Most Secure Android Phone

Most Android phones claim to be good at keeping your private stuff private. But the Nexus 6P is the most secure Android phone you can buy, thanks to the latest Android software, and the fastest updates.

Best overall

Nexus 6P

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The Nexus 6P is the most secure Android phone you can buy, and one of the most secure phones of any available today.

Without disabling any security protections, the Nexus 6P is protected against known public security exploits and remote installations are monitored by Google’s scanning software which blocks potential malicious content. While security and privacy are two very different things, when you decide you want private things to stay private you need to make sure your phone is secure to keep them that way.

One of the things that make the Nexus 6P the best is that it uses the latest — and most secure — version of Android. It’s also updated monthly with fixes for security exploits (both known and unknown) directly from Google. For those who can’t wait for the update to reach them, the update files are hosted by Google for download and installation. More importantly, the changes and code behind these fixes are available for peer review so they can be made more robust. The people trying to break in are working hard, so the people trying to prevent it need to work harder. Google’s bug bounty program and developer community combined with Android’s open nature make the Nexus 6P the most secure Android phone you can buy.

Bottom line: The open-source nature of Android and the dedicated Android security team work in tandem to make the Nexus 6P the best phone when it comes to security and privacy.

One more thing: The Nexus 6P also shows us that a secure phone that’s great to use is a reality.

Why the Nexus 6P is the best

A phone you want to use can also keep your data safe.

Every device that can connect to the internet has exploits available that break the default security configuration. If your phone isn’t getting timely updates to combat them, you’re simply not secure. We keep a vast amount of private — and priceless — data on our phones, and we all should care about keeping it safe from outside attacks. After you read all the agreements and decide what you’re willing to give away, you should expect the remainder to stay private.

The Nexus 6P is updated directly from Google with the latest version of Android. Outside of any new features that may come with, the device security model has been updated and strengthened by a dedicated team who regularly audits and enhances the code used to build Android. On top of this, Google releases updates to the security model at the beginning of every month for the people who build Android phones to apply to their software. These are important. More important than any other update. the Nexus 6P will get every one of them for its lifespan.

Equally important, but often overlooked, is transparency. You shouldn’t have to trust a company when they say something is secure or updated, and the Android code for both the platform version and all updates is available for anyone to take a look at. Plenty of people do, and despite any opinions to the contrary, Android, as written, has proven to be a very secure platform. A phone like the Nexus 6P is the embodiment of this.

Most important of all is that the Nexus 6P is not only secure, but it’s a phone that you’ll want to use. No compromise is needed and you can have a great screen, fast processor, and top-tier camera in a phone that is designed to keep your data safe.

Best for the price

Nexus 5X

See at Amazon

Take all the software features and Google active role in keeping a phone secure that applied to the Nexus 6P, and you can apply them equally to the Nexus 5X. Add in the wallet-friendly pricing and you’ve got a phone that can let even people unable or unwilling to spend upwards of $500 on a phone has a safe and secure online experience.

The Nexus 5X is also no slouch when it comes to performance. The original issues have been worked out, and with the latest software from Google, the 5X is a joy to use. A fast and reliable fingerprint sensor and a flagship-class camera round things out to make the Nexus 5X not only one of the most secure phones you can buy but one of the best values as well.

Bottom line: If the Nexus 6P is too big or too expensive for you, the Nexus 5X can step up quite nicely.

One more thing: The Ice color is a close representation of Tiffany Blue. Your phone can be secure, inexpensive, and colorful!

Best for typing

BlackBerry Priv

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BlackBerry’s Android debut brings a QWERTY sliding keyboard to a premium smartphone. And the security is nothing to sneeze at.

BlackBerry is legendary when it comes to mobile device management and security, and they follow that trend when they use Android to power their phones. In some ways, the Priv is more secure than any other Android phone — the bootloader and application manager use what BlackBerry calls a root of trust so that the phone just won’t work if software is able to get through the first line of defense. We’ve put that to the test, and while hyperbole usually surrounds any claim coming from a company who wants your money, this one rings true.

