Nest security cameras can be knocked out via Bluetooth

Your connected security camera might not be as trustworthy a defense as you think. Security researcher Jason Doyle has published details of three vulnerabilities in the Nest Cam, Dropcam and Dropcam Pro that lets an attacker disable their recording over Bluetooth. Two of them, which rely on sending excessively long WiFi data, will trigger a memory overflow that makes the camera crash and reboot. The third exploit tricks the camera into temporarily disconnecting from WiFi by making it try to connect to another network.

As you’ve likely noticed, all of these are temporary attacks. However, burglars could still use them to buy precious time when breaking into a home. It only takes a few seconds to cross a room or turn a camera toward the wall, of course. And while Nest’s cloud-based video storage is normally an advantage (thieves can’t just remove a card to destroy evidence), the disconnection exploit turns that internet feature into a weakness. All of these exploits appear to be avoidable, too. Doyle tells the Register there’s no pressing need to leave Bluetooth turned on after the initial setup process, so Nest may be leaving itself unnecessarily vulnerable.

The good news: Doyle disclosed the security holes to Nest, and the company tells Engadget that it’s “aware of the issue, [has] developed a fix for it, and will roll it out to customers in the coming days.” While there’s no workaround in the meantime, this particular issue won’t last long. The bigger question is whether or not Nest and rival camera makers will see this as motivation to toughen up their wireless security.

Via: The Register

Source: GitHub

Netflix’s big budget ‘Death Note’ remake lands on August 25th

We’ll soon learn why Netflix spent $40-$50 million on a live-action adaptation of the anime series Death Note. The streaming service revealed the first teaser for the film this morning and announced that it’ll be premiering on August 25th. It’s a particularly big get for Netflix: Death Note was wildly popular during its initial manga and anime runs, and it’s spawned several live action films in Japan (there’s even a musical!). Death Note was also one of the few anime series that have been regularly available on Netflix for several years, which gave subscribers plenty of chances to dive into it. So despite the big budget, it makes sense for Netflix to be the home of an American adaptation.

The series centers on a disaffected high school student, Light (Nat Wolff), who stumbles on the “Death Note,” a book which has the power to kill anyone whose name is written in it. As Light goes on a killing spree, he’s also hunted down by a genius detective, L (Keith Stanfield). It all sounds a bit silly when you summarize it, but the original series ended up being a thrilling game of cat and mouse.

The adaptation relocates the action from Tokyo to Seattle, and it also brings in Willem Dafoe as the voice of Ryuk, the Death Note’s demonic owner. It’s also in the capable hands of director Adam Wingard, who’s helmed several solid horror films and thrillers (You’re Next, The Guest and segments in V/H/S 1 and 2). Based on the trailer, the remake looks suitably stylish and moody. Dafoe, in particular, seems perfectly cast.

Netflix is no stranger to original films these days, but Death Note is one of the first big budget gambles for the company. It won’t be the last, though: Netflix has also shelled out $90 million for the Will Smith film Bright, $60 million for Brad Pitt’s War Machine and it reportedly spent over $100 million on Martin Scorsese’s next movie, The Irishman, starring Robert DeNiro. While it costs a lot more to produce new material, rather than just license existing catalogs, the exclusive content both entices new subscribers and convinces existing members to stay. And of course, it serves as material that Netflix can easily bring into new territories, without worrying about regional licensing rights.

Source: Netflix (Twitter)

Finding inner peace (with help from your smartphone)

Technology is draining. Social media networks are programmed to make you come back for more, constantly swiping to refresh, like and post. You are constantly at your PC, your smartphone, your TV. You fall asleep to Netflix or reading Twitter as it spits up funny gifs or more bad news. It can wear you down. You’re no longer in college with all the energy in the world and next to no commitments or obligations. You need to know when to unwind, avoid burning out and control (at least some) of your unhealthy (perhaps excessive) tech habits.

For me, this was recently compounded with a move back to the UK from Japan, changes at work and all this political upheaval both at home and abroad. I’ve been feeling frazzled and have been trying to find time to relax, switch off, center myself and other frivolous terminology I take to mean “feel less shitty.” Ask my friends and they’ll tell you I’m constantly glued to my phone or asking for a cable to recharge it. It takes its toll physically too, in the form of tired eyes, a stiff neck and reaching for my phone when I should be sleeping.

