Hackers hijacked traffic through Amazon servers for two hours, undetected

The event, which only lasted about two hours on Tuesday, April 24, saw traffic to Amazon’s cloud web hosting servers redirected to malicious websites. Not all of the traffic, just a small slice of it, about 1,300 IP addresses, according to Oracle. The attack saw traffic to MyEtherWallet redirected a malicious version of itself, where the attackers could siphon cryptocurrency off of users who thought they were logging into their cryptocurrency wallets.

One such site, MyEtherWallet, was cloned by attackers but likely didn’t result in the kind of massive theft we’re used to seeing when cryptocurrency wallets or exchanges are attacked. According to Ars Technica, the cryptocurrency wallet into which the fake MyEtherWallet site was dumping its cryptocurrency already had about $27 million worth of cryptocurrency in it.

Details like this have led some to believe the attack could have been state-sponsored, potentially with ties to Russia.

“So far the only known website to have traffic redirected was to MyEtherWallet.com, a cryptocurrency website. This traffic was redirected to a server hosted in Russia, which served the website using a fake certificate — they also stole the cryptocoins of customers,” wrote security researcher Kevin Beaumont. “The attacks only gained a relatively small amount of currency from MyEtherWallet.com — however their wallets in total already contained over [20 million pounds] of currency. Whoever the attackers were are not poor.”

It may not have been the first time these hackers have staged such an attack either, according to Ars. There were a couple suspiciously similar attacks in 2013 when hackers hijacked internet traffic to a number of U.S. companies, routing the traffic through Russian ISPs. Affected companies included Visa, MasterCard, Apple, and Symantec. Eight months later, another set of U.S. companies saw their traffic hijacked with the same kind of exploit.

These 2013 attacks used the same “border gateway protocol” exploit as today’s attack. Beaumont elaborated that today’s attack requires access to sophisticated equipment, which leads him to believe MyEtherWallet was not likely the only target — just the one we happened to notice.

“Mounting an attack of this scale requires access to BGP routers are major ISPs and real computing resource to deal with so much DNS traffic. It seems unlikely MyEtherWallet.com was the only target, when they had such levels of access,” Beaumont wrote. “Additionally, the attackers failed to obtain an SSL certificate while man-in-the-middle attacking the traffic — a very easy process — which alerted people to the issue at scale.”

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Upload Stories faster — or preview the entire thing — with new Instagram tools

Instagram

Instagram Stories are meant to be a collection of the moments from the last 24 hours but Instagram will soon allow you to upload those moments in bulk. On Tuesday, April 24, Instagram announced two Stories updates designed to streamline the process of creating those daily posts. The Instagram update brings multiple photo uploads as well as suggested location tags to Stories.

The first update allows users to add up to ten photos or videos to a Story at one time, rather than individually adding each image. Instagram says the update will allow users to preview their entire Story at once before publishing, but can also make it easier to update a Story once you get a better connection.

When adding to a Story, users will soon see a new icon at the top with multiple images layered together (similar to the icon Instagram uses in profiles to mark a post that has multiple images). Tapping that icon allows Instagrammers to add more than one image or video to the Story at a time, up to 10. Content is uploaded in whatever order the user selects the images in.

Once the content is selected, the edit screen still uses the usual slew of Stories’ features like stickers — and only the upload is done in bulk, so other effects are applied to the images individually. The individual images are displayed in a filmstrip at the bottom for navigating to each one to edit before uploading. Instagram will then show a preview of that full upload, allowing users to preview their entire Story at once.

The second Stories update rolling out is location suggestions. When using location-based stickers, Instagram will soon suggest places near where the photo was captured, if the geo-tagging feature on the smartphone was turned on. Instagram says the option is designed to make it easier to remember where the image was captured, even when uploading a Throwback Thursday to a Story.

Both updates are available for Android users with an app update beginning today. iOS users will see the feature too, but the update isn’t available yet. Instagram says iOS users can find the update “in the coming weeks.”

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Philips claims a ‘world’s first’ with a 4K HDR display for PC arriving this summer

Envision Peripherals is gearing up to launch the world’s first desktop monitor with the coveted VESA DisplayHDR 1000 certification. Marketed as the Philips Momentum 436M (436M6VBPAB), the monitor will pack a 43-inch screen with a 3,840 x 2,160 resolution when it ships later this summer for $999. 