Two things keep the Priv from being our overall best choice — Android platform updates don’t come as quickly as we would like, and BlackBerry isn’t very transparent when it comes to the things they do to further harden Android. Monthly updates for existing and potential security issues come the first Monday of every month, and we have no reason to doubt BlackBerry’s commitment to security — we just shouldn’t have to take their word. If you’re looking for a secure Android phone that’s great to use and has a legendary BlackBerry keyboard, the Priv is right for you.

Bottom line: BlackBerry is a company with a reputation on the line when it comes to mobile security. they live up to expectations with the Priv.

One more thing: The BlackBerry is usually the first phone to get the monthly Android Security Bulletin update — hours before google releases the bulletin itself!

Best for simplicity

BlackBerry DTEK50

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BlackBerry says the DTEK50 is the world’s most secure Android phone.

Using the same methods as the more expensive Priv to keep Android up to date and hardened to BlackBerry’s specifications, the DTEK50 adds an enhanced version of their DTEK software tool to monitor application and system use to warn you when something isn’t playing nicely. While this software is available as an update for the Priv, the out-of-the-box experience on the DTEK50 lets BlackBerry claim the most secure title.

In addition to the things that keep the Priv from being our pick, the experience of using the DTEK50 isn’t as pleasant as the other phones on our list. Clearly designed as an entry-level phone for people who need connectivity and security, the phone is well worth the asking price. But it’s just not a smooth as any of the other phones here.

That shouldn’t tarnish the DTEK50’s reputation, though. If you’re looking for something safe and affordable with access to well over a million apps — and a tool to monitor them all — the DTEK50 may be just what you’re looking for.

Bottom line: BlackBerry knows that security doesn’t only apply to the flagship phones and the DTEK50 is a welcome addition for many users and IT managers.

One more thing: Scott Wenger, VP of design and devices for BlackBerry says DTEK stands for “Detection.”

Conclusion

Media outlets like to give Android a bad reputation when it comes to security, and it’s difficult to blame them. Old, outdated software from manufacturers with no real concern for your security or privacy are the norm when it comes to phones running Android. But it doesn’t have to be this way.

The Nexus 6P delivers a great smartphone experience that ticks all the boxes for reviewers and users alike, and with no modifications, your personal data is very safe. A team of security professionals and engineers are dedicated to keeping it that way. Any of the phones on our list will do a great job when ti comes to security, but the overall experience makes the Nexus 6P the best.

Best overall

Nexus 6P

See at Amazon
See at Google

The Nexus 6P is the most secure Android phone you can buy, and one of the most secure phones of any available today.

Without disabling any security protections, the Nexus 6P is protected against known public security exploits and remote installations are monitored by Google’s scanning software which blocks potential malicious content. While security and privacy are two very different things, when you decide you want private things to stay private you need to make sure your phone is secure to keep them that way.

One of the things that make the Nexus 6P the best is that it uses the latest — and most secure — version of Android. It’s also updated monthly with fixes for security exploits (both known and unknown) directly from Google. For those who can’t wait for the update to reach them, the update files are hosted by Google for download and installation. More importantly, the changes and code behind these fixes are available for peer review so they can be made more robust. The people trying to break in are working hard, so the people trying to prevent it need to work harder. Google’s bug bounty program and developer community combined with Android’s open nature make the Nexus 6P the most secure Android phone you can buy.

Bottom line: The open-source nature of Android and the dedicated Android security team work in tandem to make the Nexus 6P the best phone when it comes to security and privacy.

One more thing: The Nexus 6P also shows us that a secure phone that’s great to use is a reality.

Digital Offers: Grab the ultimate computer security bundle for $29

A large majority of our life resides in our computers these days. From personal files to pictures, bank statements and much more, so you should be paying attention to how secure all of it is. Unfortunately, it isn’t always easy to ensure your computer is safe, or know that you are doing the most you can to protect yourself, and learning how can be expensive.

Luckily, it doesn’t need to cost a fortune to learn how to secure your computer thanks to this awesome bundle. The 7 part course will teach you from the basics to mastering applied encryption and beyond. You’ll gain a lifetime of access to the materials, which includes nearly 40 hours of training materials that you’ll be able to access when and where you need them.