So what did I do? What should you do? Those are probably different answers. There’s no shortage of introductory guides to meditation, relaxation podcasts and devices that promise to help or offer relief. As someone who’s glued to my phone, to every message, email, retweet, like, follow and Tinder match that come my way, could I somehow break free with the help of technology? Not everything will work for you, but something should. I’m new to this. As I alluded to earlier, I’m more prone to burnout (and even getting sick) when work or personal stuff bears down on me, but what follows is a roundup of the things I’ve found most effective.

Engadget has covered a lot of apps and devices for relaxation, but figuring out how to relax and disconnect a bit more doesn’t have to involve laying down much (if anything) in the way of cash. If you have an internet connection (which you probably do, because you’re reading this) and something with speakers, there’s a rich free library of meditation podcasts to stream or download.

Podcasts and other listening

There are so many of them, but at least podcasts are nearly always free to try out. Personally, I found that the host’s voice will either endear you to a meditation podcast or put you off completely. (For some reason, I discovered Aussie accents to be the most relaxing.)

The Daily Meditation Podcast is a good starting point. Host Mary Meckley puts out a new one almost every day, and she’s almost on her thousandth episode.

Then there’s white noise. For the uninitiated, white noise is the result of combining sounds of different frequencies. Why is this a good thing? It squeezes out other sounds: neighbors, the hum of your AC, traffic outside. Even if it doesn’t drown it out completely, it makes it harder for your brain to pick it up, meaning you can better focus or relax. I have a former colleague who uses white noise to fall asleep almost daily. You’ll find something to listen to practically anywhere, from iTunes to Spotify. Here’s an entire YouTube channel dedicated to white noise.

So we have something to start with, but the challenge was often finding time to put into doing nothing (it’s not nothing) into your day. When I’m stressed, I like to spend my time stressing.

The apps

This is where investing in either an app or some sort of gadget can help. Setting aside my cynicism about paying for something that you can do for free, there are a few reasons to do it. Devices and apps can help you build a habit, and they mean you’re (literally) investing in it. Things you pay for will draw you to using them more, at least initially.

Many apps will also track your progress and remind you that you haven’t managed to fit in some relaxation time during the day. Smartphone applications can even improve your meditation sessions, whether that’s heart rate feedback or monitoring the length of your sessions. It’s offering metrics on your efforts — and I find that important.

But as with podcasts, there are so many of them: good and bad, free and paid for. From my time researching and trying things out, the best advice is to explore the options, take advantage of free trials and see what sticks. That’s vague, but then again, mindfulness and meditation often are.

I particularly like Simple Habit, which offers short podcast-esque guided meditations that are aimed at specific things. There’s a daily catchall session but also ones for increasing focus, reducing stress, settling yourself down before sleep and more. The only catch is that it’s not free: After the free trial and lessons, it’s $12 per month, $100 per year or $300 for a lifetime subscription. That raises a good question: What is the cost of peace of mind? You might want to do some of the math, but there are hundreds of sessions to listen to, and the company says it’s adding more weekly. I appreciated this choice — even if the majority of the benefit of mindfulness and deep breathing came regardless of program A or B. We all like options, though, so here’s a handful of other apps worth looking into.

• Smiling Mind
• Calm (with an Android Wear companion app)
• Headspace

Wearables

Possibly the most successful relaxation wearable I’ve tried is a well-established device that might not come immediately to mind: my Apple Watch. It’s probably one of the least free things you can use for mindfulness. However, I already owned one even before I set out to find my inner peace.

In particular, let’s talk about the Watch’s Breathe feature, which arrived as part of watchOS 3 and was a notable addition for me, a (begrudging) early adopter. It’s simple, easy and unobtrusive. While you can tap the Breath app on the Watch to launch, you can also schedule it daily so that it vibrates to remind you it’s time to shut down for a few minutes.

Deep breathing for a minute or two might sound like the bare minimum of effort, but it’s often enough to evoke a relaxation response. This is a term coined by Dr. Herbert Benson to explain the body’s reaction to deep breathing. It’s like the opposite effect of stress. You can set up the deep-breathing session from your wrist; just rotate the crown to control how long. Apple’s wearable also gives breathing guidance without having to look at a light-up screen. It uses haptic feedback to guide your breathing rhythm and then a little melody sounds once you’re done. The watch rounds up your weekly efforts, tallying minutes spent doing nothing but breathing. It’s simple, but I’m finding it sustainable. So far.

