Wear OS by Google officially replaces Android Wear

In addition to the name change, Google says new features are also coming soon.

Just a few days after new branding for Android Wear was discovered with Play Services, Google’s announced that it’s officially axing the Android Wear name in favor of Wear OS.

Officially called “Wear OS by Google”, this replaces Android Wear both in name and logo. Gone is the Material Design-esque watch and in its place are two lines and circles in the iconic Google colors – very closely resembling the Assistant logo.

Commenting on the new branding, Fossil’s Chief Strategy and Digital Officer, Greg McKelvey, said:

Many of our smartwatch customers are iOS users, so we are confident in and eager to see the added benefits that both Android and iOS phone users globally will experience as Wear OS by Google rolls out in 2018.

Google officially started supporting iOS back in 2015, and while improvements were made with Android Wear 2.0, the experience still isn’t perfect. Along with the new Wear OS name meant to be more open to Android and iOS users alike, Google also says that it’ll be launching a companion app for iOS “in the next few weeks” that’ll allow iPhone owners to track and view their Google Fit data.

LG Watch Sport

This dedication to iPhone owners may seem like an odd move when something like the Apple Watch exists, but Google also notes that 1 out of 3 people with an Android Wear watch also have an iPhone.

The feature set for Android Wear/Wear OS is remaining as is for now, but we should see improvements to notifications, health tracking, and more over coming months. Google will likely shed more light on this at I/O this coming May, so we’ll be sure to keep an eye out for what’s in the pipeline.

Android Wear

• Everything you need to know about Android Wear 2.0
• LG Watch Sport review
• LG Watch Style review
• These watches will get Android Wear 2.0
• Discuss Android Wear in the forums!

Daydream apps you can use laying down

All the fun of VR without all the work of sitting upright.

Whilst the Daydream View is an excellent way to experience VR for the first time, it is really designed for standing up and spinning around in 3 dimensions, after all, 360 degree video and images are the bread and butter of virtual reality. A lot of people though, myself included, want to be able to use it more as a portable big screen, allowing us to watch movies and play games from any position we choose. It turns out that this functionality isn’t baked into Daydream but needs to be added by the developers to allow us to see their app on the Z axis.

I have been searching for as many apps that will allow you to use them laying down as I can but my search has turned up very little. So far I have managed to find only a few apps that have the functionality baked in and one of those is an experimental app. Hopefully, we will be able to fill this article out with more apps from you guys in the comments section.

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Youtube VR

With YouTube being the most used video player in VR it was important that it had all the different ways to watch that it could, and so Google spent a lot of time making it a really good app to use in VR. YouTube on Daydream works very well, with an intuitive interface and targeted searches for 3D, and 360-degree videos, as well as plenty of resizing and repositioning options.

To watch YouTube laying down simply start from a sitting position, choose the video you want to watch then while it is playing lay down. You will see a message saying “Click to Recenter” and that’s all you need to do, tap the touchpad of the
Daydream Remote and it will automatically recenter your view. You can also move the view manually if the angle isn’t quite to your liking by clicking and holding the touchpad and moving the video around inside, this is especially helpful for laying down as the controls are at the bottom of the video. You will need to move the video to access the controls if you want to stay on your back.

See in Google Play Store

Netflix VR

Netflix VR is a little fancier in its execution of laying down. Once you have logged in, itself a bit of battle with Netflix VR, if you lay down you can see a chandelier above you that you can click on to move the UI up to the ceiling for you. From there you need to select what looks like a steering wheel of a car to move the screen to where you want it, then use the scale tool in the middle to adjust the screen size to fit your head.

Netflix VR makes this procedure something of a chore. It really should be a simple case of laying down and dragging the interface to follow you, but at least they have made the effort to include it. Laying down and watching Netflix kind of go hand in hand so having a way to do that is important. Oh, and of course you will need a Netflix subscription to watch videos, but you knew that.

See in Google Play Store

Chrome Canary

Chrome Canary is the very experimental version of Chrome for Android with all the crazy cutting edge stuff Google tries to cram in. The browser itself has a lot of WebVR extensions that you can find out about in this article, browsing the web in Daydream View and while the functionality is still limited the ability to use it laying down is there.

To use it on your back simply load Canary up on your Daydream view while sitting up, then use the small directional button in the bottom right-hand corner to click and drag the window to the correct position. From here you can browse the web in Chrome Canary’s limited way. Hopefully, when this makes it’s way to the stable Chrome app the functionality will be more in keeping with other browsers and won’t feel so janky. One can hope.

