ASUS ZenFone 3 Max (ZC553KL) review

ASUS has a crowded ZenFone line-up, but the company buckets its offerings in well-rounded categories. Like the ZenFone Max, with a focus on marathon battery life.

However, since last year with the launch of ZenFone 3 portfolio, the Taiwanese company has upped the ante in design and positioning and instead of focusing on hardware specifications, aims to bring premium experience to its users. That also means that most of their latest phones are not exactly run-of-the-mill value-for-money devices, but differentiate themselves in design, camera, battery life, etc.

ASUS launched the first ZenFone Max in 2015, and while it delivered on its USP of long battery life, it brought nothing else to the table. The follow-up version had more memory and faster processor, but both devices were chunky plastic smartphones that didn’t impress many.

However, the ZenFone 3 Max (ZC553KL) aims to change that with a well-rounded smartphone experience coupled with premium design, while continuing the focus on battery life. Is ASUS third time lucky with the Max? Let’s find out. 

Design

ASUS has finally brought an all-metal design to the ZenFone series, later than when most people would’ve liked. Even entry-level budget smartphones in 2016 boasted of an all-metal design. Better late than never, though. There’s nothing extraordinary about the design, but neither is it run-of-the-mill.

The homogenous design language of the ZenFone series is apparent, a premium one at that, bringing the flagship design to the budget smartphone. It is well-built and the aluminum chassis gives it a solid feel. It’s not very slippery, yet, since it is an all-metal phone, you’d have to get used to the smoothness and take care of the phone slipping out of the hand.

Unlike the original ZenFone Max, this one is not a brick and neither does it sport big bezels (it could’ve had even smaller bezels though, on top and bottom) and boasts of a pretty good 73 per cent screen-to-body ratio. It’s not very slim at 8.33mm, and at 175 grams, it’s not the lightest smartphone out there. Yet it is one of the lighter phones to pack a big battery and a large display, and you wouldn’t feel the heft lugging it around. Also, the gradual curves and rounded corners make it a very comfortable and ergonomic phone to hold, and it is easily pocketable unless you can’t stand larger smartphones.

Display

The ZenFone 3 Max sports a 5.5-inch Full HD IPS display with a pixel density of 401 ppi. The display is sharp and the 400 nits brightness is very good, offering great sunlight visibility.

The contrast ratio is not exceptional though, and if you’re a fan of vibrant, and even over-saturated AMOLED displays, like I am, this one is just average. Viewing angles on the phone are, however, quite good. There is a little color shift when viewing it from extreme angles, but that’s the case with most smartphones.

Performance

Powered by a 1.4Ghz Qualcomm Snapdragon 430 processor paired with 3GB of RAM, the ZenFone 3 Max chugs along nicely while multitasking offering a smooth Android experience.

However, if you stress the hardware, the phone tends to stutter a bit. You’d be unable to play graphic-intensive games at maxed-out settings and experience frequent frame-drops. Interestingly, it never gets too hot to handle even when the performance is stretched to its modest limits. However, you’d experience some lag in navigation and switching between apps in that case.

Clearly, the device is geared towards casual smartphone users – and that is where it excels. However, I think the company could squeeze some extra juice from its internals with better software optimization. Some other phones in the market tend to offer smoother experience with similar hardware specifications.

Of course, the pièce de résistance of the ZenFone 3 Max is its long battery life. There has been a drop in the battery capacity of the Max this time around (to go away from that chunky size), however, the 4100 mAh battery – with the hardware it packs and the software optimizations that ASUS has done – still manages to offer phenomenal battery life. With basic to moderate usage, I was easily able to get two days battery life on the phone, which is quite good. You can stretch that, and coupled with power saving features, can even squeeze more than that!

Hardware

The ZenFone 3 Max comes with 32GB of internal memory, further expandable by up to 128GB via a microSD card slot. The dual SIM smartphones features a hybrid slot, so you can either use the second SIM or the microSD card, but not both.

The phone supports reverse charging, and can be used to charge other devices via OTG. There’s a bundled OTG adapter in the box. For a smartphone with a focus on battery life, it’s a shame that it doesn’t support fast charging. It ships with a regular charger, which takes painfully long to charge the big battery completely.

The fingerprint scanner can be used to answer incoming calls, launch the camera app, or take a picture, but is not quick enough. While the recognition is just fine, the authentication is a tad slow or requires slight pressure of the finger. Also, the capacitive keys on the front are not backlit. Of course, with impulse you get used to tapping the finger or thumb at the right place but sometimes it gets a tad annoying, especially in the dark or when you’re not holding the phone as you do usually.

Camera

The ZenFone 3 Max sports a 16-megapixel rear camera with f/2.0 aperture, Phase Detection Autofocus and laser auto-focus, Electronic Image Stabilization for shooting videos, and dual-LED flash.

Outdoors in daylight, the camera performs very well and takes sharp pictures with good details. The color reproduction is mostly accurate. Although the pictures are generally noise-free, zooming them reveals pixilation which is more pronounced when I viewed them on a 40-inch display. For most people though, who just share photos on social media, this shouldn’t be a problem.

Indoors or in low-light conditions, the night mode is a mixed bag. Some of the shots give great results, better than auto mode, however, several times, they’d end up very noisy with messed up metering.

The camera focusses nicely and quickly, although there is a definite shutter lag and often I’d end up with a blurry photo when I was attempting to take a shot of a moving subject.

