Apple Design Chief Jony Ive to Speak at TechFest 2017 in October
Apple design chief Jony Ive is one of the planned speakers at TechFest 2017, hosted by The New Yorker. Set to take place on October 6 from 8:45 a.m. to 6:30 p.m, the event will be held in New York City.
Ive will talk about “designing the future,” according to The New Yorker. No additional information has been provided on what topics Ive will cover, but with the launch of the iPhone X approaching, it could come up during the discussion.
Other speakers at TechFest include Hyperloop One co-founder Josh Giegel, author Van Jones, Human Rights Foundation chairman Garry Kasparov, Snap chairman Michael Lynton, and M.I.T. computer science and AI lab director Daniela Rus, among others.
Tickets for The New Yorker’s TechFest are priced at $1,500.
Tag: Jony Ive
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House of Marley Smile Jamaica Wireless Headphones review
The Smile Jamaica Wireless Headphones are a $60 pair of Bluetooth-connected earphones and one of the latest models out of The House of Marley. A wireless take on an existing pair of in-ear headphones, they have the increasingly popular design which lets wearers drape them around the neck when not in use.
We were sent a pair of these earphones to review and spent a few weeks playing with them off and on. Here’s our impression of the Smile Jamaica Wireless Headphones.
We’re giving stuff away to help celebrate our tenth anniversary. Are you in?
Setup is a little different from what you might expect in that the first time you power them on you are already in pairing mode. That’s not extraordinary, but each subsequent use of them requires you to press and hold the two volume buttons to get going. To us this seems backwards, and it takes a little time to get used to, but it’s not that big of an offense.
Controls are equally odd a times. Want to skip tracks? Double tap the volume up. Double tap volume down to go back a track. It took a time or two to master this as we were apprehensive about increasing or decreasing volumes. We’ve seen this in other models, but we tend to prefer to have buttons for skipping tracks that also double for fast forwarding.
The Smile Jamaica Wireless Headphones feature a flexible, rubberized body with enlarged tips. The left side is where you’ll find the controls, microphone, charging port, and LED light. The right side houses the battery; the two are weighted equally.
We liked that the headphones drape nicely and comfortably around the neck. There are other brands and models on the market that don’t have nearly as much “play”, giving the experience of a hard plastic halo or frame that feels like it will fall off easily. That’s definitely not the case here.
The headphones are IPX4 sweat-proof which means you’ll have no problems using them in a workout or environment where you plan to get sweaty. This is a nice touch as being waterproof isn’t the same as sweat-proof. Ask your FedEx driver about the earbuds he goes through because of sweat.
Given the $60 price point we didn’t expect the sound to be as warm and rich as it is. We were pleased to find a nice, generally even sound that doesn’t overpower or try to come off as something out of its class. The mid range could use a little help, but upper-mid and highs were crisp and clean.
Don’t be fooled into thinking these will counter or best headphones in a higher price range. While we liked the experience overall, we can appreciate that they’re nowhere near what you’d get from the likes of master & Dynamic. One is an every man model, the other is geared at an audiophile. It should be noted that neither aptX nor LDAC are supported by the headphones, somewhat reaffirming its position on the totem pole.
With battery life rated at eight hours we found ours to routinely get at least 6-7, on average. Mileage varies, of course, based on volume levels and length of listening sessions. Charging takes around two hours when starting from zero and is done via microUSB. A cable is included in the box but you’ll need an adapter to plug into the wall.
1 of 8
Conclusion
The Smile Jamaica Wireless Headphones are comfortable, affordable, and deliver a pretty decent sound. It’s just about everything you’d want out a set of headphones and doesn’t pretend to be more. The sweat-proof feature is a nice touch, especially for those who are active or spend time enjoying the dog days of summer. The buttons and setup can be a little wonky but it’s forgivable stuff. We really appreciate the two-year warranty that comes with House of Marley products and think that alone is worth extra money.
The main catch, to us, is the style of headphones. We’re not huge fans of the design in general and prefer more traditional things like earphones or on-ear/over-the-ear headphones. But, if this is your bag, the House of Marley Smile Jamaica Wireless Headphones are worth the price. If you can get them cheaper, say, at a place like Amazon ($50), you’re doing even better.
Warm up or cool down with the press of a button on the wrist-worn Embr
I don’t know who’s in charge of the thermostat at Digital Trends headquarters, but based on how hot they like to keep it here, I’ve concluded that this person was most likely born and raised on surface of the Sun. I know this because no matter what season it is or what the weather happens to be like outside, the office is almost always kept at a balmy 5,778 degrees Kelvin.
OK, so obviously that’s a bit of an exaggeration. To be completely honest, I have no clue what the exact temperature is — but I do know that if you engage in any activity that’s more strenuous than sitting at your desk and typing, you almost immediately break into a sweat. I seriously keep a spare towel and a stick of deodorant on hand just in case I ever need to tie my shoes, unplug my monitor, or sneeze more than twice in a row.