See in Google Play Store

Play Movies & TV

Play Movies & TV from Google has a different execution to all the others, which is strange given that it is made by Google just as Canary and YouTube are, but it may be the simplest of the four to use. You will, like all the others have to start from a sitting position to choose your movie but once you have one playing you can click and drag it up so it’s in the right position for laying down. It will also let you rescale the video so it fits in your field of vision more comfortably.

Play Movies & TV has a lot of options nowadays with the inclusion of Movies Anywhere and access to entire series of HD content, it is well worth looking into. The visual quality even in Daydream View and the ability to watch it laying down makes it a great choice for your video VR needs.

See in Google Play Store

Skybox

It seems that almost all the apps so far that you can use laying down are for watching videos. I suppose that makes sense, you don’t want to have to play Gunjack laying on your back, do you? The chances are you want to just hang out and watch movies anyway, and that’s what Skybox does. Skybox is a little more in-depth than the others you have seen so far, it actually lets you play the movies you have on your device as well as streaming from your PC or wifi network, giving you a chance to play home movies as well as blockbusters all the while doing it in as realistic a theater as I have seen in VR.

To use the laying down feature of Skybox you need to load the video you want to play, again from a sitting position, then when it’s loaded click the settings cog and choose Unlock Screen. This will make the screen float any where you point your head, including the ceiling when you lay down. It isn’t quite as precise as some of the other apps but it gets the job done just fine.

See in Google Play Store

How are you using Daydream?

Eager to see more? If you have found other apps that let you lay down and use them please let me know in the comments or head over to this forum post to add your suggestions.

Google Pay in Canada: Everything you need to know

Learn the new way to pay in store, online, and in apps!

Last year, Google started rolling out Android Pay in Canada, and earlier this year it rebranded Android Pay and Google Wallet into one brand: Google Pay.

#AndroidPay is now available in #Canada 🇨🇦. An easier way to pay is already in your hand: https://t.co/Y85ULkyHsN pic.twitter.com/kNmasq7bge

— Android (@Android) May 31, 2017

Google Pay might just change the way Canadian Android users pay — both in-store and online. It’s also the place where you can digitally store all your loyalty cards and gift cards, so your wallet isn’t bursting at the seams. Who doesn’t love that?

Here’s everything you need to know about Google Pay in Canada.

How does it work?

Google Pay is a new way to manage your primary credit and debit cards digitally, allowing you to pay for things securely online or use your phone to make in-store purchases using NFC technology. Once set up, you can use your phone to pay at any store where you see the Google Pay (or outdated Android Pay) logo (basically wherever tap is available).

Using Google Pay is as simple as using the tap technology built into most Interac terminals you already use with your debit or credit card. Simply unlock your phone and tap it where you’d typically tap your credit or debit card and wait a few seconds — Google Pay will pop up with your preferred card and confirm your purchase. You’ll then receive confirmation via notification.

The intention behind Google Pay is to avoid the ‘friction’ of having to pull out your wallet at the checkout. Google Pay can also handle any gift cards and loyalty cards, so you can sign up for unlimited loyalty programs without carrying a pound of plastic in your pocket.

Google Pay will also allow you to conveniently and securely pay for things online and from within a growing number of Google Play apps.

How to set up Google Pay

Which banking cards are supported?

Currently, all the major Canadian banks offer products that support Google Pay. Most, but not all, debit and credit cards issued by the major Canadian banks are supported:

• Bank of Montreal (BMO)
• Desjardins
• Banque Nationale du Canada (NBC)
• President’s Choice Financial
• Alberta Treasury Branch (ATB)
• Canadian Tire Financial Services (CTFS)
• Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce (CIBC)
• Scotiabank
• American Express

Canadians who bank with a credit union are out of luck as credit union debit and credit cards are not compatible with Google Pay at this time.

• Learn more

Where is Google Pay accepted?

Google Pay can be used in shops that offer tap-to-pay terminals and display the Google Pay or tap pay symbols in store. You can expect more merchants to adopt Google Pay, but for now, you’ll be able to test out Google Pay at Loblaws grocery stores, Petro-Canada gas stations, and at fast food chains such as McDonald’s and Tim Hortons.

You should also start seeing more “Buy with G Pay” buttons popping up when browsing around online using Chrome or in Android apps such as Skip the Dishes and others.

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Original Prime Video shows got Amazon 5 million new Prime subscribers in 2017

26 million people watched original and third-party programming, too.

