The new Amazon Fire HD 8 is still the best tablet for kids

I love my kids. But they’re going to break things. Expensive things. So I don’t buy them expensive things.

Sure, grown-ups love their tech. But as we all know too well, so do our kids. And while I’d love for mine to always have the latest and greatest, the fact is that’s just a bad idea. My kid doesn’t need a $1,000 tablet. Or even a $500 tablet, for that matter. So where to turn?

The Amazon Fire HD 8. We’ve had the 2016 model in my house since, well, since 2016. And now we have an updated model, starting at $79. That’s with 16GB of storage and “special offers” — which means ads on the lock screen and notification pull-down. (What’s crazy is that they don’t really bother me that much.) The specs won’t blow anyone out of the water, but it’s still a pretty capable Android tablet. It’s got access to Amazon’s Appstore, so it has tons of books and videos and games on hand.

But most important is that if and when it gets dropped, you’re not going to take out a second mortgage to replace it.

This is the only tablet I’d buy my kids at this point.

See at Amazon

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Unicode 10 released with 56 new emoji, coming to phones later this year

Get ready for a whole new set of emojis.

With emoji usage steadily on the rise, the Unicode Consortium is constantly incorporating a wider set of pictographs. The consortium finalized the Unicode 10 spec today, introducing 56 new emoji that includes the likes of “bearded man,” “mage,” “zombie,”T-Rex,” “Colbert emoji,” and many more. Oh, and you’ll soon be able to use the Bitcoin symbol in your conversations.

From the Unicode Consortium:

Version 10.0 of the Unicode Standard is now available. For the first time, both the core specification and the data files are available on the same date. Version 10.0 adds 8,518 characters, for a total of 136,690 characters. These additions include four new scripts, for a total of 139 scripts, as well as 56 new emoji characters.

The new emoji are included in the Android O beta, and will be ready to use in the public release. For a full list of emoji in Unicode 10, head to Emojipedia.

OnePlus 5 is the company’s ‘fastest-selling device ever’

People can’t wait to get their hands on the OnePlus 5.

The OnePlus 5 was unveiled yesterday, and while the phone will go on sale from June 27, OnePlus started selling a few devices early at pop-up stores in New York, London, Paris, Berlin and Amsterdam, and through an “early drop” page on its website. The company’s co-founder Carl Pei has now confirmed on Twitter that the OnePlus 5 is the company’s fastest-selling phone to date.

🔥🔥🔥The first numbers are in, the OnePlus 5 is our fastest selling device ever!🔥🔥🔥

— Carl Pei (@getpeid) June 20, 2017

Pei didn’t share any sales figures, but the “early drop” units are sold out in most countries. Based on the line in front of the New York pop-up store from the video below, people can’t wait to get their hands on the OnePlus 5:

About an hour after the opening of the #OnePlus5 NYC pop-up and the line is still stretching almost all the way around the block @getpeid pic.twitter.com/3M5D9vwtUD

— Bryan Ma (@bryanbma) June 21, 2017

The OnePlus 5 is the company’s most expensive phone to date — the version with 6GB of RAM and 64GB storage retails for $479, while the model with 8GB of RAM and 128GB storage is available for $539.

That’s still $200 less than the retail price of the Galaxy S8, and while the phone misses out on fringe features like water resistance and wireless charging, there’s a lot to like — excellent Full HD AMOLED display, dual cameras, Snapdragon 835, and a near-stock Android experience with OxygenOS.

Will you be picking up the OnePlus 5 once it goes on sale on June 27?

OnePlus 5

• Complete OnePlus 5 review
• Reviewing our first OnePlus 5 photos
• OnePlus 5 vs. OnePlus 3: Should you upgrade?
• OnePlus 5 specs
• The latest OnePlus 5 news
• Join the discussion in the forums

OnePlus

OnePlus 5 vs. Samsung Galaxy S8: What the extra money gets you

OnePlus has dropped the ‘flagship killer’ moniker, but that continues to be how its phones are measured.

OnePlus has made a name for itself with phones that offer high-end specs and experiences at prices a couple hundred dollars less than the true flagship competition. And even with the OnePlus 5 marking the company’s most expensive phone yet, at $479 it’s still $245 less than a Galaxy S8.

When comparison shopping, that’s a big price gap to fill for a phone that on paper just has the same overall spec sheet and even comes up short in a couple of areas. But of course there’s far more to a comparison than just specs — let’s see how the OnePlus 5 and Galaxy S8 compare.

What’s the same

When you buy either one of these phones, there are some base level qualities you can expect to get. You get a Snapdragon 835 in either phone, along with plenty of RAM and a base level of 64GB of storage. Yes OnePlus offers 6GB of RAM versus 4GB in the Galaxy S8 … but it’s hard to see any real-world performance improvement from that added memory right now. Both phones are snappy and consistently quick, though you could see the OnePlus 5 holding up better over time with its cleaner software and extra room to expand into that RAM in a year or two.