For the past few days, however, I haven’t been as bothered by the oppressively high temperatures of the office — and it’s all thanks to a nifty new gadget called the Embr Wave, which launched today on Kickstarter.
The Wave
Developed by a team of MIT grads over the last four years, the Wave is essentially a wearable heater and cooler that leverages quirks in human physiology to sort of “hack” how your body perceives temperature.
“It’s a product for people that are too hot or too cold, that offers thermal relief,” explains Embr Labs co-founder Sam Shames. “What it does is it heats and cools one spot on your body and helps you improve your comfort, without changing your core temp.”
Note that last part. It’s important to know that Wave doesn’t actually change how hot or cold your body is overall. Instead, it essentially tricks your body and brain into perceiving a slightly different temperature.
“It’s kind of similar to cupping your hands around a hot mug of coffee in the winter after you’ve come in from being outside in the cold, or dipping your toes in the ocean on a hot summer day,” says Shames. “So it doesn’t change your core temperature. It does change temperature of your wrist while you wear it, but it’s not so much ‘tricking your senses’ as it is your brain and body naturally responding to temperature change.”
As it turns out, changing the temperature of one part of your body can have a strong effect on how you feel overall. “What that illustrates is that there’s a lot more to the sensation of temperature, or the subjective experience of temperature, than people realize,” Shames says, “and that’s really what we’re here to help people with.”
Under the hood
So how exactly does all this black magic actually work? It all comes down to a nifty physical phenomenon known as the Peltier Effect.
“There’s a lot more to the sensation of temperature, or the subjective experience of temperature, than people realize”
Named for French physicist Jean Charles Athanase Peltier who discovered it in 1834, The Peltier effect describes the phenomenon of heating or cooling caused by an electric current flowing across the junction of two different conductors. As the current moves from one conductor to another, the transfer of energy causes one side to heat up and the other to cool down. Embr Wave is basically a series of these junctions (called a Peltier cooler) powered by a small battery and attached to a wrist strap. When placed against the skin, the device makes you feel cooler by reducing the temperature of your wrist a few fractions of a degree per second for a couple seconds at a time.
That’s where the “wave” in Embr Wave comes from. Rather than providing a steady stream of heating or cooling, the device pulses with short waves of temperature fluctuation. It’s a bit counterintuitive, but according to Shames and his colleagues, this burst-based method is actually the most effective way to alter your perception of temperature and provide a sensation of thermal relief.
“That’s one of the most important features,” says Shames, “because if you think about our normal experience of temperature and what our bodies are designed to do, they’re designed to adapt. For example, if you walk into an air-conditioned room and it feels incredibly cold when you first get in there, but then two minutes later you’re like ‘it doesn’t feel as cold anymore!’ — that’s because humans are hardwired to adapt to temperature. What we’ve figured out is that by having the temperature come in waves — in other words having the sensation fade in and out — you basically overcome that natural adaptation.”
Cool in theory, cooler in practice
All this might sound like a load of pseudoscientific bull excrement, but Embr Labs’s technology is surprisingly effective. I’ve been wearing a Wave for the past few days, and despite the fact that it looks like an Apple-inspired house arrest bracelet, the device is undeniably pleasurable to use.
Truth be told, I was a bit underwhelmed when I first put it on. The cooling sensation isn’t particularly bold at first. It’s not like stepping into a walk-in freezer and getting hit with a shiver-inducing burst of temperature change, which is what I was (naively) hoping for as I hastily unboxed the review unit in the oppressive heat of my office. The feeling is much more subtle; like running your wrist under a cold tap, or moving your head to the cold side of your pillow. That’s not to say it’s not enjoyable — the sensation just isn’t as pronounced as you might expect.
Still, despite the fact that it doesn’t freeze the sweat on your brow at the push of a button, the Wave is a lovely thing to have on your wrist. I didn’t realize how soothing it is until I took it off for a few hours, then found myself craving that chilly sensation on my wrist. I dare say it’s mildly addictive.
At the end of the day, the Wave is really just a wearable device that offers pleasant sensations on demand, and that’s precisely what makes it so enticing. Not everyone wants a band that counts steps or a watch that can send texts — but a wrist-borne button that makes you feel good when you press it? Now that’s something everyone can get behind.
Google is using artificial intelligence to cut down Google Play’s malware
Why it matters to you
Malware can be devastating to your digital life, so it’s nice to see Google cutting down on it in any way possible.
Malware on the Google Play Store is a serious problem. It seems like every few weeks there is another story about how a series of malware has been discovered and removed from the store, and while it’s a good thing that the malware is being removed, it’s a little problematic that it is there in the first place.
Google, however, is trying to change that. How? With artificial intelligence, of course! The company recently showed off some pretty good results from the system, saying that while six months ago the system was only able to flag five percent of malware thrown at it, these days it is now hitting a 55 percent success rate — meaning it’s essentially learning what to look for in malware and how to stop it.