On the front, there is an 8-megapixel camera with f/2.2 aperture that manages to click detailed selfies even in tricky lighting.

The camera app on the Zenfone 3 Max is the same as on the company’s flagship ZenFone 3 smartphone. While the options are great to tinker around, including a manual mode, the camera on the ZenFone 3 Max is just above average.

Software

The ASUS ZenFone 3 runs Android 6.0.1 Marshmallow out of the box with the new version of the company’s proprietary ZenUI 3.0 on top of it. Virtually, every nook and corner of the Android experience gets a fresh coat of paint.

Right up, that’s a good thing. The older versions of ZenUI were plagued with bloatware and gimmicky UI elements that marred the overall user experience. The latest version is a complete makeover, and offers a clean UI with subtle animations. There are several nifty utilities, but there’s still a plethora of ASUS-branded apps that I’ve hardly seen anyone using really. Unfortunately, only a few of these can be uninstalled and while you can disable most others, they still occupy storage space on your phone.

ZenUI 3.0 features an app drawer, and there’s a built-in search functionality. You can swipe down the screen and search the Web or your apps and contacts, and view your frequently used apps. There’s an all-new Theme Store from which users can download free as well as paid themes, wallpapers, icons, and ringtones to customize their smartphone.

One of the neat features of the ZenUI is ZenMotion which allows configuring a variety of touch and motion gestures like double tap to wake or flipping the phone when you get an incoming call to enable silent mode. It also allows you to enable the one-handed mode that shrinks the display to one corner of the screen for easy, one-handed usage when you’re on the move.

Of course, the most useful app from the entire ZenUI suite is the Mobile Manager. With slick animations and intuitive UI, the app offers quick ways to free RAM and storage space, and manage apps as well as app permissions. It’s a sort of one-stop destination for managing your phone’s performance.

The latest version of ZenUI on the ZenFone 3 is fluid and aims to offer stock Android-like experience while adding additional functionalities. And, it succeeds in doing that. It’s one of the better UIs out there in terms of ease of use and feels polished. Better internals would’ve made it even smoother on the ZenFone 3 Max. But the excess of bloatware is disappointing, and shows that the company has learnt nothing from similar criticism in the past.

Specifications

Gallery

Pricing and final thoughts

The ZenFone 3 Max aims to pimp up the Max range with a premium design. It succeeds there, but there’s little else.

Like the entire ZenFone lineup, the ASUS ZenFone 3 is a decent smartphone. However, even with the premium pitch, there’s no stand out factor running for it. It looks good on paper, but the real-world performance is limited – and would only meet the demands of less discerning users. Yes, there’s the fantastic battery life, and that’s the sole reason one should go for this device. Else, even looking within, there are better ZenFone siblings around.

ASUS isn’t officially selling the ZenFone 3 Max in the US, but in India, the device is priced at ₹17,999 ($265) – a tad higher than what everyone would’ve liked. At this price, it feels a little out of place. What do you think of the ZenFone 3 Max, and do you plan to buy one? Let us know your views in the comments below!

Best apps for learning a language

Rosetta Stone delivers a solid foundation for learning a new language.

Best overall

Learn languages: Rosetta Stone

See at Store

Rosetta Stone is already well known as a great way to begin learning a new language, but you may not have realized that it was available on your phone. With access to 28 different languages, a slow and steady pace that is great for building up your confidence, and optional live-tutoring, there is a reason that Rosetta Stone is king when it comes to language learning apps. Whether you’re aiming to learn for fun, or you want to become fluent, this is a great place to start. This program will let you learn how to speak, write and read in a new language, with an emphasis on building confidence in pronunciation and the ability to sync progress across your desktop or mobile device.

Bottom line: Rosetta Stone delivers an excellent foundation for learning a new language with a program that focuses on practical conversational skills. With the addition of teaching you how to read, write, and listen for a rounded experience.

One more thing: While you do have to pay for the full version, you can access the first module of any language for free to try it out.

Why Rosetta Stone is the best

Rosetta Stone makes sure that the fundamentals are pounded into your head and offers features that make sure you’re confident about what you’re hearing, saying, and writing.

When it comes to language apps, Rosetta Stone may already be the first software you think of. There’s good reason for that too. For years Rosetta Stone has dominated language learning on PC and it’s mobile version is just as solid. While getting access to the full program is a bit pricy, if you’ll motivated to really learn a new language it’s worth the hit to your wallet in the long run.

Jill Duffy of PCMag gave it high marks for a foundation in a new language.

“Rosetta Stone is a wonderful, polished, and technically competent language-learning program, especially for beginners who are looking to build a foundation of knowledge on their own time.”

While Rosetta Stone does have it’s limitations, for those without a background in the language they’re trying to learn, this is the most solid all around program. While it can be repetitive, that’s to make sure that your new vocabulary sticks in your brain. At higher levels you’ll also be able to read to the program while it listens to your pronunciation. Additionally it employs games likes bingo to help your association between individual words and their meanings.

One of the biggest perks to Rosetta Stone is how they introduce everything. Immersion is the key to learning with Rosetta Stone, combined with deductive reasoning. At time you’ll need to guess a new word, but it’s made easier by giving you choices of other words that you’ve already learned.

