‘GrayKey’ iPhone Unlocking Box Seeing Wide Adoption Among Law Enforcement

GrayShift’s recently publicized “GrayKey” box designed to crack locked iPhones is seeing wide adoption among police forces and federal agencies across the United States according to a recent investigation by Motherboard.

Motherboard found that regional police forces like the Maryland State Police, the Indiana State Police, and the Miami-Dade County Police have purchased or are soon purchasing GrayKey technology, while other forces like the Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department have looked into boxes and received quotes from GrayShift.

GrayKey box, via MalwareBytes
The Secret Service is also planning to purchase “at least half a dozen” GrayKey boxes for unlocking iPhones, while the State Department has already bought them and the Drug Enforcement Administration has expressed interest.

Current FBI Director Christopher Wray said in January at the International Conference on Cyber Security that law enforcement officials are facing a “Going Dark” challenge where an “enormous” number of cases rely on an electronic device. “We’re increasingly unable to access that evidence, despite lawful authority to do so,” said Wray.

Motherboard’s investigation into GrayShift, the GrayKey iPhone unlocking boxes, and other smartphone unlocking methods suggest that is not the case. The FBI uses the going dark debate to advocate for easier access to electronic devices through backdoors, but the seemingly readily available tools like GrayKey undermine these arguments.

“It demonstrates that even state and local police do have access to this data in many situations,” Matthew Green, an assistant professor and cryptographer at the Johns Hopkins Information Security Institute, told Motherboard in a Twitter message. “This seems to contradict what the FBI is saying about their inability to access these phones.”

“The availability and affordability of these tools undercuts law enforcement’s continual assertions that they need smartphone vendors to be forced to build ‘exceptional access’ capabilities into their devices,” Riana Pfefferkorn, cryptography fellow at the Stanford Center for Internet and Society, told Motherboard in a Twitter message.

In recent months, law enforcement officials have been quietly revisiting proposals that would require tech companies to build backdoor access into smartphones and other electronics, something Apple vehemently fought against back in 2016 following the San Bernardino shooting where the FBI attempted to order the company to provide it with a tool to crack the iPhone 5c involved in the case.

As has been previously reported, the GrayKey mentioned by Motherboard is a small, portable gray box that’s equipped with dual Lightning cables. An iPhone can be plugged into one of the cables to install proprietary software that’s able to guess the passcode for an iPhone in either a few hours or a few days, depending on the strength of the passcode.

Once the GrayKey software has unlocked an iPhone, it can be plugged back into the GrayKey box to download all of the data on the iPhone. GrayKey can crack the latest iPhones running modern versions of iOS, including iOS 11, providing law enforcement officials with easy access to locked iPhones for criminal investigations.

Grayshift charges $15,000 for a GrayKey box that requires internet connectivity, is geofenced to a specific location, and allows for 300 unlocks, or $30,000 for a box that requires no connection, can be used anywhere, and can unlock an unlimited number of devices.

As Motherboard points out, the technology used in the GrayKey boxes may eventually be outdated through updates to the iOS operating system, leading to periods where some versions of iOS may be difficult to access. Because of the ongoing cat and mouse game of Apple patching a vulnerability as third-party iPhone cracking services look for new methods to get into iPhones, the argument for backdoors into smartphones is likely to surface time and time again.

Motherboard’s full report on the iPhone unlocking tools available to law enforcement officials can be viewed over on the website.

Note: Due to the political nature of the discussion regarding this topic, the discussion thread is located in our Politics, Religion, Social Issues forum. All forum members and site visitors are welcome to read and follow the thread, but posting is limited to forum members with at least 100 posts.

Tag: Apple-FBI
Discuss this article in our forums

Apple Music to Feature New Documentaries on Flume and Future Classic Label

Flume, an Australian musician, is set to release two new documentaries called “Flume: When Everything Was New” and “Sleepless: The Story of Future Classic” on Apple Music on Friday, April 20. The two documentaries will delves into the history of Flume and his relationship with the Future Classic label.

Flume and Future Classic popularized well-known music genre future bass, which took off starting in 2016. Flume’s first EP, released in 2011, was titled “Sleepless” and was followed by a self-titled album in November of 2012. In 2016, Flume released his latest album, “Skin.”

