Google updates Maps with subway station layouts for desktop and mobile

Why it matters to you

If you live in a big city and frequently use Google Maps’ transit services, you’ll now receive more helpful information about subway stations.

Using Google Maps to get around by subway is about to become a bit easier, based on findings from users on Reddit. Google has begun to add subway station layouts to its maps in certain cities, such as New York and Tokyo.

Many stations are still missing this feature, but the ones that have received it — like several in midtown Manhattan and Shinjuku, Yokohama, and Osaka in Japan — show outlines for platforms as well as entrances. Users must be in transit view to see the additions, though it appears the results differ depending on whether you’re on mobile or desktop web.

Apple Maps has had station layouts for some time now, making it one of a few features that Google has lagged behind in. Zooming into the stations reveals some fine details, like the locations of stairs and escalators — though payment terminals are not currently visible.

Reddit

Station layouts are one of a number of new features that have landed on Google Maps in recent months. Just this week, Google announced it had begun collecting pollution data via its Street View vehicles in a partnership with the Environmental Defense Fund. And in May, the Android app received an update combining Street View imagery with navigation to give drivers a physical representation of where they’ll need to make their next turn.

Meanwhile, the company has cracked down on fake and inaccurate location listings. Google says the number has been reduced by 70 percent since the summer of 2015. In many cases, these were extortionists posing as plumbers, locksmiths, and the like, while a tenth of them were actually real businesses that scammers were imitating.

Google has not yet made an official announcement regarding the station maps feature, so at this time it is unclear how many locations will ultimately be represented, and when users might expect to see them. We will update this article as we hear more.

Alexa will soon be able to control more of your TVs, apps, and set-top boxes

Why it matters to you

Amazon’s new skills let it more easily control the TVs, set-top boxes, and apps in your home.

Amazon’s Alexa assistant can’t acquiesce to any request, but that’s not to suggest it isn’t capable. It’s got tracks from Spotify on tap, plus Philips Hue controls, seven-day weather forecasts, and your local supermarket’s Saturday hours. If there’s one area Alexa’s been lacking, though, it’s video — controlling your TV with Alexa isn’t exactly easy. But that’s changing with the introduction of Amazon’s new Video Skill API, which makes it simpler for content creators to add stop, start, and other playback controls to Alexa’s ever-growing skill set.

When a software developer invokes the Video Skill API, it gets a wealth of playback controls at its disposal. These includes basic commands like play, pause, and volume adjustment, but also a search tool that sifts through titles, actors, and genres. The Video Skill API’s features don’t stop there — it also keeps track of the services you’ve enabled, doing away with the need to specify a content provider or device when you want to watch something. And unlike most other Alexa apps, skills that tap into the Video Skill API don’t require an invocation phrase — if you have at least one enabled, you can say commands like, “Alexa, play John Wick,” and it’ll queue up on the nearest TV.

Amazon is launching a promotion to spur development of Video Skill-enabled apps — app developers who publish skills by the end of this month get a free Echo Dot speaker — but the Video Skill API is launching with few early adopters. Dish Network, which announced an Alexa skill that lets the cable company’s subscribers change channels, search for shows and pause, and fast-forward, and rewind, will be among the first to take advantage. YouView and NetGem in the U.K. will follow suit later this month.

The Video Skill API’s rollout couldn’t have been timed better. In March, the Seattle-based retailer teamed up with TV maker Element to launch the first Alexa-enabled smart television. And on June 28, it will begin shipping the Echo Show, an Alexa-powered speaker with a touchscreen display, camera, and high-quality stereo speakers.

But Amazon’s playing catch-up, too. Google’s eponymous Google Home speaker works in tandem with Google Cast-enabled devices to beam music, YouTube videos, and Netflix shows around your house. And Apple’s upcoming HomePod, a Siri-enabled speaker with high-quality audio, sports AirPlay 2, Apple’s new-and-improved wireless streaming standard supporting multi-room audio, streaming video, and more.

