What is USB OTG? Here’s how to use USB drives and more on your Galaxy S9

Mark Jansen | Digital Trends

So you’ve bought a brand new shiny Galaxy S9. You’ve just finished setting it up, using Samsung’s Smart Switch to transfer all the data from your old phone. You disconnect the USB-A to USB-C adapter used during the process and wonder … what else can this be used for?

As it turns out, quite a lot. The adapter that ships with Samsung’s Galaxy S9 is a fully fledged USB OTG connector, and can be used for a bunch of fun things you didn’t realize you could do. Here is a handful of the coolest features that an OTG adapter makes possible.

But wait, what is OTG and does it work with my phone?

Simon Hill / Digital Trends

Before we start, it’s worth explaining what OTG is and what it does.

USB OTG, or USB on-the-go, is a feature that allows your device to read data from USB devices, essentially becoming a “USB host”. While not every phone has this option, it has become more and more common over the years, and it’s quite likely that at least one of your devices supports it. USB OTG works with both USB-C and MicroUSB connections, and finding out whether your phone has OTG is as simple as downloading and running a single app.

Don’t abandon ship if you’ve lost your OTG connector, or simply don’t have one — Amazon sells USB-C and MicroUSB connectors that will work just as well with any phone that has OTG capabilities.

Now you know what it is, let’s dig into what you can actually do with it.

Lay down the pwnage in games with a wired controller

Mark Jansen | Digital Trends

While smartphones can deliver everything we need in a pocket-sized device, if you’ve ever tried to play a game not designed for a touchscreen on a mobile device, then you know they’re not perfect. Sure, you can grab yourself a Bluetooth controller, but if you have a wired controller sitting around, then your OTG connector could save you a little bit of cash. Just plug that controller into your OTG adapter and into your phone, and you can play some of the best mobile games using a controller.

This doesn’t work for every game since some games were meant to be played with a touchscreen — so don’t bother trying Clash of Clans — but for classics like Sonic the Hedgehog or GTA: Vice City, a controller can make a huge difference in your experience. We tested an Xbox 360 controller with Sega’s Sonic 2 and it worked perfectly without any need to calibrate or change any options. Additionally, if you’re using a service like Moonlight to stream PC games to your smart device, then you can use your game controller to control the action.

If you’re also lucky enough to own a Gear VR headset, then you can use your OTG connector to use that same controller in VR games. Just attach your connector to the USB-C plug at the bottom-right of the headset, and plug your controller in.

Of course, there is an issue with this setup — since the OTG connector uses the USB-C slot, there is no way to charge your phone’s battery at the same time, which could be an issue in especially power-hungry games. So make sure you keep an eye on your battery level during your gaming sessions.

Transfer files to increase phone storage space

Mark Jansen | Digital Trends

Running out of memory is never fun. MicroSD cards and cloud drives help, but what if your phone doesn’t have expandable storage, or you don’t have a data connection to access Google Drive? Wouldn’t it be a lot easier if you could just jam a USB stick into your phone and transfer some files over? That’s something you can do with USB OTG, and a solid reason to own an adapter.

It’s really easy to get this going. Just attach your OTG connector and pop your USB stick in. Then tap the Android System notification marked USB drive to be taken to a file folder. Now you can start transferring files. While this is one of the least exciting features of the OTG connector, it’s definitely one of the most useful and one that we can see ourselves using a lot.

Transfer files to another device, or boost up its battery

It’s not just USB sticks you can transfer files to and from. Since the primary use of the OTG connector is to transfer files and documents via Samsung’s Smart Switch, it makes sense that you can use the connector to quickly and easily access files on another device. Just connect the phones up using the other phone’s charging cable, tap the Android System notification, select Transfer files, and then navigate to the other phone by tapping the other Android System notification.

That is not all you can do with another phone —  since you have your trusty OTG connector, you can plug their charging cable into your phone and give their phone some of your phone’s juice. Once connected, tap the Android System notification and make sure Charge connected device is selected. However, be aware that some larger devices like tablets will not be able to charge with the low power charge coming from your device.

Make your own Dex Station

Mark Jansen | Digital Trends

Alright, so it’s not exactly the same as Samsung’s Dex Station — but if you own a USB hub then you can get a desktop-like experience by hooking your phone up to a keyboard and mouse. By using a hub you can connect multiple USB devices at the same time, and give yourself a handier and faster way of typing.

It’s useful for messaging apps and for writing longer messages, but as you might expect for a non-official implementation, it’s more than a little janky. While the mouse cursor still appears on the screen, you’re forced to use your device’s homepage in a portrait orientation, and can’t flip it into landscape mode. It’s definitely not the one-stop desktop solution that the Dex Station or all-new Dex Pad are, but it’s still fun to play around with.

Use an external microphone

Mark Jansen | Digital Trends

What is the point in having a bulky setup of microphones and laptops when all you really need is your phone, your trusty OTG connector, and a USB microphone? Whether you’re an enthusiast podcaster, a businessperson who takes part in a lot of conference calls, or someone who needs to travel with audio equipment, it’s important that you strike the right balance of sound quality, ease of use, and size.

While the S9 has a good enough microphone, it doesn’t have the same omnidirectional or cardioid capabilities as a true microphone. Instead of compromising or spending large amounts of money on a voice recorder, try using your phone with an external microphone.

Setup is easy — just plug your USB microphone into your OTG connector and into your phone. Then, pull down your notification shade, and hit the Android System notification. From the Use USB to menu, hit Connect as a MIDI device to allow the microphone to be used as an input device — then open your app of choice and away you go.

Control your DSLR

Daven Mathies/Digital Trends

This is definitely one of the coolest uses of the OTG connector, and it’s something that photographers are going to love. By using your OTG connector to connect your phone to a DSLR camera, you can use your phone as an extension of the DSLR’s own screen, taking advantage of the much larger screen and higher resolution to take even better snaps.

The best app for this is probably DSLR Controller, and while it’s expensive for an Android app at $8, it comes with a huge array of features that make the high cost of entry worthwhile for everyone but the most occasional of photographers. You can see your subject in real time, adjust the focus of your shot, view and change settings like the ISO, white balance, aperture, and even view your gallery of taken shots. If you’re constantly wishing your camera had a larger screen, or struggle to see the camera’s display while shooting at odd angles, then this is definitely the app for you.

There is a free version of the app that functions as just a remote release, so you can test compatibility with your camera. The app works best with Canon cameras and has limited functionality with Nikon and Sony cameras, so make sure you test your camera before you buy. DSLR Controller’s website also has a ton of information that is useful for using the app, so make sure you read up to get the most out of your snaps.