Similar to Netflix and Hulu, Amazon creates a number of original programming for its Prime Video streaming service – one of the many perks that come with an Amazon Prime subscription. Amazon spends billions of dollars on this video content each year, and thanks to a new report, we now have a better idea as to how these original shows make Amazon money.

According to internal documents that were discovered by Reuters, 26 million people watched some sort of programming on Prime Video in 2017. However, of that 26 million, original content for the service helped draw in 5 million new subscribers for Amazon Prime.

To determine how its original programming is making the company money, Amazon reportedly uses a system it calls “cost per first stream.” Amazon takes the total production/marketing cost of one of its shows, divides that by the number of people that viewed it as their first ever stream on Prime Video, and uses that number to figure out how much it cost to get a new Prime subscriber.

The Grand Tour secured Amazon 1.5 million new Prime subscribers for $49 each.

For example, a highly-popular show like The Grand Tour attracted 1.5 million of these “first streams.” When the cost of producing and marketing The Grand Tour is divided by the first streams, Amazon determines that the show helped it get 1.5 million new Prime subscribers for just $49 each. Considering that a yearly Prime membership costs $99 in the U.S., that’s a big win.

Another successful show for Amazon, The Man in the High Castle, cost $72 million to create while attracting 1.15 million first streams, resulting in a new Prime subscriber cost of $63 each.

Unfortunately, these big bets on original programming can also take a turn for the worse. Amazon released season one of Good Girls Revolt in 2015, and while it attracted a total of 1.6 million viewers, only 52,000 of those were first streams. In other words, that show cost Amazon $1560 for each new Prime subscriber it attracted.

Amazon’s currently spending around $5 billion each year for both original and licensed content, and this makes it one of the company’s largest expenditures. Going into 2018 and beyond with a Lord of the Rings prequel expected to cost the company more than $500 million on its own for two seasons, these costs don’t appear to be decreasing any time soon.

If you’re an Amazon Prime subscriber, have you watched any of Prime Video’s original movies or TV shows?

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The first nine things to do on your new Galaxy S9

From setting up Intelligent Scan to configuring Bixby and Samsung Pay, here’s what you need to know about getting started with the Galaxy S9.

The Galaxy S9 and S9+ are now making their way to eager customers, and there’s plenty to like with either device. Both phones come with a slew of new features, and Samsung’s user interface offers a ton of customization options.

If you’ve just got your hands on your Galaxy S9 or S9+ and are looking for tips to personalize your device, read on.

Set up iris scanning/Intelligent Scan

Samsung has a new biometric authentication feature that leverages facial recognition and iris scanning. Dubbed Intelligent Scan, the feature is faster than the standard face unlock or iris scanning, and it does a better job authenticating your facial features in low-light conditions.

That said, Samsung notes that Intelligent Scan isn’t as secure as iris scanning, and you won’t be able to use the feature with Samsung Pay. The feature is essentially designed to complement the fingerprint scanner at the back, and offer a quick way to unlock your phone.

To get started, go to Settings > Lock screen and security > Intelligent Scan and follow the prompts to set up the biometric authentication service.

Switch the screen resolution to WQHD+

The Galaxy S9 comes with a WQHD+ Super AMOLED panel that’s easily one of the best displays available on a phone today. However, the default resolution out of the box is FHD+ (2220×1080) and not QHD+ (2960×1440).

Samsung introduced the change a few years ago on the Galaxy S7, likely to improve battery life and eke out more performance, and the feature has stayed intact on the Galaxy S8 and now the Galaxy S9. While the difference between 1080p and 1440p isn’t that noticeable on a 5.8- or 6.2-inch panel, you’ll want to switch the resolution to WQHD+ to take full advantage of that gorgeous screen.

To do so, head to Settings > Display > Screen resolution and toggle the slider to WQHD+.

Configure Edge panels

Samsung went all-in on curved panels last year, so if you’re picking up the Galaxy S9, you’ll get a screen that curves outwards on both sides. The manufacturer baked in features to take advantage of the dual curved panel in the form of Edge screen.

The feature lets you access favorite apps and contacts by a simple swipe gesture from the edge of the screen, and you can also configure shortcuts, get score updates and even the latest news headlines.

To configure the Edge screen, go to Settings > Display > Edge screen and toggle Edge panels. There’s also an Edge lighting feature that lights up the sides of the phone for incoming notifications and calls. You can also enable it from the same menu, and there are several customization options that let you choose the color and effect for notifications.

