ZTE Blade Z Max review

With the rise of the ultra-premium smartphone, some current generation flagships are hitting all time price-highs. Fortunately, some OEMs have continued to focus on and improve things at the lower end of the price spectrum as well.

Today’s budget-friendly smartphones are as affordable and reliable as ever, but what can we really expect from a device that costs just a tenth of what some of the highest-end offerings will set you back? Let’s find out what the  ZTE Blade Z Max has to offer!

Design

The first thing is striking about the the Blade Z Max is its size. This is an unapologetically large smartphone. Its design is reminiscent of a time before the screen-to-body ratio defined a phone and ultra-large displays were squeezed into relatively compact bodies.

The thick upper and lower bezels are particularly glaring, though they provide plenty of finger room while holding the device in landscape orientation. After using a few near bezel-less phones recently, I have to say that this is actually a comfort that I kind of miss.

Given how affordable it is, the Blade Z Max manages to pull off a rather appealing aesthetic, with what seems like a lot of attention to detail. It lacks premium materials, but doesn’t feel cheap. The durable plastic back comes with a textured honeycomb design, providing much needed grip to an otherwise large and unwieldy phone. While the frame is also made of plastic, it features a metallic finish to give the phone a premium look.

Given how affordable it is, the Blade Z Max lacks premium materials, but doesn’t feel cheap.

Taking a look around the device, everything seems to be the appropriate place. The volume rocker and the textured power button are on the right. The headphone jack and the USB-C port are at the bottom. The SIM card and microSD card combo tray is to the left. The single speaker unit can be found on the back.

Display

One of the highlights of the Blade Z Max is its huge 6-inch IPS LCD display that comes with a Full HD resolution and resulting pixel density of 367 ppi. It’s not be a contender for sharpest smartphone display, but it is extremely capable in its own right.

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Colors are accurate and quite vivid. Viewing angles aren’t an issue. The brightness is enough to allow for comfortable outdoor viewing. There isn’t much, if any, light bleed in low-light situations. Darker shades appeared to be uniform across the display. The front of the phone is covered with a 2.5D scratch resistant glass panel that provides some protection and a touch of style with the finger-friendly smooth, rounded edges.

Performance

Under the hood, the ZTE Blade Z Max comes with an octa-core Qualcomm Snapdragon 435 processor. Everything runs as smooth as can be expected. The device takes advantage of its stock-like software experience to keep things snappy. Apps may take a touch longer to load, but aside from that, the overall performance has been pretty good.

With only 2 GB of RAM, the Blade Z Max is hardly a multi-tasking powerhouse.

The Adreno 505 GPU holds its own for gaming. I didn’t see much in the way of dropped frames or laggy gameplay, even with the performance settings set to maximum in many cases.

One thing that may be a point of contention is the fact that the device comes with only 2 GB of RAM and therefore is hardly a multi-tasking powerhouse. However, there weren’t many instances where the lack of RAM resulted in poor performance. You could bog things down and cause unwanted refreshes by keeping a lot of apps open at the same time, but you should have no complaints with average usage.

Hardware

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The Blade Z Max comes with 32 GB of built-in storage that is further expandable via microSD card up to an additional 128 GB.

While the phone’s single speaker unit gets decently loud, its rear-firing placement isn’t ideal and the audio quality itself isn’t the best. There is very little low to mid-range presence which unfortunately results in an overall thin and tinny listening experience.

Also within easy reach on the back is the fingerprint scanner. This sensor is without a doubt one of the best I’ve used with a performance that rivals far more expensive phones out there. The scanner is extremely accurate and quick to unlock the device. It never failed to read my fingerprint. The fact that you get this kind of fingerprint sensor performance with an ultra-affordable smartphone is truly a testament to how advanced biometric technology has become.

One of the advantages of such a large smartphone is how much room it has for a battery, and the Blade Z Max is no exception with its 4,080 mAh unit. The phone can easily provide a full day of use and you may even be able to push that to two days with average usage. The large battery will take a while to fully charge, but support for Qualcomm Quick Charge 2.0 helps it along.

The ZTE Blade Z Max can easily provide a full day of use with its 4,080 mAh battery.

Camera

The standout feature of the ZTE Z Blade Max is definitely its cameras, with this being one of very few budget smartphones to feature a dual camera setup on the back.

There is a respectable 8 MP front-facing shooter, which comes with a fairly standard field of view and a few different ways to take a selfie. Apart from the shutter button, you can take a shot with a tap of the fingerprint scanner, or by simply smiling in the frame. A beauty mode is available for smoothing out skin tone and blemishes. A small picture-in-picture window also functions as a viewfinder to allow for the rest of the screen to be used as a flash.

On the back is a dual camera setup comprised of a 16 MP main sensor that is paired with a 2 MP secondary unit that allows for artificial depth of field style effects, similar to what is available with some higher-end phones.

In normal shooting conditions, the image quality is about what you would expect from an affordable device with a mid-range camera. It is capable of taking some decent looking shots in well-lit situations with images that are sharp, with a good amount of detail. However, the color reproduction, dynamic range, and the ability to shoot in low-light suffers a bit.