Editors’ Recommendations

• Share the power and juice up your phones with the best USB charging hubs
• Western Digital’s USB-C storage stick may be tiny, but its capacity is huge
• HP embraces USB-C with the new Chromebook 14 G5 and Chromebox G2
• Master your Samsung smartphone with these Galaxy S8 tips and tricks
• Mophie’s new Powerstation can now recharge phones and laptops

JLab Epic Air review

Research Center:
Jlab Epic Air

True wireless earbuds are no longer a niche sub-category. While the term “cord cutting” is typically used when people abandon traditional cable TV, the term could definitely apply to headphones in the current market as well. All wires are disappearing in the Bluetooth headphone space faster than ever, and it seems everyone wants in on the action.

JLab’s Epic Air are the latest to add to the growing pile. Designed as a pair of stylish sports buds, the Epic Air aim to hook people in (literally) and keep the music playing longer than many others on the market. We checked them out to see how they stand up to the expanding field.

Out of the box

The Epic Air come mounted behind a plastic enclosure, perched above the rest of the packaging that includes eight sets of ear tips of varying size, with a few flange ones aimed at tighter passive noise isolation. Of the range inside, there are no Comply Foam tips included.

The oversized, pill-shaped charging case includes a short and flat micro-USB cable that wraps around it. A quick start guide with illustrations rounds out a pretty basic unboxing experience.

Features and design

JLab makes it obvious the Epic Air were meant for active users who want loud volume and durability in the gym or when out exercising. The IP55 rating for water and dust-resistance reflects that, though they aren’t robust enough to be used for waterborne activities. The primary focus is on withstanding sweat, which is why JLab asks you to wipe both earpieces dry before placing them back in the charging case after use, or risk voiding your warranty.

The Epic Air cater well to active users who want loud volume and durability.

The earbuds themselves aren’t particularly flashy, but the style stands above many over-the-ear buds of this nature, and the build quality is good with a practical design. Key to that are the flexible ear hooks that keep the buds firmly in place, and JLab angled the 8mm drivers in such a way that the Epic Air effectively anchor to the inner ear. Admittedly, we actually had to follow the visual instructions in the quick start guide to learn how to put them on and take them off gracefully.

The hooks’ flexibility makes them easy to wrap them around each ear, but we did have to fiddle with the overall fit the first few times we tried them. Part of the reason is because the power button is on the inner side of the earpiece.

In cases where we needed to manually turn the Epic Air on — while still wearing them — we had to finagle our fingers in to push them. Triple-pressing the button turns on auto-pairing, so the Epic Air connect when removed from the case, negating the need to turn them on manually.

Bill Roberson/Digital Trends

Bill Roberson/Digital Trends

Bill Roberson/Digital Trends

Bill Roberson/Digital Trends

Rather than have one dedicated side always maintain the connection you can choose which side you want to be the master. We tried both, but ultimately settled on the left side because we often use pockets on our left. Once that initial connection was made to our phone, the primary earpiece then connected and synced to the other automatically.

The outer surfaces on each side feature touch-sensitive controls. On the left earbud, a single tap will play or pause (and answer or hang up calls), while a double-tap activates Siri or Google Assistant. Holding it for one second lowers the volume. On the right earbud, a single tap skips a track, and a double-tap goes back a track, while holding it raises the volume. The process takes a while to get used to, but the touch controls were responsive and worked well in our testing.

JLab engineered the 8mm drivers to punch through on the lows, not on balance with the mids and highs.

The buds charging case is massive compared to most competitors, and that’s to both accommodate the size of the earbuds themselves, but also for the larger battery inside. On their own, JLab claims the earbuds can muster six hours of battery life per charge, and that checked out in our testing (more on that below). Add an extra five charges courtesy of the case and you get up to 36 hours total – far better than many other true wireless earbuds can manage.

On top of that, JLab took the unusual step of making the case a portable charger for other devices, too. You can plug in your smartphone to charge in a pinch, which is a handy feature, though the size and weight makes the case better suited to a small bag than a pants or shirt pocket. Additionally, fewer devices use micro-USB, so you’ll need to tote around a Lightning or USB-C charging cable for phone charging.

Tuning up

JLab offers a dedicated app for both iOS and Android to tune the Epic Air. It’s designed to “burn-in” the earbuds by playing white noise and other sounds in 10-minute increments each time. JLab suggested doing that for up to eight hours per day in the first week (to hit 40 hours total), which simply wasn’t possible for a few reasons.

First, there is no way to do it in the background, meaning you’ll have to stay on the app and turn off auto-lock on your phone to keep the screen from going to sleep. Second, the sheer amount of time required makes it hard to even hit two hours, much less eight in one week. And lastly, the app doesn’t reveal how much time has elapsed.

We get that burn-in helps loosen the diaphragm and push the drivers, but we can’t really understand why that process couldn’t just happen while listening to actual music. Improved audio quality is the end goal of the whole process, and JLab could’ve done a better job explaining that. We did notice a performance improvement after several hours of going through the burn-in process, but we believe simply listening to countless hours of music helped that along.

Audio performance

The Epic Air support both aptX and AAC Bluetooth codecs, making them capable of getting the ideal audio stream for both iOS and Android devices. Coupled with the power in the drivers, audio quality is agreeable to anyone looking for an audio boost out of the box.

Other true wireless earbuds struggle to deliver good bass. The Epic Air prioritizes it. 

By default, the lows pound through to a point that muddies the midrange and treble. For example, Ed Sheeran’s Shape of You sounded fine because of how the track’s bass thumped with depth throughout, whereas AC/DC’s Back in Black was less balanced because of the higher treble mixed on that track. The Black Panther movie soundtrack sounded punchy, thanks to a track list that benefitted from the bass response.

Not surprisingly, this somewhat skewed spectrum suits listeners who prefer hip hop and electronica as genres of choice. Given other true wireless earbuds have struggled in delivering good bass, the soundstage here could be ideal for listeners demanding it. In fairness, one of the main reasons the bass suffers with other models is because of the fit. Use the right ear tip and ensure proper placement in the ear, and improved bass generally comes out.

No matter what we were doing, the Epic Air were excellent at staying put. We rarely had to adjust the fit during playback, and never once felt concerned they might fall off. But the fit isn’t the only reason for better low-register response. It’s obvious that JLab engineered the drivers to purely punch through on the lows, not on balance with the mids and highs.

Bill Roberson/Digital Trends

Unfortunately, as is common with many true wireless buds, there were instances of the signal itself falling off. It was odd in how it would randomly happen in close proximity, yet play perfectly fine 15 feet away from the phone. It wasn’t something we experienced constantly, but it was often enough to determine it a pattern. We were fine if we kept the phone close enough on the side we paired with, noticing the most disruptions when switching pants pockets to the opposite side.

We also experienced instances of shifting stereo image, where audio would veer left to right. It went that way because the left earpiece was paired with our phone, indicating that there could be some signal loss from one side to the other. This didn’t happen often, and it was usually a result of the phone’s placement causing a disruption, but it’s something we’d like to see eliminated at this price point.

