Apple Seeds Fourth Beta of tvOS 10.2.2 to Developers

Apple today seeded the fourth beta of an upcoming tvOS 10.2.2 update to developers for testing purposes, a little over one week after seeding the third beta of tvOS 10.2.2 and more than a month after releasing tvOS 10.2.1, a minor update focusing on bug fixes.

tvOS 10.2.2 is only available for the fourth-generation Apple TV. Registered developers can download the new update by connecting the Apple TV to a computer with a USB-C cable and installing the beta software using iTunes. Once the beta profile is installed, new updates will be received over-the-air.

No major feature changes or bug fixes were discovered in the first three betas of tvOS 10.2.2, and it appears the update includes only minor under-the-hood improvements and security enhancements.

tvOS 10.2.2 will be one of the last updates to the tvOS 10 operating system as Apple is already working on the next-generation version of tvOS, tvOS 11. tvOS 11 is currently available for developers.

Related Roundups: Apple TV, tvOS 10
Buyer’s Guide: Apple TV (Don’t Buy)
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Ready to pare down your game library? Here are the best ways to do it

Unless you are a serious collector, at some point, you’ve probably thought about getting rid of a few (or many) of your old games. Whether you’re running out of shelf or closet space, getting ready to move, ready to acknowledge that you realistically won’t play that stack of games anymore, or want to fully enter the world of digital game libraries, there are plenty of avenues available to part with a portion of your video game collection. Not all of them, though, are great options. For games that still have some monetary value, most would like to maximize their return. Time is money too, though, so convenience matters. And for those games you literally can’t give away, there is a way to dispose of them properly, rather than tossing them in a dumpster.

Let’s take a look at the best methods for getting rid of your old video games, for profit, convenience, and eco-friendliness.

Sell ’em back: Yes, GameStop is still your best bet

Sure, you’ve probably heard people complain about GameStop’s trade in values in the past, and while the business can justify sometimes marking up games two to three times as much as GameStop gives in credit, it’s also understandable why this bothers some people. The bottom line, however, is GameStop generally offers a higher price per game than other major retailers. Companies like Best Buy, Target, Toys R Us, Amazon, and Walmart have also jumped into the world of buying and selling used games, but no one has beaten them on the one metric that counts. GameStop is also the only major retailer that offers cash for used games (all the rest offer store credit). You get 20 percent less if you take the cash route at GameStop instead of store credit, but even then you’ll most likely wind up right around what you would receive for a pile of games at any of the other major retailers.

While selling your old games and consoles to GameStop won’t maximize your dollars, the convenience factor at least partially makes up for it. While we recommend using GameStop for convenience, that’s not to say that GameStop always gives the best value on every game. If you are only trading in one or two games, it’s best to do a bit of research before choosing a place to sell your old games. GameStop, Walmart, Target, and Best Buy list their trade-in values for each accepted game online. On Amazon, trade in values are listed on product pages. Toys R Us doesn’t list trade-in values online.

It’s important to note that if you are selling older games (pre-Xbox 360/PS3 era), GameStop is the only major chain that accepts “classic” titles. That being said, if you have a bunch of classic games that you want to get off your hands, you may want to check out some of the options below since you might possess, unwittingly or not, a rare title or two. By and large, when selling your games to major retailers like GameStop, it’s best to bring in games for more modern systems like PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch, and Nintendo 3DS.

Don’t forget about local retailers

Chances are, you probably live near a GameStop or big box retailer that will buy your old games from you, but there’s also a chance you live near a local retailer that specializes in multimedia products, you should look into that as well. Not everyone has an independent game shop in their area, but if you do, chances are, these shops want to buy your old games, and that might even give you more money to show you that. Local retailers are also more likely to take older generation games, and cartridge-based games off your hands.

Eliminate the middle man

If you don’t need to unload your unwanted games right away, and you are willing to put a little extra effort into the process, becoming the seller yourself will almost always get you the best price. In terms of online secondhand marketplaces, the first two that come to mind are eBay and Amazon. Both venues let you set your own price, but keep in mind, you are responsible for all boxing up the game(s) and shipping them out. For some, this may be more hassle than it’s worth. However, there is a considerably more convenient option that still allows you to set your price.

