Prepare for liftoff! 17 upcoming space missions worth getting excited about

Over the past half century, we’ve blasted a bevy of scientific instruments into the unforgiving vacuum of space in an effort to better understand our cosmos. From the first grainy Mariner images of Mars to stunning closeups of Saturn’s moons and stately rings, these pioneering probes have transmitted invaluable data back to us Earthlings from millions of miles away. And while we may have recently lost the stalwart Saturnian orbiter, Cassini, there are dozens of future space missions on the docket for the next decade.

To help you keep track of all these efforts, we’ve listed the most important and exciting missions slated to launch over the next ten years — as well as a few notable flybys performed by spacecraft already in cosmic transit. With a great bit of luck, a boatload of money, and pinch of can-do spirit; these initiatives will further pull back the curtain on our quirky and wonderfully mysterious universe.

2017

November 30 – Chang’e 5

Mons Rümker Formation on the moon. Photo Credit: Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency

The Chinese National Space Administration (CNSA) will launch the Chang’e 5 mission to the moon later this year. This is a lunar sample return mission set to land in the Mons Rümker formation and collect a sample of regolith from a depth of roughly six feet. Once excavated and transferred to a module in orbit, these samples will be returned to Earth for analysis.

2018

TBD Early 2018 – Chandrayaan-2

The Chandrayaan-2 mission is a joint research and exploration program between The Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO) and Russia’s Federal Space Agency (Roscosmos). This program will send two rovers and a lunar orbiter to the moon to analyze mineral composition and study the moon’s exosphere.

May 5 – InSight

Insight Mission — Photo credit:NASA/JPL

Utilizing a custom-built lander, the InSight (Interior Exploration using Seismic Investigations, Geodesy and Heat Transport) program will analyze the interior of the Red Planet to better understand the processes that shaped the inner planets of our solar system billions of years ago.

June – Hayabusa-2

Hayabusa 1 after landing on an asteroid. Photo credit: Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency.

The Japanese Space Agency (JAXA) Hayabusa-2 mission was launched in 2014, and in mid-2018 the craft will rendezvous with asteroid Ryugu (1999 JU3) and return a sample to Earth.  Unlike the previous Hayabusa mission, Hayabusa-2 will utilize an impactor to create a crater and expose “fresh” sediments beneath the surface. These samples will be returned to Earth in late 2020.

July – Parker Solar Probe

Parker Solar Probe undergoing Completes Pre-Environmental Testing Review. Photo credit: NASA/JHUAPL.

The so-called “Mission to Touch the Sun” or the Parker Solar Probe program will send a craft to within a mere four million miles of the sun’s surface. This proximity to our star will give the probe unprecedented data on solar activity, allowing us to more aptly forecast potentially catastrophic space weather events in the future.

October – BepiColombo

BepiColombo at full stack after testing. Photo credit: ESA–C. Carreau.

BepiColombo will be the European Space Agency’s first mission to Mercury. The mission itself is comprised of two orbiters: the Mercury Planetary Orbiter (MPO) and the Mercury Magnetospheric Orbiter (MMO). These craft have been designed to withstand temperatures greater than 660 degrees Fahrenheit and will arrive at Mercury in late-2025.

October – Solar Orbiter

Photo credit: ESA

This joint ESA/NASA mission will set the Solar Orbiter payload in an elliptical orbit around the sun. Every five months this probe will orbit our star at a distance of roughly 26 million miles (for perspective sake, that’s closer than the planet Mercury). The primary objectives of this mission are to better understand the sun’s heliosphere by observing the star’s “solar wind plasma, fields, waves, and energetic particles.”

TBD – Chang’e 4

Chang’e 3 on the surface of the moon. Photo Credit: Chinese Academy of Sciences/NAOC

Currently slated for the end of 2018, the Chang’e 4 mission — a Chinese National Space Administration (CNSA) endeavor — will place a lander on the far side of the moon. The South Pole Aitken Basin (one of the largest impact basins in our solar system) has been mentioned as a potential landing spot.

TBD – Hayabusa-2

Artist rendition of Hayabusa 2 approaching Go Miyazaki

The aforementioned Hayabusa-2 spacecraft is projected to arrive at asteroid 1999 JU3, also called “Ryugu,” in 2018.

