Bitcoin miners have extracted 80 percent of all the bitcoins there will ever be

Although bitcoins are bought, sold, and lost more today than ever before, the rate of new bitcoins being created is starting to slow. The reasons behind that are a little complex, but suffice it to say, the closer we get to the 21 million maximum number of bitcoins mined, the harder it gets and we’ve just hit the 80 percent milestone.

Even if you’re only just coming to grips with this whole cryptocurrency phenomenon, or have been trading them since the days where they were worth just a few dollars each, bitcoin has been mined for far longer. Its creator, the pseudonymous Satoshi Nakamoto, mined the first bitcoin block in its blockchain back in 2009, rewarding him with 50 bitcoins. Earlier this month, miners extracted the 16,800,000th bitcoin, which is significant, because it means there are only 20 percent of all the bitcoin there will ever be to go.

The self-imposed scarcity of bitcoin is one of the reasons it has become so valuable in recent months and proponents of the flagship cryptocurrency believe that that will help propel it to new heights over the next few years. Although there are many detractors of bitcoin, claiming that its scaling issues and ballooning transaction costs make it a difficult cryptocurrency to support long-term, it has proven to be the best store of value of all 1,300-plus coins so far, as per Bitcoin.com.

Other cryptocurrencies that are in vogue, like ethereum, have no cap on their number, meaning that new Ether and similar will be produced as long as people see it as a worthwhile practice to pour their computational cycles into making it. Considering that’s also required for transactions to be completed, it’s important that it continues into the future.

As for bitcoin, as the difficulty of mining the last coins continues to increase and the rewards, in turn, are reduced, the rate of new coins being created will continue to slow. Although it’s hard to make any concrete estimations on the eventual date of the last bitcoin being mined due to the unpredictable nature of mining hardware development, some estimations put it as far in the future as the year 2140 — long after all existing investors are gone. Here’s hoping we’ve spent at least a few of our coins before then.

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• North Korea suspected of stealing millions in bitcoin from South Korean exchange
• Bitcoin is still soaring. What’s the limit?
• The best bitcoin wallets

The best webcams

Whether you’re broadcasting gameplay or conducting a video conference, there’s always the need for a webcam, even if you just want to take a profile picture, or a snapshot of you and your child enjoying a PC-based game. That’s where our list of the best webcams comes in. 

Logitech manufactures all but one webcam on our list. That’s not surprising given Logitech’s dominance in the webcam market for the last decade. Sure, there are other solutions on the market, but Logitech remains as one of the best-selling brands, even in the keyboard and mouse markets.

Our Pick

Logitech HD Pro Webcam C920 ($80)

To kick off our roundup, Logitech provides a solid camera for a decent price. It supports a 1,920 × 1,080 resolution at 30 frames per second (FPS) while video conferencing with Skype for Windows, and a 1,280 × 720 resolution using Apple’s FaceTime, Google Hangouts, Facebook Messenger, and other clients. If you’re simply recording video, you can take advantage of the higher Full HD resolution due to support for the H.246 video compression codec. Images can be captured using a “natural” 3MP resolution, or “software enhanced” up to 15MP. 

The camera’s five-element glass lens is complemented by a 20-step auto-focus, automatic low-light correction, two integrated microphones with automatic noise cancellation, and a 78-degree field of view. You can attach it to your monitor, laptop, or even a tripod using the provided universal clip, and a 72-inch cable requiring at least a standard USB-A 2.0 port on the parent PC. You’ll also need an Intel Core 2 Duo 2 processor at the very least to stream video at 1,280 x 720 resolution or higher. 

Logitech’s downloadable software for Windows includes face tracking, motion detection, controls for pan, tilt, and zoom, and controls for capturing video and photos. It doesn’t filter out your background, but there are plenty of other settings to adjust including gain and white balance. Presumably this camera works well on the Xbox One, but Logitech’s Amazon listing says its works on the PlayStation 4 as well, although the console isn’t mentioned on Logitech’s product page. 

