Desktops are dead? Lenovo says no as it shoves new gaming PCs into the spotlight

Why it matters to you

If you’re looking for a new desktop for high-end gaming you can customize without breaking the bank, Lenovo has three Legion models just for you.

Despite all the so-called experts and naysayers, the desktop PC is not dead. In fact, it’s still thriving and Lenovo drives that point home with its new Legion-branded desktops for PC gamers. With a starting price of $900, the new Lenovo Legion PCs pack seventh-generation Intel Core processors, Nvidia GeForce or AMD Radeon graphics, and up to 64GB of overclockable Corsair Vengeance LPX DDR4 system memory at 2,800MHz.

As you will see, all three are fine-tuned for the Oculus Rift headset although you should not have any problems using the HTC Vive either. There are plenty of ports to support both and the lower graphics card options should provide the 90 frames per second you need for barf-free virtual experiences. Unfortunately, Lenovo’s new desktops only include AMD’s Radeon RX 500 Series cards and not its two new Radeon RX Vega 64 and Vega 56 cards that just hit the market.

Lenovo Legion Y920

According to Lenovo, the Legion Y920 model targets the enthusiast gaming crowd with components like the GeForce GTX 1080, Intel’s Core i7-7700K processor, Dolby Atmos audio, speedy PCI Express-based solid-state drive storage, and overclockable memory. The Legion Y920 model is the only desktop of the three that provides options for Windows 10 Pro and Windows 10 Home.

For cooling, this model includes a single exhaust fan on the back. The power supply has an exhaust fan on the back too along with a filtered intake vent on the bottom of the machine. There are two intake fans under a filter behind the front panel and an intake fan under the top’s hood. This is the only model with a clear window and a vent on the left side and the only one with Thunderbolt 3 connectivity.

Product Number:
Y920-34IKZ
Processor:

Intel Core i7-7700K (4-core)Intel Core i5-7600K (4-core)
Graphics:
GeForce GTX 1080
GeForce GTX 1070
GeForce GTX 1060
Radeon RX 580
Memory:
Up to 64GB DDR4
Optional 16GB Intel Optane
Storage 1:
Up to 2x 512GB PCIe SSD
Storage 2:
Up to 1x 4TB SATA HDD
Connectivity:
Wireless AC (Up to 867Mbps)
Ports:
1x Thunderbolt 3
2x HDMI
1x USB 3.1 Gen2 Type-C
8x USB 3.1 Gen1 Type-A
2x USB 2.0
1x Headset Combo Audio Jack
1x Gigabit Ethernet
1x PS/2
6x Audio Ports w/ S/PDIF
Audio:
Dolby Atmos
Dimensions (inches):
16.92 (D) x 16.45 (H) x 7.48 (L)
Weight:
23.14 pounds
Operating System:
Windows 10 Pro
Windows 10 Home
VR Compatibility:
Oculus Rift (Certified)
Hero Features:
Windows Mixed Reality
Case Color:
Onyx Black
Starting Price:
$2,000
Availability:
October 2017

Lenovo Legion Y720

This model is not quite as “elite” as the Y920, targeting the mainstream PC gamer with up to a GeForce GTX 1070 card, and no Thunderbolt 3 port. Its storage capacity is lower too, removing an SSD and shoving the current SSD over to the slower SATA connection. The hard drive has a lower capacity too, but the Y720 still retains the option for installing a 16GB Intel Optane “cache stick” to speed up the hard drive’s performance.

On the cooling front, this model has an exhaust fan on the back. The power supply has an exhaust fan too, and an intake vent on the bottom of the PC. There are two intake fans under a filter behind the front cover and one intake fan under the top’s hood. A vent resides on the left side but with no window to see all the pretty components inside.

Product Number:
Y720-34IKH
Processor:

Intel Core i7-7700 (4-core)Intel Core i5-7400 (4-core)
Graphics:
GeForce GTX 1070
GeForce GTX 1060
GeForce GTX 1050Ti
Radeon RX 570
Memory:
Up to 64GB DDR4
Optional 16GB Intel Optane
Storage 1:
Up to 1x 512GB SATA SSD
Storage 2:
Up to 1x 2TB SATA HDD
Connectivity:
Wireless AC (Up to 867Mbps)
Ports:
6x USB 3.1 Gen1 Type-A
4x USB 2.0 Type-A
1x Microphone Jack
1x Headphone Jack
1x HDMI
1x Gigabit Ethernet
1x PS/2
6x Audio Ports w/S/PDIF
1x 7-in-1 Card Reader
Audio:
Dolby Audio Premium
Dimensions (inches):
16.92 (D) x 16.45 (H) x 7.48 (L)
Weight:
23.14 pounds
Operating System:
Windows 10 Home
VR Compatibility:
Oculus Rift (Certified)
Hero Features:
Windows Mixed Reality
Case Color:
Onyx Black
Starting Price:
$1,000
Availability:
October 2017

Lenovo Legion Y520

Finally, we have the Y520 specifically targeting console gamers wanting to “dip their toes” into the pools of PC gaming. It is the only one in the trio offering a seventh-generation Core i3 processor, and Wireless AC connectivity reaching only up to 433Mbps (1×1). It is still capable of running the Oculus Rift and HTC Vive, but you will have a better experience by grabbing the GTX 1060 graphics option.

