Leaked watchOS 4.1 GM Release Notes Confirm Apple Music Streaming, GymKit Support

Release notes for the watchOS 4.1 golden master were leaked this afternoon by developer Guilherme Rambo, confirming all of the bug fixes and feature updates that we can expect to see in the new watchOS software.

Much of what’s listed in the release notes was already known because the features are available in the beta, but the notes confirm GymKit support and highlight several bugs that are being addressed in the update.

watchOS 4.1 introduces streaming music on Apple Watch Series 3, and it includes a new Radio app, which is limited to watchOS Series 3 models. Though not listed in the release notes, the update also offers several new Unicode 10 emoji. Full GM release notes are below:

New features, improvements, and bug fixes include:

– Stream music on Apple Watch Series 3 with Apple Music or iCloud Music Library
– Listen to live radio on Beats 1, custom stations, and expert-curated stations with the new Radio app on Apple Watch Series 3
– Use Siri to find, discover, and play songs, playlists, or albums
– Sync fitness data with GymKit-enabled treadmills, ellipticals, stair steppers, and indoor bikes for more accurate distance, pace, and energy burn metrics
– Ability to disconnect from a WiFi network in Control Center for Apple Watch Series 3 (GPS + Cellular)
– Fixes an issue for Apple Watch Series 1 and later where Heart Rate notifications were delivered when the feature was not enabled
– Fixes an issue where some users did not receive Stand Reminders
– Resolves an issue where the current stand hour indicator did not appear for some users
– Resolves an issue that caused haptics to not be delivered for silent alarms
– Addresses an issue that prevented Apple Watch (1st generation) from charging for some users
– Resolves an issue where the Sunrise and Sunset complication would sometimes not appear
– Restores Mandarin as the default dictation language for China

As these are not final release notes, there could be additions or tweaks to the information ahead of when the new watchOS 4.1 update is released to the public. There is as of yet no mention of Apple Pay Cash, Apple’s new peer-to-peer payments service, so it continues to be unclear if that feature is going to be bundled into the iOS 11.1 and watchOS 4.1 updates.

Apple employees are currently testing Apple Pay Cash as part of iOS 11.1, but support for the feature could be held back until a later update.

It’s not yet clear when Apple will launch watchOS 4.1, but a release could come as soon as next week alongside iOS 11.1, macOS 10.13.1, and tvOS 11.1 if Apple is aiming to get all of its new software updates out ahead of the debut of the iPhone X.

Related Roundups: Apple Watch, watchOS 4Buyer’s Guide: Apple Watch (Buy Now)
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Here are the best Linux distros you can install right now

Ah, Linux. The third of the holy triumvirate of PC operating systems, along with Windows and MacOS. Each have their own pros and cons, and each has their own identity. Linux could probably be best described as the most rebellious of the three; it’s malleable and customizable (as long as you have a strong understanding of computers and Linux), with dozens of different distros created by unique communities for different uses. Plus, the Linux “core” (kernel) and most distros are completely free, which is a major selling point for the OS when compared to Windows and MacOS.

There are many Linux distros for different use cases. Whether you are after an OS that is tailored for desktops, laptops, workstations, servers, A/V editing, or gaming, there is a distro out there for everyone. Here, we are going to give you a rundown of the best Linux distros available, each of which is tailored for desktop use. You can install these distros on a Chromebook, PC, or Mac as a replacement for your current operating system, use both in a dual-boot scenario, or use them in conjunction with one of the best virtual machines out there… whatever floats your boat.

The best

Ubuntu

Ubuntu remains one of the most popular Linux distros in existence, even though it was first introduced more than a decade ago. It’s also the most widely used distro to date, and even comes pre-installed on desktops and laptops manufactured by HP, Dell, and Acer as an alternative to Windows. You can even grab “vanilla” Ubuntu through Microsoft’s built-in store for Windows 10, which also supports BASH.

That said, Ubuntu has several “flavors” available — nine to be exact — that come with their own programs, desktop environments, and features. For example, Ubuntu MATE (as in Yerba Mate tea) offers several important applications, including Firefox, Thunderbird, LibreOffice, Rythmbox, Shotwell, VLC, and of course, Steam. It’s based on the MATE desktop environment, which provides its own set of tools on top of an intuitive and attractive presentation. Couple this with Ubuntu’s famous ease of use and installation, and you have a great OS for newcomers and Linux enthusiasts alike.

openSUSE

openSUSE is another popular distro, mainly because of its interface flexibility and simple file installation. openSUSE uses a program called YaST, which is essentially a portal through which you can manage your computer and tweak settings to your liking. YaST makes it easy to install a large number of popular desktop interfaces — everything from KDE and LXDE, to Gnome, Mate, and several others. These interfaces can even be installed simultaneously via YaST, and switched to and from each other on the fly.

YaST also makes adding third-party applications a cinch with quick, one-click installations. Finally, openSUSE includes a feature called Tumbleweed, which updates your system and applications automatically so your system is always up to date. openSUSE is free to download, but there is a paid physical addition that includes 90-day installation support.

Linux Mint

According to the the OS’s website, Linux Mint is now the leading Linux distro, surpassing Ubuntu and all other distros to become the main competition against Windows and Mac OS. When you look at Linux Mint’s features, that claim becomes easy to believe. This free, open-source distro installs quickly and easily from a USB or blank DVD, and offers full multimedia support from the get go.

Linux Mint makes an effort to straddle the line between stability and power. It’s not too resource intensive, and it is conservative about updates, meaning there is little chance of installing a broken or unstable update that will require tedious system regressions. Linux Mint further mitigates headaches for users by using an update manager, and by supporting many popular desktop environments like Cinnamon (by far the most popular version of Linux Mint), Mate, LMDE, and KDE, as well as native support for a long list of applications.

Fedora

Don’t let the silly name of this distro fool you; it’s a flexible OS with three separate options depending on your needs. A workstation, server, and cloud-centric version are all available, and the workstation version has further forks for specific needs such as gaming, design, and even robotics, among several others. Fedora primarily uses the GNOME interface, but versions using different desktop environments are available.

Fedora is known for having frequent version updates, sometimes weeks or months apart, integrating the latest programs and features available for Linux systems. This makes the distro less reliable for those testing new products due to the short cycle between versions, and increases the risk of unstable builds. However, it’s great for those who want to be on the leading edge of Linux development.

Debian

Debian is one of the longest standing Linux distros, which first released back in 1996. Since then, it has served as the framework for many other distros — namely Ubuntu and Mint — which have subsequently gone on to inspire and inform numerous other distros, making Debian something of a “grandparent” of today’s distro development. The modern version of Debian offers versions with different desktop environments integrated into it, though GNOME is the primarily supported interface.

Debian is a great choice for both workstations and server systems. The workstation version comes with pre-installed programs like the Photoshop alternative, GIMP; Iceweasel internet browser; LibreOffice word processor; and VLC media player. Debian has three branches available, “stable,” “testing,” and “unstable,” depending on how much maintenance and/or testing you wish to put into your OS.

Manjaro

Manjaro is actually based on another Linux distro called Arch. Both aim to provide “bleeding edge” software without bogging down your PC, but the parent Arch platform is fine-tuned for advanced, tech-savvy users who can get around the backend of Linux better than Mickey Mouse at Disney World. Instead, the software focuses on ease of use and friendliness for newcomers and advanced users alike, without stripping all the good stuff that makes Arch great.

Moreover, Manjaro’s features the ability to automatically detect your system’s hardware, and install the appropriate software just like a Windows-based machine. It’s also backed by a large software repository developed specifically for this distro, and a community that will gladly help both newcomers and advanced users. Manjaro even offers three “official” flavors: The XFCE Edition that’s fast and lightweight, the heavier KDE Edition that’s more media-focused and visually appealing, and the GNOME Edition with a highly-customizable user interface.

Antergos

The motto with this distro is that it’s always fresh, and never frozen. That means it’s on a “rolling release” development cycle so you’re not forced to download and install new builds when they’re available. This also includes all the applications that come packaged with Antergos, so you’re not working with outdated software. Antergos is another fork of Arch Linux, one that aims to be powerful yet friendly and elegant.