Requirements: 

 

VGA Minimum 

VGA Recommended /
HD Minimum 

HD Recommended 

OS :

Windows 7/8.1/10
MacOS 10.6+
Chrome OS
Android 5.0+ 

Windows 7/8.1/10
MacOS 10.6+
Chrome OS
Android 5.0+ 

Windows 7/8.1/10
MacOS 10.6+
Chrome OS
Android 5.0+ 

Processor: 

1GHz CPU 

2.4GHz Core 2 Duo 2 

 

2.6GHz 4-core i7 

Memory 

256MB 

2GB 

4GB 

Buy one now from:

Amazon

For 4K

Logitech Brio ($200)

If you’re looking for a 4K solution, the Logitech Brio is the camera for you. It supports three resolutions for video calling: 4,096 x 2,160 (30 FPS), 1,920 x 1,080 (30/60 FPS), and 1,280 x 720 (30/60/90 FPS). It also provides a default field of view of 90 degrees, but you can adjust the camera to 65 and 78 degrees using Logitech’s downloadable software. This free software provides pan, tilt, and zoom controls as well. 

As for other features, the camera provides a 5x digital zoom when using the Full HD resolution, an image resolution of up to 9MP, auto-focus, an external “privacy” shutter so the camera isn’t always staring at your face and surroundings, and built-in omni-directional microphones with noise cancellation support. You can mount the camera on a desktop monitor, laptop screen, or use the universal clip to mount the device on a tripod. It requires a USB-A 2.0 connection for all resolutions except for Ultra HD, which requires a faster USB-A 3.1 Gen1 port. 

Outside the Ultra HD resolution support, Logitech’s camera includes a feature called RightLight 3. This component relies on High Dynamic Range technology to provide the best image, whether you’re sitting in a low-light office, in a high contrast area, or in direct sunlight. The camera includes both optical and infrared sensors, enabling owners to take advantage of password-free Windows 10 access via Windows Hello and facial recognition. The camera ships with a custom carrying case for safe travels during business trips. 

Read our full Logitech Brio review

Requirements: 

OS: 

Windows 7/8.1/10MacOS 10.10+Chrome OS 29.0.1547.70+ 

Memory: 

2GB 

Connection: 

USB-A 2.0
USB-A 3.1 Gen1 for 4K 

Buy one now from:

Amazon

For Business 

Logitech C930E ($130)

Although Logitech’s Brio is great for office environments, it’s also more expensive. The Skype-optimized Logitech C930E is “certified” for business, serving as an official compatible product for Skype for Business and Cisco Jabber. According to Logitech, the camera also provides “enhanced integrations” with other business-class communication software such as Zoom, BlueJeans, Lifesize, and several other solutions. 

On a hardware level, the camera supports video calling at 1,920 x 1,080 and 1,280 x 720 resolutions, a field of view at 90 degrees, and a 4x digital zoom in 1080p mode. It relies on the H.264 codec for video compression, and RightLight 2 technology to produce the best visuals in low light, high contrast, and direct sunlight conditions. It’s backed by two integrated omni-directional microphones although the product page doesn’t mention noise reduction. 

Other notable features provided with Logitech’s business-focused camera include an external privacy shutter to prevent the weird boss from watching your every nose pick, and a universal clip for mounting the camera on a desktop monitor, laptop screen, or tripod. It’s even compatible with software that supports UVC 1.5 video encoding for businesses that don’t allow third-party drivers installed on their Windows PCs. The camera requires a USB-A 2.0 connection or better. 

Requirements: 

OS: 

Windows 7/8.1/10MacOS 10.7+Chrome OS 29.0.1547.70+ 

Memory: 

2GB 

Connection: 

USB-A 2.0 

Buy one now from:

Amazon

For Streaming 

Logitech C922 Pro Stream Webcam ($100)

Let’s face it: you can’t use just any webcam for your broadcasts. It not only needs a high resolution and great microphones, the camera needs to support background replacement so all your viewers see is the gameplay, and your pretty mugshot. The C922 Pro Stream Webcam does just that for a decent price, providing a highly-optimized streaming and recording experience for any broadcaster, whether the subject is gaming or a Windows how-to demonstration. 

For gamers, it’s optimized for the XSplit and Open Broadcaster Software solutions. It provides a 1,080 x 720 resolution at 30 FPS, and a 1,280 x 720 resolution at 30/60 FPS. These resolutions are backed by a 20-step autofocus, a field-of-view of 78 degrees, two integrated omni-directional microphones, and automatic low-light correction. The camera connects to the parent PC via a 72-inch cable with a USB-A 2.0-compatible connector, and even includes a tabletop tripod if you don’t want to mount the camera on your screen. 

