How to move photos on your phone to a microSD card

MicroSD cards can free up precious storage space on our phones, but only if you set it up to.

We wish all phones came with unlimited storage out of the box, but at least many Android phones have the option to expand that storage with microSD cards. Not every phone supports a microSD card — looking at you, Google Pixel 2 — but for those that do, the microSD card can give you more space for your app data, for your music and movies, and of course for your photos! That said, you can only reap these benefits if you take the time to set up your device to take advantage of it.

• How to pick a microSD card for photography
• How to change directories in the camera app
• How to move photos you’ve already taken to a microSD card

How to pick a microSD card for photography

MicroSD cards don’t usually come with your phone unless it’s part of an accessory bundle, but these cards are easy to find at most electronic and department stores. You can almost always find good cards on sale, so keep an eye on Thrifter if you don’t need a microSD card right this second.

If you want the best and you want it now, we suggest picking up a Samsung EVO U3 microSD card. It’s available in four storage capacities, from 32GB up to 256GB, and with a U3 speed rating it should be able to handle your photo and video-taking tasks.

See at Amazon

Once you buy your microSD card and get it inserted into your phone, it’s not going to magically move all your photos and videos to it. We have two important tasks we need to accomplish for that.

How to change directories in the camera app

Your camera app picks a spot to save photos based on the available storage. In most cases, the default is typically the phone itself. Changing that will make your life a lot easier, especially after you have a microSD card installed.

This will ensure that any new photos you take are automatically stored to the microSD card rather than internal storage. Note: these steps are taken from the Samsung Galaxy S9+ and Samsung Camera app, but the steps should be more or less the same on most devices.

Open your **Camera app*.

Tap Settings (the gear icon).

Scroll down and tap Storage location.

Tap SD card.

Now the camera app will send newly taken photos to the microSD card, but what about all the photos you’ve already taken that are taking up storage space on your internal storage? We need to move those over to the microSD card.

How to move photos you’ve already taken to a microSD card

To move files from internal storage to the microSD card, we’ll need a file manager app. Some phones come with file manager apps already installed, like Samsung’s My Files app, but if yours doesn’t, there are plenty of third-party apps that will do this as well, like Solid Explorer that you can use for this. We’ve used the Samsung My Files for these steps on a Samsung Galaxy S9+, but the steps should be the same on most devices.

Open your file manager app.
Open Internal Storage.

Open DCIM (short for Digital Camera Images).

Long-press Camera.
Tap the three-dot menu icon and then tap Move.

Tap SD card.

Tap DCIM. If a DCIM folder isn’t on your SD card, tap Create folder and make a DCIM folder.

Tap Done to initiate the transfer.

Time for more photos

Once your photos are set up, you can snap away, content in the knowledge that you don’t be filling your internal storage to the brim and bogging down your phone. It is also worth mentioning, however, that while it’s easy to assign Camera photos to go to the microSD card, on many phones you cannot reassign Screenshots to capture to SD the same way, so be sure to come back every now and then and copy your screenshots over to SD to keep them from filling up your phone.

You can also back up everything with Google Photos, check out how!

Motorola has sold over 70 million Moto Gs

The goal for this latest generation is to reach the 100 million mark.

Motorola just launched its latest generation of the Moto G, with three phones — the G6, G6 Plus and G6 Play — that bear little resemblance to the humble original Moto G from 2013. Though the size, features and specs of the G series have evolved heavily over the last five years, the mission is still the same: be a phone for the masses that’s affordable but also has an experience beyond its price. And apparently, it’s worked — Motorola’s Sergio Buniac, whom I spoke with prior to the G6 launch, said that Motorola has sold over 70 million Moto G series smartphones since the line launched.

Any company would love to have a phone line that sold 70 million phones in just five years.

That’s 70 million phones in five years, or an average of 12 million phones per year. And considering sales numbers were initially quite low, selling only a few million per year, 2016 and 2017 have obviously been enormous for the Moto G series and Motorola as a whole. Even though the Moto E and lower-end Moto Z Play series phones have been solid growth areas for Motorola in some markets, the Moto G has driven a large portion of its success since being acquired by Lenovo in 2014. Buoyed by what have clearly been strong Moto G sales, Motorola has taken a top-2 position across the biggest markets in Latin America, and also become the No. 1 unlocked phone brand in the U.S.