In normal shooting conditions, image quality is about what you would expect from an affordable device.

The shutter speed is also not the fastest, so you will need a steady hand. The phone takes a even longer to process each image when using its burst mode.

Available shooting modes include panorama, time lapse, and multi-exposure. There is also a rather robust manual mode, which is something that you don’t usually see in this price range. You get granular control over aspects like ISO, exposure, white balance, and focus, and the built-in horizon level is a nice inclusion. Also available is a histogram to further fine tune your shots, and you also have the option to shoot using different metering modes and resolutions.

Selecting the dual lens option brings up the portrait, bokeh, and monocolor modes. The much-sought-after portrait mode will let you snap a shot, and the phone will process the image and add the background blur for you.

Unless you frame the shot perfectly, this is pretty much what you can expect most of the time. There is also no way to make adjustments to the image in any way.

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On the other hand, the bokeh mode offers more control over how much background blur is added. There’s an f-stop slider at the bottom, which imitates what your depth of field would look like with different apertures. The nice thing is that you can make this adjustment even after the photo is taken. The level of control here is good to have, but unfortunately, the overall performance is quite similar to what you get with the portrait mode.

The camera is definitely capable of getting the shot right, but more often than not, it is dependent on the shooting scenario and requires a lot of patience. The dual camera setup may not be at the same level as its higher-end counterparts, but for now, it is a pleasant indication of what the future has in store for budget phone cameras.

Software

On the software side of things, the Blade Z Max is running Android 7.1.1 Nougat out of the box and ZTE has opted to keep the UI very close to stock Android. Software features like split screen have been implemented well and allow you to make full use of the large display.

Other notable inclusions are the ability to double tap the power button to quickly launch the camera, the option to swap the positions of the capacitive navigation keys, being able to use the capacitive home button as a notification light, and using the fingerprint scanner to directly open apps from standby.

Specifications

Display	6-inch IPS LCD display 1920 x 1080 resolution, 367 ppi
Processor	1.4 GHz octa-core Qualcomm Snapdragon 435 processor Adreno 505 GPU
RAM	2 GB
Storage	32 GB expandable via microSD up to 128 GB
Camera	16 MP + 2 MP dual rear cameras 8 MP front-facing camera
Connectivity	Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g/n Bluetooth 4.2 A-GPS USB-C 1.0
Battery	4,080 mAh
Software	Android 7.1.1 Nougat
Dimensions	166.1 x 84.6 x 8.4 mm 175 grams

Gallery

Pricing and final thoughts

The ZTE Blade Z Max brings a lot to the table with its dual camera setup,  fingerprint scanner, large display, and even larger battery. The only small thing about this device is its price point. While initially launched at a very affordable $130, the device is currently available from MetroPCS for just $99!

This is certainly an ambitious smartphone from ZTE, and while it may not excel at all that it tries to offer, it succeeds a lot more than it fails. Regardless of the results, by introducing some usually high-end features in this price range, it is only going to encourage more manufacturers to follow suit.

Moto G5S Plus review: this is a budget phone?

What exactly quantifies a budget smartphone? Is it a price point resting below a certain level? A lack of any flagship-level features? Or an outdated design compared to today’s standards?

The answer is different for almost everyone, but one thing is for certain: Lenovorola knows how to refine a design, generation after generation. This is the Moto G5S Plus review.

Design

The Moto G5S Plus is definitely a step up from the Moto G5 Plus, which had a similar layout but felt like it was much more pieced-together than a solid chunk of metal whittled down into the shape of a handset.

The Moto G5S Plus really fits the profile for a solid modern-day smartphone

With a rounded all-metal design reminiscent of something like the OnePlus 5, the Moto G5S Plus really fits the profile for a solid modern-day smartphone. While the screen might be a bit large for some users at 5.5 inches, it feels like it adds to the media experience more than it detracts from usability.

The Moto badge on the back of the phone becomes an indent yet again, which makes me nostalgic for the first generation Moto X. This aids in the overall feel of the device in your hand, since your index finger naturally lands in the general area of the dimple.

Above the dimple you’ll find the Moto camera bump that’s been present for the last couple of generations. This time, the company has actually managed to pack in two sensors, which brings the device up to date with many of today’s flagships. 

I found the power and volume rockers to be exceptionally clicky and pronounced, sticking out a fair bit more than other options on the market. They jut out about twice as far as the Moto G5 Plus’ buttons, so it’s clear that the company took in user feedback and acted on it in the next revision. These buttons are also made of the same metallic alloy as the phone itself, so they feel very premium.

On the bottom edge you’ll find some a mono downward-firing speaker and a micro-USB port. The headphone jack – yes, it has one – sits on the top edge of the device. I personally like this placement, since I listen to a lot of podcasts while my phone is in my pocket.

The Moto G5S Plus is extremely fast to wake when you tap your finger to the reader

There is a fingerprint reader on the front of the phone and it is extremely fast. I don’t know if my Pixel XL has just become slower over the last year, but the Moto G5S Plus feels even faster to wake when you tap your finger to the reader. It’s also really sensitive. This became problematic a few times though, as the phone would sometimes wake while it was sitting in my pocket.