As for cooling, this desktop includes the main and power supply exhaust fans on the back, and one LED intake fan mounted under the front panel. There are no vents or windows on the sides, and apparently no intake fan on the top, either.

Product Number:
Y520T-25IKL
Processor:
Intel Core i7-7700 (4-core)Intel Core i3-7100 (2-core)
Graphics:
GeForce GTX 1060
GeForce GTX 1050 Ti
Radeon RX 560
Memory:
Up to 16GB DDR4
Storage 1:
Up to 1x 128GB PCIe SSD
Storage 2:
Up to 1x 2TB HDD
Connectivity:
Wireless AC (Up to 433Mbps)
Ports:
4x USB 3.1 Gen1 Type-A
2x USB 2.0 Type-A
1x Microphone Jack
1x Headphone Jack
1x HDMI
1x Gigabit Ethernet
Audio:
Dolby Audio Premium
Dimensions (inches):
18.41 (D) x 15.84 (H) x 7.16 (L)
Weight:
33.73 pounds
Operating System:
Windows 10 Home
VR Compatibility:
Oculus Rift (Certified)
Hero Features:
Windows Mixed Reality
Case Color:
Onyx Black
Starting Price:
$900
Availability:
October 2017

Finally, we want to note that the specifications of all three list Windows Mixed Reality as a Microsoft “Hero” feature. This is an internal term used by Microsoft and original equipment manufacturers for specific Windows 10 features, such as special hardware supporting Cortana, hardware supporting Windows Hello, and so on. What this essentially means is that the towers can not only optimally handle the Oculus Rift, but upcoming headsets based on Microsoft’s Windows Mixed Reality platform in Windows 10, which also require VR-capable components.

Lenovo’s three new Legion desktops will arrive sometime in October for a starting price of $900.

Are you over the eclipse? Watch Intel’s 8th Gen Core launch at 8 a.m. Pacific

As promised, Intel is formally introducing its new family of eighth-generation processors today at 8 a.m. Pacific Time / 11 a.m. Eastern Time as the solar eclipse begins its blazing trail across the United States. You can watch the 8th Gen Intel Core livestream right here at Digital Trends, but it’s also streaming live on Intel’s Facebook page, and its online Newsroom.

“Hear directly from Gregory Bryant, senior vice president of the Client Computing Group at Intel, and others about the details on the latest processor family and what it can help you do,” the company said prior to its 8th Gen Intel Core livestream. “See the power of 8th Gen Intel Core technology come to life in the hands of a VR creator and imaging technologist.”

Intel’s eighth-generation launch begins before the company concludes its current Core X-Series processor roll-out for the enthusiast market. Intel will launch its $1,200 12-core processor later this month, and then its 14-core ($1,400), 16-core ($1,700) and 18-core ($2,000) chips at the end of 2017. These will require Intel’s large LGA 2066 motherboard socket (seat), and its new X299 motherboard chipsets.

But with Intel’s new eighth-generation processors, the company is keeping the same LGA 1151 motherboard seat used by its seventh-generation “Kaby Lake” processors, and its sixth-generation “Skylake” processors. The eighth-generation chips also won’t be anywhere near as expensive, but they may require a new motherboard if Intel doesn’t provide an update to support eighth-generation processors on motherboards with seventh-generation 200 Series “Kaby Lake” chipsets installed.

“Get a sneak peek at some of the amazing system designs based on 8th Gen Intel Core processors,” Intel added. “Start planning for what new 8th Gen Intel Core processor-based device to purchase in the holiday season and even before.”

Lots of rumors have swirled around what Intel may possibly reveal during its show. Desktop processors are a possible topic, and perhaps even chips that will be showcased in new laptops introduced during the IFA 2017 technology show in Berlin. We’re rather excited to see what Intel has planned, and what it’s eighth-generation processor design will bring to the PC market.

As Intel teases, amazing happens when all things align, but you won’t need special glasses to watch Intel’s shiny new reveal.

Essential Phone vs Apple iPhone 7 Plus: Can the Android newcomer take out Apple?

The long-awaited and super interesting Essential Phone (PH-1) is finally here, and customers who pre-ordered the device should expect to finally get their hands on it in the next few days. The PH-1 has captured the imaginations of many thanks to its full edge-to-edge display and classy design — a design Apple is expected to follow for the upcoming iPhone.

The Essential PH-1 isn’t the only great phone around. While Apple may use similar design elements for its next phone, the company still has a capable phone already on the market: The iPhone 7 Plus. But just how do the two phones compare? We put them head to head to find out.