The built-in background replacement component is powered by Personify for Windows 7 and newer. All other aspects are handled through the Logitech Gaming Software desktop client, such as setting the zoom, white balance, gain, exposure, and so on. Unfortunately, for gamers lurking in caves, it doesn’t work in complete darkness, and there’s no on-board storage for saving your settings directly to the device. There’s also no privacy shade either, so make sure the broadcast ends before picking your face. It’s compatible with Android and the Xbox One consoles, too. 

Requirements: 

OS: 

Windows 7/8.1/10MacOS 10.9+Chrome OSAndroid 5.0+Xbox One 

Buy one now from:

Amazon 

For Any Budget

Microsoft LifeCam HD-3000 ($40)

If a cheap camera is what you seek, Microsoft has the solution for you. The LifeCam HD-3000 is a small, mountable device supporting video chat with a 1,280 x 720 resolution at 30 FPS. Naturally, it’s certified for Windows and Skype, making it an affordable solution for Windows-based PCs in the home or office. Amazon lists a second, business-focused version too for $1 more, although there doesn’t appear to be any differences in hardware. 

According to Microsoft, its budget-oriented camera relies on TrueColor technology to produce “bright and colorful” video in most conditions by supporting a 24-bit color depth. The cameras is backed by two omni-directional microphones, a 4x digital zoom, and a 1MP still image resolution. But unlike the other cameras on our list, Microsoft’s solution has a fixed focus ranging from 11.8 to 59 inches in length. 

Given this is a no-frills solution, the feature list basically stops there. There’s no tripod support, meaning the device focuses on adding video chat support to desktop monitors and laptop displays. Microsoft lists two sets of requirements: one for standard use, and one for streaming video in the 720p resolution. Both need a single USB-A 2.0 port or newer on the parent PC. 

Requirements: 

 

VGA 

720p 

OS: 

Windows XP SP2 to Windows 10 

Windows XP SP2 to Windows 10 

 

Processor: 

Intel Dual-Core 1.6GHz or higher 

Intel Dual-Core 3.0GHz 

Memory: 

1GB 

2GB 

Storage: 

1.5GB 

1.5GB 

Buy one now from:

Amazon

Editors’ Recommendations

• The best laptops for high school students you can buy
• Best car stereos
• The 30 best Mac apps if you’re new to Apple
• You can have more than a “Wii” bit of fun with the best Wii games
• The best tablets for kids whatever their age or your budget

The best webcams

Whether you’re broadcasting gameplay or conducting a video conference, there’s always the need for a webcam, even if you just want to take a profile picture, or a snapshot of you and your child enjoying a PC-based game. That’s where our list of the best webcams comes in. 

Logitech manufactures all but one webcam on our list. That’s not surprising given Logitech’s dominance in the webcam market for the last decade. Sure, there are other solutions on the market, but Logitech remains as one of the best-selling brands, even in the keyboard and mouse markets.

Our Pick

Logitech HD Pro Webcam C920 ($80)

To kick off our roundup, Logitech provides a solid camera for a decent price. It supports a 1,920 × 1,080 resolution at 30 frames per second (FPS) while video conferencing with Skype for Windows, and a 1,280 × 720 resolution using Apple’s FaceTime, Google Hangouts, Facebook Messenger, and other clients. If you’re simply recording video, you can take advantage of the higher Full HD resolution due to support for the H.246 video compression codec. Images can be captured using a “natural” 3MP resolution, or “software enhanced” up to 15MP. 

The camera’s five-element glass lens is complemented by a 20-step auto-focus, automatic low-light correction, two integrated microphones with automatic noise cancellation, and a 78-degree field of view. You can attach it to your monitor, laptop, or even a tripod using the provided universal clip, and a 72-inch cable requiring at least a standard USB-A 2.0 port on the parent PC. You’ll also need an Intel Core 2 Duo 2 processor at the very least to stream video at 1,280 x 720 resolution or higher. 

Logitech’s downloadable software for Windows includes face tracking, motion detection, controls for pan, tilt, and zoom, and controls for capturing video and photos. It doesn’t filter out your background, but there are plenty of other settings to adjust including gain and white balance. Presumably this camera works well on the Xbox One, but Logitech’s Amazon listing says its works on the PlayStation 4 as well, although the console isn’t mentioned on Logitech’s product page. 

