Don’t be selfish! Here’s how to share your screen with Skype

If you’re chatting, or having a conversation with someone over Skype, and want to show them something on your PC, one of the best ways to do so is screen sharing. But do you know how to do it? If not, don’t fret, because this guide will take you through the process of how to share your screen on Skype, step by step.

Microsoft has a few different versions of Skype on various platforms. In this guide, we will look at the two most common versions of Skype used on PC — the “Classic Desktop” app, and the Universal Windows Platform (UWP) Skype app.

How to share your screen on Skype – Classic Desktop app

If you’re running an operating system other than Windows 10, or simply don’t want to use the UWP version of Skype, you’re probably using the Desktop App. Here’s how to screen share using that version of Skype:

Step 1: Start a call with one of your contacts by clicking the phone icon in the top-right hand corner of the Skype window.

Step 2: Click the “+” icon on the call screen to bring up additional call options.

Step 3: Click “Share screens”.

Step 4: You’ll then be presented with a screen share window which lets you pick which display to share. If you only have one, the choice should be an easy one, but for those with multiple screens, you can specify which you want your friend to see. Click the one you want and then press “Start.”

Step 5: You are now sharing your screen! A small red line will appear around the bounds of your screen to let you know what’s going on. On the Skype window itself, a small window will appear on the right-hand side, showing you what your friend can see.

Step 6: When you want to stop sharing your screen, press the central “+” icon again and then click “Stop Sharing.”

How to share your screen on Skype – UWP app

The latest version of Skype is the Universal Windows Platform version. Its screen sharing is accessed in much the same way, even if the interface looks a little different.

Step 1: Start a call with the person you wish to screen share with by selecting their name from your contact list and then clicking the phone icon in the top right-hand corner.

Step 2: With the call in progress, click the “…” icon in the bottom row and select “Share screen” from the resulting menu. If you want to share your sound output too, click “Share screen and sounds.”

Step 3: If you have multiple displays, choose which one you want to share and then click “ok,” otherwise simply click ok to begin sharing.

Step 4: If all has gone to plan, you should now be sharing your screen with whoever you’re talking to. If you want to check you can always ask them, but an easier way is to look out for the “Sharing Desktop” indicator in the bottom right-hand corner.

Step 5: When you want to stop sharing your screen, you can simply hang up the call. If you want to keep talking though, press the “…” icon once again and select “Stop Sharing.”

Now that you know how to share your screen on Skype, how about learning how to record your favorite calls?

ZTE Tempo X smartphone rolls out today on Boost Mobile, costs just $80

Why it matters to you

If you’re looking for an ultra-affordable phone the ZTE Tempo X might be the device for you — though you could spring for the Samsung Galaxy J3 instead.

Ultra-low-cost smartphones can be a bit hit-or-miss in terms of their build quality and overall usefulness, but ZTE is attempting to change that with the new ZTE Tempo X, a phone that ships with Android Nougat out of the box and costs a quite reasonable $80.

You might not expect to get much for $80, but as it turns out, the Tempo X isn’t all that bad for the price. The phone also comes with 8GB of storage, which is expandable by up to 32GB using the built-in MicroSD card slot. You’ll also get 1GB of RAM, coupled with a Snapdragon 210 processor.

The 5-inch display on this phone comes in at 854 x 480 pixels, and the battery has a capacity of 2,200mAh. The rear-facing camera is 5 megapixels and is complemented by a 2-megapixel front-facing camera. The phone also features, an FM radio, a headphone jack, and more.

With those specs, it’s easy to see that this isn’t an ultra-powerful phone — but it’s not built to be. It’s built for people who need something to make calls and send texts, browse social media, and occasionally use Google Chrome. It’ll be able to run apps, but don’t expect to take advantage of the latest Android-based games.

So where will you be able to get the device? It’s launching on Boost Mobile, where it’ll face some serious competition. For starters, the Samsung Galaxy J3 Emerge is also available through Boost, and it’s currently on sale for $70 — $60 off the original price. The Galaxy J3 is better than the Tempo X in almost every aspect — offering a more powerful processor, larger battery, twice the amount of storage, and a little more RAM. Even the display resolution is better, coming in at 1,280 x 720.

Still, some might prefer to stick with the ZTE brand or have another reason to go with the new phone over the Galaxy J3. If that’s you, you’ll be able to get the phone for yourself from the Boost website starting today or you can head to the ZTE website to learn more about the device.