The new system will be welcome. Toward the beginning of 2017, around 0.6 percent of Android devices were infected with some sort of malware. Thanks to the implementation of the AI software in Google Play Services, that figure now sits in at 0.25 percent, according to a report from The Register. Still, the AI has a long way to go. Earlier this year, we learned that there were twice as many malware installations in 2016 than there were in 2015 — and just a few months ago researchers at the University of Michigan discovered that more than 400 apps left users open to malware attacks. Hopefully, the new system will cut down on stories like that.
Google may not be the first to use artificial intelligence for security reasons, it has some advantages. As The Register’s report notes, Android users are found all over the world and there are far more Android users than users of any other operating system. More users mean more data for the system to analyze, which means it can learn quicker.
Of course, just because the Google Play Store is getting safer, that does not mean you should stop being careful. You should still only download apps from the Google Play Store, and even then try to only download apps that are from reliable developers. Last but not least, if you find that an app does seem to be malicious, report it to Google.
Replacing your phone? Here’s how the Google Store trade-in program works
Most smartphones aren’t made to last. That is no surprise — slim frames don’t tend to hold up well against concrete and sharp car keys don’t do glass screens any favors. But there is planned obsolescence at play too: Batteries start to charge less quickly after hundreds of cycles, and old processors eventually struggle to keep up with new apps.
The good news is that Google has your back. The Google Store offers credit for used smartphones, the only caveat being that you’re stuck with the search giant’s limited device selection. If you’re in the market for a Pixel or Pixel XL, though, that might work to your advantage.
Here’s a guide to the Google Store trade-in program, and a full list of devices on offer.
The trade-in process
You need to decide which smartphone you want to buy from the Google Store before you start a trade-in. Luckily, Google makes it easy: Head to the Store’s homepage, click the “Browse” button and select “Phones” from the drop-down menu. From there, choose the handset you intend on purchasing and click the “Buy” button in the upper-right corner.
Here’s a list of smartphones available from the Google Store:
- Pixel
- Pixel XL
After you make your selection, pick a color, and decide on a storage capacity, you are ready to kick off the trade-in process.
From any Google Store product page, click the big “Trade in your phone” link and select “Begin trade in.” From there, you will be asked to choose your old phone’s manufacturer — as of publication time, Google accepts Apple, Samsung, LG, Google, Huawei, and Motorola devices.
After you have narrowed down your phone’s maker, you will see a list of devices eligible for trade-in. Choose yours, and then enter a few basic details about its condition. In addition to the storage capacity and carrier, you will have to specify whether the screen works properly and whether or not the phone turns on.
Here are the estimated trade-in values you can expect:
Apple:
- iPhone SE: $30-$143
- iPhone 6: $35-$143
- iPhone 6 Plus: $30-$183
- iPhone 6s: $42-$230
- iPhone 6s Plus: $40 – $264
- iPhone 7 Plus: $68-$388
Samsung:
- Galaxy Note 5: $61-150
- Galaxy S7: $52-$150
- Galaxy S7 edge: $40.40-$175
- Galaxy S8: $59.60-$305
- Galaxy S8+: $66-$345
Google (Huawei/Motorola):
- Nexus 6P: $113-165
- Nexus 5X: $82.50-$115
- Nexus 6: $35-$80
- Pixel 32GB: $150-$350
- Pixel 128GB: $160-$400
- Pixel XL 128GB: $162-$410
LG:
- LG G6: $35.20-$230
Once you confirm all the details and receive a trade-in valuation, you are ready to ship your old phone to Google. Click through the next few confirmation buttons and choose your preferred shipping address and within the next few days, you will get a trade-in kit from Google with a prepaid shipping label and an envelope.
You have 30 days to ship your phone and once Google receives it, it takes about five days to review. Assuming everything checks out, you will see the trade-in credit applied to the primary credit/debit card associated with your Google Store account.
Things to keep in mind
The Google Store’s trade-in process isn’t too complicated, but only if you heed the instructions.
- Wipe your phone of any personal data before you ship it — Google reserves the right not to pay for phones if they haven’t been factory reset. Don’t know how? Check out our guides to restoring Android and iOS devices.
- Don’t be surprised if you end up getting a smaller trade-in credit than you were quoted. Google says it may offer a lower price after evaluating your phone hands on.
From gravity effects to sweaty palms, watch the Nikon Small World video winners
Why it matters to you
Combining a video contest with a microscopic view makes for some incredible videos.
Time lapses are an art form — but the one above also advances the science that could allow future astronauts to grow plants in zero gravity. The video by Daniel von Wangenheim of the Institute of Science and Technology Austria recently won the first-place prize from the Nikon Small World in Motion competition, an annual contest that celebrates both art and science by getting incredibly close looks at unusual — and sometimes, everyday — phenomena.
Von Wangenheim’s video may look a bit like a cartoon worm, but the shot is actually of a single root tip growing over a 17-hour period. All that motion in the video? That was actually only four millimeters. The root tip of a Thale cress or Arabidopis thaliana was part of a study that’s exploring how plants respond to gravity.