Out of the box, Antergos provides a ready-to-use system, so you can quickly listen to music, scour the web, troll Facebook, and more. And like Manjaro, it provides different “flavors” to choose from, though, you have six in this case, each designed for a different visual preference (GNOME, Cinnamon, KDE, XFCE, MATE, and Openbox). Antergos is known to be one of the more “prettier” Linux-based distros, and is another good place to start if you’re a newcomer to Linux.

Runners up

Solus

Launched at the end of 2015, Solus is a Linux distro designed for everyone. It was built from scratch with the general device user in mind, and has gone on to become one of the more highly-used distros over the course of the past couple years. You can choose between three desktop interfaces (Budgie, GNOME, MATE), and take advantage of Firefox, Thunderbird, and other software you already use on your Windows-based machine. It’s even a great gaming solution, given it supports a slew of gamepads and controllers directly out of the box.

SteamOS

Speaking of gaming, here’s a Linux distro developed specifically for that purpose. Based on Debian, it’s provided by Valve Software, the developers behind the Half-Life, Left 4 Dead, and Portal, as well as the widely-popular PC gaming platform Steam. It’s the brainchild of CEO Gabe Newell, who didn’t like how Microsoft was controlling the PC gaming market and wanted to provide an open-source operating system. Games released on Linux are supposedly faster than their Windows-based counterparts because Linux distros aren’t bogged down by services running in the background.

Zorin

Here’s another Linux distro created to replace Windows and MacOS. In fact, even though it’s based on Ubuntu, Zorin provides visual interfaces that mimic those specific operating systems, so you don’t feel like you’re venturing into unknown territory. The software is designed to ease your transition from Windows and MacOS, which, frankly, is its biggest selling point. Fortunately, the distro also provides all the benefits of Linux, including a secured environment and a high-performance computing experience.

Puppy Linux

One of our readers actually recommended Puppy Linux. Originally designed for the PC owner more than a decade ago, it’s oft-considered a grandpa-friendly solution, namely due to its lightweight and straightforward design. It weighs a mere 200MB or less, and can be installed directly onto a USB drive. Moreover, all files and software installed via Puppy Linux will remain on the USB drive, so you could essentially plug-and-play with any available PC. The two official versions for modern PCs are based on Ubuntu and Slackware, though, there are other “puppies” that support older hardware.

Raspberry Pi Desktop

This is the Raspberry Pi Foundation’s operating system for the PC and Mac. It’s based on Debian, but includes the PIXEL visual interface and the Chromium browser. Short for “Pi Improved Xwindows Environment, Lightweight,” PIXEL was originally designed for Rasbian, a fork of Debian that was specifically designed for Raspberry Pi boards. The founder of Raspberry Pi wanted to bring the experience to PC and Mac as well, however, thus resulting in a modern desktop interface backed by general, productivity, and developer applications.

Update: Added Manjaro, Antergos, Solus, Zorin, Puppy Linux, and Raspberry Pi Desktop.

Editor’s Recommendations

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• Learn how to install Linux on a Chromebook with our simple guide
• Play any video on any device with the best free video converters
• Samsung Dex Station review
• How much RAM do you need? It’s probably less than you think

Huawei Mate 10 Pro vs. LG V30: Can Huawei’s A.I. beat LG’s edge-to-edge screen?

The Mate 10 Pro, Huawei’s follow-up to last year’s Mate 9, is a high-end handset by any measure. Its custom-designed Kirin 970 processor has a chip designed for artificial intelligence, and its dual cameras capture impressive photos.

But LG’s V30, one of the Mate 10 Pro’s prime competitors, is no slouch. It’s thin, tall 18:9 aspect ratio offers a cinematic viewing experience; its durability sets a high bar; and its processor — Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 835 — the same that powers the Galaxy S8 and HTC U11 — crushes everyday tasks with ease. So which flagship smartphone reigns supreme in the end? We compared to the two to find out.

Specs

LG V30

Huawei Mate 10 Pro

Size
151.7 x 75.4 x 7.4 mm (5.97 x 2.97 x 0.29 inches)
154.2 x 74.5 x 7.9 mm (6.07 x 2.93 x 0.31 inches)
Weight
158 grams (5.57 ounces)
178 grams (6.28 ounces)
Screen
6-inch P-OLED display
6-inch OLED
Resolution
2,880 x 1,440 pixels (537 pixels per inch)
2,160 x 1,080 (402 ppi)
OS
Android 7.1.2
Android 8.0 Oreo
Storage
64GB, 128GB (on the V30 Plus)
64GB, 128GB
MicroSD card slot
Yes, up to 256 GB
No
NFC support
Yes
Yes
Processor
Snapdragon 835
Huawei Kirin 970
RAM
4GB
4GB/6GB
Connectivity
GSM, CDMA, HSPA, EVDO, LTE, 802.11a/b/g/n/ac Wi-Fi
LTE (Cat 18), GSM, CDMA, HSPA, EVDO, 802.11a/b/g/n/ac Wi-Fi
Camera
Dual 16MP and 13MP wide angle rear, 5MP wide angle front
Dual 20-megapixel monochrome and 12-megapixel RGB rear, 8-megapixel front
Video
Up to 4K at 30fps, 1080p at 30fps, 720p at 120fps
Up to 4K at 30fps
Bluetooth
Yes, version 5.0
Yes, version 4.2
Fingerprint sensor
Yes
Yes
Other sensors
Accelerometer, compass, gyroscope, proximity
Accelerometer, barometer, gyroscope, proximity
Water resistant
Yes, IP68 rated
Yes, IP67 rated
Battery
3,300mAh

Fast charging, wireless charging (Qi standard)

4,000mAh

Fast charging

Charging port
USB-C
USB-C
Marketplace
Google Play Store
Google Play Store
Colors
Cloud Silver, Moroccan Blue
Midnight Blue, Titanium Gray, Mocha Brown, Pink Gold
Availability

Sprint, Verizon, AT&T, T-Mobile

Mid-November
Price
$800
800 euros (around $945)
DT review
4 out of 5 stars
Hands-on

Many Android flagship phones share the same processor, but Huawei phones opt for the company’s own Kirin chipset. The new Kirin 970 doesn’t disappoint: It’s an octa-core processor that’s 50 percent more energy-efficient than last year’s Kirin 960 and up to 25 percent faster.

The V30’s system-on-a-chip is no less impressive. Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 835 is up to 30 percent faster than its predecessor, the Snapdragon 821, in benchmark tests.

So how do the two chips compare side-by-side? Early tests show the Mate 10 Pro’s Kirin 970 on an even keel with the V30’s Snapdragon 835. The Mate 10 Pro scored a 173,757 in Antutu, compared to the LG V30’s score of 173,042. Benchmarks only tell half the story, though, and the Kirin 970 has something special up its sleeve: A neural processing unit (NPU) chip that speeds up artificial intelligence (A.I.) apps. It’s more than two times faster than Huawei’s last-gen NPU and works around the clock to optimize the phone’s battery life and performance.

The Snapdragon 835 has no such chip. The V30 ships with 4GB RAM compared to the Mate 10 Pro’s 6GB (in the 128GB model). The jury’s out on how much of a difference that makes day to day, to at the very least, we expect the Mate 10 Pro to juggle more apps and background tasks at once.

The V30 has a 3.5mm headphone jack, which the Mate 10 Pro doesn’t — it ships with a USB-C-to-3.5mm adapter instead. The V30 has the newest generation of Bluetooth (version 5.0), which the Mate 10 Pro can’t match — it packs the slower, shorter-range Bluetooth 4.2. And the V30 has an ace in the hole: A hi-fi Quad DAC (digital-to-audio converter) that delivers 32-bit playback on headphones and through the phone’s loudspeakers.

The V30 and Mate 10 Pro both come in 64GB and 128GB configurations, albeit not on every carrier. The V30 does have an edge here with the MicroSD card slot if you want more space.

We’re giving the V30 the win here. Performance seems to be on relatively equal footing, and we’ll have to see how much the NPU changes AI actions on the Mate 10. But the V30 has a headphone jack, a Quad DAC, Bluetooth 5.0, a MicroSD card slot — all of which certainly affect day-to-day functions in a positive way.