Over the course of his career, Flume has collaborated with artists like Kai, Beck, Little Dragon, Vic Mensa, and more, and remixed songs from artists that include Lorde, Sam Smith, Arcade Fire, and Disclosure.

Flume teamed up with Future Classic early on in his career, and Future Classic founder Nathan McLay became his manager. Future Classic represents several other popular future bass artists like SOPHIE, Cashmere Cat, Nick Murphy, Classixx, and more.

Both of the two upcoming documentaries are Apple Music exclusives.

Tag: Apple Music
Discuss this article in our forums

The best Samsung Galaxy S9 battery cases to keep you powered up

Julian Chokkattu/Digital Trends

Samsung’s Galaxy S9 is a technical marvel of a machine. It combines the raw power of the Snapdragon 845, drop-dead good looks, and a stunning dual-aperture camera that’s blowing the socks off everyone who dares look at it. But if there’s one thing we’re not sure about, it’s the battery size. A 3,000mAh battery capacity isn’t small, but we’ve found it can struggle hitting a full day quite often.

Thankfully, there’s an easy way to remedy that problem. Battery cases offers all the protective options of a good case, but they also pack in an extra battery that’s able to extend your phone’s battery life. Here are our picks:

i-Blades Modular Smartcase with Smartblade ($99)

Battery cases can be quite large, and you don’t always need that extra power at every single moment. If you don’t want to carry a bulky case all the time, then check out the Smartcase with Smartblade from i-Blades. The extra battery power comes in the form of the Smartblade, which snaps onto the back of the Smartcase, providing up to 10 hours of extra battery power. When it’s spent, you can quickly detach it and attach another if you still more juice. What’s more is you can also expand your available memory with the Smartblade’s SD card slot. Strangely enough, the Smartcase also monitors air quality around you, and the case itself is slim, lightweight, and made of a durable polycarbonate shell with a soft touch finish.

Buy one now from:

i-Blades

ZeroLemon 4,700mAh Battery Case ($40)

If you’re looking for something on the cheaper side that won’t let you down, ZeroLemon is well known for supplying good value battery cases. 4,700mAh of extra power offers around 32 hours of extra talk time, according to ZeroLemon, and it also comes with a battery indicator on the rear side so you know when it’s time to charge back up. The indicator also functions as an on-off switch, so you can choose when you want the case to kick in, and it works well as a protective case too, with a strong build and raised bezel to protect the edges of your phone. It’s big and bulky, but when you’re adding this much extra battery, expect some compromises.

Buy one now from:

Amazon ZeroLemon

Alpatronix 4,000mAh Wireless-Charging Compatible Battery Case ($50)

If you’re looking for a little more utility in your battery case then you might be tempted by this case from Alpatronix. While it’s not as large as the ZeroLemon case, 4,000mAh of additional power is still a pretty huge boost for your Galaxy S9. It’s definitely going to score some points with wireless charging fans, as the case still lets you wirelessly charging. Simply pop it on a pad and it’ll charge both the phone and the case at the same time. The case also offers extra grip and shock absorption with a rubberized coating. There’s charge-and-sync capabilities when plugged into a PC, and a battery indicator on the rear means you always know when it’s time to charge.

Buy one now from:

Amazon

Casessary 4,500mAh Extended Battery Case ($80)

Who says battery cases can’t also have a little style? Casessary‘s battery case comes with a leather-style back panel that adds a little touch of fashion to your extra battery power, as well as offering a bit of additional grip. The 4,500mAh of extra power more than doubles your S9’s battery life, adding a good few hours. Four LED lights on the back show the case’s charge level, and it uses a dynamic power management system to ensure your phone doesn’t dangerously overcharge. It’s big and chunky, but it’s also pretty protective with a raised bezel, cushioned frame, and hard outer shell.

Pre-order now from:

Casessary

Mophie Juice Pack (~$100)

Mophie is the undisputed king of the mountain wherever battery cases are concerned. While the Mophie Juice Packs don’t always have the largest capacity, their quality speaks for itself. The Mophie Juice Pack for the Galaxy S9 comes with 2,070mAh of extra battery power, and while that’s the lowest on this list by far, Mophie said it’s enough to power the phone for an extra 29 hours. It has priority charging too, so plugging in a charger will charge up the phone first and the case second. The case itself offers solid drop protection and cushioned corners. It’s lightweight and slim, and simply one of your best options. It’s available in April, and it will set you back $100.