The parts of this bundle include:

• Part 1: CISSP Certification Training Program (6 Hours)
  • Earn the internationally recognized CISSP security certification for information security professionals
  • Gain a career distinction w/ enhanced credibility & marketability
• Part 2: VoIP Hacking & Penetration Testing Training (6 Hours)
  • Gain the knowledge & skills to create, secure & monitor a Voice over IP (VoIP)
  • Learn to use Metasplot, Nmap, Viproy, Nessus, Hping & other tools
• Part 3: The Bible of Hacking (6 Hours)
  • Learn the fundamentals of Ethical Hacking from a professional & become a certified hacker
• Part 4: Document Hashing & Secure Password Hashing Using the JCA (4 Hours)
  • Use the Java Cryptography Architecture to implement document hashing & secure password hashing into Java applications
  • Learn how to use salt & iteration count for secure password hashing under PBKDF2 from PKCS#5 security standards
• Part 5: Become a Master of the Applied Encryption & Its Terminology (4 Hours)
  • Explore the common terminology & technical background of encryption technologies
• Part 6: Understand TCP For Computer Networks (3 Hours)
  • Understand the processes & functions by which data is transferred
  • Learn how TCP performance is impacted & how to rectify common issues w/ TCP connections
• Part 7: Advanced Mobile Application Penetration Testing (10 Hours)
  • Practice hands-on exercises designed to hack mobile apps in a legal environment
  • Learn how to assess a mobile app’s security & gain a valuable, employable skill

Priced at just $29 you get quite a lot for your money. With lifetime access to the more than 30 hours of courses, you’ll be able to learn more about computer security and have access to the information even while out and about.

Normally this bundle would run around $700, but if you pick it up now you can get it for 95% off, dropping the price to just $29. Don’t miss out on all this great information at a super affordable price.

See at Android Central Digital Offers

Honor 8 is launching in India on October 12

Huawei’s sub-brand Honor is all set to launch the mid-range Honor 8 in India on October 12. The phone sports a gorgeous glass-backed design with two 12MP cameras. Under the hood, you’ll find HiSilicon’s 16nm octa-core Kirin 950 SoC, which has four Cortex A72 cores clocked at 2.3GHz and four energy-efficient Cortex A53 cores at 1.8GHz, and the Mali T880-MP4 GPU.

Other specs include 4GB of RAM, 64GB storage, 8MP front camera, Wi-Fi ac, LTE with VoLTE, Bluetooth 4.2, NFC, USB-C, and a 3000mAh battery. On the software front, we’re looking at EMUI 4.1 atop Android 6.0 Marshmallow. The phone will be available in Sapphire Blue, Pearl White and Midnight Black color options, and the Indian pricing will be divulged at the launch event.

The Honor 8 is going to be strong contender to the OnePlus 3, the Mi 5, and LeEco’s Le Max 2 in India. Honor has priced its products competitively in the Indian market, so it will be interesting to see where the upcoming phone slots in. The Honor 8 costs $399 in the U.S., suggesting the phone will retail in the vicinity of ₹27,000.

As for the phone itself, here’s what Andrew Martonik said in his review:

Externally, it’s slick and can grab eyes with a few subtle design features while also feeling solid and built with high tolerances. The metal and glass protect really great internal specs that can power the phone through all of your regular tasks, with a battery that lasts all day (and then some), and you can view it all on a really top-end display.

Best Universal Lenses For Android Phones

What are the best universal lenses for Android phones?

Your Android phone already captures beautiful photos, but artificially distorting the photo to add a fisheye, wide-angle, or macro look to your photos afterwards — something a smartphone can’t shoot normally — ruins the quality and feel.

Instead, using external, universal lenses are a great way to shoot creatively with your Android phone. All you need to do is attach the lens, aim, and start shooting your photography masterpieces!

Here are a few options to consider when looking for a Universal lens kit for your Android phone.

• VicTsing 3-in-1 lens
• Godzilla Gear clip on cell phone camera lens
• Photojojo Magnetic lens series
• Aukey Ora lens
• Camkix Universal 3-in-1 cell phone camera kit

VicTsing 3-in-1 lens

This small lens may not seem like it packs a punch, but the VicTsing 3-in-1 clip-on lens brings a new creative element to your photos with three different phone photography perspectives.

To attach on the lens, simply secure the piece over your Android phone’s camera with its sturdy clip, adjust, and start shooting! You have the option to shoot with either a fisheye, wide-angle, or macro lens, so be sure to play around and experiment with different shots to see what you like best.