Winner: LG V30

Design and display

Julian Chokkattu/Digital Trends

The Mate 10 Pro and V30 both feature the trendy “bezel-less” all-glass design, though the rear design is quite different. The Mate 10 Pro’s edge-to-edge front panel houses the phone’s Full HD+ OLED (2,160 x 1,080 pixels) FullView screen. It’s 6 inches in length with narrow top, bottom, and side bezels, and has a high dynamic range (HDR) profile that’s bright, colorful, and truer-to-life than some of the competition.

The V30’s screen is 6 inches as well, but curved on all four corners. It’s Quad HD+ in resolution (2,880 x 1,440 pixels) with an OLED panel, and every bit as bright and colorful as the Mate Pro 10’s screen. It’s also noticeably sharper: The Mate 10 Pro has a pixel density 402 pixels-per-inch (PPI) compared to the V30’s 537 PPI.

The V30 and Mate 10 Pro are relatively bare on front, and both have a USB Type-C connector for charging and a rocker to adjust the volume. Things diverge when you flip them around. The Mate 10 Pro has a two-color finish with a reflective band that highlights the camera. The V30’s back is a little less conspicuous, with a monochrome backdrop against a camera and a fingerprint sensor that doubles as a power button. So which phone has the better design? It’s a matter of personal preference. We like the Mate 10 Pro’s design and it’s a little flashier, but some folks might enjoy the V30’s minimalism.

There’s a definite winner when it comes to durability, though, and it’s the LG V30. On top of its MIL-STD-810G certification for 14 different impact, moisture, and exposure tests, it’s IP68 rated to survive 5 feet of water for 30 minutes. That’s compared to the Mate 10 Pro, which IP67 rated for up to 3 and a half feet.

Given how subjective aesthetics tend to be, it’s tough to crown a winner in the design category. But the V30 has the bit more going for it than the Mate 10 Pro with its denser, higher-resolution screen and a design that’s more likely to stand up to abuse.

Winner: LG V30

Camera

The Mate 10 Pro and LG V30 have dual cameras, but they work in fundamentally different ways.

For the Mate 10 Pro, Huawei teamed up with Leica to co-design a camera with two image signal processors (ISPs), a laser autofocus module, and two sensors: A 12-megapixel RGB sensor and a 20-megapixel monochrome sensor. Both have SUMMILUX-H lenses and a f/1.6 aperture and take full advantage of the Mate 10 Pro’s software. An iPhone 7 Plus-like Portrait Mode generates bokeh by combining the two sensors’ data in one, and a monochrome mode snaps black-and-white pics using the Mate 10 Pro’s 20-megapixel sensor.

The V30’s dual camera setup similarly consists of two sensors: A 16-megapixel primary sensor (f/1.6 aperture) and a 13-megapixel sensor with a wider lens (f/1.9 aperture). The wide-angle lens is great for landscape and crowd shots, and it powers a Point and Zoom feature that smoothly zoom into subjects in video mode.

But the V30 can’t match the Mate 10 Pro’s A.I.-powered software. The Kirin 970 chip imbues Huawei’s flagship with A.I. smarts. Real-Time Scene and Object Recognition help it understand what’s in front of it and adjust the settings accordingly, and A.I. Motion Detection enhances the sharpness of images. Third-party photo-taking apps that tap into the NPU benefit from accelerated image processing too. (Huawei says the Kirin 970 can process 2,000 images per second.)

The Mate 10 Pro and V30 are evenly matched on the selfie and video side of the equation. The former can shoot in 4K at 30 frames per second, as can the V30. The V30’s 5-megapixel front sensor is only a smidge smaller than the Mate 10 Pro’s 8-megapixel camera.

It’s a close race, but the Mate 10 Pro’s A.I. smarts are enough to win it the round. The V30’s dual sensor is without a doubt impressive, but the Mate 10 Pro has it beat with regard to real-time and post-processing.

Winner: Mate 10 Pro

Battery life and charging

Julian Chokkattu

The V30 might have the advantage when it comes to design, but the Mate 10 Pro wins out on the battery side of things.

The Mate 10 Pro has a 4,000mAh battery as opposed to the V30’s 3,300. That might not sound like much of a difference, but the V30’s higher-resolution screen draws more power than the Mate 10 Pro’s. Huawei says the Mate 10 Pro lasts a full two days on a charge, which compares pretty favorably to the V30’s one-day battery life.

The Mate 10 Pro features Huawei’s proprietary SuperCharge technology, and the LG V30 utilizes Qualcomm’s Quick Charge 3.0 fast charging tech.

The V30 has something the Mate 10 Pro doesn’t: Wireless charging. LG’s flagship is compatible with any Qi-certified charging pads on the market, which is exploding in popularity thanks to Apple adopting the same Qi standard with the latest iPhones.

Support for wireless charging isn’t enough to excuse away the V30’s smaller battery, though. The Mate 10 Pro comes out on top with a longer-lasting battery, though we’ll have to do more testing to see if it really can last for two days.

Winner: Mate 10 Pro

Software

The Mate 10 Pro and V30 both run Android, Google’s mobile operating system, but you wouldn’t know it by looking at them. That’s because each phone runs a custom version, each with their own apps and features.

The Mate 10 Pro ships with version 8.0 of Huawei’s Emotion UI (EMUI), based on Android 8.0 Oreo. One of its nifty features is machine learning suggestions, which tap the Kirin 970’s NPU to highlight contextually relevant settings. At night, for example, it might recommend you enable the Mate 10 Pro’s low-light mode.

Also in tow with EMUI 8.0 is a floating menu on the home screen with one-tap access to the home screen and recent apps, and a landscape mode that that divides the compatible apps into columns so you can see more at a glance. Folks with a spare monitor, meanwhile, can take advantage the Mate 10 Pro’s “desktop-like” interface, which is optimized for larger screens.

The V30’s take on Android is close to stock, but not without enhancements. A floating, expandable arrow icon sits anywhere on the home screen and provides one-tap access to contacts, apps, and other items. Smart Settings, a carryover from the LG G6, can automatically silence notifications based on your location.

At the end of the day, the Mate 10 Pro and V30’s software approach the same idea — simplifying your smartphone experience — differently. The Mate 10 Pro’s is a bit more intrusive, but that might appeal to some people, just like the V30’s hands-off approach will appeal to others. We are giving the Mate 10 Pro the win, however, because it’s running the latest version of Android. The LG V30 is still on Android 7.1.1, despite launching after Oreo was released.

Winner: Mate 10 Pro

Price and availability

The Mate 10 Pro isn’t cheap, but neither is the V30. Both phones start well above $700.

The 64GB variant of the LG V30, which is available now, ranges from $800 on T-Mobile to $840 on Verizon. Sprint carries the LG V30 Plus, and an upgraded version of the V30 with 128GB and bundled LG QuadPlay earbuds, exclusively for $648 on Sprint Flex, an 18-month leasing program.

The Mate 10 Pro, on the other hand, will cost 800 euros (about $945) when it goes on sale in November. But that’s in Europe – Huawei has yet to announce U.S. pricing and availability. If it follows the Mate 9’s path, we expect it to hit Amazon and Best Buy soon.

Tentatively, the LG V30 wins as we’re expecting the Mate 10 Pro to cost more based on its Europe price.

Winner: LG V30

Overall winner: Mate 10 Pro

There’s no doubt about it: The V30 has a sharp screen, a speedy processor, and a great pair of cameras. But the Mate 10 Pro edges out.

The Mate 10 Pro’s speedy Kirin 970 and NPU have paradigm-shifting potential. They enhance your photos, suggest contextually useful settings, and even optimize your battery life. Sure, those smarts come at the expense of a high-end audio experience, durable body, and high-resolution screen. But the Mate 10 Pro’s overall package make the sacrifices worth it.

Editor’s Recommendations

• Samsung Galaxy Note 8 vs. Huawei Mate 10 Pro: Which phablet reigns supreme?
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• LG V30 vs. Galaxy Note 8: Can LG’s contender beat Samsung’s phablet king?
• LG V30 vs. Galaxy S8 Plus: Curved screen or high-end audio?
• Huawei Mate 10 Pro vs. Google Pixel 2 XL: Can Huawei top the Android powerhouse?