Both phones offer the base specs and experience you expect from today’s high-end phones.

The same ends up being true with the batteries, where the OnePlus 5’s 3300mAh cell beats the Galaxy S8’s 3000mAh on paper but doesn’t offer dramatically longer real-world use. If you leave the GS8 on its default screen resolution and turn off Always-on Display, it’s going to last you the same full day the OnePlus 5 does with its 1080p display. Both phones offer quick charging capabilities, with the Galaxy S8 having cross-compatibility to Qualcomm’s Quick Charge; the OnePlus 5 arguably has a faster and better thought-out system in Dash Charge, but it’s proprietary to only OnePlus accessories.

Finally, both phones are solidly built. The OnePlus 5 has a bit more overall heft while the Galaxy S8 has trimmed-down metal all around, but both feel substantial and well made rather than flimsy or cheap. They also have the typical smartphone comforts of a USB-C port, headphone jack, single down-firing speaker and buttons in the expected places.

Key differentiators

Yes you get the same core experience in either phone, but the OnePlus 5 and Galaxy S8 each have strengths that separate them from the competition.

Where the Galaxy S8 wins

Let’s start with the Galaxy S8. Samsung’s tent pole features of a fantastic screen, waterproofing, an SD card slot and wireless charging are the key differentiators for the GS8. The display still leads the industry in brightness and overall quality, while full waterproofing, expandable storage and wireless charging are three features just not on offer from OnePlus.

In terms of feature volume and variety, the Galaxy S8 takes the cake.

Then there are more subtle and subjective differences that are often preferred. The Galaxy S8 is certainly narrower and easier to grip, though it comes at a small price of having a more fragile curved display. The Galaxy S8’s software also gives you a huge number of choices in features and capabilities right out of the box, which for some is preferable to finding everything in the Play Store.

Samsung’s final big point of emphasis, and where it still comes out above the OnePlus 5, is low light photography. Samsung’s tuned and tweaked 12MP sensor, f1/.7 lens and OIS combine to give you consistently good low-light shots, and the OnePlus 5’s main camera can’t match it every time.

Where the OnePlus 5 wins

Now, here’s where the OnePlus 5 stands out. The biggest area is probably its software: if you like a near-stock Android experience, the OnePlus 5 is the better choice. OxygenOS gives you a handful of customization options, but OnePlus doesn’t make any big assumptions about how you want to use your phone — the configuration is all up to you. This results in a simpler, easier to understand and consistently cleaner experience.

The OnePlus 5 is simple, sleek and takes few risks — but the execution is great.

And with a single hardware version that’s available everywhere in the world, OnePlus has a huge advantage in software updates. There is no reason why the OnePlus 5 should be getting software updates slower than any Galaxy S8 model — let alone later than the dozens of various regional and carrier GS8 models that have staggered update paths.

The OnePlus 5’s fingerprint sensor is also in a standard, logical place below the screen — right where Samsung used to put its sensor. This seems like a small thing, but that’s because you don’t think about it every time you set your finger down and it just works — you can’t say the same about the GS8’s frustrating biometric security options.

Talking cameras, as mentioned the OnePlus 5 isn’t as consistent in low light shots as the GS8. It does, however, have a trump card in its secondary 20MP telephoto lens. Not only does it give you unique shooting options with a longer focal length, but also provides shallow depth of field effects in its “Portrait Mode” that the Galaxy S8 can’t.

Bottom line

It’s clear that the gap is narrowing between ultra-high-end phones like the Galaxy S8 and strategically value-focused high-end offerings like the OnePlus 5. For a completely reasonable price, the OnePlus 5 offers a similar spec sheet to the Galaxy S8, even besting it in some respects, and both performance and battery life that match Samsung’s latest.

Yes the OnePlus 5 doesn’t have the same screen quality or the sheer volume of hardware features, but at this price there was bound to be some feature disparity there. The interesting thing to see is how many areas the OnePlus 5 actually offers a preferable experience over the more expensive phone. This isn’t a comparison in which you’d only choose the OnePlus 5 based on its lower price — some may choose it because for them, it’s the better phone for them overall.

OnePlus 5

• Complete OnePlus 5 review
• Reviewing our first OnePlus 5 photos
• OnePlus 5 vs. OnePlus 3: Should you upgrade?
• OnePlus 5 specs
• The latest OnePlus 5 news
• Join the discussion in the forums

OnePlus

Massive Steam Summer Sale starts tomorrow, get £5 off with PayPal

PC gamers eagerly await one annual event perhaps more than others and its time is almost upon us: the Steam Summer Sale is about to be unleashed.

Starting tomorrow, Thursday 22 June at 6pm BST, Steam will dramatically discount thousands of games across the digital store. Traditionally that’s included big name titles at anywhere up to 75 per cent off, so if you want to build your games library, the next few weeks will provide you ample opportunity.

