Should you encrypt your Galaxy S8’s SD card?

Probably not. Here’s why.

We’ve written what you need to know about the Galaxy S8’s SD card and how you can move some Android apps from the internal memory to it, and a common question that pops up (as it does when we talk about any phone’s SD card) is whether or not to encrypt it.

It’s a legit question. There are both pros and cons to encrypting the card, and it’s hard to get a clear picture when information is spread across many different places. We can try to remedy that and have a clear and concise discussion about SD card encryption sp you can make up your mind after you know a little more. If you’ve waded through the technical words and terms that experts use and just want a plain answer, this is for you!

Looking for a good microSD card for your Galaxy S8? Check out our guide!

Security is not convenient

The only real reason to encrypt your SD card in any phone is so that the only way to see what’s on it is to unlock the screen. It doesn’t matter what you have on the card or what anyone else thinks; if you want to make sure nobody can look at what’s on the card if you lose your phone or it gets stolen you have to encrypt it. Some programs store their data on the SD card with encryption enabled, but encrypting the entire card is the only way to protect everything in one shot.

Think about that for a second — the only way to see what’s there is to decrypt it and that can only happen when you have your phone powered on and unlocked. Guarding your photos or anything else you’ve saved on the card by encrypting it is a pretty easy thing to understand and see the benefit. But the reasons why you might not want to do it are pretty compelling, too.

• You can’t see anything on the card unless it’s inside the phone that encrypted it and the phone is unlocked. That means you can’t take it out and use it in anything else unless you erase everything and reformat it. if you stick it into your PC to copy music or a big video to the card, it won’t work; your computer will tell you it needs to be formatted. The same goes for another Android phone, even another Samsung brand phone. Which brings us to the next reason …

• If your phone dies, all the data on the SD card dies along with it. If something happens to your phone and you can’t get it back to a usable state so you can decrypt the card, the data is gone forever. It’s really cool that SD card encryption can keep some creep who stole your phone from seeing all your pictures. It’s less cool when you break your phone or it has a hardware fault and you can’t see all your pictures. Or copy them somewhere.

Google has the same attitude about encryption for SD cards as they do for anything else: Security trumps everything.

This is because Google (Samsung uses the code from Google for encryption) follows old-school hardcore nerd thinking when it comes to encryption. Namely, that if you’re going to bother encrypting something, you do everything possible to sandbox the data from the outside world unless it’s decrypted. Microsoft, for example, lets you encrypt a volume (a partition or storage drive) and decrypt it in another machine if you have the right passphrase. They have lightened up a little bit because they understand people don’t want to lose everything if there’s a problem and that most of us don’t bother making backups of anything unless it’s automatic. Google assumes you understand the situation and will make regular backups in case something fails because locking the encrypted volume to specific hardware is more secure.

Neither is right and neither is wrong, they are just very different ways of approaching security. In a perfect world, both companies would have a setting so you could do it either way, but that’s a lot of work and the world isn’t perfect. What’s important is that you understand that Google won’t let you use another phone to get what’s on the card if it’s encrypted. Important enough to use ugly bold letters, even.

So, should I?

Nope. This is a classic case of “if you have to ask, then no” and we’re not even trying to be arrogant. Not even a little bit.

If you are asking yourself that question, you weren’t told you had to encrypt the card by your boss or IT manager, or that you don’t have anything on the card that you know you need to protect with encryption. These are really the only time it’s worth bothering to encrypt the card. This is why it’s optional in the first place. Having a secure lock screen keeps anyone from seeing what’s on your card when it’s inside the phone. Encryption makes sure that applies when it’s out of the phone, too.

Not everything is worth the bother or the risk of encrypting your SD card.

If you have random pictures of the cat or your friends and family being silly, some music you like and a picture or two you downloaded from Facebook, ask yourself if it’s worth the hassle. There are even apps you can use to encrypt some of the folders without encrypting the whole card. If you have a Galaxy S8, one’s built into your phone in the Secure Folder feature you’ll find in the settings.

We’re also not trying to discourage you here. We like to think that when it comes to our privacy and our data, encryption makes everything better. But not everyone here at Mobile Nations has a Galaxy S8 with an encrypted SD card because the risk of losing it if the phone breaks (or gets stolen or gets lost, etc.) is not worth it. The stuff on the card is too important to lose, and not important enough to encrypt.