2019

January 1 – New Horizons

On July 13, 2015, enroute to 2014 MU69 (a Kuiper Belt Object about 4 billion miles away from earth), New Horizons took this high resolution photo of Pluto’s “encounter hemisphere”.  Photo Credit: NASA/APL/SwRI

On New Year’s Day 2019, the New Horizons craft will make a fly by of Kuiper Belt Object (KBO) 2014 MU69 as part of the New Horizons Extended Mission.

October – OSIRIS-REx

OSIRIS-REx undergoing environmental testing in October of 2015. Photo Credit: Lockheed Martin Corporation

OSIRIS-REx launched in September 2016, and in October 2019 the craft will rendezvous with the asteroid 101955 Bennu to collect samples. The return cruise containing this payload will reenter Earth’s atmosphere in September 2023.

TBD Spring — James Webb Space Telescope

More of Hubble’s successor than full-on replacement, the James Webb Space Telescope — equipped with a with a 6.5-meter primary mirror — will be launched from French Guiana in early 2019 (although this date could be pushed back). One of the onboard instruments has multiple programmable microshutters that the telescope to monitor up to 100 objects at once.

2020

July/August – ExoMars 2020

Artist rendition of ExoMars 2020 Rover. Photo Credit: ESA

As best illustrated by the recent Schiaparelli lander incident, even after meticulous planning and successful Earth exit, dire mishaps can still occur while faring the final frontier. The ESA hopes to avoid this same tragic fate with the ExoMars 2020 follow-up program.

The ExoMars mission will send a European rover as well as a Russian “surface platform” to the Red Planet. After a nine month journey to Mars, the ExoMars rover will traverse Martian surface looking for evidence of life. The vehicle will be equipped with a drill capable of boring up to two meters into the Martian soil. The onboard laboratory will test these samples and identify organic substances.

2022

TBD – JUICE

Artist rendition of the Jupiter Icy Moons Explorer. Photo Credit: ESA

The JUICE mission — a jumbled acronym meaning JUpiter ICy moons Explorer — will arrive at Jupiter in 2030. The craft will spend three years studying the gas giant and its three largest moons: Ganymede, Callisto and Europa.

TBD – Psyche

Artist rendition an orbiter and 16 Psyche, a massive asteroid in the Kuiper Belt, believed to be once be the nickel-iron core of a planet. Photo credit: NASA

Tentatively scheduled to launch at some point in 2022, the Psyche mission will study the metal asteroid of the same name orbiting in the asteroid belt between Mars and Jupiter. It’s believed that Psyche may actually be the exposed nickel-iron core of an early planet. Studying this potential planetary core could give us better understanding about how terrestrial planets formed.

2025

January 1 – Europa Clipper Mission

Artist rendition of the Europa Clipper spacecraft. Photo Credit: NASA

The Europa Clipper mission will place a spacecraft in orbit around the gas giant Jupiter to search for evidence of life on the nearby moon Europa. The craft will make repeated flybys (up to 45 total) of the icy moon to investigate the surface and interior structure of this ocean world.

2026

TBD – PLATO

Artist rendition of the (PLAnetary Transits and Oscillations of stars (PLATO) satelite. Photo Credit: ESA

Planetary Transits and Oscillations (PLATO) is a photometric monitoring mission with a payload of 24 cameras designed to detect terrestrial exoplanets orbiting bright solar-type stars. PLATO will specifically search for exoplanets orbiting within the so-called Goldilocks Zone, –or more formally, the habitable zone— in nearby star systems. PLATO will have an operational lifetime of about six years.

The year 4,002,017

TBD – Pioneer 11 probe

Artist rendition of the Pioneer 11 probe. Photo Credit: NASA

And, well, if we’re setting our calendars, go ahead and pencil in the Pioneer 11 probe (and its infamous plaque) — launched in 1973  — for a flyby of the star Lambda Aquila in about four million years — a relative drop in the cosmic bucket.

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Five reasons to pick up South Park: The Fractured but Whole

The boys of South Park return with a new combat system and the same bad taste.

Yes, the original release date was announced for December 2016 but we can all rest easy now that South Park: The Fractured but Whole has been released. Three years after the release of South Park: The Stick of Truth the adoring public have a whole new set of adventures to go on with the kids from Colorado.

It probably goes without saying that anyone who is a diehard South Park fan has already ran out and scooped up a copy, but what about the rest of us? Is it worth your sixty dollars (more or less) and is it worth your twenty hours of game time (more or less)? Let’s take a look at five reasons why you might want to put South Park: The Fractured but Whole on your to-play list.

