Shooting 360-degree video with a GoPro is about to get easier with Fusion camera

Just ahead of the National Association of Broadcasters (NAB) Show on Saturday, GoPro has announced its first immersive video camera, called the Fusion. While the company has offered a 360-degree solution for some time in the form of the Omni cage —  which locks six GoPro Hero cameras together — the Fusion is a compact, single-camera device designed to be mounted in all the same ways as a normal GoPro.

Initial details on the new camera remain scarce, but one interesting tidbit is that it shoots 5.2K resolution, slightly above the now standard 4K. This is good news for immersive video enthusiasts, as higher resolutions tend to make a dramatic difference in 360 video, where all of those pixels are spread out over a spherical area. GoPro says this will also allow for HD-quality, non-360 video to be extracted from any angle, essentially giving Fusion users the ability to create both immersive and traditional fixed-frame content from the same camera, at the same time.

“Whether filming for VR or traditional fixed-perspective content, Fusion represents the state-of-the-art in versatile spherical capture,” said GoPro founder and CEO, Nick Woodman, in a statement. He did not elaborate on other ways in which the Fusion would be state-of-the-art.

What we do know is that work remains to be done to get the Fusion ready for the public. GoPro announced it will run an exclusive pilot program this summer, and is asking professional content creators to apply for it starting today. The goal is to field test the Fusion and produce content that GoPro can use to demonstrate its power before taking the camera to market. Assuming all goes well with the pilot program, GoPro expects to offer a “limited commercial release” by the end of 2017. No other details on pricing or availability have been given.

While the Fusion certainly seems interesting, our current sentiment can best be described as cautiously excited. We’re glad to see that GoPro is taking a single-camera approach to immersive content, but with so many 360 cameras popping up all the time from brands both big and small, the Fusion will need to deliver a trifecta of power, usability, and affordability to truly stand out from the crowd. For now, we’ll wait patiently for more details to emerge.

These two magazine covers weren’t shot with fancy pro cameras — just iPhones

Why it matters to you

The iPhone is a popular camera because of convenience — but factors like its small, less obtrusive body have led the iPhone 7 Plus camera to be used to shoot magazine covers.

The iPhone may not have the big sensor or swappable lenses of pro cameras — but that’s not stopping it from being the camera behind not one but two upcoming magazine covers. Both the Condé Nast Traveler and Bon Appétit May issues feature photos shot with an iPhone 7 Plus.

The Condé Nast travel magazine asked their team of photographers to use the iPhone 7 Plus and the new portrait mode for the cover shoot at St. Barts, promoting an article about the best new hotels. The portrait mode uses data from both lenses to determine what the subject is and what’s in the background to apply an artificial depth of field or background blur, mimicking the look of a photo from a camera with a much larger sensor, like a DSLR or mirrorless.

So why ask specifically for a shot from the iPhone? The editorial team requested shots from the iPhone because of the way the smartphone is changing how travelers take photos. “iPhone photography has reimagined the way we gather memories while we travel, making it easier than ever before to capture, with exceptional precision, snapshots of our trips,” the publication said in a press release. “This comes at a great time for travel photographers — amateur and professional — as well as the millions of people who travel vicariously through images and videos on mainstream social media platforms.”

Condé Nast says the image is the first time a travel magazine cover was shot with the iPhone 7 Plus.

Next month’s cover of Bon Appétit is the first time in the publication’s history the cover was shot with the iPhone 7 Plus as well. The travel-themed issue was shot by Bon Appétit’s creative director, Alex Grossman, in a Tiacolula market in Oaxaca, Mexico. Grossman chose to shoot with an iPhone both because of the way the smartphone is changing travel photography and to create something relatable for the food magazine’s readers.

“The iPhone lens is how we look at photography now,” Grossman said. “It changes the whole process and feel of a photo shoot, making it more intimate, less invasive, more nimble. We wanted to create something our reader would relate to.”

Both magazines are owned by the same company.

While the smartphone cover shoots are firsts for those particular magazines, smartphones have been behind cover shoots before. In December, Sports Illustrated featured a photo of Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson shot with the modular Moto Z smartphone with the Hasselblad True Zoom Moto Mod.

Samsung Galaxy Note 8: What we know so far

For its next Note, Samsung will be hoping to build on a successful Galaxy S8 launch, and finally banish the specter of the Note 7.