Here’s every PC game with Tobii eye tracking support

Fifteen games have been added to the table, including Volition’s Agents of Mayhem.

Virtual reality offers a unique way to experience video games, transporting players to different worlds and continuing to blur the line between gaming and reality. The technology isn’t for everyone, however. Traditional displays still deliver fantastic gaming experiences, and with the addition of Tobii’s Eye Tracker, games can feel just as lifelike without the need to wear a bulky headset.

By setting up a Tobii Eye Tracker for use with your PC, you can control certain aspects of your favorite games — and occasionally entire games — with nothing more than your gaze. This can create stronger emotional bonds between you and the in-game characters, streamline clunky control schemes, and breathe new life into older games.

A few features of the Tobii Eye Tracker are common across several supported games. Aiming or controlling the camera with your eyes, often called “Aim at gaze,” is seen on a number of third-person and first-person shooters, as is “Extended View,” which pans out the camera when your eyes hit the edge of the screen. A third feature, “Clean UI,” hides the majority of on-screen information until you stare at a particular piece, such as a health bar or map. Below, we’ve created a table listing all the games that use Tobii technology, as well as the features you can expect to use in them.

Game
Aim with eyes
“Extended View”
“Clean UI”
Special Features
7 Days to Die
Yes
Yes
Yes

Agents of Mayhem
Yes
Yes
Yes
Dynamic light. Environmental awareness.
Amphora
Yes
Yes
No
Affect environment with a glance. Light effects “highlight your focal point.”
Arma 2
No
Yes
No

Arma 2: Operation Arrowhead
No
Yes
No

Arma 3
No
Yes
No

Assassin’s Creed Rogue
No
No
No
Direct movement with eyes, pause by looking away.
Assassin’s Creed Syndicate
Yes
Yes
Yes
Character adapts to light based on your gaze.
Battle of Sol
Yes
Yes
Yes

Beatshot
Yes
No
No
Not only “aim at gaze,” but “fire at gaze.”
Blind Love
No
No
No
Control character with gaze.
Clustertruck
No
Yes
No

Coffin Dodgers
Yes
Yes
Yes

Creativerse
No
Yes
Yes

DayZ
No
Yes
No

Deus Ex: Mankind Divided
Yes
Yes
Yes
Interact, use abilities, and enter cover at gaze. Open inventory at gaze.
Distance
No
Yes
No

Dogos
Yes
No
Yes

Dungeons 2
No
No
No
Center at gaze.
Dying Light: The Following — Enhanced Edition
Yes
Yes
Yes
Zombies become aware when looking at them. Interact and sprint at gaze.
Elite: Dangerous
No
Yes
No
Head posing.
Euro Truck Simulator 2
No
Yes
No

Event [0]
No
Yes
No

Eye Tracked Paintings
No
No
No
“Events” trigger in peripheral vision.
Eyeron Defender
Yes
No
No

Farming Simulator 15
No
Yes
No

Farming Simulator 17
No
Yes
No

Fast Sight
No
No
No
Interact with environment using eyes.
Glimpse of Fear
Yes
No
No
Interact with environment using eyes.
Grab Your Eyes
No
No
No
Mini-game collection. All controlled with eyes.
Gunfleet
No
Yes
Yes

Iron Front Liberation 1944
No
No
No

Knee Deep
No
No
No
Select objects with eyes. “Big Brother” eyeball tracks your gaze.
Master of Orion
Yes
Yes
No
Faster gamepad navigation.
Mechrunner
Yes
No
Yes

Microsoft Flight Simulator X
Yes
No
No

Pavilion
No
Yes
No
Interact with objects using eyes.
Pollen
No
Yes
No
Eyes affect environment.
Prepar3d
Yes
No
No

Project Root
Yes
No
No

Reflections
No
Yes
No
Interact with objects using eyes. Gaze triggers response from characters. “Dynamic depth of field.”
Rise of the Tomb Raider
Yes
Yes
Yes
Head posing. Highlight and throw with gaze.
Salt
Yes
Yes
Yes