Chromebooks vs. laptops

When you hear people talking about Chromebooks as if they were a different species from regular laptops, there’s a good reason: Chromebooks are in a class of their own. Yes, they’re similar to ordinary notebooks, being essentially highly mobile, speedy laptops. But they run a totally different operating system, one that favors those who prefer Google and Android services. Let’s take a look at Chromebooks vs. laptops, and if buying a Chromebook is right for you.

Overview

Chromebooks are particularly lightweight, low-cost laptops that run Google’s Chrome platform and do most of their work in the cloud. They tend to be about the size of ultrabooks, with similar slim design features (many are also hybrids), but they’re far more budget friendly than an ultrabook or even an average laptop. Chromebooks are most often seen in the education world or as a first-time personal laptop. Chromebooks are primarily offered by Acer, Asus, HP and Samsung.

Operating system

Reddit/InauspiciousPagan

The most obvious Chromebook feature is that these machines run on Chrome OS. If you’ve ever used the Chrome browser, you know what this is like; Chrome OS is a souped-up version of the browser with heavy reliance on Google’s own services such as Google Docs, Gmail, and Drive. If a laptop has Chrome OS, it’s a Chromebook.

Chrome OS is designed to have a particularly light footprint. It doesn’t need a powerful processor or a lot of RAM to operate smoothly. Instead it relies on cloud services to store data and Google apps to function. This is why Chromebooks tend to have so little storage. It’s also why they can’t really run programs like Microsoft Office (not without significant modification) or the full version of Photoshop, which can limit their usefulness to some consumers.

Specs

• Screen: Chromebook screens vary considerably thanks to the many product lines from various brands. You may see anything from 11.6-inch to 15.6-inch screens. HD resolution is the standard: Touchscreen and 4k options are rare but do exist.
• Processor: Intel Celeron processors are a popular choice for today’s Chromebooks, typically dual-core versions that rarely rise above the 2.0GHz mark.
• RAM: Most Chromebooks offer 2GB to 4GB of RAM. This is enough for average laptop tasks, but low compared to traditional laptop models, which regularly offer up to 16GB of RAM.
• Ports: Ports are largely comparable to laptops, although fewer in number. USB 3.0, HDMI, and headphone jacks are common.
• Battery: Average Chromebook batteries are rated for 7 to 9 hours, typically several fewer hours than the average laptop. Chromebooks are beginning to improve in this area, however, with newer models more likely to have 12-hour battery life.
• Storage: Chromebooks don’t have disk drives, as they depend on streaming for most data purposes. Storage can usually be augmented with an SD card or USB drive if necessary.

Prices

Take a look at popular Chromebooks on the market and you’ll quickly see just how affordable they are. This Acer flagship model is $160. This HP version is $250. A popular 2017 Samsung model can be found for $226. This is another big departure compared to other laptops: Ultrabooks can easily surpass $1,000 even with basic specification, and something like an upgraded Surface Book can break $3,000.

Such low prices are one of the strongest market differentiators for Chromebooks. When people are on a strict budget and can only afford a few hundred dollars for a new laptop, Chromebooks are their first—often only—choice. No other laptops (and increasingly few tablets) are so affordable.

Performance

Bill Roberson/Digital Trends

In return for giving up space and power, Chromebooks become quite speedy. Their quick load times allow you to start working immediately after power up, with minimal wait times. It’s one of the things that makes them so well suited for on-the-go work or moving from class to class. But the loss of power also makes Chromebooks ineffectual at other laptop tasks. They cannot run demanding software, you can’t open dozens of browser tabs at once without expecting problems, and these machines aren’t the best choice for watching movies (and certainly not for playing games).

Use in the wild

With their affordability and streamlined operation, Chromebooks have proven particularly popular in education circles. Google offers a robust partnership program with schools, and educational organizations have embraced them.

The benefits of Chromebooks diminish in higher education, however, where more powerful and specialized programs are required. As a result, Chromebooks are more likely seen in grade school and high school. Of course, they also show up in the business world when people want an affordable, streaming-focused laptop.

Additional note: The Pixelbook

Julian Chokkattu/Digital Trends

There is a significant exception to this summary, and it comes from Google itself — first in the form of the Chromebook Pixel, and now with replacement model, the $1,000 Pixelbook hybrid laptop. These Chromebooks break the mold with more elaborate touchscreens, plenty of storage space and RAM, and other specs that position them as direct competitors to the Surface Book and Surface Pro models from Microsoft.

It’s a little weird that Google’s own version of Chromebooks should be so different from the rest of the market: On the plus side, it provides a compromise for those who want high-end ultrabook specs and a touchscreen but still prefer working on Chrome OS.

Editor’s Recommendations

• Google Pixelbook hands-on review
• The best Chromebooks you can buy right now
• Score a new work laptop and save with our favorite Chromebook deals on Amazon
• A tale of two hero devices: Google Pixelbook versus Microsoft Surface Pro
• HP had abusive students in mind when designing its rugged Chromebook x360 PCs

Animal Crossing Pocket Camp brings Nintendo’s life sim to mobile devices

Why it matters to you

Nintendo’s jump to mobile has been successful thus far. Animal Crossing Pocket Camp gives the most realized version of its console releases.

During an evening Nintendo Direct, the video game company finally revealed details on the long-awaited Animal Crossing mobile game. As the next Nintendo franchise to receive the mobile treatment, Animal Crossing Pocket Camp appears to be the closest yet to the mainline entries. Players can do a little bit of everything in a more bite-sized area.

Just like the console Animal Crossing games, players can interact with a variety of animal characters, decorate their home, and create a community. Instead of designing a house and acting as mayor, things have been scaled back to a mobile home and acting as the campsite manager. Before the game begins, players can customize their manager’s gender, hair, eyes, and skin color.

For the first time ever in the series, Animal Crossing Pocket Camp has a crafting system. After gathering resources like fruit and wood, items can be crafted for the campsite. These items range from couches and benches to baskets and plants. By decorating the campsite, various animals might comes to visit. Chatting with animals, fulfilling their requests, or decorating with their favorite items will increase the friendship level with them.

Aside from the campsite, players can travel in their camper to the beach, the forest, the river, or the island. Players can collect bugs, fish, minerals, and more as they explore these areas. After selling these items for money, players can head over to Market Place to buy furniture and clothing. Money can also be spent to modify and improve the camper.

During regular play, players can earn a secondary currency called Leaf Tickets. These can be used in a variety of ways such as shortening the time needed to craft items, acquire materials more easily, or to purchase unique camper exterior designs. For those who want to receive Leaf Tickets faster, they can also be purchased using real money.

As a mainstay of the series, time passes in Animal Crossing Pocket Camp at the same rate as real life. Depending on the time of day or night, the scenery and animals change. Different seasonal events will also offer limited-time furniture and outfit options.

Animal Crossing Pocket Camp releases in late November as a free-to-play mobile game. For more information or to pre-register for the game, check out the official Pocket Camp website.

Editor’s Recommendations

• We’ll finally learn about the Animal Crossing mobile game during Nintendo Direct
• Check out the 25 best Nintendo 3DS games available right now
• Get ready for the great outdoors with these 10 camping gear deals
• Homegrown Trailers’ new camper is equipped with solar panels for off-grid power
• SNES Classic Edition review

Google hit a screen snag, but the Pixel 2 XL still tops the Android heap

“People are completely flipping out.” Problems are “serious,” and they’re “mounting.” “It’s real, and Google is actively investigating.”

Gimme a break.

The past few days have seen mounting concerns and chatter about problems with the screen on Google’s new Pixel 2 XL smartphone — and I’m here to tell you that this hullabaloo has been blown way out of proportion.

First, the facts. There are undoubtedly some issues with the plastic OLED screen from LG that Google used for its flagship smartphone. With our review unit, there’s a noticeable blue tint when you look at the phone from the sides. Is it a problem that impacts usage? No, I’ve hardly noticed it in the time I’ve used the phone — because I’m almost always looking at the phone head on.

The second problem is a tad more concerning. There’s very slight burn-in, a problem that arises when a static image on the screen is permanently burned into the display, making it visible when it’s no longer supposed to be there. It used to be a thing with CRT televisions, and happens with content on a screen that’s always-present and static, like for example the Android navigation keys. I’ve never noticed burn-in during my day-to-day use of the phone, and could only faintly track it down by downloading a gray wallpaper, hiding the navigation keys, squinting my eyes, and holding my face within an inch of the screen. I saw a very faint outline of the navigation keys; it’s hardly visible. Still, even if the burn-in is minor just after two weeks, it could get worse the longer the phone is in use and be more visible a few months from now. Google is looking into this issue.