Find out more:

Mophie

Editors’ Recommendations

• The best portable chargers for quickly juicing your device
• Need more juice? Here are the seven phones with the best battery life
• The best Sony Xperia XA2 cases to keep your smartphone looking ‘Xcellent’
• The best walkie-talkies
• These are the best smoke detectors of 2018

Kia wants to solve one of the biggest problems with electric cars

Wireless charging is a godsend when it comes to cleaning your desktop clutter. Shouldn’t it be just as handy in your garage? That’s the vision behind a recently completed three-year pilot program by Kia to develop a wireless fast-charging system for future electric vehicle models. As part of a joint venture with Mojo Mobility, and with backing from the Department of Energy’s Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy, the car brand field-tested its new wireless EV charging technology on a fleet of Kia Soul EV prototypes.

With automakers pushing electric and plug-in hybrid vehicles, wireless charging is becoming more of a prospect, much like cutting the cord in the consumer electronics industry.

In essence, the system utilizes an electromagnetic inductive field to transfer electrons between two coils. One would be a transmitter on the ground, while a receiver is placed on the bottom of the car. To activate, the driver simply must pilot the vehicle until it rests above the charging transmitter. Then the system can activate and begin charging the car’s battery.

Although not new or pioneering, Kia’s system addresses some of the quirks in functionality with current wireless EV charging systems. What separates Kia’s latest system is that it can still charge efficiently even if the driver doesn’t align the vehicle properly when parking over a wireless charging station. The benefit from these improvements is easier convenience and day-to-day use for typical users.

According to Hyundai-Kia America Technical Center (HATCI), Kia’s system is also capable of providing more than 10 kW to an equipped electric vehicle, while achieving 85 percent grid-to-vehicle efficiency. This is a notable feat since wireless charging systems — as exhibited with similar units involving smartphones — suffer from energy loss. So while wireless charging technology isn’t new, current efforts seek to make wireless charging more efficient.

“We’re thrilled with the success of the system and its efficiency,” said William Freels, HATCI President. “We set out to develop wireless charging that has real world applications and is easy to use for the consumer. Now, with this fleet of wireless Soul EVs, we can clearly see a future of unplugged electric vehicles.”

Kia says there’s no current plan to offer wireless charging systems on production vehicles available to consumers. This includes the Kia Soul EV, the only Korean all-electric vehicle currently on sale. But the manufacturer also said that doesn’t mean future Kia electric vehicles are being left out.

BMW also produced a prototype featuring wireless charging technology on a 530e plug-in hybrid electric vehicle, in partnership with Oak Ridge National Laboratory. BMW’s prototype only allowed for a charging rate of 3.2 kW, however.

Because wireless charging still has a long way to go, it won’t be replacing the traditional hard-wired charging cable just yet, as using the traditional method is still the easiest and most efficient one. Nonetheless, wireless charging is still perceived as a major step forward in developing and building up electric vehicle charging infrastructure. For example, Continental envisions a plan to cover parking spots with wireless chargers in hopes to eliminate complications with limited charging stations from overcrowding, while improving availability.

Editors’ Recommendations

• 2019 Kia Sorento first drive review
• 2018 Kia Stinger GT review
• Kia Forte aims to impress jaded buyers with more style and tech
• Kia teases its new second-generation K900 flagship sedan
• How Kia went from peddling econoboxes to challenging BMW

Third-party display repairs are breaking iPhones after iOS 11.3 update

Simon Hill / Digital Trends

Looking forward to the iOS 11.3 update on your iPhone? Well hold on there just a moment, because if you’ve had your iPhone display replaced by anyone other than Apple, you could be in for a world of bother once the update goes through.

According to various sources, users who have had their displays replaced by third parties are finding that their touchscreen functionality is no longer working after updating to iOS 11.3. Michael Oberdick, owner of an iPhone repair shop in Ohio, suspects a small microchip powering every iPhone’s display is the reason that the replacements are bricking the phone.

This issue got even thornier after it emerged that even Apple-branded replacement parts weren’t safe from iOS 11.3’s wrath, as users discovered their ambient light sensors would not detect light and change the display’s brightness automatically — even if the sensors hadn’t been touched at all. According to Engadget, the sensor is disabled as part of the OS boot process.