Specs

Essential PH-1

iPhone 7 Plus

Size
141.5 x 71.1 x 7.8 mm (5.57 x 2.80 x 0.31 inches)
158.2 x 77.9 x 7.3 mm (6.23 x 3.07 x 0.29 inches)
Weight
6.53 ounces (185 grams)
6.63 ounces (188 grams)
Screen
5.71-inch LCD
5.5-inch LED
Resolution
2,560 x 1,312 pixels (504 ppi)
1,920 x 1,080 pixels (401 ppi)
OS
Android 7.1.1 Nougat
iOS 10
Storage
128GB
32, 128, 256GB
MicroSD card slot
No
No
NFC support
Yes
Yes
Processor
Qualcomm Snapdragon 835
A10 Fusion with 64-bit architecture, M10 motion coprocessor
RAM
4GB
3GB
Connectivity
GSM, CDMA, HSPA, EVDO, LTE
4G LTE, GSM, CDMA, HSPA+, 802.11a/b/g/n/ac Wi-Fi
Camera
Dual 13 MP rear, 8MP front
Dual 12MP rear, 7MP front
Video
4K at 30fps, 1080p at 60fps, 720p at 120fps
4K at 30fps, 1080p at 30 or 60fps
Bluetooth
Yes, version 5.0
Yes, version 4.2
Fingerprint sensor
Yes
Touch ID
Other sensors
Accelerometer, gyroscope, proximity, compass, barometer
Barometer, 3-axis gyro, accelerometer, proximity sensor, ambient light sensor
Water resistant
No
Yes, IP67 rated
Battery
3,040mAh
2,900mAh, up to 13 hours of internet use on LTE
Charging port
USB-C
Lightning
Marketplace
Google Play Store
Apple App Store
Colors
Stellar Gray, Ocean Depths, Black Moon, Pure White
Gold, rose gold, silver, black, jet black
Availability
Unlocked, Sprint

AT&T, Verizon, Sprint, T-Mobile
Price
$749
$729
DT review
Coming soon
4 out of 5 stars

The Essential Phone makes use of the latest and greatest Qualcomm Snapdragon 835 processor, and it’s coupled with 4GB of RAM. The iPhone 7 Plus, on the other hand, uses Apple’s self-designed A10 Fusion chip, along with 3GB of RAM.

Apple’s processor is incredibly powerful, and iOS doesn’t require a lot of RAM compared to Android — it’s just a difference between the two operating systems. The iPhone 7 Plus will prove to be an extremely smooth device. In fact, when it comes to benchmarks, the Essential PH-1 scored 161,746 on AnTuTu, while the Apple iPhone 7 Plus scored a hefty 181,807 — putting the Essential PH-1 to shame. That’s not to say you shouldn’t get the Essential PH-1. It has the same processor as phones like the Samsung Galaxy S8 and the HTC U11. It’s a high-performing phone, and will last you at least a few years of use. Benchmarks aren’t the best indicator of real-world use.

If you’re looking for a lot of storage, both phones have a lot to offer. Neither have a MicroSD card slot, but the iPhone 7 Plus has options for 32GB, 128GB, and 256GB of storage, while the Essential Phone comes only with 128GB of storage.

Both of these phones will perform well, but the iPhone 7 Plus is technically the better performer.

Winner: Apple iPhone 7 Plus

Design, display, and durability

Both of these phones feature beautiful designs, but in very different ways.

For starters, the Essential PH-1 boasts a beautiful 5.71-inch edge-to-edge display, which covers almost the entire front of the phone save for a small notch at the top and a chin at the bottom. The back of the phone is shiny and minimal. You’ll find a fingerprint sensor here, below a dual-camera module and a few other sensors.

The iPhone 7 Plus is also well-designed, though a little less groundbreaking than the Essential Phone. On the front, the 5.5-inch display sits above Apple’s Touch ID fingerprint sensor and home button. The design does look a little dated thanks to the chunky edges surrounding the screen. The rear is minimal like the Essential Phone, with the iconic Apple logo and a dual-camera module above.

Things are a little different when it comes to the display — the Essential Phone is the clear winner. Despite an LCD screen, you get a 2,560 x 1,312 pixel resolution, which is quite a bit more than the 1,920 x 1,080 pixel resolution on the Apple iPhone 7 Plus. You also get more screen in a smaller, lighter package with the Essential Phone.

But the iPhone takes the crown for durability, as it has a waterproof rating of IP67, meaning you can take it up to 1 meter underwater for 30 minutes. The Essential Phone isn’t waterproof.

Still, the Essential Phone features a more modern design, along with a higher resolution display. It takes the win here.

Winner: Essential PH-1

Battery life and charging

The battery on the iPhone 7 Plus sits in at 2,900mAh, while the Essential PH-1 offers a 3,040mAh battery. That doesn’t necessarily mean that the PH-1 will last longer — the device has a much higher-resolution display, which means that it will be much more taxing on the battery. Still, early reviews suggest the PH-1 has pretty decent battery life. We’ll do more testing to confirm.

While the Essential Phone offers fast-charging, the Apple iPhone 7 Plus does not. Because of that, at least on paper, the Essential PH-1 is the winner here.

Winner: Essential PH-1

Camera

The two phones have dual-camera setups, but they have slightly different specifications. The iPhone 7 Plus offers a dual 12-megapixel sensor with an f/1.8 aperture and optical image stabilization on the primary lens, and the PH-1 has a dual 13-megapixel sensor with an f/1.9 aperture.

Apple has long been known for offering an excellent camera on its devices, and the iPhone 7 Plus is no different. In our review, we hailed the dual-camera setup especially the benefit of having a 2x optical zoom. Apple also introduced Portrait Mode a few months later via a software update, and it offers DSLR-like quality portrait images.

Some early reviews suggest the Essential PH-1’s camera could be just as good. The device’s dual-cameras feature a monochrome and a color sensor. The camera doesn’t feature some of the dual-sensor features found on the iPhone, like Portrait Mode or HDR.