Attempting to show the screen burn-in on my Pixel 2 XL. It’s harder to see on camera, but it’s a tad more visible in person. Do you see the Android navigation buttons at the bottom of this screen?

There’s another complaint: Colors on the screen are muted and not as saturated as a Samsung display. This is deliberate, a Google spokesperson told Digital Trends:

“We designed the Pixel 2 to take advantage of multiple facets of the innovative new POLED technology, including QHD+ resolution with 538 pixels per inch as well as a wide color gamut. One of our design intents was to achieve a more natural and accurate rendition of colors. We know that some people prefer more vivid colors, so we’ve added an option to boost colors by 10 percent for more saturation. We’ll continue to pay close attention to people’s responses to Pixel, and we will consider adding more display color options through software if that makes the product better.”

I prefer the muted colors over more saturation, but if Google’s going to offer up a Vivid Color toggle in the Pixel’s settings, perhaps it should up the saturation more than 10 percent for those that want colors that pop. Again, this isn’t really a problem and a matter of personal preference.

Some reviewers and device owners have noted several other issues with the screen, such as blotchy patches, reddish screens, and grain. This is clearly the result of a small batch of devices that did not pass quality control, especially considering how 9to5Google’s Stephen Hall said he’s a little happier with the screen after receiving a fresh unit.

Now that I have a Pixel 2 XL that doesn't have excessive amounts of grain and image retention (so far)… I'm pretty happy with this phone.

— Stephen Hall (@hallstephenj) October 24, 2017

Should any of this have happened with an $850 phone? No. It’s clear there’s a snag in Google’s quality assurance department — especially since a Google Pixel 2 that failed testing due to cosmetic damage managed to reach the hands of a customer. All of this is damaging to the public image of the Pixel brand, and Google seriously needs to up its efforts if it wants to get serious with hardware.

Does it change my opinion of the phone? With nearly three weeks of continuous use — no. There are so many things about this phone that make it a joy to use, from the excellent camera to the “radically helpful” software, and many of the problems with the screen I’ve noted above are things I almost never noticed when using the phone. But sure, if you have a Pixel 2 XL with easy-to-see screen problems, like a blotchy and reddish screen, contact Google support: You likely have a device that came from this bad batch.

My prime concern is with burn-in largely because it can get worse over time, and we’re waiting to hear the results from Google’s investigation. We chatted with Google Support about the Pixel 2 XL as well, which said the support team has been replacing devices with screen burn-in because it is a hardware problem. The support specialist suggested the replacement units do not have burn-in because the replacement “would be going through the quality checks from our product team so that you should [not] experience any issues further.” Considering this is just from a support specialist, we’re not sure if it’s reliable information. When I asked Google about replacing units with burn in, I was directed to the Google warranty page.

For now, I’m standing by my claim that the Pixel 2 XL is the best Android smartphone you can purchase. But I recommend waiting to snag one until we hear what Google says about its investigation.

Editor’s Recommendations

• Google Pixel 2 XL review
• Comparing smartphones to find the most bezel-less design
• Huawei Mate 10 Pro vs. Google Pixel 2 XL: Can Huawei top the Android powerhouse?
• How does the original Google Daydream View compare to the 2017 version?
• Lenovo Moto Z2 Force vs. Google Pixel XL: Can the new phone beat the Android champion?

SMS to PC and back again: Here’s how to send a text message from a computer

Although you may not realize it, sending texts from your computer is extremely useful in dozens of situations. Perhaps you lost your phone and need to send a message to someone, maybe you’re over your monthly text limit and still need to get in touch with your friends, or what if you just hate typing on a tiny keyboard and lack cell coverage? Whatever the case may be, we’ve put together this simple guide on how to send a text message from a computer.

There are hundreds of online services out there that’ll get the job done, but none of them are as quite as simple and reliable as the methods outlined below. Read on for further details.

How to send texts via your email client

If you want to send an SMS to a mobile phone, there’s no need to opt for a third-party service — you can do so directly within your email client. Instead of using a service you don’t know or trust, you can deliver a short email in the form of a text message by using an email to SMS gateway. So long as you know the person’s phone number and the name of their service provider, you can easily find the appropriate gateway address that will forward your message. Don’t know what mobile carrier your friend uses? Find out here.

For quick reference, we’ve put together a list of some of the most common U.S. service providers and their corresponding gateway addresses below. However, keep in mind there are different addresses for regular messages (SMS) and those that include photos and other media (MMS).

In either case, sending a message is easy. Just compose an email like you would normally, but rather than entering the person’s email address in the recipient box, simply insert their 10-digit phone number with the appropriate @gateway address behind it. Afterward, hit send.

U.S. Carrier
SMS Gateway
MMS Gateway
Altel
@sms.alltelwireless.com
@mms.alltelwireless.com
AT&T
@txt.att.net
@mms.att.net
Boost Mobile
@sms.myboostmobile.com
@myboostmobile.com
Sprint
@messaging.sprintpcs.com
@pm.sprint.com
T-Mobile
@tmomail.net
@tmomail.net
U.S. Cellular
@email.uscc.net
@mms.uscc.net
Verizon
@vtext.com
@vzwpix.com
Virgin Mobile
@vmobl.com
@vmpix.com

*For T-Mobile, include “1,” which is the U.S. country code, before the phone number. To find SMS gateways for carriers not listed here, and carriers in other countries, consult this list on Github.

To ensure that this process works, you should limit your messages to 160 characters or less. If you go over this 160-character limit, the message will be sent as an MMS rather than a SMS, which sometimes requires a different gateway address. Furthermore, although this method is entirely free the sender, standard messaging rates may still apply to the person receiving these messages. No third-party service will have access to your telephone number, or the person you’re messaging, and replies will go directly to your email inbox. This process also makes it easy to send the same text to multiple people, since you can add as many addresses as you like to the recipient’s box.

Integrated mobile options

For those who don’t regularly use their computers to send and receive text messages, the aforementioned email option isn’t exactly convenient. The good news is that both Android and iOS offer ways to sync your text messages between your smartphone and your computer, however, you’ll need a computer running MacOS to take advantage of the iOS implementation.

How to send texts via Apple’s iMessage (iOS and MacOS)

The ability to share your location and embed audio clips aren’t the only features Apple decided to bake into iOS 8. Though the innate messaging app in MacOS formerly only handled iMessages, later iterations of Apple’s operating system include an option specifically designed for forwarding SMS messages directly to your Mac or another iOS device. Once properly set up, you’ll be able to quickly send messages from your computer to any known number using the Messages app on your machine — and receive them in a similar fashion without ever glancing at your phone.

To set up iMessage and SMS forwarding on your iOS device, navigate to the main Settings menu and tap Messages. Afterward, toggle on iMessage and ensure you’re logged into the same iCloud account as all other devices using Messages. Also, make sure all of your devices are connected to the same Wi-Fi network.

Afterward, tap Text Message Forwarding, toggle the switch directly right of the Apple device to which you want to send SMS messages, and then enter the six-digit confirmation code displayed on the device. Doing so will confirm that you want to send and receive messages from your iPhone on your Mac, and confirm you own the machine.

Once everything is set up, you can send text messages by clicking the pencil icon located above the contact list, entering your desired recipients, and composing the message as you would normally. However, keep in mind that the standard text message limit of 160 characters still applies even when using Messages. A text longer than 160 characters will likely count as two for billing purposes, or more depending on how long it is.

However, you can send messages to other iOS and MacOS users for free, as long as they use Messages. Keep in mind that you can always tell the difference between a text message and an iMessage message at a glance, as the former will appear in green and the latter in blue.

How to send texts via MightyText (Android)

The developers behind MightyText found a way to integrate Android text messaging with desktop machines well before Apple introduced the long-sought feature with iOS 8. Once you’ve installed the freemium app on your Android device and paired your phone number with your Google account, MightyText will allow you to send and receive SMS texts from directly within your browser. The software even supports group texting and MMS, and comes with options for setting up call notifications and battery alerts at the ready.