There’s some discussion about whether this is a bug or a security feature. An iOS 11 update from last year caused similar issues in the iPhone 7, and the infamous Error 53 from a few years ago was also linked to iPhones detecting that third-party repairs had taken place. While Apple clarified its position, stating that the issues were a security feature and intended to stop thieves from bypassing Touch ID, it still ruffled more than a few feathers, even after the issue was patched out.

The issue with iPhone repairs has apparently gotten so bad that many repair shops are refusing to touch the new iPhones at all, with the iPhone X being branded as being particularly difficult to repair.

It’s clear that Apple doesn’t approve of third-party repairs, and has been known to warn users against using such services. For context, the current cost of a display replacement from Apple ranges from $149 for an iPhone 8, all the way to $279 for the iPhone X.

User and third-party repairs are something of a hot topic at the moment. California is set to discuss a “right to repair” bill that would force manufacturers to share their replacement parts and procedures with repair shops, and the FTC recently reminded electronics manufacturers “warranty void if removed” stickers are illegal, and warned that there would be repercussions for those who did not stop issuing them with their products.

Editors’ Recommendations

• Apple iOS 11 update will allow storage of health records on your phone
• Apple’s iOS 11.3 is now available for download on the iPhone and iPad
• Here’s some of our favorite new iPhone features on iOS 11.3
• How to check battery health, disable iPhone performance throttling in iOS 11.3
• Apple’s iOS 11.3 update will (finally) open a window on battery life

Misfit Path review

Research Center:

Misfit Path

Hybrid smartwatches are all the rage this year, with more and more fashion brands and watchmakers releasing traditional-looking watches that offer up some smart features. Misfit is the latest to release a hybrid — the Misfit Path — which was first announced at CES 2018. It doesn’t pack any major features we haven’t seen before, but the women’s watch is Misfit’s smallest hybrid to date.

With the Path, you can track basic fitness activity, receive notification alerts, and control some smartphone functions. For an affordable price of $150, the Misfit Path packs all the functions you need into a stunning, compact design. Let’s take a closer look.

Chic and refreshing design

Even though the Misfit Path is small, its slim bezels make the watch face appear larger than average hybrid smartwatches. The 36mm case is the same size as the Fossil Q Neely, another hybrid, but the Path feels much lighter on the wrist. While the Neely looks traditional and classic, we prefer the more modern and chic look of Misfit’s watch.

Our review model has a gold stainless steel case with a matte finish, paired with a purple silicone sport strap. The numbers on the white watch face are represented by small gold dots that make the timepiece look crisp and clean. The two buttons sit on the right edge of the watch, and they’re elongated and flat. This subtle look helps the Path keep its minimal aesthetic.

Brenda Stolyar/Digital Trends

It looks great with any outfit, and it doesn’t stand out too much unlike the flashy Marc Jacobs Riley. Other colorways and materials the Path comes in are stainless steel, rose tone, gold tone, and stainless steel with a gold tone.

The 16mm watch straps wrap around the lugs, which slope down from the case. They are interchangeable, but you may be limited to a particular style of band — it’s not a traditional quick-release mechanism. The strap itself sits snug, without any gaps between your wrist and the watch, and it’s very comfortable to wear. Both the case and watch strap are durable — even after a month of regular use, the case kept its shine and the strap didn’t look worn out.

Stylish smarts

At a first glance, the Path doesn’t look like a smartwatch, but a regular timepiece. That’s the beauty of hybrid watches. Connect the watch to its companion app via Bluetooth, however, and you unlock a host of genuinely useful features.

Even though the Misfit Path is small, its slim bezels make the watch face appear large.

The Misfit app, available both on Google Play and the Apple App Store, lets you assign a function to the bottom button on the watch. The top button, sadly, is designated specifically for activity — when you press it, the watch hands will move to show how far along you are to reaching your step count goal. For example, if you’re halfway to completing a 10,000 step goal, the watch hands will move to the 6 o’clock mark on the watch face.

You can set the bottom button to control a variety of functions on your smartphone. For example, if you set it to control music playback, you can press it once to play or pause music, double tap to go to the next song, triple tap to play the previous song, and long press to increase the volume. You can also use it as a remote selfie button for your smartphone’s camera; and there’s even a “Preso Clicker” function, which lets you go to the next slide when showing a presentation (if the watch is paired to your computer).