The iPhone’s camera is tried and true. While some early reviews say that the PH-1’s camera is great, others don’t quite agree.

Winner: Apple iPhone 7 Plus

Software

Before we talk about software, we’ll say one thing — we’re not going to award a winner here. The Android vs iPhone debate is a long-running one, and everyone has their own preference.

Still, we can note some major differences between the two operating systems. Android is generally known to offer more customization, while iOS is easier to use. Essential offers a pure Android experience, similar to what you will find on the Google Pixel. It’s free of bloatware, unlike some Android devices.

Winner: Tie

Price and availability

The Essential PH-1 is available for purchase, and you can get your hands on it through the Essential website, Sprint or Best Buy. It doesn’t seem as though other carriers are offering the phone, and there’s no word yet on whether they will or not. We recommend buying the phone unlocked straight from Essential. The device cost $700, which is a premium price to pay for a phone.

The Apple iPhone 7 Plus is slightly more expensive, though it’s available more widely. It costs $770 for the 32GB version, and you can get it from all four major carriers, unlocked from the Apple website, Amazon, Best Buy, and so on.

Winner: Essential PH-1

Overall winner: Essential PH-1

Both the Essential PH-1 and Apple iPhone 7 Plus are excellent phones, but the Essential’s gorgeous edge-to-edge design and slightly lower price gives it the win here. The iPhone is technically more powerful and seems to offer a slightly better camera, but the PH-1 likely has a better battery and can charge back up quickly.

Best iOS app deals of the day! 6 paid iPhone apps for free for a limited time

Everyone likes Apple apps, but sometimes the best ones are a bit expensive. Now and then, developers put paid apps on sale for free for a limited time, but you have to snatch them up while you have the chance. Here are the latest and greatest iOS app deals available from the iOS App Store.

These apps normally cost money and this sale lasts for a limited time only. If you go to the App Store and it says the app costs money, that means the deal has expired and you will be charged. 

Orca Puzzles

Enjoy this spectacular collection of puzzles featuring breathtaking photographs of orcas, also known as killer whales, in their native Arctic habitat.

Available on:

iOS

Type Nine Keyboard

Type Nine is the first keyboard to combine a keypad layout with swiping. Typing by swiping is a seamless experience, and once you’ve picked up the movements, you will type faster and more effortlessly than ever before.

Available on:

iOS

Student Planner

The student planner is perfect for the modern student, with powerful features designed to be used quickly and easily.

Available on:

iOS

Life Hacks

Lifehacks brings you thousands of useful life-hacking tips that are aimed at improving your productivity and bringing calm to your life. It’s aimed at helping you reclaim some leisure time and autonomy famid the heavy demands of your busy lifestyle.

Available on:

iOS

ListBox

The most important thing about this reminder app is that it won’t leave you alone until you notice the reminder — and when you do, it suggests an action.

Available on:

iOS

Voice4u AAC

Voice4u is picture-based communication app for those who have speech challenges. Unlike conventional AAC communication devices, Voice4u is a portable, customizable, and easy-to-use communication tool.

Available on:

iOS

Exway’s smart X1 skateboard will help riders of all levels beat the traffic

Why it matters to you

Looking for a better way to commute? Do it with the Exway X1 skateboard, one of the more affordable smart skateboards on the market.

Don’t worry, parents — skateboarding has never been quite so smart. Meet the Exway X1, described as the most intelligent skateboard to hit the pavement. This lightweight and easy-to-handle board may be just what you need to avoid traffic on weekdays, and relieve some stress on weekends. Meant to suit both beginners and experienced riders, the Exway X1 skateboard can be activated entirely by way of a Bluetooth remote, and claims to be the first electric skateboard to implement extra safety protection features for the rider.

The X1 features four speed modes, all of which are controlled by an electronic speed controller (ESC) unit. In beginner mode, less-experienced riders can use the skateboard at lower speeds. But as they familiarize themselves with it, they can start leveling up — there’s also an energy-saving mode, an intermediate mode, and an advanced mode. 

Perhaps most crucial to the accessibility of this board is its curved throttle response. This means that when you first power up your skateboard, you’ll enjoy a smooth start-up. Once you’re already moving, you can transition to a more powerful running speed. Moreover, the X1 comes with an e-brake function for easier control and an automatic smart break. It also features a fault alarm system so that you’ll be kept safe in a variety of scenarios.

The streamlined, aerodynamic design at the front of the board, coupled with the flat design of the X1’s rear, allows for convenient handling, while the U-type concave deck promises more comfortable riding. And with a 9-inch wide deck, even novice riders will be comfortable on the board.

“As riders ourselves, we tried virtually all of the current skateboard models on the market today. Some were good but none of them had the ride control, steering, and features we were looking for ourselves,” said Chao Zeng, founder and CEO of Exway. “We knew we could do it better. We concentrated on first designing a board that rides amazingly well. Only then did we add the intelligent features that are essential for a modern electric skateboard.” 

The X1 weighs in at just under 14 pounds and is capable of hitting top speeds of about 25 miles per hour. You can buy the Exway now for about $900.

Android O features you’ll love: Background execution limits

Android O keeps apps under control when you’re not actively using them.

Your Android phone will let you do many things at once, even though all of them might not be on your screen. Besides system processes that can do things like checking your location or seeing if you have any new email, apps can be opened and then be left to run in the background while we are doing something else.