As for Edge screen, you’ll see a short pull-out tab on the right edge of the screen, through which you’ll be able to access oft-used apps, contacts, and more. Once you get to the Edge panel, you can edit the options by selecting the Gear icon at the bottom left of the screen. If you’re not a fan of Edge panels, you can disable it entirely.

Change the position of the nav keys

Samsung got rid of the hardware navigation buttons last year on the Galaxy S8, paving the way for on-screen keys. One advantage to having software navigation keys is the configurability — you can finally change the layout of the back and recents button, and hide the nav bar entirely.

If you’re used to having the back button to the left of the home key, you can change the layout of the keys from the settings. Navigate to Settings > Display > Navigation bar > Button layout and select your preferred configuration. You can also set the nav bar to auto-hide by toggling the Show and hide button option in the same menu.

Set up the blue light filter

The Galaxy S9 comes with a blue light filter that reduces strain on your eyes when viewing the screen at night. Switching on the filter eliminates blue hues and gravitates the screen to warmer colors, resulting in a yellowish tint. You can adjust the intensity of the filter, and create a schedule so it turns on automatically at a specified time.

To configure the blue light filter, head to Settings > Display > Blue light filter. You can either set a custom schedule, or have it enabled from sunset to sunrise — you’ll need to enable location access for this.

Configure Bixby — or get rid of it entirely

Samsung introduced Bixby last year, with the virtual assistant designed to surface relevant information — like your calendar entries. The virtual assistant has a lot going for it: Bixby Vision lets you translate text from images in real-time; Bixby Home is a centralized hub for Facebook, Twitter, and other social media sources, and Bixby Voice lets you open apps with voice commands.

To get started with Bixby, you can hit the dedicated hardware button located underneath the volume rocker, and set up the virtual assistant. You can also swipe to your leftmost home screen — which by default is taken up by Bixby Home — and set up integrations with other services.

If you feel Bixby is superfluous considering Google Assistant performs most of the same tasks, there is an option to disable it entirely. With the virtual assistant getting a dedicated hardware button, disabling the service also nullifies the button as it can’t be configured for other actions.

How to completely disable Bixby

Set up Always On Display

Always On Display has been a mainstay on Samsung’s phones for some time now, and the feature makes it easy to view incoming notifications without turning on the display. You’ll also be able to view the clock, quickly check your schedule, and access music playback controls right from the lock screen.

Head to Settings > Lock screen and security > Always On Display to enable the feature and select what information to surface on the lock screen. Once AOD is enabled, you’ll be able to pick the clock styles, widgets, and add contact information on the lock screen by navigating to Settings > Lock screen and security > Clock and FaceWidgets.

Get started with Samsung Pay

Samsung Pay is one of the best mobile payment services available today, if not the best overall. The feature is notable as it allows you to use your phone to pay for purchases at retail stores that don’t have NFC card readers. That’s because of Magnetic Secure Transmission, which essentially mimics a credit or debit card’s magnetic stripe.

MST requires dedicated hardware, which is why the feature is limited to Samsung phones. To set up Samsung Pay, you’ll first have to download the app by heading to the Galaxy Apps store. Once it’s installed, you’ll be able to add your credit and debit card information and start using the service to pay for in-store and online purchases.

Turn off app icon borders

Samsung automatically turns all icons into squircles, creating a white border around those that don’t scale. The end result doesn’t look all that great, particularly on apps that feature a rounded icon, like Spotify.

If you’re looking to get rid of the icon borders, there’s an easy fix. Go to Settings > Display > Icon, select Icons only and hit the Done button to revert the icons to their original format.

Your turn

That’s a quick look at initial customization options for the Galaxy S9 and S9+. Let me know your personalization tweaks when setting up a new device in the comments below.

Samsung Galaxy S9 and S9+

• Galaxy S9 review: A great phone for the masses
• Galaxy S9 and S9+: Everything you need to know!
• Complete Galaxy S9 and S9+ specs
• Galaxy S9 vs. Google Pixel 2: Which should you buy?
• Galaxy S9 vs. Galaxy S8: Should you upgrade?
• Join our Galaxy S9 forums

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Best Samsung Galaxy S9 Accessories

Keep your Samsung Galaxy S9 protected and functional with these great accessories!

The Samsung Galaxy S9 is the latest hotness from the biggest Android brand in the game, and it’s sure to be a smash hit in 2018.

If you’re considering an upgrade to the S9, you should be thinking about investing in some quality accessories to keep your phone in mint condition and improve the storage capabilities and battery life. Here are the best accessories for the Galaxy S9… so far!