There are a lot of things that need an additional layer of security and your things may be some of them. If you keep those kinds of pictures or have files you wouldn’t want anyone to see without your permission, you might want to add the extra lock that encryption offers. Nobody can say you shouldn’t want to keep your stuff “safe.” Just know how it works and be diligent with the backups.

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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What’s in Alex’s Google I/O 2017 gear bag?

Here’s what I’m packing to Google’s annual nerd party in Mountain View!

Google I/O is a unique gem in the Android calendar, and not just because it’s Google’s yearly chance to show us what it’s working on, and prepare developers for the devices of and platforms of the future. Being an outdoors event, Google I/O has its own set of challenges when it comes to event coverage. You’re out in the California sun, for starters, and it’s not quite as easy to find somewhere to plug in and write up stories. And that’s before you get to the challenges of recording and editing video in that setting.

All of which means you need to pick your I/O gear pretty carefully.

This’ll be my third Google I/O attending in person, and I’ve come packing a refreshed pile of gear to help me through the keynote, developer sessions and beyond

The bag: Jasper Conran Messenger Bag

I have a few messenger bags that I alternate between. But I picked this one for I/O because it also doubles as a decent, lightweight airplane carry-on bag, and is (just about) big enough to accommodate my new laptop and a tripod, along with a camera and couple of lenses.

This one’s seen a good few trade shows over the past four-or-so years, and so it’s a little beaten up, but still does the job. One consequence of its age is that it’s no longer directly available to buy anywhere. Instead, Amazon UK has a similar, more up-to-date version.

See on Amazon UK

The Phone: Samsung Galaxy S8+

In the past year I’ve bounced between a Galaxy S7, Pixel XL and LG G6, but for I/O I’ve settled on the Galaxy S8+, which is my daily driver even when I’m not several thousand miles away from home covering a tech event.

The Galaxy S8 is the best overall phone you can buy right now, thanks to great performance, the best screen on any smartphone, a phenomenal design and a dependable camera. That’s especially important when I’m going to be bouncing between I/O in Mountain View and other places around the Bay Area, keeping a log of things via Instagram photos.

It’s not a multi-day battery life campion, but I’m generally not far away from a power bank at I/O, so that’s not a huge deal for me. And while the design is a little awkward to one-hand, I appreciate the larger display when I’m dealing with a large number of apps, and occasionally running more than one at once in multiwindow mode.

Where to buy the Galaxy S8

The case: Samsung Clear View Stand Case

I’m not normally a case guy, but travel tends to take a lot out of phones, and I’ve come back from too many trips with dinged up phones to take any chances this time. That’s why on travel days I’ve been rocking Samsung’s own Clear View Stand Case. It’s a decent improvement upon earlier Samsung flipcases, with a soft-touch interior on the clear front panel.

It is a little thicker than most S8 Plus cases, but that extra depth allows you to prop up the phone and watch a movie or YouTube video without tiring out your hands.

See at Amazon UK

The backup: LG G6

There are plenty of reasons to bring the LG G6 along on a demanding trip — extra-tall display works great in split-screen view, and it’s a lot less slippery than phones like the Galaxy S8 or HTC U11. But if I’m honest, I’m carrying the G6 as a secondary device almost entirely for the wide-angle camera.

As good as the Galaxy S8’s main camera is — and not to do a disservice to the G6’s main shooter here, which is also great — Samsung can’t recreate the instant fun of capturing an extremely wide-angle view of what’s in front of you. No panorama mode. No stitch errors. Just shoot. The G6 also benefits from similar wide-angle capabilities in its selfie camera, which is indispensable when you want to fit a few other AC team members and some Android statues in your shots.

Where to buy the LG G6

The watch: OG Huawei Watch

It was this or a Samsung Gear S2, and going into I/O I figured Android Wear was the way to go. The good old first-gen Huawei Watch remains my Wear 2.0 device of choice, and Huawei’s late-2015 effort has gotten even better with this latest software upgrade.