Best free

Duolingo

See at Store

While price isn’t an option for some people, if you’re looking for the best way to begin learning a new language on a budget then Duolingo is definitely the best bet. This free app has access to 20 different languages to learn from Vietnamese and Irish to Spanish and German. Unlike most other programs, Duolingo employs XP and leaderboards so that you can learn with your friends and turns language into a game to be played.

Each language is a little bit different, and the more popular languages do have access to far more module lessons. Each one starts out the same though. You’ll deal with the basics before moving on to phrases and language specific lessons. The leaderboards will show you which friends on facebook use the app and will let you compete against each other. By completing modules you’ll also earn EXP and Lingots which you can use to purchase extra modules. If you’re learning with friends, you can also start clubs which allows you to turn learning a language into a group activity.

Bottom line: Duolingo makes learning a language fun, and with it’s social aspects it’s easy to learn a language with friends. Absolutely free, you never need to pay a penny in order to learn everything it has to offer.

One more thing: Duolingo also allows people coming back to a language to test past the basics and jump right back into learning new content.

Best for the rest

Babbel

See at Store

If you’re looking for a solid middle of the road option for learning a new language, then Babbel ought to be your go to. It offers a subscription for access to the full catalog, but it isn’t nearly as expensive as picking up a copy of Rosetta Stone. Each language is made up of a variety of courses from beginning vocabulary to grammar and writing in the language you are learning.

Each lesson must be downloaded to your phone, but they only take a moment or two and then you can properly jump in. Those lessons are also fairly short, making them easy to rock through when you’re sitting on the train during your commute. There are currently 14 languages in the Babbel arsenal, from Spanish to Brazilian Portugese.

Bottom line: Babbel offers an affordable middle of the road option for learning a new language. There are 14 different languages available, with plenty of courses to get you working towards fluency in a new language.

One more thing: Each language must be downloaded as a different app, which can be a bit bulky if you download more than one at a time.

Best overall

Learn languages: Rosetta Stone

See at Store

Rosetta Stone is already well known as a great way to begin learning a new language, but you may not have realized that it was available on your phone. With access to 28 different languages, a slow and steady pace that is great for building up your confidence, and optional live-tutoring, there is a reason that Rosetta Stone is king when it comes to language learning apps. Whether you’re aiming to learn for fun, or you want to become fluent, this is a great place to start. This program will let you learn how to speak, write and read in a new language, with an emphasis on building confidence in pronunciation and the ability to sync progress across your desktop or mobile device.

Bottom line: Rosetta Stone delivers an excellent foundation for learning a new language with a program that focuses on practical conversational skills. With the addition of teaching you how to read, write, and listen for a rounded experience.

One more thing: While you do have to pay for the full version, you can access the first module of any language for free to try it out.

How to fix voice search problems on Gear VR

How do I enable voice search for my Gear VR?

When it comes to browsing the web in VR, Samsung has made it easier than most with the Samsung Internet app for Gear VR. The ability to surf the web and watching anything you come across is generally pretty easy, though reading isn’t always the best experience.

A key part of this experience is voice search, making it so you don’t have to type every character out by pointing your face at a key on a virtual keyboard. On occasion, this feature can become interrupted by other apps on your phone. Thankfully it’s an easy fix, and one that can be handled in just a few minutes.

Read more at VR Heads!

Best legal add-ons for Kodi

Kodi has a ton of quality — and legal — content available.

Kodi is one of the easiest ways to cut the cord and say adios to your monthly cable bill. Formerly XMBC, Kodi is a front end that streams media. It’s also super easy to install on just about anything that runs Android. Even if it’s Android in name only, like Fire OS on the Amazon Fire TV stick. If it can install and run Android apps, you can install Kodi.

Installing Kodi is only the first step, though. A media streamer doesn’t do much without media to stream. Setting up your own storage space and connecting it to your Kodi install is easy, but there’s a whole internet out there filled with media to stream. You just have to know where to start.

YouTube

Of course, YouTube is on our best list. YouTube is a free service where anyone can upload media. That means some of it is the worst media you can imagine, but there are also plenty of gems you can stream to your TV using the YouTube Addon. And installing it is simple.

• Open the settings and click the icon labeled Add-ons.
• Depending on the version of Kodi you’re running, you’ll see an icon that says Install from repository or Get add-ons. Click it.
• Choose the Kodi Add-on repository
• Under Video Add-ons you’ll see YouTube listed. Click it to install.

Twitch

I love Twitch. I don’t know why, but watching interesting people stream interesting games or other non-gaming content is almost as fun as playing them. And the Twitch add-on for Kodi is a great way to watch them.

It’s easy to navigate and use, even with a remote if you don’t have a keyboard. It also supports your account login and you can chat and spam Kappa just like you can from a PC. Though you might want a keyboard for that. But seriously, check out Paul and the gang from Windows Central on Twitch and tell them kappa sent you!

Installing Twitch is done the same way as the YouTube add-on above, Just search Twitch instead of YouTube.

The list

Instead of writing out hundreds of great add-ons through the official Kodi repository, I’ll direct you to the master list. You’ll find names you know like Hulu and Netflix as well as networks and programming you have never heard of. Every one of these add-ons is also 100% legal and above the board — nobody from your ISP is going to be sending you a nastygram.

You’ll install any of them the same way, right through the settings app on your Kodi box.

Official Kodi Video Add-ons

Our next three add-ons either aren’t listed in the official Kodi repository or are updated so often it’s better to get them from another source that’s quicker to add the new content. We’ll be using SuperRepo to install them.