A good example would be when you open your favorite music player and cue up a playlist to listen to while you check out Facebook or do a little web browsing. The music app is running in the background, doing its thing while you’re looking at something else.

But some apps can be sent completely to the background. In our example of Android O’s Background execution limits, the music player is not on the screen and running as a background app, but it’s still interacting with us and playing music. Other apps that we’ve opened and switched away from should be treated differently because we’re not doing anything with them.

This can have an effect on the limited resources of your phone. Apps running can use RAM and take processing time away from other apps that need a turn or even the app you’re currently using in the foreground (what you see on your screen.) While Android has always had some restrictions on what an app can do while it’s not on your screen, Android O brings smarter limitations to help conserve system resources and battery life by determining when an app is really in the background and can be idle, then keeping it quiet but ready for when you want to use it again.

While this video is Android Nougat specific, it does a great job explaining how background services can affect the apps you’re actively using and ways to keep things in check.

What’s new or changed in Android O

• Background Service Limitations. The system now does a few routine checks to see if an app can be considered as being in the background. It checks to see that the app or any of the activities (things an app can do or initiate) aren’t visible on the screen. It then checks to see if another app is connected to it or uses any information from it, and finally, it checks for a few high-priority services like being able to act as a keyboard or if it is actively listening for voice input.

If none of these things are true the app is considered as running in the background. When an app is first considered to be in the background, it has a short window where it’s allowed to do its thing in case it needs to start something that would move it to a foreground app or service. Once that time is over the app is forced to be idle. Idle apps are also given short windows periodically in case they need to connect or start services, but other than those times it sits and uses very little resources until we switch back to it.

• Broadcast Limitations. Broadcasts are done by the system when specific events happen. When you switch your phone in and out of Airplane Mode, for example, a broadcast is sent to let apps know what happened. Developers can set up their apps to listen for specific broadcasts and write code so the apps do something when they happen. If an app is listening for broadcasts, every time one is sent the app uses system resources to see if any action is needed.

Apps built for Android O can no longer register to listen for broadcast messages that don’t directly target the app itself unless they are started and running (not in the background according to the rules above). These changes started with Android N, and changes in O are a bit more strict. Because this could limit what a developer might want to do, new tools to schedule specific jobs using their own apps processes have been developed. There are also a few broadcasts exempt from all of this, like when the time zone changes or the phone was plugged into the charger. Every app can listen for those, and react accordingly.

By limiting how an app can listen and what it can listen for, apps that have been designated as being in the background won’t wake up to see if they need to do anything as often. “Sleeping” apps use far fewer resources.

Why you’ll love it

We want our phones to do a lot of things. But no matter what we’re asking it to do, while we are looking at the screen we expect things to be smooth and responsive.

We’ve all felt the frustration that comes with keyboard lag once in a while, and it’s not a good experience. By keeping a tighter leash on the apps we’re not looking at, memory, processing power, and battery life is used more efficiently and we’ll see less of things like keyboard lag. The end user — that’s us! — doesn’t have to do anything here because these changes are part of the system. Even better, older apps that weren’t built with Android O in mind can be set to follow these rules from the apps setting page.

Changes like this get combined with the great hardware we see every year and mean your phone can do the things you ask of it even better!

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

Celebrate the eclipse with this dark-as-night theme pack!

Some themes are beautiful, some themes are functional, and dark themes are both.

Dark themes are more than an expression of taste and emotion. On devices using AMOLED displays, dark themes can help you save a little bit of battery. Because on AMOLED screens, true, hex black #000000 is displayed by turning off the pixel completely. The more black on an AMOLED screen, the fewer pixels being powered and lit. Now, some apps have AMOLED black themes. Some phones have AMOLED black system themes, like the Samsung Galaxy S8, and if they’re available for your phone, that is excellent.

For the rest of us, there’s always dark home screen themes, which are an excellent exercise in balance, minimalism, and Android ingenuity.

Come to the dark side!

Wallpapers

Batman Beyond was the first Batman show I regularly watched as a kid. He’ll always hold a special place in the Batcave of my heart. And this background of Terry McGinnis in the darkness of Gotham, only visible by his bright red bat symbol and two white, dangerous eyes makes me wanna curl up on the couch and watch a few seasons.

Batman Beyond AMOLED wallpaper

This Beauty and the Beast Minimalist Wallpaper by chrisaloo is proof that sometimes less is more, and it also adds an air of refinement to the often drab world of AMOLED themes. We’ve had to tweak the color balance and exposure on this wallpaper slightly to ensure that it’s turning on as few pixels as it can, but it’s worth it for a wallpaper that conserves energy while inspiring enchantment.

Beauty and the Beast Minimalist Wallpaper by chrisaloo (modified for AMOLED)

Tron is a franchise that was made for dark themes, with the lights of a lightcycle and its rider cutting across the home screen and the abyss of the grid with precision and power. This is another wallpaper we’ve featured before, any it’s also a wallpaper that needed its levels tweaked, both to make it AMOLED black and to better match the icon pack to come.

Tron Lightcycle (modified for AMOLED)

If you want as few pixels as possible turned on, then you’re going to want a completely, 100% Hex Black wallpaper. It’s not showy, it’s not stylish, but it is black as the abyss and it is ready to apply to your home screen.