• Samsung Alcantara Cover
• Spigen Rugged Armor Case
• Whitestone Dome Glass Tempered Glass Screen Protector
• Samsung Gear VR
• Samsung Fast Charge Wireless Charging Convertible Stand
• Anker PowerCore+ 26,800 mAh battery pack
• Samsung microSD EVO+ 256GB

Samsung Alcantara Cover

Samsung is one of the few phone makers that really does a great job of supporting their own devices with a solid line of cases. We’ve featured a number of Samsung’s cases in our round up of the best cases for the Galaxy S9, but we’ve highlighted the Alcantara Cover here because it was a fantastic option for the Note 8 and should be equally stellar with the S9.

Alcantara is a lightweight material that’s as rugged as the plastic and rubber cases, but offers a very unique look and feel that compliments Samsung’s tall devices. This case deftly covers the edges of the screen but leaves the bottom open for the charging port, headphone jack, and speaker. You can pre-order yours from Samsung for $50.

See at Samsung

Spigen Rugged Armor Case

There’s going to be a ton of third-party case options for the Galaxy S9, but for our money you won’t find a better value than the slim Rugged Armor case from Spigen.

Made of flexible TPU, this case offers a precisely designed shell to keep your S9 protected without adding unnecessary bulk. It’s thin enough to allow wireless charging while still protecting the camera and fingerprint sensor on the back and prevents the display from sitting flush on a table. Get this minimalist case for around $13 on Amazon.

See at Amazon

Whitestone Dome Glass Tempered Glass Screen Protector

Not all screen protectors are created equal. If you’re afraid of damaging the Galaxy S9’s curved screen, you should consider the Whitestone Dome Glass screen protector.

This brand burst onto the scene with the Galaxy S8, offering the best coverage with a tempered glass screen protector we’ve seen. Using a unique liquid adhesion technique that involves uses a UV curing light to ensure a perfect installation.

Now, the downside is the price. At $45, it’s by far the most expensive screen protector you can buy, but it’s a well-reviewed screen protector that’s backed by a limited lifetime warranty. If you’re concerned about protecting your phone around those curved edges, this is the screen protector you want.

See at Amazon

Samsung Gear VR

While mobile-powered VR is not as flashy as the Oculus Rift or HTC Vive, you’d be remiss to ignore just how awesome the Samsung Gear VR is with the latest Samsung phones. Last year’s updated version of the Samsung Gear VR will work excellently with the Galaxy S9 and is available for just $111 on Amazon.

Powered by Oculus technology, the Gear VR (2017) comes with a fantastic touch controller that will let you interact and play with a ton of great games via the Oculus app. If you’re debating between upgrading your phone or investing in virtual reality this year, get the Gear VR along with your Galaxy S9 and settle that debate the right way.

See at Amazon

Samsung Fast Charge Wireless Charging Convertible Stand

If you’ve got the option to wirelessly charge your phone, you may as well take full advantage, right? Any true Samsung fan will love the design of this convertible wireless charging pad. Made by Samsung, this pad supports Fast Charge technology (of course) and ships with its won Samsung Fast Charge wall adapter — and you can never have enough of those.

Regularly sold for up to $90, you can snag one of these bad boys for just under $50 on Amazon.

See at Amazon

Anker PowerCore+ 26,800mAh Battery Pack

It’s always a smart idea to back up your new phone with an extra boost of juice, and there are few better battery packs than Anker’s PowerCore+.

Anker has packed in 26,000mAh into a sleek package that’s small enough to easy stash in a backpack or even slip in your pants pocket. it features three USB ports so you can charge multiple devices at one time. Featuring

Get yours for roughly $70.

See at Amazon

Samsung microSD EVO+ 256GB

The Galaxy S9 has carried on Samsung’s tradition of allowing expandable storage via microSD, so why not take advantage? You can get Samsung’s 128GB card for just $45 or go all out with the 256GB card for $135. Both cards feature read speeds up to 95MB/s and write speeds up to 90MB/s, meaning they will be able to handle whatever you throw at it.

Whichever you go with, you can be sure that it’ll give you all the storage space you desire so you never have to delete photos and videos.

See at Amazon

What accessories will you be getting?

What must-have accessories are at the top of your list when you’re buying a new phone such as the Galaxy S9? Let us know in the comments!

Update March 15, 2018: Added the Samsung Gear VR to our list!