The lenses are made from high-quality, optical glass, while the clip’s design makes it easy to slide and adjust to fit different smartphone’s cameras for the perfect shot.

See at Amazon

Godzilla Gear clip-on cell phone camera lens

If you’re looking for a quick-clip camera option, then the Godzilla Gear clip-on cell phone camera lens may be an option to consider.

The lens comes with the common three pieces — fisheye, wide-angle, and macro — and works by clipping on to secure over your Android phone’s camera. While most clips are plain black, this one comes with a tiny Godzilla monster on it, while the lenses themselves are bright red.

The Gear clip-on also comes with a carrying case, so you won’t have to worry about them scratching in your pocket or bag. If you’re looking for fast-access to your lenses so you can shoot on the fly, you can even attach a keychain element to the clip to keep them easily accessible.

See at Amazon

Photojojo Magnetic lens series

While some people aren’t terribly fond of magnetic smartphone photography lenses because they don’t tend to stay on as well as clip-on or band lenses, there are plenty of upsides to them. They’re less bulky, typically quicker to attach to your smartphone, and with the Photojojo Magnetic lens series specifically, you have a lot of room to really get creative with your photography!

Unlike some other lenses on this list, the full Photojojo Magnetic lens series — which in total with a pouch cost around $99 — has more than your three standard lens options. The set comes with a wide and macro lens, a super fisheye and fisheye, a polarizer lens, and a telephoto piece.

The lenses are made from a durable aluminum material, so if they slip off accidentally, you won’t always have to worry about them cracking in an instant. The lens glass itself is also thick, and is made from a high quality, high-clarity glass.

See at Photojojo

Aukey Ora lens

Turn your Android phone into a powerful photography tool with the Aukey Ora lens, equipped with a 120-degree wide angle lens and a 15x, high definition macro lens!

The Ora lens is designed with a durable aluminum material and a multi-coated glass to reduce glare and reflections from ruining your photo. The clip that the Aukey comes with is made from a soft rubber, so it won’t scratch your Android as you adjust it to fit perfectly over your phone’s camera.

Not only is the Ora extremely well designed and built from high-quality materials, but the best part of the lens is its powerful 15x macro piece that allows you to capture even the finest of your subject’s details with crystal-clear clarity.

See at Amazon

Camkix Universal 3-in-1 cell phone camera kit

Clip on your Camkix Universal 3-in-1 cell phone camera kit to your Android phone, pick your lens, take aim, and start shooting phone photography masterpieces with this powerful, affordable, pocket-sized piece!

You can pick between shooting with a wide-angle lens, a fisheye piece, or a powerful macro lens; just unscrew the wide-angle on top to expose the macro below. With the Camkix, you also get a velvet carrying bag so your lenses don’t accidentally get damaged and scratched.

Unlike more phone lenses, the Camkix comes in a ton of fun colors to match and customize your Android phone. You can pick from black, blue, gold, purple, red, or silver.

See at Amazon

What do you think?

Are you a fan of using external lenses, or do you prefer to tweak your photos while editing? What are your favorite lenses to use? Do you think external lenses bring a clean, professional quality to your Android phone photography, or would you prefer to shoot on your own?

Let us know what you think in the comments below!

Samsung Galaxy S7 and S7 edge

• Galaxy S7 review
• Galaxy S7 edge review
• U.S. unlocked Galaxy S7
• Should you upgrade to the Galaxy S7?
• Best SD cards for Galaxy S7
• Join our Galaxy S7 forums

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Manage to get the £150 PS4 from Game? Think again.

You may have noticed Game and some other high street retailers were selling the original PlayStation 4 with a selection of games for £150 last week. It was a crazy offer that sent the participating retailer’s websites into meltdown as they struggled to cope with demand.

Unfortunately, Game had a bit of a nightmare as it couldn’t get the ‘Out of stock’ message up quick enough on its bundle of a PS4, Fifa ’17 and three month Now TV pass, so many customers have found they’ve been refunded their £150 as Game doesn’t have stock to fulfill orders.