If you’re on Facebook, and we imagine you are, there’s a good chance that you can join a local Buy, Sell, Trade group. These groups have become a Craigslist of sorts for the social media era. The best part is that given the local nature of each group, you can talk on Facebook, agree to a price, and meet up to exchange cash for games. You don’t have to go through nearly as many steps as it takes to list games on Amazon, let alone eBay, and these Facebook groups are less sketchy than making deals via Craigslist. Of course, we still recommend meeting up in a public space.

Hori’s new headset puts gaming audio features in the hands of Switch players

Why it matters to you

Hori is one of the first companies showing off designs for Switch voice-chat headsets, which could indicate what kind of accessories other manufacturers will offer in the future.

Japanese gaming accessories company Hori has shown off a brand-new design for a Nintendo Switch headset called the Air, and it looks rather typical for a pair of gaming headphones with an adjustable boom mic. However, unlike a lot of PC or other console headsets, this one still sports the chunky volume control, helping users connect it to their phone for access to the upcoming Nintendo Switch chat app.

One of the difficulties of separating in-game audio from chat audio is that you need an additional connection for it. While we don’t know exactly how Nintendo’s Switch communication application will work, Hori’s hardware suggests that plugging your phone into the headset, which also connects to the Switch, will be one way to do it.

While the new Nintendo Switch headset looks rather typical at first glance — black, angular gamer styling, flexible boom microphone and headband and earphone padding — its volume control is a little different. Alongside the usual volume dial and microphone mute switch, it also has a dedicated voice volume wheel and a separate 3.5mm port for hooking it up to your phone.

That means an additional wire trailing away to your handset, which looks like it could be par for the course with Nintendo Switch headsets (thanks NintendoLife).

The Hori Air isn’t currently available for sale, but is listed on the Hori website for 3,542 yen, or just shy of $32.

While the Air is quite a typical-looking headset, despite its Nintendo Switch cable requirements, Hori did recently debut a much less traditional design. Set to launch alongside Splatoon 2 in Japan on July 21, the headset features green headphones, with a behind-the-head band design.

Its styling draws inspiration from the inklings from Splatoon 2, with a tentacle-shaped boom mic and a volume control/splitter box that looks like one of the game’s squids. It too isn’t quite ready for prime time just yet, but when it launches it will do so with a slightly higher price tag than the Air. Hori’s website currently has it listed at 3,758 yen, or $34.

Although much still needs to be learned about Nintendo’s strategy for online chat, the response to its forced use of a smartphone app hasn’t been particularly positive so far. It will be interesting to see whether these sorts of headsets become a requirement for multiplayer Switch gamers in the future.

We don’t know yet whether either of these designs will be sold outside of Japan, but we have reached out to Hori and will confirm as and when it replies.

IFTTT’s Data Access Project seeks to make public data more accessible

Why it matters to you

IFTTT’s Data Access Project makes it easier to keep track of the government by accessing public data.

You might not be familiar with IFTTT (short for If This Then That), but chances are you have seen it in action. The web-based service acts as a middleman between apps and hardware that would not otherwise talk to each other. Using IFTTT, you can trigger a Philips Hue bulb to turn blue when it begins to rain or have Facebook sync your status with Slack. IFTTT makes linking devices easier with improved developer program. But that’s just the tip of the iceberg.

On Thursday, IFTTT announced the Data Access Project, a program that seeks to make public data from more than 35 federal and state agencies more accessible, manipulable, and shareable across devices.

It builds on the foundation of IFTTT’s partnerships with ProPublica and the city of Louisville, Kentuck, and IFTTT’s native integration with RSS feeds. Starting Thursday, it is flipping the switch on hundreds of public data sources across wide-ranging categories, including the Library of Congress, National Science Foundation, Energy Information Association, and more.

New research-focused IFTTT apps let you keep abreast of new discoveries from the American Psychological Association and keep track of educational advancements from the National Center for Educational Statistics. Military and cyber security tie-ins blow open the doors to the Department of Defense and Homeland Security, via the U.S. Computer Emergency Readiness Team and the National Vulnerability Database. And travel and health integrations feed real-time updates from the U.S. Department of State, World Health Organization, United Nations Office on Drugs and Crimes, Center for Disease Control and Prevention, and the United States Department of Agriculture to your IFTTT hub.