“Once we have a better understanding of the behavior of plant roots and [their] underlying mechanisms,” von Wangenheim said, “we can help them grow deeper into the soil to reach water or defy gravity in upper areas of the soil to adjust their root branching angle to areas with richer nutrients. One step further, this could finally help to successfully grow plants under microgravity conditions in outer space to provide food for astronauts in long-lasting missions.”
The research team, which also included Robert Hauschild, Matyas Fendrych, Eva Benkova, and Jiri Friml, turned the microscope on its side in order to get an upward view. Placing the plant on a rotation stage and simulating growing conditions with lights, the team saw that the root would bend down for each turn, correcting the growth to head down every time.
The rotating root was followed by a microscopic look at something that happens every day: sweat. The second-place video, made by Tsutomu Tomita of Japan, shows several close-ups of what happens on a microscopic level when we get sweaty palms. So how did he shoot it? Those sweaty hands are a result of the subjects watching daredevils climb skyscrapers.
The third-place video goes under the skin, capturing the leukocyte accumulations and platelet aggregations of a mouse — science-speak for how the body responds to an injury, such as a puncture wound.
Nikon named five winners and a set of honorable mentions in the contest, with shots ranging from the colorful patterns of water droplets inside of a cholesteric liquid crystal shell to the beautiful yet gross microscropic patterns inside of dried wart cream, all as described in the complete list of winners.
The Nikon Small World Contest is held annually, with every year bringing videos like these, and a separate competition for still shots and video.
Apple iPhone 8 vs. Samsung Galaxy S8: A classic tale of Android vs. iOS
The new iPhone lineup is finally here, and comes with a number of awesome features. While the iPhone X has stolen many of the latest headlines, the iPhone 8 and iPhone 8 Plus still have plenty to offer.
Of course, they’re not the only flagships out there. Not too long ago, Samsung launched its flagship phone for the year, the Samsung Galaxy S8. So how do the two phones compare? Here, we pitted them against one another find out.
Specs
iPhone 8
Galaxy S8
Size
5.45 x 2.65 x 0.29 inches (138.4 x 67.3 x 7.3 mm)
5.86 x 2.68 x 0.31 inches (148.9 x 68.1 x 8 mm)
Weight
5.22 ounces (148 grams)
5.47 ounces (155 grams)
Screen
4.7-inch Retina HD IPS LCD
5.8-inch Super AMOLED
Resolution
1,334 × 750 pixels
2,960 x 1,440 pixels
OS
iOS 11
Android 7.0 Nougat
Storage
64/256GB
64GB
MicroSD Card Slot
No
Yes
NFC support
Yes (Apple Pay only)
Yes
Processor
A11 Bionic chip with 64-bit architecture, M11 motion coprocessor
Qualcomm Snapdragon 835
RAM
2GB
4GB
Connectivity
4G LTE, GSM, CDMA, HSPA+, 802.11ac/b/g/n/ac Wi-Fi
GSM / HSPA / LTE
Camera
12MP, 7MP front
12MP rear, 8MP front
Video
4K at 60fps, 1080p at 240fps,
4K at 30fps, 1,080p at 60fps
Bluetooth
Yes, version 5.0
Yes, version 5.0
Fingerprint sensor
Yes
Yes
Other sensors
Barometer, gyro, accelerometer, proximity sensor, compass, ambient light sensor
Iris scanner, accelerometer, gyroscope, proximity, compass, barometer, heart rate
Water Resistant
Yes, IP67
Yes, IP68
Battery
1,821mAh
3,000mAh
Charger
Lightning
USB-C
Quick Charging
Yes
Yes
Wireless Charging
Yes
Yes
Marketplace
Apple App Store
Google Play Store
Color offerings
Gold, Silver, Space Grey
Midnight Black, Orchid Gray, Arctic Silver, Coral Blue, Maple Gold
Availability
AT&T, Verizon, Sprint, T-Mobile, Apple
AT&T, Sprint, T-Mobile, Verizon, Amazon
Price
$700
$750
DT Review
Hands-on
4 stars
The iPhone 8 and Samsung Galaxy S8 are both flagship-tier phones, and as such, they both offer flagship specs — but there are quite a few differences between these flagship specs. For starters, the iPhone offers Apple’s self-designed A11 Bionic processor, which, according to benchmarks, is the most powerful smartphone chip on the market right now. In fact, while the Qualcomm Snapdragon 835 is a powerful chip, the A11 Bionic really blows it out of the water. The iPhone 8 scored a hefty 9,983 on its Geekbench multi-core test, and 4,198 on its single-core test — beating out the Galaxy S8’s 6,492 multi-core score and 1,965 single-core score.
What does this mean? Well, it basically means the iPhone will be able to handle more at a time, and will likely offer exceptional performance for longer. Both phones should last at least two years, though the iPhone should last longer if you take care of it.
The iPhone reportedly has 2GB of RAM, while the Samsung Galaxy S8 offers 4GB. This number, however, is somewhat irrelevant when it comes to overall performance.