Battery life

Even at 50 percent volume, the Epic Air were already loud enough to wear in the gym for our ears. Even if you really like your music blaring, we can’t imagine going above 75 percent for a sustained period of time. That enabled the Epic Air to almost always hit the rated six-hour mark in testing.

Jlab Epic Air Compared To

Jabra Sport Pulse Wireless Special…

Samsung Gear IconX (2018)

V-Moda Forza Metallo Wireless…

Optoma NuForce BE6i

Apple AirPods

Jaybird X3

Sol Republic Amps Air

Optoma NuForce BE Sport 3

Jabra Halo Smart

Plantronics BackBeat Go 3

Erato Apollo 7

Bragi Dash

Jabra Sport Pace Wireless

Jabra Sport Coach

Jabra Sport Wireless Plus Bluetooth

In fact, with five extra charges, we didn’t have to recharge the system until well over a week later. The only problem is that the case’s size and weight makes it more challenging to be truly portable. Other cases, such as those for Apple’s AirPods or Jabra’s 65t, have a much smaller footprint, though they admittedly don’t offer as many recharges.

Warranty information

JLab offers a standard one-year warranty covering parts and labor for repair and replacement, but doesn’t necessarily include damage from sweat. There is a 30-day guarantee, with exchange or return from the point of purchase.

Our Take

For any pair of true wireless earbuds, you want something dependable, and JLab’s Epic Air holds some merit in that regard. The build is sturdy, the fit is tight, the sound is loud, and the battery lasts. Gym rats and regular runners will appreciate that combination because it checks off the important boxes. These are best worn when active, since you won’t be holding your phone enough to trigger connectivity drops.

If you don’t count yourself among that crowd, though, you best look elsewhere because better audio quality and more reliable connection is available at competing price points, not to mention a smaller charging case.

Is there a better alternative?

Apple’s AirPods always gets a nod because, while not being the first, they’re the earbuds that helped bring the category out into the open, and moreover, they do so in a package that just works. They’re similarly priced, except the Epic Air is clearly built for more rugged endurance. The Jabra Elite Sport are among the best available, especially because of their reliability and three-year warranty, but you’ll have to pay around $220 to get them at time of publication. The newer Jabra Elite 65t can be had for $170 and are indeed “elite” for everything they offer, selected as our favorite in the genre at time of publication.

A similar product to the Epic Air, like the Rowkin Surge, can be had for $100, but they aren’t as consistent as the Epic Air. They may lack the ear hooks, but the Optoma NuForce BE Free8 offer a more balanced soundstage for the same price. The one key downside is there are no onboard volume controls, like the Epic Air has.

How long will it last?

The most critical part of the Epic Air’s longevity is durability. If you’re using these while active, it’s best to always clean them from time to time, making sure excess perspiration is gone. Since the warranty won’t really cover sweat-induced damage, that kind of TLC is a must to keep them fresh.

The other factor is the connectivity. True wireless earbuds aren’t perfect at maintaining the connection on both sides, but they’ve gotten much better. We were a little concerned at some of the inconsistency with this pair, but didn’t find it to be onerous enough to fear degradation over time.

Should you buy it?

Assuming you’re okay with the potential for connection cutouts and want the bass these deliver, then the Epic Air might be a good fit. They stay put and play loud tunes for a good hour or so longer than most others do. If you’re looking for higher fidelity and fewer connection woes, we suggest looking elsewhere.

Power-gulping cryptocurrency miners now charged higher fees in New York

The New York State Public Service Commission said on Thursday, March 15 that upstate municipal power providers are now allowed to charge higher rates to cryptocurrency miners. The reason should be obvious: Companies and individuals digging for digital gold are consuming large amounts of power, which takes a toll on local power companies distributing electricity to residential homes and businesses. Thus, instead of raising everyone’s rates to fight the surge, companies can now single out miners. 

The New York Municipal Power Agency previously urged the Commission to crack down on “high-load” customers. The Agency serves as a voice for 36 municipal power companies across New York, some of which provide low-cost power via hydropower plants to customers without making a profit. It’s through these hydro-based channels where the impact is felt the most because miners are taking advantage of the low-cost energy. 

According to the commission, companies and individuals mining for digital coins are using “thousands of times” more electricity than the average customer. This may go unnoticed in large metropolitan areas, but small communities now face higher monthly payments because power companies need more funds to keep all customers illuminated while also compensating for the miners. 

“Cryptocurrency companies generally seek to occupy existing commercial or industrial facilities where they can gain access to the large amounts of power required for their operations,” the Commission states. “As some of these customers have come online, it has become clear that the type of electricity load demand was of a different character than load characteristics typically seen by NYMPA members.” 

Cryptocurrency miners, at least the large ones, can’t depend on a single PC. Instead, they build monstrosities with numerous graphics cards stringed to one machine. These machines consume large amounts of power to create digital money and maintain the currency’s platform. Throw numerous mining machines into a building and you have a cryptocurrency mining farm gobbling power each second. 

The commission notes that a single cryptocurrency mining “customer” can consume 33 percent of the local power company’s total load. Meanwhile, the agency points out that cryptocurrency companies and individuals don’t provide “capital investment” in the local community as seen with other customers that consume the same power load. They can also pack their bags and move to another area, causing “unpredictable electrical use” and “fluctuations” across the state. 

The agency’s current biggest beef appears to target at least three cryptocurrency companies residing in upstate New York. The large power consumption requires supplemental power for residents and other companies, thus driving up cost. This is where the demand comes in to create a new tariff targeting digital coin miners. 

“A new tariff focusing on high-density load customers that do not qualify for economic development assistance and have a maximum demand exceeding 300 kW and a load density that exceeds 250 kWh per square foot per year, a usage amount far higher than traditional commercial customers,” the commission explains. 

The price increase for these customers began this month while costs for everyone else will return to normal. The move arrives after one upstate New York city actually banned Bitcoin mining for 18 months over excessive use of the city’s low-cost power.

Editors’ Recommendations

• A New York city becomes first in the U.S. to temporarily ban Bitcoin mining
• New tariffs pushed on foreign washing machines and solar panels
• New York won’t do business with ISPs not adhering to net neutrality principles
• Companies, lawyers probed for selling cryptocurrency initial coin offerings
• Elon Musk wants to whisk you from NYC to DC in 30 minutes with a new Hyperloop

It’s only business: BlackBerry Motion vs. LG G6 camera shootout

Andy Boxall/Digital Trends

Years ago, anyone buying a BlackBerry phone was more interested in the keyboard than the camera. Anyone buying an LG phone recently would be looking for the opposite. BlackBerry has changed, and while the keyboard, security, and battery life are still high priorities, the rest of the hardware has also dramatically improved.