Motorola sees the growth continuing on an aggressive upswing as well. Mr. Buniac said that within this generation of Moto G phones, the company’s goal is to reach 100 million total sales. Considering these phones will be on sale for roughly 18 months, that’s an extremely impressive number. The new Moto G6 series won’t be on sale in the U.S. for a few weeks, but went on sale on announcement day in Brazil and other Latin American countries — and I expect that sales were strong from the start.

Best Wireless Charging Pads for Samsung Galaxy S9

Keep your Galaxy S9 charged without the charging cables.

If you’re upgrading to the Samsung Galaxy S9 in 2018, you’re going to want to try out the wireless charging functionality. There’s a large number of options out there for wireless charging, but not all are made equal.

If you want a reliable wireless charging pad that won’t let you down, check out these great products!

• Samsung Fast Charge Convertible Wireless Charging Pad
• Samsung Wireless Charging Pad w/ 2A wall adapter
• iOttie iON Wireless Qi Wireless Charging Pad
• Aukey Wireless Charger
• Spigen Qi Wireless Charging Stand

Samsung Fast Charge Convertible Wireless Charging Pad

Samsung’s wireless charging pad combines the best wireless charging technologies packed into a really sleek design. Launched alongside the Galaxy S8, it features a premium leather-like appearance and ingenious design which allows you to easily convert this pad into an angled charging stand.

The charger also comes with a spare Samsung Fast Charge wall charger which is another accessory that ensures your phone charges safely, and allows you to fast charge your Galaxy S9 wirelessly at your home or office. you can snag one of your own from Amazon now in black for $45 or brown for just $35.

See at Amazon

Samsung Wireless Charging Pad w/ 2A wall adapter

If functionality and cost are your two biggest buying factors, you’ll want to consider Samsung’s old style of wireless charging pad.

These charging pads look like mini-UFOs and are Fast Charge-compatible for devices that support it such as the Galaxy S9. It also comes with a Samsung 2A wall charger — always great — and comes with a standard one-year warranty.

This is a great option if you’re looking to set up wireless charging at your home and at work because they’re so damn cheap right now — only $28. You can also get the older style as a charging stand ($39)if you prefer that look instead. You may also want to consider this bundle which includes Samsung’s car charger along with two cables (Micro-USB and USB-C) for just $38.

See at Amazon

iOttie iON Wireless Qi Charging Pad

This updated wireless charger from iOttie might seem like a slightly bulkier option compared to the sleek Samsung chargers, but it’s packed with smart features. It’s Qi-compatible with charging zone that’s capable of 5V/1~2.4A output with a non-slip ring to hold your phone in place on top while it charges.

It supports Wireless Fast Charging up to 10W for Samsung Galaxy S9, and with an 18W USB-C input you’ll be able to wirelessly charge one phone and then charge a second device with the included USB-A port.

It’s all packaged in a beautiful and soft fabric that’s so trendy these days, and proper heat ventilation to maximize charging efficiency. Get yours for just $50.

See at Amazon

Aukey Wireless Charger

Aukey has once again updated its wireless charging pad for Qi-enabled devices, and it’s arguably the coolest and slimmest pad on this list. It’s an updated version of Aukey’s coaster-sized charger, and has a pretty stylish and minimalist look to it and won’t take up much space on your desk or nightstand.

This charger makes use of a USB-C cable to supply power which should make for more an efficient energy transfer, and you’ll need to use a Samsung Fast Charging wall charger to get the fastest speeds for your Galaxy S9. You can get one for your home or office for just $28, with Aukey currently offering a promotion where you can snag one for just $20 on Amazon.

See at Amazon

Spigen Qi Wireless Charging Stand

Spigen’s charging stand is angled, making this a great option for your office desk so you can easily see your display while your phone is charging. If you need a way to quickly top off your phone on your desk or a new place to keep it safe on your nightstand, this may be the choice for you. Pick yours up for $25 on Amazon.

See at Amazon

Update April 2018: Added the new charging pad from Aukey and updated the pricing information.

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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Casio is reportedly done making compact cameras

Sure, Casio may be known more for remaining committed to digital wristwatches while introducing its own take on the smartwatch fad. But the company has kept a foothold in the compact camera market, producing inexpensive little devices that casual shutterbugs could slip into a pocket. Those days are coming to an end, according to Japanese site Nikkei, which reports that Casio is abandoning the compact digital camera market.