In regards to storage, both phones offer a base amount of 64GB, though the iPhone also comes in a 256GB configuration. Of course, if you want to expand upon the built-in storage in the Galaxy S8, you can use the MicroSD card slot.
The iPhone is simply the more powerful phone here, and while the Galaxy S8 does regain some points via its MicroSD card slot, the iPhone has more storage options to begin with.
Winner: Apple iPhone 8
Display, design, and durability
Apple is working to make the displays on the iPhone better, but that has largely manifested on the iPhone X rather than the iPhone 8 or 8 Plus. As such, the iPhone 8 offers an LCD display with 1,334 × 750-pixel resolution, which doesn’t come close to the 2,960 x 1,440-pixel Super AMOLED display on the Samsung Galaxy S8.
Design preferences are largely subjective, but there are still some important differences to note. For starters, the design of the Samsung Galaxy S8 is much more modern than that of the iPhone 8. The Galaxy S8, for example, offers a huge edge-to-edge display with razor-thin bezels — a trend even Apple is embracing with the upcoming iPhone X. The fingerprint sensor on the device is located on the back, while the iPhone’s fingerprint sensor is embedded directly in the Home button. We would argue that the Galaxy S8’s design is more interesting, while the iPhone’s is “safer.”
Apple has seriously stepped up the durability of its phones in recent times, but the iPhone 8’s IP67 rating still doesn’t beat out the Galaxy S8, which has an IP68 rating. This means that instead of being able to last up to 30 minutes in a meter of water, it’ll be able to withstand 1.5 meters. Neither phone will fare well in drop tests — the iPhone is coated in glass, while the Galaxy S8 has those beautiful, yet fragile, curved edges.
The Galaxy S8 offers a better display and is slightly better in water. It’s the winner here.
Winner: Samsung Galaxy S8
Battery life and charging
The iPhone has long had issues with battery life, and it looks like that’s not going to change with the iPhone 8, which has a battery capacity of just 1,821mAh. This doesn’t come close to matching the 3,000mAh battery on the S8. Still, it’s important to note the difference between battery capacity and battery life — one denotes how much power a battery can hold, while the other denotes how long a battery will last. While the iPhone will offer 14 hours of talk time on a full charge, the Galaxy S8 offers 20 hours, which is quite a difference.
Both phones offer quick charging, but the iPhone doesn’t come with the chargers necessary to take advantage of it, so that’s another point for Samsung. Both devices also support wireless charging.
Winner: Samsung Galaxy S8
Cameras
While Apple has long offered one of the best cameras on the market in the iPhone, other manufacturers have been stepping up their game in the camera department. The iPhone 8 boasts an excellent camera, which offers a 12-megapixel sensor with an f/1.8 aperture and optical image stabilization. The Galaxy S8 also offers a 12-megapixel camera, but with an f/1.7 aperture and optical image stabilization.
Now, on paper the Galaxy S8 should be slightly better in low-light situations, but according to the latest benchmarks, it seems as though the iPhone 8’s camera is slightly better overall. Those benchmarks come from DxOMark, which is largely considered the authority on cameras. The iPhone 8 scored 92 in DxOMark’s benchmark, while the Galaxy S8 scored a respectable 88. Very respectable, but it’s not enough to make it the winner.
Winner: Apple iPhone 8
Software
Software is probably the biggest difference between these two phones, and it’s a classic case of Android vs. iOS. We’re not going to award a winner here, but there are a few key differences we can note.
Generally speaking, iOS is considered to be easier to use and a little more intuitive than Android — but there’s a trade-off. Android, for example, offers a little more customization and you can do a little more. Now, for many that won’t matter — if iOS can do everything you need, why get an operating system that can do more? For others, however, that customization is important.
There are a few other differences here. For example, the iPhone will get updates as soon as they’re available, as Apple controls both the hardware and the software. The Galaxy S8, however, will take a while to get software updates, because, after they become available from Google, Samsung has to test the software and tweak its TouchWiz interface before the update can roll out.
Either way, both Android and iOS are excellent operating systems with a lot to offer.
Winner: Tie
Pricing and availability
Both the iPhone 8 and the Samsung Galaxy S8 are currently available, but neither of them come cheap. The 64GB model of the iPhone 8, which launched on September 22, starts at $700, whereas the 256GB model will set you back $850. That’s not cheap — but it’s not as pricey as the Samsung Galaxy S8, which starts at around $750.
Both phones are available from all major carriers, as well as unlocked.
Winner: Apple iPhone 8
Overall winner: Apple iPhone 8
The Samsung Galaxy S8 is an excellent phone, but in this case, it seems that the newer offering is better. While the Galaxy S8 has a better battery and display, the iPhone 8 is more powerful and offers better performance and a better camera. It’s also a little cheaper than the Galaxy S8.
Still, both phones are excellent devices, so if you do end up deciding that the Galaxy S8 is the better choice for you, you won’t be disappointed.
Password manager face off – LastPass vs 1Password, who you got?