Black Hex Wallpaper by Siege36

How to apply your wallpaper

Long-press an open space on your home screen.
Tap Wallpapers.

Tap Pick image.

Select your downloaded wallpaper.
Make sure your image is centered on the screen to your liking.

Tap Set wallpaper.

Icon packs

There are a lot of white icon packs out there, but few have the style and the sheer number of supported icons as Whicons by Randle. Whicons will light up more pixels than the next icon packs, but I’m willing to take that for two reasons. First, there are far fewer holes in my app drawer with Whicons. Second, I find that Whicons are easier to recognize, especially on first glance, which means I can open my app and get done to turn off my screen that much quicker. If you really, really want to fire fewer pixels with Whicons, consider turning down the icon scale on your launcher to shrink your icons down.

Also, Whicons just goes better with the Batman Beyond and Beauty and the Beast wallpapers.

Whicons by Randle

Want to get clean icons with as few pixels lit as possible? You need Lines, an icon pack that consists of outlines. Lines is one of the most popular packs on Google Play, but even for its popularity and pedigree (Lines has been around for a long time), it isn’t without faults. The pack’s mask for unthemed icons is paltry, and a number of system and Google icons included in the pack are vintage, to put it nicely. But if you want as few pixels lit as possible, it’s hard to beat the thin white Lines icon pack.

Lines by Nate Wren Design

For our Tron theme, we of course need some icon from The Grid. This icon pack is a variant of Lines, but with a blue glow and subtle reflection for depth. As with Lines, it’s got some older icons for some Google apps, and there’s bound to be a few holes in your app drawer, but you should be able to fill your dock with beautiful, electric blue icons.

The Grid by Nate Wren Design

How to apply an icon pack

Open your desired icon pack.

Tap Apply (the icon with the arrow in it).

Tap your launcher.

Tap OK or Apply, depending on your launcher.

If your launcher isn’t listed in step 4, your launcher might not be supported. Check the icon pack settings in your specific launcher, and if your launcher isn’t supported, consider using another launcher.

How to apply an individual icon

Long-press an icon you wish to change.
Tap Edit.

Tap the icon window to change the icon.

Select your desired icon pack.
Tap the open app icon in the top right corner of the screen to enter the pack’s icon picker. It’s hard to see the white icon on the white bar for Whicons, but it is there.

Search for the app icon you wish to use using the search bar at the top of the screen.

Tap your desired icon.

Tap Done.

Widgets and why we’re not using them

Now, this is normally where we’d get widget-happy, but we’re not going to do that today. See, most AMOLED black themes are designed to light up as few pixels as possible, and widgets will light up pixels for little or no real benefit. If we want to see the weather, we can open our favorite weather app or just ask Google Assistant. If we want to control our music, we can swipe down and use the notification.

If you have a widget you absolutely get a lot of use out of, feel free to use it. After all this is your home screen. In the spirit of AMOLED minimalism, however, we’re leaving them out of the guide.

Folders, app drawers and gestures

Now, in lieu of going overboard with widgets, we’re going to tweak our home screen launchers in order to get maximum usefulness out of minimum pixels. There’s a number of ways we can do this:

• Remove widgets and the Google Search bar, should your launcher allow it. Search bars can look great when themed properly, but why have it taking up space when you can get to Google by simply long-pressing the home button?
• Use gesture shortcuts to replace app shortcuts on your home screen. Same functionality, zero extra pixels.
• Some launchers allow you to turn off the status bar on the home screen, blanking out a few more pixels. I personally prefer seeing the status bar so that I don’t use a clock widget to see the time, but to each their own.
• We can turn off the transparent white dock overlay that was applied with the Pixel style on some launchers like Action Launcher and Nova Launcher These overlays are under Dock settings and are easily disabled.

Home screen folders and how to theme them

Home screen folders can help you squeeze more icons into your home screen without turning it into a sea of icons, allowing you to keep your apps closeby and organized while keeping fewer pixels turned on at a time. By tinting your folder background black, you can actually turn off some pixels on both the folder icon and when you open the folder itself.

Open Nova Settings.
Tap Folders.

Tap Folder background.

Tap Pixel Launcher.

Under Window, tap Backgrounds.

Drag the Transparency at the bottom of the window to 0%.

Tap Black.

Here’s how to theme your folder in Action Launcher.

Open Action Settings.
Tap Quicktheme.

Tap Folder icon background.

Tap Black.
Tap OK.
Tap Folder & Shutter background.
Tap Black.

Tap OK.

Actually, while you’re in that Quicktheme menu, you can pretty well black out your launcher by just going down the whole menu and setting everything to Black.

How far will you go?

There’s ways to get a dark theme down to absolute minimum pixels. Some users have completely replaced their on-screen app shortcuts with gesture shortcuts so their home screen is pure black. Some forgo app shortcuts altogether and just search for apps as needed. Some of us are willing to turn on a few extra pixels for some personality in our AMOLED theme. It depends on your level of creativity and devotion.

So… how far are you willing to take a dark theme?

Pick up a Fire Tablet for as little as $40 right now

Our friends at Thrifter are back again, this time with a great deal on Amazon’s Fire tablets!