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It really is like playing an episode of the show

Perhaps your time is at a premium and you would love to watch South Park AND play a game. Well, this is your chance. South Park: The Fractured but Whole is a pretty well blended combination of the two. Trey Parker and Matt Stone put a great deal of effort into writing and voicing this game. A lot of the time it feels as if you’re simply playing an episode of the show that just happens to go on for fifteen or more hours.

The sheer volume of dialog variation is downright staggering. We’re talking Bioware levels of dialog here. During my time with the game there were cut scenes where I’d forget, albeit briefly, that I was actually playing a game. All the brash characters and jaw dropping dialog are on prominent display. If you’re a fan of the show, it has pretty much everything you’re looking for.

Unlike the last South Park game, this one is actually challenging

I have good news for anyone who beat the last game and felt it was too easy. The new developer for South Park: The Fractured but Whole, Ubisoft San Francisco, took what Obsidian Entertainment did with the previous game and ran with it. The previous game combat had a bit of a rinse and repeat sort of feel which could invariably lead to dreaded game fatigue.

Ubisoft has learned from the previous iteration and added multiple elements, which serve to deepen the play. The relatively simple turn-based RPG combat has leveled up to somewhat more complex grid based tactical skirmishes. You now have to take into consideration where your characters are standing, where the enemy is standing, and how all of your attacks affect the area. In addition, with a multitude of characters to choose from you have a lot more options when it comes to any given battle. All this expansion of combat kept me interested and engaged for the duration of my time with the game.

Superhero movie mockery is at an all time high

Allow me to let you in on a little secret; I think that Trey Parker and Matt Stone are growing a bit tired of super hero franchises as well, and their disdain is on prominent display in hilarious fashion. The laser focus that the South Park crew is so well-known for has been turned to superherodom to great effect.

The entire story line turns on Cartman’s desire to create a Marvel-esque cinematic universe. What better way to get a super hero franchise off the ground than with one-hundred dollars acquired by saving a lost cat? Then the infighting begins when no one can agree about which character will be getting their own movie or television series and when. All the ridiculousness of bloated comic book multimedia empires are pointed out in a mirthful manner and no one is safe, especially DC Comics.

Gosh it’s buggy on PC (not over here on PS4)

A quick glance at the user reviews on Steam indicate a measureable amount of bugs experienced in South Park: The Fractured But Whole. PC players have been reporting errors, black screens, crashes, and audio issues so much so that the overall review score on Steam has clearly suffered. In addition to gameplay issues, many users are complaining about the DRM which requires PC users to log in to Ubisoft’s DRM Uplay.

I’m pleased to report none of these issues were present for me when playing on PS4. In my 15+ hours of play I saw no issues in regard to crashing, errors, or audio. There were a few moments where I noticed some slight frame rate dip but it was nothing to write home about. While players are encouraged to log into Ubisoft Club on the PS4 version, it is not a requirement to play the game. If you simply cannot wait for updates to patch all the issues seen on PC or if you would like to avoid Ubisoft’s DRM tactics all together then allow the console release to be your escape.

Like everything South Park, the comedy hits some nerves

Let’s be frank, I don’t think that South Park: The Fractured But Whole is going to be winning any Nobel Peace prizes (although crazier things have happened) but that has never stopped their creators from dipping their toes in the murkiest waters imaginable. In The Fractured but Whole you have the ability to change just about anything about your identity, from the most benign, like costumes and visual appearance to the most complex.

For instance, with a quick trip to counselor Mackey’s office you can change your gender and sexual identity to any number of combinations, which offer considerable depth of choice. What the game itself chooses to do with that depth left me feeling a bit underwhelmed. While these choices do in fact exist, it has no real impact on the gameplay itself. Some of it comes off a little tone deaf, but the fact that they are included at all could be construed as progress… Right?

All that being said, if you are interested in a game that simply acknowledges that these things, which impact all of our identities exists, this may be the game you have been waiting for.

Are you playing?

When it comes right down to it South Park: The Fractured but Whole is a no holds barred fun game. The characters and dialogue are decidedly garish but that is something we have come to expect from the franchise. If you fit into more than a few of the above categories I would imagine that you would have a blast diving into the South Park world and donning a ridiculous super hero outfit while you run the streets in search of a lost kitty. So pull on your non trademark infringing Amazonian costume and get down to business.

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Essential Phone gets a $200 price drop to $499

The Essential Phone now has a more palatable starting price.