Not everything at SuperRepo can make our legal list, but these are fine.

SuperRepo has tons of add-ons for Kodi. Some, like these, are completely on the level. Others fall into that gray murky area where ownership and copyright aren’t clear. That means you need to be careful and not just install every add-on that catches your eye if you want to comply with rules and laws.

And you really should comply with laws. Following even stupid laws you hate is a great way to stay out of trouble. But if you do dive in where words like legal don’t apply, use a VPN. DComcast or Time Warner or whoever you get your internet from is watching you.

To install the SuperRepo repository:

• In the System category, open the File Manager.
• Click the Add source icon.
• Click the list (it might say “none”) to open a text box where you can add a new source.
• Type http://srp.nu in the text box, and give it the name SuperRepo. Click Done.

Now you’ll see Super Repo in your file manager. The files you see will all install an add-on just by clicking on them.

USTVNow

This is the first one to find in your new SuperRepo source. USTVNow is an online version of the cable channels you’ll find through your cable company. CNN, NBC, Cartoon Network and a ton more are available and you’ll always be able to find something to watch. You’ll also find USTVNow in the official Kodi repository, but for faster updates and all-around better service, we recommend using the SuperRepo source.

USTVNow (the name is a clue) is for people in the U.S. only and requires an account. You can set that up, as well as stream to your computer, at USTVNow.com.

FilmOn TV

FilmOn TV is a service that offers both free and premium content. Good, current content. Whether you’re looking for UFC matches, catch up on your favorite cable show or watch a-list movies you’ll find them at FilmOn TV. You can also watch over 600 live TV channels or set up a recording to watch a show at your leisure. Paired with USTVNow, FilmON TV makes cord-cutting easy.

You will need to set up an account at FilmOn.com.

Dbmc (Dropbox)

Dbmc isn’t a full Dropbox client. It’s a way to view or listen to stuff in your Dropbox. You can be boring and productive while looking at TPS reports or you can watch any video you have collected and uploaded into Dropbox. It’s also a great way to build a slideshow of your photos on the big screen.

Dbmc is also available through the official Kodi repository, but we’ve found the SuperRepo version to be quicker on the updates.

Of course, you need a Dropbox account.

If you’re using Kodi and have a favorite of your own that’s nto on our list, shout out in the comments so everyone can check it out!

ICYMI: A soft robot sleeve to keep your heart going

Today on In Case You Missed It: A soft robotic device made by Harvard and Boston Children’s Hospital researchers has been tested on pigs and so far, seems quite promising in treating heart disease. The robotic heart wraps around parts of existing tissue and helps squeeze, keeping the blood moving. But unlike other existing devices that are inserted into the heart, this just goes over the top. Its makers believe that will lead to better outcomes for patients that use it, since cycling blood through a medical device can lead to all kinds of complications, from infection to blood clots. No word yet on when they’ll begin tests in humans.

The video about the wearable solar cell collector is here and if I can recommend one good read, let it be the e-waste surge in Asia the last five years.

Programming Note: I’ll be out for the next six weeks to recover from a shoulder surgery, so please enjoy the talented fill-ins. The show will be cut back to two episodes a week in my absence. But because of the marvels of pre-planning, you can still see me in Engadget’s newest show, The Future IRL. It premieres on Tuesday.

As always, please share any interesting tech or science videos you find by using the #ICYMI hashtag on Twitter for @engadget or @mskerryd.

Obama’s legacy: The most tech-savvy president

When Barack Obama moved into the White House on January 20th, 2009, the federal government was in the digital dark ages. Even as late as 2011, he was complaining that the White House was 30 years behind. Among other things, Obama was the first president to carry a BlackBerry, and even so, it wasn’t until 2016 that the leader of the free world was finally able to trade in his aging RIM device for a modern smartphone. And, as the president was quick to point out in an interview with Jimmy Fallon, the unnamed phone is so locked down, it’s like one of those “play phones” you’d give to a 3-year-old.

Despite these hurdles, Obama made it one of his priorities to modernize the federal government on everything from telecommunications policy to White House IT. He tackled infrastructure, STEM education, net neutrality and climate change in serious and substantive ways. Of course, the president’s efforts weren’t always a rousing success, and on issues involving privacy, spying and drone usage, he faces lingering criticism from both ends of the political spectrum.

But, love him or hate him, for better or worse, when it comes to science and technology, Barack Obama has had a bigger impact than almost any president in history.

Spreading his message

In 2008, the political establishment still hadn’t figured out the Internet. But Obama saw the power of social networking early on. His campaign built the grassroots organizing platform My.BarackObama.com, which was sort of a mashup of Meetup.com and MySpace, with some fundraising tools bolted on. These days, the internet is the cornerstone of any political campaign. And it’s not just about raising money through a well-designed website; it’s about Twitter and Reddit AMAs and Snapchat. Obama’s 2008 march to the White House was the first major political operation to truly embrace the web.

After taking office, he continued to push the boundaries of how the government, and especially the White House, used the internet. He was quick to embrace the relatively young Twitter, and convinced the government to secure @POTUS for whoever the sitting president is. He posted weekly video addresses to the nation on the White House website and even started streaming the State of the Union.