Amazon’s Fire Tablets have become far more popular in recent years, and it’s for a good reason. These tablets pack some great specs into a truly affordable package, and right now they are even more affordable. Amazon is offering $10 off its entry-level 7-inch Fire Tablet with 8GB of storage, dropping the price down to just $39.99. You can grab the 16GB version for $59.99, or jump up to the 8-inch tablet with 16GB of storage for the same price.

These price drops are all on the latest generation of Fire Tablets, which are thinner and lighter than the previous ones, and have a more durable display.

• Beautiful 7″ IPS display with higher contrast and sharper text, a 1.3 GHz quad-core processor, and up to 8 hours of battery life. 8 or 16 GB of internal storage and a microSD slot for up to 256 GB of expandable storage.
• Now with Alexa, for quick access to the information and entertainment you want. Ask questions, play music, check your calendar, get the news, weather, and more – just press the home button and ask.
• Enjoy millions of movies, TV shows, songs, Kindle eBooks, apps and games – including Netflix, Facebook, HBO, Spotify, and more
• Prime members get unlimited access to over a thousand books and magazines, millions of songs, and thousands of movies and TV episodes – at no additional cost
• Watch downloaded videos anywhere with a Prime membership, Netflix plan, or Showtime subscription
• Enhance your entertainment experience with features you only get from Amazon, including ASAP, X-Ray, On Deck, Blue Shade, and FreeTime Parental Controls

The internal storage on these is a bit low and fills up pretty quickly, but luckily you can easily add a microSD card and gain additional storage in just a few seconds.

If you aren’t looking for a full tablet, Amazon also has a bunch of its Kindle e-readers on sale right now so be sure to check them out!

See at Amazon

More from Thrifter

• How to save money while driving
• Tips for becoming an expert eBay seller

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

Huawei Mate 9: Big, bold, and still beautiful nine months later

The Chinese company’s flagship smartphone is still a great buy, though the competition has vastly increased in the nine months since its debut.

Plenty can happen in nine months. A human baby gestates over the period of nine months, for example, or you can try to grow over four inches of hair. Nine months is also a good time to check in with a smartphone after its initial launch. That’s plenty of time for a device to effectively gestate within the general consumer populace.

It’s been nearly nine months since the Huawei Mate 9 launched globally. The phablet-sized device was Huawei’s great big flagship of last year. It was deemed fast, with its homemade system-on-a-chip, and it offered great battery life and solid camera performance by way of its dual-camera system. But how has it aged since its debut? Let’s check in with the Chinese company’s enormous smartphone and how it fares against the current crop of competition.

It’s big

Wide body against the narrow masses

Since the Mate 9’s launch, we’ve seen smartphones effectively shrink in size while still affording plenty of room for the screen. In that sense, the Mate 9 feels like it’s already aged eons, and while it may be nearly as slim as its rivals, it’s 5.9-inch 1080p display is big in comparison. Unlike the Samsung Galaxy S8 and LG G6’s elongated, narrow candy bar shape, the Mate 9 is like a mini-sized tablet. Though you might appreciate the extra bezel for holding the device and typing two-handed, that’s not the direction flagships are headed these days.

The Mate 9 feels like it’s already aged eons.

The Mate 9 has other features working in its favor, like a rear fingerprint sensor, which is easy to reach in spite of its larger size. You can customize it to work with a variety of gestures, too, and it’s still faster to use than the Galaxy S8’s fingerprint sensor.

I like the Mate 9’s display, even if it is merely an IPS LCD, compared to the Porsche Design variant’s vibrant AMOLED display. I also like its beefy audio capabilities; the phone has a dual-speaker setup so that you can hear its strength even through Snapchat or Instagram Stories. It’s excellent for podcasts, though it’s still a bit tinny when you playback music at the highest volume. But it broadcasts better than the Pixel.

You might actually appreciate the Mate 9’s bezels in this newly bezel-less world.

On the inside, the Mate 9 runs on Huawei’s homemade Kirin 960 processor, which you can now also find in the Huawei P10 and Honor 9. At the time of the Mate 9’s launch, it was the first mass-market chip to use ARM’s new Cortex-A73 design, though now you can find a modified version of it powering the Snapdragon 835. The Kirin 960 is speedy, and with 4GB of RAM, the Mate 9 moves swimmingly through gameplay and processor-intensive apps. I can’t believe it’s not a Snapdragon, and that’s the point, isn’t it?

As for the Mate 9’s 4000mAh battery — it must be the way that I’m using it because I’ve had to plug in this phone every other day since I switched back to it. But I will say that I’ve had some major issues with the Android O developer preview on my Pixel XL, so the Mate 9 has been a surefire Godsend. I can keep the screen on while waiting for my Lyft and watch YouTube TV on the ride home without fear of killing off what little battery I have left. I expected better standby time with the massive pack, but it’s vastly better than what the Pixel’s been offering me.

EMUI has never looked better

Not the Android you’re typically used to

You’ve likely heard us echo it through the Android Central hallways: Huawei’s software has long been its Achilles’ heel, at least until EMUI 5.0 based on Android 7.0 Nougat showed up. It’s what the Mate 9 is running right now, and it looks good, though some of its features won’t be available if you decide to employ another launcher, like App Twin.