In late 2016, Samsung released a critically praised smartphone that seemed to do everything right. A few weeks later, those phones started randomly catching on fire. Samsung recalled and replaced them, and then the new ones caught on fire as well. RIP Galaxy Note 7.

With the prospect of a Note 8 arriving later this year, Samsung’s going to want to build on the good publicity surrounding the GS8 and rebuild the Note brand into something that no longer conjures up images of burning electronics. What’s more, with the Galaxy S8+ already having an enormous screen, Samsung will need to push performance and features as a differentiator for this new, revitalized Note line.

So, no pressure then.

Will there be a Galaxy Note 8?

Yes. In an interview ahead of the company’s Note 7 investigation press conference, Samsung mobile chief DJ Koh told Reuters that a Note 8 is indeed in the works.

“I will bring back a better, safer and very innovative Note 8,” Koh said, adding “We found through the investigative process, we knew there are lots and lots of loyal Note customers.”

Galaxy Note 8 design

We don’t have any reliable evidence of what exactly the Note 8 will look like, but it’s safe to draw a few conclusions from the design of the Galaxy S8.

With that said, you can expect metal, glass, slim bezels, no buttons, rounded corners and that all-important extra-tall Infinity Display. Historically, Note devices have been a little more boxy than Galaxy S phones, so slightly narrower corners and flatter sides are a possibility too.

And yes, expect it to have that all-important S Pen.

The only purported Note 8 image to appear so far is of dubious credibility to say the least. The shot first surfaced on Chinese social network Weibo before being picked up by Slashleaks, and shows a design very similar to the Galaxy S8+. The proportions aren’t identical, and if you overlay a GS8+ image over the top, there are differences. But equally, it could easily be a fabrication.

Could this be the Galaxy Note 8? Maybe, but probably not.

Galaxy Note 8 specs and features

The Galaxy Note line has historically packed the latest and greatest specs, and that trend should continue in the Note 8. It’s likely we’ll see at least Snapdragon 835 and Exynos 9 series chips running the show, just like the GS8.

As Samsung looks to differentiate the Note line in ways other than sheer screen size, a jump to 6GB of RAM and 128GB of storage as standard is probable, too.

And that dual camera system we’ve been seeing in leaked Galaxy S8+ prototype photos is a good bet for the Note 8. Samsung showcased the Exynos 8895’s dual ISP (image signal processor) support in its announcement imagery, and chances are the company wouldn’t do that without having a specific product in mind.

Expect cutting-edge specs, and possibly new features like dual cameras and a higher-res display.

A 4K screen is a possibility too, one that’s long been rumored for Note devices, and potentially a huge development for VR, eliminating the dreaded “screen door” effect. Higher pixel density doesn’t matter when you’re tweeting or browsing the web, but it makes an enormous difference when you’re watching a movie of playing a game in VR. Like Sony’s 4K phones, a 4K Note 8 wouldn’t need run in 4K mode all the time, the full screen res could be limited to a number of apps where it makes sense.

Other, less outrageous possibilities for the Note 8’s display include a move to RGB AMOLED, as opposed to the diamond PenTile arrangement used in the S8. That would increase subpixel density while keeping the resolution the same (because each pixel would be made up of three subpixels, not two.)

Samsung has reportedly been working on integrating a fingerprint scanner directly into its AMOLED screens, a technical feat it wasn’t able to achieve in time for the S8 launch. But if this tech is ready in time for the next Note, Samsung would be able to avoid the reachability issues caused by the S8’s poorly-placed scanner.

As for the battery, Samsung is unlikely to want to push the capacity too high in the wake of the Note 7’s battery issues. What’s more, space inside the Note 8 will probably be constrained compared to the Galaxy S8 Plus, because you’ve got to fit an S Pen in there in addition to all the standard components. For that reason, we wouldn’t expect Samsung to push things much higher than the 3,500mAh capacity of the S8 Plus.

More: Do we need a Galaxy Note 8?

Galaxy Note 8 release date

When will the Galaxy S8 be announced and released? We only have guesswork to go on so far, but here goes:

A later than usual release for this year’s Galaxy S phones might push the Note back from its usual early August announcement window, perhaps in line with a debut at IFA 2017 in Berlin, Germany. A launch event in Germany would be important for the Note line in Europe, which hasn’t seen a functional Note launch since 2014’s Note 4. (The Note 5, as you may remember, wasn’t released in Europe.)