Per the report, Casio cited declining demand for compact cameras as reason to leave the market. The company will remain committed to higher-end cams, but this decision will reduce the company’s earnings forecast.

The company produced some oddball cameras in its day, like the ‘Kawaii Selfie Mirror Cam’ with a front-facing reflective service to, well, improve your selfie game. Its experiments included a detachable action camera and a nine-exposure burst-shot point-and-shoot. But in the end, the rise of smartphones with high-resolution lenses are likely to blame for killing demand for discrete little cameras.

Via: Ephotozine

Source: Nikkei

Hackers steal over $150,000 in cryptocurrency with DNS scam

MyEtherWallet (MEW) is one of the most popular online wallets for cryptocurrency. Now, it appears that the site was the subject of a DNS hack and some users lost their money. MEW wasn’t directly hacked or compromised; instead, it looks as though DNS servers were targeted and users were redirected to phishing websites instead of visiting MEW.

The hack appears to have occurred between 11 AM and 1 PM UTC yesterday (7 AM to 9 AM ET), and the team at MEW noticed that the “majority of those affected were using Google DNS servers,” as they noted in a tweet. Users likely were served an SSL warning and chose it ignore it.

MEW tweeted some tips to avoid phishing scams like this in the future. This is, of course, in addition to paying attention to SSL warnings and looking for a green bar SSL certificate to assure users that they have arrived at the intended website. The service also recommends switching from Google’s DNS servers to Cloudflare.

⅘ Some advice for our users: run a local (offline) copy of MEW platform. Use hardware wallets to store your cryptocurrencies. IGNORE any tweets, Reddit posts, or ANY messages which claim to be giving away or reimbursing ETH on behalf of MEW.

— MyEtherWallet.com (@myetherwallet) April 24, 2018

Users lost a total of $152,000 (216 Ether) in this hack according to Coindesk, but TechCrunch reports that the actual total is probably higher: Somewhere in the range of $365,000. The trouble is, because the hack wasn’t actually a security issue with MEW, it’s hard to guard against this sort of thing.

Kevin Beaumont reports that it was actually Amazon’s internet domain service, rather than Google’s, that was targeted in the attack. The hackers rerouted and served DNS traffic for over two hours. Right now, it appears as though MEW was the only target, but this attack serves to further highlight just how vulnerable the “phone book of the internet” really is.

Source: TechCrunch

‘Hypnospace Outlaw’ is GeoCities moderator, the game

If you used the internet in the mid-to-late 90s, you probably remember GeoCities. Bright, garish webpages full of animated glitter and barely readable text. It was a different time, before Facebook, Twitter and anything resembling an ephemeral ‘story.’

The old web-hosting service is now the inspiration for an upcoming adventure game called Hypnospace Outlaw. It takes place in an alternate reality where the internet — known as the Hypnospace — has evolved around archaic but deeply personal web pages. You play as a lowly internet janitor moderator person who has volunteered to patrol the platform in exchange for a virtual currency known as Hypno Coin. It can only be spent, however, on upgrades for your clunky Hypno OS computer.

Throughout the game, you’ll receive automated messages about Hypnospace “violations.” You’re then tasked with finding the pages and corresponding users that are breaking the company’s rules. Each investigation is a unique text-based puzzle. The process and solutions, of course, are a mystery for now. In an interview, developer Jay Tholen hinted that page tags and a search engine will play a crucial role, however. “There are other weird ways to solve the puzzles,” he said, “but I don’t want to spoil the conceits of those.”

The allure of the game, though, is undoubtedly its nostalgia-fueled aesthetic. Each page is littered with low-resolution GIFs and fonts that make Comic Sans look sophisticated. Many websites also have music that auto-play in the background, reflecting the tastes and personality of the page owner. You can customize the operating system with different themes and icon layouts. There’s also a desktop helper similar to the iconic Clippy and Merlin Office Assistants. “I just felt like we needed it!” Tholen said. “This [game] wouldn’t be the same without a weird desktop assistant hanging around.”

“It’s always fun to feel like you’re on someone else’s weird computer.”