It’s not just big-picture data. Among the Data Access Project’s partners are local partnerships with public transportation authorities and motor vehicle bureaus.

“There are hundreds of open feeds sharing valuable, interesting data. But discovering and using that data hasn’t been so simple — until now,” IFTTT said. “Applets are an incredibly powerful way to interact with data. So, to empower our users and partners, we decided to seek out valuable public feeds and give them a presence on IFTTT.”

The Data Access Project follows on the heels of IFTTT’s expanded Applet program. Applets, or pre-configured connections users can enable with the flick of a switch, work with any service, including Philips Hue and BMW Connected. Developers can post them on a public profile page where they can showcase their Applets. And in the near future, IFTTT’s partners will be able to feature Applets built by makers on pages of their own.

“We’re constantly thinking about how access is handled today — and when to grant access. Users and services are at the same negotiating table,” CEO Linden Tibbets told Digital Trends in May. “They both have a say in how data can move. We want to make better use of the services and connections that you already have.”

IFTTT’s Data Access Project seeks to make public data more accessible

Why it matters to you

IFTTT’s Data Access Project makes it easier to keep track of the government by accessing public data.

You might not be familiar with IFTTT (short for If This Then That), but chances are you have seen it in action. The web-based service acts as a middleman between apps and hardware that would not otherwise talk to each other. Using IFTTT, you can trigger a Philips Hue bulb to turn blue when it begins to rain or have Facebook sync your status with Slack. IFTTT makes linking devices easier with improved developer program. But that’s just the tip of the iceberg.

On Thursday, IFTTT announced the Data Access Project, a program that seeks to make public data from more than 35 federal and state agencies more accessible, manipulable, and shareable across devices.

It builds on the foundation of IFTTT’s partnerships with ProPublica and the city of Louisville, Kentuck, and IFTTT’s native integration with RSS feeds. Starting Thursday, it is flipping the switch on hundreds of public data sources across wide-ranging categories, including the Library of Congress, National Science Foundation, Energy Information Association, and more.

New research-focused IFTTT apps let you keep abreast of new discoveries from the American Psychological Association and keep track of educational advancements from the National Center for Educational Statistics. Military and cyber security tie-ins blow open the doors to the Department of Defense and Homeland Security, via the U.S. Computer Emergency Readiness Team and the National Vulnerability Database. And travel and health integrations feed real-time updates from the U.S. Department of State, World Health Organization, United Nations Office on Drugs and Crimes, Center for Disease Control and Prevention, and the United States Department of Agriculture to your IFTTT hub.

It’s not just big-picture data. Among the Data Access Project’s partners are local partnerships with public transportation authorities and motor vehicle bureaus.

“There are hundreds of open feeds sharing valuable, interesting data. But discovering and using that data hasn’t been so simple — until now,” IFTTT said. “Applets are an incredibly powerful way to interact with data. So, to empower our users and partners, we decided to seek out valuable public feeds and give them a presence on IFTTT.”

The Data Access Project follows on the heels of IFTTT’s expanded Applet program. Applets, or pre-configured connections users can enable with the flick of a switch, work with any service, including Philips Hue and BMW Connected. Developers can post them on a public profile page where they can showcase their Applets. And in the near future, IFTTT’s partners will be able to feature Applets built by makers on pages of their own.

“We’re constantly thinking about how access is handled today — and when to grant access. Users and services are at the same negotiating table,” CEO Linden Tibbets told Digital Trends in May. “They both have a say in how data can move. We want to make better use of the services and connections that you already have.”

Microsoft Edge and gaming get some nice updates in latest Windows 10 Insider build

Why it matters to you

The latest Windows 10 Insider preview build demonstrates that Microsoft is making real progress toward the next major update.

The march toward Windows 10 Fall Creators Update continues, with the Windows Insider program leading the way with increasingly impressive new preview builds. Windows 10 build 16215, for example, was full of new features and fixes that move the operating system that much closer to the next major release.

Today, Microsoft pushed build 16226 to Windows Insider PCs, and it’s full of functionality as well. Microsoft published the complete changelog for build 16226 on the Windows blog, and we’ve covered the highlights below.