Requirements: 

 

VGA Minimum 

VGA Recommended /
HD Minimum 

HD Recommended 

OS :

Windows 7/8.1/10
MacOS 10.6+
Chrome OS
Android 5.0+ 

Windows 7/8.1/10
MacOS 10.6+
Chrome OS
Android 5.0+ 

Windows 7/8.1/10
MacOS 10.6+
Chrome OS
Android 5.0+ 

Processor: 

1GHz CPU 

2.4GHz Core 2 Duo 2 

 

2.6GHz 4-core i7 

Memory 

256MB 

2GB 

4GB 

Buy one now from:

Amazon

For 4K

Logitech Brio ($200)

If you’re looking for a 4K solution, the Logitech Brio is the camera for you. It supports three resolutions for video calling: 4,096 x 2,160 (30 FPS), 1,920 x 1,080 (30/60 FPS), and 1,280 x 720 (30/60/90 FPS). It also provides a default field of view of 90 degrees, but you can adjust the camera to 65 and 78 degrees using Logitech’s downloadable software. This free software provides pan, tilt, and zoom controls as well. 

As for other features, the camera provides a 5x digital zoom when using the Full HD resolution, an image resolution of up to 9MP, auto-focus, an external “privacy” shutter so the camera isn’t always staring at your face and surroundings, and built-in omni-directional microphones with noise cancellation support. You can mount the camera on a desktop monitor, laptop screen, or use the universal clip to mount the device on a tripod. It requires a USB-A 2.0 connection for all resolutions except for Ultra HD, which requires a faster USB-A 3.1 Gen1 port. 

Outside the Ultra HD resolution support, Logitech’s camera includes a feature called RightLight 3. This component relies on High Dynamic Range technology to provide the best image, whether you’re sitting in a low-light office, in a high contrast area, or in direct sunlight. The camera includes both optical and infrared sensors, enabling owners to take advantage of password-free Windows 10 access via Windows Hello and facial recognition. The camera ships with a custom carrying case for safe travels during business trips. 

Read our full Logitech Brio review

Requirements: 

OS: 

Windows 7/8.1/10MacOS 10.10+Chrome OS 29.0.1547.70+ 

Memory: 

2GB 

Connection: 

USB-A 2.0
USB-A 3.1 Gen1 for 4K 

Buy one now from:

Amazon

For Business 

Logitech C930E ($130)

Although Logitech’s Brio is great for office environments, it’s also more expensive. The Skype-optimized Logitech C930E is “certified” for business, serving as an official compatible product for Skype for Business and Cisco Jabber. According to Logitech, the camera also provides “enhanced integrations” with other business-class communication software such as Zoom, BlueJeans, Lifesize, and several other solutions. 

On a hardware level, the camera supports video calling at 1,920 x 1,080 and 1,280 x 720 resolutions, a field of view at 90 degrees, and a 4x digital zoom in 1080p mode. It relies on the H.264 codec for video compression, and RightLight 2 technology to produce the best visuals in low light, high contrast, and direct sunlight conditions. It’s backed by two integrated omni-directional microphones although the product page doesn’t mention noise reduction. 

Other notable features provided with Logitech’s business-focused camera include an external privacy shutter to prevent the weird boss from watching your every nose pick, and a universal clip for mounting the camera on a desktop monitor, laptop screen, or tripod. It’s even compatible with software that supports UVC 1.5 video encoding for businesses that don’t allow third-party drivers installed on their Windows PCs. The camera requires a USB-A 2.0 connection or better. 

Requirements: 

OS: 

Windows 7/8.1/10MacOS 10.7+Chrome OS 29.0.1547.70+ 

Memory: 

2GB 

Connection: 

USB-A 2.0 

Buy one now from:

Amazon

For Streaming 

Logitech C922 Pro Stream Webcam ($100)

Let’s face it: you can’t use just any webcam for your broadcasts. It not only needs a high resolution and great microphones, the camera needs to support background replacement so all your viewers see is the gameplay, and your pretty mugshot. The C922 Pro Stream Webcam does just that for a decent price, providing a highly-optimized streaming and recording experience for any broadcaster, whether the subject is gaming or a Windows how-to demonstration. 