Key Specs

Size: 43 inches

Resolution: 3,840 x 2,160

Peak brightness: 1,000 nits

Price: $999

Availability: Late summer 

Along with 4K and Ultra High Definition (UHD), the big hype machine pushing monitor and TV sales also pitches the term high dynamic range, or HDR. While 4K is a significant jump in visual clarity from Full HD, HDR is a significant jump in visual depth. HDR increases color richness using a higher contrast between light and dark images, whereas a 4K resolution provides better clarity using additional pixels to sharpen edges. 

Enter DisplayHDR, a new system created by VESA to classify HDR-compatible desktop monitors so customers can better understand the visual range of the display in regard to contrast and color accuracy. There are three certified labels: 400 for entry-level HDR displays, 600 for midrange HDR fidelity, and 1,000 for enthusiasts. 

The details regarding the upcoming Philips Momentum 436M are rather slim right now, but we do know the display is based on quantum dot technology. That means it relies on nano-sized semiconductor crystals that generate pure, monochromatic blue, green, and red light. They also provide a higher peak brightness than your typical pixel on an LCD screen. 

That’s also where the new DislpayHDR numbering system comes into play. Displays that fall under the DisplayHDR 400 umbrella have a peak brightness of 400 nits. Likewise, DisplayHDR 600 is for panels capable of 600 nits, and DisplayHDR 1000 is for the high-end displays that can crank the brightness up to a crazy 1,000 nits. Meanwhile, your typical desktop monitor is around 300 to 350 nits. 

The Philips Momentum 436M6 promises “a wider range of more accurate colors – especially dark reds and greens – that stay crisp and clear even in bright light.” It’s backed by the company’s Ambiglow technology that generates a “halo” of light outside the screen. This tech presents the illusion of a larger screen by processing each flashed image and matching the outer glow colors with those displayed on the screen. Users can manually adjust the external lighting as well. 

At this time, we don’t have a full specifications list, including the panel’s port complement. But according to the company, the Philips Momentum 436M6 will include MultiView technology, enabling customers to view two connected devices simultaneously, such as a desktop and a laptop, or a set-top-box and a gaming console. Based on those descriptions, the panel should have at least two HDMI inputs. 

“[The] DisplayHDR 1000 level of picture performance will offer a more intense gaming and entertainment experience. The contrast and color really bring action scenes alive like we’ve never seen before,” says Chris Brown, Philips Monitors global marketing manager. 

We should hear more about the Philips Momentum 436M in the coming months. 

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How to access the Dark Web

The Dark Web is an infamous digital hive of scum and villainy, where people around the world visit their black markets and conduct encrypted business away from any watching eyes. Naturally, that makes a lot of people curious.

However, there are other, more innocent reasons to use the Dark Web. Reporters, for example, may use it as a way to communicate with whistleblowers who want to protect their identity. Internet users under oppressive regimes may access the Dark Web to communicate freely with the outside world. White hat coders may want to search for and study various bits of malware to prepare defenses, and so on.

Here’s the bottom line: If you are interested in checking out the Dark Web, we can show you how to access it — as long as you are careful. Check out the steps below to learn more.

Step 1: Start with encryption: Download Tor and the Tor browser

Tor is the encryption program people use to navigate the Dark Web. While this encryption can work with several different dark browsers, the most common option is the Tor browser, because it’s free and easy to use.

These days, however, it’s common practice to add Tails, which is an additional security measure to protect your IP address. We suggest you start by downloading a safe version of Tails here. This Tails download should include Tor and the Tor browser as one complete package, so you have everything you need to get started. However, note that Tails requires an attached, empty USB storage drive to work, so you may have to buy an extra flash drive.

You may also want to download and enable a VPN (virtual private network) for additional security when using Tor and Tails. When getting ready for the Dark Web, you can never have too much security.

Step 2: Prepare your computer

You don’t want anything on your computer that a hacker could take advantage, which is pretty much everything. So take a minute to clear things up — shut down all apps and ongoing functions.

Close any files you may be working on. Disconnect or cover up your webcam and do the same with any mic settings your computer has – yes, these can be used against you. It’s okay to get a little paranoid at this juncture.