Disconnecting

Pulling myself away from my smartphone, my PC and everything with internet outright was far harder. It happens on my vacations (sometimes!) but rarely in my daily life. From waking up and checking emails to falling asleep as Netflix blares from my oversized phone, connection adds distraction and comfort. There are phones that encourage you not to use them, but until they manage to reach their crowdfunding targets, it’s entirely on you to cut back.

A study by researchers at Harvard Medical School found that those who read e-books instead of paper ones needed an extra 10 minutes, on average, to fall asleep. They also experienced 90 minutes of delayed melatonin onset and released half the amount of melatonin to boot. Further, they experienced less rapid eye movement sleep — you know, the good, deep stuff.

There are also ways to make your phone more bedtime friendly. Even if you can’t ban it outright from your bedside (it’s my alarm clock, OK?), Apple’s Night Shift and Android’s Night mode intentionally soften the blue hue from your phone. They remove the blue light, which can coax your brain into feeling alert and awake (like it’s still daytime). f.lux does a similar thing with your PC and is worth trying out if you’re regularly still working into the late hours. Better still: Don’t use light-up displays in the hour before you go to bed — it’s what the National Sleep Foundation recommends.

I don’t think all my stress and distractedness are due to the iPhone. I asked the founder of Simple Habit, Yunha Kim, if phones were part of the problem: “Our phones can add stress to our lives with constant notifications and buzzes,” she said. “But the fact that we carry them everywhere we go shows that they can be such a powerful tool for bringing meditation wherever we go as well.”

Phones can be both part of the problem and part of the solution, but if you’re thinking that constant screens and notifications aren’t helping, then you already know what you need to do.

That’s not to say it’s easy. Our devices, our apps and social networks are addictive.

Tristan Harris, former Google Design Ethicist and cofounder of advocacy group Time Well Spent, lays it out well: We don’t miss what we don’t see. His group is trying to increase the degree of humanity in software design and persuade tech companies to make disengaging from our phones and screens easier. Harris isn’t immune to them and explained in an Atlantic interview how he cuts down on his phone notifications in an “almost militaristic way” and uses the first home screen of his phone for functional apps like Google Maps and Uber — no time killers like social networks and games. He apparently hides more attention-grabbing apps into folders on the second page. (This is something I already do with my dating apps, so I get how that works. It keeps it one step further away from my fingertips.)

My favorite takeaway, however, is how Harris launches apps: by typing its name into the search bar, raising the bar for how much effort is needed to launch something. Do you really need to check Instagram again?

Check out all of Engadget’s “Adult Week” coverage right here.

Dozens watched a Facebook Live stream of sexual assault

It’s no secret that Facebook has its hands full dealing with graphic and violent content being streamed live on the site. Last summer, Antonio Perkins was streaming an otherwise normal evening when he was shot. There have been other cases of graphic footage being streamed on Facebook Live as well. The most recent incident involves the sexual assault of a teenager in Chicago.

Chicago police say that a 15-year-old girl was sexually assaulted by multiple suspects last weekend and that the ordeal was streamed live on Facebook. Police confirmed to The Washington Post that the girl’s family reported her missing Sunday. Family members say the girl left for a trip to the store and was later spotted on the livestream. She was found Monday and police are continuing to investigate the incident. Facebook has taken down the video.

“Crimes like this are hideous and we do not allow that kind of content on Facebook,” a company spokesman told The Washington Post. “We take our responsibility to keep people safe on Facebook very seriously and will remove videos that depict sexual assault and are shared to glorify violence.” We have reached out to the company for further comment on the matter and we’ll update this post when we hear back.

The company further explained that it works “around the clock” to review any questionable content that’s reported by its users. Of course, that system requires any graphic or violent videos to be reported in the first place. In this case, Chicago police say “40 or so” people watched the assault and no one called 911.

Facebook was heavily criticized for reportedly taking two weeks to remove a video of a 12-year-old girl livestreaming her suicide in late December. According to The Washington Post, by the time the company had removed the footage, it had also popped up (and was removed) on YouTube. In early January, four people streamed themselves attacking a mentally disabled teen. Live video is a huge deal for Facebook right now, but until it figures out how to keep acts of violence from its users’ News Feeds, we’ll continue to hear about these incidents being broadcast on a regular basis.