In January 2016, Engadget dubbed him “the White House’s first social media ninja,” and we’re not backing down from that claim. While it may seem like a no-brainer that a president and his administration would rely on the same digital tools as the citizenry, he was still the first. The first on Facebook, YouTube, Twitter, Reddit, Tumblr … you get the idea. He even embraced the medium of GIFs. (He pronounces that word with a hard g, by the way — possibly a more controversial subject than even the Affordable Care Act.) After Obama, expectations about the how the president interacts with the public have forever changed.

The internet

Seeing as how the internet was crucial to getting Obama elected and helping spread his message of “hope and change,” it’s not surprising that he made broadband a major priority. Right off the bat, the president set aside billions of dollars to invest in improving the quality and reach of high-speed internet. The FCC’s National Broadband Plan, developed during Obama’s first term, set a goal of giving all Americans access to “robust broadband services” by 2020.

There’s still room for improvement on that front. In 2010, when the plan was passed, roughly 60 percent of households had wired broadband service, according to Pew Research. In 2015, that figure was up to 67 percent, though another 13 percent of Americans said they relied entirely on mobile broadband on their smartphones. According to the FCC, 6 percent of Americans still don’t have access to high-speed internet, particularly in rural and tribal areas of the country.

The growing importance of wireless wasn’t lost on Obama either. His administration quickly put forward a plan to free up spectrum for cellular providers and invested in 4G technologies for rural areas. And just last year, the White House and the FCC took proactive steps to establish guidelines for next-generation wireless networks, or 5G.

While expanding the reach of broadband was priority number one, President Obama also sought to preserve net neutrality. The notion that all traffic on the internet should be treated equally, so long as it doesn’t violate any laws, turned out to be surprisingly controversial.

The FCC started with some limited rules in 2010 that basically made nobody happy, but by 2015 the agency and the White House were pushing to reclassify broadband access under Title II, meaning it would be subject to the same regulations and protections as other utilities. In June of that year, the new rules went into effect, guaranteeing that (almost) all internet traffic would be treated exactly the same. Those rules are increasingly important as the media landscape consolidates. For example: Comcast delivers broadband internet and pay TV, but it also owns NBCUniversal. The FCC’s net neutrality regulations say that Comcast can’t give content from MSNBC priority over that from HBO or Netflix.

Consumer protection and data rights

The Obama administration wasn’t blind to the dangers of the internet, however. As the power of companies to collect data on customers and track them grew, pressure mounted from consumer and privacy advocacy groups to put protections in place. In 2012, the White House threw its weight behind an online bill of rights as well as the Do Not Track web standard, which lets consumers opt out of tracking cookies that serve up customized ads. Several bills of this nature were introduced in the House and Senate between 2011 and 2012, but all of them failed to pass. Despite that, the public attention led Microsoft, Mozilla and Google to build tools into their browsers that made it easier for consumers to opt out of personalized ads. Still, the reality is somewhat complicated, since the company serving up the ads would also need to honor the “do not track” request.

In 2014, the White House resurrected the idea of a Consumer Privacy Bill of Rights, following a probe into the NSA’s data-gathering practices (more on that later). It called for a sweeping overhaul of the Electronic Communications and Privacy Act (ECPA), which was passed in 1986 and was woefully out of date. The proposed reforms included putting an end to mining student email accounts to serve up targeted ads and requiring more explicit consent from customers to use their data.

Of course, as with many ideas proposed in the later stages of Obama’s tenure as president, Congress failed to make them a reality. Here too, though, public pressure forced some companies to take (limited) action on their own. Still, without clear laws on the books regarding things like notification of breaches, many companies continue to act against the interests of their customers and keep the details of hacks and data leaks secret.

While it was often difficult for the administration to enact meaningful reform to protect consumer privacy, Obama was unafraid to use the FTC’s existing powers and the bully pulpit to the best of his ability. And, when possible, he turned to executive actions, especially during his second term. For example, in 2013 he signed a series of actions aimed at protecting consumers and small businesses from patent trolls.

Surveillance and the NSA

The Obama administration at least paid lip service to protecting the privacy and data of Americans from companies and hackers, but when it came to the government, things were a little different. Obama presided over the most expansive domestic spying program in the country’s history. The details of the bulk metadata collection and internet traffic-gathering programs are alarming. And the scope is large enough that we can barely scratch the surface in this story.

Many of these NSA spying programs began under his predecessor, but under Obama’s administration these efforts only grew. If you’ve ever ignored instructions to turn off your phone on a flight, any calls you’ve made have been tracked by the NSA. Even as recently as 2015, the White House was expanding the agency’s ability to monitor internet traffic.

While courts, the White House and Congress have placed some limits on the NSA’s ability to collect data on citizens, overall its abilities to spy haven’t been hampered. That is especially true when it comes to citizens of foreign nations. And while the NSA spied on foreign citizens and leaders, it also spent plenty of time monitoring ordinary Americans and even Congress.

Between PRISM, Boundless Informant, Co-Traveler, XKeyscore and SKYNET, the US government built probably the largest networks of spying tools ever seen. It did this by tapping directly into the servers of the largest internet companies. And in some cases it allegedly convinced these companies to work with the government.

At this point, the NSA and the Obama White House have set an expectation regarding spying, both foreign and domestic. It’s a precedent other countries and his successor are likely to follow.