Motiv smart ring tracks ‘active minutes,’ because step counters are so 2015

Why it matters to you

The Motiv Ring is a great alternative for people who don’t want to wear a fitness tracker on the wrist.

It’s not hard to find a fitness tracking wearable for the wrist, but options run thin when you want a device that’s a little more subtle — especially one with a heart rate monitor. Motiv’s solution is a ring, but instead of focusing on steps and calories, the sleek device puts your active minutes front and center.

Active minutes are the amount of time you exert energy via “moderate-intensity aerobic activity.” Regular walks don’t count, but brisk walks or any intensive activity that can work up a sweat do. Trackers from Fitbit and other companies already measure active minutes, but the Motiv Ring is one of few to prioritize the metric over anything else.

The Motiv Ring tracks your steps, calories burned, active and resting heart rate, activity type, and distance traveled like most fitness trackers, but its priority is to make sure you hit the goal of 150 active minutes per week. It’s the same amount time the United States Department of Health and Human Services recommends for adults in a 2008 physical activity report, as the benefits include “lower risk of premature death, coronary heart disease, stroke, hypertension, type 2 diabetes, and depression,” through improving overall cardiovascular health.

The company, which was founded by former NASA, Apple, Cisco, and Intel employees, has been in stealth mode since 2013. Co-founder Mike Strasser told Digital Trends his team developed the Motiv Ring to create a fitness tracking device that was comfortable and fashionable enough to wear all the time.

Lightweight and subtle

If you’re comfortable wearing a ring, you won’t feel a difference with the Motiv. It looks like a traditional ring, and that’s a good thing. It’s quite light with a metallic titanium shell, and it’s not bulky. On the inside is a heart rate sensor, and Motiv’s logo.

When you pre-order the device, Motiv sends a ring-sizing kit that lets you try on seven sizes to ensure a perfect fit. Use the redemption code in the kit on Motiv’s website or app to purchase the ring in your size and have it shipped to you — you don’t have to ship the kit back to the company. The ring comes in slate gray and rose gold.

How it works

The Motiv Ring packs a Bluetooth sensor, a 3-axis accelerometer, an optical heart rate monitor, and a lithium-ion battery. The heart rate monitor isn’t active all the time. Rather, it triggers whenever it detects the user engaging in intensive activity. The more active the user, the shorter the battery life, though the company claims the ring should last three days.

What’s neat is the charging mechanism for the ring: A magnetic charger snaps onto the inside of the ring, and all you need to do is plug it into a USB port. There’s also a key chain charger included in the box, and the ring fully charges in 90 minutes. An LED indicator lets you know when the ring needs to charge, is syncing, or updating, and the companion app offers notifications when the ring is fully charged.

The San Francisco-based company wanted to ensure the device never needed to be taken off, except to charge. That’s why the Motiv Ring is waterproof up to 5 ATM, or about 160 feet underwater.

It also tracks sleep patterns, so users can wear it to bed to monitor their sleep history and improve it over time.

What’s unique about the Motiv Ring is it measures your progress weekly, not daily. If you only hit a certain number of active minutes on one day, it will adjust the numbers for the rest of the week to make sure you can still hit the primary goal.

The ring can track other types of activity other than running and walking, but in the event the automatic tracking feature is wrong, you can add or edit the type of activity via the app.

Release date and price

The Motiv Ring was originally set to release earlier this year, but the team decided to delay the launch date to do some more tweaking. It’s finally available now for $200. You can purchase it on Motiv’s website. Sadly, the ring is only compatible with the iPhone 5S and newer iPhones that run iOS 9 or higher. An Android companion app is in the works.

If a fitness tracker on the wrist is too cumbersome for you, the Motiv Ring is worth a look.

Here’s what HEIF and HEVC are, and why they’ll improve your iPhone with iOS 11

Apple’s iOS 11 is officially here, you will notice several new camera and photo features. But one change you may not be aware of is Apple’s adoption of the HEIF and HEVC formats, and you may not be aware of its benefits and limitations immediately. HEIF and HEVC promise to deliver improved resolution and more manageable photo and video file sizes, but those are just the start. You should know, not every hardware and software support these two formats yet. So, as you’re familiarizing yourself with iOS 11, here’s what you need to know about HEIF and HEVC.

What is HEIF?