Shadow Tactics: Blades of the Shogun
Yes
No
No
Interact with UI and characters, center, and place marker with eyes.
Shelter 2
Yes
Yes
No
Cubs respond to eye contact. Direct movement with eyes.
Slime Rancher
No
Yes
Yes

SOMA
Yes
Yes
No
“Environmental awareness.” Zoom and affect AI with gaze. Control flashlight with eyes.
Son of Nor
Yes
No
No
Transform environment using eyes.
Spectrophobia
Yes
No
No
Symbols react to your gaze.
Steep
No
Yes
Yes

Take on Helicopters
Yes
No
No

Thea: The Awakening
No
No
No
Center at gaze.
The Channeler
Yes
No
No

The Forest
No
Yes
Yes

The Hunter
Yes
Yes
No

The Hunter: Primal
No
Yes
No

The Hunter: Call of the Wild
Yes
Yes
Yes

The Solus Project
No
No
No
Interact with environment using eyes. “Dynamic depth of field.” “Sixth sense” ability.
Through the Wood
No
Yes
No

Tom Clancy’s Ghost Recon Wildlands
Yes
Yes
Yes
Open communications wheel with eyes. Pause by looking away.
Tom Clancy’s The Division
Yes
Yes
Yes
Use grenades, enter cover, and tag enemies with eyes. Mark spot on map with eyes.
Unturned
Yes
Yes
No

Valley
No
Yes
No

Volcanic Fields 2
Yes
No
No

Watch Dogs 2
Yes
Yes
No
Enter cover and hack with eyes.

New iMac 21.5-inch 4K model easier to upgrade than past machines

Why it matters to you

If you’re making an investment in Apple’s newest iMac, then rest assured that at least some of the components can be upgraded.

Apple introduced new iMac all-in-ones (AIOs) at its Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC) 2017 event, marking the first time the line has received a refresh in quite a while. The new iMacs look the same on the outside, but they received some more powerful parts on the inside.

One knock against the 21.5-inch iMac in particular, at least compared to some Windows AIO machines, has been the inability to break it open and upgrade many of its components. However, iFixit, which in addition to offering tools for fixing PCs routinely tears new machines down to see how repairable they are, found the new iMac to be more upgradeable than in the past.

iFixit started with the midrange 2017 iMac 21.5-inch 4K model. In terms of how easy it is overall to repair that machine, iFixit awarded it three out of 10 on its Repairability scale. That means that it’s perhaps easier to repair than machines like Apple’s MacBook Pro, which scored one out of 10, but harder to repair than Microsoft’s Surface Studio AIO, which scored a five out of 10.

The good news is that the CPU and the RAM are both modular, with the RAM being standard DDR4 DIMMs and the CPU using a standard LGA 1151 socket. The iMac 21.5-inch also uses a standard 2.5-inch SATA SSD that can be replaced. The bad news is that it’s hard to get to the replaceable parts — they’re hidden behind the logic board and require almost the entire iMac to be torn apart to get to them.

Otherwise, the teardown didn’t produce any serious surprises. It’s a highly modular design with a dense logic board, and taking it apart is likely best for those really comfortable with such things. Some notable items include a single microphone versus the dual-microphone setup Apple has used on past iMacs, and the Retina Display panel and glass are fused together and thus more costly to repair. Buyers should definitely consider investing in the new AppleCare+ for Mac that includes damage protection.

In short, the new iMac 21.5-inch 4K AIO is a more repairable and theoretically upgradable machine than past models. If you’re looking to make the investment and are also looking at Windows AIOs, then at least you know that it’s possible to upgrade them somewhat, even if it might take some work.

PlayStation VR toubleshooting guide

Everything you need to know, just in case something goes wrong.

PlayStation VR is a great system that’s introduced many people to VR, but even the best systems experience problems from time to time. From tracking issues to display issues to audio issues, here’s how to fix pretty much any problem you experience with your PlayStation VR.

See more at VR Heads!

Best Phone for Business

Update, June 2017: The BlackBerry KEYone makes its appearance at number 1 on the list.