The only caveat I’ve had with the design of this device is that the metal rim seems to scratch and chip fairly easily. Over the week or so that I’ve had it I’ve noticed a number of scars appear on the trim, especially where the screen meets the exterior. While this isn’t a huge deal, it makes an otherwise premium-feeling device seem just a little less exceptional.

While the overall design of this device isn’t incredibly original, it’s still very good. I hope Moto continues to refine upon it for Moto G generations to come.

Display

Despite its design, this is still a budget device. Because of that, Motorola included a Full HD 1080p display in this phone. Is that bad?

Not in the slightest.

I’ve said this before, but using 1080p displays in smartphones barely makes any difference at all in overall usability, and this is no exception. The 5.5-inch LCD panel does just fine in almost every circumstance, and 401 ppi is perfectly fine for most people.

The Moto G5S Plus’ display felt quite bright even at all-but minimal brightness, so I was still able to keep the device on the ultra-low end of the brightness scale while using it outdoors. Colors pop very nicely, and I never felt that I wanted something more punchy.

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Sure, this phone doesn’t have the new bezel-less style like many flagships on the market today, but it feels like it uses up the space of the bezels quite well. There is a “moto” logo at the top that could probably be removed to make room for a bigger screen, but this has become an essential part of Lenovo’s branding, so I can understand why they kept it.

Performance & hardware

Surprisingly, Moto doesn’t really skimp that much when it comes to hardware and raw specifications, despite the Moto G5S Plus’ low starting price. The phone’s Qualcomm Snapdragon 625 does a more than a decent job for a majority of the things you’ll be using your phone for.

There are two versions sporting different amounts of RAM and internal storage. One packs 3 GB of RAM and 32 GB of internal storage for $229, while the heftier 4 GB / 64 GB model will cost an additional $70. I had the latter for this review. I’ve been very happy with the performance this option has been giving me, but I’m sure the baseline model would do just fine as well. Both models also have a micro-SD slot, so you can easily take all your music and other media with you when you upgrade.

The G5S Plus is packing a 3,000 mAh battery, which is about average for a device of this size, but pairs very, very well with the FHD display.

The handset lasted two entire days on one charge, which left me with a smile on my face at the end of it all

The handset lasted two entire days on one charge, which left me smiling. I unplugged it Sunday morning before heading out of the house, and the device died just as I arrived home Monday evening. I was able to snap a screenshot immediately before this though, and I came away with four hours and forty-three minutes of screen-on time. Pretty admirable.

The G5s charges using the Micro-USB port at the bottom of the phone. It supports Moto’s TurboPower charging capabilities, so assuming you have the correct brick, you should be able to juice the phone up quite rapidly. While I would have loved to see a USB Type-C port here, this is just one of the compromises Moto had to make to keep the device at this price point.

The bottom-firing speakers get quite loud, though they lack bass. Moto’s default ringtones and alert sounds are also quite shrill and annoying, so you’ll want to keep this thing on vibrate or change the system sounds to something easier on the ears.

I was very disappointed to find that Motorola has not included an NFC chip in this phone. I use Android Pay every single day, and I was really confused when I went to pay for my groceries and nothing happened when I tapped the reader. This is a huge detriment for me, and we’ve seen how people react when small features like this are overlooked.

Overall the device has solid components. For $229-$300 it’s going to be tough to find such compelling features in 2017.

Camera(s)

The Moto G5S Plus features a pair of dual-cameras, both with 13 MP sensors, and an 8 MP front-facing selfie camera. But as we’ve seen previously, sheer numbers don’t tell more than half the story of a camera’s actual quality and functionality. 

The secondary camera on the G5S Plus only handles depth effects and it does it pretty badly. Images look very soft and lack detail when using this mode; so much so it’s not really worth using at all. There’s a slider to control the intensity of the depth effect, but honestly they’re all pretty bad. It worked best when used on a human subject, which I admit it was probably tuned for, but not all shots are portraits.

There’s a slider to control the intensity of the depth effect, but honestly they’re all pretty bad.

The live view shown when using the depth mode also makes the phone lag quite a lot. This is frustrating, because the dual cameras were obviously a standout marketing point. Even pressing the shutter button makes the phone freeze for a couple of seconds. Viewing the images later will initially show what the regular shot would have looked like for a few seconds before loading the depth of field effect. 

The front-facing selfie camera does an alright job, though it definitely crushes blacks more than I would like. Just wearing a maroon colored shirt in normal indoor lighting had the camera showing it as barely colored at all, which is a big letdown for me. Highlights also get blown out very easily, and it makes it very hard to get an evenly lit shot.

The camera works, but you’re going to have to expand your budget quite a bit if you want a phone that you can also use as your primary shooter.

Software

Navigating Motorola’s lightly skinned version of Android is a breeze on this device. It’s running Android 7.1 Nougat, and the company has even promised that owners will see Android Oreo in the coming months.

Motorola didn’t load this device with any bloatware (unless you consider Google apps bloatware 🤷‍♂️) except for an app simply called Moto. While I find most manufacturer gimmicks annoying and cumbersome, Motorola is the one company whose added functionality I always appreciate.