Edge EPUB support

Microsoft Edge is once again the recipient of some significant enhancements, particularly in its support for EPUB ebook reading.

First up is support for Copy and Ask Cortana when selecting your text, along with adding notes, highlighting, and underlining. Ask Cortana works just as it does elsewhere in Windows 10, providing Bing-powered search results.

Notes can be added using the keyboard or via Windows Ink. Finally, ebooks acquired from the Windows Store are now synced across devices, including reading progress, bookmarks, and notes.

Edge Favorites

Microsoft has made it easier to work with favorites in Edge. First, all favorites can now be viewed as a directory tree when saving, and folders can be expanded and collapse. Next, users can now edit a favorite URL from within the menu or the Favorites Bar, making it easier to update a site that has moved.

Other Edge Fixes

In addition, it’s easier to close tabs, with the X in the tab band now always available even when a Javascript dialog is displayed. Moving from Chrome to Edge has also been made easier, with the ability to migrate Cookies and settings.

Emojis

Microsoft has expanded the number of emojis that are available in Windows 10, with Emoji 5.0 support. New snacks, actions, dinosaurs, and more are now available. In addition, the Emoji Panel has gained a new search feature making it easy to find and select just the right emoji.

OneDrive Files on Demand

Windows 10 preview build 16215 added the long-anticipated OneDrive Files On-Demand feature that allows users to see all of the files in their OneDrive repository but only download the files they need. That saves space on machines with limited storage, and Microsoft has further enhanced the feature in build 16226. Now, users will get a progress bar in the Action Center showing what’s being downloaded, the status, and an option to cancel a download.

Touch Keyboard

The Windows 10 on-screen touch keyboard now supports shape writing in more languages. Note that you’ll need to download the required language resources in order to use a language other than English. In addition, more languages are receiving text prediction support, and the touch keyboard also now works with East Asian languages.

Handwriting and Pen Interactions

Microsoft has improved the handwriting panel, with the ability to erase words with a pen eraser, processed text is now drawn using Segoe UI, and an issue where the font would be an unexpected size has been fixed. Finally, pen scrolling now works in Win32, or Windows desktop, apps such as File Explorer.

Windows Sonic Spatial Sound

Microsoft introduced Windows Sonic for enhanced headphone audio in Windows 10 Creators Update, and it’s been made even easier to enable. Just plug in a set of headphones, right-click on the sound icon in the notification area, and select Spatial sound and your preferred format.

Gaming Improvements

Gaming has also been enhanced in Windows 10 build 16226. New help options have been added via a new Xbox Networking section in Settings > Gaming. Perhaps most welcome is the addition of a new GPU performance tracker in Task Manager, which shows GPU utilization for each separate GPU component such as 3D and Video encode/decode.

That’s just a selection of what’s new in Windows 10 preview build 16226, which also comes with the usual list of fixes and known issues. For example, if you had difficulty upgrading to build 16215, then this build should be less problematic for you. For a complete overview of everything that’s new in the latest build, head over to the Windows blog, and note that you’ll need to be a Windows Insider on the Fast Ring to see build 16226 show up on your PC.

Unnamed WD worker claims WDLabs may close, end production for Raspberry Pi

Why it matters to you

If the recent rumor is true, fans of Raspberry Pi products looking for a dedicated storage product may need to grab the last of Western Digital’s stock.

Someone posing as a Western Digital employee recently indicated that WDLabs may close, as the company supposedly fired the group working under the WDLabs branch, and has no plans to manufacture new hard drives for the Raspberry Pi board. The comment appeared on Reddit and was quickly removed, but not before Google grabbed a copy.

At the time of writing, Western Digital has not provided any confirmation about a potential closing. A quick look at the WDLabs web page showed that the site was still active and showcasing the WD PiDrive, the WD PiDrive Enclosure, and other related products. The dedicated community was also still up and running here.

“WDLabs is an internal team of innovators assembled to create exciting new products for emerging customers and markets,” the home page states. “We engage directly with lead users to get honest feedback, while exploring new trends and ideas. By leveraging our engineering talent, we’re embarking on new territory to stay ahead of the curve.”