We’ve since seen EMUI 5.1 hit the market months after the Mate 9’s debut, so it’s weird not to have the software update yet. There are plenty of threads pointing to its existence, but nothing is confirmed for the Mate 9.

Different flavors of Android.

So what kind of Android are you getting with the Mate 9? You’re getting a darker color scheme, default apps like the dialer and messaging app that aren’t Google’s, and Amazon Alexa (it was added on in a software update earlier this year). You’re also getting the option for an application drawer, which wasn’t a feature available on Huawei-made phones before, as well as themes and a vastly different notification shade. It’s not as clean as the interface you’d find on the Google Pixel or even Samsung’s revamped Galaxy interface, but it has features you’ve used before, like a night mode and multi-window mode. You can also use add-on features like the aforementioned App Twin to clone Facebook and WhatsApp and use two accounts at a time.

Fortunately, Android has this way about it that lets you customize things to your liking. I enjoy using the Mate 9 with the Evie Launcher, for instance, which lets me choose my icon pack. There are other methods you can use to get into the nitty gritty of the interface, too, if you abhor it. But I don’t mind the experience of using the phone as long as I’ve got another launcher to spruce it up.

Powered by Leica

A great set of rear-facing cameras

Huawei’s long been a partner with camera maker Leica, and the German company has once again exerted its influence over the Mate 9’s rear-facing cameras. This phone comes equipped with dual 20-megapixel and 12-megapixel cameras. The former focuses on monochrome and the latter hones in on color. Together, they have a symbiotic relationship with the goal of getting you the best shot.

Huawei Mate 9 camera samples.

There’s little information on what’s happening with software updates.

The dual-lens, dual-sensor setup is efficient at capturing the mood, even if does tend to overexpose bright and sunny shots. I loved tinkering around with the wide-aperture mode turned on, and though the Mate 9’s primary camera aperture doesn’t go as low as the competition, it makes up for it with the aid of optical image stabilization. OIS still isn’t a guarantee for most mobile phones.

The Mate 9’s dual cameras also help make it capable of bokeh-like “portrait” effects. It’s an impressive shooter in well-lit scenic panorama situations, too, though some scenes will look drowned out when it’s overcast. You can also choose between three different color modes, including one that helps the colors pop up in an otherwise dull setting. Conversely, it can also overdo the adjustments and contribute to an overly processed photo. Pictures taken at dusk also have a tendency to come out grainy. Still, I love shooting with the Mate 9, though it’s nothing compared to the shots I’ve managed with the Pixel XL.

Nine months later

Mate 9 is a worthy phone with too much competition

I’ve received plenty of queries asking about Android-powered smartphones that are under $500. If you’re on a network like AT&T or T-Mobile and you’re looking for an unlocked, global device that’s different than the status quo, the Mate 9 is a great deal. In addition to its giant 4000mAh battery — which, hey, will get you through a day and a half of average use without a charge — it has an impressive dual-camera setup and a beautiful 5.9-inch screen. I like its wider body, too, as it’s easier to handle and multitask with than some of the newer, all-glass devices hitting the market.

Perhaps the only caveat to the Mate 9 is that there’s little information on what’s happening with software updates. We’re still wondering: when is EMUI 5.1 making its way over to the device? I should also note that the Mate 9 in my possession is stuck on the Android security patch from April 5, 2017. And I’m not alone, as I discovered in our forums.

Nine months on and there is already a host of smartphones worth the cash over the Huawei Mate 9. With the deals going on right now for Samsung and LG’s flagship devices, you may wonder whether it’s worth grabbing one of these at its current price of $450. The answer is yes, particularly if you’re looking for a wide-bodied, unlocked phone to last you several trips around the earth. But there’s no reason to choose this particular device over any other. If you can spare the extra cash, about $150 will net you one of the latest flagships on sale or you can nab a year-old device like the Google Pixel at a much cheaper price. Or if you’d rather stick with the Huawei family, don’t forget the Honor 9 is now available at Amazon.

See at Amazon

Moto X4 comes into focus in clearest set of leaks yet

The Moto X4 has been shown off in another round of images on Google+.

The Motorola Moto X4 has been teased a few times already, and we have a new round of images and some information courtesy of Google+ user Jerry Yin. The phone looks just like it did in the other leaks, from the pill-shaped fingerprint sensor to the dual cameras on the back of the device.

The image shows the display lit up, and the software looks like Motorola’s clean take on Android we’ve come to know and love. Yin discussed the specifications in the comments, and says the device will be powered by the Qualcomm Snapdragon 630, rather than the Snapdragon 660 that earlier leaks suggested. The display will be an LCD panel, rather than the AMOLED panels found on the more expensive Moto Z line. AMOLED panels have the advantage of being able to turn on select pixels, while LCD panels light up the entire display, even for fully black pixels. This means an LCD panel will — in theory — use more battery power for Moto Display.

Not corroborated (at least, not yet) in the comments was carrier availability for the device. The Moto X4 is rumored to be able to work on Google’s Project Fi service, which would make it the first non-Google phone to officially work on the service. That would also provide a critical mid-range option as Nexus 5X and 6P users look to replace their devices. As nice as the Pixels are, they’re also a few hundred dollars more expensive than the last Nexus phones were. If the Moto X4 worked with Project Fi, that would be a nice, mid-range option for Fi users.

Are you interested in the Moto X4? Let us know down below!