• Best overall
• Best for updates
• Best value

Best overall

BlackBerry KEYone

See at BlackBerry Mobile

BlackBerry is legendary when it comes to mobile device management and security, and follows that trend when using Android to power its phones. With the KEYone, you also get the keyboard experience that only BlackBerry can offer. The KEYone is a great way to enjoy Android for people who still want a physical keyboard on their phone and peace of mind knowing a company is concerned about security.

Bottom line: BlackBerry continues its reputation of excellent mobile security and having a great keyboard with the KEYone.

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

Why the KEYone is the best

A phone you want to use can also keep your data safe — both personal and business data.

The phone you carry to serve your customers and keep things running smoothly at work needs to be able to do them quickly and keep all that data safe. The KEYone is our top pick when it comes to these specifics.

BlackBerry has built a reputation on serving business owners with highly capable and very secure phones. That legacy lives on with its Android offerings. BlackBerry’s additions like the Hub and contact manager are proven to be effective ways to manage busy business accounts. The KEYone’s great physical keyboard means you’ll feel right at home if you’re coming from an older BlackBerry.

And the KEYone is a phone that does all this with no compromises when it comes to performance. The efficient yet powerful Snapdragon 625 CPU also means you can do whatever it takes to keep things running smoothly all day without searching for a charger and power outlet. Whether you’re managing email, sorting through a spreadsheet at the airport, or watching a video in your downtime, the KEYone can handle it all.

Best for updates

Google Pixel

See at Google
See at Verizon

The Google Pixel is the most secure Android phone you can buy, and one of the most secure phones of any available today.

Without disabling any security protections, the Pixel and Pixel XL are protected against known public security exploits and remote installations are monitored by Google’s scanning software which blocks potential malicious content. While security and privacy are two very different things, when you decide you want private things to stay private you need to make sure your phone is secure to keep them that way. Security is paramount when it comes to using a phone with all your important business contacts and details.

One of the things that make the Pixel and Pixel XL the best is that they use the latest — and most secure — version of Android. It’s also updated monthly with fixes for security exploits (both known and unknown) directly from Google. For those who can’t wait for the update to reach them, the update files are hosted by Google for download and installation. More importantly, the changes and code behind these fixes are available for peer review so they can be made more robust.

Bottom line: The Google Pixel will always have the latest and most secure version of Android for the duration of its lifetime.

One more thing: Verizon carries the Pixel and your account rep can take care of any order.

Best value

BlackBerry DTEK60

See at Amazon

BlackBerry says the DTEK60 is the world’s most secure Android phone.

The DTEK60 adds an enhanced version of the DTEK software tool to monitor application and system use to warn you when something isn’t playing nicely. While this software is available as an update for the Priv, the out-of-the-box experience on the DTEK60 lets BlackBerry claim the “most secure Android “title. It’s also pretty nice to use, too.

Bottom line:The DTEK60 is a welcome lower-cost option for many users and IT managers.

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

Conclusion

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

The KEYone has the BlackBerry legacy of security and professional tools behind it, and the move to Android also makes even more services available. When it comes to the day-to-day needs of running a business or having your staff using the best tools possible in a safe and secure way, you can’t beat the BlackBerry KEYone.

Best overall

BlackBerry KEYone

See at BlackBerry Mobile

BlackBerry is legendary when it comes to mobile device management and security, and follows that trend when using Android to power its phones. With the KEYone, you also get the keyboard experience that only BlackBerry can offer. The KEYone is a great way to enjoy Android for people who still want a physical keyboard on their phone, and peace of mind knowing a company is concerned about security.

Bottom line: BlackBerry continues its reputation of excellent mobile security and having a great keyboard with the KEYone.

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

Sprint offering all customers free Tidal HiFi subscriptions for 6 months

It’s hard to turn down free stuff.

Starting June 9, Sprint is offering six free months of Tidal’s music streaming service — and it’s doing so for all new and existing customers. The move comes less than six months after Sprint took a 33% stake in Tidal, which at the time was sold as a great way for Sprint users to get exclusive music on the service.