The Essential Phone didn’t have an easy go of things in its first few weeks on the market. Lauded for its incredible industrial design, the phone’s software was barebones to a fault and its camera was criticized for its slow speed, poor low-light performance, and lack of features.

Now months later, Essential’s marketing department peep-quiet, the phone has received numerous updates, many of which have improved the overall software experience while adding much-needed camera usability. It’s not perfect, but it’s a heck of a lot better than when we reviewed it in late August.

Starting today, though, it’s going to be easier to justify purchasing Essential’s first hardware product: it’s receiving a $200 price cut to $499 on the company’s website, and existing buyers will get a Friends & Family coupon worth the same amount towards a new Essential Phone or a 360-degree camera add-on. From the company’s blog:

At Essential, one of our driving principles is that premium craftsmanship and the latest technologies shouldn’t be for the few. We could have created a massive TV campaign to capture your attention, but we think making it easier for people to get their hands on our first products is a better way to get to know us.

At $499, the phone is considerably more competitive against flagships like the Pixel 2 and Galaxy S8. Given that the price drop is only for the unlocked version directly sold from the company’s website, it’s unlikely to cause too much of a stir, but the move is appreciated nonetheless. Sprint, the Essential Phone’s exclusive U.S. carrier, has dropped the price to around $350 when bought on a monthly finance plan, but still sells it for $699 outright. TELUS, Essential’s Canadian carrier partner, sells the phone for free alongside a $95/month plan, but hasn’t budged on the $1050 outright price, either. Relief is expected in the coming days, though.

With Android Oreo on the horizon, does the price drop to $499 make you more interested in the Essential Phone? Let us know in the comments below!

Feds warn energy, aviation companies of hacking threats

Hackers have been targeting the nuclear, energy, aviation, water and critical manufacturing industries since May, according to Reuters. It’s even serious enough for Homeland Security and the FBI to email firms most at risk of attacks, warning them that a group of cyberspies had already succeeded in infiltrating some of their peers’ networks, including at least one energy generator. According to the feds’ report, the hackers use malicious emails and websites to obtain credentials needed to worm their way into networks where they remain, biding their time and keeping an eye on the firms’ activities.

While the report described an increasing number of attacks targeting American and European firms, it didn’t say whether the attackers stole their data or sabotaged their activities in any way. In fact, it sounds like the hackers are focusing on espionage for now — cyber-security firm Dragos chief Robert Lee told Reuters that we probably won’t see anything dramatic from the hackers’ efforts in the near future. However, he said that the report describes activities that would benefit the Russian government. CrowdStrike, another cybersecurity firm, agreed with Lee’s assessment, adding that the hackers’ MO suggests they’re part of the Russian government-affiliated hacking group Berserk Bear.

If it’s really a state-sanctioned hack, then the network infiltrations are troubling even if they haven’t led to anything big yet. “We don’t want our adversaries learning enough to be able to do things that are disruptive later,” Lee explained. Homeland Security also warned in the report that the cyberspies’ efforts are ongoing “and threat actors are actively pursuing their objectives over a long-term campaign.”

Source: Reuters

Essential cuts the price of its phone to $499

It’s no secret that the Essential Phone isn’t a hot seller. Whether or not you believe the sales estimates, it’s difficult to move large volumes of a $699 phone with limited carrier deals (in the US, only Sprint) and no brand recognition outside of smartphone enthusiasts. And Essential knows it — Andy Rubin’s outfit has dropped the price of the phone to $499 several weeks after its late August launch. If you’re an early adopter who already has an Essential Phone, you’ll get a $200 “friends and family” code that you can use at the official store to buy a 360-degree camera or get credit toward another phone.

The company hasn’t directly attributed the cut to sales performance, but it argues that “making it easier” for you to buy the Essential Phone should be more effective at drawing attention than running a marketing blitz. And we can’t entirely disagree. The all-screen device was a tough recommendation at its original, flagship-worthy price given the sub-par camera performance and lack of water resistance, but it’s much more compelling as an upper mid-tier phone competing with the likes of the OnePlus 5. That’s especially true knowing that Essential has improved its camera software since we first reviewed the handset in the summer, even if it’s not about to make a Pixel 2 owner nervous.