With a refreshed iPhone design expected later in the year, Samsung will be hoping to get its phone on store shelves first, meaning a possible global launch no later than mid-September.

More to come

We’re sure to learn more in the months leading up to the Note 8 launch, so stick with us here on Android Central for all the latest.

Samsung Galaxy S8 and S8+

• Galaxy S8 and S8+ review!
• Galaxy S8 and S8+ specs
• Everything you need to know about the Galaxy S8’s cameras
• Get to know Samsung Bixby
• Join our Galaxy S8 forums

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Caseology is offering a variety of its Galaxy S8 and S8+ cases for as little as $6

Our friends at Thrifter are back again, this time with cases for the Galaxy S8 and S8+ for great prices!

The Galaxy S8 and Galaxy S8+ are the hottest smartphone releases of the year. Whether you’ve already placed your order or are about to, odds are that you’ll want a case. With the shrinking bezels, the increased screen size, and the all-glass back of the phone, protection is key if you want it to look great for the long term. Luckily, you don’t have to hide the beauty of the phone with an ugly case because you don’t want to spend a ton of money on one.

Right now you can pick up a variety of cases from Caseology for as little as $5.99, which means you’ll probably want to grab a couple of the different styles. From clear to colored cases, there is something here that just about everyone will like. In order for the coupons to work, you may need to select the non-Prime, fulfilled by merchant option. If you try and use the coupon on the Prime listing and it gives you an error, try changing the seller under the “Other Sellers on Amazon” option on the right side of the page.

Galaxy S8

• Parallax Series (Burgundy) – $5.99 with code PXSDKB7A
• Parallax Series (Black) – $5.99 with code EAI8QODI
• Vault II Series (Black) – $5.99 with code 7UJ3ET53
• Vault II Series (Burgundy) – $5.99 with code FND4EVJR
• Coastline Series (Frost Gray) – $6.99 with code Q8QSI7LT
• Coastline Series (Orchid Gray) – $6.99 with code TSLAJHS4
• Legion Series (Gunmetal) – $6.99 with code Y99TUESO
• Legion Series (Orchid Gray) – $6.99 with code DDQL42WQ
• Vault I Series (Black) – $5.99 with code YVYJW5N3
• Fairmont Series (Cherry Oak) – $6.99 with code TMWPU3II
• Fairmont Series (Black) – $6.99 with code 8CVX8XJM

Galaxy S8+

• Parallax Series (Burgundy) – $5.99 with code S2Y7VSCC
• Parallax Series (Black) – $5.99 with code 6IPXIJ5W
• Vault II Series (Black) – $5.99 with code HVN7T33P
• Vault II Series (Burgundy) – $5.99 with code SNO7BK8L
• Coastline Series (Frost Gray) – $6.99 with code P8X8VI5C
• Coastline Series (Orchid Gray) – $6.99 with code IFOTFOQL
• Legion Series (Gunmetal) – $6.99 with code 2RSPDE6J
• Legion Series (Orchid Gray) – $6.99 with code KK2VGP7M
• Vault I Series (Black) – $5.99 with code LTTUJQZ9
• Fairmont Series (Cherry Oak) – $6.99 with code UE59DCAM
• Fairmont Series (Black) – $6.99 with code SF8CYM2O

Note: Each coupon code has a limited number of uses. If you see one that you want, be sure to grab it before the codes expire.

For more great deals be sure to check out our friends at Thrifter now!

LG G6 is launching in Europe and India on April 24

The LG G6 is heading to 25 countries on April 24.

The LG G6 is launching in a host of new markets next Monday, April 24. According to The Investor, the phone will be making its debut in 24 European countries on 33 carriers early next week, including the UK, Sweden, Finland, France and Germany. LG’s flagship is also hitting India on the same day, as the South Korean manufacturer sent out invites to the media for a launch event in New Delhi.

There’s a lot to like about the LG G6, with the company going back to the basics and not focusing on gimmicky features. The phone features a 5.7-inch QHD+ display with an 18:9 ratio, Snapdragon 821, 4GB of RAM, 32GB storage (Indian units get 64GB storage), dual 13MP camera, 5MP front shooter, IP68 water resistance, and a 3300mAh battery.

The phone retails for £649 ($830) in the UK, and is rumored to cost ₹53,000 ($820) in India, with LG offering pre-orders the ability to receive up to ₹7,000 ($110) in cash back. We’ll know more about pricing and launch-day offers on Monday, so stay tuned.