To use MightyText, first download the app from Google Play and allow your phone to sync with your Google account. Then, download and install the accompanying extension for your browser of choice, if offered. Otherwise, head to the MightyText website to get started.

The sleek web interface will showcase a navigation pane on the left-hand side and your current conversation on the right. Remember, standard texting rates still apply.

How to send texts via PushBullet (Android)

Pushbullet does many things, but one of its best features is its ability to send texts from your computer using your Android phone. Simply install the Pushbullet app on your phone, then install the accompanying Windows app or the browser extensions for Chrome, Firefox, or Opera.

When a text comes in, you’ll receive a notification, which you can click to begin a conversation using the sleek window shown above. You can also browse your most recent conversations from within the PushBullet interface.

How to send texts via Cortana (Windows)

If you use a Windows Phone and Windows 10 on your computer, you can easily send a text using Cortana. Just start typing the word “text” in Windows 10 search bar, followed by the person you’d like to contact. Assuming your computer and your phone are both signed into the same Microsoft account, Cortana will figure out who you want to text and ask you what you’d like to say.

Cortana can also show you notifications when you receive a new message on your Windows phone, and perform a variety of other useful actions, which are further outlined in our comprehensive guide to Microsoft’s virtual assistant. This isn’t a complete solution, however, given that there’s currently no interface for browsing old texts or a separate window for ongoing conversations. It is, however, a quick way to send a text without picking up your phone.

Windows 10 devotees using Cortana on their Android device can also send and receive texts in a similar manner. To send a text using Cortana on the desktop, however, users need to make sure the recipient is listed within the People app. If your chosen recipient is not listed, launch the app and click the addition sign to add said recipient to the Microsoft Account database.

Once done, make sure the linked Cortana app on your Android device is set to push and receive text messages to and from your PC. Start by heading into Settings > Sync notifications and make sure Apps notifications sync is switched on. Then, tap Choose which apps to sync and select your device’s messaging app. Note: You can actually enable any messaging app to send and receive messages, including Facebook Messenger, allowing you to quickly respond to a message from any PC running Windows 10.

Once both platforms are configured, users can send a text message to a Microsoft Account contact by simply saying or typing the word “Message” in Cortana’s text field in the Windows 10 taskbar. Cortana will then expand and provide fields for choosing your desired recipient, typing your message, and choosing the SMS option. Users can actually expand on that command with “Message Blah Blah” or “Text Blah Blah,” which will allow you to automatically select a recipient. You can even take things further, too, if you want to include additional context. For instance, you can say “Message Blah Blah Did you already leave for work?”

As for receiving texts, the Android iteration of Cortana will forward texts to a Windows 10 PC, which will then appear as pop-up notifications in the right-hand corner of your screen. Users can reply to the message from directly within the notification, assuming only one message was received. If multiple texts arrive at the same time from the same sender, then the notification will not provide a text field for your response.

Like the Windows Phone version of Cortana, there’s no way to browse older texts in Windows 10. It’s a great way to reply to a single incoming text, however, and to send a single outgoing text without having to pick up your Android device. Unfortunately, the feature is not meant for full conversations — at least, not yet. Also, keep in mind that this service requires you to install the Windows 10 Anniversary Update.

Workarounds

If none of the aforementioned options fit the bill, then there are a few ways to sidestep the issue. After all, there are a few free and premium services that allow users to send a quick text in an emergency, or when their phone isn’t nearby.

How to send texts via a free SMS website

If you weren’t already aware, there’s a bevy of free websites designed for sending text messages from your computer to a phone number of your own choosing. Sadly, many of these sites require you to register for an account in order to use their features, or, at the very least, provide a valid email in order to receive responses. They’re also lined with spam, and may potentially sell your information if you consent to their terms of service, which you likely have to in order to use them. Sites such as Text ‘Em, Send SMS Now, Txt2day, A Free SMS all essentially do the same thing, but should really only be used as a last resort. Proceed at your own risk.

If you do go this route, you’ll typically need to select the appropriate country from a drop-down menu or map before entering the phone number you’d like to reach. Standard messaging rates still apply, but most sites designed for texting will showcase a basic character counter so you’ll know when you top the 160-character cap. Afterward, simply click the Send SMS button or a similar button thereof to send your message.

Send texts via Google (United States only)

Google Voice isn’t a service everyone is familiar with, and, sadly, it can be convoluted. Many of the features were integrated with Hangouts a couple of years ago, and we wouldn’t be surprised if Google soon killed off the service entirely. Nonetheless, if you want to send texts from a computer, it’s currently one of the better solutions available.

Assuming you have a Google account, head to the Google Voice homepage and walk through the provided steps to set up your Google Voice account. Once everything is in place, you can send SMS messages from directly within the Google Voice interface.

Keep in mind, however, that messages will come from your Google Voice number, not your cell phone. This means you’ll have to teach your contacts to use your new number if you want to use the service on a regular basis. You can also set up Google Voice to forward received texts to your cell phone, if desired. Texts to the United States and Canada are free, too, and people can respond to your texts the way they normally would.

Update: Verified processes outlined above and updated copy and screenshots for relevancy.

Editor’s Recommendations

• How to block text messages on iOS and Android
• ReplyASAP app for Android is a teenager’s worst nightmare
• Save data, save money: How to reduce your data usage on Android or iOS
• Share Spotify tracks with your friends via the new iMessage app
• Stop spam calls with the best call- and text-blocker apps

SMS to PC and back again: Here’s how to send a text message from a computer

Although you may not realize it, sending texts from your computer is extremely useful in dozens of situations. Perhaps you lost your phone and need to send a message to someone, maybe you’re over your monthly text limit and still need to get in touch with your friends, or what if you just hate typing on a tiny keyboard and lack cell coverage? Whatever the case may be, we’ve put together this simple guide on how to send a text message from a computer.

There are hundreds of online services out there that’ll get the job done, but none of them are as quite as simple and reliable as the methods outlined below. Read on for further details.

How to send texts via your email client

If you want to send an SMS to a mobile phone, there’s no need to opt for a third-party service — you can do so directly within your email client. Instead of using a service you don’t know or trust, you can deliver a short email in the form of a text message by using an email to SMS gateway. So long as you know the person’s phone number and the name of their service provider, you can easily find the appropriate gateway address that will forward your message. Don’t know what mobile carrier your friend uses? Find out here.

For quick reference, we’ve put together a list of some of the most common U.S. service providers and their corresponding gateway addresses below. However, keep in mind there are different addresses for regular messages (SMS) and those that include photos and other media (MMS).

In either case, sending a message is easy. Just compose an email like you would normally, but rather than entering the person’s email address in the recipient box, simply insert their 10-digit phone number with the appropriate @gateway address behind it. Afterward, hit send.

U.S. Carrier
SMS Gateway
MMS Gateway
Altel
@sms.alltelwireless.com
@mms.alltelwireless.com
AT&T
@txt.att.net
@mms.att.net
Boost Mobile
@sms.myboostmobile.com
@myboostmobile.com
Sprint
@messaging.sprintpcs.com
@pm.sprint.com
T-Mobile
@tmomail.net
@tmomail.net
U.S. Cellular
@email.uscc.net
@mms.uscc.net
Verizon
@vtext.com
@vzwpix.com
Virgin Mobile
@vmobl.com
@vmpix.com

*For T-Mobile, include “1,” which is the U.S. country code, before the phone number. To find SMS gateways for carriers not listed here, and carriers in other countries, consult this list on Github.

To ensure that this process works, you should limit your messages to 160 characters or less. If you go over this 160-character limit, the message will be sent as an MMS rather than a SMS, which sometimes requires a different gateway address. Furthermore, although this method is entirely free the sender, standard messaging rates may still apply to the person receiving these messages. No third-party service will have access to your telephone number, or the person you’re messaging, and replies will go directly to your email inbox. This process also makes it easy to send the same text to multiple people, since you can add as many addresses as you like to the recipient’s box.

Integrated mobile options

For those who don’t regularly use their computers to send and receive text messages, the aforementioned email option isn’t exactly convenient. The good news is that both Android and iOS offer ways to sync your text messages between your smartphone and your computer, however, you’ll need a computer running MacOS to take advantage of the iOS implementation.