What’s more, PayPal users will get an even bigger incentive to splurge some cash on the latest and classic games. The digital payment company is offering £5 off when you spend £20 on Steam from tomorrow until 5 July (the possible date the sale ends).

You need to save the offer to your PayPal account before you can redeem it. Instructions are available here.

It’s official. The #SteamSummerSale starts 22/06 at 6pm BST and PayPal customers get an extra £5 off *terms apply. https://t.co/PdXnlKZ6qh pic.twitter.com/hobxCz3TBm

— PayPal UK (@PayPalUK) June 20, 2017

Steam-owner Valve is yet to reveal what games will be part of its Summer Sale, but you can bet there will be plenty of triple-A titles and indies involved.

We’re certainly hoping for a discount on PlayerUnknown’s Battlegrounds, which would represent an ideal time to hop on board the hottest multiplayer PC game around.

Based loosely on Japanese book and movie classic Battle Royale, the game pits you against other gamers in a last man standing scenario. It is currently in Early Access, but has a legion of fans already. It will also come to Xbox One in time – as revealed at E3 2017.

37 of the most retweeted and funniest Tweets of all time

Twitter is a great medium for sharing nuggets of knowledge, pictures of cats and sage life advice.

Over the years it’s also been a source of entertainment for the internet, even documenting important events as they happen. We’ve seen highs and lows, the good times and the bad.  

Here we take you on a journey through the funniest, the most retweeted and most inspiring tweets we’ve seen over the years. 

Carter’s nuggets

HELP ME PLEASE. A MAN NEEDS HIS NUGGS pic.twitter.com/4SrfHmEMo3

— Carter Wilkerson (@carterjwm) 6 April 2017

Top of the list is the World record-breaking plea from Carter Wilkerson to Wendy’s food chain for a year’s supply of nuggets that exploded on Twitter this spring and is probably the best example of free advertising ever seen on the social network. 

Ellen’s Oscars selfie

If only Bradley’s arm was longer. Best photo ever. #oscars pic.twitter.com/C9U5NOtGap

— Ellen DeGeneres (@TheEllenShow) 3 March 2014

In second place is the previous retweet champion, now knocked off the top spot by #NuggsForCarter. However, it remains the most famous selfie on the web. Shared by Ellen DeGeneres, the tweet likely shows the most celebrities you’re ever likely to see in a single selfie snap. 

Ed Balls creates an anniversary

Ed Balls

— Ed Balls (@edballs) 28 April 2011

In 2011, British politician and ex-shadow chancellor Ed Balls made a simple narcissistic Twitter gaffe that became so popular and famous that us Brits turned it into a yearly tradition known as “Ed Balls day”. 

The Delta airlines prank

We got kicked out of a @Delta airplane because I spoke Arabic to my mom on the phone and with my friend slim… WTFFFFFFFF please spread pic.twitter.com/P5dQCE0qos

— Adam Saleh (@omgAdamSaleh) 21 December 2016

This tweet apparently showed a man getting kicked off an aeroplane for simply speaking in Arabic on the phone to his mother. The tweet went viral, but was later to revealed to be fake when it was discovered that this tweeter was actually an internet prankster.  

United Airlines blunder

United Airlines is pleased to announce new seating on all domestic flights- in addition to United First and Economy Plus we introduce…. pic.twitter.com/KQjPClU2d2

— McNeil (@Reflog_18) 10 April 2017

In April 2017 a man was forcibly removed from a United Airlines flight after he refused to give up his seat. A PR nightmare followed for United Airlines which tried and failed to handle the situation successfully. There were numerous amusing tweets around the incident and the follow-up.

Obama’s last message as President

Thank you for everything. My last ask is the same as my first. I’m asking you to believe—not in my ability to create change, but in yours.

— President Obama (@POTUS44) 11 January 2017

Barack Obama had many popular tweets during his time as President, but his parting words proved to be one of the highest performing tweets on our list. 

Obama celebrating more years

Four more years. pic.twitter.com/bAJE6Vom

— Barack Obama (@BarackObama) 7 November 2012

The people of Twitter were pleased to see Obama serving four more years and they showed their love with over 900,000 retweets and more than half a million faves. 

One Direction love

Always in my heart @Harry_Styles . Yours sincerely, Louis

— Louis Tomlinson (@Louis_Tomlinson) 2 October 2011

Some tweets do not require explanation.

Kanye West’s creativity ruined

@kanyewest

Kanye West has a bit of a reputation for eccentric tweeting. In one Twitter session, he went on a bit of a tirade after misunderstanding tweets from another rapper that he assumed were about him. The resulting tweets got a lot of Twitter love, but this was the firm favourite.   

Lemonade

LIMONADA ????