To see how, we put the BlackBerry Motion, recently announced for the U.S. for $450, against the LG G6 — a smartphone that has a good camera and because it’s a year old, is now available at a very competitive price. Amazon often has it for $420 for Prime members, for example. Once, it would have been a no-contest. Today, it’s not so clear cut. Here’s the results of our LG G6 vs. BlackBerry Motion camera shootout.

Camera specifications and apps

How do the pair compare on paper? The LG G6 has a dual 13-megapixel camera, with the primary lens having a f/1.8 aperture, optical image stabilization, and phase detection autofocus. The secondary, wide-angle lens has a f/2.4 aperture and no autofocus. We haven’t included the wide-angle shots here, as the Motion cannot replicate them. However, the wide-angle camera is a big bonus for the G6, and the feature stands out in a world obsessed with bokeh Portrait Modes. The BlackBerry Motion has a single 12-megapixel camera lens with an f/2.0 aperture and phase detection autofocus.

The LG G6 camera app has various modes including panorama and food, an artistic mode called Popout, plus a Square mode that makes best use of the 18:9 aspect ratio screen. It also has a manual mode for those interested in tweaking shots before taking them. The app is intuitive and easy to use. On the BlackBerry. it’s not so simple as you’re forced to go through several steps to activate manual mode, for example. The Motion’s camera app also has filters and a panorama mode, plus a business card scanner. It’s not as fast as the G6, and overall the LG phone was more pleasurable to use. We did like being able to assign the camera app to the Motion’s Convenience key on the side though, providing quick access without returning to the home screen.

Sunny days

On a rare sunny day in wintery London, we put both phones up against each other as we toured some of the famous spots in the city. Take a look at the photos outside the Natural History museum, and the differences are interesting. The BlackBerry Motion’s photo is far warmer, with the building itself looking more realistic, while the vivid blue sky looks better in the G6’s picture. Turn your attention to the tree in the left corner, and you can see more detail in the Motion’s photo, but the broken tree trunk to the right looks more natural in the G6’s picture.

Andy Boxall/Digital Trends

Blackberry Motion

Andy Boxall/Digital Trends

LG G6

Next we get in closer, and in the photo of the fence with the building in the background shows the G6’s superior depth of field, isolating the golden decoration more effectively than the Motion. The gold color is also more dramatic, while retaining the beautiful blue sky in the background. The Motion washes out slightly, and the lack of background blur makes it a more confusing picture to look at.

Andy Boxall/Digital Trends

Blackberry Motion

Andy Boxall/Digital Trends

LG G6

Across the road from the Natural History museum the two phones produced a photo that really splits opinion. The Motion is our preferred shot. It’s brighter, pulls more detail in the darker areas, and is generally more representative of what we hoped to capture. However, the G6’s picture is more accurate. The sun is directly behind the tower and was very bright, and the G6 captured the look of the scene perfectly. It’s just not the photo we’d want to share. However, in the picture of the rooftop backed by a blue sky, the G6’s ability to pull detail shines. Just look at the shade of the bricks.

Andy Boxall/Digital Trends

Blackberry Motion

Andy Boxall/Digital Trends

LG G6

Further into London

Entering Knightsbridge, we snapped a photo of the famous Harrods department store. While both are great photos, the Motion’s sense of scale — even without the G6’s wide-angle lens — is stunning, and the striking red of the bus in front of the store still manages to stand out against the building and blue sky. There’s more detail revealed in the darker areas too.

Andy Boxall/Digital Trends

Blackberry Motion

Andy Boxall/Digital Trends

LG G6

Andy Boxall/Digital Trends

Blackberry Motion

Andy Boxall/Digital Trends

LG G6

Taking a photo through a metal fence, focusing on the statue behind it also showed how differently the two cameras process colors and warmth. The G6’s photo is colder and greyer, while the Motion uses the sunlight to enhance the creamier tones of the stonework. In reality, the look was somewhere in-between, but the G6’s photo uses its improved focal length to emphasize the subject.

Finally, outside Buckingham Palace, the G6 repeated this ability to showoff the subject better than the Motion. Look at the beautiful golden gleam on the Queen Victoria Memorial Statue, and the bright, vivid blue sky. Again, the Motion’s picture is brighter generally, but this time at the expense of the primary subject. The G6 captures the focal point of the photo far better than the Motion, which captures the entire scene in a more generalized way.

Andy Boxall/Digital Trends

Blackberry Motion

Andy Boxall/Digital Trends

LG G6

However, walking around the city in the sunlight, the Motion consistently took photos we preferred.

Food

Who doesn’t like a slice of chocolate and vanilla cake? The question is, which phone makes this naughty snack look more appetising? The LG G6’s photo is considerably more accurate, the dark chocolate glistening with moisture, and the crumbly moist cake appearing ready to fall apart when you pick it up. The BlackBerry Motion wasn’t so keen to get in close, and loses quality when it does so. While water droplets are still visible, they aren’t as defined and the chocolate isn’t as dark.

Andy Boxall/Digital Trends

Blackberry Motion

Andy Boxall/Digital Trends

LG G6

In the overhead shot, the BlackBerry Motion takes the slightly better picture, with more detail in the cake, and a more starkly white plate. However, with a little editing the LG G6’s shot does improve, revealing the detail missing in the picture straight off the camera. However, we like both the shots.

Andy Boxall/Digital Trends

Blackberry Motion

Andy Boxall/Digital Trends

LG G6

Somerset House

A quick stop at Somerset House and King’s College gave us the chance to take a picture of a wider scene, plus a challenging closer shot in difficult light. In the wide shot of the college courtyard, the G6 sees the blue sky, while the BlackBerry Motion prefers the clouds, resulting in a moodier shot. Focusing on the sculpted face, the Motion washes the picture out slightly, while the G6 makes good use of the darker area, and the varying levels of grey, for a prettier more atmospheric shot.

Andy Boxall/Digital Trends

Blackberry Motion

Andy Boxall/Digital Trends

LG G6

Andy Boxall/Digital Trends

Blackberry Motion

Andy Boxall/Digital Trends

LG G6

While the BlackBerry Motion doesn’t have a wide-angle camera, the G6 had to show off a little in the expansive courtyard. Yes, there is a fish-eye effect, but using the camera lets you enjoy the massive scale of the area itself, and the stunning architecture, to full effect. It’s not suitable for all situations, but here the G6 became the more creatively interesting camera phone.

LG G6

Low light

The G6’s f/1.8 aperture saw it outperform the Motion in lowlight. The two pictures of the Farmhouse pub look similar until you zoom in, where the pub’s sign is out of focus in the Motion’s picture and pin-sharp on the G6. Also, zoom in and look at the people through the window. The man in the blue shirt is perfectly defined in the G6’s picture, but blurred and misshapen in the Motion’s photo.