Using a password manager can be one of the most important steps you take in securing yourself online (and being “internet awesome”), but picking the right one for you isn’t always easy. To that end, we’ve pitted two of the most popular managers against one another in a battle to see which is better: LastPass vs. 1Password.
On the surface, there might not be too many differences between the two applications. They both offer solid password protection in the form of encrypted data entries and can help you generate long, secure, unique passwords for your various sites and services. However, when you get into the nitty-gritty of their usability and feature sets, there are a few noteworthy differences.
For more tips on how to stay safe and private online, check out our guide to online privacy.
Password protection
The most fundamental feature that every password manager needs to get right is, of course, protecting your passwords. Both LastPass and 1Password utilize a master password system to lock up all of your other login credentials in a strong, digital vault.
LastPass passwords are stored on its remote servers, but they are obfuscated using 256-bit AES encryption. Passwords are only encrypted and decrypted on the local machine, so there should be no way a man in the middle attack could compromise your login credentials. Although LastPass has been compromised at some points in the past, it’s been excellent at rebounding with improved features and tighter security.
To make sure that your master password (and others) are secure, LastPass employs a “Security Challenge” that looks at the complexity of your passwords, then lets you know whether they’re strong enough. If they’re not, you can use its built-in password generator to create replacements that are far harder for humans and machines to guess.
LastPass also offers multi-factor authentication using a number of potential options, including its own two-factor solution, and those provided by third parties like Google.
LastPass
In comparison, 1Password stores its password data locally and only copies it to the cloud for syncing across multiple devices. Just like LastPass, it encrypts all data before it leaves your PC with 256-bit AES encryption, so even if someone were to gain access to it, they wouldn’t be able to read it.
Along with a master password, 1Password utilizes a “secret key” which never leaves your login devices, and is required for logins. That holds some advantages over multi-factor authentication, though it does mean that 1Password does not have the option of hardware or software based, third-party authentication systems. It does offer fingerprint logins, for those who like to use biometrics to authenticate themselves.
1Password
1Password also helps you generate new passwords based on your own preferences, using combinations of words, digits and symbols with a customizable length.
In case you ever lose your login credentials, 1Password offers an “emergency kit” PDF file which you can store digitally or print off. It contains every credential you need to gain access to your account, so it’s best to store it somewhere very safe, but it provides a real-world backup should you forget your master password or other related login information.
Overall, both services do a fantastic job of keeping your passwords safe and making sure they’re complicated and secure. They differ in the way they do it, but we’d be hard-pressed to say one does a much better job than the other.
Winner: Draw
Features
Protecting your passwords is well and good, but in a battle of LastPass vs 1Password, what are their expanded feature sets like?
Both services support a variety of platforms, including Windows, Mac, iOS and Android, though LastPass has a slight edge with the addition of watchOS and Linux support. LastPass also takes the lead in browser plugin support, with Microsoft Edge added to their shared support list of Chrome, Internet Explorer, Firefox and Safari.
LastPass and 1Password also both support the storage of secure documents up to a certain file size limit. Both services can store bank details, credit card credentials, and addresses.
When it comes to sharing passwords with friends and family, both services make it easy to accomplish. 1Password offers a unique, family URL for you to give different people access to your vault, while LastPass offers a specifically crafted sharing folder just for those family-friendly logins.
1Password
1Password’s Watchtower feature is one that often sets it apart from the competition. It keeps an eye on websites that have been hacked, and if you have an account on them, it will let you know you need to change your password. LastPass offers something similar, but it’s not quite as accessible as it’s only available within the “Security Challenge” tool.
LastPass’s solution, however, does warn you of reused passwords, as well as any you have stored which it considers weak, prompting you to use the best personal security practices.
In terms of applications, LastPass doesn’t have a Windows one, though its extension vault system acts much like one. It also has mobile applications for iOS and Android platforms. 1Password has the same mobile application availability, but also offers a downloadable password vault.
Winner: Draw
Ease of use
An intuitive, clean user interface is paramount for any application, password managers included. Although it is somewhat more subjective than the other categories in this comparison, it’s still an important consideration to make.
We found 1Password’s interface almost too clean, with large, white spaces in both its online and offline tools, which leave you clicking through successive menus to find what you’re looking for while you’re still learning how it works. Everything is laid out neatly, but it’s not immediately obvious where everything is.
LastPass
Although its login system is detailed, requiring an account URL, email, master password and secret key to access your account, that system isn’t as easy to get to grips with as more standard logins. While security is understandably paramount with such software, we found the login a little confusing to start with.
LastPass, on the other hand, was a breeze. Its extension-focused platform, clear, color-coded menu system, and use of more common multi-factor authentication devices meant we felt immediately more at home using it than 1Password.
Winner: LastPass
Pricing
1Password offers a 30-day free trial for its services, but no permanent free solution. If you want long-term password storage and security with 1Password, you need to pay $3 a month for a personal account, paid annually. That gets you a single login for unlimited devices, with access to the apps and web-app, a gigabyte of secure document storage, and 365-day item recovery.