— elrubius (@Rubiu5) 20 August 2016

One of the most retweeted posts of 2016 came in the form of one word – the Spanish for lemonade. The Youtuber behind the tweet managed to manipulate the numbers by offering prizes to those who retweeted him. 

Generous Celebrities

Ok I’ll pay it. Send info https://t.co/xNpkMOSfEt

— NICKI MINAJ (@NICKIMINAJ) 7 May 2017

This tweet doesn’t make the list because of the number of retweets it garnered, but instead due to the act of human decency behind it. Nicki Minaj spent just under an hour on Twitter handing out gifts of money to down-on-their-luck fans. She helped pay for student loans, debts and tuition fees after asking for proof that the requests were legitimate. 

Twitter’s co-founder

just setting up my twttr

— jack (@jack) 21 March 2006

Unsurprisingly, one of the most retweeted posts of all time also represents one of the milestones of Twitter’s history with the company’s co-founder Jack Dorsey setting up his own account way back in 2006.

Taylor Swift’s grumpy cat

apologizing to a very needy cat for being gone so long.

— Taylor Swift (@taylorswift13) 6 December 2008

In our next tweet, Taylor Swift shows us that even celebrities suffer from first world problems, especially when they’re cat owners. 

The CIA joins Twitter

We can neither confirm nor deny that this is our first tweet.

— CIA (@CIA) 6 June 2014

With their first tweet, the Central Intelligence Agency demonstrated that even spooks can have a sense of humour. The people of Twitter approved of the message with over 300,000 retweets. 

Wise last words

A life is like a garden. Perfect moments can be had, but not preserved, except in memory. LLAP

— Leonard Nimoy (@TheRealNimoy) February 23, 2015

Actor, Leonard Nimoy’s last tweet before he died was a poignant yet wise message which struck a chord with fans across the world and resulted in 270,000 retweets.   

Channel 4 and Game of Thrones collide

You know nothing, Jon Snow. pic.twitter.com/zBGto7bKaK

— Ryan Nelson (@RyanJohnNelson) December 9, 2014

Hilarity ensues as @RyanJohnNelson picks up on the accidental collision between Jon Snow Channel 4 newscaster and the famous line from Game of Thrones. Only a couple of thousand retweets, doesn’t seem like enough in our opinion. Perhaps someone was hiding the door on this going viral. 

Receptionist dog

Sir, sir, if you con, SIR IF CONTUNUE TO RAISE YOUR VOICE I’M GOING TO HAVE TO ASK YOU TO LEAVE SIR. pic.twitter.com/WIuyCntgBg

— Shabba Da Hutt (@Jehwauhn) November 21, 2014

Cats aren’t the only animals that can tickle your funny bone. Dogs can be hilarious too and dogs acting like people, even more so. 

Pizza problems

Yoooo I ordered a Pizza & Came with no Toppings on it or anything, Its Just Bread???? @dominos

— ㅤㅤ (@SadderDre) September 1, 2014

In a hilarious pizza faux pas, @SadderDre publicly messaged Dominos to tell them they’d just sent him the dough rather than the pizza he was expecting.

It quickly turned out that the customer is not always right, when this tweeter followed up to say that actually, he’d just opened the box upside down. We’re not even sure how you’d do that, but it was certainly pretty amusing. 

Not an actual cloud

Daily Mail tells readers the #iCloud isn’t an actual cloud in the sky pic.twitter.com/hgrYBjMTie

— Ben Black (@BenBlack) September 3, 2014

The readers of the Daily Mail have a certain reputation on the internet, but usually for their comments. Here, a tweeter catches the newspaper dumbing down the technology of the internet for its readers.

Taking Henry for a walk

Once you’ve seen a guy walking his pet Hoover, there is really nothing left to see. pic.twitter.com/JvAf83FNXu

— Michael Clarke (@Mr_Mike_Clarke) December 5, 2014

Certainly easier to look after than a dog, Henry the Hoover even cleans up more mess than he makes. Plus walking him in public makes for hilarious tweets. 

Mistakes gone to print

“You’re sure that’s the right word?””Like, 80% sure, yeah.””Print it.” pic.twitter.com/RyteF8V2ko

— carltonhimself (@carltonhimself) June 9, 2015

We’ve seen far more cringeworthy errors going to print over the years, but this pitcher for the Boston Red Sox apparently has many talents including the ability to throw a ball with both hands and to live underwater as easily as he lives on land. 

Creative marketing artwork

Incredible way of making my two star review seem like I didn’t hate the film pic.twitter.com/zvOyIxHQ3h

— Benjamin Lee (@benfraserlee) September 8, 2015

In a feat of creative marketing, this poster for the film “Legend”, starring Tom Hardy as both Kray twins, was designed to neatly hide the two-star review from The Guardian. Even the writer of the review was impressed with the craftsmanship.