For gamers, it’s optimized for the XSplit and Open Broadcaster Software solutions. It provides a 1,080 x 720 resolution at 30 FPS, and a 1,280 x 720 resolution at 30/60 FPS. These resolutions are backed by a 20-step autofocus, a field-of-view of 78 degrees, two integrated omni-directional microphones, and automatic low-light correction. The camera connects to the parent PC via a 72-inch cable with a USB-A 2.0-compatible connector, and even includes a tabletop tripod if you don’t want to mount the camera on your screen. 

The built-in background replacement component is powered by Personify for Windows 7 and newer. All other aspects are handled through the Logitech Gaming Software desktop client, such as setting the zoom, white balance, gain, exposure, and so on. Unfortunately, for gamers lurking in caves, it doesn’t work in complete darkness, and there’s no on-board storage for saving your settings directly to the device. There’s also no privacy shade either, so make sure the broadcast ends before picking your face. It’s compatible with Android and the Xbox One consoles, too. 

Requirements: 

OS: 

Windows 7/8.1/10MacOS 10.9+Chrome OSAndroid 5.0+Xbox One 

Buy one now from:

Amazon 

For Any Budget

Microsoft LifeCam HD-3000 ($40)

If a cheap camera is what you seek, Microsoft has the solution for you. The LifeCam HD-3000 is a small, mountable device supporting video chat with a 1,280 x 720 resolution at 30 FPS. Naturally, it’s certified for Windows and Skype, making it an affordable solution for Windows-based PCs in the home or office. Amazon lists a second, business-focused version too for $1 more, although there doesn’t appear to be any differences in hardware. 

According to Microsoft, its budget-oriented camera relies on TrueColor technology to produce “bright and colorful” video in most conditions by supporting a 24-bit color depth. The cameras is backed by two omni-directional microphones, a 4x digital zoom, and a 1MP still image resolution. But unlike the other cameras on our list, Microsoft’s solution has a fixed focus ranging from 11.8 to 59 inches in length. 

Given this is a no-frills solution, the feature list basically stops there. There’s no tripod support, meaning the device focuses on adding video chat support to desktop monitors and laptop displays. Microsoft lists two sets of requirements: one for standard use, and one for streaming video in the 720p resolution. Both need a single USB-A 2.0 port or newer on the parent PC. 

Requirements: 

 

VGA 

720p 

OS: 

Windows XP SP2 to Windows 10 

Windows XP SP2 to Windows 10 

 

Processor: 

Intel Dual-Core 1.6GHz or higher 

Intel Dual-Core 3.0GHz 

Memory: 

1GB 

2GB 

Storage: 

1.5GB 

1.5GB 

Buy one now from:

Amazon

Editors’ Recommendations

• The best laptops for high school students you can buy
• Best car stereos
• The 30 best Mac apps if you’re new to Apple
• You can have more than a “Wii” bit of fun with the best Wii games
• The best tablets for kids whatever their age or your budget

It’s cocktail o’ clock with the best bartending apps

Do you know the difference between a Manhattan and an old fashioned? How about a martini and a cosmopolitan? Can you make a good one, even after you’ve had a few? One of the smartest ways to mix perfect cocktails every time is to snag one of the best bartending apps for your iPhone or Android phone. We’ve got a delectable menu of boozy apps for you right here, containing every delicious cocktail recipe under the sun.

You may also want to check out the best bar gadgets, learn about some of the cool drinking gadgets you can get nowadays, or try some other great food and drink apps.

Lush Cocktails ($2)

We love the clean, accessible interface in this bartending app and it has hundreds of detailed recipes with animated images that show you the precise ratio of ingredients in your chosen drink. You can search for options with multiple ingredients, making it easy to find cocktails you can make based on what you actually have at home. You can also save favorites, browse flavor profiles, or check out the curated shortlists tailored for different kinds of parties and occasions. It’s one of our favorite iPhone apps, but sadly there’s no Android version.

Download now from:

iTunes

Cocktails Guru (Free)

You’ll find more than 15,000 cocktail recipes in this comprehensive app. There’s detailed information on each drink including the type of glass you should use, the method, the ingredients, the tools you might need, and step-by-step instructions. Most drinks have good photos and users can add their own photos and comments. You can also rate and favorite cocktails, follow other mixologists, and learn all the bartending techniques and lingo you will ever need.