LG G6

• LG G6 review!
• LG G6 specs
• LG G6 vs. Google Pixel: The two best cameras right now
• Everything you need to know about the G6’s cameras
• LG forums

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US Cellular: Everything you need to know

What you need to know about America’s fifth largest network provider.

When people talk about post-paid nationwide cell phone networks in the U.S. they usually mean the Big Four: AT&T, Sprint, T-Mobile, and Verizon. But there is a fifth company who offers full-service nationwide contract plans that are as good or better than the bigger corporations: US Cellular.

It stands to reason. As of Q4 2016, US Cellular had 10x fewer subscribers than number four Sprint had with just over 5,000,000 in total. For comparison, America Movil (TracFone, Walmart Family Mobile) had just over 26,000,000. US Cellular is not the giant company that its rivals are. but that doesn’t mean it isn’t a great option for a lot of people looking for a new phone company.

Let’s have a look at what you need to know about US Cellular.

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Great nationwide coverage

US Cellular offers really good voice and LTE coverage in the continental United States. Coverage maps aren’t the best way to gauge service for any one particular area, but they can give a good indication of the overall network footprint. US Cellular’s looks better than Sprint or T-Mobile here.

There is a very good chance that you’ll have good US Cellular coverage if you’re in the states.

Reciprocal roaming and rural coverage

US Cellular uses what they call “4G LTE Data Partner Coverage” for a good chunk of their service area. This means it has an arrangement with another company to use its networks in areas where there is a need. Your US Cellular phone will work seamlessly in these places and you won’t even know it. It also doesn’t cost you anything extra when it happens. In addition to agreements with AT&T and Verizon, US Cellular partners with King Street Wireless for deployment of the 700Mhz LTE band in 27 states.

This means US Cellular has the same type of great coverage in rural areas that AT&T and Verizon offer. You can look here for an interactive map that shows where partner coverage is located.

There are data plans to fit everyone

US Cellular offers post-paid contract plans at 2GB, 6GB, and unlimited tiers. The unlimited plan is very competitively priced.

• Unlimited data on one line: $70
• Unlimited data on two lines: $110
• Unlimited data on three lines: $150
• Unlimited data on four lines: $160

All plans come with unlimited talk and text messaging, have no extra monthly connection fees, and there is no activation fee or ETF for service cancellation. You will need to pay for the phone if you are making installments, though. Unlimited talk and text to Canada and Mexico is included in the 6GB and unlimited plan.

US Cellular also offers prepaid plans in 1GB, 5GB, and unlimited tiers. The 1GB and 5GB plans switch to standard 2G speeds for the remainder of the month when your LTE data allotment is used.

• 1GB of LTE data: $35
• 5GB of LTE data: $45
• Unlimited LTE data: $70

Prepaid plans include tethering and unlimited international texting.

US Cellular also offers corporate plans, data only device plans and complete business solutions that include automation and asset management in addition to communications.

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Popular phones are supported

US Cellular offers installment payment plans for phones from Apple, LG, Motorola, Samsung and plenty of other companies. A currently offered installment agreement for the Galaxy S8 is $24 per month for 30 months, at zero interest. You’ll find plenty of other devices starting as low as $4 per month for a Motorola G4 Play. You’ll also find pre-owned devices and special deals to help save you even more money.

You can bring your own phone to the prepaid service, but it needs to be a compatible model. You can check your phone at the US Cellular activation website to make sure it’s compatible or take it to a local store.

Best US Cellular phones

When all is said and done, the most important factor when you’re looking for phone service is the coverage. US Cellular looks really good there thanks to both the native network and the partner programs. The company also has a very good reputation and has won numerous awards for customer service and community outreach. We think you should give them a look the next time you’re shopping for a new phone company.

Are you jumping from a Pixel to a Galaxy S8 or G6?

It may seem silly to jump from phone to phone, but some people are thinking of switching from the Pixel to the Galaxy S8 or LG G6. Are you?

The Pixel is only six months old, but there are plenty of owners looking toward the next big thing, be it from Google itself in the form of a Pixel sequel, or Samsung’s and LG’s latest salvos, the Galaxy S8 and G6, respectively.