Would I be wearing a smartwatch if I weren’t doing this job? Debatable. But for an event like I/O, when notifications are flying at you all day for most of an entire week, it’s essential.

Sure, Huawei’s charging puck is still annoying as hell, and the lack of auto-brightness is annoying. But that’s far outweighed by the fact that the Huawei Watch, with a metal strap, is one of the Android wearables that actually approaches a good-looking timepiece.

See at Amazon

The laptop: Razer Blade (14-inch)

Earlier this year I made the switch from a MacBook Air to a Windows machine, mainly for video editing reasons, and my machine of choice is the 14-inch Razer Blade with NVIDIA GTX 1060. The discrete GPU and powerful Skylake processor make short of Adobe Premiere, many PC games, and of course that most demanding and resource-intensive of applications, Google Chrome. It’s big, and it’s powerful, and still relatively portable, which is what I want out of a main workstation.

I opted for the 1080p model on the advice of Mobile Nations video editor Mark Guim, as the 4K version apparently has less vibrant hues and inferior viewing angles. And I chose the 512GB storage option because… well, video files are big.

On the negative side, this thing’s much heavier than your average Air or Ultrabook, and despite its tank-like frame, battery life is pretty weak — with demanding use in Premiere, I’m lucky to get four hours. (Which is why I’ll be also lugging its gigantic charging brick around with me everywhere I go.)

See at Amazon

The camera: Olympus OM-D E-M5 II

(The lenses: 25mm f/1.8 pancake; 14-150mm f/4-5.6 superzoom)

I’m tempted by the prospect of recording 4K video, and likely to make the jump to a camera body that’s better for shooting video in general soon… But in the meantime this compact Olympus Micro Four Thirds is a reliable go-to camera for most things I do here at Android Central. (Read: Putting still and moving pictures on the Internet.)

It’s small enough to disassemble and store in a messenger bag, while packing important features like a rotatable display, decent battery life (with a spare packed, of course), laptop tetherability and mic input.

The superzoom lens is pretty versatile for keynote photography, where you’re a good distance back from whoever’s on stage at Shoreline Amphitheater, but not great in low light. Over the past year I’ve found the 25mm pancake lens is my best option for hands-on photo video, and perfectly suited to shooting in less than perfect lighting conditions.

Most of my stuff is shot on one of these two lenses. (For example, our recent Best Android Phone video.)

See on Amazon UK
See on Amazon.com

Batteries: Samsung and Aukey quick-charging batteries

The plastic shell of my 5,200mAh Samsung quick charge batteries has sustained plenty of battle damage, but it’s still alive and kicking — and a great size for throwing in a pocket on a longer day, where the S8+’s built-in cell might not otherwise make it. It supports Qualcomm Quick Charge 2.0, which is compatible with Samsung’s Adaptive Fast Charging, and the G6’s Quick Charge 3 capabilities.

Should I need to pack in more power, my 10,000mAh dual-port Aukey battery pack is up to the task, with one fast charging port — again, Qualcomm Quick Charge 2.0 — which can also put out 2.4A at 5V. And there’s a second port for juicing up lesser devices at 1A/5V. It’s a little bulky, but it’s survived countless trips in all manner of bags, and is always ready to bring my phone of choice back to life at the end of a busy day.

The main inconvenience factor is that you need to pack a few microUSB cables to charge them, as neither is Type-C.

• See Samsung 5,200mAh battery on ShopAndroid
• See Aukey 10,000mAh battery on Amazon UK
• See Aukey 10,000mAh battery on Amazon.com

Earbuds: Samsung Galaxy S8 bundled AKG earbuds + Samsung Level Active

I’ll use fancy, expensive headphones at home, but I don’t always want to take them on the road with me. This time around I’ve opted for Samsung’s own AKG-tuned earbuds, as bundled with the Galaxy S8. They’re good — not quite $99 good, as is claimed — but I was impressed by how well they withstood the barrage of airplane noise on the journey over, and they’re comfortable enough to be worn for long period too. The audio quality you get — while a little bass heavy — is better than any bundled buds I’ve used.

When I feel the need to go wireless, I use Samsung’s Level Active earbuds. The battery life isn’t quite up there with a decent set of neckbuds, but the Level Actives are infinitely more portable, and way more comfortable than the larger Level In earphones.