Andy Boxall/Digital Trends

Blackberry Motion

Andy Boxall/Digital Trends

LG G6

Andy Boxall/Digital Trends

Blackberry Motion

Andy Boxall/Digital Trends

LG G6

It’s the same situation in the photo of the Old Bank Chambers. The brickwork, sign, and even the street name below the traffic signal are in focus in the G6’s photo, but noisier and blurrier in the Motion’s photo. Finally, examine the metal sign outside the Foresters pub. The ageing, texture, and patina is clearly visible in the G6’s picture, but almost entirely lost in the Motion’s photo.

Andy Boxall/Digital Trends

Blackberry Motion

Andy Boxall/Digital Trends

LG G6

Conclusion

Anyone dismissing the BlackBerry Motion as a business phone should be eating their words about now. The Motion’s camera takes excellent pictures during the day, and were more instantly shareable than the ones taken by the G6. However, after dark the G6’s superior specifications took over, and showed the Motion how it should be done. The G6 also has the awesome wide-angle camera, and the app is better to use.

Neither phone took a truly bad picture, although the Motion struggled when we took photos in Tube stations, where it was slow to react, resulting in blurred pictures. We also had a few no-shows, when the Motion failed to capture any picture in low light at all. The G6 didn’t suffer from this issue.

This makes it difficult to pick a winner. While the Motion’s daylight shots came out better, the lowlight performance is substandard, and the G6’s ability is excellent. Add in the wide-angle camera along with more camera modes, and the G6 has to take the win for creative flexibility; but faced only with the images shown here there’s no doubt the Motion took the fight to LG and performed extremely well.

Editors’ Recommendations

• Nokia 9 rumors suggest a strong 2018 for the reinvigorated company
• Everything you need to know about the Google Pixel 2 and Pixel 2 XL
• Sharp shooters: The best camera phones you can buy
• We rounded up every hot smartphone for an ultimate camera showdown
• Try these Honor View 10 tips and tricks to get more from your phone

How to make coasters that connect guests to your Wi-Fi with a single tap

In this world, only three things are certain: death, taxes, and the fact that houseguests will eventually ask for your Wi-Fi password. What’s also certain is that, regardless of how simple your password is, you’ll inevitably be bombarded with questions after you recite it. “All lowercase? Any spaces? How do you spell colonel? Why are you so obsessed with KFC?”

Well if you’re sick of going through the same song and dance, and want a more slick and secure way to let your houseguests access your network, we’ve got a simple DIY solution for you: NFC drink coasters that grant guests access with just a tap.

NFC is one of the coolest technologies out there. Short for Near-Field Communication, it’s essentially a method of wireless data transfer that detects devices in close proximity, and then enables them to communicate without the need for an internet or Bluetooth connection. On top of that, NFC tags don’t need batteries to work. They can store small amounts of information passively, so you won’t ever need to recharge your coasters.

Better yet, despite how awesome and techy these coasters are, they’re also incredibly simple to build. You can easily make a whole set of them in under an hour, with minimal materials and expertise. Before you get started though, it’s worth noting that you’ll need an NFC-capable smartphone running Android 5.0 or later in order to execute the steps below. There are ways to achieve the same result with an iPhone, but they are vastly more complex. Sorry iPhone users!

Here’s how it’s done!

Tools & Materials

• Small bag of quick-dry concrete
• Mixing bucket
• Plastic petri dishes
• NFC stickers (NTAG 216)
• Adhesive-backed cork pads

Instructions

Step One

Mix the concrete according to the instructions on the bag. The amount of water you’ll need will vary depending on the type of concrete you’re using and the amount you’re looking to make. Generally speaking, you probably won’t need more than a pint of concrete to make a full set of these coasters, which means you’ll only need a couple ounces of water. It’s not an exact science though, so feel free to adjust your mix until it has a nice, thick consistency. Make it too soupy, and not only will the concrete take longer to dry, but it’ll also produce weaker coasters that are more likely to break.

Pro tip: If your concrete mix has lots of big rocks in it, pour it through a metal sieve to sift out the chunky stuff. This will result in a smoother, more consistent concrete mix. 

Step Two

Pour a small dollop of your wet concrete into the bottom of each one of your petri dishes. You want just enough to create a super thin layer. Tap the dishes on your work surface to level out the mix and make it settle. Again, this isn’t an exact science and it doesn’t have to be perfect.

Step Three

Grab your NFC stickers and place them in the center of the concrete-filled petri dishes. It doesn’t matter if they’re upside-down or right-side-up — they’ll work just the same regardless of orientation.

Step Four

Pour some more concrete into the petri dishes. You want enough to completely cover up the NFC sticker, but not so much that your coasters end up being too thick. Just drop in a small dollop and tap the dish a few times to make everything settle. Don’t worry about making the top perfectly level — this is actually going to be the bottom of your coaster, so it’s okay if it’s lumpy and mildly uneven. After that, let the concrete dry for at least 24 hours, or whatever the instructions on the bag recommend.

Step Five

Remove the dried coasters from the petri dishes. This will likely require a bit of tapping, pushing, and prying — but don’t be too rough on them, or you risk fracturing the coasters before you’ve even had a chance to use them. They should come free fairly easily, at which point you’re free to place cork pads on the bottom. Use three pads for each coaster to avoid wobbling, and try to place them midway between the outside rim and the center to avoid breakage under load.

Step Six

To program the NFC stickers, take the following steps. First, enter the Settings menu and turn on NFC. Second, make sure you’re connected to the Wi-Fi network you’re hoping to program into the tags. Third, enter your phone’s Wi-Fi menu and do a long press on the network you’re already connected to. A contextual menu should appear with the option to “write to NFC tag.” Tap that option, and then place your phone on the coaster. This will transfer the network login information to the NFC tag.

Note: You might need to experiment a bit to find the exact location of your phone’s NFC reader. Most are positioned near the center or top, but it differs from phone to phone. Just scoot your device around until you find the sweet spot.

Also, if you don’t see the “write to NFC tag” option appear, and you’re sure you have NFC turned on, then check your network permissions. In some cases, more restrictive networks won’t allow you to copy their information and write it to an external storage device.

Step Seven

Repeat the “write to NFC tag” process for the remaining coasters, and you’re done! To test that everything works, just disconnect from your Wi-Fi network and tap your phone on a coaster. If everything went smoothly, you should be given a pop-up menu that asks if you’d like to connect.

After that, all that’s left is to leave these suckers all over your house! Just remember that you and your houseguests will need to have NFC turned on before tapping on the coasters — otherwise your phone won’t read the tags.

What is RAM?