Over on our forums, Aquila asks, “Ok Pixel owners – the S8 is here. Who’s jumping ship?” Obviously, not everyone has the luxury to switch phones every six months, but some are taking their disgust at the idea one step further:

NightOrchid
03-30-2017 10:05 AM

“

I wouldnt touch an S8 if i got one for free, their cartoony childish ui and bug ridden release day mess of the OS, camera and other problems is annoying and, like Apple.. they are overpriced rubbish.. SS tell you its glass, but its really plastic and cardboard..

Ive owned every single SS flasgship since the orignal Galaxy… through the S2, S3 > S5 > S7E… and EVERY one of them had lagg or…

Reply

Wooboy, that’s some strong language. But it’s not all the uncommon. Samsung engenders a very emotional response from some people, and Pixel owners tend to like the simplicty and fast updates of Google’s interpretation of Android.

ttrimmer
03-30-2017 11:45 AM

“

I’m really thinking about jumping from my Pixel XL. I love my Pixel and hate edge screens but I can get a great trade in deal on my old S6 on Verizon plus I’m really liking the idea of Samsung Pay. Android Pay is great when I can use it but there are so few places that take it. The waterproofing and wireless charging are enticing too.

Reply

But there are people who love the Galaxy S8’s hardware advantages over the Pixel, including waterproofing, and the support for Samsung Pay, which is considerably more widely-available in the U.S. than Android Pay.

scgf
04-04-2017 04:21 AM

“

Well . . . I bought a Pixel only a week ago. Loved it, was excited about the camera. Took some photos at the weekend. WTF! That lens flare! Any time there was a light source in front of the phone I got flare – either an arc of white or a misty effect over the whole photo. I’m not talking of the light source in the frame either. I took a pic of a family member sitting on a chair in front of a…

Reply

Finally, one user is giving up on the Pixel for an S8 because of its lens flare issue, which despite being improved through software updates, is still an issue for some people.

Are you giving up your Pixel for a Galaxy S8 or LG G6?

Samsung Galaxy S8 and S8+

• Galaxy S8 and S8+ review!
• Galaxy S8 and S8+ specs
• Everything you need to know about the Galaxy S8’s cameras
• Get to know Samsung Bixby
• Join our Galaxy S8 forums

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Mastercard introduces a credit card with a built-in fingerprint reader

Mastercard’s latest credit card comes with a biometric zone that stores your fingerprints.

Mastercard has rolled out a credit card that has an integrated fingerprint scanner, making it easier to authenticate purchases at retail stores. The card stores two fingerprints, and features an embedded sensor that lets you authorize payments instead of having to sign or use a PIN.

To get started, you’ll have to register your fingerprints at your bank, after which the information will be converted to a “encrypted digital template” that will be stored on the card. Mastercard’s biometric cards are just as thin as existing credit cards, and will work with current chip-and-PIN readers. You’ll be able to authenticate purchases by placing your finger on the integrated biometric sensor, and the cards don’t have require any batteries as they source power from the payment terminals.

Mastercard is trialling the cards in South Africa right now, and has mentioned that additional trials will be conducted in the Asia Pacific region and select markets in Europe in the coming months. A wide rollout is slated for the end of the year, although customers in the U.S. will have to wait until early 2018 to get their fingers on the biometric card.

These 2016 flagships are great Galaxy S8 alternatives

Many of last year’s high-end Android phones have stood the test of time.

The Samsung Galaxy S8 and S8 Plus are phenomenal phones — two of the best out there right now. But they’re also expensive phones, especially if you’re buying outright.

So if you’re looking to save some cash, you might look at some of the previous year’s flagships, many of which are speedy, well-built and have been upgraded to Android Nougat. Most importantly, some of these are now available for as little as half the price of Samsung’s latest duo.

Let’s take a look at four of the best.

Samsung Galaxy S7 + S7 edge

Samsung’s 2016 flagships are obvious choices if you want as close to a Galaxy S8 experience as possible without shelling out anywhere near as much dough. You’ll miss out on Samsung’s remarkable new Infinity Display, but the overall experience is surprisingly similar once you apply that Android 7.0 Nougat update.

With its Nougat update, the GS7’s software looks a lot like the GS8.

The latest update for the GS7 brings much of the UI in line with that of the Galaxy S8, with brilliant white backgrounds, condensed fonts and a minimalist to many of the built-in apps. Both Galaxy S7 models run Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 820 in the U.S.; internationally you’ll get Samsung’s own Exynos 8890, and the performance, while not quite Pixel fast, is speedy.