With that said, there’s no question that Essential faces an uphill battle even after the price cut. It’s not the value proposition that’s the problem — it’s that it’s very hard to break into the smartphone business as a new brand, even if you have Rubin’s pedigree and loads of funding. The North American phone market in particular revolves heavily around Apple and Samsung, and even heavyweights like LG have trouble breaking that grip despite ample marketing and multi-carrier deals. Essential will likely have to play the long game if it wants to convince the mainstream that it has a viable alternative to Galaxies and iPhones.

Via: TechCrunch

Source: Essential (1), (2)

Tesla reportedly lands deal to build an EV factory in Shanghai

It’s difficult for foreign car makers to crack the Chinese market. Unless they’re willing to partner with a local brand (and thus give up both profits and technology), they have to pay for shipping vehicles and swallow a 25 percent import duty fee. That clearly won’t cut it for Tesla, which has wanted a deeper presence in China but also doesn’t want to give up its fierce independence. However, it looks like Elon Musk’s outfit may have reached a compromise: Wall Street Journal sources claim that Tesla has a deal to build a factory in Shanghai’s free trade zone. Tesla would still have to pay the 25 percent import duty, but it would retain full control and could likely offset the tariff with lower production and shipping costs.

Tesla has so far declined to comment besides restating what it said in June, where it vowed to “clearly define” its manufacturing plans in China before the end of 2017. The company had confirmed that it was talking to Shanghai’s government about a factory at the same time.

If the deal is in place, it could be the ticket to igniting Tesla’s Chinese sales — and the company as a whole. While the automaker has sold its EVs in China for years, sales have sometimes struggled in a country where it faces an uphill battle between its outsider status and apartment-focused living (you can’t buy an EV if there’s nowhere to charge it). A Shanghai factory would not only make Tesla’s vehicles more palatable, but could help it satisfy demand now that the Chinese EV market is truly heating up. And this is especially important for the Model 3. It’s the cornerstone of Tesla’s expansion into the (relative) mainstream, and anything it can do to both lower costs and improve availability should make a significant impact on sales.

Source: Wall Street Journal

Mindful Powers helps children develop a healthy relationship with stress

 App Attack is a weekly series where we search the App Store and Google Play Store for the best apps of the week. Check out App Attack every Sunday for the latest.

Teaching children about their emotions has always been a touchy subject. In school, we were taught the basics — happy, sad, coping, moping, etc. — but exploring emotions any deeper than that was taboo. This week, we have an app that takes a holistic approach in helping kids become more mindful of their feelings.

Mindful Powers — available on iOS — aims to help children from early and middle childhood develop a healthy relationship with stress. Whether it’s stress or anxiety, the educational app includes a variety of different exercises that explain why you’re feeling this way and how to combat it.

Designed specifically to mix into a child’s routine, the app provides you with 10 interactive voice-guided sessions. It is free to download, and you’ll get the first three sessions for free. But after that, you’ll have to pay $5 to unlock the next seven — which includes over an hour of audio content.

When you first download the app, you’re welcomed to your “mindful play space” and a gem that turns into a plant after tapping it. You’re then greeted by a character called a “Flibbertigibbet,” and it’s your job to train it. It feels the same emotions as humans do, and even becomes a shy for a few seconds after meeting it.

While in the play space, you have the freedom of tapping on the Flibbertigibbet and watching it float around through what looks like a mix between space and the ocean. Along the way, you’ll also meet other Flibbertigibbets that float around the plant along with your own. You can tap on and interact with each one.

Once you reach the bottom of the plant, you can either choose between Mindful Play or Focus Time. In Mindful Play, you get to experience the voice-guided sessions. Each story works as a stand-alone session, so the child can always go back to one and listen to it as often as they’d like. I also followed the recommendation to use headphones, and it definitely made the experience even more immersive.

As a child, I was never exposed to practicing mindfulness because back then, adults most likely thought it was too complicated a subject. I was always encouraged to express my emotions and talk through my feelings when I was sad or mad, but stress and anxiety were never thrown around. I was particularly interested in seeing how this app would address the topics that once seemed tough to explain.

I started with the first session, titled “What is mindfulness?” and was brought to a disgruntled Flibbertigibbet. The normally smooth looking creature now had spikes and was grumpy. It was up to me to help him feel better, by smoothing out the spikes and calming him down.

Mindful Powers uses sensory-based repetitive interaction to trigger the body through its rest and digest response. This ultimately helps the little guys relax and regain focus. As you begin to smooth out your Flibbertigibbet, you can feel each bump going away, and can see it becoming happier as it changes back to its lighter color.