But all is not lost, as the company is not only refunding the cost, but is giving the unlucky customers an offer they almost can’t refuse. Game is letting the affected customers keep the Now TV pass and offering a 500GB PlayStation 4 Slim, a copy of Fifa ’17, a second three month Now TV pass and a copy of Uncharted 4: A Thief’s End for £250.

To top it off, Game is also giving out a £20 voucher to use against the bundle, making it £230. Take off the £50 cost of Uncharted 4 and it effectively makes the bundle £170, which is seriously tempting.

Game issued a statement to Eurogamer, saying: “Unfortunately due to unprecedented demand, the PS4 bundle containing Fifa ’17 and a Now TV pass sold out extremely quickly and we were unable to fulfil a number of orders”.

“We’d like to apologise to customers affected and will be refunding orders in full. Any reward points used will be automatically credited back to accounts and customers will also keep the Now TV three month subscription free of charge. The bundle will not be available to purchase in the future”.

It’s a fantastic gesture from Game and a great way of making up for its unfortunate blunder. If you tried ordering the affected bundle, you may want to check your inbox to see if you can benefit from the new one.

Singapore wants a self-driving wheelchair by 2017

Singapore is pushing for businesses to develop an autonomous wheelchair that’ll convey people around without instruction. The announcement came from Mark Lim, the official in charge of the country’s digital services and commercial development division. According to GovInsider, the project is going to run until March 2017 and will harness computer vision, robotics and machine learning to ferry patients around hospitals. The report quotes Lim saying that “we have limited health care workers,” and that “nurses are more precious in doing their work […] than pushing them around in the wheelchair.”

Singapore GDS is building autonomous wheelchairs! #ilw16 pic.twitter.com/WRdCDK3wDy

— Joshua Chambers 🚀 (@chambersjosh) September 27, 2016

But this isn’t simply an issue of a savvy government looking for smart solutions to automation but a symptom of a wider malaise. A recent World Bank report detailed that across East Asia, countries like Singapore, South Korea and Japan are heading towards a serious aging crisis. That’s where an increasing proportion of the population is aged 65-or-over and requires extra medical care and support compared to their younger contemporaries.

People living longer, and having fewer kids, means that there’s an issue around being able to hire enough people to perform essential jobs. Not to mention, of course, that the tax base will inevitably shrink, reducing the money that’s available to pay them to do those jobs. That’s why these nations are casting an eye towards robotics, with Japan leading the way in automated care for the elderly. Of course, if you’ve seen Robot and Frank, you’ll know that using robots to help older people can only end one way: with a jewelry heist.

Source: GovInsider

Watch Blue Origin test its crew escape system on October 4th

Blue Origin is about to take an important step toward its first manned flights. Jeff Bezos and company are planning to test New Shepherd’s mid-flight escape system on October 4th, with a live stream beginning at 10:50AM Eastern. The firm promises that it will be “dramatic,” and that may not just be hyperbole. When the crew capsule fires its rocket to make a getaway, there’s a chance that it could damage the booster and prevent it from landing. That’s not a problem in a real emergency, but unfortunate if you’re hoping that this New Shepherd (which has flown four times before) will live to fly another day. This could be either wonderfully uneventful, full of explosions or a mixture of both — you’ll just have to watch to find out.

Via: The Verge

Source: Blue Origin (Twitter)

Apple SIM Partner AlwaysOnline Expands to U.S. and 28 More Countries, Launches New U.K. Plans

Otono Networks today announced that its global 4G LTE roaming network AlwaysOnline Wireless will be expanding to the United States and 28 additional countries, bringing its total number of countries covered to 74.

The other new countries are: Albania, Antigua & Barbuda, Azerbaijan, Cambodia, Cayman Islands, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Cyprus, Guam, Iceland, Jersey, Kenya, Kuwait, Macau, Malta, Mauritius, Moldova, Montenegro, Oman, Peru, Qatar, Serbia, Slovakia, Sri Lanka, Taiwan, Turkey, and Turks & Caicos Islands.

AlwaysOnline Wireless provides 4G LTE data by the hour, day, or megabyte, enabling owners of cellular iPads with Apple SIM to purchase short-term plans for on-demand access to high-speed data while traveling. Plans range from $0.99 per hour for 50MB to $59.99 for 5GB, valid for 15 days. All prices are in U.S. dollars.