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There are two subsections of the Moto app: Moto Actions and Moto Display. These offer a wide variety of gestures and actions that will make your Android experience a lot simpler to use. You’re also able to toggle features on and off as you please.

Moto Actions

One button nav: Uses the fingerprint sensor as a home, sleep, back, and multitasking button, depending on the gesture.

Chop twice for flashlight: Allows you to toggle the flashlight on and off by making a “double chop” motion with the device.

Twist for quick capture: Allows you to quickly launch the camera by twisting your wrist in a rapid motion.

Swipe to shrink screen: Makes the screen smaller for easier one-handed use.

Pick up to stop ringing: Switches to vibrate when you lift the phone while it’s ringing.

Flip for Do Not Disturb: Allows you to silence all notifications and calls by placing the phone on its face.

Moto Display

Night Display: Reduces blue light during a set period to help you sleep better after using your device just before bed.

Moto Display: Displays actionable notifications for you to quickly launch and interact with while the phone is locked.

Nearly all of these features were immensely helpful, and some (like Moto Display) have even become baked into Android over the years.

There aren’t any other bloatware apps present on this device. FM Radio makes an appearance, but that is more of a bonus than a detriment, especially when most flagship devices on the market today have removed this functionality.

Specs

Display	5.5-inch IPS LCD 1920 x 1080 resolution 401ppi Gorilla Glass 3
Processor	2.0 GHz octa-core Qualcomm Snapdragon 625
GPU	Adreno 506
RAM	3/4 GB
Storage	32/64 GB microSD expansion up to 256 GB
Cameras	Rear: Dual 13 MP sensors with an f/2 aperture Front: 8 MP sensor with an f/2 aperture
Battery	3,000 mAh Non-removable
Connectivity	Wi-Fi 802.11n dual-band Bluetooth 4.2 MicroUSB 3.5mm headphone jack GPS+GLONASS NFC (not in the US)
Software	Android 7.1 Nougat (Planned 8.0 update)
Dimensions and weight	153.5 x 76.2 x 8.0 mm 168 grams

Gallery

Pricing & final thoughts

The Moto G5S Plus is an incredibly compelling piece of hardware. We crowned its younger sibling the Moto G5 Plus the king of budget back in April of this year, and this newer ‘S’ variant improves upon this model in every way.

For $229 you’re getting a modern day exterior, a lightning fast fingerprint reader, simplistic and compelling software with a guaranteed update to Google’s latest version, and even dual cameras (though we’ve seen much better). Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 625 performs admirably accompanied by the 3/4 GB RAM options, and storage shouldn’t be an issue due to the option for micro-SD expansion.

Coming in at just $10 more expensive than the G5 Plus, there really isn’t any reason not to pick up the G5S Plus. It looks and feels better in every way, and though the specs are very similar, you’re still getting more RAM and dual cameras with an improved body in the latter. What’s not to love?

The Moto G5S Plus might not be the most premium device in the world, but it is a pretty damn good phone. For the price, it’s hard to ask for much more.

Buy now at Best Buy

Next: Best cheap phones (September 2017)

Pizza Hut’s ‘Pizza Parka’ includes a smartphone pouch for super-quick ordering

Why it matters to you

If your wardrobe seems incomplete without the “Pizza Parka,” then you’d better hurry and enter the prize draw.

Pizza Hut has just launched a “Pizza Parka”, which, despite it having a pouch for your smartphone that lets you place an order in a couple of taps, you probably won’t want to wear.

That’s because it’s a little on the gaudy side, and contains enough branding to ensure you’d have to field questions from total strangers about Pizza Hut’s menu as well as other aspects of its business if you wore it out and about.

The pizza company is using the wacky jacket to highlight the launch of its latest “pizza delivery system,” which can also be accurately described as a “bag.”

Using the same material to keep your pizza nice and toasty, the new jacket features “heat-lovers’ advanced triple-layer insulation with 3M Thinsulate material [and a] weatherproof outer crust with oven-hot sealed seams.” Far from keeping you warm, it sounds like the Pizza Parka might actually leave you sweating like a pig in a sauna.

Our new delivery pouch is so good at keeping pizza oven-hot, we’ve found a way to share the warmth. pic.twitter.com/1Zm1VmFrWc

— Pizza Hut (@pizzahut) October 9, 2017

For true pizza fans, the most appealing feature will be the “easy-ordering window” in the parka’s left sleeve, where you can put your smartphone. The pocket’s easy access lets you place an order in a matter of seconds, while its clear window lets you track the delivery of the pizza all the way to your drooling mouth. There’s even an inside pocket shaped like a pizza slice, though the video’s narrator helpfully points out that it “isn’t really meant for pizza.”

The parka is a limited edition effort, which seems wise as you really wouldn’t want to make too many of these.

Pizza Hut is offloading the parkas via a prize draw that you’ll be entered in — whether you like it or not — when you place an order via its website between now and the end of October, which, if you didn’t already know, happens to be National Pizza Month

Alternatively, if you’d like to win the jacket for a friend or possibly foe, you can also enter the draw by tweeting the pizza slice and flame emoji to Pizza Hut’s Twitter account.