HEIF stands for High Efficiency Image Format. Like JPEG, GIF, TIFF, and PNG, HEIF is a type of image format put forth by the Moving Picture Experts Group (MPEG). While much of the current discussion regarding HEIF is centered around Apple’s upcoming iOS 11 and MacOS High Sierra operating systems, the format was finalized in 2015 and is not exclusive to Apple.

Apple

What does it do?

Like JPEG, HEIF is a standard for lossy digital image compression. It’s a technology for maintaining some quality while keeping file sizes small; compared to a lossless technology like TIFF, which employs little to no compression but file sizes are very large. HEIF, according to Apple, maintains the image quality of JPEG but at up to half the size, or offers better quality at the same size. It achieves this by comparing all the data of an image and only saving the areas that are different, instead of every piece of information (it’s more technical than that).

Why is there a need for a new standard?

JPEG has been the universal standard since it was created in 1992, and is used by nearly everything that involves digital photography. But JPEG file sizes are getting larger, thanks to constant improvements in camera tech and new features, like new sensors with more megapixels, which affects storage capacity as well as bandwidth limitations. Apple’s adoption of HEIF is one way to deal with increasing file sizes without sacrificing image quality or needing to dedicate significant storage.

Why are we only hearing about HEIF now?

It’s simply because Apple is using it, and that carries a lot of weight for any emerging technology. The company announced support for HEIF at WWDC 2017, but it remains to be seen whether Apple will promote it publicly or keep it as behind-the-scenes tech.

Is JPEG dead?

Not at all. Because HEIF is still new, it’s not universally supported, even if Apple is using it. In fact, iOS 11 will still support JPEG. In the camera settings, users can choose between High Efficiency and Most Compatible, the latter being JPEG (iOS 11 will also convert an HEIF file to JPEG when it’s required, but not all hardware and software can read an HEIF file natively). That means you’ll still need JPEG for editing and sharing with incompatible apps. Also, older JPEG files you have on your phone will remain in that format, even after you upgrade to iOS 11.

However, compatibility might not be an issue since Apple software developers have had some time to build support for HEIF into their apps — if developers join the bandwagon, naturally. Google Photos, it seems, is supporting the format in some fashion, based on a recent test we did.

Let’s not forget that JPEG has been around more than two decades. HEIF, if it picks up steam, will live side by side with JPEG, PNG, GIF, TIFF, and all the other formats in existence.

Lastly, HEIF is more than just a new file format. As CNET’s Stephen Shankland best puts it, it’s a container for different types of files. That means, in addition to a still photo, a HEIF file could also be an animated GIF, HDR photo, burst, Live Photo, short video, etc., as well as the depth-sensing data for augmented reality.

So, is the industry moving to HEIF?

Not quite. While Apple is surely using its clout to push things in that direction, the industry hasn’t embraced it yet. As mentioned, it’s not universally supported, and Apple hasn’t abandoned JPEG completely. And, there are other formats in the works, such as Google’s WebP.

There’s also an issue of licensing. Yes, to use the format a company has to pay for it, in addition to building code to support it. That might not be an issue if the benefits outweigh the cost, but companies may not rush to do so, either.

What about HEVC? What’s that?

HEVC, or High Efficiency Video Coding, is the compression standard Apple is adopting for video, along with HEIF for photos. Also known as H.265, the reason for the switch from the current standard, H.264 (or MPEG-4), is the same as the change from JPEG to HEIF. Since new iPhones now shoot up to 4K resolution, video file sizes have increased significantly. That affects not only storage and transfer speeds, but also bandwidth for streaming video. HEVC helps to maintain that high resolution by delivering clearer image quality with fewer artifacts, while keeping the file sizes manageable. Apple already uses HEVC for FaceTime, and the industry is adopting the codec to overcome the limitations of H.264. You can read more about HEVC and how it’s redefining video encoding.

If you want to get geeky, Apple’s Developer website offers more information on how HEIF and HEVC work, and how to build support for it. For everything else about iOS 11, you can read all about the new improvements here.

Here’s what HEIF and HEVC are, and why they’ll improve your iPhone with iOS 11

Apple’s iOS 11 is officially here, you will notice several new camera and photo features. But one change you may not be aware of is Apple’s adoption of the HEIF and HEVC formats, and you may not be aware of its benefits and limitations immediately. HEIF and HEVC promise to deliver improved resolution and more manageable photo and video file sizes, but those are just the start. You should know, not every hardware and software support these two formats yet. So, as you’re familiarizing yourself with iOS 11, here’s what you need to know about HEIF and HEVC.