Space and science

During his campaign in 2008, Barack Obama talked a lot about science and rational thought. But even his own advisers were surprised by how much he embraced science. He pledged in 2009 to “restore science to its rightful place.” By most accounts, he quickly did just that, by naming the director of the Office of Science and Technology Policy (OSTP) to the rank of assistant to the president. He was not the first to do so, but during the Bush administration, the OSTP was not given the same level priority. According to the New York Times, Obama’s science advisory committee has been the most active in history, launching 34 different studies during his tenure.

One of his first executive orders lifted the ban on federal funding for embryonic stem cell research. The practice is a controversial one, but both scientists and doctors believe that stem cells could hold the key to curing countless diseases, from Parkinson’s to cancer, and could even be used to treat physical injuries, including spinal cord damage.

At the same time, the president signed a memorandum instructing the OSTP to “develop a strategy for restoring scientific integrity to government decision-making.” He made it clear from moment one that empirical evidence would be the driving force behind his administration’s decisions.

“Ensuring that the US continues to lead the world in science and technology will be a central priority for my administration.” —Barack Obama

The administration oversaw the revitalization of NASA, and a surprise increase in the agency’s budget. While the space shuttle program came to a close in 2011, NASA is working on a new space vehicle of its own and has partnered with private companies on other spacecraft. When Obama took office in 2009, the idea of a commercial space flight seemed relatively far-fetched. It was just six months before his inauguration when SpaceX became the first private company to reach orbit, and now it’s running resupply missions to the ISS.

The president and Joe Biden also made a point of identifying the next “moonshots” — grand projects like the BRAIN initiative and Cancer Moonshot Task Force. These programs pumped billions of dollars into mapping the human mind and advancing neuroscience, and battling cancer, respectively. Just before he left office, Obama pledged millions to research artificial intelligence and to work with industry leaders to ensure it’s a force for positive change.

Climate change

Nowhere has Obama’s approach to science been more clear than on climate change. But this is also one of the areas where his legacy may be short-lived. As we’ve discussed before, much of the work done by the Obama White House can easily be undone by the incoming administration, including the Clean Power Plan and it could refuse to comply with the Paris Agreement.

By his second term, Obama was increasingly reliant on executive orders to accomplish his goals. So, while a 40 percent cut in greenhouse gas emissions by the federal government within the next decade sounds significant, the truth is that efforts like these aren’t likely to endure. And it’s still unclear if his decision to protect large swaths of the continental shelf from offshore drilling, under a 1953 law, will survive legal challenges.

That being said, during his time as president, Obama did manage to make some lasting impact. He argued recently in an essay for Science that clean energy has “irreversible momentum,” and that may be true. In the past eight years, his policies have helped turn wind, solar and other renewable forms of energy into big business. Federal investment in R&D and tougher regulations have accelerated the move toward clean energy and electric cars. The Department of Energy even loaned Tesla $465 million.

New presidents may reduce regulations and increase reliance on fossil fuels, but they won’t be able to roll back an entire industry.

STEM

With all the work to be done in science and technology, it’s clear that one of the priorities would need to be training future engineers, researchers and programmers. The White House invested plenty of government resources in STEM education, pushing for computer programming classes in high schools and encouraging teachers to provide hands-on learning opportunities.

But more important, Obama used his stature to draw attention to science, technology and astronomy. He hosted an entire week of programming on the Science Channel, guest-edited Wired and recorded an introduction for the prime-time reboot of Cosmos with Neil deGrasse Tyson. In short, he helped make science cool again and even became the first president to write a computer program.

“If you win the NCAA championship, you come to the White House. Well, if you’re a young person and you produce the best experiment or design, the best hardware or software, you ought to be recognized for that achievement, too.” —Barack Obama

The White House became home to an annual science fair and mini Maker Faires where the president geeked out with kids of all ages, as well as celebrities like Bill Nye and LeVar Burton. Projects on display ranged from efforts to program complex neural networks to marshmallow guns and artificial legs.

Modernizing the government

Just three months into his first term, Barack Obama appointed America’s first chief technology officer, Aneesh Chopra. This new position within the OSTP focused on helping the White House leverage data and new technologies to improve government efficiency and effectiveness. The creation of the CTO position was an attempt to bring something of a Silicon Valley mind-set to the federal government.

Chopra and Obama quickly made efforts to modernize the executive branch. That involved opening up data to be shared between agencies and with the American public. Suddenly, machine-readable government information was readily available to anyone interested in building an app or performing research. APIs available through data.gov made it easy for companies to tap into this wealth of information to improve everything from real estate search results to calorie-counting apps.

In 2014, Obama also formed the United States Digital Service, which is essentially a consulting agency within the Executive Office that helps other federal agencies. USDS offers guidance on IT, connects departments with outside contractors and generally helps improve public-facing federal websites.

The White House and the Commerce Department also embraced the concept of “big data” and added chief data scientist positions. These new roles focused on turning the vast amounts of information being collected by the government into actionable policy.

These were not the only roles President Obama established with a focus on taking on the challenges of an increasingly digital world. He, along with the Pentagon, created several cybersecurity-specific positions within the administration. Proposals have even been floated to elevate Cyber Command to the same status as other military combatant commands, such as the Pacific Command and United States Central Command. And, as he leaves office, Obama hands over a comprehensive new cybersecurity plan for his successor. (Though it’s unlikely the new administration will embrace it.)