This isn’t the first time the company has used clothing to put its business in the spotlight. Earlier this year it unveiled Pie Tops, special sneakers with a button in the tongue that, when pressed, sends an order straight to Pizza Hut for your favorite cheesy snack.

Edible sensor can measure your gut from within

Studying the stomach for a long period can be tricky, which is why medical tech has turned to experimenting with sensors you can swallow. Researchers at MIT and Brigham and Women’s Hospital have built one designed to cling to the walls of the gastrointestinal tract and monitor its contractions to track afflictions.

There, the sensor can measure atypical movement, like food slowdown potentially caused by gastrointestinal disorders. Or they could help doctors monitor food intake for patients treated for obesity. The team reported their research in the latest issue of the journal Nature Biomedical Engineering.

The sensors themselves are made from piezoelectric materials, which generate a current and voltage when they’re bent out of shape. They also contain polymers that imitate the elasticity of human skin, so when the gastrointestinal walls they cling to flex and stretch, so do they. Plus, they’re robust enough to survive up to two days during tests, when the researchers immersed the sensors in the stomachs of pigs.

In the future, the researchers hope to harness the sensor’s piezoelectric potential — i.e., generating energy whenever the device flexes to power other features. Such sensors of the future might not even need batteries and rely on the motion of the human body.

Via: TechCrunch

Source: MIT News

Twitter suspends Rose McGowan’s account

Over the last week or so, rumors about movie executive Harvey Weinstein have turned into actual reports of sexual harassment and rape by The New York Times and The New Yorker. As a result of those public reports, he has been fired by the board of his own company, while many in Hollywood (and beyond) have come forward to talk more openly about incidents of sexual harassment and assault. One of the most notable voices has been that of actress Rose McGowan, who tweeted last year that her own assault has “been an open secret in Hollywood/Media & they shamed me while adulating my rapist.” Tonight, Twitter temporarily pulled the plug on her account.

Since the news broke — including a report by the NYT that he reached a settlement with her in 1997 — she has pushed for The Weinstein Company to dissolve its board, saying that they knew about his settlements, and said that Ben Affleck lied when he denied knowing about Weinstein’s history. Now, she posted a screenshot to Instagram showing that Twitter has suspended her account for 12 hours, citing unspecified posts that break its policy — the same policy that has struggled to curtail Russian manipulation campaigns, white supremacists, ISIS and any number of bots for any number of reasons.

Many high profile bans have been for very specific reasons, but it’s not immediately clear what triggered this action. Recently Twitter’s CEO said “We’re putting significant effort into increasing our transparency as a company, and commit to meaningful and fast progress,” but none of that is evident here. The company has justified other moves in favor of retaining tweets or accounts because they’re “newsworthy” and lately, McGowan’s posts more than fit that bill. Still, for unclear reasons, Twitter’s stance has it positioned against a vulnerable voice instead of serving to amplify it and drive needed change. We will update this post if Twitter provides any explanation why.

TWITTER HAS SUSPENDED ME. THERE ARE POWERFUL FORCES AT WORK. BE MY VOICE. #ROSEARMY

A post shared by Rose McGowan (@rosemcgowan) on Oct 11, 2017 at 9:19pm PDT

I needed a laugh, thank you https://t.co/qXDWYXZmkU

— rose mcgowan (@rosemcgowan) October 10, 2017

@benaffleck “GODDAMNIT! I TOLD HIM TO STOP DOING THAT” you said that to my face. The press conf I was made to go to after assault. You lie.

— rose mcgowan (@rosemcgowan) October 10, 2017

TWC You don’t get to change your company name & be done with it. Every man there has the blood of sorrow on their hands. You are dirty.

— rose mcgowan (@rosemcgowan) October 10, 2017

TWC You don’t get to change your company name & be done with it. Every man there has the blood of sorrow on their hands. You are dirty.

— rose mcgowan (@rosemcgowan) October 10, 2017

Source: New York Times, Rose McGowan (Instagram)

California DMV tweaks rules to allow completely driverless cars

California is already more accommodating to self-driving cars than many parts of the country, but it’s taking that friendliness one step further today. The state DMV has modified its regulations to streamline the testing and use of fully autonomous cars (that is, ones that don’t need anyone behind the wheel). Many of these are subtle but important changes. Car makers no longer need to notify local officials of the “operational design domain” of their machines, summarize all the instances when a car’s autonomous driving disengages or certify that a car can’t drive itself in commonly restricted conditions.

The DMV is adamant that it’s not trying to override federal efforts to regulate self-driving cars. California will require certification for federal standards before their rides are legal. Instead, this is more about greasing the wheels once the feds have given the all-clear — driverless vehicles should reach the road that much sooner.

Source: California DMV, (PDF)

Bear Notes 1.3 for iOS Adds Multitasking ‘Drop Bar’ and Apple Watch Support

Bear Notes for iOS got a 1.3 update on Wednesday, bringing new note multitasking feature for iPad and iPhone as well as adding Apple Watch support to the popular writing app for the first time.