While the top button tracks step count, you can also add more fitness functions by assigned the bottom button to track a specific activity, such as running, cycling, soccer, swimming, and more. You’ll need to choose one default activity, and then triple tap the button the start tracking it. You’ll be able to see your progress in the Home section of the app.

Brenda Stolyar/Digital Trends

While the Misfit Path only allows you to designate one button for functions, that doesn’t mean you can stick to one function category. With the “Custom Button” option, you can also assign four different functions to the bottom button. For example, we set a single press to play and pause music, a double press as our selfie button, and long press as “Ring My Phone” – useful when you can’t find your smartphone.

With the “Custom Button” option, you can assign four different functions to the bottom button.

You also have the option of linking an IFTTT account to have the buttons trigger other activities, such as sending an email when you get a specific alert or hit a target goal. We weren’t able to access this yet as some of the Path’s functions in the app are still in beta.

Configuring the Misfit Path is a little more confusing than previous hybrid smartwatches we’ve used. It takes a few extra minutes to figure out the settings you want, but we quickly did get used to using the buttons. We do recommend spending time going through all parts of the app in order to become familiar with each of its features and customization options.

Assigning and receiving notifications

Notifications on most hybrid watches rely on assigning an app or contact to a number from 1 through 12 — the watch’s hands will move to one of these numbers when you get notification from that contact or app.

The Path doesn’t try to do anything different here — the wearable does vibrate, and the watch hands go straight to the tick mark on one of the numbers. If you set “Dad” to number three, for example, the watch hands will go straight to the number three if your father calls or texts you.

You can choose up to 24 contacts – 12 for texts and 12 for calls – as well as app notifications. On Android, you’re able to see notifications from any installed app. On our iPhone, we were limited to just six apps — Facebook Messenger, WeChat, Gmail, Line, WhatsApp, Skype, and Viber, which is far less than the 50+ apps we normally see offered on other hybrid smartwatches. We’ve reached out to Misfit to see why we can’t receive notifications from more apps on the iPhone, as it’s likely due to a bug with the beta.

Fitness and sleep tracking

Misfit began as company that offered stylish fitness-tracking wearables, and its emphasis on fitness hasn’t disappeared. Through the Misfit app, you can see the number of steps you’ve taken, calories burned, and miles walked on a daily basis as well as a summary for the entire week. As you scroll through each day, you’ll see more in-depth stats as it breaks down your activity on an hourly basis. We didn’t notice any discrepancies with the results — if you want to use the Path as a basic fitness tracker, it does the job well.

Misfit Path Compared To

Mondaine Smart Helvetica

Nixon Regulus

Alpina AlpinerX

Apple Watch Series 3

Samsung Gear S3

Motorola Moto 360 (2015)

LG Watch Sport

Huawei Fit

Samsung Gear S2

Apple Watch Series 2

Martian Passport MP100WSB

Garmin fenix 2

LG G Watch R

Martian Notifier Watch

Phosphor Touch Time

The Misfit Path also tracks sleep. Each morning, you’ll be able to track how many hours you slept, how long you were awake for, and the amount of time you were switching between light and restful sleep. We found the sleep tracker to be precise – recording the accurate amount of time we spent awake and asleep.

Since the Path is water resistant of up to 50 meters, you’ll be able to take it for a swim or shower without worrying about damaging it.

Misfit Move

The Misfit Path does add a feature we haven’t seen on many other hybrid smartwatches. It’s called Misfit Move, and it means the watch notifies you when you’ve been sitting for too long. Apple, Samsung, and Fitbit offer movement reminders like this, but it hasn’t been a common feature with hybrid watches.

Misfit Move is a sensible feature and we’re happy to see it present on the Path.

We set our Misfit Move alerts to remind us every two hours from at 9 a.m. to 6 p.m., when we’re sitting at a desk for the longest period of time. If you find that you don’t want to use the feature at all, you can toggle it off.

It’s a sensible feature and we’re happy to see it present on the Path. It’s an easy and helpful way to encourage people to complete their step goals, the reminder is subtle, and there are plenty of customization options to build it into your daily routine.