But when you pet the Flibbertigibbet, it has to be in a gentle manner. I was so heavily focused on smoothing out the entire surface quickly — as if I was on a timer in a video game — that I didn’t even realize how roughly I was tapping on the screen. With Flibbertigibbet’s guidance, I became aware of what I was doing and was able to control how I calm I was through the session. This one exercise is also the one you’ll always start out with before each session, to balance the mind and calm you down.

This definitely would’ve been useful when I was younger and showed signs of stress by coloring way too hard with crayons. In my current state of adulthood, I’ve transferred that habit into brushing my teeth too hard, or grinding my teeth at night and, well, you get the picture. Even though the app is meant for children, it’s a great introduction into meditation and calming mechanisms at a young age. Children can learn to incorporate it into adulthood without feeling ambushed by all of the overwhelming and unfamiliar feelings of stress and anxiety.

The next session focused on how to react during stressful situations. The narrator explained that there’s a part of our brain that freaks out and triggers a response to fight, run away, or even feel paralyzed. It also mentioned that sometimes our brains can’t tell the difference between real danger and not-real danger, which can cause us to overreact. Ultimately, the session teaches you to exercise the habit of responding more calmly to situations that aren’t dangerous. Practicing mindfulness in these situations can help to reduce irritability and anger when the situation doesn’t call for it.

After the “Train your brain!” session, I was brought to “Big breaths” which focused on being in tune with your breathing and the moment. It’s described as the first step towards being able to master mindfulness — and mirrored my experience practicing meditation as an adult very closely. The narrator describes a picturesque scene throughout the session to help center your mind and focus on your breathing. This one was a bit longer than the prior sessions, but it should help children to understand and practice how to keep their minds from wandering or becoming too distracted.

Meanwhile, the Focus Time section is far more simple. It allows you to set a time for however long you’d like, and places your Flibbertigibbet on the screen to keep you focused. Each time you touch it, it will react with a sad or annoyed face and even sometimes words of encouragement to stay focused. Otherwise, it will sit there contently while the timer counts down to the end.

The app has an extremely easy-to-use interface and it’s hard not to eventually grow attached to your Flibbertigibbet. The bright graphics and calming background noise will keep children wanting to continue to the sessions. The animations also make it fun and entertaining, so they’ll completely forget it’s an educational, app and that they’re learning as they play.

Overall, Mindful Powers definitely sheds light upon the idea that children should learn how to be in touch with their emotions from a young age. The app gives them the chance to learn how to balance their thoughts and feelings through a calm and rational way. But in the beginning, it might take some getting used to —  which could require help from parents leading the way and participating in the process alongside them. This way, it will make for a great bonding experience as well.

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Pixel 2 and Pixel 2 XL problems, and what to do about them

Google’s Android poster boy boasts the slickest software experience around wrapped in a stylish body, which is why our Pixel 2 XL review called it the best Android smartphone in the world. Its smaller sibling, the Pixel 2, is no slouch either, but as great as these phones are, they’re not quite pixel perfect. We’ve been lurking on forums, digesting comments, and conducting our own testing to find the most common issues with the Pixel 2 and identify the tricky Pixel 2 XL problems that you’ll want fixes for. This is what we found.

Problem: Pixel 2 XL screen quality

Some people are having serious issues with the display in the Pixel 2 XL. You can find detailed discussions at the XDA Developers forum and the Android Central forum. The chief complaint seems to be about the color, which is less vibrant than expected. We noted in our Pixel 2 XL review that the pOLED screen has an issue with a bluish tint when you tilt it, however, we didn’t find the cooler color temperature to be a major issue. There have also been reports of problems with grain or blotches, explained in detail by Ars Technica, but we aren’t seeing it as a big problem on our review unit.

Potential solutions:

• Google responded to Digital Trends to say, “We designed the Pixel display to have a more natural and accurate rendition of colors this year but we know some people prefer more vivid colors so we’ve added an option to boost colors by 10% for a more saturated display. We’re always looking at people’s responses to Pixel and we will look at adding more color options through a software update if we see a lot of feedback.” The option is turned on by default, but you can check in Settings > Display > Advanced, where you should see Vivid display. If you’re unhappy with your Pixel 2 XL display, then complain to Google, as it looks as though enough complaints will prompt another software update.
• While the color temperature is a tuning issue and a deliberate move by Google, we don’t think your display should be blotchy or grainy. If you have serious issues with inconsistent color or blotchy patches then you may have been unlucky and received a less than perfect panel. Contact Google, your carrier, or retailer and ask about a replacement handset.