Samsung Galaxy S9 and S9+

• Galaxy S9 review: A great phone for the masses
• Galaxy S9 and S9+: Everything you need to know!
• Complete Galaxy S9 and S9+ specs
• Galaxy S9 vs. Google Pixel 2: Which should you buy?
• Galaxy S9 vs. Galaxy S8: Should you upgrade?
• Join our Galaxy S9 forums

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HTC will skip the U12 and instead only release the U12+ in 2018

Things aren’t looking good for HTC.

Following up on the U11 and U11+ from 2017, we’ve been expecting HTC to release successors to those two phones in the forms of the U12 and U12+. However, according to a new report from Venture Beat’s Evan Blass, that’s no longer the case.

Rather than releasing two flagships over the course of the year like we’ve seen from Samsung and LG, HTC will instead focus all of its efforts on one single device – the HTC U12+. The U12+ will succeed both the U11 and U11+ (a phone that never came to the United States), and it’s got all the makings of a 2018 flagship.

The HTC U12+ will reportedly come equipped with a 6-inch LCD display with a WQHD+ resolution and slim bezels. Two 8MP cameras will live on the front, and the back will be home to a 16MP and 12MP combo. Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 845 with 6GB of RAM will power the U12+, and this will be paired with 64GB or 128GB of storage and a 3,420 mAh battery.

The U12+ has the makings of a 2018 flagship, but is that enough?

HTC’s Edge Sense feature is expected to remain intact, and the current release window is slated for either late April or early May.

A lot of this lines up with what we were already expecting for the regular U12, and while it may be disappointing to HTC fans to hear that they’ll only get one flagship this year, it’s really not all that surprising.

Shortly after the company finalized the sale of thousands of employees of its smartphone division to Google, HTC’s smartphone president up and left. Add that together with 10 quarters of consecutive losses (and counting) for its mobile business, and things really aren’t looking good for the company.

I’m still excited to see what the U12+ has to offer, but considering it’ll be going up against phones like the Galaxy S9 and Pixel 3, I don’t envision it making any sort of dent in Samsung and Google’s sales this year.

HTC U11

• HTC U11 review
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• Manufacturing the U11: Behind the scenes
• Join our U11 forums
• HTC U11 vs Galaxy S8
• HTC U11 vs LG G6

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Today’s best deals you won’t want to miss

Whether you’re looking for new tech gear or household items, we’ve got you covered.

We’ve got great discounts on G-Sync computer monitors, Bose earbuds, portable speakers, and more! Don’t pass these up.

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If you want to know about the deals as soon as they are happening, you’ll want to follow Thrifter on Twitter, and sign up for the newsletter, because missing out on a great deal stinks!

Top things you need to know about the Samsung Galaxy S9’s SD card slot

Knowing a few tips and tricks can help you make the most of your SD card.

Outside of the Galaxy S6 series, Samsung has stood by having a microSD card slot as a major feature of its phones. The great thing about having the slot there is that if you don’t need it, it doesn’t change anything about how you use the phone — but if you do want it, you can add up to 400GB to your phone in a matter of seconds.

There are some limitations to what you can do with your SD card, and a few things to keep in mind when buying one, but this is mostly a plug-and-play affair. Here’s what you need to know about using a microSD card in your Galaxy S9 or S9+.

Adoptable storage isn’t here — and that’s OK for most people

Samsung continues to use the SD card as removable storage rather than the newer “adoptable storage” system. What that means is that instead of integrating the SD card as part of the internal storage, it remains its own separate silo. You have to choose to put a file either on the SD card or the internal storage — it won’t be able to span the two seamlessly, which takes a bit more management.

In practice, this has the benefit of being more familiar to those who used SD cards in previous Samsung phones or have used them typically with computers or cameras. You can remove the SD card from a Galaxy S9 freely without worrying about how it will affect the system, because you only lose the data files on the card. You can pop out the card, put it in your computer and transfer files to and from it, then put it back in the phone with no worries.

Just know that you may run into some rare circumstances where a very large file will have to go exclusively on the SD card because it can’t overlap onto the internal storage.

Most apps can’t be moved to the SD card

One downside of mounting the SD card as removable storage instead of adoptable storage is that there are limitations on what files can be moved to it. For the most part, you can think of the SD card as a place to store big chunks of data, not live applications that you need to access regularly.

You can have photos, music, videos, podcasts, and documents all stored on your SD card without issue, and those are great ways to free up space on the faster, more versatile internal storage. But you won’t be able to move most apps or games to the SD card, as they need to be on the internal storage in order to run. You may find that some simple apps or assets for apps that don’t need to be run on demand can be stored on the card — but as a rule, you shouldn’t count on being able to move apps to the SD card.