Not only is this six free months, but it’s actually for Tidal’s higher-end audio “HiFi” tier, which normally costs $19.99 per month. After the six months is up, Sprint customers unfortunately don’t get any sort of discount: they’re offered the ability to continue on Tidal Premium (the basic tier) for the standard $9.99 monthly rate, or HiFi for $19.99.

This partnership isn’t just about free music for Sprint customers, though. The companies are also supporting the “1Million Project,” an initiative from the Sprint Foundation that offers 1 million low-income high school students with a free mobile device and internet through their high school years. That’s a great cause to be a part of.

Once the promotion for the Tidal subscription is live, Sprint customers can simply go to Sprint.com or a Sprint retail location to redeem it.

Google releases Android O Developer Preview 3 for Pixels and Nexuses, OTAs starting soon

Get on that latest build.

Just a month after releasing the second Android O Developer Preview, we now have the third Dev Preview release — which importantly marks final APIs and an official SDK for developers to build apps for Android O. For the non-developers among us, it also means we get a better look at Android O in a closer-to-complete state in terms of interface and features.

Though we expected the third Dev Preview to land more in the range of mid-June, we’re happy to see Google getting this release out early to give developers even more time to make their apps ready for Android O. This also keeps slightly ahead of schedule to perhaps see the fourth and final Dev Preview earlier than mid-July.

We get to play, but the developers can really get to work now.

Now that Android O APIs are final, that means developers targeting that API level can actually publish their apps to Google Play, too. So if you’re running a Pixel or Nexus with Android O, you may start to see more apps arrive that properly interface with your phone’s new features.

Android O Developer Preview 3 is available to download as a full factory image for the Pixel XL, Pixel, Nexus 6P, Nexus 5X, Pixel C and Nexus Player. Those are also devices that will soon get the update via the Android Beta Program — and that really is the best way to go unless you’re really impatient.

More: Should you install the Android O Developer Preview?

But if you do want to flash a device fresh rather than wait for the Beta Program to kick in, be sure to read our guide on how to manually update for all of the details!

Android O

• Everything new in Android O
• Should you put Android O on your phone?
• How to get the Android O Beta on your Pixel or Nexus
• Join the Discussion

How to get the Android O beta 3 on your Pixel or Nexus (and how to roll back to Nougat)

Here’s how to get the Android O beta on your Nexus or Pixel device.

The Android O Developer Preview 3 is here, and if you’re looking to install it on your phone or tablet, you’re now able to opt-in to the first public beta, which is also available as the second Developer Preview.

Which devices support the Android O Developer Preview?

The preview is supported on the following phones and tablets:

• Pixel
• Pixel XL
• Pixel C
• Nexus 6P
• Nexus 5X
• Nexus Player

Download the Android O beta

If you don’t want to mess with unlocking your bootloader or the command line, the third Android O Developer Preview is part of the public beta. That means that if you have one of the above eligible devices, you can simply visit the Android Beta portal and opt-in to the beta, which will then prompt Google to send your phone or tablet an over-the-air update.

Head to Android Beta program portal on your Pixel or Nexus phone or tablet.
Sign into the Google account associated with that phone.
Scroll down to Your eligible devices.
Find the device you want to enrol in the Beta program and tap Enrol device.
Follow the prompts to accept the over-the-air download.

Note: To leave the beta program, simply press the button on the Android Beta program page to unenroll. Your phone will receive an over-the-air update to return to the stable version of Android 7.1.2 Nougat, but your phone will be wiped clean upon rebooting, so back up your stuff.

Install the Android Developer Preview from the command line

What you need to know beforehand

The Android O Developer Preview 3 is also being released as a factory image, which you can download from the Android Developer Portal.

In order to update a phone or tablet to Android O this way, you need to first unlock your bootloader.