Step 3: Open the browser with a clear destination in mind

Linux Screenshots/Flickr

Without browsers like Google carefully organizing search results, the Dark Web is somewhat disarrayed, which can make it difficult to find what you are looking for. We strongly suggest that you do a lot of research and know exactly where you are going before you start.

To help with this, there are wikis that collect various Dark Web sites or directories that are (relatively) popular stops and good places to begin. Popular options include the Onion Directory and the Hidden Wiki. Take a look at the sites that these directories have collected and see what topics interest you (and yes, these categories include absolutely everything, so please stay away from the naughty stuff like hiring hitmen or buying stolen goods).

We also suggest that you do a search for the sites that you intend to visit, to see what people are saying about their security and how safe they are. Just because a site is on these directories doesn’t mean it won’t harm you or your computer. Never visit one of these sites directly on a normal browser — draw the line at research.

Once you have a clear destination in mind, close down your browser as we detailed in step 2, and open up the Tor browser to visit these same directories. It’s also a good idea to turn off JavaScript before you begin, for additional safety. The Tor browser is essentially a rebuilt version of early Firefox browsers, so if you’ve used Firefox in the past navigation should feel familiar to you.

Step 4. Understand how transactions work before you do anything

There are no rules in a black market, but there are some agreed-upon methods of exchange so that people can trade. On the Dark Web, that means using cryptocurrency like Bitcoin.

We aren’t suggesting you try to buy anything—that’s another big can of worms—but if you do look into a transaction, understand that you’ll need a cryptocurrency to do it safely, and even then “safely” is a tricky prospect.

Generally, people who purchase anything on the Dark Web first move Bitcoins (or their cryptocurrency of choice) from the Bitcoin exchange into a heavily secured wallet. Then they move the coins from the wallet into the Dark Web. Even then, it’s advisable to use a separate wallet solely for Dark Web activity, and only move the coins you intend to spend into the wallet. Use a separate name and password for the wallet that you will never use anywhere else. Many people have had their exchanges and wallets hacked by being careless.

Step 5: Always remember, safety first

The FBI can absolutely track people on the Dark Web, and it keeps the extent of those capabilities a carefully guarded secret, which means you could still get prosecuted for breaking the law even when encrypted. Silk Road wasn’t brought down by amateurs.

However, a more immediate danger for beginners is the great number of traps and hackers in the Dark Web trying to steal personal information and follow any trace back to your computer to learn more about you. Identity theft and blackmail are rampant. So stay alert, don’t wander around too much, and don’t trust any site or contact that you find.

Step 6: Close everything when you are done

While on the Tor browser, avoid any other activity on your computer—keep everything shut down. In fact, it’s common advice to avoid even change the settings (outside of the JavaScript step we mentioned) or window size of the Tor browser, since in theory this could be used to track you.

When you are finished, close the Tor browser and shut down/restart your computer entirely. Pay close attention when starting up again, and if everything appears to be acting normally, you can enable your mic settings, webcam, and other functions again.

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Pepper the robot’s latest gig is at the Smithsonian

Pepper, a multipurpose human-shaped robot, design by Softbank, is the first robot to be adopted in Japanese homes.

Pepper the robot certainly gets around. Besides welcoming folks at department stores and airports, the friendly android is also helping out at Pizza Hut and even working as a Buddhist priest. It recently put in a spell at a grocery store in Scotland, too, though admittedly that didn’t work out so well.

The diminutive droid’s latest gig is at the Smithsonian in Washington, D.C. The organization claims to be “the first museum, research, and education complex in the world to experiment with this new and innovative technology,” and is using 25 of the robots across its various locations in D.C.

Built by Japanese telecoms giant SoftBank in collaboration with French robotics firm Aldebaran SAS, Pepper can recognize faces and emotions, and respond through voice or by showing messages and information on its torso-based tablet. It can also be programmed with data specific to its workplace in order to provide the best possible experience for humans who interact with it.

The Smithsonian’s Pepper robots can “answer frequently asked questions, tell stories, and collect limited information, as well as dance, play games, and pose for selfies.” Pose for selfies? It’s all set, then.

The hope is that the “novel interactive experience” provided by Pepper will be able to help solve common problems associated with places like museums, such as encouraging visitors to make their way to under-attended galleries, and getting them to engage more with the exhibits.