For a more expanded account, the 1Password family option is priced at $5 a month and gives you similar capabilities, but up to five different logins — additional ones can be had for $1 a month each. You get everything in the personal account, as well as password sharing, permission control, and an account recovery system.
1Password
LastPass, on the other hand, does have a permanent free account system which gives you password storage for one user, access to its online extension, multi-factor authentication, and its secure notes storage.
If you don’t mind paying, there is the $2 a month premium version, which adds password sharing, emergency access, priority with tech support and a gigabyte of encrypted file storage. Teams of five or more are $2.42 per user per month with personal vaults for each, while an “Enterprise” solution offers dedicated customer support, and advanced reporting for $4 per user per month. Each paid solution is billed annually.
LastPass
Although 1Password is the more affordable version for families, most password manager users are going to benefit from the expansive free version of LastPass, and its more affordable starting price point.
Winner: LastPass
Conclusion
Although they offer similar packages overall, the way LastPass and 1Password do things is different enough that we can pick one overall winner. For its comparable feature set, ease of use, and pricing, we have to give the nod to LastPass. We found it more intuitive to navigate and preferred its interface.
We’re also big fans of its support for multi-factor authentication. Although we can appreciate 1Password trying to do things differently with its secret key, we feel that multi-factor logins are a more secure way of protecting your digital data.
If you just want to pick one and get started, LastPass is our firm recommendation.
Overall winner: LastPass
If neither of these solutions quite tick all of your boxes, don’t fret. They aren’t the only games in town. For a look at some of the other, best password managers available, check out our guide.
Password manager face off – LastPass vs 1Password, who you got?
Using a password manager can be one of the most important steps you take in securing yourself online (and being “internet awesome”), but picking the right one for you isn’t always easy. To that end, we’ve pitted two of the most popular managers against one another in a battle to see which is better: LastPass vs. 1Password.
On the surface, there might not be too many differences between the two applications. They both offer solid password protection in the form of encrypted data entries and can help you generate long, secure, unique passwords for your various sites and services. However, when you get into the nitty-gritty of their usability and feature sets, there are a few noteworthy differences.
For more tips on how to stay safe and private online, check out our guide to online privacy.
Password protection
The most fundamental feature that every password manager needs to get right is, of course, protecting your passwords. Both LastPass and 1Password utilize a master password system to lock up all of your other login credentials in a strong, digital vault.
LastPass passwords are stored on its remote servers, but they are obfuscated using 256-bit AES encryption. Passwords are only encrypted and decrypted on the local machine, so there should be no way a man in the middle attack could compromise your login credentials. Although LastPass has been compromised at some points in the past, it’s been excellent at rebounding with improved features and tighter security.
To make sure that your master password (and others) are secure, LastPass employs a “Security Challenge” that looks at the complexity of your passwords, then lets you know whether they’re strong enough. If they’re not, you can use its built-in password generator to create replacements that are far harder for humans and machines to guess.
LastPass also offers multi-factor authentication using a number of potential options, including its own two-factor solution, and those provided by third parties like Google.
LastPass
In comparison, 1Password stores its password data locally and only copies it to the cloud for syncing across multiple devices. Just like LastPass, it encrypts all data before it leaves your PC with 256-bit AES encryption, so even if someone were to gain access to it, they wouldn’t be able to read it.
Along with a master password, 1Password utilizes a “secret key” which never leaves your login devices, and is required for logins. That holds some advantages over multi-factor authentication, though it does mean that 1Password does not have the option of hardware or software based, third-party authentication systems. It does offer fingerprint logins, for those who like to use biometrics to authenticate themselves.
1Password
1Password also helps you generate new passwords based on your own preferences, using combinations of words, digits and symbols with a customizable length.
In case you ever lose your login credentials, 1Password offers an “emergency kit” PDF file which you can store digitally or print off. It contains every credential you need to gain access to your account, so it’s best to store it somewhere very safe, but it provides a real-world backup should you forget your master password or other related login information.
Overall, both services do a fantastic job of keeping your passwords safe and making sure they’re complicated and secure. They differ in the way they do it, but we’d be hard-pressed to say one does a much better job than the other.
Winner: Draw
Features
Protecting your passwords is well and good, but in a battle of LastPass vs 1Password, what are their expanded feature sets like?
Both services support a variety of platforms, including Windows, Mac, iOS and Android, though LastPass has a slight edge with the addition of watchOS and Linux support. LastPass also takes the lead in browser plugin support, with Microsoft Edge added to their shared support list of Chrome, Internet Explorer, Firefox and Safari.
LastPass and 1Password also both support the storage of secure documents up to a certain file size limit. Both services can store bank details, credit card credentials, and addresses.
When it comes to sharing passwords with friends and family, both services make it easy to accomplish. 1Password offers a unique, family URL for you to give different people access to your vault, while LastPass offers a specifically crafted sharing folder just for those family-friendly logins.
1Password
1Password’s Watchtower feature is one that often sets it apart from the competition. It keeps an eye on websites that have been hacked, and if you have an account on them, it will let you know you need to change your password. LastPass offers something similar, but it’s not quite as accessible as it’s only available within the “Security Challenge” tool.