Before we go into these steps, it is strongly recommended that you have previous knowledge of working with the Android SDK (software development kit) and Terminal (OS X or Linux) or Command Prompt (Windows), as it is possible to harm your device if something were to go wrong in the following process.

You’ll need to download an updated Android SDK that has the latest Android O tools and images, and you can grab it from the Android Development website and follow their instructions on how to install it correctly. For the following process all you will need is the adb and fastboot files which are located in the Platform Tools folder.

Additionally, all the following commands are written as they would be in Terminal on a Linux or OS X platform. If you are following this guide and using a Windows machine, you will not need to use the “./” seen in the guide.

Enable developer settings and USB debugging

Before you begin, you’ll need to have a compatible Nexus or Pixel device running Android 7.x Nougat.

Go to your Settings and scroll down to About Phone/Tablet
Tap on the Build number seven times until the dialog box says you are now a developer
Go back to the Settings menu and you should find a new option called Developer options. Click into the Developer options
Make sure that the developer options are turned on and that USB debugging is checked on
Make sure Enable OEM unlock is checked.
Plug your device into your computer and click “OK” on the dialog box asking you to Allow USB debugging while connected to the computer. You can also select to always allow access on that computer

If done correctly, this will be everything you will need to do on your phone or tablet for the moment.

Unlocking your bootloader

Nexus devices and Pixel phones bought from Google directly have a bootloader you can unlock. If you want to manually flash software, you’ll need to do this.

To do this you must first boot into your bootloader. You can either manually turn off your phone or tablet and hold down the power button and the volume down button to enter your device’s Bootloader Menu or you can enter the following commands into your terminal or command prompt.

Run the following command to make sure your device is properly connected to your computer. If it returns a string of characters it means that you are all set to start updating your device.

./adb devices

Now to enter into the Bootloader menu just run the following command.

./adb reboot bootloader

At the bottom of the screen there will be several things listed including the lock state of the device. This should say locked unless you have unlocked your bootloader in the past and never went back and locked it again.

To unlock your bootloader, which is required only when flashing a stock firmware image (not sideloading and update, which we’ll get to soon), you must enter the following commands. Remember that when unlocking your Nexus’ bootloader it will factory reset your device, so you will lose everything stored on it. If you have not yet backed up anything important on your device you can hit the power button while Start is highlighted in the Bootloader menu and this will boot you back into your device like normal. Now back to unlocking your bootloader.

Use the command:

./fastboot flashing unlock

A dialog will appear on the device asking if you are sure about unlocking. Again this will factory reset your device, so if you want to back out of the process you just need to select no with the power button. If you are ready to unlock your bootloader you press the volume up button and then the power button to confirm that you wish to unlock your bootloader.

./fastboot reboot-bootloader

It is recommended to reboot the bootloader just to give itself a check to make sure everything is working correctly before moving onto the next step.

Flashing the stock firmware image

Now that your bootloader is unlocked, it’s time to flash the Android O image. To find the system images, head on over to the Factory Images page, find your device, and download the latest factory image available. It is easiest to then uncompress the file in the Platform Tools folder where the adb and fastboot files are so that you don’t have to type the path to the different files when flashing the firmware. (Or if you know that you can drag a file into a terminal window to copy the path, just do that.)

To begin, make sure you are still in the bootloader menu on your device and double check that your bootloader is in fact unlocked.

First, make sure that your computer is communicating correctly with your phone or tablet. As long as your device’s serial number comes back as a connected device you are ready to begin updating your device.

./fastboot devices

Now it is time to flash the updated bootloader with the following command.

./fastboot flash bootloader [bootloader file].img

You will not see anything on the screen of your device but there should be a dialog in your terminal or command prompt. When it is done flashing the bootloader you should reboot back into the bootloader as to make sure everything is still working correctly.

./fastboot reboot-bootloader

Next you flash the updated radios. This step is only necessary if you are updating the firmware of a phone or tablet that has cellular radios built into it.

./fastboot flash radio [radio file].img

./fastboot reboot-bootloader

Finally, it’s time to flash the actual system image to your phone or tablet.