At the Smithsonian’s National Museum of African Art, for example, Pepper will be translating Kiswahilli phrases at the upcoming World on the Horizon exhibit, while its ARTLAB+ educational space will have Pepper teaching students coding and software engineering.

“When you meet Pepper, you can’t help but smile,” said Rachel Goslins, director of the Arts and Industry Building, who’s leading the program. “We’re eager to experiment with how Pepper can help us support docents and educators in the vital work they do while providing a fun and surprising experience for the millions of children and adults who visit us each year.”

If you happen to be in Washington, D.C. anytime soon and you’d like to finally meet Pepper, you’ll find the robot at these locations: The National Museum of African American History and Culture, Hirshhorn Museum and Sculpture Garden, the Smithsonian Castle, National Museum of African Art, and the Smithsonian Environmental Research Center. Full details are available here.

Want to see Pepper in action? Check out how Digital Trends got on with the bot when we bumped into it a while back.

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OnePlus opens May 16 London OnePlus 6 launch event to 1,000 of its biggest fans

Andy Boxall/Digital Trends

OnePlus has space for 1,000 people at its upcoming launch event for the OnePlus 6, and you’ve got the chance to attend. Usually, phone launches are reserved for press, partners, company employees, and other specially invited people. OnePlus, however, says it’s proud of its community of fans, and is always keen to involve them in activities, which is why it’s selling tickets to the OnePlus 6’s unveiling.

That’s right, it’s not giving the tickets away, but you won’t mind shelling out for one, because each person who attends the event will not only be one of the very first to use the OnePlus 6 itself, but will also get a bag full of desirable OnePlus goodies. The items inside the “swag bag” will far exceed the price paid for the ticket, says OnePlus. The gifts won’t end on the day either, as attendees will get something extra when they order the phone too.

You’re going to have to be quick though. Only 1,000 tickets will be available, and they will be ready to buy as you’re reading this. There is one important thing to remember before you head off to grab one — the event is being held in London on May 16, so if you don’t live in or nearby the city, you’ll have to factor in travel costs too. OnePlus isn’t covering anything like that, and while the swag bag is certainly going to be cool, its contents are unlikely to add up to the price of a plane ticket.

How much will you pay for a ticket? If you’re early enough, it’s 16 British pounds ($21), or if you miss out on the early deal, the cost rises to 30 British pounds ($41). There are also deals on buying more than one ticket if you’ve got a OnePlus-loving friend. When OnePlus launched the OnePlus 5T last year, it ran a similar offer in New York, and the swag bag contained a backpack, a T-shirt, stickers, and a money-off coupon for the phone itself. The company says everything is going to be bigger and better for the OnePlus 6, including the contents of the bag.

If you’re too far away and can’t make the journey, OnePlus will livestream the event online. For those keen to grab a ticket and visit London on May 16, pre-orders for the tickets opened at 8 a.m. British time on Wednesday, April 25. Maybe we’ll see you there?

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The new Opera Touch mobile web browser emphasizes single-handed browsing

Opera wants to make the mobile browsing experience a little smoother. The company launched a new mobile web browser called Opera Touch, which aims to take the mobile browsing experience and make it a whole lot easier.

Opera designed Touch to be easily usable with one hand only — and that is where the inspiration came from for a lot of the browser’s experience. For example, Opera has added a so-called “Fast Action” button at the bottom of the screen, which allows users to access the browser’s features with only their thumb.

”This means that, unlike in most other browsers, you can more easily browse and search the web when on the move,” Opera product manager Maciej Kocemba said in a statement.

Opera has added a few other features to make using the browser easy — and those features are aimed at being quick and super easy to use. For example, when you launch Opera, the browser will be immediately ready to search, with the keyboard activated and the search bar in use. The browser, as you would expect in 2018, also supports voice search, and QR codes.

Of course, Opera Touch is not the only new product from Opera. The company also launched an updated version of its desktop browser, which is aimed at seamlessly connecting the mobile and desktop browsing experience. To that end, Opera has allowed for connectivity between the mobile and desktop browser without the need to even log in. To connect the browsers, all you really have to do is scan the appropriate QR code using Opera Touch on your phone, which establishes a connection — that Opera calls Opera Flow. Whenever something is added to Opera Flow on one device, it will be added to the other, too. The connection is encrypted, so if you are worried about security, you don’t need to be with Flow.

