surrounding area and pin drops representing other users. There are three toggles along the top — All, Social and Professional — which let you specify which sort of drone owner you’re looking for. As a neat bonus, there are also markers which indicate exceptional flying spots and user-submitted drone photos. Elsewhere in the app you’ll find a shortcut to DJI’s online store, an “Experience” section for finding brick-and-mortar stores and physical events, and a link to the company’s forum.

The app is available in the US, the UK, Germany, Spain and Australia. If you’re mad about drones or just want someone to be there the first time you fly a Phantom 4, it’s worth considering. Just be careful — you’ll be meeting strangers with some awfully expensive (and desirable) gear in tow.

Via: DJI (Press Release)

Source: DJI+Discover (iOS), (Android)

Step inside a mind filled with beauty and fear in ‘Figment’

Figment is a colorful, whimsical puzzle game that combines childlike fantasies with mature themes including death, disease and trauma. It shouldn’t work. These ideas should be oil and water, existing around each other but never fully melding into a cohesive experience. But Figment defies logic — even in an early build, the game is magical and deep at the same time. It’s like an episode of Adventure Time mixed with the adorable puzzler Machinarium but in a musical, hand-painted world.

The game takes place inside someone’s head, in a subconscious filled with lush grass platforms, fluffy clouds, red-roofed huts… and fear. In Figment, fear takes the form of creepy creatures that have infiltrated this mind and are hell-bent on destroying its beauty. The fear of disease, for example, is a cackling, coughing beast with lanky limbs, a thin tail, at least one long row of pointy teeth and a red plague mask. His name is The Plague, after all. He taunts the protagonist — a Teletubby-like creature with a cute red nose and tiny antlers — in rhymes as he throws gas bombs across the grass.

Figment is part puzzler and part action game, due to hit PC, Mac, Xbox One and PlayStation 4 in early 2017. Players explore the land masses of different worlds, solving spatial riddles and battling fear minions with a wooden sword. You’re able to quickly roll out of the way of incoming attacks, strike back and collect important tools scattered around the environments. The game heavily incorporates music, too — many of its puzzles are related to instruments or sounds, and the landscape is packed with stylized flutes, tubas, trumpets, accordions and more. It looks like the kind of game Dr. Seuss would have made.

While frolicking around the quirky world that The Plague has invaded, you fight off his beasties and put together contraptions that will help your adorable warrior advance to the next trouble spot, the next infestation of fear. This is where the puzzle aspect comes in: As in games like Machinarium, the riddles revolve around observation and creative thinking. If you can’t turn on one of the windmills, maybe it’s because you need the wheel part that was back by the lighthouse. There’s a huge gap between this island and the next — perhaps you can figure out a way to knock the giant flute out of the tree and use it as a bridge. Some of the puzzles are obvious, but Figment sets itself up for complex head-scratchers as the game progresses.

The creators at the Dutch studio Bedtime Digital Games call Figment “dreampunk,” and it’s an aesthetic they have plenty of experience with. Their debut game, Back to Bed, is an eccentric dreamscape that they created as students back in 2013. It’s an M.C. Escher-inspired puzzle platformer, and it thrust Bedtime into the spotlight after becoming an IGF 2013 Student Showcase Finalist and collecting a few other awards.

Figment represents the natural evolution of Bedtime’s design philosophy. The team, led by Klaus Pedersen and Jonas Byrresen, know how to craft dense puzzles in beautiful, moody worlds. They aren’t afraid to get a little morbid — one of the areas in Figment is pockmarked with giant molars, in reference to the common dream where your teeth suddenly fall out, supposedly signaling stress about aging and death. Still, the world remains beautiful to look at, play in and listen to, making Figment ideal for anyone, at any age, with any fear.