Minion body wash problems

Slightly disturbing design flaw in this Minion body wash pic.twitter.com/Hko0AMFK9X

— Ash Warner (@AlsBoy) August 23, 2015

This poor Minion probably needs a nice relaxing bath after apparently bleeding from the eyes. Heaven knows what he saw. Probably just a bit of a design flaw spotted by Ash Warner and shared for all to enjoy, rather than the birth of the Anti-Christ. 

Pigeon job interview

You’ve seen nothing until you’ve seen a picture of a pigeon having a job interview to become a pigeon: pic.twitter.com/gfkUGVcb3p

— Periwinkle Jones (@peachesanscream) December 18, 2013

Pigeons are generally a menace to modern society, but at least every now and then they can give us some mild amusement.  Periwinkle Jones‏ managed to capture this classic moment when one pigeon was caught apparently being given a job interview in the local fast food establishment. 

Google’s Teenage birthday

It’s Google’s 15th birthday today. Typical fifteen year old. It’s got an answer for everything.

— Chris (@ChribHibble) September 27, 2013

There’s no denying Chris is right, but what makes it worse is Google not only has an answer for everything, but it’s usually right too. 

Ed Sheeran loves ketchup

It upsets me when restaurants think they are too good for ketchup. No one is too good for ketchup. Ketchup is too good for you.

— Ed Sheeran (@edsheeran) September 16, 2013

Ed Sheeran’s tweets are as popular as his songs. He’s a man of the people, with simple tastes – including a fondness for the red sauce. 

Low carb diets

I suspect that low-carb diets work not because they are healthier, but because without carbs I simply lose the will to eat.

— Anna Kendrick (@AnnaKendrick47) November 5, 2015

Actress Anna Kendrick has some interesting thoughts on why low-carb diets work and there certainly is no denying her logic. 

Ryan Reynolds hilarity

I’d walk through fire for my daughter. Well not FIRE, because it’s dangerous. But a super humid room. But not too humid, because my hair.

— Ryan Reynolds (@VancityReynolds) September 11, 2015

Ryan Reynolds has a reputation for amusing Twitter antics and it’s pretty hard to pick a favourite. However, he’s also shown himself to have some pretty smashing parenting advice under his hat and he really loves his daughter. 

Avocados are evil

Avocado: not ripeAvocado: not ripeAvocado: not ripeAvocado: I’M RIPE NOWAvocado: okay you were in the bathroom so I rotted

— Elspeth (@elspetheastman) September 18, 2016

Avocados have a bit of a negative reputation and not without good reason. They might be a superfood, but they’re also sassy with it, tormenting us with the lack of ripeness. Elspeth captured this frustration perfectly in a tweet that 35,000 other people happily agreed with. 

Life is going well

friend: how are things?me: things are good!narrator: things were not good

— keely flaherty (@flahertykeely) August 25, 2016

If your life had a narrator, what would they say? 

Long-term tweet

I see you shiver with antici …

— Frank Furter (@DrFNFurter) 8 May 2009

… pation.

— Frank Furter (@DrFNFurter) 8 May 2014

You’ve got to tip your hat to this tweeter. Waiting five whole years to deliver a punchline takes some dedication. 

Dad jokes

Son: “Mom, Dad.. I’m gay”Mom: *staring at dadDad: …*clenches fists Mom: …don’t!Dad: *sweats profuselyMom:Dad: HI GAY, IM DAD

— Guy Dangerous (@Lerky) 24 October 2015

Dad jokes are the best aren’t they? We were wondering where this one was going for a moment, but we weren’t disappointed. 

The taxidermist

date: So what do you do?me: *pulls out stuffed fox* I’m a taxidermistdate: Oh wowfox: and a ventriloquist

— dan mentos (@DanMentos) 28 April 2015

Probably the best taxidermist joke you’ve seen today. Or ever for that matter. 

Clickbait

What do we want? CLICKBAITWhen do we want it? The answer will shock you.

— Andy Vale (@AndyVale) 26 August 2015

Clickbait is unfortunately still a thing, but that doesn’t mean we can’t enjoy the fun that this tweet has to offer. 

Contemplating life

When parents say to kids “go to ur room & think about what you’ve done” it’s really good practice for what you’ll do every night as an adult

— pat tobin (@tastefactory) 18 September 2015

In a classic “it’s funny because it’s true” tweet, Pat Tobin shares some wisdom about life as we know it.  

The DVD prank

4 months ago i quietly left 57 dvds of ‘click’ at my parents’ house and they’ve still never noticed or mentioned it pic.twitter.com/j864rH9eG8

— demi adejuyigbe (@electrolemon) 28 November 2013

This tweet seems like it might have been an expensive prank to carry out with very little results. We’re not even sure we get the joke behind it but 60,000 other people certainly enjoyed it. 

Shipwrecked diary

*shipwrecked diary*Day 1: alone, doing well. Mentally sound. Met a crabDay 2: I have married the crab. Day 3: I have eaten my wife.