Under the WD PiDrive umbrella, WD provides five products ranging from $19 to $110 in price. For example, the WD PiDrive Compute Centre is a complete do-it-yourself kit with a Raspberry Pi 3 board, a MicroSD card preloaded with custom software, a 375GB hard drive, a black square enclosure, a wireless mouse, a wireless keyboard, and several cables (no HDMI).

The Raspberry Pi 3 is the third-generation Raspberry Pi board sold for a mere $35. The latest “Model B” edition consists of a quad-core processor clocked at 1.2GHz, 1GB of system memory, Wireless N and Bluetooth 4.1 connectivity, and a MicroSD card slot. It also includes four USB ports, an Ethernet port, an HDMI port, and other connections.

As shown here, the Raspberry Pi can be used to create all sorts of devices ranging from a portable computer for kids to a re-created Nintendo Entertainment System console. There are other boards produced by the Raspberry Pi Foundation to use as well, including the Raspberry Pi Compute Module 3 for even smaller computing devices.

Raspberry Pi devices are extremely popular, and talk that WDLabs may close should be chalked up as mere rumor for now. However, the alleged WD employee said that customers were using the Raspberry Pi 3 and WD’s dedicated hard drive to run Bitcoin nodes, which require loads of storage. These nodes help broadcast messages across the bitcoin network, and validate transactions.

“Not sure if there will be an announcement, they might have enough inventory to last a while,” the individual said. “They aren’t going to make any more pi drives as far as I know, so if you’re interested in them I’d suggest you buy one now.”

Why WDLabs may close is unknown unless parent company Western Digital just isn’t making enough revenue off the dedicated products to keep the department running. And if what the alleged Western Digital worker claims is true, WDLabs may close without any fanfare whatsoever.

Moto E4 Android smartphone review

Research Center:
Motorola Moto E4

Motorola’s G series has been the benchmark for exceptional budget smartphones, and the lesser-known Moto E series strives to do the same to do the same at an even lower cost. With the latest entry — the Moto E4 — Motorola hits the ball out of the park with an impressive phone that offers plenty of value for $130. There will always be some compromises on budget devices, and the Moto E4 is no different. But price is very much the spotlight of this phone, and it’s quite competitive given the solid features you get. In our Moto E4 review, we’ll take a deeper look at what Motorola cut, what it kept, and how it all works in the end.

Compact design, average display

Budget phones like ZTE’s Max XL and ZMax Pro often go for a large screen size, but Motorola keeps things compact with the 5-inch Moto E4. It’s a little thick, but it still feels small due to its light weight, and screen size.

The rear has a plastic, removable back that mimics the design of the Moto G5. It’s fairly minimal, with just a large circular camera in the top, and the Motorola logo at the center. The right side houses the power button and volume rocker – neither feel as “clicky” as we’d like. On the top edge, you’ll find the headphone jack, and the MicroUSB charging port is on the bottom. The E4’s earpiece is also its only speaker.

There’s no fancy bezel-less design here — instead, you’ll find fairly chunky edges surrounding the Moto E4’s screen. There’s a fingerprint sensor on the bottom, and a front-facing camera on the top.

It won’t win any design awards, but the Moto E4 is sleek, compact, and easy to use one-handed.

The screen is acceptable. It has a resolution of 1,280 × 720 pixels, but at 5-inches, it still looks sharp. We didn’t run into any issues while watching YouTube videos at 720p, and while Full HD would always be preferable, we don’t think it’s necessary on a small screen. A lower resolution also helps conserve battery, and keeps the price low. If you really want a 1080p screen, take a look at the Moto G5 Plus.

We did have one qualm, though. The screen does have a pinkish hue that’s easily noticeable when reading text with a white background, or when placing the phone next to other smartphones. It’s far from a deal breaker, but it’s something you need to be aware about before purchasing the smartphone.

Satisfactory performance, near stock Android

For a $130, we weren’t expecting much in the performance department. Thankfully, the Moto E4 surprised us with a mostly responsive and smooth interface. We did notice the occasional stutter and lag when moving through the home screen, and when opening some apps — but it was too infrequent to bother us.