Issue: Portrait Mode not working for selfies

There have been some reports of people struggling to get Portrait Mode working when they’re using the front-facing camera to take a selfie. Thankfully, it should be a relatively easy fix. Google is rolling out a camera update that includes Portrait Mode support for the front-facing camera.

Solution:

• Make sure that you’re connected to Wi-Fi and that your Pixel 2 has plenty of battery life. Open the Play Store and tap the menu icon at the top left (three horizontal lines). Tap My apps & games and install any available updates.

Glitch: Clicking sound and high-pitched frequency noise during calls

A few people are experiencing problems with the audio on their Pixel 2 during calls. Some people report a clicking or ticking sound, others are complaining about a high-pitched noise that’s constant, and some are suffering with both.

Workarounds:

• You may find that the issue is gone or reduced when using Wi-Fi calling. Open your Phone app and tap the More icon (three vertical dots) at the top right, then Settings > Calls. If your carrier supports it, then you should see the option to Configure Wi-Fi Calling.
• Use a wired or Bluetooth headset for calls and the noise should be gone.

Solution:

• You could contact Google and ask for help. Go to Settings > Support & tips and choose Phone or Chat to report your problem and get help investigating it. If they can’t fix it, then you should be able to get a replacement. However, because it’s not clear what the issue is here, you may find that a replacement handset has the same problem.

Bug: Bluetooth connection issues

There have been many reports of Bluetooth issues with the original Pixel phones since the Android 8.0 Oreo update, but there are also some Pixel 2 owners adding their voices to existing threads on the Google support forum. Some people can’t get the connection to work, others report problems with specific apps, and still others are having issues with voice commands. There was an October 5 patch designed to resolve some of these issues, but it doesn’t seem to have worked for everyone.

Potential solutions:

• Bluetooth connectivity issues are supposed to be resolved with the Pixel 2, but the update hasn’t rolled out yet. A Google spokesperson said, “Google is aware of this issue and additional fixes are coming soon. Likely November or early December.” We have a couple of troubleshooting steps you can try while you wait for an update.
• If you can’t connect at all, then go to Settings > Connected devices > Bluetooth and tap Settings (gear icon) next to the problem device or car and then Forget. Clear device connections from your Bluetooth accessory or car. Turn both off and on again and attempt to pair from scratch.
• If music isn’t playing then make sure you’re connected to the right device or car, and that music isn’t playing through another connected device. Check that the volume is cranked up. Go to Settings > Connected devices > Bluetooth, then tap Settings (gear icon) next to the problem device or car and make sure the box next to Media audio is checked.
• If the problem is with calls, then go to Settings > Connected devices > Bluetooth, then tap Settings (gear icon) next to the problem device or car and make sure the box next to Phone audio is checked.

We’ll add more Google Pixel 2 and Pixel 2 XL problems and fixes as we discover them. In the meantime, grab yourself one of the best Pixel 2 cases or Pixel 2 XL cases to make sure you don’t have a drop damage problem with yours.

Editor’s Recommendations

• Google Pixel 2 and Pixel 2 XL hands-on review
• Google Pixel 2 XL review
• Google Pixel vs. Pixel 2: What difference does a year make?
• Everything you need to know about the Google Pixel 2 and Pixel 2 XL
• Here’s how and where to buy the Google Pixel 2 and Pixel 2 XL

You’re doing it wrong! How to wield Samsung’s Note 8 S Pen like a magic wand

One of the standout features on the Galaxy Note 8, as with most devices in the Note series, is the S Pen. For some people, it’s why they choose the Note 8 over the Galaxy S8 or the S8 Plus, and while there are certainly a variety of other reasons for doing so, we understand why the bundled stylus is so attractive. After all, it can help you carry out a host of nifty features you otherwise wouldn’t be able to take advantage of.

The first is Live Messages — a feature that is far more entertaining than it is functional. If you have the messaging app open, you can pull out the pen and tap Live message, which will allow you to select different pens, draw on a black screen, and then send your message to whomever you’re texting as a GIF. This means that, unlike iMessage, anyone can see your animated message (regardless of their device). You can also change the background color or set a photo from your camera roll as the background, in case you want draw on top of pictures of your friends and family.