Download now from:

Google Play

Highball (Free)

The elegant design of this cocktail recipe app is irresistible and it’s the ideal way to create your own personalized list of favorite drinks. You can create recipes, include instructions, choose an image, with glass type, color, ice, and then share your recipe via social media or messaging. You can also import and edit other people’s recipes using the QR codes at the bottom left of every recipe card. If you want to build a library of your ideal cocktails, then this app is the way to do it.

Download now from:

iTunes

8,500+ Drink Recipes (Free)

This app is not pretty and some of the instructions leave a lot to be desired, but what you will find is a massive list of drinks with details on all their ingredients and simple instructions on a separate tab. You can search the app, browse by category, or get a random drink suggestion. There is also the option to build a list of favorites or search by ingredients.

Download now from:

iTunes Google Play

Bartender’s Choice ($3)

This app is a great way to discover new cocktails. Created by the master bartenders behind New York City’s Milk & Honey, it allows you to select your preferred alcohol, sensation, style, and extras, and then comes up with a suggestion to match. You will also find some handy expert tips on how to deal with garnishes and ice, or mix the perfect drink.

Download now from:

iTunes

My Cocktail Bar (Free)

This bartending app doesn’t have a huge list of cocktail recipes, but most of the classics are here and you can create and save your own recipes. The instructions are good, and it’s easy to search using different filters, or you can browse by category. You can also browse by ingredient, enabling you to find out which drinks you can make with what you have in the cabinet.

Download now from:

Google Play

Editors’ Recommendations

• Give Rachael Ray a run for her money with these 11 best cooking apps
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• Music junkie? Here are the 25 best music apps for consuming and creating tunes

Still using Windows 8.1? You’re on your own now

Microsoft has officially ended mainstream support for Windows 8.1, marking the second-to-last milestone in the four-year-old operating system’s lifecycle. The last will come in 2023, when Microsoft will end all support for it. In the meantime, users can at least expect security updates, but no further improvements.

As keen as Microsoft is to get as many of its billion-plus users running the latest version of its operating system, the company has always maintained an extended support system for its historical platforms. They don’t last forever though, with Microsoft periodically ending first improvement support and finally security fixes at specific points throughout their lifecycle. Windows 7 with Service Pack 1 saw its mainstream support end in January 2015, while Windows Vista lost all support in April 2017.

Now it’s Windows 8.1’s turn, with Microsoft officially severing the chord on January 9, per the OnMSFT blog. This should nudge Microsoft’s extended user base towards the latest version of Windows 10, which will have its own sunset (for the basic version) in 2020. Yet it’s likely that many fans of Windows 8.1 will continue to lag behind; we have seen time and again that even without the safety net of Microsoft updates, many people stick with the operating system they know. So much so in fact, that in very special cases, Microsoft does continue to support them.

That is rarely the case for everyday users though, so if you are still running Windows 8.1, make sure that you start to think about upgrading to Windows 10 over the next few years, as you’ll be left extremely vulnerable to malware and other attacks once extended support ends in 2023. Current builds of older operating systems like Windows Vista and Windows XP, which have long lacked regular security fixes, have been easily exploitable for quite some time.

If that’s not enough to convince you to upgrade your OS, consider that game companies are also slowly moving forward with their OS support, leaving the ancient ones in the past. Blizzard most recently ended long-term support for Windows XP and Vista — and actually carried through with it too.

Sorry, 8.1, but your time has come. You had a good run, unlike some operating systems we could mention.

Editors’ Recommendations

• Nvidia will no longer publish new drivers for 32-bit systems
• WhatsApp may not work with older BlackBerry or Windows phones in 2018
• Microsoft to end free Windows 10 upgrades – this time for good
• Google finally launches Android Go, a lighter OS for budget phones
• Sticky Notes get stickier with a new update squashing bugs and packing bullets

Do you plan on getting the Samsung Galaxy S9?

The Galaxy S8 and Note 8 are great, but the S9 is shaping up to be a beast of a phone.

Following months of leaks and rumors, we’re finally getting close to the announcement of the Galaxy S9. We have a pretty good idea of what the phone will look like and what major features it’ll be shipping with, and all that remains is for Samsung to officially unveil it.