What is HEIF?

HEIF stands for High Efficiency Image Format. Like JPEG, GIF, TIFF, and PNG, HEIF is a type of image format put forth by the Moving Picture Experts Group (MPEG). While much of the current discussion regarding HEIF is centered around Apple’s upcoming iOS 11 and MacOS High Sierra operating systems, the format was finalized in 2015 and is not exclusive to Apple.

Apple

What does it do?

Like JPEG, HEIF is a standard for lossy digital image compression. It’s a technology for maintaining some quality while keeping file sizes small; compared to a lossless technology like TIFF, which employs little to no compression but file sizes are very large. HEIF, according to Apple, maintains the image quality of JPEG but at up to half the size, or offers better quality at the same size. It achieves this by comparing all the data of an image and only saving the areas that are different, instead of every piece of information (it’s more technical than that).

Why is there a need for a new standard?

JPEG has been the universal standard since it was created in 1992, and is used by nearly everything that involves digital photography. But JPEG file sizes are getting larger, thanks to constant improvements in camera tech and new features, like new sensors with more megapixels, which affects storage capacity as well as bandwidth limitations. Apple’s adoption of HEIF is one way to deal with increasing file sizes without sacrificing image quality or needing to dedicate significant storage.

Why are we only hearing about HEIF now?

It’s simply because Apple is using it, and that carries a lot of weight for any emerging technology. The company announced support for HEIF at WWDC 2017, but it remains to be seen whether Apple will promote it publicly or keep it as behind-the-scenes tech.

Is JPEG dead?

Not at all. Because HEIF is still new, it’s not universally supported, even if Apple is using it. In fact, iOS 11 will still support JPEG. In the camera settings, users can choose between High Efficiency and Most Compatible, the latter being JPEG (iOS 11 will also convert an HEIF file to JPEG when it’s required, but not all hardware and software can read an HEIF file natively). That means you’ll still need JPEG for editing and sharing with incompatible apps. Also, older JPEG files you have on your phone will remain in that format, even after you upgrade to iOS 11.

However, compatibility might not be an issue since Apple software developers have had some time to build support for HEIF into their apps — if developers join the bandwagon, naturally. Google Photos, it seems, is supporting the format in some fashion, based on a recent test we did.

Let’s not forget that JPEG has been around more than two decades. HEIF, if it picks up steam, will live side by side with JPEG, PNG, GIF, TIFF, and all the other formats in existence.

Lastly, HEIF is more than just a new file format. As CNET’s Stephen Shankland best puts it, it’s a container for different types of files. That means, in addition to a still photo, a HEIF file could also be an animated GIF, HDR photo, burst, Live Photo, short video, etc., as well as the depth-sensing data for augmented reality.

So, is the industry moving to HEIF?

Not quite. While Apple is surely using its clout to push things in that direction, the industry hasn’t embraced it yet. As mentioned, it’s not universally supported, and Apple hasn’t abandoned JPEG completely. And, there are other formats in the works, such as Google’s WebP.

There’s also an issue of licensing. Yes, to use the format a company has to pay for it, in addition to building code to support it. That might not be an issue if the benefits outweigh the cost, but companies may not rush to do so, either.

What about HEVC? What’s that?

HEVC, or High Efficiency Video Coding, is the compression standard Apple is adopting for video, along with HEIF for photos. Also known as H.265, the reason for the switch from the current standard, H.264 (or MPEG-4), is the same as the change from JPEG to HEIF. Since new iPhones now shoot up to 4K resolution, video file sizes have increased significantly. That affects not only storage and transfer speeds, but also bandwidth for streaming video. HEVC helps to maintain that high resolution by delivering clearer image quality with fewer artifacts, while keeping the file sizes manageable. Apple already uses HEVC for FaceTime, and the industry is adopting the codec to overcome the limitations of H.264. You can read more about HEVC and how it’s redefining video encoding.

If you want to get geeky, Apple’s Developer website offers more information on how HEIF and HEVC work, and how to build support for it. For everything else about iOS 11, you can read all about the new improvements here.

NASA satellite data could help predict and mitigate malaria outbreaks

Why it matters to you

Malaria remains one of the deadliest diseases in the world, but NASA could be helping to fight it.