The core “Galaxy” experience is along for the ride too — quick charging (over Micro-USB, not the newer Type-C), wireless charging, water resistance, microSD expansion and a great camera. The hardware of the GS7’s rear shooter is almost identical to the GS8’s, save for the newer model’s fancy multi-frame processing tricks. Besides that, you’re looking at brilliant SuperAMOLED displays and solid battery life on both models.

Note: Because we live in a cruel and uncaring world, the U.S. unlocked Galaxy S7 still runs older Marshmallow-based firmware. Other models are up to date on Nougat.

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

HTC 10

The HTC 10 is one of the past year’s most underappreciated flagships, but this metal-clad beast is still worth buying if you can pick it up at a reasonable discount. (It still commands a premium price tag on HTC’s own online storefront.)

HTC’s last flagship isn’t as ostentatious as the competition, but it’s sturdy, dependable and fast.

Like most others on this list, there’s a Snapdragon 820 processor inside, along with 4GB of RAM and 32GB of storage — standard specs for the time. HTC also boasts a lightning-quick fingerprint scanner around the front, and while the Quad HD SuperLCD display is probably the least impressive of all the phones listed here, it gets the job done. (Just don’t count on it being particularly visible in bright sunlight.)

Around the back, if you can keep your eyes away from the 10’s oversized, stylized chamfer, you’ll find the 12-megapixel “Ultrapixel 2” camera, which still holds its own against current competitors. And for selfie enthusiasts, the phone also boasts the only optically stabilized front-facer, a 5-megapixel unit that’s among the best for low-light portraits.

HTC’s Sense software isn’t anywhere near as differentiated as it once was, with the UI now falling broadly in line with stock Android. There are a few neat additions though, such as the BlinkFeed home screen feed for news and social updates.

See at Sprint
See at Verizon
See at Amazon

OnePlus 3T

The OnePlus 3T, which unexpectedly replaced the OnePlus 3 last fall, is barely half a year old, yet with a highly competitive price and top-tier specs, it’s worthy of a place on our list. The 3T’s metal shell now comes in gunmetal grey, soft gold and midnight black color options, and your choice of 64 or 128GB of storage. Powering the whole assembly is Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 821, along with an ample 6GB of RAM — still the most we’ve seen in any mainstream phone to date.

OnePlus continues to go from strength to strength.

And that means the 3T is fast — particularly when upgraded to the latest Android 7.1-based OxygenOS software. Though OnePlus has had a mixed track record with software, the company has come a long way in recent months, being the first besides Google to roll out a 7.1.1 update. For those who appreciate a clean, stock Android-like aesthetic, this might be the best non-Pixel option out there.

Software updates have also allowed OnePlus to steadily improve image quality from its 16-megapixel rear camera, which has OIS and uses an f/2.0 lens. It’s not quite as dependable as the Galaxy S7 or Pixel in low light, but it holds its own surprisingly well, and the “HQ” mode allows you to eke more fine detail out of some scenes.

Last but not least, OnePlus has some of the fastest charging tech around, thanks to Dash Charge, which can get you out of the danger zone quicker than Qualcomm Quick Charge.

See at OnePlus
See at Amazon

Google Pixel / Pixel XL

Google’s Pixel phones were the best Android handsets released in 2016 that didn’t also catch on fire explode, and that means that while they’re still expensive, they deserve a place on this list.

The Pixels are expensive, and now six months old, but still among the best out there.

Whether you choose the 5-inch Pixel or the 5.5-inch Pixel XL, you’re getting a fast Android experience with Google’s clean, light Pixel UI and speedy updates to new versions of Android as they roll out. (The Pixels are sure to beat everything on this list to Android O when the final version is available.)

The design, while not as eye-catching or sleek as others released in 2016, is comfortable and sturdy, with a brushed aluminum rear and a unique glass section around the back. Beyond the speed and software experience, the Pixel also boasts one of the best cameras on any smartphone, thanks to a capable Sony IMX378 sensor and Google’s legendary HDR+ technology.

More: Google Pixel review

See at Google
See at Verizon

How to buy legal weed in the online era

Medical cannabis is now legal in a majority of US states — 28 plus DC, to be precise. As the legalization movement continues to gain momentum, buying weed “over the counter” is easier than ever. You no longer have to “know a guy”; you just need to know an app. And we’re not talking about scouring the Dark Web for black market drug bazaars. These days, getting cannabis delivered to your door is only marginally tougher than signing up for Amazon Prime.