The phone is powered by Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 425 (the Sprint version will have a Snapdragon 427) paired with 2GB RAM. You only get 16GB of storage, but you can upgrade it up to 128GB thanks to a MicroSD card slot. Take a look at some of the benchmark scores from the Moto E4:

• AnTuTu: 35,056
• Geekbench 4: 643 single-core, 1,742 multi-core
• 3DMark Sling Shot: 53

As a reference, the Moto G5 Plus scored 63,190 on AnTuTu, and it costs more than double the price of the E4. You won’t be able to play intensive games or juggle multiple tasks smoothly on this phone. Games like Crossy Road, Transformers: Forged to Fight, and Drifty Chase take some time to load, but they perform well — expect some stutters. We used Android’s native split-screen view, and again, there were some stutters when scrolling, but we were still able to get the job done.

There is very little bloatware, and there’s no ugly Android skin bogging down the phone.

The Moto E4 runs Android 7.1.1 Nougat, the latest version of Google’s mobile operating system. It’s one of the best parts about the phone — the user interface is incredibly similar to stock Android. There is very little bloatware, and no ugly Android skin bogging down the phone. You can access the Google Now pane by swiping right from the home screen, or chat with the Google Assistant by pressing and holding the Home button.

There are no fancy Motorola features such as twisting the phone twice to trigger the camera, but it does have some of our simple favorites. The classic Moto Display can turn on night mode from sunset to sunrise, and discretely show notifications on your lockscreen. Moto Actions let you get rid of the on-screen Android navigation icons in favor of gestures on the home button.

As a note, the phone’s vibration motor is fairly weak; and there’s no NFC, so you will not be able to use Android Pay.

Middling camera

Cameras have always been a weak point in budget smartphones, and sadly the Moto E4 doesn’t break that streak. The rear camera packs 8 megapixels, while the front has 5. Photos look either underexposed or overexposed — there’s no real dynamic range. Colors are muted, and in low-light situations, photos are incredibly grainy. There’s no form of optical image stabilization, so in poor lighting conditions you have to be especially still so as to avoid a blurry shot.

That being said, Moto E3 photos are good enough to share on social media and with family, and pretty decent for a $130 phone. If you need a phone with fantastic picture quality, you’ll just have to spend a little bit more.

Great battery life

If you leave it in a drawer for a day, you can only expect to lose 10 percent charge.

Thankfully, the Moto E4 will last you a little more than a day. We started a day of testing off with 89 percent, then used the phone to browse the web, watch some videos, and play some games. By 7 p.m., it still had about 40 percent remaining — that’s pretty good. Standby time is also admirable. If you leave it in a drawer for a day, you can only expect to lose 10 percent charge.

It charges via a MicroUSB port, and the Verizon model will come with a 10-watt charger, allowing for better rapid charging capability.

Warranty information, pricing, and availability

Motorola offers a standard warranty that protects your phone from manufacturing defects 12 months from the date of purchase. Accidental drops and water damage are not covered. If you want more protection, you can always sign up for Motorola Care Accidental Protection, which covers water damage and broken screens. It’s costs for $70 for 15 months, or $100 for 24 months.

The Moto E4 costs $130 unlocked in the U.S., and it’s available from Verizon now. On June 30, you’ll be able to buy it from Best Buy, B&H, Fry’s, Motorola.com, and NewEgg.

The Moto E4 will eventually be a part of Amazon’s Prime Exclusive Phones, meaning you will be able to buy it at an even cheaper price with lock-screen offers and ads. It’s unclear when it will be available, and what the price will be. The phone will also make its way to Boost Mobile, Sprint, Flash Wireless, Jet.com, Republic Wireless, Target, and Ting in July. The company said it will share more details later this summer about availability at other carriers.

Motorola Moto E4 Compared To

Google Pixel

Lenovo Moto G4 Play

Oppo F1

HTC One A9

Huawei P8 lite

Motorola Moto G (2015)

YotaPhone 2

Mlais M9

ZTE Blade S6

Asus PadFone X

HTC One M8 Harman Kardon Edition

Sony Xperia Z1S

Sprint Vital

Sony Xperia ZL

Samsung Galaxy S4

Our Take

For $130 unlocked, you won’t find a better deal on a smartphone with the latest version of Android.

Is there a better alternative?