If you want to take a break from internet sleuthing, you can care for a Tamagotchi-style pet on your desktop. You’ll have to pet, feed and dispose of its poop that clogs up your screen as dedicated icons, however. “If too much poop is hanging around, they’ll get sick and die,” Tholen said. “And then you’ll have a gravestone that you can’t remove from your desktop.” It’s a clear throwback to the Windows 95 and 98 era of personal computing. There’s a ghostly trail, for instance, that follows your cursor around the screen, and a bunch of weird software you can download from legally dubious sources.

“It’s always fun to feel like you’re on someone else’s weird computer,” Tholen said. “The games I’ve played that let you do that… even if it’s a little clunky, there’s something strange, nice and interesting about just poking around someone else’s system. Hopefully, that transfers [with Hypnospace Outlaw].”

Tholen was inspired to make the game after working as a telemarketer at a Squarespace-style website-building company. “It was very, very Geocities,” he explained. The service was marketed to older people who wanted a website for their small business. “Or for their dogs,” Tholen added. “There were lots of dog and cat websites.” At the company, he also took on paid work that involved building a website to a customer’s exact specification.

One of these projects, commissioned by a user called Psychic Elizabeth Claire, was for a website filled with references to the Bewitched cartoon. “She wanted me to use the theme song and everything,” Tholen said. He tried to explain that this would be a copyright infringement, and generally a bad idea, but “Claire” was persistent. Eventually, Tholen gave in, believing that nobody of note would visit the site anyway. “And then she started annoying everyone,” he recalled. Tholen later left the company, but not before giving his personal number to the client. One day, Claire left a voicemail that said she would walk into a church and “light a candle for you to break your neck” if Tholen didn’t call her back.

“It was weird, and I felt a little guilty.”

The company Tholen had worked for eventually blocked and canceled her account. The budding game developer then received a call from a young girl demanding an explanation for her mother’s treatment. During the conversation, she explained that “Claire” could barely read. “And then a lot of stuff started to make sense,” Tholen said. “Because a lot of the work had been writing down what she was saying to me.” He started to look at their conversations differently. “It was weird, and I felt a little guilty,” he said, “because maybe this was just some poor lady trying to do a hustle (online).”

These types of stories are explored in Hypnospace Outlaw. Over time, you’ll learn more about the users you’re investigating and how Hypnospace’s policies are affecting them. “You’ll also eventually be able to see some of their files that they don’t think other people can see,” Tholen hinted. In the real world, the developer believes that everyone is “infinitely interesting” with complexity that goes beyond their online persona. He has strived, therefore, to give each character a “crunchiness” with lots of hidden details to discover. “So they’re not just a pastiche on a type of person.”

Hypnospace Outlaw was successfully crowdfunded in September 2016. The game has changed substantially over the last 18 months, however. The original concept, for instance, had you chasing targets on a virtual Hypnospace Highway. It stemmed from an early prototype, Hypnospace Enforcer, which focused heavily on this fast, twitch-based gameplay. Tholen was coming off Dropsy, a traditional adventure game, and wanted to make something completely different. He also worried that Twitch was giving people few reasons to actually play adventure games themselves.

“Because [normally] there’s no particularly unique feeling to playing it,” he said, “or achievement, or any kind of creative input from the player. You’re just doing the same exact thing that you saw the streamer do in an adventure game.”

“I don’t want to spoil too much.”

As development progressed, though, he realized the operating system could serve a similar role. Backers loved the customization aspect and wanted to explore both Hypno OS and the Hypnospace for themselves. The highway mechanic is still in the game, according to Tholen, but it will have a diminished role. “This game exists as a game within the game now,” Tholen hinted. “Sort of. I don’t want to spoil too much about it.”

Hypnospace Outlaw will be released later this year on PC, Mac and Linux. It’s being published by No More Robots, the same company behind Descenders and the Brexit-themed Not Tonight. Tholen says it’s possible a special edition will come out later with a Hypnospace website builder and custom music generator. “Some version of the game so that people can mod it themselves and add their own fake internets,” he said.

How very GeoCities.

Source: Hypnospace Outlaw

DOJ is reportedly investigating Huawei for violating Iran sanctions

The US government (and its intelligence agencies) have been warning consumers against buying Huawei smartphones, which has led to major cellular carriers in the country backing away from deals with the company. But it appears that Huawei’s troubles aren’t over yet. The Wall Street Journal reports that the US Department of Justice is looking into whether Huawei may have violated the country’s sanctions against Iran.