Pictures and video save to the card by default

Because the types of data you can put on an SD card are limited, the Galaxy S9 wants to take advantage of it right away for types of data it knows it can move there. The best example is the camera, which automatically starts saving photos and videos to the SD card as soon as you insert one. High-bandwidth capture like burst shots and 960 fps slow-motion video are likely to be saved directly to the internal storage rather than the SD card, but that’s what you won’t in order to get the best possible performance.

If, for whatever reason, you don’t want photos and videos to save to the SD card, you can head into the camera’s settings, then storage location, and tap it to change back to device.

Choosing a fast enough card so you don’t have to worry about performance

One great thing that’s happened in the world of SD cards is the proliferation of amazingly fast cards at reasonable prices that anyone can buy. Earlier on in the life of Android phones, it was rather hit or miss as to whether or not the card you bought was fast enough to consistently be used inside an Android phone, and now that’s rarely the case.

Stick to big brands and look at ratings online before buying, but chances are if you find a modern card out there it’s going to do what you need it to do in a Galaxy S9. As a rule of thumb, you shouldn’t buy anything lower than a “Class 10” rated card. If you plan on running apps off of the card, making big file transfers or recording lots of video, you want to get a UHS-rated card — at least a U1, but ideally U3.

Everything you need to know about SD card speeds and your phone

Where to find good SD cards

SD cards have improved dramatically across the board, but that doesn’t mean every card is the same. You still want to make a well-educated decision about the SD card you buy, balancing speed, reliability, capacity and price. There are so many available out there and many places to buy, but we’ve narrowed down a few for you to choose from if you want to let us do some of the hard work for you.

Best microSD cards for the Galaxy S9

You can encrypt your SD card for your safety

One of the problems with an easily removable SD card that’s formatted as removable storage is the data on there can be easily accessed by anyone with a SIM tray tool — they don’t have to unlock your phone to get it. Of course the best way to secure your phone is to not let anyone have it in the first place, but accidents happen — and the best way to secure the data is to encrypt the SD card. With encryption enabled, the data is only readable by the Galaxy S9 that encrypted it.

To encrypt your SD card, head into the phone’s settings, lock screen and security, and encrypt SD card. The process will only take a few seconds if you don’t have much data on it, but it could take a while longer if you’ve already loaded it up before encrypting.

Now, there’s one big downside to this: when you encrypt the SD card, it also can’t be read by any other devices you have. That means that if you pop out the SD card and put it in your computer, it won’t be able to read the data. It also means if you break your phone beyond repair, you will lose the SD card data forever. If your intention is to use the SD card in your Galaxy S9 as a quick way to transfer large amounts of data between devices, you’ll have to use a USB cable from your phone or decrypt the card first.

Removing your SD card also removes the SIM

It’s a relatively trivial thing, but remember that your SD card lives in the same tray as your SIM card. So if you plan on using the removable storage capabilities of your SD card for transferring files back and forth with a computer, you’re going to knock out your cellular service while you do it.

In some cases, removing the SIM card and reinserting it will require a full device reboot to get your mobile data back up and running. If you can’t manage to wait a few minutes without data, wait to pull out your SD card until you’re done with your mobile data usage!

Samsung Galaxy S9 and S9+

• Galaxy S9 review: A great phone for the masses
• Galaxy S9 and S9+: Everything you need to know!
• Complete Galaxy S9 and S9+ specs
• Galaxy S9 vs. Google Pixel 2: Which should you buy?
• Galaxy S9 vs. Galaxy S8: Should you upgrade?
• Join our Galaxy S9 forums

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AT&T
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Sprint

Deals: 2018 Mac Essentials Bundle, New Anker Chargers, and Latest 4K iTunes Movies on Sale

StackSocial this week launched the 2018 Mac Essentials Bundle, made up of ten apps that can help you be more productive, keep your online identity secure and private, clean up your Mac, and more. The bundle has an estimated value of $524.90 when adding up the cost of all ten apps included, but StackSocial knocked the price down to $19.99 for a limited time.

Additionally, those interested can enter the promo code SAVEMAC during checkout to get the 2018 Mac Essentials Bundle for an even cheaper price of $14.99. Note that you’ll need a StackSocial account to checkout on the company’s store. Once you have an account created, add the bundle to your cart, tap checkout, then enter SAVEMAC in the promo code box under “Order Summary” on the right side of the screen to take a further $5.00 off your order.