The Moto E4 Plus will also be available in the U.S. for $180 later this summer, and you get a whopping 5,000mAh battery, 32GB of internal storage, a 13-megapixel rear camera, and a 5.5-inch screen. Those seem like worthwhile upgrades for $50 more, but it’s ultimately a decision based on how much you can spend.

There’s also the ZTE ZMax Pro, which was our favorite $100 phone from 2016. It’s $100 from MetroPCS, but $180 from T-Mobile. Also, there’s always the Moto G5 Plus — it’s our top pick as the best budget phone you can buy for under $300.

How long will it last?

Motorola said the Moto E4 has a water repellent coating — this should protect it from splashes and the rain, but it will not survive a dunk in the pool. Thankfully, the build quality is decent enough that the phone should survive a fair share of drops.

It has the May 1 Android security update, but Motorola doesn’t have the best track record anymore of pushing timely version or security updates — especially for its budget offerings. Expect a jump to Android O, but perhaps half a year after Google releases it. We expect this phone to last you two years, but perhaps not much more.

Should you buy it?

Yes. If you’re reading this Moto E4 review, you’re likely looking to purchase a smartphone for very little money. Whether it’s to have a cheap burner smartphone lying around the house, a phone you want to give to your children, or even if you’re looking for a new smartphone — the Moto E4 is a steal at $130, and it’s the right one to buy.

Ready to break up with Gmail? Here’s how to delete your account

Is it time to delete a Gmail account? Maybe you have an alternate account that you just don’t use, or you want to switch to a different email provider, or you’re just tired of that silly email address you created 10 years ago. Whatever the reason, you want your Gmail gone. We can show you the easiest, most thorough way to get rid of it.

Keep in mind that when you delete a Gmail account, it will be gone. This is a permanent process that, after a brief window in which you can restore the account if you change your mind, removes the address from the email client entirely. You cannot change your mind and try to make a new account with the same email address — and no one else can use it, either. Deleting your account also means that you will be deleting every email inside it forever, so if you have any important emails with valuable, unique information, it’s important to hunt them down and back them up elsewhere first.

However, this will not delete your Google Account. Your Google Account is the profile that spans all Google services, like Google+ and YouTube. Deleting your Gmail account will only get rid of the Gmail data, not your Google identity or the other things you have done with it.

Step 1: Go to account preferences

Account preferences is a hub that allows you to control varies aspects of your overarching Google Account. It’s a useful place if you want to change the language that your Google services appear in, or if you need to add assistive features like screen reading. However, when you go down to the very bottom of the page, you will see a section called, “Delete your account or services.” That’s the one that you want.

Step 2: Go to “Delete products”

Choose Delete products. You do not want to choose the other option to delete your Google Account, since this will get rid of everything related to Google and you are only interested in email (unless of course you want to remove much more than just your email).

At this point, you will have to enter your Google account password, so have it ready. This is almost certain to be the same as your Gmail password in case you aren’t sure which to use.

Step 3: Choose your Gmail account

The next screen will show what Google services you are involved in, and some basic stats about your activity. You will probably see something about Google+, YouTube, and any additional Google-supported services that you have downloaded or used. Select Gmail from the list. If you are not already logged into Gmail, then you will have to provide your address at this point.

Step 4: Input an alternative email address

Google requires an alternative email address so that you can still log into other Google services when your default Gmail address is gone. This step may not be necessary if you are deleting an alternate Gmail account or if you already have your Google login set to a different email service.

Step 5: Remove Gmail

Google will warn you about the consequences of deleting your Gmail account, and give you an option to Delete Gmail. Select this option whenever you are ready.

Step 6: Clear your browser

You aren’t quite done yet! If you save emails from Gmail offline or use Gmail offline in any way, then your browser probably has some info saved on Gmail that now poses problems. To avoid these problems, go to your commonly used browsers and delete your cache and cookies to make sure any data stored from your Gmail is gone.

A note on deleting an email address

If you have been using this email for a long time, remember that you have probably used it to register for services and to sign into everything from bill pay features to one-hit wonder apps that you no longer use. When you get rid of your Gmail account, you will no longer receive updates or reminders from any of these accounts. Some of the accounts may no longer function if they cannot find a responsive email address, which means you may have to change your account info or create a new account. In other words, get ready for some cleanup work after your old email is gone.