How to send texts via Apple’s iMessage (iOS and MacOS)

The ability to share your location and embed audio clips aren’t the only features Apple decided to bake into iOS 8. Though the innate messaging app in MacOS formerly only handled iMessages, later iterations of Apple’s operating system include an option specifically designed for forwarding SMS messages directly to your Mac or another iOS device. Once properly set up, you’ll be able to quickly send messages from your computer to any known number using the Messages app on your machine — and receive them in a similar fashion without ever glancing at your phone.

To set up iMessage and SMS forwarding on your iOS device, navigate to the main Settings menu and tap Messages. Afterward, toggle on iMessage and ensure you’re logged into the same iCloud account as all other devices using Messages. Also, make sure all of your devices are connected to the same Wi-Fi network.

Afterward, tap Text Message Forwarding, toggle the switch directly right of the Apple device to which you want to send SMS messages, and then enter the six-digit confirmation code displayed on the device. Doing so will confirm that you want to send and receive messages from your iPhone on your Mac, and confirm you own the machine.

Once everything is set up, you can send text messages by clicking the pencil icon located above the contact list, entering your desired recipients, and composing the message as you would normally. However, keep in mind that the standard text message limit of 160 characters still applies even when using Messages. A text longer than 160 characters will likely count as two for billing purposes, or more depending on how long it is.

However, you can send messages to other iOS and MacOS users for free, as long as they use Messages. Keep in mind that you can always tell the difference between a text message and an iMessage message at a glance, as the former will appear in green and the latter in blue.

How to send texts via MightyText (Android)

The developers behind MightyText found a way to integrate Android text messaging with desktop machines well before Apple introduced the long-sought feature with iOS 8. Once you’ve installed the freemium app on your Android device and paired your phone number with your Google account, MightyText will allow you to send and receive SMS texts from directly within your browser. The software even supports group texting and MMS, and comes with options for setting up call notifications and battery alerts at the ready.

To use MightyText, first download the app from Google Play and allow your phone to sync with your Google account. Then, download and install the accompanying extension for your browser of choice, if offered. Otherwise, head to the MightyText website to get started.

The sleek web interface will showcase a navigation pane on the left-hand side and your current conversation on the right. Remember, standard texting rates still apply.

How to send texts via PushBullet (Android)

Pushbullet does many things, but one of its best features is its ability to send texts from your computer using your Android phone. Simply install the Pushbullet app on your phone, then install the accompanying Windows app or the browser extensions for Chrome, Firefox, or Opera.

When a text comes in, you’ll receive a notification, which you can click to begin a conversation using the sleek window shown above. You can also browse your most recent conversations from within the PushBullet interface.

How to send texts via Cortana (Windows)

If you use a Windows Phone and Windows 10 on your computer, you can easily send a text using Cortana. Just start typing the word “text” in Windows 10 search bar, followed by the person you’d like to contact. Assuming your computer and your phone are both signed into the same Microsoft account, Cortana will figure out who you want to text and ask you what you’d like to say.

Cortana can also show you notifications when you receive a new message on your Windows phone, and perform a variety of other useful actions, which are further outlined in our comprehensive guide to Microsoft’s virtual assistant. This isn’t a complete solution, however, given that there’s currently no interface for browsing old texts or a separate window for ongoing conversations. It is, however, a quick way to send a text without picking up your phone.

Windows 10 devotees using Cortana on their Android device can also send and receive texts in a similar manner. To send a text using Cortana on the desktop, however, users need to make sure the recipient is listed within the People app. If your chosen recipient is not listed, launch the app and click the addition sign to add said recipient to the Microsoft Account database.

Once done, make sure the linked Cortana app on your Android device is set to push and receive text messages to and from your PC. Start by heading into Settings > Sync notifications and make sure Apps notifications sync is switched on. Then, tap Choose which apps to sync and select your device’s messaging app. Note: You can actually enable any messaging app to send and receive messages, including Facebook Messenger, allowing you to quickly respond to a message from any PC running Windows 10.

Once both platforms are configured, users can send a text message to a Microsoft Account contact by simply saying or typing the word “Message” in Cortana’s text field in the Windows 10 taskbar. Cortana will then expand and provide fields for choosing your desired recipient, typing your message, and choosing the SMS option. Users can actually expand on that command with “Message Blah Blah” or “Text Blah Blah,” which will allow you to automatically select a recipient. You can even take things further, too, if you want to include additional context. For instance, you can say “Message Blah Blah Did you already leave for work?”

As for receiving texts, the Android iteration of Cortana will forward texts to a Windows 10 PC, which will then appear as pop-up notifications in the right-hand corner of your screen. Users can reply to the message from directly within the notification, assuming only one message was received. If multiple texts arrive at the same time from the same sender, then the notification will not provide a text field for your response.

Like the Windows Phone version of Cortana, there’s no way to browse older texts in Windows 10. It’s a great way to reply to a single incoming text, however, and to send a single outgoing text without having to pick up your Android device. Unfortunately, the feature is not meant for full conversations — at least, not yet. Also, keep in mind that this service requires you to install the Windows 10 Anniversary Update.

Workarounds

If none of the aforementioned options fit the bill, then there are a few ways to sidestep the issue. After all, there are a few free and premium services that allow users to send a quick text in an emergency, or when their phone isn’t nearby.

How to send texts via a free SMS website

If you weren’t already aware, there’s a bevy of free websites designed for sending text messages from your computer to a phone number of your own choosing. Sadly, many of these sites require you to register for an account in order to use their features, or, at the very least, provide a valid email in order to receive responses. They’re also lined with spam, and may potentially sell your information if you consent to their terms of service, which you likely have to in order to use them. Sites such as Text ‘Em, Send SMS Now, Txt2day, A Free SMS all essentially do the same thing, but should really only be used as a last resort. Proceed at your own risk.

If you do go this route, you’ll typically need to select the appropriate country from a drop-down menu or map before entering the phone number you’d like to reach. Standard messaging rates still apply, but most sites designed for texting will showcase a basic character counter so you’ll know when you top the 160-character cap. Afterward, simply click the Send SMS button or a similar button thereof to send your message.

Send texts via Google (United States only)

Google Voice isn’t a service everyone is familiar with, and, sadly, it can be convoluted. Many of the features were integrated with Hangouts a couple of years ago, and we wouldn’t be surprised if Google soon killed off the service entirely. Nonetheless, if you want to send texts from a computer, it’s currently one of the better solutions available.

Assuming you have a Google account, head to the Google Voice homepage and walk through the provided steps to set up your Google Voice account. Once everything is in place, you can send SMS messages from directly within the Google Voice interface.

Keep in mind, however, that messages will come from your Google Voice number, not your cell phone. This means you’ll have to teach your contacts to use your new number if you want to use the service on a regular basis. You can also set up Google Voice to forward received texts to your cell phone, if desired. Texts to the United States and Canada are free, too, and people can respond to your texts the way they normally would.

Update: Verified processes outlined above and updated copy and screenshots for relevancy.

Editor’s Recommendations

• How to block text messages on iOS and Android
• ReplyASAP app for Android is a teenager’s worst nightmare
• Save data, save money: How to reduce your data usage on Android or iOS
• Share Spotify tracks with your friends via the new iMessage app
• Stop spam calls with the best call- and text-blocker apps

Here’s how to convert an MP4 to an MP3 file with online and offline tools

While MP4s are absolutely fantastic when taking family road trips through the vast expanses of nothingness that litter the sprawling void that is the Midwest — believe me, we know — they’re not the most conducive to portability and storage, especially if you merely want to listen to the audio from a particular file. One of the best ways around that is to turn them into the much more storage-friendly MP3 format. But for that, you need to know how to convert an MP4 to an MP3

Luckily, there is a host of free file converters you can download for your desktop, or use directly within your browser, to strip the sound from your favorite videos. Below are two of our favorites, along with instructions for using each to convert your MP4.

If you’re looking to convert FLAC files into MP3s, we have a guide for that too.

Using Any Video Converter (free) — Windows and MacOS

Any Video Converter is one of our favorite video converters that allows you to extract MP4 audio and convert it directly into MP3, AAC, WMA, OGG or Wave format for use on a variety of mobile devices. The audio and video quality is exceptional for a free program, has a lightning-quick conversion speed, and the resulting audio is supported on everything from Apple to Android devices. Plus, the third-party utility houses basic options for trimming, cropping, and layering various audio effects within an easy-to-use interface.