It’s an exclusively terrestrial problem, but we’re now devoting extraterrestrial resources to help fight one of the deadliest diseases in the world — malaria. The bright minds at NASA are helping scientists track “the types of human and environmental events that typically precede a [malaria] outbreak” by using data from satellites. University researchers, in partnership with NASA and the Peruvian government, are developing a system that employs satellite and other data to predict outbreaks at a surprisingly granular level up to months in advance. This level of preparedness, scientists hope, will help households prevent the disease from taking its deadly toll.

“Malaria is a vector-borne disease, which means you have to have a vector, or mosquito, in this case, transmit the disease,” explained principal investigator William Pan, an assistant professor of global environmental health at Duke University, in a NASA report. “The key to our malaria forecasting tool lies in pinpointing areas where prime breeding grounds for these mosquitos overlap simultaneously with human populations.”

These breeding grounds, as many know, are usually puddles and ponds, and using NASA’s Land Data Assimilation System (LDAS), scientists can predict where these standing pools of water are likely to form. For example, if heavy rains are on the horizon, researchers know that this will likely result in flooding conditions, resulting in prime mosquito habitats. LDAS is also capable of tracking deforestation, another key indicator for malaria outbreaks.

“It’s an exercise in indirect reasoning,” said Ben Zaitchik, the project’s co-investigator responsible for the LDAS component and an associate professor at Johns Hopkins University’s Department of Earth and Planetary Sciences. “These models let us predict where the soil moisture is going to be in a condition that will allow for breeding sites to form.”

Ultimately, this data could be used to assess the “probability of when, where, and how many people are expected to get bitten and infected with the disease,” NASA explained. And this information could be used by governments to take preventive measures, such as distributing bed nets, sprays, and anti-malaria treatment.

While the focus of the project is currently malaria, there’s no reason the same technology couldn’t be used more broadly. “I think that government health agencies will find not just one but many uses for the system that can benefit a lot people,” Pan said. “That’s always been our goal.”

Adobe Spark will now customize graphics, video, web pages in just three steps

Why it matters to you

Adobe Spark can now create custom graphics quickly and without the Adobe branding — and if you already subscribe to the Creative Cloud, it’s free.

Adobe Spark brings the software giant’s graphics capabilities into a program that generates graphics, videos, and web pages quickly — but now Spark’s options are getting even more custom. On Tuesday, September 19, Adobe launched several premium customization options inside Spark, with branding options that automatically adjust across all of the program’s templates. Unlike the previously launched free version, a Spark subscription now gives users customization options, including removing the Adobe Spark branding from the final design.

The update allows for more branding and customization options inside the program, a significant change since Spark’s simple platform is often utilized by small businesses that may not have big budgets for creating media. Adobe says that the most-requested features by current users is for more customization options.

The upgraded features aim to keep Spark’s simplicity — just three choices adjusts all of the templates at once. Users can now upload a logo (or auto-generate one inside Spark), choose colors, or have Spark automatically extract the colors from the logo, and then pick a font family. Once selected, those choices are adjusted instantly across Spark’s different templates for graphics, videos, and web pages.

After the initial setup, premium users then have the option to use one of 20 customizable templates or apply those branding choices to a basic template. The new setup also makes it easier for brands to maintain a consistent brand image across graphics, videos, and web pages, Adobe says. The new premium version replaces Adobe’s Spark logo with the user’s custom logo, eliminating the Spark branding from the finished graphics.

“At Spark we believe that the stories we tell define us,” Adobe’s Aubrey Cattell wrote in a blog post. “The content you create and share with the world represents what you care about, what moves you, what inspires you, and what your goals are. Spark with premium features offers more self expression options so you can quickly and easily show people who you are — whether you are just starting to craft your online identity, already growing your following on social media, or creating marketing content for a nonprofit or small business.”

The new customization features are part of a premium version of Spark. While Spark remains a free program, a subscription is required for the new premium customization options. Those features are included in any existing Creative Cloud subscription or with a Spark-only subscription, which is $10 a month or $100 for a year.

Spark launched last year when Adobe renamed three separate apps under the Adobe Spark name. The graphics program remains available on desktop browsers as well as with iOS mobile apps, with separate versions for graphics, video, and web pages.

Pixel and Nexus owners, how’s the Oreo update holding up?

The Oreo update has been out for a few weeks now. How’s it going so far?

The Google Pixel received Android 8.0 Oreo on August 21, though thousands of people had been using it in Developer Preview form for longer than that.