Warranty information

The Misfit Path will cost you $150, and the price is the same for all the other color variants. The watch is now available for purchase on Misfit’s website. Misfit offers a limited two-year warranty that covers manufacturing defects, but it doesn’t cover accidental damage to the case or watch strap.

Our Take

The Misfit Path is a comfortable, chic-looking smartwatch that offers a lot of functions for an affordable price tag.

Is there a better alternative?

Yes, if you’re looking for a hybrid smartwatch that’s the same size as the Misfit Path but has a more traditional look, you’ll want to go for the Fossil Q Neely. With an analog design and leather watch strap, it can be worn for casual or formal events. At $155, it’s also affordable and comes with many of the same smartwatch functions.

For a modern but minimalist look, the Skagen Signatur T-Bar hybrid smartwatch also has similar features and a 36mm case. At $123, it’s cheaper than the Misfit Path, but it manages to look extremely elegant. You won’t be able to switch up the watch straps, but it comes in a variety of colorways that suit every style.

How long will it last?

The Misfit Path uses a standard coin-cell battery that’s replaceable through the back of the device. It will last you anywhere between four to six months. Since it connects via Bluetooth, you can keep track of the battery percentage through the app. We used the watch for almost a month with notification settings on, and it only went down to 97 percent.

Expect this timepiece to last you more than four to five years if you take care of it. It’s not made of high-quality materials like sapphire crystal, so it may be prone to scratches and dings if you’re not careful.

Should you buy it?

Yes, the Misfit Path has a beautiful and modern design along with a ton of functionality. It can be worn both day and night, so you’ll find yourself wearing it with almost every outfit.

Theft-resistant SafeSkin case puts your precious iPhone on lockdown

Your phone is much more than just a phone — it’s a way to contact friends and family, it’s our personal assistant, it’s an archive of our trips, and it’s a convenient camera. Our phones being stolen is a nightmare scenario for many of us. Thankfully for your heart, the SafeSkin case aims to make that anxiety a thing of the past.

The SafeSkin case doesn’t necessarily look much different from your usual protective case. It’s made from a tough material called PC ABS, which helps to make it drop-proof, and comes with a leather back panel in brown, black, or white — to match your iPhone. But look a little closer and you’ll start to see some of the extreme safety measures.

Once the case is on, it can’t be removed except by using the key to input the correct color code into the back of the case. But why would you want the case to be stuck on? One of the first things that any thief will do with a stolen phone is turn it off. That stops any software tracking solutions from working, and ensures it’s easier to later get control of the phone. Once the case detects the phone’s been taken, it will lock down the phone’s touchscreen and on/off button, making the phone immediately less desirable to the thief.

The case detects it’s been stolen through use of the second included accessory, the Eye. The Eye is a small gadget that connects to the SafeSkin app via Bluetooth, and can be set to alert the wearer if the Eye and the phone are taken too far apart from each other. Once detected, the Eye will send a signal to the case to go into lockdown, and will then emit an ear-splitting 100 decibel alarm on both devices until they’re reunited and deactivated.

“After having my phone stolen six times, yes, six times, I had enough and decided it was time to turn a reoccurring pain into an opportunity by finding a solution,” said SafeSkin co-founder and head of business development Julia Sohajda. “We sat down for a brainstorming session with my brothers and the idea of SafeSkin was born.”

The SafeSkin is currently being crowdfunded on IndieGoGo, and the creators say it will be available for the iPhone 7, iPhone 8, and the iPhone X. While there are no Android versions yet, a Q&A on the IndieGoGo page says that Android versions are being planned.

Editors’ Recommendations

• How to find a lost phone, whether it’s Android, iPhone, or any other kind
• Navdy head-up display review
• Lost and found: Here’s how to locate your iPhone when it goes missing
• How to sell your smartphone
• Give the iPhone X a headphone jack with this crowdfunded case

Ring Video Doorbell gets permanent price cut to just $100

Amazon also hints at possible Amazon Key functionality for Ring’s smart doorbells.

At the tail end of February, it was announced that Amazon had purchased smart doorbell-maker Ring for around $1 billion. That deal was officially completed on Thursday, April 12, and during an interview with CNET, Amazon’s head of devices (Dave Limp) shed some light on what we’ll see from the two brands going forward.