Source: Washington Post

Email scheme stole $100 million from two US tech companies

It’s tempting to assume that technology workers are intelligent enough to avoid email fraud, but that’s not always the case. Both the FBI and the state of New York have charged a Lithuanian man, Evaldas Rimasauskas, with perpetrating a phishing campaign that siphoned $100 million away from two US tech companies companies. They’re both choosing to remain unnamed, although one is a “multinational online social media company” — you can probably whip up a short list of candidates based on that description. The scheme wasn’t particularly complicated, either, and mostly relied on less-than-attentive employees.

Between 2013 and 2015 (possibly earlier), Rimasauskas allegedly ran a fake company in Latvia that had the same name as an “Asian-based computer hardware manufacturer.” He used this bogus firm to fool victims into responding to phishing emails, getting them to wire millions of dollars to his bank accounts in Latvia and Cyprus. The fraudster quickly spread the money to accounts elsewhere in the world (including Lithuania, Hong Kong, Hungary and Slovakia), and even sent forged documents to the banks to convince them that the large sums of money were legitimate.

If the charges (which include wire fraud, identity theft and money laundering) hold up, Rimasaukas faces stiff punishment. He’s looking at a minimum of 2 years in prison if he’s found guilty of identity theft, and each of the remaining charges could get him up to 20 years behind bars. However, it’s also safe to say that his targets are learning a hard lesson, too. Even the most tech-savvy companies can fall prey to online fraud, and they may need to step up their security measures (including staff education) to prevent similar incidents.

Source: Department of Justice

Tim Cook Confirms Apple Will Make Global Fund Donations From Sales of Red iPhone 7 in China

With the news earlier today that Apple has ditched the PRODUCT(RED) branding for the red iPhone 7 and 7 Plus in China, MacRumors reached out to CEO Tim Cook to find out if any of the proceeds on sales in the country would still be donated to charity in the fight against HIV/AIDS.

MacRumors’ question: We noticed the (PRODUCT)RED branding is missing from the new red iPhone 7 on the China Apple website. Will you be donating any of the proceeds from the phone’s China sales to the HIV/AIDs cause anyway?

Tim Cook’s response: We donate to the Global Fund on every iPhone 7 and iPhone 7 Plus we sell in every country in the world.

Since the omission of the branding came to light, there’s been some speculation that recent changes in Chinese law prevent not-for-profit organizations from being involved in commercial advertising. Whatever the truth of the matter, it appears Apple will be upholding its (PRODUCT)RED charitable donations commitment with or without said branding.

Apple’s special edition red iPhone 7 models, due to be launched on Friday in more than 40 countries, are the first iPhones to join Apple’s (PRODUCT)RED line-up.

Apple said the new handset color was in recognition of more than 10 years of partnership between Apple and the charity (RED), offering customers a way to contribute to the Global Fund and “bring the world a step closer to an AIDS-free generation”.

Other Apple products in the (PRODUCT)RED range that are available all year round include the full iPod line of products, Beats Solo3 Wireless On-Ear Headphones, Beats Pill+ Portable Speaker, the iPhone 7 Smart Battery Case, and a range of accessories for iPhone, iPad, and Apple Watch.

Note: Due to the political nature of the discussion regarding this topic, the discussion thread is located in our Politics, Religion, Social Issues forum. All forum members and site visitors are welcome to read and follow the thread, but posting is limited to forum members with at least 100 posts.

Related Roundup: iPhone 7
Tags: China, Tim Cook, (PRODUCT)RED
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Apple Releases Safari Technology Preview 26 With WebGPU Prototype

Apple today released a new update for Safari Technology Preview, the experimental browser Apple first introduced one year ago in March of 2016. Apple designed the Safari Technology Preview to test features that may be introduced into future release versions of Safari.

Safari Technology Preview release 26 includes fixes and improvements for Web API, CSS, Rendering, Web Inspector, WebDriver, and WebCrypto. Today’s update also includes a WebGPU prototype, accessible from the Experimental Features menu.

The Safari Technology Preview update is available through the Software Update mechanism in the Mac App Store to anyone who has downloaded the browser. Full release notes for the update are available on the Safari Technology Preview website.

Apple’s aim with Safari Technology Preview is to gather feedback from developers and users on its browser development process. Safari Technology Preview can run side-by-side with the existing Safari browser and while designed for developers, it does not require a developer account to download.