See at Amazon

The spare phone holder: Komodo Nexus 6P neoprene case

These cases are my solution to transporting spare phones around without them getting destroyed in a messenger bag. Simple, cheap, with velcro fastener up top, and designed for the Motorola Nexus 6, so you know pretty much anything will fit.

I’m packing a spare Pixel phone with me for I/O — for obvious reasons, as we approach the new Android O beta release — and the Komodo case keeps it from becoming any more scratched and dented than it already is.

See on eBay

That’s a lot of gear…

My list, as your own personal tech loadout likely may be, is a mix of different generations of stuff — some right up to date, some a few years older, some rather long in the tooth. It’s not all the very latest gear, but it’s a dependable loadout that I’ll be relying on over the coming days — and in other shows in the very near future.

Over the next few days, the other AC editors will be showing off the tech they’ll be using to cover I/O, so keep watching in the near future. Be sure to check ’em out if you like to ogle at technology.

Amazon’s Fire tablets just got a big refresh

Amazon is driving costs down even further, making its tablets irresistible.

Remember way back when there was such a thing as a company capable of competing with Amazon on price for tablets? Those days are long gone, and today Amazon is making sure things stay that way. Four of Amazon’s tablets have been refreshed today with new features and colors, and the prices just keep getting better.

Lets see what we’re looking at!

Amazon Fire 7 and Fire HD 8

The new Fire 7 tablet from Amazon is lighter and thinner than its predecessor, with a 7-inch IPS display Amazon claims is noticeably improved with higher contrast and less battery drain. This new tablet promises up to 6 hours of batter, 8GB of onboard storage with microSD card support up to 256GB, and Alexa enabled in the OS. If you’re looking for a cheap tablet that isn’t terrible to use, it’s hard to argue with $50 for this offering.

See on Amazon

If you want something a little more capable, the Fire HD 8 bumps the screen resolution to 1280×800 and starts with 16GB of onboard storage. This version of the tablet also offers 12 hours of battery, and like the new 7-inch version comes in the standard black as well as Punch Red, Marine Blue and Canary Yellow. This upgraded experience will run you $80, which is clearly not much considering what you’re getting.

See on Amazon

Amazon Fire 7 and Fire HD 8 Kids Edition

According to Amazon, the new Fire 7 and Fire HD 8 are already more durable than the current generation iPad. That doesn’t stop the company from releasing a Kids Edition variant of its tablets with big silicone bumpers and a two-year “worry-free” guarantee to replace if you actually manage to break yours. The new Fire 7 Kids Edition increases the default storage to 16GB onboard and includes a year of Amazon’s FreeTime Unlimited so your kids have access to more apps and shows and books than can be read in that timeframe. This new kid-friendly setup will run you $100, and comes in the three colorful silicone options based on your choice.

See on Amazon

The HD 8-inch variant, like the Adult version, has a better display and larger battery. It’s also packing 32GB of onboard storage by default and includes the same two-year guarantee as the smaller version. Like the Adult Fire HD 8, you’re paying $30 more than the smaller version for the boost in specs.

See at Amazon

Amazon is clearly not done making a lot of noise when it comes to inexpensive tablets packing all of the best features the company has to offer, so will you be upgrading? Sound off in the comments!

Best Ways to Keep Your Galaxy S8 Camera Lens Clean

If there’s one thing wrong with the Galaxy S8, it’s the placement of that fingerprint scanner so close to the camera.

I’m not about to rehash all that’s been written about the placement of the fingerprint scanner on the Galaxy S8, but needless to say, if you’re using that feature to unlock your phone, your finger is going to frequently tap on the camera lens.

Maybe your fingers will develop the muscle memory to find the fingerprint scanner and avoid the camera, but if not we’ve got some product recommendations that will help you keep that camera lens crystal clear and, in turn, help you to take better pictures.

• Use a case to guide your hand
• Keep a microfiber cloth handy
• Buy a screen cleaning kit

Use a case to guide your hand

Not only are cases great for keeping your Galaxy S8 protected, the cutout around the camera and fingerprint scanner provide a very handy guide for your finger to find the scanner and avoid the camera lens.