Right off the bat, the biggest change consumers will see is a permanent price cut for the base Ring Video Doorbell. The smart gadget usually sold for around $150, but going forward, it’ll have a new MSRP of just $100. Limp says this is a “major step” to get more people into the smart home security market, and it makes Ring’s option even more affordable than competitor Nest’s Hello smart doorbell that sells for $229.

On a similar note, Limp also hinted that we could see its Amazon Key feature expand to Ring’s doorbells in the near future.

Commenting on this, he noted that –

As it relates to Key, that’s obviously one that we’ll look at pretty closely. I wouldn’t want to make any commitments at this point in time, but it’s certainly one that’s on the list that we’ll start thinking about.

The original Ring Video Doorbell isn’t the best in its class, but for the new $100 price, it’s one of the most affordable options that consumers have to choose from.

If you still haven’t jumped on the smart doorbell bandwagon, will this new price push you to do so?

See at Amazon

ESPN+ launches on Android and Chromecast for $4.99/month

Available now through the ESPN app.

The number of video streaming services that are available to choose from is pretty staggering these days, and now another one’s joining the ranks in the form of ESPN+. ESPN+ is available as part of an update to the existing ESPN app, and it’s made by Disney-owned BAMTech – the same company that made streaming apps for HBO and WWE.

ESPN+ is already available on a number of platforms, including Android, Chromecast, Fire TV, iOS, Apple TV, and on the web. The service costs $4.99/month, and if you sign up by April 18, you’ll get a free 30-day trial. After that, the trial will be limited to just 7 days.

The service is accessed through the “Watch” section in the ESPN app, and it’s joined by ESPN’s other original and featured content.

Subscribers of ESPN+ will be able to watch one MLB and NHL game while they’re in season, but you won’t find any NFL or NBA games. Rather than being a replacement for the main ESPN channel offered through cable/satellite networks, ESPN+ is meant to be an extension of the content being served there. ESPN+ is, however, the sole place to watch every MLS match (national blackouts aside) in the U.S., replacing the previous MLS Live service.

Some of the shows currently available with ESPN+ include:

• Last Days of Knight – The behind-the-scenes story of why high school All-Americans were leaving Indiana University men’s basketball coach Bob Knight’s program, and the subsequent fallout after the story broke.
• Draft Academy – An 8-part documentary following six players on their journey to the 2018 NFL draft.
• Detail – Kobe Bryant breaks down a game from the night before throughout the NBA Playoffs.

ESPN+ is also home to the company’s entire archive of its 30 for 30 documentary series as well as “thousands” of hours of live tennis, boxing, golf, soccer, cricket, and rugby games. Video streams will be shown in HD at 60 FPS and you’ll have controls for pausing, rewinding, etc. as you see fit.

See at ESPN

Best In-ear Headphones in 2018

Whether you’re looking for a budget option or a high-end pair of earbuds, these are the best in-ear headphones available today.

Choosing a pair of in-ear headphones is tough. We all have different tastes, budgets, and needs, and there are thousand sof models to choose from. The audio industry has evolved over the last two years as more and more brands continue to get rid of the headphone jack, leading to a healthy selection of Bluetooth in-ear headphones as well as truly wireless options.

With such a diverse array of options available across price points — ranging from $20 all the way to $900 — there’s no dearth of in-ear headphones to choose from. We’ve compiled a list of the seven best options available, including budget picks that start off at just $15, USB-C earbuds, neckbuds, and wireless options.

The products listed below are sorted by price — starting from the most affordable to the costliest option. Without further ado, these are the best in-ear headphones available today.

• Panasonic RP-TCM125 Ergofit
• Xiaomi USB-C Earphones
• HiFiMan RE-400
• Marshall Mode EQ
• Jaybird X3
• Jabra Elite 65t
• 1MORE Quad Driver

Panasonic RP-TCM125 Ergofit

If you’re looking to get a pair of budget earbuds to replace the ones bundled in your phone’s box (if there’s a pair included in the first place), then the Panasonic RP-TCM125 should be at the top of your list.

The RP-TCM125 has been in the market for some time now, and its popularity stems from the fact that it is extremely affordable — it costs just $12 on Amazon, which is a steal for what’s on offer.

The earbuds deliver sound that’s on par with products that cost thrice as much, and you get a durable construction as well as an integrated microphone, and it comes in several color options.