Using the new multi-touch gestures in iOS 11, the new “Drop Bar” enables users to manipulate multiple notes as once, including the ability to merge, share, pin, trash, duplicate, and copy or export them in a variety of formats.

For example, when a user selects two or more notes (by tapping and holding on one and then selecting others in the same way), dragging the notes triggers the Drop Bar, which appears at the bottom of the Notes List. Dragging said notes into the Drop Bar presents the user with a new sheet listing the above options, allowing them to select the desired one.

As a result, users are now able to copy multiple notes to the clipboard as one big note, or export them all as one complete JPEG to share over Twitter, for example. Other possibilities include creating template notes for work or journaling and duplicating them all at once, or copying links to multiple notes at once to paste in other apps for quick access. (Some export options require Bear Pro.)

Bear’s new Drop Bar in action
In addition, Bear’s new Apple Watch support means users can create new text notes simply by speaking to their Apple Watch, and they will be transcribed into text and saved to Bear for iPhone. With the new smartwatch feature, users can also view their 10 most recent notes on their wrist and annotate said notes, while a new Bear complication adds the ability to record a new note straight from the watch face.

Bear is available to download on the App Store for iPad and iPhone [Direct Link], as well as on the Mac App Store [Direct Link].
Discuss this article in our forums

SpaceX is getting really good at launching and landing recycled rockets

Why it matters to you

SpaceX has made impressive progress toward its goal of creating a reliable, reusable rocket system for cheaper space travel.

When some fella called Elon Musk pondered the idea all those years ago of launching a rocket, landing it, and flying it again, some folks likely scoffed, while others perhaps choked on their coffee; a few may even have wondered if they should call a doctor.

But then Musk went and did it.

Now, Musk’s company, SpaceX, is getting rather good at reusing its rockets, scoring a third successful mission of this kind on Wednesday. Such a system aims to drastically lower the cost of space travel, allowing for more missions and, in time, more ambitious journeys into deep space.

The private space company launched a Falcon 9 from Kennedy Space Center at just after 6.50 pm ET. It marked SpaceX’s 15th launch of 2017, and its 18th landing to date, this latest one on its drone ship floating in the Atlantic Ocean. The perfect touchdown, nine minutes after it left the ground, means SpaceX can now use it for a third time once it’s been refurbished.

The rocket in Wednesday’s mission used a first stage that previously flew in February when it carried supplies to the International Space Station.

SpaceX achieved its first Falcon 9 reflight in March, 2017. Musk described the success as “a huge revolution in space travel,” adding, “It’s the difference between … if you threw away an airplane after every flight versus you could reuse them multiple times.” Musk said the next goal is to cut the reflight time from months to just 24 hours.

With the extraordinary landings still dazzling many of those who follow SpaceX’s trials and tribulations, it can be easy to overlook the actual purpose of these missions. This latest one, for the record, deployed a commercial communications satellite into a geostationary transfer orbit for US-based operator EchoStar and Luxembourg-based SES.

In a busy week for Elon Musk and his team, SpaceX launched another rocket on Monday in a mission that took 10 communications satellites into orbit for U.S. firm Iridium.

This year’s successes certainly mark a turnaround for the company following a difficult patch in 2016 when one of its rockets suddenly exploded on the launchpad, forcing SpaceX to put its operations on hold for several months.

Its rockets returned to flight in January this year and continues to serve a range of customers for satellite deployments while also ferrying supplies to the space station.

Xiaomi Mi Mix 2 vs. OnePlus 5: How much do you care about bezels?

The OnePlus 5 is the safe choice, but you get a lot more for your money with the Mi Mix 2.

Four months after its debut, the OnePlus 5 remains one of the best affordable flagships. With the OnePlus 5, you’re getting a phone with high-end specs, a clean software experience, and dual cameras. The design itself is reminiscent of the iPhone 7 Plus from the back, and features large bezels up front.

If you’re looking for something that’s more differentiated, then the Mi Mix 2 should be right up your alley. The Mi Mix 2 shares a lot of the design principles of its predecessor, which includes a striking design with narrow bezels on three sides of the phone coupled with high-end internals.

What’s the same

The common theme between the Mi Mix 2 and the OnePlus 5 is affordability. Both Xiaomi and OnePlus have built their businesses around devices that offer excellent value for money, and that holds true for the OnePlus 5 and the Mi Mi 2.

Both phones are powered by the Snapdragon 835, and offer 6GB of RAM with the base variants. You also get 64GB storage (128GB in India), global LTE connectivity, Wi-Fi ac, NFC, and batteries that last all day. Both devices are also running Android 7.1.1 Nougat.