— brent (@murrman5) 14 August 2013

Living life shipwrecked on a desert island isn’t necessarily all it’s cracked up to be.  

The self-aware printer

My neighbor has an unsecured, wireless printer. I just sent this document to it. pic.twitter.com/dBvSmTpfpp

— Shari VanderWerf (@shariv67) 10 July 2013

Sometimes it’s fun to poke at those less technologically capable and if you can turn that into an internet joke, all the better. 

Freeview Explore serves up the best daily on-demand content

Freeview Play has a brand new feature that will highlight the best content available on-demand from the BBC, ITV, Channel 4, Channel 5, UKTV Play and any future broadcasters that partner up with the Freeview service.

• What is Freeview Play, when is it coming to my TV and how can I get it?

Appearing as a separate tab in the main Freeview Play menu, Freeview Explore will split content into 10 different genres: Factual, Lifestyle, Movies, Sport, Comedy, Drama & Soaps, Entertainment, Kids, All and a seasonal category such as Christmas or Halloween.

The recommended content that appears in these tabs isn’t determined by your viewing habits, though, something that many other services do. Instead, the content is determined by the broadcasters themselves, so should effectively be able to push more niche content onto your TV, rather than just the big shows that algorithms would say you should like.

A Help & Alerts feature will be rolled out in the coming months too, and this will give users access to instructional videos, news and information on platform updates.

• What Freeview Play TV or set-top box is best for you?
• Humax FVP-4000T review: Freeview Play’s first set-top box
• Why choose Freeview Play? 7 reasons to go free for catch-up

Freeview Explore will roll out on Freeview Play TVs and set-top boxes this month, so keep your eyes peeled for an update.

Samsung HW-MS650 review: A superb single-box soundbar solution

Soundbars are emerging as the preferred choice for a lot of people. Compact, easy to accommodate in the home and getting better and better in performance with every generation, there are plenty of reasons to plump for a smart soundbar over a more traditional sound system. 

Companies like Samsung have been investing a lot into audio, resulting in a wide range of diverse speaker offerings, breaking down traditional lines and challenging those brands you might typically associate with premium audio products. 

The HW-MS650 slots into the centre of this new world of soundbars. It is smart, connected and stuffed full of innovation. It also sounds superb, getting Samsung off to a great start.

Samsung HW-MS650 review: Design

• 1060 x 78 x 130.5mm; 6.2kg
• Smart mounting solution for Samsung TVs
• Premium build quality

The important thing to note about the MS650 is that it’s a single box solution. There is no separate subwoofer and in many ways that’s part of the appeal, as you don’t have to accommodate a hunk of bass box somewhere in your room. Don’t be fooled into thinking that you’ll be missing out on bass as a result, however, as this soundbar is a bit smarter than that.

The MS650 offers a fairly conventional rectangular design, with neatly chamfered edges to soften the corners. The front is all grille, hiding the nine drivers behind, but also housing a small display on the right-hand side. This display – which can be switched off if you don’t want to see it – conveys basic information, such as the input method, but only shows three characters.

Pocket-lint

On the right-hand end are button controls should you need to manually change anything, such as the input or volume if you don’t have the remote to hand.

There’s no garish branding either, which we really like. That allows the high-quality brushed finish to shine without distraction.

The soundbar is very much designed to be wall mounted, with mounts included in the box, as well as the option to buy a separate WMN300SB mount (£69 from Samsung) that will let you hang the soundbar off the Vesa mount on your TV. If you’re also using Samsung’s “no gap” wall mount, this means fewer holes in your wall and a tidy solution overall.

Samsung HW-MS650 review: Connectivity

• HDMI in and out (ARC), supports 4K HDR
• Digital optical in
• 3.5mm auxiliary input
• Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, Spotify Connect
• Surround sound ready

It’s the MS650’s connectivity that offers a little more than you might elsewhere, specifically when it comes to power. Not only does the soundbar have its own power cable, but you can connect your TV power cable to it too. Well, you can if you’re connecting a Samsung TV and you have the optional cable to let you do this. Doing so will mean you have one less cable draped across your wall. The cable comes with the TV mount mentioned above, so you then have everything for a clean installation.

Pocket-lint

More importantly there is HDMI passthrough, which naturally supports 4K HDR, as well as the conventional optical input, meaning you have a choice of how you connect your devices. HDMI passthrough means you can connect whatever the source of your content is to the soundbar directly and on to the TV. That might be your 4K set-top box (i.e., YouView or Sky Q), although in this world of many devices you’re likely to have more to connect to your TV, meaning you’ll have to rely on the return channel coming to your soundbar. 

There’s support for audio return over HDMI, with Dolby Digital and DTS Digital surround decoding, or the included optical connection (cable provided) makes for an easy option with minimal setup, meaning you can simply run the audio from your TV to the soundbar and this will cater for those with older TVs too.