See at Amazon

Xiaomi USB-C Earphones

If your phone doesn’t have a headphone jack and if you don’t want to go the wireless route, then the best option is to pick up a pair of USB-C earbuds. There aren’t many products that cater to this market, and the few that do cost in the vicinity of $100.

Xiaomi is also one of the manufacturers that decided to get rid of the 3.5mm jack on its flagships, but on the bright side its USB-C earbuds are some of the most affordable around.

The Mi USB-C Earphones has a durable construction that sees a braided cable and a titanium-plated housing for the earbuds. The sound quality is great, there’s a built-in mic, and best of all, it comes with the ability to tune out ambient noise.

Xiaomi built its name making affordable products that offer great value for money, and its USB-C headphones are a continuation of that effort. For $49, they effectively undercut Essential’s USB-C earbuds by half.

See at Gearbest

HiFiMan RE-400

HiFiMan rose to prominence thanks to its planar magnetic headphones, but the brand’s in-ear offerings are nothing to scoff at either.

If you’re looking for a pair of $50 earbuds, the HiFiMan RE-400 is an excellent choice. The earbuds offer an extremely comfortable fit, and they deliver a neutral soundstage that makes them stand out from the rest of the offerings in this price range.

The RE-400 manages to deliver exquisite detail while listening to movies or music, while not overcompensating on the bass. If you want a pair of earbuds that offer a balanced soundstage, then you’ll love what the RE-400 has to offer. Best of all, it costs just $49.

See at Amazon

Marshall Mode EQ

Marshall made its foray into the world of headphones a few years ago, licensing its brand name to Sweden’s Zound Industries. The company started rolling out products that resembled Marshall’s iconic guitar amps, and the sound quality on offer wasn’t all that bad either.

The Marshall Mode is like the HiFiMan RE-400 in that it delivers a balanced soundstage, but there’s an option to turn up the bass by pressing a toggle on the remote. It comes with a sturdy construction, a single-button remote that lets you receive calls and control music playback, integrated microphone, and retro design flair that makes it stand out.

For $99, you can’t go wrong with the Marshall Mode EQ.

See at Amazon

Jaybird X3

If you’re looking for a solid pair of workout earbuds that will endure the rigors of the gym, the Jaybird X3 is a great option. They’re extremely durable, the neckband connecting the two earbuds can be configured over- or under-ear, and Jaybird offers a one-year warranty against sweat-related damage.

The sound quality is pretty great, and you’ll particularly like these if you listen to bass-heavy tunes. There’s also the option of tailoring the EQ via the Android app, and you get over eight hours’ worth of battery life from a full charge.

The Jaybird X3 offers a variety of Comply tips, allowing you to find the perfect fit and making sure the earbuds don’t fall out in the middle of your workout. Overall, the $129 Jaybird X3 is a great choice if you’re looking for wireless workout earbuds.

See at Amazon

Jabra Elite 65t

There are a few decent options available if you’re in the market for truly wireless earbuds, and the Jabra Elite 65t is one of the best in this category. For $169, you get great sound quality, a comfortable all-day fit, volume controls, and they work with Google Assistant.

The Elite 65t offers two microphones in each earbud, and it does a fantastic job when it comes to eliminating background noise. The earbuds pair with your phone over Bluetooth 5.0, and you should see improved connection quality as well as better range provided your phone also has Bluetooth 5.0.

You get a five-hour battery life, and the charging case has a built-in battery that’s good for charging the earbuds twice over. The fit and finish as well as the overall sound quality makes the Jabra Elite 65t a great option if you’re looking to go truly wireless.

See at Amazon

1MORE Quad Driver

1More is known for delivering audiophile-grade sound for a fraction of the cost, and its latest Quad Driver earbuds are further proof that you don’t need to shell out big bucks for impressive sound quality. The 1MORE Quad Driver features four drivers in total — three BA (balanced armature) drivers along with a diamond-like carbon driver — and they manage to deliver stellar sound that’s balanced and full of detail.

The Quad Driver has robust build quality with kevlar-coated cables, and the housing for the earbuds is milled out of aluminum. You get a mic and a three-button remote for music playback controls, nine ear tips, and a leather carrying case. Oh, and they’re the world’s first THX-certified headphones.

See at Amazon