Operating System	OxygenOS 4.5.8, Android 7.1.1 Nougat	MIUI 9, Android 7.1.1 Nougat
Display	5.5-inch 1920×1080 AMOLED panelGorilla Glass 5401ppi pixel density	5.9-inch 18:9 IPS LCD 2160 x 1080403ppi pixel density
Chipset	Octa-core Qualcomm Snapdragon 835Four Kryo 280 cores at 2.45GHzFour Kryo 280 cores at 1.90GHz10nm	Octa-core Qualcomm Snapdragon 835Four Kryo 280 cores at 2.45GHzFour Kryo 280 cores at 1.90GHz10nm
GPU	Adreno 540	Adreno 540
RAM	6/8GB LPDDR4X	6GB LPDDR4X (8GB LPDDR4X special edition)
Storage	64/128GB UFS 2.1	64GB/128GB/256GB UFS 2.1 (128GB special edition)
Expandable	No	No
Battery	3300mAh	3400mAh
Charging	USB-CDash Charge	USB-CQuick Charge 3.0 (9V/2A)
Water resistance	No	No
Rear Camera	16MP (IMX398), f/1.7, 1.12-micron pixels, EIS20MP (IMX350), f/2.6, 1-micron pixelsDual LED flash, 4K 30 fps	12MP (Sony IMX 386) f/2.0, 1.25-micron pixels4-axis OIS, two-tone flash, PDAF, 4K@30fps
Front Camera	16MP	5MP
Connectivity	LTE 3xCA, 256QAM, Cat 12Wi-Fi 802.11 ac, dual band, 2×2 MIMOBluetooth 5.0, aptX HDGPS, GLONASS, BeiDou, NFCUSB 2.0, USB OTG	Wi-Fi 802.11 ac MU MIMO, 2×2 MIMO LTE with VoLTE, Bluetooth 5.0GPS/AGPS/GLONASS/BeiDou
Security	One-touch fingerprint sensor (front)	One-touch fingerprint sensor (back)
SIM	Dual Nano SIM	Dual Nano SIM
Network	FDD-LTE: Band 1/2/3/4/5/7/8/12/17/18/19/20/25/26/28/29/30/66TDD-LTE: Band 38/39/40/41HSPA: Band 1/2/4/5/8TD-SCDMA: Band 34/39GSM 850/900/1800/1900 MHzCDMA: BC0	FDD-LTE: Band 1/2/3/4/5/7/8/12/13/17/18/19/20/25/26/27/28/29/30TDD-LTE: Band 34/38/39/40/41TD-SCDMA: Band 34/39WCDMA: Band 1/2/3/4/5/6/8/9/19CDMA EVDO: BC0, BC1, BC6, BC10GSM: Band 2/3/5/8
Dimensions	154.2 x 74.1 x 7.25 mm	151.8 x 75.5 x 7.7mm
Weight	153g	185g
Colors	Slate Grey, Midnight Black	Black

As you’d imagine from phones powered by the latest hardware, both the Mi Mix 2 and OnePlus 5 breeze through everyday tasks without breaking a sweat. There wasn’t a point where I noticed any slowdowns on either phone, and with 6GB of RAM as standard, both devices are future-proof in this regard.

That’s where the similarities end. Although both phones have near-identical innards, the overall experience is vastly different.

Where the Mi Mix 2 wins

The standout feature on the Mi Mix 2 is the display. Xiaomi moved the front camera to the bottom bar, and the result is that three sides of the phone feature razor-thin bezels. Even though bezel-less designs are commonplace, Xiaomi’s implementation is striking to behold.

Meanwhile, OnePlus hasn’t altered the design too much from last year’s OnePlus 3 and 3T, and as such the OnePlus 5 feels outdated when seen next to the Mi Mix 2.

The Mi Mix 2 has a ceramic back with an aluminum frame, and the back itself is highly reflective. It looks great, but the glossy finish means it constantly attracts fingerprints. The gold accent around the camera give it a certain design flair, and the position of the fingerprint sensor is ideal. It’s located just underneath the camera sensor, and the minor indent lets you find it easily with your finger.

The front of the Mi Mix 2 is where the magic happens. The 5.99-inch display isn’t an OLED panel like the OnePlus 5, but it is one of the best LCDs available today. Colors are vivid, overall brightness levels are excellent, and it’s a delight to read text on the display. That said, videos aren’t nearly as enjoyable as you’ll still see letterboxing in YouTube and Netflix. With 18:9 becoming more and more common, this particular issue should be fixed shortly.

If you want a device that’ll turn heads, get the Mi Mix 2.

With the first-generation Mi Mix, Xiaomi just used the camera sensor from another device (the Mi Max) and slotted it into the device. The company is doing the same this time around, but it’s using the 12MP imaging sensor from the primary camera of the Mi 6, or the Sony IMX 386. There’s also 4-axis OIS, which we saw for the first time in last year’s Mi 5. The Mi Mix 2 doesn’t have dual cameras like the OnePlus 5, so you’ll miss out on features like Portrait Mode, but when it comes to the primary sensor, the phone outshines OnePlus’ offering.

Photos taken with the Mi Mix 2 have more dynamic range, and the colors are true-to-life. The OnePlus 5 still isn’t quite there yet when it comes to software processing, with a few outdoor shots over-processed.

Mi Mix 2 on the left, OnePlus 5 on the right.

The Mi Mix 2 also wins out when it comes to battery life. A slightly larger 3400mAh battery combined with MIUI’s very aggressive memory management allows the phone to last a day without breaking a sweat, delivering a screen-on-time of four to five hours on average. And when you do need to top up the phone, you can use Quick Charge 3.0.