Still, a finished Android version is sure to attract a lot of attention, even from average folks whose lives don’t revolve around the comings and goings of updates named after sweet treats. And while Android 8.0 Oreo is only available for five devices — the Pixel, Pixel XL, Nexus 6P, Nexus 5X, and Pixel C tablet — it’s been long enough now that we can reasonably evaluate its success or failure based on a number of metrics.

Besides a few minor issues, Oreo seems to be a solid update so far.

Personally, I’ve had some issues with Oreo on my Pixel XL. Bluetooth has never been great on the Pixel, but Oreo promised improvements; alas, those don’t seem to have been included in my bundle. Indeed, I’ve had tremendous trouble keeping various Bluetooth headphones and speakers connected without stuttering and dropouts, even when the device is close by. Occasionally I even lose the connection altogether and have to re-pair the Pixel to the headphones to continue playing wirelessly.

Another issue I’ve had, which could just be my phone, is a lack of incoming text messages. Doesn’t matter if I’m using the default Messages app or something like Facebook Messenger or Textra, SMS are just not getting through. Removing the SIM and putting it in another phone resolves the problem. This wasn’t an issue prior to the update to Oreo, but I took this phone through the Developer Previews, which could have installed some gremlins. I’m going to factory reset my Pixel XL to see if it resolves things on that end.

Other than those two minor issues, Oreo has been a solid update so far. Performance is good, apps run well (even those that haven’t been updated to support Oreo’s new features) and I really like some of the user-facing changes, like Adaptive Icons and improvements to notifications (including the divisive colored media notifications).

So, how’s it going for you? Any issues that we should know about? How’s battery life holding up post-Oreo? Let us know in the comments below!

Android Oreo

• Android Oreo review!
• Everything new in Android Oreo
• How to get Android Oreo on your Pixel or Nexus
• Oreo will make you love notifications again
• Will my phone get Android Oreo?
• Join the Discussion

Motorola is bringing the Moto X4 to India on October 3

The Moto X4 will be debuting early next month in India.

India is Motorola’s largest market, so it’s no surprise that the company is getting ready to introduce the Moto X4 in the country early next month. According to a tweet posted by Motorola India, the Moto X4 will be making its debut in India on October 3.

Get ready for an #xperience unlike any other with the #MotoX4. Unveiling on 3rd October. pic.twitter.com/6ZNeOXBuXJ

— Motorola India (@motorolaindia) September 19, 2017

The Moto X4 was unveiled last month at IFA with dual rear cameras, an anodized aluminum frame along with a glass back, and IP68 dust and water resistance. The phone has a 5.2-inch Full HD panel, Snapdragon 630, 3GB/4GB of RAM, 32GB/64GB storage, 12MP camera backed by an 8MP shooter, 16MP front camera, and a 3000mAh battery.

The Moto X4 retails for €399, which comes out to around ₹30,700. We’ll know more about availability and pricing details at the launch, so stay tuned.

Amazon’s all-new Fire HD 10 has a 1080p display, costs just $149

The latest generation Fire HD 10 costs $80 less than its predecessor.

Amazon is rolling out much-needed updates to the Fire HD 10 and decreasing its price point at the same time. The latest generation Fire HD 10 features a 10.1-inch Full HD display, double the amount of storage at 32GB, and a 1.8GHz MediaTek quad-core CPU that’s 30% faster than the one used in its predecessor. The tablet will go up for sale starting October 11 for $149, or $80 less than the starting price of its predecessor.

The tablet comes with 2GB of RAM, a microSD slot that can accommodate cards up to 256GB, stereo speakers with audio tuned by Dolby, Wi-Fi ac, 2MP rear camera, VGA front camera, 3.5mm jack, and a microUSB charging port. Amazon is touting a battery life of up to ten hours, and claims that the Fire HD 10 is much more durable than the iPad Pro 10.5.

The Fire HD 10 also comes with hands-free Alexa, allowing you to control music playback, turn off the lights, see weather-related updates, sports scores, and so much more.

Amazon is offering the Fire HD 10 in two variants: a base model with 32GB storage that will retail for $149, and a version with 64GB storage that will set you back $189. As always, both models come with lock screen ads, but you can shell out an additional $15 to get the variants without “special offers.”

The Fire HD 10 is made out of plastic, and comes in three color options — Black, Marine Blue and Punch Red. Amazon is also rolling out protective covers starting at $39.

Overall, the upgrades make the Fire HD 10 a much more enticing option, particularly at that $149 price point. The tablet is now up for pre-order on Amazon, with deliveries going out from October 11.

See at Amazon