The Galaxy S9 will look a lot like the S8, but thanks to things like a repositioned fingerprint sensor, even slimmer bezels, and possibly a camera with a physically changing aperture, there’s plenty to be excited for. Some of our forum users recently got into a discussion about whether or not they’ll be picking up the S9 once it’s available, and this is what they had to say.

cwbcpa
01-12-2018 09:14 AM

“

While I have no doubt that the S9/S9+ will be awesome, I’ll wait for the Note 9. The Note 8 will get a refresh with Oreo. Even if it didn’t, the Note 8 does everything I need it to and more. Then we will see how much of a leap the Note 9 is from the Note 8.

Reply

jamezr
01-12-2018 09:41 AM

“

I love my Note 8…but there is a S9+ with my name on it. Just wish I could get it in Pearl White!

Reply

strikeIII
01-12-2018 10:06 AM

“

S9+ features definitly look nice but that just means the N9 will be even better. Of course I’ll be getting the S9+ tho.

Reply

bassplayrguy
01-13-2018 03:46 PM

“

The more I read about the S9 series, there’s just no real upgrades over the note 8. There are some minimal things but that’s it. Less ram, smaller screen, no S pen for $1000? It’s def a no for me. The Note 9 is the only phone that can take the note 8 off of the throne.

Reply

How about you – Will you be upgrading to the Galaxy S9?

Join the conversation in the forums!

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Some OnePlus customers have reported fraudulent credit card activity

A friendly reminder to always keep track of what’s going on with your card.

Over this past weekend, some OnePlus customers reported that they’d discovered unauthorized activity on credit cards that had been used to purchase items from OnePlus’s website (oneplus.net). Stolen credit card info is never fun, but OnePlus was quick to issue an official response on its forums to address what’s going on.

First and foremost, reports of unusual card activity post-purchase from OnePlus have come from those that added their credit/debit card directly to OnePlus’s site rather than making a payment through PayPal.

Credit card information is sent to OnePlus’s unnamed payment processor through an encrypted connection rather than saved on the company’s site itself, and even if you used the site’s “save this card for future transactions” feature, you shouldn’t have too much to worry about. All this does is save a handful of digits of your card’s number and a random set of symbols (AKA a “token”) to OnePlus’s payment processor, and OnePlus has no way to decrypt this information and access your full card info.

OnePlus says that it’s actively investigating the issue and talking with all of those that have been affected to get to the bottom of what went wrong. If you notice any unusual activity on your credit or debit card, OnePlus recommends contacting your bank/card issuer directly before doing anything else.

While we’re happy to see that OnePlus was so quick to address this matter publically, we’d like to hear from you – does this affect your decision to make future purchases from the company? Let us know in the comments below.

OnePlus 3T on OxygenOS beta was sending clipboard data to Alibaba servers

The biggest VR and AR announcements of CES 2018

This year was all about polish, and that’s a very good thing.

As virtual reality and augmented reality continue to grow in popularity, CES remains one of the best places to see what we can expect in the coming year.

This year, in particular, we got a look at some very cool new headsets aimed at improving the overall experiences we have today. Lots of companies are eager to ditch the cord, remove the phone, and generally make it so VR headsets are self-contained wonders. In the augmented reality world, it feels more and more like we’re returning to the notion that “smart glasses” for specific use cases are the way of the future.

Curious to see what made CES extra awesome for VR and AR fans? Here’s what we’ve found.

Lenovo Mirage Solo

Daydream Standalone is real at last! No more messing around with putting your phone in a headset if you don’t want to. This headset is its own computer with its own display, and not only will it play every Daydream game at launch but there will also be new and more immersive experiences to take advantage of the ability to move around quite a bit. It’s a massive step forward for Daydream, and we will surely be hearing lots more about this soon.

Everything you need to know about the new Lenovo Mirage Solo

HTC Vive Pro

The second most popular “full” VR headset in the world now has a cooler, more mature brother. The Vive Pro is designed to be an upgrade over the Vive, but not a replacement. It comes with higher resolution displays, a significantly more comfortable head strap, more capable built-in headphones, and an overall lighter frame.

On top of all of this, there’s a new wireless accessory from HTC that allows you to ditch the big cable entirely and spend a couple of hours in VR with no restrictions.