Note: MacRumors is an affiliate partner with some of these vendors. When you click a link and make a purchase, we may receive a small payment, which helps us keep the site running.

The bundle offer should last for the next few weeks, so if you’re interested head over to StackSocial for more information and to place your order. Below we’ve listed each app included in the bundle, license and access information where applicable, and a brief description.

• BusyCal 3 / single-user license / lifetime access – A customizable calendar app that integrates with iCloud, Google, Exchange, and more, offering features like To Do lists, smart filters, iPhone syncing, and live weather forecasts.
• Cargo VPN / two year access – Provides you with the ability to encrypt an internet connection and keep your personal data private.
• HoudahSpot 4 – Find files by “hundreds of criteria” like name, file extension, pixel count, and more.
• uBar 4 / single-user license / lifetime access – Dock replacement with tab grouping options, window previews, in-dock reminders, and more.
• Cisdem DuplicateFinder 4 / lifetime access to all updates – Find and delete duplicate files in one go so that your Mac runs more efficiently.
• RollerCoaster Tycoon 3: Platinum – Build your own theme park and gain access to expansion packs “Soaked!” and “Wild!” with the Platinum version.
• Systweak Anti-Malware Pro / 2 year subscription – Detects and quarantines unwanted or malicious programs automatically.
• Concealer / lifetime access – Hide and encrypt files, passwords, credit card details, and more.
• Movavi Photo Editor – Edit photos, add filters, correct photo orientation, change backgrounds, insert watermarks, scale down photos, and more.
• Flip PDF for Mac / lifetime license – Convert PDF files into mobile-friendly flipbooks, aimed at designers, publishers, and advertisers who want to create e-books, brochures, catalogs, and more.

In other deals, Anker today launched its new 7.5-watt ‘PowerWave’ Wireless Chargers, along with a set of promo codes that offer savings on the new chargers. For a limited time on Amazon, you can get 15 percent off one charger (with promo code POWER752) or 20 percent off two or more (with promo code POWER753).

The new devices include the PowerWave 7.5W Stand and PowerWave 7.5W Pad, each coming with built-in fans to help keep things cool and the ability to charge iPhones up to an hour faster than other accessories on the market, according to Anker. For a more detailed look at the new Qi-compatible chargers, be sure to read our full review.

Recently, DirecTV Now launched its latest offer for new subscribers, allowing them the chance to get $25 off each month for the first three months of any channel package. For example, you could get the low-tier “Live a Little” package for just $10/month for your first three months, down from $35/month. New subscribers interested can enter the promo code YESNOW3 in the checkout process, but this code is incompatible with DirecTV Now’s ongoing Apple TV 4K offer.

In regards to that offer, it’s worth noting that we’re now entering what is expected to be the last few weeks of DirecTV Now’s free Apple TV 4K deal. If you’ve been on the fence about it, definitely check out our full post on the deal and head over to DirecTV Now to place your order. For those who haven’t been following, the offer lets new users prepay for three months of DirecTV Now at $105, and then receive a 32GB Apple TV 4K for free.

Lastly today, we’ve rounded up a few of the latest sales hitting 4K HDR films on the iTunes Movies store and some notable discounts on iOS gaming apps.

4K HDR movies on sale

• The Dark Tower – $9.99, down from $19.99 (Movie of the Week, $0.99 rental)

• The Silence of the Lambs – $9.99, down from $19.99

• Valerian and the City of a Thousand Planets – $9.99, down from $14.99

• mother! – $9.99, down from $14.99

• Daddy’s Home 2 – $9.99, down from $19.99

• Only the Brave – $9.99, down from $14.99

• Lara Croft: Tomb Raider – $9.99, down from $14.99

• Lara Croft Tomb Raider: The Cradle of Life – $9.99, down from $14.99

• Alien: Covenant – $14.99, down from $19.99

• War for the Planet of the Apes – $14.99, down from $19.99

iOS games on sale

• Anomaly 2 – $3.99, down from $14.99

• The Witness – $4.99, down from $9.99

• Bridge Constructor Portal – $2.99, down from $4.99

• Gorogoa – $3.99, down from $4.99

• Darkest Dungeon: Tablet Edition – $0.99, down from $4.99

• FROST – $2.99, down from $4.99

Visit our full Deals Roundup for more of the latest sales, this week including 10 percent off all certified pre-owned MacBooks on Gazelle.

Related Roundup: Apple Deals
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