Tag: Safari Technology Preview
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How to Tell Whether Your New LG UltraFine 5K Display Has the Shielding Fix

Last week, we shared a brief video showing that LG’s revisions to the shielding in the UltraFine 5K display have successfully addressed issues with the display flickering and disconnecting when in close proximity to Wi-Fi routers. Apple and LG had temporarily pulled the display from the market while LG adjusted its manufacturing processes to incorporate the fix and push the new stock into sales channels, and sales of the revised display began earlier this month.

At the time of last week’s post, we noted that customers purchasing the UltraFine 5K display should check for serial numbers beginning with 702 or 703, as these indicate manufacturing dates of February or March after the fix was put into place. Several MacRumors readers subsequently reported, however, that they have recently received units shipped from Apple with serial numbers starting with 612, indicating manufacturing dates in December 2016.

These readers have been uncertain as to whether their units have the revised shielding in place, or if they should be testing their displays to see if the flickering issue can be induced. One reader noticed that the label on the box of his December UltraFine 5K included a black circular sticker at the top left, a sticker that was not present on our original UltraFine 5K display that was manufactured in November and shipped in December and which was susceptible to the interference issue.

December 2016 unit retrofitted prior to sale (left) vs. March 2017 unit properly shielded from the start (right)
Newly manufactured UltraFine 5K units include a black square printed directly on the label in the same location, and LG has confirmed to MacRumors that the presence of a circle or square does in fact indicate that the unit has the revised internal shielding and should be protected from the interference issues.

While LG did not explicitly confirm any difference between a circle and a square, it appears that the square is indicative of a unit that was originally manufactured with the proper shielding, while the circle is used on earlier units that were subsequently retrofitted with the shielding before sale. There should be no difference in the performance of the two versions.

For those users with units lacking a circle or square on the label and thus susceptible to the Wi-Fi interference, LG is conducting free repairs to install the proper shielding. Users are advised to contact LG to arrange for the repair, which can take up to 7-10 business days once the display is received by the repair facility.

Customers interested in purchasing the UltraFine 5K should remember that Apple’s 25 percent discount on USB-C and Thunderbolt 3 accessories is still scheduled to end on March 31, so they have just over a week to order the display at its discounted price of $974 before it goes back up to its regular price of $1299.95. It is possible Apple could extend the discount as it has done once already, but there are no guarantees.

Related Roundup: Displays
Tag: LG
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Samsung Galaxy Tab S3 review

It’s been awhile since we last reviewed an Android tablet, especially ones that cross the $500 threshold. There’s a reason why the majority of Android tablets released in the last couple of years have been largely inexpensive ones, since consumers are finding it even more difficult than ever before to invest in high-spec’d Android tablets. And when you consider that dedicated tablets in general are a dying breed, it really makes you wonder more about their advantages.

• The best Android tablets
• Samsung Chromebook Pro review

Samsung just recently announced its latest convertible-styled Chromebooks, which now offer support for full blown Android apps – opening a gate that was once closed to them, so it’s especially intriguing how things have turned out. Now that by itself should make anyone question Samsung’s decision to launch its new Galaxy Tab S3, which comes almost two years after its predecessor. In that time, we’ve seen a radical shift in how consumers perceive tablets.

The Tab S3 is competing against other Windows 10 tablets and convertibles in the same price bracket, as well as these cheap Chromebooks and Apple’s iPad Pro tablets. So, do we really need another high-end Android tablet? Find out in our full Samsung Galaxy Tab S3 review!

Design

Drawing inspiration from its own Galaxy smartphones, Samsung has predictably outfitted the Galaxy Tab S3 with glass surfaces on the front and back – with an all-metal frame sandwiching everything together. There’s no denying the premium aspect in play here, one that’s further accentuated by its svelte chassis and lightweight feel. All of this, of course, helps to justify its more premium price point.

Since it’s glass, though, there’s a certain level of fragility with it, as well as being a magnet for smudges and fingerprints. When it’s clean, however, light bounces beautifully off its surface. It’s premium in every way imaginable, but just be careful using it – you don’t want it to accidentally slip. Glass meeting pavement is never a pretty sight afterwards.

Display

The Tab S3 has the same screen as its predecessor, but we’re certainly not complaining. It sports a 9.7-inch Super AMOLED display with a resolution of 2048 x 1536 pixels. It looks good, just as you’d expect, but many of the qualities have been improved over its predecessor. For starters, it’s significantly brighter with a peak brightness output of 465 nits, ensuring that clarity isn’t compromised when it’s used outdoors under direct light. And even though it’s extremely saturated in tone when it’s in adaptive mode, a common quality of AMOLED, switching to the basic display profile results in true-to-life, accurate color reproduction in the sRGB color gamut chart.