The next feature you should be aware of is Offscreen Memo, an extremely functional tool for jotting down notes on the fly. The concept is simple — if you pull out the S Pen when the screen is off, you’ll immediately be able to start writing notes on the lock screen. Sure, you can take notes with any phone using the apt-titled notes app, but opting for Offscreen Memo is significantly faster … so long as you can decipher your own handwriting. Once you’re finished with your note, the Note 8 will automatically save it to your notepad.

You can also take notes in a more traditional manner using the Note 8. Again, you can easily take notes on any phone, but the S Pen makes for a more precise input method, one that allows you to draw more intricate things and brainstorm ideas you can quickly pull up later.

Not all of the S Pen’s hallmarks are tied to drawing and writing, however. For instance, there may be a time when you need to use a desktop version of a site to access a specific set of features. To access reports in the YouTube backend or Google Analytics, for example, you’ll need to tap the three horizontal dots in the upper-right corner when viewing the mobile site. Afterward, tap Request desktop site from the resulting menu. The benefit of using the S Pen is precision — it allows you to navigate far easier (no pinching required).

Moreover, if you hover over items on a given site using the S Pen, you can implement the same trigger your mouse would, at least if you’re using Samsung’s browser or one of several third-party offerings (Chrome excluded). Doing so allows you to bring up drop-down menus, highlight info, and carry out a host of other actions.

There plenty of other benefits to Samsung‘s stylus — it even features a button with welcome, tactical feedback — but few are as convenient and useful as those outlined above. Now, all you need to do is comb our roundup of the best Galaxy Note 8 tips and tricks to further familiarize yourself with Samsung’s latest offering.

David Cogen — a regular contributor here at Digital Trends — runs TheUnlockr, a popular tech blog that focuses on tech news, tips and tricks, and the latest tech. You can also find him on Twitter discussing the latest tech trends.

Editor’s Recommendations

• Put your S Pen to good use with these Galaxy Note 8 tips and tricks
• It’s safe. But here’s why you shouldn’t buy the Galaxy Note 8 (yet)
• Here’s how to use Do Not Disturb mode in Android
• What is Alexa? It’s Amazon’s new virtual assistant
• Samsung Galaxy Note 8 vs. Galaxy S8 Plus: S Pen not the only difference

Engage your kids with Amazon’s Fire HD 8 tablet for just $100

Buy one, buy two, save no matter what you do! Yay rhyme.

Is this deal for me?

The Amazon Fire HD 8 32GB Kids Edition tablet is down to $99.99 on Amazon. Its regular street price is $130. It has only dropped to $80 once before back in August. You can also get the Amazon Fire 7 for $80. It’s on sale from its normal $100 price.

If you’ve got more than one kid and don’t want them to fight over one, Amazon is also discounting two packs. The Fire HD 8 two pack is $179.98, down from $260. The Fire 7 two-pack is $149.98, down from $200. Both two-packs are available in a variety of colors.

Features of the Fire HD 8 include:

• One-year of Amazon FreeTime Unlimited and a Kid-Proof Case
• Not a toy, a full-featured Fire HD 8 tablet with a vibrant HD display, 32 GB internal storage, and up to 12 hours of mixed-use battery life. Add a microSD card for up to 256 GB of expandable storage.
• 2-year worry-free guarantee: if they break it, return it and we’ll replace it for free. No questions asked.
• One year of FreeTime Unlimited gives you access to 15,000 popular apps and games, videos, books, and educational content from PBS Kids, Nickelodeon, Disney, and more
• Add even more content to your child’s profile in FreeTime to give them selected access to apps in your personal library, such as Netflix, YouTube, and Minecraft
• Best-in-class parental controls allow you to manage usage limits, content access, and educational goals
• Amazon Parent Dashboard with Discussion Cards enables parents to discover the titles their kids enjoy and connect with them through rich conversations about these titles

The Fire 7 is basically the same, but it has a slightly smaller display and slightly less storage. The internal storage isn’t a problem, though, since you can expand it with a microSD card.

TL;DR

• What makes this deal worth considering? – These prices match some of the lowest we’ve ever seen, and the two-packs are crazy low for the larger families.
• Things to know before you buy! – Amazon offers these tablets at a cheaper than normal price, but it means sacrificing on board storage. The Fire HD 8 has the most with just 32GB, and that’s not a lot for apps and movies. Upgrade the tablet storage with an internal micro SD card.

See at Amazon

Happy thrifting!