Apple SIM, a special SIM card that works across multiple carriers, is included in cellular-enabled iPad Air 2, iPad mini 3, iPad mini 4, and iPad Pro models sold in the U.S., Australia, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the Netherlands, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Turkey, and the United Kingdom.

AlwaysOnline Wireless coverage map
AlwaysOnline launched in late 2015 in, among other places, Australia, Canada, France, Germany, Hong Kong, Italy, Mexico, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Russia, Singapore, Spain, Sweden, and the United Kingdom. In the U.S. and select other countries, plans are available to international travelers only — not residents.

Through a separate partnership with GigSky, Apple SIM is available in over 140 countries. Other Apple SIM partners include carriers AT&T, Sprint, and T-Mobile in the U.S., EE and Three in the United Kingdom, Deutsche Telekom in Germany, Three in Hong Kong, and au by KDDI and SoftBank in Japan.

Meanwhile, AlwaysOnline has introduced new 4G LTE plans in the U.K. offering 2-3 times more LTE data in the country. Prices range between approximately £0.37 per hour for 100MB and 5GB for £22.55, valid for 15 days. These plans will be available directly on cellular iPads through a new partnership with British carrier Three.

AlwaysOnline Wireless data plans can be purchased on compatible iPads by tapping Settings > Cellular Data > Set Up Cellular Data. No Wi-Fi connection is needed to purchase a plan. iOS 9.1 or later is required.

Tags: Apple SIM, AlwaysOnline Wireless
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Your Android phone isn’t safe, it could soon lose the headphone jack too

Android users may have laughed in the face of Apple when Cupertino announced it was removing the 3.5mm headphone jack from the iPhone 7 and iPhone 7 Plus, but those sniggles may be short-lived.

• Apple iPhone 7 review
• Apple iPhone 7 Plus review

The USB Implementers Forum, an organisation set up to promote all things USB, has published a new Audio Device 3.0 specification, which would let manufacturers use the USB Type-C port to output audio.

The Forum even says the intentions of the new specification is to do such a thing, saying “device manufacturers can eliminate the need for multiple ports and efficiently deliver data, power and video over a single connector with USB Type-C”,

“USB Audio over USB Type-C allows OEMs to remove the 3.5mm analog audio jack, shaving up to a millimeter off product designs and reducing the number of connectors on a device”.

Audio could potentially sound better if it’s sent through the USB port as it could be passed through dedicated DACs built into headphones, such as the Audeze Sine and iSine. It would also improve water resistance on smartphones and open a “door to innovation” for other features.

• Samsung next to ditch 3.5mm headphone jack
• Audeze Sine review: When Lightning strikes

But just because the USB Implementers Forum has published this new specification, it doesn’t mean Android smartphone manufacturers have to abide by it. Some could stick with the much-loved 3.5mm output, while others, such as Samsung, could introduce their own port instead.

New littleBits kit finally adds Bluetooth module

Like everything else in our world, toys are getting more sophisticated and connected. Makers of Lego-like robotics kits littleBits has a whole bunch of DIY sets and has just launched an updated version of its Gizmos & Gadgets kit that includes a wireless Bluetooth Low Energy module. This lets you communicate with or control the robots you create from your phone or tablet, via the company’s new Invent app. The Gizmos & Gadgets Kit 2nd edition is now available for $200.

Like its predecessor, the new edition of the kit includes the parts and instructions for a bubble blowing bot, a wireless rover and arcade games. The pre-production box I received came with 13 modules — what littleBits calls “bits.” There are two DC motors, two Bluetooth bits, a buzzer, a fan, a light sensor, a wire bit, a power module and a slide dimmer that you can mix and match to build your own gadget. You’ll also get wheels, mounting boards, adhesive shoes and screw drivers, along with an invention guide and seven project templates to help get you going.

The new Bluetooth capabilities adds a whole new realm of interactivity to the projects, since you can use not only your phone’s touch screen for controls, but also the camera and gyroscope as well. So you can tilt your phone around to maneuver your crawling inchworm or DIY arcade game. One of the included projects, called Photobooth Controller, lets you remotely snap pictures from your device’s camera. The bits are all reusable, so you can remake them into an invention that suits your fancy whenever you tire of your old project.