Check out our hands on with the Vive Pro

Huawei VR2

While not strictly speaking a new headset, Huawei bringing its tethered headset to the US is kind of a big deal. This headset can connect to multiple sources with a cable, which could potentially mean you have a VR headset that will offer up fun from a PC and a phone separately. The headset has a fairly familiar look and feel, and could easily be confused with a Daydream headset with some of the software inside.

We’ll be learning a lot more about this headset in the future, but it’s very cool to see Huawei bringing more tech to the U.S.

Arsenz Thermoglass with FLIR

Check out these cool @flir devices form #CES2018… Yes, that one pic is from the inside of those glasses! #Pixel2XL pic.twitter.com/onJTIIsRAb

— Myriam Joire (@tnkgrl) January 11, 2018

Being able to pop a FLIR camera onto your phone and get a quick thermal readout is fun, but in a professional environment it takes time and relies on the user to keep the software up to date on the phone. Now FLIR is working with Arsenz to stick its miniaturized thermal smarts into a headset you wear almost like Google Glass. This design gives the user a thermal readout of the world right in front of them without obscuring their view or occupying their hands.

As augmented reality products go, this is both technically fascinating and one of those things that will make certain jobs infinitely easier to do.

Vuzix Smart Glasses with Alexa

While we’ve seen Vuzix at CES for several years now, there’s never been much about its smart glasses that really feel like something most people would benefit from. This year, the new Vuzix Blade glasses pay closer attention to aesthetics by looking more like a standard pair of glasses and now also feature Amazon’s Alexa service. This means you have Alexa available everywhere and you don’t need reach into your pocket to get it, which can be a huge plus for anyone who is all in on the Alexa ecosystem.

It’s a solid step forward and demonstrates how dedicated Vuzix is to the wearable computer concept.

Zolo’s $40 Halo Bluetooth speaker has Amazon Alexa built right in

Sounds like savings!

Zolo’s Halo Bluetooth and Wi-Fi Smart Speaker is down to $39.99 on Amazon. This speaker sells for around $51, and it has never dropped directly from that price.

This speaker works with Amazon Alexa, but you don’t have to hook it up to your Echo to get it to work. It has Alexa built right into it, and she can access whatever place you stream music from the most.

Features include:

• Professionally tuned 5W high-excursion speaker and bass port deliver exceptional sound quality and rich bass from Halo’s miniaturized body.
• Voice-activated Alexa functionality with over 10000 life-enhancing skills. Stream audio and music services (including Amazon Music Unlimited, Spotify, TuneIn, iHeartRadio, Audible ); Check news, traffic, and weather; find answers; control smart home devices; and shop with your voice.
• With simplified Wi-Fi connectivity, link up to 6 Halo speakers simultaneously for house-wide audio and Alexa communication.
• Not only a Smart Speaker, Halo works as a stand-alone high-fidelity Bluetooth Speaker.

Zolo backs this speaker up with an 18-month warranty.

See on Amazon

LG is reportedly ditching the G7 and starting over from scratch

LG’s CEO issued the order right after CES.

The year of 2018 has been an odd one so far for LG. A report came out on January 3 that the G6’s successor wouldn’t be called the G7 and instead replaced with all-new branding, and this was followed up on January 11 during CES 2018 where LG’s Vice Chairman confirmed that the company was moving away from yearly flagship smartphone releases.

Now on January 15, a report from The Investor says that LG’s Vice Chairman and CEO, Jo Seong-jin, has issued an order to the company’s mobile department to halt all current development of the G6’s successor and start over from scratch. We were initially expecting this phone to be announced during MWC this February, but this announcement now means we’re looking at an inevitable delay.

LG is said to decide on a new launch date during the Lunar New Year holiday (February 15 – 21), and as such, the phone likely won’t launch until April or later.

What does this mean for the G7 (or whatever it’s called) when it finally hits store shelves? Prior to this announcement, we were anticipating pretty minor upgrades compared to the G6, such as an OLED display with slimmer bezels, Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 845, improved cameras, etc. The source that The Investor spoke to says that LG “hasn’t been able to find a strong selling point for the G7”, so it’ll be interesting to see what LG changes in order to make its phone more appealing over the likes of Samsung’s Galaxy S9.

Until then, what feature does the LG G7 need to have in order for you to consider buying the phone?

LG will stop releasing new phones every year