Bill Roberson/Digital Trends

Random access memory, or RAM, is one of the most important components of not only desktop PCs, but laptops, tablets, smartphones, and gaming consoles. Without it, doing just about anything on any system would be much, much slower. Even not having enough for the application or game you’re trying to run can bring things to a crawl, or make it so they can’t even run at all.

But what is RAM? In a nutshell, it’s an extremely fast type of computer memory which temporarily stores all of the information your PC needs right now and in the near future. It’s where your computer loads up all of the things it thinks it’ll need to find out soon, so that when it does, it can read it super fast. It’s quite different from your system’s storage, like its hard drive, where information is stored long term.

If this is all semantics to you and you just need to know how to install some RAM, or want to find out how much RAM you need, we have guides for that too.

Short-term memory

Perhaps the best analogy for what RAM is, is to think of it as like your system’s short-term memory. It’s quick at learning new things and can load in all of the information about your web browser, the image editing tool you’re using, or the game you’re playing so that you can access it quickly. You don’t want to have to dig through your slower storage, like a hard drive or even a solid state drive (SSD) every time you want to open a new tab, or load a new enemy to shoot. As fast as they are compared to storage of years gone by, they’re still far slower than RAM.

Data that’s in the short term memory, or RAM, can be read from anywhere at almost the same speed and because it has a hard-wired connection to your system, there’s no real latency in cabling or connection.

Like short-term memory, though, RAM is not designed to stay focused forever and is ready to move on to the next task at a moment’s notice. It’s what is described in computing as “volatile,” that is, once it loses power, it forgets everything it’s learned. The makes it perfect for handling the multitude of high-speed tasks that your system throws at it on a daily basis, but it’s also why we need storage systems like hard drives and SSDs, to actually hold our information when you turn your system off.

Different types of RAM

RAM is a bit of a catch-all term, like “memory,” and actually covers a few different types. Most of the time when people are discussing RAM or memory, what they’re actually talking about is technically DRAM (dynamic random access memory), or more accurately for modern systems, SDRAM (synchronous dynamic random access memory). The terminology doesn’t really matter beyond technicalities, but it’s useful to know that the terms are relatively interchangeable colloquially.

The most common types of RAM that are sold today is DDR4, though older systems may use DDR2 or DDR3. Those simply denote the generation of RAM used in that particular system, with each successive one offering faster speeds through greater bandwidth — a higher megahertz (MHz) rating. Each generation also saw physical changes, so are not interchangeable.

Another common term, especially in the video game space is VRAM, or video RAM. Although once a technology in its own right, VRAM is today used (technically erroneously) to denote the memory available to a graphics chip or built on to a graphics card. That’s actually called Graphics DDR SDRAM, or more commonly GDDR. Most modern graphics cards will use GDDR5, though some use a newer GDDR5X standard and upcoming generations may even come with GDDR6 memory.

Some niche graphics cards utilize a unique form of RAM called High-Bandwidth-Memory (HBM and HBM2) which has some unique performance advantages, though it is typically expensive and supply issues have meant it hasn’t seen widespread adoption.

Size isn’t everything

The biggest consideration when buying RAM is the size of it. You need a minimum amount of RAM to run a desktop or laptop operating system and many games and applications have a minimum amount too. Those requirements are listed in the gigabytes, or GB and are often between 1GB and 8GB, depending on how demanding the application is. Having more than the minimum is important, as you’re unlikely to just be running one application at a time, but having massive amounts doesn’t necessarily make your system faster.

It’s also not the only aspect of RAM that’s important. While more gigabytes of RAM can help with multitasking, you can see more improvement in the speed of your system, certain games and applications through using faster memory. Memory, like CPUs, has its own clock speed, which effectively controls how much data it can handle per second when combined with a few other factors. The total speed of the memory is discussed as bandwidth, in megabytes per second, but traditionally memory is marketed with a MHz speed.

Typical DDR4 memory runs around 2,133MHz, but there are some that can run upwards of 4,000MHz for the fastest kits available. You would see these marketed as DDR4-2133, and sometimes with the confusing PC label applied too. The number that follows that is simply an eight times multiplication of the MHz speed. You might see it listed as DDR4-2133 PC4-17000, for example.

Timings are another aspect of memory that can have an impact on RAM performance, though they aren’t as important as they used to be. It’s effectively the time between clock cycles, and as memory speed has increased, timings, or the latency of the memory have increased (gotten slower) too. Typically it’s listed as several numbers separated by dashes, such as 15-15-15-35, or similar. When it comes to buying memory, timings are only really important if you’re considering high-performance memory for benchmarking or top-tier gaming and aren’t of real concern to the average consumer.

Lastly, it’s important to know about channels. Most memory sold today is at least dual-channel, and it allows two sticks of RAM of the same type and speed to operate faster by providing better access to the CPU’s memory controller. However, high-end RAM kits sold with three or four modules may support triple or even quad-channel memory.

In practical purposes, it doesn’t make a huge difference to everyday performance, but if you want to take advantage of dual or more channel memory, you just need to make sure to install it all in the right colored slots on your motherboard.

How important is RAM?

RAM is very important in that your desktop needs it to run and tablets or smartphones without much of it tend to run very slowly indeed. However, will having tonnes of it or the highest MHz rating mean your system is super fast? Not necessarily.

Having enough RAM matters and having RAM that isn’t bargain basement slow is a good idea, especially if you plan on doing complicated image or video editing tasks, or playing games that tend to be CPU limited. However, when it comes to improving your system’s overall performance, it’s important to weigh up the costs involved. A faster CPU or graphics card is almost always going to have a bigger impact on your systems’ overall speed than faster memory.

Upgrading from a hard drive to an SSD is also a big step if you haven’t taken it yet, as that speeds up by far the slowest storage on your system by a huge margin and contributes massively to making it feel more snappy.

As with any computing device, you are usually limited the most by your slowest component, so slow memory can hold you back if it’s the worst part of your configuration. Unless you’re doing anything particularly intensive though, just make sure you have a little more than what you need and that it’s not the worst available, then you’ll probably be fine. If you want something more powerful there are a wide array of configurations of speed, size and latency for you to choose from. Some even have RGB LED lighting too.

Editors’ Recommendations

• How much RAM do you need? It’s probably less than you think
• What is a CPU?
• How to install RAM
• The best laptops for video editing
• Xbox One S vs. PlayStation 4 ‘Slim’: Which console is worth your money?

New Windows 10 Skip Ahead build forces Mail app users to open links in Edge

On Friday, Microsoft released a new build of Windows 10 for Insiders in the Skip Ahead program: Build 17623. It’s an early taste of Redstone 5, the company’s next big update for the operating system planned for the fall. Buried down in the general changes/improvements/fixes list is an alarming entry stating that Microsoft is now testing a feature that automatically opens Microsoft Edge when you click on a link within the Windows Mail app, regardless of what browser you have set as the default. 