Unless you’re lucky enough to already live in one of the seven states that have legalized recreational cannabis, the first thing you’ll need to do is acquire a medical cannabis license to treat the valid medical condition that you are suffering from. If you’re not sure whether you have a qualifying condition, you can find out here. Obtaining a license is especially easy to do online in California, where apps like EazeMD and NuggMD offer discounted evaluations that can be completed in just a few minutes. Unfortunately, it isn’t quite so simple in other states and you’ll likely have to make an in-person appointment instead. Luckily, sites like Medical Marijuana Doctors and Leafly maintain up-to-date listings of local doctors, as well as pricing and office hours. In some cases you can even make your appointment online too. How easy is that?

Once you have been legally empowered to purchase medical cannabis, it’s time to educate yourself about what you’re about to put in your body. Once again, your two best options are Leafly and Massroots, both of which offer in-depth strain guides that will present you with a good deal of factual knowledge — at least a lot more than a list of strain names like Blue Dream, Green Crack and Sour Diesel will. Both sites also allow you to search for strains based on your medical condition or the desired effects you wish to achieve. You can even research the ever-growing range of edibles, from THC-infused honey sticks to intimate massage oils, and concentrates like oils, crumbles, waxes and shatters.

If you can’t find the answers you’re looking for on either of those sites, you’re still in luck, because this is the internet. Classic stoner mags like High Times have long since made the jump to digital and have been joined by a plethora of reputable sites like Cannabis News, which aggregates stories from various wire services. There’s also The Cannabist, which covers both breaking news and the wider stoner culture, and The Merry Jane, a news-and-features site started by Snoop Dogg.

Now that you have your license and know what you’re doing, it’s time to score some weed. Relax, it’s 2017: the process is pretty mundane at this point. On one hand, you can schlep over to the nearest dispensary and stand in line. On the other hand, you could just pull out your phone and have your order delivered to your front door. A number of dispensaries, like The Green Cross and Medithrive in San Francisco, offer online ordering and GrubHub-style delivery.

Additionally, outfits like SpeedWeed in LA, Eaze and Meadow all offer dedicated delivery services, and sites like Where’s Weed and Weed Maps will point you to reputable third parties. Unfortunately, as with online recommendations, the law on deliveries varies from state to state (and sometimes city to city), so make sure you know which side of the law your delivery guy is on.

Finally, we get to the good part: partaking. But I swear to all that is good and stony, you will put that homebrew honeybear bong down right now. You just went through all that trouble to get a license, educate yourself, find a dispensary, and buy some weed using your pocket computer and you’re going to smoke it out of a … is, is that a goddamn apple? That’s like cooking a Wagyu steak to well-done and then slathering it in ketchup. I mean, we’re living in the 21st century. We’ve got AI assistants and self-driving cars and you want to smoke weed that has been scientifically engineered to be as potent as possible, and tenderly grown in a state-of-the-art hydroponic farm, out of an empty soda can like it’s 1983. For shame.

See, there’s this new thing called vaping, which vaporizes the active ingredients (namely THC and the cannabinoids) of the flower without combusting the actual plant matter itself. That way, you get all of the beneficial effects without the gross tar and carcinogens.

There are a plethora of both tabletop and handheld vaporizers on the market today. Marquee brands like Volcano, Vape Xhale and Pax are generally both safe bets, but expect to pay a premium price for their premium performance. If you can’t afford those, here are some things to look for in your vapes:

• Always go for convection heating elements over conduction coils if at all possible. The coils tend to burn out quickly and get gummed up with concentrate.
• Put the torch down. If you’re getting into dabs, you’ll be far better (and more safely) served by upgrading to an e-nail like the White Rhino Torrid, which retrofits your existing water pipe into a dabbing rig, or the Dr Dabber Boost and Source Nail, which allow you to do honest-to-goodness dabs while on the go.
• Avoid knockoffs. There are a ton of cheap vapes circulating online, so make sure you know what you’re buying before reaching for your wallet. The Wirecutter is always a good resource in these matters.

With these online resources, you should be able to better understand — and more responsibly enjoy — the wondrous world of semi-legalized weed using only your smartphone. Finally, you can stop tipping your delivery guy in nugs.