LastPass’s solution, however, does warn you of reused passwords, as well as any you have stored which it considers weak, prompting you to use the best personal security practices.
In terms of applications, LastPass doesn’t have a Windows one, though its extension vault system acts much like one. It also has mobile applications for iOS and Android platforms. 1Password has the same mobile application availability, but also offers a downloadable password vault.
Winner: Draw
Ease of use
An intuitive, clean user interface is paramount for any application, password managers included. Although it is somewhat more subjective than the other categories in this comparison, it’s still an important consideration to make.
We found 1Password’s interface almost too clean, with large, white spaces in both its online and offline tools, which leave you clicking through successive menus to find what you’re looking for while you’re still learning how it works. Everything is laid out neatly, but it’s not immediately obvious where everything is.
LastPass
Although its login system is detailed, requiring an account URL, email, master password and secret key to access your account, that system isn’t as easy to get to grips with as more standard logins. While security is understandably paramount with such software, we found the login a little confusing to start with.
LastPass, on the other hand, was a breeze. Its extension-focused platform, clear, color-coded menu system, and use of more common multi-factor authentication devices meant we felt immediately more at home using it than 1Password.
Winner: LastPass
Pricing
1Password offers a 30-day free trial for its services, but no permanent free solution. If you want long-term password storage and security with 1Password, you need to pay $3 a month for a personal account, paid annually. That gets you a single login for unlimited devices, with access to the apps and web-app, a gigabyte of secure document storage, and 365-day item recovery.
For a more expanded account, the 1Password family option is priced at $5 a month and gives you similar capabilities, but up to five different logins — additional ones can be had for $1 a month each. You get everything in the personal account, as well as password sharing, permission control, and an account recovery system.
1Password
LastPass, on the other hand, does have a permanent free account system which gives you password storage for one user, access to its online extension, multi-factor authentication, and its secure notes storage.
If you don’t mind paying, there is the $2 a month premium version, which adds password sharing, emergency access, priority with tech support and a gigabyte of encrypted file storage. Teams of five or more are $2.42 per user per month with personal vaults for each, while an “Enterprise” solution offers dedicated customer support, and advanced reporting for $4 per user per month. Each paid solution is billed annually.
LastPass
Although 1Password is the more affordable version for families, most password manager users are going to benefit from the expansive free version of LastPass, and its more affordable starting price point.
Winner: LastPass
Conclusion
Although they offer similar packages overall, the way LastPass and 1Password do things is different enough that we can pick one overall winner. For its comparable feature set, ease of use, and pricing, we have to give the nod to LastPass. We found it more intuitive to navigate and preferred its interface.
We’re also big fans of its support for multi-factor authentication. Although we can appreciate 1Password trying to do things differently with its secret key, we feel that multi-factor logins are a more secure way of protecting your digital data.
If you just want to pick one and get started, LastPass is our firm recommendation.
Overall winner: LastPass
If neither of these solutions quite tick all of your boxes, don’t fret. They aren’t the only games in town. For a look at some of the other, best password managers available, check out our guide.
Microsoft gives hourlong look inside Surface development at Ignite conference
Why it matters to you
This presentation from the Ignite conference demonstrates the ethos that has allowed the Surface line to prosper, while previous Microsoft hardware hasn’t take off.
Microsoft’s Surface line has been one of the company’s biggest successes in recent years, carving out a niche in the PC hardware market with far greater success than any of its previous efforts. At this week’s Ignite conference, attendees were given a glimpse into the building where all the magic happens.
Delivering a keynote at the conference, Director of Program Management Tim Golik offered up some fascinating insight into how the Surface team works in Building 87 on Microsoft’s Redmond, Washington campus. The talk covered its focus on innovation, as well as its preferred techniques for design and prototyping.
Golik played up the “unique” aspects of the Surface line, from its bespoke 3:2 displays to its system-wide compatibility with the Surface Pen peripheral. “We’re pushing these things,” he explained, referring to the way that the Pen has been implemented across Windows 10, after being something of a passion project for the Surface group in the very beginning.
As well as an exploration of the ethos behind the design of Surface products, the talk honed in on the culture that was established among the team. Golik characterizes the group as being comprised of small teams of designers, engineers, and user researchers, who combine their skills to try and come up with something genuinely new and useful.
“Everything we do, it starts with something physical,” Golik said. “We have a lab on campus, it’s called Building 87. It’s an amazing space, to be an engineer. This is where a lot of it starts.” These comments introduced a video about the facility, which made it look like a hub of activity and collaborative work.
The presentation concluded with a look at the latest addition to the Surface line, the Surface Pro LTE. This device was announced in May, per a report from MS Power User, but since then Microsoft has remained fairly quiet on the system. Now, the Ignite conference has offered up confirmation that the LTE model will be available beginning December 1.
As for what is next for the Surface line, Panos Panay is scheduled to make an address at the Future Decoded event in London next month.
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