The biggest change to the display, however, is that it now features high dynamic range – that fancy HDR tech allows it to adjust details, contrast, and color saturation to give videos more of that cinematic vividness. From what we saw in our demo time during MWC 2017, it looked really great in how the contrast in the shadows were adjusted to draw out more details in the scene. However, it’s something you’ll witness with content produced in HDR – so existing videos without HDR won’t necessarily see improvements.

The quad speakers deliver crisp-sounding audio perfect for videos

That being said, there’s no arguing that the Tab S3 is remarkable for media consumption, since it’s been bred for that purpose. In complementing the HDR-enabled display, Samsung pairs the experience with quad speakers; two sets of speakers positioned on both edges of the tablet in landscape. They’re tuned by AKG by Harman, delivering crisp-sounding audio perfect for videos – giving it the necessary stereo effect. But despite reaching a top output of 75.4 dB, it doesn’t sound more potent than the speakers in the iPad Pro.

Performance

Clearly following after Samsung’s own Galaxy S7, the Tab S3 leverages the same quad-core Qualcomm Snapdragon 820 processor with 4 GB of RAM. Now, some eyebrows might be raised by that revelation, seeing that they’re probably expecting the newer Snapdragon 835 instead. But given that Sammy had ample time in the development stages to really optimize the Snapdragon 820, it doesn’t surprise us to see them use it here.

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Indeed, the Tab S3 handles most of the basic functions of a tablet, but it still stumbles when trying to juggle around more processor-intensive stuff. We see it happen when using Nougat’s baked-in side-by-side multitasking, as there are still some instances when it freezes momentarily. Most actions result in fluid movements, like surfing the web or using the S Pen in a painting app, but there are still times when hiccups do occur with the performance. It’s not frequent, thankfully, but that does make us wonder if it’s the software that’s the culprit.

The benchmark tests reveal it’s very much a powerhouse, in the elite class as you’d expect, rivaling the scores achieved by today’s top-end smartphones. One area that Samsung places a lot of emphasis on is gaming, thanks in part to the Vulkan graphics API engine – allowing it to deliver a solid gaming experience. The emphasis on gaming is especially noticeable in Samsung’s Game Launcher, which dishes up tools that allow gamers to do things like record their footage; without impacting its graphics processing performance in the process.

Hardware

Aside from a few aesthetic changes to the design of the tablet, such as its quad speakers, everything else is pretty much in its usual position. Just like before, the power button and volume keys are located along the right edge of the tablet, along with the microSD card slot. Around the bottom, we have a 3.5 mm headphone jack with the newer USB Type-C connection port, which is positioned offset from the center.

Due to its skinny chassis, there’s no place to store the S Pen in the tablet when it’s not being used

Due to its skinny chassis, there’s no place to store the S Pen in the tablet when it’s not being used. That’s due to the thicker size of the S Pen itself, which gives it a more substantial feel when it’s held, but there’s not even a magnetic connection of some kind that could allow it to attach around the sides of the tablet. Honestly, we would’ve been happy with a skinnier S Pen, much like what was found with the Galaxy Note Pro 12.2 back in 2014 – where you can tuck the S Pen safely away.

Speaking of the S Pen, we’re happy to see that it’s included with the purchase. In standard practice, this S Pen has been improved with even more pressure sensitivity, making it perfect for graphics artists and such, but there’s no palm rejection feature here. The features of the S Pen are familiar ones we’ve seen before, like screen off memo, screen write, smart select, translate, and much more. The tablet does come preloaded with some apps that leverage the S Pen, like Samsung Note, which has a sketching option that showcases the S Pen’s pressure sensitivity.

The S Pen’s integration isn’t a new concept, it’s something that has been done time-after-time, with most recently seeing it with Samsung’s new Chromebooks. Plus, competing tablets have also done the same, making the stylus a commonplace occurrence with tablets. While the S Pen definitely has its conveniences, like being given that paper-pen experience, it still begs the question of whether or not it adds any meaningful value to a broader range of users.

Finally, if you opt to pick up the optional Pogo keyboard, it doubles as a protective folio case that props the Tab S3 in landscape. While the spacing is a bit cramped, it does require some practice before you’re able to speed type comfortably – and without much pause along the way, too. Interestingly enough, it doesn’t require a power source because it draws juice from the tablet itself through the pin connectors. However, the magnetic connection that props the tablet only offers a single angle to view the tablet.