Warning: The following line of code will wipe your device. If you do **not* want your device to be wiped, remove the “-w” from the command. The update should still take just fine, and it will not wipe your user data.

./fastboot -w update [image file].zip

When this is done, your phone will restart itself and boot up normally. As this process clears all data from your device, it will take slightly longer for your device to boot up into Android O for the first time. Once you have been greeted with the device setup walkthrough process, you know you have successfully flashed a new version of the firmware.

If you do not want to enter the commands manually there are scripts included inside the compressed folder containing the system image that will do most but not all of the heavy lifting for you. The flash-all script files will automate the flashing of the bootloader, radios (if needed), and the system image. The problem with this process is that you must first make sure that your phone is in the bootloader menu and its bootloader must be unlocked before starting the script. Of course if these are not already done the script will fail to run and nothing will happen.

How to revert back to Nougat from the Android O Developer Preview

So you’re not happy with an early beta and need to re-install Nougat. That’s pretty easy! If you installed Android O using the factory image, all you need to do is find the right system image compatible with your handset or slate and run the same procedures as above but with the Android Nougat image.

When finding your Nougat image, make sure you are downloading the correct one that corresponds with your device. If you’re running a Verizon or Rogers Pixel, for instance, you’ll have to make sure you download the right one.

If you opted into the beta and want to roll back, just unenroll from the beta and restart your phone.

Should you install the beta?

Now that we’re at the third beta, things are looking pretty stable. Not only has Google finalized the APIs for Android O, developers can publish apps with those new features in them — you may see your favorite app compatible with Icon Badges or Notification Channels very soon.

Even without third-party app support, the overall design of Android O appears to be near final, and we’ve had very few stability issues with the new version. And while performance isn’t perfect, it seems pretty close, and that’s good enough for any beta.

Problems? Confused?

If you’re having issues or want to ask a question, come join us in our forums for all the tips, tricks and advice you can handle!

Android O

• Everything new in Android O
• Should you put Android O on your phone?
• How to get the Android O Beta on your Pixel or Nexus
• Join the Discussion

Best Drones For Kids

There are plenty of kid-friendly drone options out there!

Updated June 2017: Added the EACHINE E10 and Protocol Videodrone AP to our list.

Whether you’re buying a drone for a kid, or simply for someone who’s never owned a drone before, there’s a few considerations you want to keep in mind — cost, size, range, and durability. If you’re buying for a young one, you’ll definitely want to keep the first three down, but that will invariably also affect the drone’s durability as well. Crashing is part of the learning process, so we’ve highlighted some options that include built-in blade guards.

We’ve listed our favorites starting from the smallest and cheapest option to more full-fledged camera drones, ideal for older kids interested in aerial videography or picking up drone racing as a new hobby. Note that these drones are all recommended for ages 14 and up.

Looking for more drones? Check out our article on the best drones under $300 or the best camera drones if price is no object.

• Aukey Mini Drone
• EACHINE E10X Mini Quadcopter
• UFO 3000 LED Drone
• Holy Stone HS170 Predator
• UDI 818A Camera Drone
• Protocol Videodrone AP
• MicroDrone 3.0

Aukey Mini Drone

This pocket-sized drone is basically the definition of a kid drone at just under two inches across. It comes ready to fly out of the box, with a USB cable for charging and a kid-friendly controller that features a one-press button for take-off and landing. You’ll get five minutes of flight on a fully-charged battery, with just over 80 feet of range from the controller.

Perfect for flying indoors, this little drone makes a great gift not only for kids, but for anyone interested in having a little drone fun in their spare time. Learn the basics of flight on the Aukey Mini Drone, then move onto bigger and stronger drones once you’re confident in your piloting abilities.

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EACHINE E10 Mini Quadcopter

The EACHINE E10 Mini Quadcopter is a perfect little drone for kids, featuring a simple, kid-size controller and everything your kid needs to practice drone flying.