Issues with Huawei stem from its perceived ties to the Chinese government. Its founder was a senior engineer with the Chinese Liberation Army. The concern is that allowing a company that might be beholden to a foreign government access to the US telecommunications network is a bad idea. So far, the Congress has proposed blocking Huawei from any government contracts and advised carriers, ISPs and private citizens against buying the company’s products.

The scope of this new probe is unclear, nor are we aware of specific allegations being made against Huawei. However, it signals that the US government is interested in the company’s actions at a broader level. If the Department of Justice finds that Huawei violated sanctions against Iran, the company and its officials could face criminal penalties.

Source: The Wall Street Journal

Lexus’ 2019 ES will be its first model with CarPlay support

Toyota has slowly been entering the modern era with full smartphone integration in its cars, and now it’s time for the company’s upscale Lexus badge. Lexus has revealed that the 2019 ES sedan is its first-ever vehicle to support Apple CarPlay, giving iPhone owners familiar apps and Siri while they ride in style. There’s still no Android Auto support, sadly, but you do get Alexa voice control both in and outside of the car.

The ES is a tech-laden car even if you don’t care for voice assistants. The standard model includes an 8-inch center display, but you can spring for a navigation package that gives you an ultra-wide 12.3-inch screen and a mobile Verizon hotspot. Every variant comes with an updated pre-collision detection system that can detect cyclists. And this being a Toyota brand, there’s naturally a hybrid variant — the ordinary V6-equipped ES 350 is joined by a hybrid ES 300h whose updated electric motor is better at mimicking the power delivery of a gas engine. You shouldn’t see as much of an obvious change when the electric motor kicks in.

Lexus hasn’t divulged pricing for the new ES (the 2018 model starts at $38,335), but it should reach dealerships in September. We’d expect CarPlay to reach other Lexus vehicles as the 2019 model year arrives. As with the earlier Toyota announcements, this iPhone tie-in isn’t likely to reel you in by itself. Rather, it’s that you no longer have to rule out a Lexus if CarPlay is a must-have.

Source: Lexus

Bandsintown integrates Apple Music for in-app streaming

If you’re like me, looking at your local concert listings is usually accompanied by blasting the music of the bands you encounter along the way. That task typically requires multiple apps, but live music discovery company Bandsintown now offers Apple Music subscribers the ability to stream tunes directly inside of its mobile software. When you visit an artist’s tour dates page, you’ll see a play button up top. Tap it and a selection of songs will begin. You can also tap an EQ icon in the bottom right corner of the app to browse other tracks.

This should be a handy addition for the Apple Music faithful, but what about people who use other services? Bandsintown says the goal is to “enhance music and artist discovery for all of its users,” but Apple’s MusicKit is the first offering that allows it to do something like this. And thanks to MusicKit, users who aren’t Apple Music subscribers can sign up for a free trial with ease.

Bandsintown already connects to your Spotify account to alert you to shows from your favorite artists and serve up recommendations, so hopefully a similar player for that streaming service will be available in the near future.

Snapchat’s latest AR trick turns Lenses into games

Snapchat’s augmented reality Lenses are clever, but not particularly engaging. You probably won’t use them outside of the occasional moment when they help express what you’re feeling. Snap may have a clever way to keep you coming back, though: add a game-like element. It’s unveiling Snappables, or Lenses that let you play AR games (and other interactive experiences) with friends. You can fight aliens, blow up virtual bubble gum, or jump into a world like a nightclub. You’ll even get a score in some of these experiences, in case you want to challenge a friend.

The first Snappables will be available this week on both Android and iOS, and you’ll automatically receive new examples as they arrive. They’ll sit to the left of the capture button inside the Snapchat app, while regular Lenses will show on the right.

As unusual as it might seem to make games through Lenses, rather than stand-alone mini-apps, it makes sense for a company in the midst of a turnaround. Games not only increase the chance you’ll use Lenses, but also make it likelier that you’ll stay inside the app for longer. A back-and-forth game rivalry might last longer than a short exchange of ordinary Lenses. And that, in turn, might lead to you exploring Stories and other app features.

Source: Snap, App Store, Google Play