It will be interesting to see if features like this can be helpful for customers. Companies have been trying for a while to easily sync the web browsing experience between multiple devices, but we are not sure that Opera Flow is the solution.

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I tried Blendle, the ‘Netflix of journalism,’ for a week and went broke — but you might not

Les Shu/Digital Trends

In less than a decade, the way we consume news has drastically changed. We’re not waiting for a nightly news broadcast or a daily paper — you get up-to-the-minute breaking news alerts wherever you are, whatever you’re doing, thanks to smartphones.

But while we can easily access a variety of news at our fingertips, many publishers have adapted to the digital landscape by adding paywalls, restricting content to non-subscribers to remain profitable. Maintaining subscriptions to various publications can be tricky, which is why Blendle wants to help. It’s an à la carte service that offers access to popular news stories for a small fee, and it has been dubbed the “Netflix of journalism.”

It’s an à la carte service that offers access to popular news stories for a small fee.

Blendle has been around since 2014, but it was originally only available in the Netherlands and Germany. The company began partnering with major U.S. publishers in 2016, and while it’s technically still in a closed beta, we set up an account through the iOS app.

The comparison to Netflix is a bit of a misnomer: Blendle works more like iTunes, allowing you to select individual stories and pay a small fee, as opposed to paying a monthly subscription fee to access all of its content. The business model is good for casual news readers, but not so much if you’re a news junkie.

Nearly perfect design

Blendle carries a diverse selection of U.S. publications. You’ll find most major newspapers including The New York Times, Washington Post, and Wall Street Journal. There’s a good list of magazines as well, including Mother Jones, The New Yorker, as well as industry-specific publications like Ad Age. There are a few glaring omissions, however, such as The Atlantic.

Les Shu/Digital Trends

You’ll have to look else where if you want access to regional and local magazines, or niche publications. Blendle mostly carries national publications with a large print run. It makes sense not to carry regional or niche publications, as they are more likely to attract readers who are willing to subscribe.

While magazines were up to date, newspapers were consistently a day behind.

Blendle’s website and the mobile app are absolutely gorgeous. It’s easy to search for content via publication, and there’s a curated content tab on the homepage. As you scroll through, you see a headline, image, and a small excerpt for each article. Additionally, you can set up reading lists and alerts to quickly find stories that interest you.

While we liked the service’s design, we did run into the problem of accidentally purchasing stories. All you need to do is tap on a story, and you’ll be charged for it. The good thing is Blendle works as an honor system, providing refunds at the end of each story if you clicked it accidentally, or if you didn’t like the story or reporting itself.

There’s another issue that’s a bit more problematic: While magazines were up to date, newspapers were consistently a day behind. We’re not sure if this is because the service is still in beta, but we’ve reached out to Blendle to learn more.

Small charges add up quickly

Blendle initially seemed too good to be true. Instead of paying for an entire issue of The New Yorker, I could just pay a few quarters for the stories I’ll actually read each week. Pricing depends on the publisher and length of story but, for the most part, almost all content is available for less than $.50. While it sounds like a win-win scenario, we crunched some numbers to see whether the service is really worth it.

Les Shu/Digital Trends

I noted down the number of stories I read for an entire week, to see exactly how much I would spend on Blendle. The total ended up being 66 stories, which costed $33 on Blendle. Apparently, a few cents here and there add up pretty quickly. If I kept up the same pace every week, my Blendle habit would come out to a little over $1,700 each year.

If I kept up the same pace every week, my Blendle habit would come out to a little over $1,700 each year.

Sure, $1,700 sounds expensive, but how does it compare to directly subscribing to the publications? If I subscribed to the seven publications I used on Blendle, I would have saved a little over $1,200 during the course of the year.

This doesn’t mean Blendle is a poor product. It’s just not meant for me. If you’re a casual reader, it’s the perfect platform. Choose when you want to read an article, and it won’t be blocked behind a paywall. If you find yourself consistently reading from these publications every week or so, it may make more sense to just subscribe to them.

Blendle has the potential to be a win-win scenario for many. You can read a story for a few cents, and publishers actually make money from people who aren’t likely to pull the trigger on an annual subscription.