Battery

Samsung has increased the battery capacity to a 6,000 mAh cell, up from its predecessor capacity of 5,870 mAh. That’s a very miniscule upgrade, which results in barely any difference with its battery life performance on a real-world basis. It’s average to say the least, which means that it’s something that would benefit from nightly charges.

Battery life on the Tab S3 is average, to say the least

In our benchmark testing, it topped out at 6 hours and 41 minutes with web surfing – while video watching lasted a minute more at 6 hours and 42 minutes. That’s really nothing worth bragging about, since they’re very average in comparison to other devices we’ve tested. However, it’s at least speedy enough with its recharging via its fast charging technology, taking only a mere 168 minutes to fully charge. That’s impressive given the capacity we’re dealing with, as most smartphones can take nearly the same time to accomplish.

Software

With the Tab S3 running Samsung’s custom skin on top of Android 7.0 Nougat, many of the previous TouchWiz features have gone away, being baked-in with Nougat already. Sure, the interface sports a cleaner look than before, but you can still see some of the remnants of TouchWiz. Whoever thought of having a piano tune play whenever a notification pops up probably forgot about the annoyances of those bursting bubble sounds in TouchWiz’s past.

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Android 7.0 Nougat review: an Android version for Android fans

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Productivity has always been a strong focus with the series, but now that Android adopted many of the features users craved with TouchWiz’s experience in the past, namely the true multi-tasking aspect, it’s no longer something we can vouch is exclusive to the tablet. Regardless, though, it’s nice being able to have two apps running side-by-side to one another, rather than being forced to flip between the two with the Recent Apps menu.

Out of the box, Samsung also preloads many of the staple Microsoft Office apps to give us even more diversity when it comes to the productivity aspect. That’s a nice gesture, of course, but nowadays nearly every tablet released has access to the same level of productivity.

Owners of Samsung’s Galaxy smartphones will be able to continue having access to certain things on their phones while using the Tab S3, thanks in part to Samsung Flow, which allows us to share files wirelessly with the phone – and even respond to message and view notifications. We actually prefer using the old SideSync app, which essentially virtualizes the phone in all of its glory on the tablet. You basically have a window that displays the contents of the phone, so you can do things like send text messages, receive phone calls, and much more!

There still aren’t enough tablet-optimized apps on Android yet

The biggest flaw with the software in our opinion, which is a big deal breaker when you think about it, is how the platform lacks optimized apps meant to be used on tablets. We’re not even talking about third party apps here, just because some of the native apps still don’t support landscape orientation – so it’s an annoyance that forces us to place it in portrait.

Going back to third party apps, this is the disparity that allows the iPad Pro to expose Android’s weakness. There are a handful of popular apps that still don’t properly adjust dynamically in landscape, like Instagram for example. Due to this lack of tablet optimized apps, it really doesn’t help out the tablet’s cause – making it feel like we’re dealing with a very huge phone, as opposed to a tablet. And when you consider that some Chromebooks now offer support for Android apps, it lessens the value of owning an Android tablet nowadays.

Camera

As for the cameras on the Galaxy Tab S3, there’s a 13-megapixel rear camera with LED flash and a 5-megapixel front-facing one. Unlike Samsung’s phones, there’s no quick access feature to the camera app, so double pressing on the home button doesn’t do anything. Looking into the interface, it’s nothing out the ordinary, as swiping right access some of its shooting modes – while swiping left gives us several filters to use.

The quality is pretty typical of tablets, nothing worth writing home about. The rear camera, in particular, suffices enough when the situation is ideal, but even then, details can still be spotty at times – with colors appearing a bit subdued. Under low light, the quality degrades further with splotchy looking visuals that don’t try to hide the noise that’s evident in the shots.

Video recording tops out at Full HD 1080p recording, with an option for video stabilization. Again, there’s nothing that wows us with its quality, but it’s nonetheless there for convenience, which pretty much sums up its usefulness.