Here are the best iPad Pro keyboard cases to pick up with your new tablet

Updated: Added five great keyboard cases for the iPad Pro 10.5-inch, including the Apple Smart Keyboard and Logitech Slim Combo.

The iPad Pro has been out for a while, giving accessory manufacturers plenty of time to design keyboards compatible with Apple’s biggest tablet. And while there are keyboards for the iPad Pro that don’t double as a protective case, we like the ones that add a little protection to your investment. That way, you’re protecting your tablet and always have a keyboard handy when you need it.

A touchscreen keyboard just isn’t the same as a traditional one. Luckily, many of the cases on our list will make you feel like you’re using a touchscreen MacBook, especially given their laptop-esque designs. They also come at varying price points, meaning you don’t need to spend a lot to net a physical keyboard. Below you’ll find our picks for the best iPad Pro keyboard cases, regardless of which model you opted for. Also, if you’re looking for content for your new tablet, be sure to check out our picks for the best iPad Pro games and our favorite drawing apps for the iPad Pro.

Keyboards for the iPad Pro 10.5

Apple Smart Keyboard ($160)

The first keyboard on our radar is, of course, Apple’s Smart Keyboard. This one is similar to the 9.7-inch smart keyboard, with the same shallow key travel and overall build quality. This iPad Pro keyboard case is a one-sided affair. It doesn’t cover your entire iPad like other keyboard cases, but it does make use of the Smart Connector, meaning you don’t need to pair it via Bluetooth. Like many Apple-branded products, however, this keyboard is pricey, but if you want ultimate compatibility and something that was built by Apple, then this should be your first choice.

Buy one now from:

Apple

Logitech Slim Combo ($130)

The new Logitech Slim Combo is, in some ways, what we wanted from Apple’s Smart Keyboard. This keyboard connects via the Smart Connector, just like Apple’s Smart Keyboard, so it requires no pairing. Physically, however, Logitech’s offering provides full-body protection. It also has a built-in holder for your Apple Pencil, and is spill-resistant and easy to clean. The case is a good choice if you want to ensure your iPad is protected, even if you need to detach the keyboard.

Buy one now from:

Apple Logitech

KuGi Keyboard Case ($32)

The aptly titled KuGi Keyboard Case is a good choice for those who don’t want to spend a lot of money on a keyboard that works with their tablet’s Smart Connector. This keyboard has a 250mAh battery, which should allow for about 90 hours of continuous use. When you run out of juice, the keyboard is rechargeable via the Micro USB connector. It’s thin, at only 1.5-millimeters thick, and weighs just over 14 ounces. The case also has a magnetic buckle that secures it when closed, and a place to store your Apple Pencil. There are precise cut-outs for your tablet’s camera and ports, too, so they’re more easily accessible. It currently comes in a variety of colors, including gold and rose gold, to match your iPad.

Buy one now from:

Amazon

IVSO Keyboard Case ($28)

Here’s an affordable keyboard case made from PU leather, with a microfiber interior that protects your iPad. What makes this option stand out is that the keyboard is held in place via magnets. You can slide the keyboard out and detach it from the case, allowing for a more comfortable typing position without requiring you to remove the case. You can also charge the keyboard using a Micro USB cable, which takes around 3 hours. Once charged, you can use the keyboard for an estimated 60 hours. It comes in an array of colors as well, including black, white, blue, gold, rose gold, and purple.

Buy one now from:

Amazon

MoKo Keyboard Case ($28)

This keyboard focuses on giving you a great tactile typing experience with scissor switches for the keys. Like the aforementioned IVSO keyboard, the MoKo Keyboard Case is also removable, so there’s no need to take off the case if you need to adjust the keyboard position. The leather is, of course, synthetic, but you can expect that at this price point. The inside lining is soft, but the rear exterior is tough, helping you to you to protect your tablet from unexpected drops. If you’re going to do a lot of typing on your iPad, then a quality tactile keyboard is a must, one that will allow for a fast and accurate typing experience.

Buy one now from:

Amazon

If you’re looking for alternative, non-keyboard cases, check out our picks for the best iPad Pro 10.5 cases.