That’s not all the connectivity that the MS650 has to offer either. It also has Wi-Fi to allow an instant connection to your Samsung TV, meaning a wire-free solution if you want it, as well as conventional Bluetooth. With the set being Spotify Connect compatible and Samsung Multiroom compatible (through Wi-Fi again), that means you can simply fire the music from your phone over to play on your soundbar, with outstanding results.

Call us old fashioned, but we prefer the cable connection option for traditional media content, especially when connecting to a recent Samsung TV with a One Connect box, as it’s so simple to run an HDMI cable to the soundbar.

Pocket-lint

There’s one irritation if you do choose to connect to Wi-Fi with your soundbar: we found the MS650 would connect and disconnect from Wi-Fi, even when we were using it for HDMI audio. When it connects you get a message on the display, and the same when it disconnects again. That random and unnecessary repeat notification gets rather irritating when you’re watching a movie.

Samsung HW-MS650 review: Sound and performance

• Virtualised surround sound
• Smart and specific sound modes
• Excellent performance 

Let’s get to the heart of the matter. Samsung is calling the MS650 soundbar a Sound+ soundbar. As we said, that means there’s no separate subwoofer, aiming to deliver the bass you need along with the rest of the sound from the same unit.

Pocket-lint

To help make this happen, there are nine speakers in the MS650, split between six woofers and three tweeters. These are grouped into left, right and centre, with each section getting a pair of woofers and a wide-range tweeter. That arrangement means that the soundbar can effectively widen the soundstage, giving you immersive audio from the left and right, while firing out a clear central channel to keep dialogue crisp. 

There are nine amplifiers driving these speakers, as well as some very clever technology that cancels bass distortion. This analyses and predicts the distortion that’s likely to occur, meaning tighter control over the woofers so that it can counter distortion for crisp and precise sounding bass response. 

The results are fantastic. We’ve become accustomed running a soundbar with a pretty big subwoofer as that’s the most common setup. Often, however, the woofer is a lot more powerful than you need it to be – apart from when you really want to annoy the neighbours. Samsung’s solution is cleaner, meaning less to plug in and accommodate, while also sounding fantastic.

Where that really manifests itself is when the bass kicks in on movie soundtracks; turn the volume up high and the MS650 isn’t marred by dumb bass rumblings, it’s a smarter solution with smarter results.

Pocket-lint

You also don’t need to crank up the volume to get the best out of the MS650. At normal listening levels you’ll find a good presentation with that tight bass, clear vocals and a soundscape that’ll keep that movie swimming along.

For those who want to expand the system, the MS650 is also compatible with the SWA-9000S kit, which is a £249 addition that gives you two wireless rear channels. It’s no Atmos experience, however, so if full Atmos surround/projection is what you’re after then look to the HW-K950 Atmos soundbar.

The MS650 also makes a great music system. Thanks to the simplicity of Samsung Multiroom you can very easily pick the source, make pairings with other Samsung speakers and listen to your music without your TV being in the picture, with support for a lot of services. 

There are several sound modes that Samsung has packed in too. These can be accessed via a Samsung TV’s controls – at least on the Samsung Q7 and MU7000 that we tested it with – or via the buttons on the remote. The surround option will expand the soundstage somewhat for those more immersive effects with a noticeable left-right spread without totally sucking you in due to the lack of rear channels.

Pocket-lint

Surround can be on or off, as can the Smart mode which can give a noticeable lift to some TV programme audio. However, you might just find that with a tweak of volume and bass that the Standard mode will suit you fine. You can switch modes through the included remote, but more detailed controls, including firmware updates, need that Samsung Multiroom app.

Verdict

The aim of Sound+ and of this Samsung soundbar is to give you great audio with no fuss. And it’s mission accomplished. The MS650 is so easy to use as a single box sound solution and it performs so well that it’s impossible not to recommend it. It’s a clean solution with very few compromises.

There’s also a lot more on offer for those who want to expand the system or do more than just make Eastenders sound better. The option for a rear channel, more sophisticated mounting options, or making this part of a multiroom system all add appeal, as do the convenience of things like Spotify Connect.

Ultimately, the MS650 is all about sound quality and convenience. This is a wonderful soundbar with great integrated bass performance. While there are cheaper options on the market, there’s no denying this is a single-box package that delivers in abundance.

The Morning After: Wednesday, June 21st 2017

Hey, good morning!

It’s the middle of the week and we’re discussing the source of those Apple leaks, review the new OnePlus 5, and report on some big changes at Uber.

A powerhouse with a modest price tag.
Review: OnePlus 5

Building a great phone is hard enough, so building a great phone on a budget should be infinitely more difficult. With its fifth flagship, OnePlus makes it look easy. The OnePlus 5 is blazingly fast, with a surprisingly good dual camera and solid battery life. OxygenOS is a refreshingly light take on Android, too, and the phone’s build quality seems top-notch. It’s too bad that OnePlus’ designs seem to be getting more generic as time goes on, and that the phone’s screen doesn’t pack the same punch as its competitors. Ultimately, despite some compromises, the OnePlus is both an excellent phone and an excellent value.