Microsoft wants feedback from the Insider community, but the response may not be pretty. Forcing customers to use a specific web browser may not sit well, as the move could indicate that the company is intent on stringing its Windows 10 apps together to lock out third-party solutions. Choice is important, and this “test” feature seemingly removes that option in the name of “security” and “battery life.”

“[Edge] provides the best, most secure and consistent experience on Windows 10 and across your devices,” the company states. “With built-in features for reading, note-taking, Cortana integration, and easy access to services such as SharePoint and OneDrive, Microsoft Edge enables you to be more productive, organized and creative without sacrificing your battery life or security.” 

Outside the worrisome linkage news, the new build introduces the High Efficiency Image File format to Windows 10 and the Photos app. HEIF is an image file format that supposedly crams more information into one image than a JPEG file. It can even contain HEVC-encoded images and image sequences. The drawback, for now, is that Insiders cannot edit HEIF images with this build. 

“This version of the Photos app has been updated for RS4 and RS5 to support viewing the primary image inside a HEIF file and to guide the install of dependencies like the HEIF and HEVC media extensions from the Microsoft Store,” the company states. “Once installed, these media extensions enable HEIF viewing in Photos as well as thumbnails and metadata in File Explorer.” 

On the gaming side, Build 17623 introduces “safe” means for disconnecting an external graphics card from your PC’s Thunderbolt 3 port. Merely locate the “Safely Remove Hardware and Eject Media” icon and click to eject the external GPU. If a game or some other application is currently using the card, then you’ll see a prompt to close the software before ejecting the GPU from your system. Naturally you won’t see any dialog if software isn’t accessing the external device. 

On the security front, Windows Defender Application Guard (WDAG) on the Windows 10 Enterprise edition sees an improvement in its launch time via a “lighter and faster” start process. Users can also now toggle on the ability to download files from within this feature into a folder created in the Downloads folder on the host machine. Microsoft provides instructions on how to use this new feature here. 

Finally, this latest build includes a long list of changes, improvements, and fixes. These include two fixes addressing a problem that caused low framerates on Windows Mixed Reality headsets. 

Editors’ Recommendations

• Microsoft misses another Edge-related 90-day security disclosure deadline
• Latest Windows 10 Insider build makes it easier to control your GPUs
• How to fix Microsoft Edge’s most common problems
• The best Mac apps
• From enhanced viewfinders to joysticks, this is the best camera tech of 2017

How to fix PlayStation 4 controller jitters

PS4 controller got the jitters? Here are some things to try.

One of the most important elements of gaming is your controller. The controller is your entry point to whatever world you are choosing to inhabit. If you are having problems with your controller then you are going to have problems in your game. There is nothing quite as frustrating as knowing what you want to do but not being able to achieve it because there is an issue with your controller.

One relatively common issue with PlayStation 4 dual stick controllers seems to be the jitters. It’s as if your controller has had too many cups of coffee. If you are experiencing this issue, you will find that input from your sticks (usually the left) will start to stutter. You will push the stick forward and rather than seeing smooth movement on the screen you will see movement that starts and stops with no seeming rhyme or reason.

Have no fear. Before you toss that dual-stick in the trash, let’s take a look at what you can try to remedy your problem.

Spring Cleaning

Often, this issue can be caused by one of the biggest enemies of electronics. Dust and dirt can cause poor electrical connection which can lead to unreliable results or even all-out failure.

Many people online have suggested pushing the stick to one side and blowing into the gap. I would discourage this. When you blow into your electronics to clear out the dust it may be temporarily effective. However, when you blow with your mouth there is a measurable amount of moisture that gets left behind. This moisture can often exasperate dust issues as the dust could end up sticking to this built up moisture.

The best thing you can do is buy a can of compressed air. Compressed are is clean and dry and will not leave moisture residue on your electronics. You can pick up a two pack of canned air at Amazon for $15.
See at Amazon

You will want to use a straw attachment with your air. Simply push your stick to one side and angle the straw so that the compressed air will be injected into your controller. Move the stick in a few different directions and repeat the process. Hopefully, this will remove any errant dust which may be causing a connection issue with your stick.

Replacement parts

If cleaning out your controller with compressed air does not do the trick, it’s entirely possible that your stick has just worn out from use. If you are a regular and active gamer or if you have a super strong thumb, you could have managed to wear out the electrical connections. If you really don’t want to buy a whole new controller, then you could try your hand at replacing your sticks. It will take some soldering skills and will most certainly void any warranty. However, if you have had your controllers a long time it might be worth the risk and the $7 it costs to pick up replacement parts on Amazon.

See at Amazon

Brand new controllers

If you have tried cleaning your controller out and replacing the parts and it still doesn’t work, it might be time to put that out controller out to pasture. Perhaps you can use this as an opportunity to get yourself a brand new controller. Maybe something a little flashier? Something that’s a symbol of your individuality and your belief in personal freedom. There are tons of different controller styles out there and you can pick one up for about $60

See at Amazon

What problems have you had with your controller?

Have you had any issues with your PS4 controller? What were they and what did you do to fix it?

Why are we talking about PlayStation 4 on Android Central? Let us explain.

PlayStation 4

• PS4 vs. PS4 Slim vs. PS4 Pro: Which should you buy?
• PlayStation VR Review
• Playing PS4 games through your phone is awesome

Amazon

Moto X4 vs. Honor View 10: Which should you buy?

Motorola and Honor both have a tight grip on the mid-range space.

When you think of mid-range phones — that is to say, phones that are too expensive to be called affordable, but not quite as pricey as flagships — chances are your mind immediately gravitates towards either Motorola or Honor. Both brands have long established themselves within the territory, consistently providing phones with excellent performance and build quality at a reasonable cost.

The two phones in question are no exceptions. The Moto X4 combines beautiful hardware with convenient gestures, while the Honor View 10 banks on its powerful AI capabilities. So which one should you buy?

What the Moto X4 does better

It’s hard to beat the aesthetic quality of the Moto X4. This phone features a glass and aluminum build befitting of much more expensive devices, with a striking high-gloss coating and hand-hugging curves along the back. Yes, this design is predictably slippery and fragile, but it’s far more eye-catching than the View 10, and the premium materials make it feel more substantial.

The Moto X4 combines beautiful hardware with clean software and wide carrier compatibility.

But the Moto X4 isn’t just a pretty face. It features plenty of useful hardware amenities, including USB-C, fast-charging, a headphone jack, and IP68 water resistance. It’s also compatible with CDMA carriers like Verizon and Sprint — something the View 10 can’t match.

Where the Moto X4 really gets the edge over the View 10 is its software. The standard model features a near-stock build of Android, with just a few of Motorola’s custom tweaks added in, like the endlessly convenient double-twist motion to quickly launch the camera.