Specifications

Display	9.7-inch AMOLED 2048 x 1536 resolution 264ppi
Processor	Snapdragon 820 quad-core
RAM	4 GB
Storage	32 GB
MicroSD	Yes, up to 256 GB
Camera	Rear: 13 MP AF with f/1.9 aperture Front: 5MP with f/2.2 aperture
Battery	6,000 mAh Non-removable
Connectivity	Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac Wi-Fi Direct Bluetooth 4.2 LTE Cat6 (300 Mbps) USB 3.1 USB Type-C
Software	Android 7.0 Nougat
Dimensions and weight	237.3 x 169.0 x 6.0 mm Wi-Fi: 429 g LTE: 434 g

Gallery

Pricing and final thoughts

The Galaxy Tab S3 marks a crossroad for Samsung, since the tablet landscape has shifted significantly over the last few years. When you also look at what it has to compete against nowadays, it can potentially be overlooked – due to the kind of value it brings to the table with its cost. Apple’s iPad Pro is still widely regarded as the king in the tablet market, but Samsung manages to undercut its rival with the Tab S3’s starting price of $600 with 32 GB of internal storage, which of course can be supplemented with a microSD card. And that price includes the S Pen! Whereas with the iPad Pro, it’s an additional $100 for the Apple Pencil. So when it comes to price, Samsung definitely has the advantage.

Compared to the iPad Pro, Samsung definitely has the advantage when it comes to price

Besides the iPad Pro, the Tab S3 also has to worry about the numerous sub-$500 Android tablets that on the surface offers the same superficial functions as any other Android tablet. Sure, the specs look really nice with the Tab S3, which is arguably a differentiator that makes it appeal more for those who are into productivity and gaming, but it’s really tough to totally disregard these inexpensive Android tablets – moreso when the core experience is no different.

And then there are other things like Windows 10 tablets and Chromebooks. With the latter, many of them come in at a lower price, including Samsung’s own recent offerings. Additionally, many Chromebooks can download Android apps via the Google Play Store – so it’s no longer something exclusive to Android tablets. Spending more money on the other hand, you can get a full blown Windows 10 tablet, which would offer more versatility in terms of productivity.

Until Android gets a proper treatment and focus on tablet-optimized apps, the Tab S3 is going to remain as a media consuming tablet first and foremost. You can enhance the Tab S3’s arsenal by purchasing the $129.99 Pogo keyboard, but at a total cost of $730, it still teeters near premium Windows 10 tablets territory. Portability is an absolute asset to the Tab S3, but it’s going to be tough convincing consumers to choose it over other options until it can be used 100% as a tablet, with real tablet optimized apps.

What are your thoughts on the Tab S3? Are you thinking of picking one up? Be sure to tell us what you think in the comments below!

Print your favorite Instagrams wirelessly with Epson’s latest budget printer

Why it matters to you

Opting for a budget printer doesn’t mean sacrificing convenience features with Epson’s latest wireless all-in-one.

True all-in-one printers should be able to handle anything from term papers to Instagram photos — and that’s what Epson is doing with its latest $99 printer, the Expression Home XP-440, announced on March 21.

Earning that all-in-one name, the XP-440 prints, scans, and copies, but its photo printing capabilities and the Epson app also allow users to print smartphone photos instantly, including images from favorite social networks. The Epson Connect app, compatible with iPhone, iPad, and Android devices, also allows users to create a number of printable projects, from photo collages to conversions into coloring pages or calendars. Scans can also be automatically shared to Facebook or saved in cloud storage.

More: The Epson 12000XL does more with less with faster speed and energy-freindly LEDs

An SD card slot allows another computer-free photo printing option for borderless photos, made easier by a high-resolution 2.7-inch LCD screen.

Designed for students and families, the printer has a 100-sheet capacity and a space-saving design. Built-in Wi-Fi Direct makes it possible to print even when not in range of a Wi-Fi network. The printer uses Epson’s DuraBrite Ultra Ink, a quick-drying, smudge and water-resistant ink.

“The sleek and compact Expression Home XP-440 provides all the essential tools for today’s busy students and families to create, print, and share with ease,” Monika Dees, senior product marketing manager for Consumer Ink Jets, Epson America, Inc., said in a press release. “Beyond easy printing, copying, and scanning, compatibility with Epson Creative Print offers a new dimension of creativity for creating and printing photo collages and more directly from smartphones and tablets.”

As a budget printer, the XP-440 can print in resolutions up to 5,760 x 1,440, with paper sizes up to traditional letter, easily sufficient for smartphone snapshots and basic home prints. The Epson Expression Home XP-440 is selling for an enticing $99 directly from the manufacturer or through a number of retailers.