Where the OnePlus 5 wins

The OnePlus 5 is one of the fastest phones you can currently buy. OnePlus’ focus on an uncluttered software experience with OxygenOS combined with the high-end internals lead to a device that’s delightful to use on a daily basis. The only other phone that I’ve used that was as fluid was the Pixel XL, and even after four months the OnePlus 5 isn’t seeing any slowdowns.

The OnePlus 5 also gets the basics right: the phone comes with a standard headphone jack, so you don’t have to use a dongle to listen to music when using a wired headset. Xiaomi is moving away from the headphone jack in its flagships, so if you care about wired audio, then there’s really only one choice.

The OnePlus 5 has all the essentials, including a 3.5mm jack.

The Mi Mix 2’s main drawback on the design front is the position of the front camera. The position of the camera at the bottom poses a unique problem when you’re trying to take a selfie, and you’ll get a prompt to invert the phone when using the Mi Camera app. However, you don’t have the option to do so when you’re using Instagram, Duo, or WhatsApp, so you’ll get photos from an awkward angle. For its part, Xiaomi says it’s working on an update to enable auto-rotation in third-party apps.

Then there’s the software situation. Xiaomi rolled out a slew of under-the-hood fixes with MIUI 9, with the goal of making the operating system much more nimble. While that made a noticeable difference in day-to-day usage, the user interface itself is in need of an overhaul, and looks dated when seen next to OxygenOS 4.5.8.

Which should you buy? Your call

The Mi Mix 2 has a lot going for it: the phone has an evocative design with a durable ceramic back, great camera, and outstanding battery life. The OnePlus 5, meanwhile, offers a much better software experience, and you won’t have to use a dongle to connect your wired headphones.

In countries where Xiaomi will officially launch the Mi Mix 2 (primarily Asian markets), the device will go head-to-head with the OnePlus 5 when it comes to pricing. For instance, Xiaomi introduced the device earlier this week in India for ₹35,999 ($550), putting it squarely in the territory of the OnePlus 5, where the Midnight Black variant with 8GB of RAM and 128GB storage retails for ₹37,999 ($585). Xiaomi is launching a single variant in India, offering 6GB of RAM and 128GB storage.

With not a whole lot to separate both phones in terms of pricing, it all comes down to what your priorities are. If you want a device that offers a clutter-free software experience, fast updates, and a 3.5mm jack, then the OnePlus 5 is the phone to get. If you’re instead looking for a device with a futuristic design, better camera, and all-day battery life, the Mi Mix 2 is a better choice.

Xiaomi will kick off sales in India from October 17, and will make the Mi Mix 2 available in other markets in the coming months. If you’re looking to pick up the device from the U.S. or UK, you’ll need to go through a reseller.

See at Flipkart

Movies Anywhere lets you watch your digital movies on any service, and Google is a launch partner

Disney has teamed up with four big movie studios to make sharing movie downloads between ecosystems as simple as possible.

In 2014, Disney debuted its digital extension, Disney Movies Anywhere, which allowed users to bridge the ecosystem divide for movie downloads. If you bought, say, The Lion King on iTunes and Aladdin on Google Play Movies, DMA gave you access to both those movies on either platform — as well as on Amazon and Vudu.

Now, Disney has finalized agreements with four of the other major studios — Fox, Sony Pictures, Universal, and Warner Bros. — to expand the feature into a near all-encompassing service, aptly called Movies Anywhere. The only major holdout appears to be Paramount Pictures, which distributes popular flicks like Mission Impossible and Transformers.

Available on both Android and iOS or through a dedicated web portal, Movies Anywhere allows users to sign into their Google Play, iTunes, Amazon, or Vudu accounts and, like DMA, gain access to all their movies … anywhere.

It’s a service that our own Ara Wagoner has grown to love, since Disney, which developed the technology, works with the individual platform providers to facilitate the rights management. That means movies aren’t sequestered to the Movies Anywhere app, but can be viewed in Google Play Movies like any other purchase. The other studios initially supported a competing technology, Ultraviolet, which was extremely user-unfriendly and garnered little mainstream use.

It won’t stem the growth of Netflix, Hulu or Amazon Prime Video, but it’s a consumer-friendly move in an industry that doesn’t always put its customers first.

The unifying move is certainly an attempt to make buying movies a lot more enticing in the world of Netflix, Hulu and other streaming services, but it also solves a major problem with platform lock-in. Anyone who’s moved from an iPhone to Android likely had the realization that their iTunes music, movies, and TV shows didn’t come with them. Movies Anywhere doesn’t solve every problem, and not every studio is on board, but it does bring us closer than ever to platform agnosticism.

To incent people to sign up for Movies Anywhere, which is free, the service is offering five free movies when you link two or more accounts:

• Big Hero 6
• Ghostbusters (2016)
• Ice Age
• Jason Bourne (2016)
• The Lego Movie

At launch, Movies Anywhere is only available in the U.S., but the companies are working on bringing it to other markets.

Are you interested in signing up for Movies Anywhere? Let us know in the comments below!