This month: a 1997 sim and an indie rogue-lite.
IRL: What we’re playing in June

E3 might be done and dusted for another year, but every year there are dozens of great games released, all of which are available right now. Fittingly, our picks this month range from a 1997 sim all the way up to a game that was released just today.

Just ask for “jobs near me.”

Google Search will help you find your next job

Say hello to your new recruiter. An update to Google Search on desktop and mobile means you can search for new employment with conversational queries like “jobs near me” and “teaching jobs.” You’ll then see a list of results from across the web, each of which includes the company’s name, the role, the hours and when the job was posted. It’s also got some AI smarts built-in to hopefully ensure a better hiring fit.

179 days to go.Travis Kalanick resigns from his post as Uber CEO

The same day Uber rolled out a way for riders to tip their drivers and promised 180 days of improvements, CEO and co-founder Travis Kalanick succumbed to investor pressure and stepped down. After years of scandals, a letter from a group of prominent investors helped force the executive out, though he still owns a large part of the company and will continue to be a board member. Is that enough to turn the company’s year around? Who knows, but with the company missing a CEO, COO and CFO there aren’t many execs left to take the blame.

Prime Wardrobe is like Stitch Fix but without the stylist or the fee.
Amazon is the latest to offer clothes-by-mail to try on at home

Amazon’s latest service, Prime Wardrobe, is trying to make online clothes shopping a commitment-free experience — one of the few advantages brick-and-mortar stores still had on online retailers. With Prime Wardrobe, you pick out a number of items, including clothes, shoes, and accessories. Then, if you have at least three, Amazon will send them to you and you’ll have a week to try them on and decide what you like. Whatever you don’t want can be sent back for free and you’re only charged for what you keep. If you keep at least three things, you’ll get 10 percent off; and you’ll get 20 percent off if you keep at least five. Buy in bulk: that’s what Amazon is hoping.

Apple’s anti-leaking efforts gets leaked.
Apple tries to clamp down on leaks with mixed success

For the longest time, Apple product leaks tended to come from the supply chain: a factory worker would send parts or a design file to accessory makers eager to get a head start on their next iPhone cases. You might want to rethink that assumption. In a leaked secrecy briefing (!), Apple’s David Rice revealed that leaks from the company’s campuses were more common in 2016 than those from suppliers.

But wait, there’s more…

• The Big Picture: Using a 3D render as a French ID card ‘photo’
• Tesla driver in fatal Autopilot crash ignored safety warnings
• Google can turn an ordinary PC into a deep learning machine

ISS will carry artificial organs in hope of medical breakthrough

In the near future, the International Space Station (ISS) will serve as home to five organs-on-chips research experiments. Each one will tackle a different issue, but all of them are expected to shed light on the effects of microgravity on the human body and could lead to better treatments and drugs without the need for animal testing. Organs-on-chips are transparent slides about the size of an AA battery with microfluidic channels capable of reproducing blood and airflow that are lined with the cells of the organ begin studied. Aboard the ISS, astronauts can observe the cells as they grow in 3D, since the lack of gravity means they don’t settle at the bottom or flatten against the channels’ plastic walls.

The first project wants to find out how microgravity’s negative effect on the immune system triggers respiratory infections, which are a common ailment for ISS crew members. Another one wants to study the effects of medication on mitigating bone and cartilage degeneration, which could benefit those suffering from osteoarthritis and similar conditions. The third one wants to study cellular aging as it happens in zero-G and the cells’ recovery after returning to Earth’s environment.

Another team team will send a kidney-on-a-chip model to the ISS to figure out how microgravity affects kidney function. They intend to use their results to conjure up better treatments for conditions like proteinuria, osteoporosis and kidney stones. The last project’s study will use a brain-on-a-chip model to gather the data needed to optimize the organ-on-a-chip platform itself. While the team’s main goal is to create an automated chip that can make conducting research faster and easier, their results could also provide new insight on neurodegeneration, traumatic injury and cancer.

These five will make their way to the ISS as part of a four-year collaboration between the National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences (NCATS) and the Center for the Advancement of Science in Space. NCATS will provide the projects with two years of initial funding worth approximately $6 million and will continue funding the ones that perform well for another two years after that. Christopher P. Austin, the center’s director, said in a statement:

“The opportunity to partner with CASIS to perform tissue chip science on the International Space Station is a remarkable opportunity to understand disease and improve human health. Physiological functions in the microgravity of the International Space Station will provide insights that will increase translational effectiveness on earth, including identifying novel targets for drug discovery and development.”

Source: CASIS, NASA