In eight years, Barack Obama left an indelible mark on our federal government and our country. Some of his efforts on climate change and his heavy investment in science won’t continue under the new president. But the White House Donald Trump is taking over is far more modern and agile than the one inherited by his predecessor. It’s also one with far more tools and data at its disposal.

It’s safe to say that part of Obama’s legacy will be as the most tech-savvy president in history. A title he’ll likely keep for at least the next four years.

Images: Joshua Lott via Getty Images (Lead image); Reuters (Tom Wheeler); D. Thomas Magee (Yahoo illustration); ASSOCIATED PRESS (NSA protest); NASA’s Marshall Space Flight Center/Flickr (ISS in orbit); REUTERS (smokestacks); Adela Loconte via Getty Images (US CTO, Megan Smith).

The Morning After: Weekend Edition

Letter from the Editor

It’s official. Welcome to Trump’s America, everybody.

And while there were plenty of eyes on the president-elect’s questionable cabinet choices this past week, Obama still managed to make some headlines of his own. Among them was his decision to commute Chelsea Manning’s prison term, which shaved 28 years off the original sentence she got for giving hundreds of thousands of classified documents to WikiLeaks. Chelsea’s status as a transgender woman at a male prison — and the dangers to her safety that entails — doubtless was a prime motivator for the pardon. Still, the outgoing POTUS may have also hoped that Julian Assange, founder of WikiLeaks, will now make good on his promise to agree to US extradition if Manning was ever granted clemency. If it works out, it’ll be quite the White Housewarming gift from one president to another.

Obama’s handing off a fairly well-oiled economy to Trump, too. You can expect that in a successful consumer economy, companies will utilize increasingly refined forms of advertising. Sean Buckley found himself captivated and entertained by the intricate weaving of product placement and gameplay in Final Fantasy XV. Meanwhile, Jess Conditt wrote about the challenges faced by LiquidSky and its new ad-based free game-streaming service. And finally, Mona Lalwani was focused on another, less commercially sophisticated part of the world, where MasterCard Labs is bringing mobile banking and financial tools to Kenyan farmers.

How can it possibly compete with real life?‘House of Cards’ season five arrives March 30th

Earlier this week Netflix announced its longest-running original series wouldn’t arrive until spring, but it saved a little something for inauguration day. A brief teaser brings back some familiar imagery, but for the next couple of months. we’ll have to get our political drama from the things that are actually happening.

Twitter says the issue ‘is being resolved’Unfollowing @POTUS could be difficult right now

This transition of power is the first one to happen fully within the era of social media, and the shift has had some unexpected hiccups. The plan is to archive Obama administration @POTUS, @FLOTUS and @VP tweets on new accounts while creating new accounts with those names for Trump administration individuals that retain existing followers. The only problem, however, is that people who unfollowed (or in some cases apparently never followed) those accounts suddenly found themselves dragged (back) in while the process worked itself out.

New Spring Break location?NASA’s Curiosity rover finds new water evidence in possible cracked mud

A cracked Martian rock slab may have just provided the first proof of mud found by Curiosity. The rover has already departed from “Old Soaker,” but scientists are still poring over its data to find evidence of ancient lakes.

The Wiimote rides againThe heart of Nintendo’s new console is in your hands

A docking tablet may form the brain of Nintendo’s new Switch, but as Mat Smith explains, its “peculiar and cool” Joy-Con controllers are the heart that will draw you in. While it may not have the power for super-sharp 4K (or even 1080p) gaming, Nintendo is once again going for a unique motion- and even shape-detecting gaming experience that upgrades the Wii’s nunchucks for two-handed play.

Who needs a robotic mule?The US Army has a hoverbike

This idea started out on Kickstarter and recently proved it’s still flying around. The Joint Tactical Aerial Resupply Vehicle (JTARV) prototype demonstrated earlier this month is will be a platform for autonomously delivering supplies to the front lines. That’s in the future, though, pending an upgraded hybrid powerplant for increased range and increased payload.

But wait, there’s more…

• Bad Password: Giuliani as Trump’s cybersecurity adviser is an unfunny joke
• Net neutrality foe Ajit Pai tapped to take over the FCC
• President Obama’s final bill is aimed at bringing tech to DC
• The Engadget Podcast Ep 25: Black Hole Sun
• DirecTV will show Premier League soccer in 4K today
• Kickstarter shuts down sketchy Adoptly campaign
• Samsung will explain the Galaxy Note 7 explosions Sunday night

Apple Exploring Two-Step Touch ID and Facial Recognition System for iPhone 8

Noted KGI Securities analyst Ming-Chi Kuo released a research report today in which he outlined further expectations for Apple’s 2017 iPhone, including new biometric identification technology as well as the necessity of a new design to provide better structural support for a flexible OLED display with 3D Touch capability.

Apple may switch to a film sensor from the current FPCB sensor in order to provide better 3D Touch user experience, as a film sensor offers higher sensitivity. Also, we expect the new OLED iPhone will come with a flexible OLED panel. To avoid deforming the form factor of the flexible OLED panel from touch operation pressure, a metal structural part will be placed under the film sensor to provide more robust structural support.

Kuo also believes Apple is developing a new Touch ID technology for its next iPhone “to complement its full-screen (zero bezel) form factor design and to enhance transactions security”. According to Kuo, the existing “under glass” design of fingerprint recognition doesn’t meet the requirements of full-screen form factor designs, therefore an “under panel” placement is required.