Step 1: Navigate to the AVC website or the Mac App Store to grab the latest freemium or lite version of the software. If using Windows, click the “Free Download” button near the middle of the download page and follow the installation instructions as directed.

Note: There is some bloatware included with the install, so be careful to choose to “Customize” your install and untick any unnecessary boxes.

Step 2: Click the Start button and select AVC from the alphabetical list on the left to launch the program, or click the application in the taskbar if you pinned it there. Similarly, on Mac, you can launch the program by searching for it in Spotlight or accessing it through the applications menu, conveniently located within Finder.

Step 3: Select the MP4(s) you want to convert by clicking the “Add Video(s)” button with the addition sign in the upper-left corner of the program. A pop-up window will appear where you can navigate or search for the desired files on your computer.

On a Mac, click the “Add Video” button in the bottom left-hand corner and select the files you wish to convert. Continue adding videos in the same manner until you’re satisfied with your selection. AVC allows you to convert multiple files at a time, so there is no need to individually convert each video.

Step 4: In Windows, click the drop-down menu in the upper right-hand corner and select the “Common Audio Format” option — represented by the black music note — from the resulting list of options. Afterward, select “MP3 Audio” from the drop-down menu, select your save location for the resulting file(s), and adjust the audio bitrate and sample bitrate under “Audio Options” in the bottom-right corner. Also, make sure the audio channel is set to “2,” unless you want to go old-school mono.

Sadly, the freemium Mac version of AVC doesn’t offer the same kind of audio output customization as its Windows counterpart, but you can still convert MP4 files to MP3. Simply head to the “Profile” options on the right side of the program window, choose the headphones icon, and select “MP3 Audio” from the list.

Step 5: Click the “Convert Now!” button at the top of the window, next to the presets option. On a Mac, click the “Convert Now” button in the bottom right-hand corner to carry out the same action. Although there are options for converting only specified files on your list, the whole batch will be converted by default unless you choose otherwise. The newly-converted files will automatically launch once converted!

Using CloudConvert (free) — web-based

CloudConvert is an intuitive, cloud-based service that provides a standalone option that requires little more than an internet connection and your file. It’s entirely free, requires no additional software to run, and supports quick conversion between more than 100 formats — most notably MP4 to MP3, in our case.

While the resulting audio quality is great, as is the conversion speed, a free account can only handle files less than 1GB in size. Other limits to the free version are a maximum of 25 conversion minutes per day, five concurrent conversions, and free accounts have low priority compared to paid accounts. However, CloudConvert should suit your needs if your only need to convert a few smaller files per day.

Step 1: Navigate to the Cloud Convert website in your browser.

Step 2: Click the “Select files” button in the middle of the page and select the video files you wish to convert to MP3. A pop-up window will appear where you can locate or search for the desired files on your computer. You can also choose a file from a URL, or from your Dropbox, Google Drive, OneDrive, or your Box account. Note that you need to sign up for a free CloudConvert account before linking to your cloud storage service.

Once your files are selected, click the “Open” button in the lower-right corner to add the file to the conversion queue.

Step 3: Click the “Select format” button that appears after adding your MP4 to the list, then select “audio” and “MP3” from the drop-down list. Click the wrench icon located directly beside the file if you wish to fine-tune the audio bit rate (up to 320 kbps), channels, frequency, normalization, or trim the new file to a specified length. The latter is an incredibly handy tool if your video has an introduction or ending with undesired audio. When finished, click the blue “OK” button.

Step 4: CloudConvert offers two additional options besides your typical download. Check the top box if you want Cloud Convert to send the resulting MP3s directly to your Dropbox, Google Drive, OneDrive, or Box account after the conversion is complete. You can also be notified when the conversion is completed if desired.

Step 5: Click the red “Start Conversion” button on the right side of the page when you finished setting your desired output and save preferences. A gray and yellow bar will appear at the top indicating the conversion’s current status, along with a cancellation button should you change your mind for whatever reason. Afterward, wait for the conversion to complete.

Step 6: It may take some time, but CloudConvert will notify you when your conversion is complete. Now just click the green “Download” button and select a save destination for the file. If you chose either of the two save options in Step 4, the resulting MP3 should already be in your Dropbox, Google Drive, OneDrive, or Box account.

Now that you ripped your audio, if you need a decent MP3 player to play it on. These are our favorites.

Editor’s Recommendations

• How to convert FLAC to MP3
• How to convert a DVD to MP4 files in Windows or MacOS
• How to convert your videos from MKV to MP4 in a few quick steps
• Want to download a YouTube video? It’s easier than you think
• Here’s how to download music from Youtube and listen on any device

4 Tips to Automate Your Halloween Scare Tactics

Use your Connected Home tech for evil.

Most of the time your Connected Home tech is busy lighting your home, pinging your phone when there’s a water leak, and letting you know who is at the front door.

While any Halloween supply store will gladly sell you something that will flicker a strobe light from a remote control while you’re hiding in the bushes dressed as a murderous clown, some of your Connected Home tech could help you have a lot more fun. Here’s a quick list of ways you can freak out Trick or Treaters with your smart home!

Activating the smoke machine when people walk up the driveway

This can be a lot of fun. Set a programmable button under a floor mat in the driveway. When people step on the mat, it activates a smoke machine on your front porch. This way you don’t have to have the smoke machine on the whole night, and when that fresh puff of fog shows fills the porch it sets the stage really well!

For this you’ll need:

• A good smoke machine
• Logitech Pop smart button
• Samsung SmartThings Outlet

This is fairly easy to set up, especially if you’ve already got this hardware in your house. Through IFTTT, you can set Logi Pop to trigger an on command to the SmartThings Outlet. Connect your smoke machine to the SmartThings Outlet, and when the Pop button is triggered the smoke machine will start!

Setting your front porch lights red when someone walks up to the door

Is there anything creepier than things changing when it’s not clear no one is around? When people walk up to your front door, make the porch lights turn a bright red to greet them!

For this you’ll need:

• Philips Hue Bulbs
• Hue Motion Sensor

This one is real easy, since the Hue motion sensor is wireless and can be set up anywhere. Place your motion sensor somewhere sneaky and set it to activate the lights on your front porch when motion is detected, and set the Hue lights to red as the command trigger. When someone trips the motion sensor the lights will turn red automatically and everyone will wonder what they have gotten themselves into!

Triggering a scream when someone presses the door bell

Some people can’t be scared by smoke and lights. That’s what loud noises are for! This setup lets out a loud scream once someone presses your doorbell, guaranteed to make people jump for their treats.

For this you’ll need:

• Sonos speakers
• Ring Doorbell
• Samsung SmartThings Hub

This is a little tricky to get right, but so worth it. Set up your Sonos speakers on your front porch, but hide them so they don’t stand out. Bonus points if you hide a Play 1 speaker inside a carved pumpkin, but not totally necessary for this. Set up your SmartThings Hub to fire up a scary sounds playlist on your Sonos speakers, and configure an IFTTT trigger to make SmartThings start the playlist when someone presses your Ring Doorbell. It’s one hell of a surprise, even for people who think they aren’t scared of anything.

Turn all the lights off when you open your door

Loud noises and flashing lights not enough? Show off your acting chops by demonstrating how haunted your house is. When you walk through the front door to get people their candy, make sure all the lights go out and scream as the door slams shut!

For this you’ll need:

• A convincing scream — Not available for purchase 🙁
• Samsung SmartThings Multipurpose Sensor
• Philips Hue bulbs

Sit outside your house and tell everyone you’re afraid there’s something happening in there, but you’ll reach in real quick and grab your visitors some candy. Place the SmartThings Multipurpose Sensor on your front door so when it opens, IFTTT can tell your Hue bulbs to all turn off. All the lights will go out when the door opens, leaving you ready to scream and slam the door to save everyone waiting for candy!

Got any other connected home tricks you’re excited to pull on visitors this Halloween? Share them with us in the comments!

Updated October 2017: This post has been updated with new scares and new tech so you can have tons of smart home fun this Halloween. Or, you know, any day of the week. No judgement here.