Despite its small size, this drone includes some impressive features, including one-button 360-degree rolls and a return home function built into the directional control stick. There’s also 4 LED lights on the underside of the drone, which helps with visibility in low-light conditions.

Best of all is the price — at under $25 for the standard version and under $40 for the E10C with a 2.0-megapixel camera, these are ideal little drones for young pilots. They are super portable and quite durable, and if they stop working after an epic crash, it’s not the end of the world.

It’s worth noting that you’ll want to give the battery some time (at least 20 minutes) to cool down before recharging after a flight because otherwise you risk drastically shortening the lifespan of the battery and the drone.

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UFO 3000 LED Drone

When you’re learning how to fly a drone, crashes will happen. The UFL 3000 LED Drone helps to mitigate that by keeping the blades fully protected. Your novice pilot can bump into walls and whatnot while they learn how to zip around on low and high speed modes, as well as perform flips with the simple press of a button.

Oh, and then there’s how cool this drone is, with its blue and green LEDs creating four brilliant rings of light, so your little drone pilot can practise flying even in the dark. Two batteries ship with this drone, with flight times averaging around seven minutes on a full charge.

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Holy Stone HS170 Predator

The Holy Stone Predator drone is a fun, palm-sized drone that’s pretty much good to fly right out of the box. It’s a great, affordable option for anyone looking to learn the basics of flying a drone. It features six-axis gyro stabilization and can be flown indoors or outside — though given its size, you’ll want to wait for a calm day with little to no wind.

The downside here is that you’ll only get about five minutes of flight time from a fully-charged battery, so we recommend picking up a few extras as well, since it’s easy to hot swap them out and only takes about 40 minutes to recharge. We’d also suggest getting a few extra props, too, since they’re so cheap and are the first thing to go flying and get lost or broken in a crash.

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UDI 818A Camera Drone

This is the first drone on our list that comes with a camera, which allows you to snap photos and videos conveniently with the included controller. Its price makes it an ideal starter drone for someone looking to eventually upgrade to bigger and better drones with better cameras.

This is another drone that provides good protection for the blades, which are typically the first thing to get damaged or lost in a crash. It’s very lightweight, so you’ll want to avoid using it outdoors on a windy day. It ships with a camera that shoots photos and videos in standard definition (640×480), with a 2GB microSD memory card included for storage.

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Protocol Videodrone AP

If your kid has played around with mini quadcopters and is looking for something a little bigger, a little more substantial, and really cool-looking, then you’ll want to look into the Protocol Videodrone AP.

For starters, as the name implies, this drone comes with a built-in camera for snapping video (640×480 resolution) and up to 1000 images on the included 4GB of memory. The drone includes onboard sensors and features that make it easy to launch and keep in the air. You’ll get roughly 7 minutes of flight time per fully charged battery, and you’ll want to preserve the battery by letting it cool down before recharging immediately.

In terms of build quality, the Protocol Videodrone AP certainly has a premium look to it with black and gold materials. Spanning about 10 inches across and featuring proprietary blades and stylish blade guard designs, this stands out from other options on this list. At nearly $100, this is a good intermediate option for those who have learned the basics and want to step up to something a bit bigger.

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Microdrone 3.0

If you’re buying for an older kid who is really interested in taking up drone racing as a hobby, the Microdrone 3.0 is a great option, given everything that comes with it.

Included in the full set combo, now available from Amazon, you get the drone, a 2.4 GHz handset, propeller guards, four replacement blades, four blades for inverted flying, the Wi-Fi Camera module, a smartphone holder that attaches to the handset, as well as a VR headset that holds most smartphones for first-person view flight. Basically, it’s everything you need to dip your toes into the world of drone racing.

It’s a capable flyer with three control modes (slow, fast, and insane), as well as a toggle switch for stunt mode, which lets you perform impressive flips and rolls. The camera literally snaps on in a second thanks to proprietary magnets that also deliver power to the camera. Connect your phone to the camera’s Wi-Fi and control and record video through the Microdrone app.

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Your picks?

Do you have a go-to drone that’s great for kids? Let us know in the comments below!