All of Samsung’s proprietary cases have even more precise cutouts around the camera and fingerprint scanner individually, which would further help to cut down on accidentally pressing the camera lens.

Looking for more case recommendations? We’ve got you covered!

READ: Best Cases for the Galaxy S8

Keep a microfiber cloth handy

If you’re finding your camera lens is always getting smudged up, you may want to pick up a few microfiber clothes to keep in your bag or pocket to give your lens a quick wipe before you start snapping photos.

Sure, you could and probably do use your sleeve or the bottom of your shirt to wipe it in a pinch, but you’ll want to ensure there’s no dust or debris on your shirt because that might cause some microabrasions on the lens instead, and then fingerprint smudges are the least of your problems.

Considering how many devices you probably own that could use a good wipe down every now and again, it’s never a bad idea to have a few microfiber clothes kicking around as it is. Amazon’s own line of products, Amazon Basics, has some really good deals on microfiber clothes. You can get a three-pack of thick microfiber clothes for around $5. They also sell them in bulk batches if you’re planning to stock up for your whole family, and they’re also reasonably priced.

See at Amazon

Buy a screen cleaning kit

If you’re an absolute clean freak and the idea of smudges anywhere on your phone gives you the heebie-jeebies, then you might as well go ahead and invest in a screen cleaning kit to keep your phone and all your other tech clean.

We tried the Whoosh Screen Shine kit and it worked pretty well. It includes non-toxic cleaning solution that helps keep fingerprints off your screen and by extension your camera lens as well. The kit we’ve linked below includes two sizes of spray bottles along with two microfiber clothes — everything you need to keep your phone looking shiny, clean and, most important of all, smudge-free.

See at Amazon

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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Google I/O 2017 keynote — live at 10:00 a.m. PT!

Let’s see what Google has in store for the rest of the year.

For fans of Google, Android and Chrome, the keynote and Google I/O is an event held above all else. It’s a time for Google to lay out its initiatives for both consumer products and developer tools alike, and it’s typically jam-packed with great stuff. Google CEO Sundar Pichai, along with plenty of other influential members of the company, will be on stage at the Shoreline Amphitheater right in Google’s backyard to unveil the latest the company has to offer.

It all kicks off at 10:00 a.m. PT (that’s 1 p.m. ET) today, and the Android Central team is there to bring you all of the sights and commentary you expect. Join us!

Huawei will unveil new 2-in-1 and laptop-style MateBooks on 23 May

Huawei has confirmed in a tweet that it will be holding a product launch event in Berlin on the 23 May, with new MateBooks set to steal the limelight.

• Huawei MateBook review: 5-hours of friendship

Huawei’s MateBook series was introduced at Mobile World Congress 2016 and saw the company’s first entry into the 2-in-1 category and direct rival to the iPad Pro and Microsoft Surface 4.

Not a huge amount is known about the new MateBooks, although notable leakster Evan Blass has tweeted an image showing three different models: MateBook E, MateBook D and MateBook X. What’s interesting is that MateBook is clearly a 2-in-1 with a folio-style keyboard, but MateBook D and X are more traditional laptops.

Pascal + Bell + Watt = Matebooks E, X, & D (/not/ respectively).RT @rquandt (Huawei MateBook “Pascal”…) https://t.co/beQlSjIDk9 pic.twitter.com/CgXz5AIeMH

— Evan Blass (@evleaks) 11 April 2017

The original MateBook had a 12-inch screen, but going by the caption in Huawei’s tweet, coupled with another tweet the company sent the other day, both of which mention the word “maximise”, we’d expect the screens on the new models to be bigger. Or at least, we’d expect one or two of the models to have larger screens.

This is backed up in a tweet by Roland Quandt, also responsible for accurate leaks in the past, who has posted Geekbench results for a Huawei H95-Pascal-W19 with a 15-inch screen. Pascal was believed to be a codename for one of the laptops, although it’s not completely clear if it’s MateBook D or MateBook X.