As a result, Kuo says Apple aims to switch from the current capacitive-type to an optical-type system. Despite the technology still being in the early stages of development and the fact that OLED panel makers will have to provide bespoke designs for the system to work, Kuo believes Apple has the bargaining power to request the customizations.

Notably, Kuo believes the fingerprint recognition system will “ultimately be replaced by a facial recognition system” for enhanced security. “However, if the technical challenges cannot be overcome, we believe a combination of fingerprint and facial recognition is another possible solution.”

Judging by the bio-recognition patents that Apple has applied for, we believe it is leaning toward facial recognition technology rather than iris recognition. However, we note that the technical challenges of facial recognition include: (1) algorithms; (2) hardware design; and (3) the build-out of a database for verification and authentication, which could be time consuming. As such, before Apple can fully replace the fingerprint system with facial recognition, a combination of the two steps of bio-recognition could be a valid solution for enhancing transactions security.

Assuming the technological challenges are not too great and adoption this year isn’t too soon, Kuo suggests Apple’s new system will usher in a “paradigm shift” for the application of biometric identification in smartphones.

Kuo’s latest report builds on previous predictions regarding this year’s “10th anniversary” iPhone, which is expected to feature a radical redesign with an embedded home button in an edge-to-edge display, a glass body, and potentially wireless charging. Previous rumors suggesting the iPhone 8 could include advanced biometric features like facial recognition or iris scanning have pointed to the possibility that they could also power augmented reality camera functions.

Related Roundup: iPhone 8 (2017)
Tags: KGI Securities, Ming-Chi Kuo
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Qualcomm Calls Apple’s Claims ‘Baseless’ in Response to $1 Billion Lawsuit

Following news yesterday that Apple has filed suit against LTE modem supplier Qualcomm for engaging in anticompetitive licensing practices, the chipmaker hit back on Sunday by calling Apple’s claims “baseless” and accusing it of “encouraging regulatory attacks”.

Apple shared a statement with several news sites on Friday announcing the lawsuit, which argued that Qualcomm used its position as the sole supplier of a key iPhone component to drive up patent licensing fees. This morning Qualcomm responded in a statement on its website in which it claimed that Apple “intentionally mischaracterized our agreements and negotiations”.

“While we are still in the process of reviewing the complaint in detail, it is quite clear that Apple’s claims are baseless. Apple has intentionally mischaracterized our agreements and negotiations, as well as the enormity and value of the technology we have invented, contributed and shared with all mobile device makers through our licensing program. Apple has been actively encouraging regulatory attacks on Qualcomm’s business in various jurisdictions around the world, as reflected in the recent KFTC decision and FTC complaint, by misrepresenting facts and withholding information. We welcome the opportunity to have these meritless claims heard in court where we will be entitled to full discovery of Apple’s practices and a robust examination of the merits,” said Don Rosenberg, executive vice president and general counsel, Qualcomm Incorporated.

Qualcomm was the sole supplier of LTE modems used in iPhones up until 2016, when Intel also began providing the component with the launch of the iPhone 7 and iPhone 7 Plus. Apple claims Qualcomm forced it to use the LTE chips and pay back a percentage of the selling price of the phone in return for access to its patents.

Apple wants $1 billion in rebate payments, which were withheld by Qualcomm after Apple became involved in an antitrust investigation against the company in South Korea.

Tags: lawsuit, Qualcomm
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CBS and Paramount settle lawsuit with ‘Star Trek’ fan film

It’s been a wild ride for the folks behind the Axanar Star Trek fan film, but it’s finally over — the fan production group has settled its lawsuit with CBS and Paramount. The terms of the agreement aren’t completely clear, but both parties have announced that the deal will allow Axanar productions to finish and release its fan film for free as long as a certain number of undisclosed “substantial changes” are made. Even better? According to Ars Technica, the settlement doesn’t require the fan group to pay damages, either.

“Since the beginning of the lawsuit, over a year ago, we expressed our desire to address the concerns of the studios and our willingness to make necessary changes,” Axanar Productions has stated. “We are now able to do exactly that.” Although the full list of changes hasn’t been made public yet, it has been announced that the film will need to abide by at least some of the official fan film guidelines. Specifically, the production can only be 30 minutes long in total, and even then it has to be split into two parts. The Axanar film also can’t have “Star Trek” in the title, cannot use public crowd-funding and may not compensate any of the professional talent for their work.

Still, there’s a silver lining: Axanar productions may not be able to compensate its professional cast, but it’s still allowed to film with that cast — including actors reprising their role form official Star Trek productions. In other words, Gary Graham will be allowed to reprise his role as Sovel from Star Trek: Enterprise. That exception won’t apply to future, projects however. If Axanar productions makes more films in the future, it’ll have to follow all of CBS’ fan film rules. That means no professional actors or reprised roles. It also could make production more difficult, as those rules stipulate that props, costumes and accessories used in fan films “must be official merchandise.”

Axanar Productions says it’s still working to resolve some lingering legal issues and needs to address some pre-production issues before it can start filming — but in the meantime, fans will still be able to watch Prelude to Axanar, the film that provoked CBS and Paramount to kick off the lawsuit in the first place. So long as ‘Prelude’ remains commercial-free on YouTube (and is never shown at an official Star Trek convention), it won’t be taken down.

Source: Ars Technica, Hollywood Reporter, Axanar Productions