There’s also the Android One version, which offers a totally stock experience and the promise of fast updates — most recently, it received Android 8.0 Oreo an entire month before the standard model. As an added bonus, the Moto X4 is one of the few phones compatible with Google Fi.

See at Amazon

What the Honor View 10 does better

While the View 10 may not be as pretty as the Moto X4, it’s more durable thanks to an aluminum unibody design, and far better balanced; the Moto X4’s massive camera module makes it noticeably top-heavy in the hand. Despite a slimmer profile, it also houses a much larger battery than the Moto X4 — 3750mAh versus 3000mAh, respectively.

What the Honor View 10 lacks in style, it makes up for with … pretty much everything else.

Inside, the View 10 boasts Huawei’s Kirin 970 chipset, complete with the same Neural Processing Unit found on the Mate 10 Pro. It’s vastly more powerful than the Snapdragon 630 processor found in the Moto X4, and promises to keep the View 10 running smoothly for quite a while.

You also won’t find the View 10’s modern 18:9 aspect ratio display on the other side, which allows for a larger screen without a physically larger device. And forget about microSD expandability on the Moto X4; that luxury is exclusive to the View 10, along with dual SIM support.

Both phones have fairly impressive cameras, but the Honor View 10 easily outmuscles the Moto X4 with its faster glass, smarter dual-camera module, and AI enhancements. Honor’s camera app is also much more flexible than Motorola’s, allowing for more precision in shots.

See at Honor

Which one’s right for you?

The Honor View 10 has the Moto X4 completely beat on paper; its specs are more powerful, its cameras take better photos, and its battery lasts longer. But as always, your taste for EMUI will play a large role in how well you get along with the View 10. Particularly when faced with a phone like the Moto X4, close to (if not entirely) stock Android software can easily be the deciding factor.

The View 10 is the better phone, but not necessarily by enough to justify the significantly higher price.

If you lean towards software agnostic, or you simply value the other factors of the phones more, the Honor View 10 is a great option — but at $499, it’s considerably more expensive than the Moto X4, and it’s hard to say whether the better specs are worth the extra money.

In most places, you can pick up a Moto X4 for around $400, but you can knock an additional $150 off by buying it with a new Google Fi activation. Of course, not everyone will want to switch carriers just for a phone, but if you can get it for $250, the Moto X4 is an absolute no-brainer.

Are you planning on getting the Moto X4? Or does the Honor View 10 have your attention? Let us know your thoughts and experiences in the comments below!

3 Vero features that Facebook and Instagram should steal

While Vero may or may not have lasting power, the app has some worthwhile features that Facebook should poach.

It’s been about a month since Vero – True Social burst into public consciousness as the hip new social media platform and… so far, it hasn’t really lived up to the hype.

If you’re one of over a million people who signed up for Vero in the past month you may be, like me, enjoying the design of the app itself but ultimately turned off by the comparably minuscule social network offered.

But what if Facebook took a cue from Vero and poached some of its best features?

A return to the chronological feed

One key part of Vero’s pitch to potential users is the chronological news feed. My Vero newsfeed is pretty slow, but as friends make posts I can catch up by going through the past day hour by hour. It’s why Vero proudly claims to use no algorithms to determine the content that you see, and it’s a direct shot at Facebook, which has been attempting to better curate the newsfeed for users using algorithms since 2011. And as we all know, they’ve gotten really good at it in the years since.

You can’t blame Facebook for developing an app better designed for organizing and share content with friends. They’ve found a winning formula for keeping people checking back in and refreshing their feeds for new content.

But shouldn’t users have more control some say in the way we digest social media? Facebook offers features like Friends Lists for organizing and browsing specific friend feeds, but it’s clearly not as important as the default feed. Those pesky algorithms are the lynchpin to Facebook’s business model. Okay, maybe Facebook requires complicated algorithms for all the mess of content it has to sort and organize… but the rumors and demand for Instagram to bring back the feed are getting ridiculous.

This debate isn’t going away, and it was only a matter of time before an upstart like Vero came around to, hopefully, give Facebook and Instagram a good shakeup.

The problem is Facebook and Instagram are still the place where over a billion of us go to interact with our social circles online. Meanwhile, my Vero network is up to 14 friends. Vero might fail as a social media platform, but it shouldn’t make the idea of chronological social media feeds a failure by association.

The Collection tab

Another nifty service Vero offers is the Collection tab. It gives you a way to quickly filter through content posted by your friends over the past days organized by the type of content you’re given as options to post.

Having tested Vero with a smaller network of friends only using the app intermittently, I can see the potential here. Imagine looking for a new song, movie, or book recommendation from your friends and having every song, movie, or book all your friends have ever recommended just there.

Instead of having to scroll through feeds to find specific content, Vero sorts all the different posts from your network of friends and followers into different types and lets you browse through each collection chronologically.

Ironically, Instagram already has a Collections tab but nobody would ever find it. Instagram has it so far buried into the UI that it’s basically useless, and only collects and organizes posts that you’ve saved while browsing. Why not sort posts I’ve liked based on hashtags?

It just seems like such a missed opportunity — why not do easy stuff like curate a collection of all the dog or cat photos friends have shared? Or all the videos shared by friends —presented chronologically. The Collections tab wouldn’t even need to detract from the main feed but is a feature that would be extremely useful for the end user.

No ads / Paying for social media

Ads have been a part of the Internet experience since the earliest days — you can do your best to block them but you can never block them all.

In 2017, Google reportedly removed 3.2 billion bad ads, which is nearly double the reported number removed in 2016, which was double the number pulled in 2015. You get the idea — bad ads online are becoming more and more of a problem.

Social media, to this point, has been a free service for user supported by advertisements — whether the app is promoting ads on your feed or giving advertisers access to your profile information. The model has proven to be wildly successful for Facebook, who continues to command our attention by satisfying our desire to stay connected with friends while subtly slipping a few ads in there and using algorithms to tweak what we see in the main feed.

Enter Vero, touting a social media experience with no ads that will, apparently, be supported by a paid subscriber base. They haven’t implemented the paywall yet or even explained the pricing, but that’s the plan.

Facebook could go the Spotify route. Spotify offers a free version of the service that’s just filled with ads, with the option of a paid subscription for users who want an ad-free experience. Brands could still post and connect with followers, but you’d have to be following the brands to see their posts.

Will people pay to use Vero? Probably not.

Would people pay to use Facebook or Instagram if it meant only seeing content shared by friends and no advertising? Ask me that question seven years ago and I would have laughed in your face — but in 2018? Given an option of “subscribing” to Facebook or Instagram for a customizable and entirely ad-free social app, I would certainly consider it. But it seems as if Facebook makes way too much from the marketing and advertising business to offer such a choice to its daily users.

What do you think?

Agree or disagree? Let us know in the comments below!