Ready to redefine your lifestyle? Minimise to maximise. #HuaweiMateBook #LifeMaximised pic.twitter.com/u89dOg85s6

— Huawei Mobile (@HuaweiMobile) 17 May 2017

The Geekbench listing shows the laptop running Windows 10 and has a 2.71GHz dual-core Intel i5 processor with 8GB of RAM. We so far haven’t seen any other listings for the other MateBook models.

Olympus Tough TG-5 preview: For the hardcore generation

Olympus has announced its latest Tough camera, the TG-5. Following the family of Tough cameras before it, the new Olympus model is everything you expect it to be. There are chunky lines, exposed bolt heads, locks on all the flaps and so on.

Such are the hallmarks of a tough cameras, looking to offering something in the compact camera space that you can’t do with your waterproof smartphone. Those mini computers have cannibalised the compact camera market, doing away with the need to carry another thing in your pocket. 

The result is a camera that will withstand the sort of abuse that will make your phone baulk; but a camera that’s also perfectly savvy when dealing with your smartphone. It’s a connected wonder: not only will it let you connect your phone via Wi-Fi, giving you a live viewfinder and complete remote control, but also letting you share your images to social networks through your phone.

Pocket-lint

That’s not the only connectivity that the Tough TG-5 offers. It also has a complete set of “field sensors”. The addition of GPS isn’t something new as it was on the TG-4, the previous model, but this version adds in a lot more data. There’s a manometer, digital compass and thermometer too. You’ll know exactly what the conditions were like when you snapped that action photo. 

The camera can do a little more, as it will also offer to log your data even when it is switched off (offering a day and a half of logging) so that if you’re out on a trek, you’ll be able to see where you went, not just where you took photos. 

Of course photography and videography is what this camera is really all about. The design has evolved slightly based on user feedback. There’s now a slightly more pronounced handgrip on the right-hand side, allowing a little more purchase for those wearing gloves. There’s also now a locking ring on the front lens, so if you attach any of the accessories, like the macro ring light for example, then you’ll know it’s secure.

Pocket-lint

Olympus has put a new imaging processor and sensor in this camera, but retained the f/2.0 lens of the previous model, which offers a 4x optical zoom. It sits in the housing, safe behind the double-glazed front which will prevent fogging in rapidly changing conditions – so it’s now not a problem when you step off the piste into that warm mountain gasthaus. 

The sensors drops down to 12-megapixels, with Olympus pursuing better low light performance over the TG-4’s 16-megapixel sensor. The imaging processor has been lifted from Olympus’ top OM-D camera, so here you’ll find the TruePic VIII hardware that again aims to give you faster shooting and better quality pictures.

We’re impressed with the macro focusing skills of this camera. Although it’s a pre-production model and we’re not able to share any photos we took with it, we found it focused extremely close to objects, which is a good start.

Pocket-lint

One of the enhancements is the introduction of 4K video at 30fps, alongside a full HD option that gives you 120fps for your slow motion action shots. 

The action credentials speak for themselves: 15 meters waterproofing, which can be extended to 45m with the optional housing, it’s crush proof withstanding 100kg, drop proof and good down to -10 degrees. 

For those who do shoot underwater, there’s a selection of underwater shooting modes, including a special underwater HDR option; you’ll find the normal selection of modes and Art Filters on offer, all controlled via the menu and the dial on the back. 

Manual shooters don’t get full control, but you can control the aperture and manage the ISO settings thanks to a second dial on the top. The f/2.0 lens isn’t constant, so as you zoom you’ll lose the benefit of that bright lens, but that’s not so uncommon on this type of camera.

Pocket-lint

First impressions of the menu system suggest that it’s not the most simple out there and changing some of the settings can take a little digging around. Exactly how this will work when wearing gloves or with wet hands we can’t be sure.

But overall, we like the solid design of this camera. We can’t judge exactly what the quality of the images will be like until it goes on sale in June; it will cost £399 and come in black or red. The red version which is the more exciting will initially be a John Lewis exclusive in the UK.

These amazing leaked photos show the real iPhone 8 in all its glory

The Apple iPhone 8 has been subject to countless rumours and leaks for the past year or so. The biggest talking point has always been the design, would it feature a bezel-less front screen? Would it have an embedded Touch ID fingerprint sensor? Will it have an OLED screen?

• Apple iPhone 8 and iPhone 8 Plus: What’s the story so far?

Unfortunately, there have been several contradictory rumours and leaked images, but now BGR has obtained what it says are design mockups of the actual iPhone 8 and so give us our best look yet.

BGR

The images, taken from all angles, show the iPhone 8 with 2.5D curved glass panels on the front and back of the phone, with a stainless steel frame sitting in between. In fairness, it’s not a totally drastic shift from the current iPhone 7 and iPhone 7 Plus, but the use of glass on front and back harks back to the days of the iPhone 4.

The continuously curved edges should make the iPhone 8 a dream to hold and use, although BGR does point out that it still isn’t clear even from these mockups, where the Touch ID sensor will go. There’s no indication to suggest it will go on the back, but likewise, it’s not obvious if it will be embedded in the display instead, as it’s just a dummy model.

On the back is a protruding, vertical dual camera lens, something we’ve been hearing an awful lot about in recent weeks. The vertical array is said to be due to Apple fitting more sensors into the front of the phone, which will be responsible for 3D depth sensing when taking pictures and facial recognition.

BGR

The rear dual camera is thought to be the same as the one found on the iPhone 7 Plus, but could introduce new augmented reality functions. It may not come as a surprise to learn that the iPhone 8 won’t have a 3.5mm headphone port, since Apple removed it from the iPhone 7.

• Apple iPhone 8 in pictures: Renders and leaked photos
• These iPhone 8 renders claim to fully reveal the phone’s new design
• New evidence to suggest iPhone 8 will come with curved bezel-less screen
• Apple could introduce truly wireless charging with iPhone 8
• This latest iPhone 8 schematic shows rear-mounted Touch ID sensor

While these images do look legit and fall in line with several rumours we’ve already heard and reported on, they should be taken with a pinch of salt as Apple could well change the design last minute. If the iPhone 8 did look like this though, it would be a welcome shift away from the ageing design of the current models.

ICYMI: Skydiving from drones while Lowe’s exoskeleton does heavy lifting

Today on In Case You Missed It: Latvian UAV company, Aerones, which specializes in heavy-lift drones, has made publicity stunts an annual tradition and this year is no different. They perched a man atop a 330 meter electrical tower, then sent their 28-rotor drone up to pick him up, then release him to gently parachute back to the ground. It’s the future of commuting.

We also take a look at a new, unpowered exoskeleton that Lowe’s home improvement and Virginia Tech have developed. It utilizes carbon fiber rods situated around the wearer’s legs that flex as the user bends over bend and spring back once they stand back up. It makes picking up heavy items a breeze and has been well-received by store employees during recent trial runs.

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

Wikileaks whistleblower Chelsea Manning walks free from prison

Chelsea Manning took her first steps as a free woman moments ago. Charged with espionage and the capital offense of aiding the enemy, she faced a 35 year sentence for 20 charges, stemming from classified information the then-Bradley Manning submitted to Wikileaks. The soldier’s sentence was commuted by President Obama in January. She will be on unpaid active duty in the military while her military court conviction goes through the appeal process, BBC notes. Should the appeal not be approved, Manning could be dishonorably discharged.

First steps of freedom!! 😄#ChelseaIsFree pic.twitter.com/2Pt2AqNNXK

— Chelsea Manning (@xychelsea) May 17, 2017

The other side of this story involves Wikileaks founder Julian Assange. In January Wikileaks tweeted that Assange would agree to US extradition if Manning was granted clemency by President Obama. Assange could be arrested for his part in Wikileaks’ publication of classified military files pertaining to the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq.

A scan through Wikileaks’ Twitter feed shows support for Manning, but no word from Assange about turning himself over to authorities. Rather, the account retweeted a BBC News story regarding Sweden’s apparent lack of progress in a case regarding an alleged sexual assault committed by Assange. Assange has had asylum in the Ecuadorean embassy for almost five years.

On Assange’s timeline, the only mention is that Manning’s release is “an epic victory. I can’t wait to see her” with a New York Times link attached.

Assange has retweeted a news article from The Guardian about former NSA contractor Edward Snowden and others urging Donald Trump to drop the anti-clemency case against him.

Source: BBC