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Why can’t Americans buy the best Android phone of 2018? Scaremongers

Jack Taylor/Getty Images

In 2011, U.S. customs seized and presumably destroyed 60,000 Kinder Surprise eggs — a hollow chocolate egg with a capsule inside containing a toy. Why? The Food and Drug Administration banned the eggs for fear that over-eager children may scoff the chocolate egg and toy down in one go, thus choking on the plastic parts.

“These chocolate treats may be cute and seasonal but they are too dangerous to children to be imported legally into the United States,” the Customs and Border Protection website read at the time.

There’s no evidence Huawei products are a security threat.

Then it was candy. Today it’s phones. While Huawei phones are not yet banned, Americans are now being told these devices are a threat to national security, giving the impression that simply by owning one, all our personal and private information is being monitored and presumably stored or stolen by a clandestine operation on another continent. No-one wants that, in the same way we don’t want little kids choking on a miniature plastic toys.

But there’s no evidence Huawei products are a security threat. Like the original Kinder Surprise, Huawei phones are sold all over the world (almost) without incident. As scaremongers keep the P20 out of U.S. stores, Americans are missing out on one of the best Android phones available. And that’s shame, even if you don’t want one.

One less option

There are plenty of smartphones to buy. Spend over $500 and it’s almost assured that it’ll be good. Great, even. So why cry over a phone from a brand you don’t really know? It’s simple: Choice. Having more choice is excellent for us, because it pushes companies to give us better prices and make even better devices in the future, because they’re having to work harder to earn our support.

Shutting out a manufacturer lessens that choice. Apple and Samsung must be chuckling away, because thanks to political and business machinations, they’ve not had to fight a newcomer. The Huawei P20 Pro isn’t a perfect phone, but it’s easily as good as any other phone released in the past year. Its camera is better than any other, and right now it’s our favorite Android phone of 2018. It’s absolutely worth your money. Like the Kinder Surprise, it’s inviting, fun, and you can’t buy one.

Won’t someone think about the security?

You may be thinking, “I trust these people saying Huawei and ZTE phones, services, and infrastructure equipment are a potential security risk.” It’s a fair point, and inviting trouble wouldn’t be sensible at all. You can read all about Huawei’s denial of any government involvement and how it’s privately owned — not by the state — on its site here, but is there any truth to the accusations?

“All devices have some level of risk, which varies from device to device and manufacturer to manufacturer”

Andrew Blaich, head of device intelligence at mobile security firm, Lookout, told Digital Trends there are three factors at play:

“First, speculation fueled by fear, uncertainty, and doubt. Second, insider knowledge of something known, but the information cannot be revealed at this time. Third, a general guidance to minimize any possible risk in the future based on geopolitics or other factors.”

Is there any truth to Huawei hardware having backdoors that would allow governments to spy in its users? “As of now, there is no publicly available evidence that this has happened,” he said.

Andy Boxall/Digital Trends

Additionally, Blaich said it’s unfair to single out Huawei, adding, “All devices have some level of risk, which varies from device to device and manufacturer to manufacturer, all depending on the companies, developers, agencies, technology pipeline, app stores, or network operators involved.”

Building trust

Does that mean we should just accept the risk? No, of course not, so how about looking at Huawei’s relationship with the United Kingdom as a model for keeping everyone happy?

Huawei set up the the Huawei Cyber Security Evaluation Centre in 2010 with the U.K. intelligence agency, GCHQ.

Huawei is a major supplier of network infrastructure in the U.K., and its phones are available through all the big-name carriers with or without a contract. It has a 13 percent market share, according to Counterpoint research, behind Apple and Samsung. To help assuage concerns over security, Huawei set up the the Huawei Cyber Security Evaluation Centre (HCSEC) in 2010 with the U.K. intelligence agency, GCHQ. In it, phones and network equipment are tested by Huawei employees, extensively vetted by the U.K. government, and everything is reported to the CEO of the National Cyber Security Centre, which is a part of the GCHQ itself.

“The Oversight Board concludes that in the year 2016-17, HCSEC fulfilled its obligations in respect of the provision of assurance that any risks to U.K. national security from Huawei’s involvement in the U.K.’s critical networks have been sufficiently mitigated,” reads the HCSEC 2017 annual report.

Huawei works with the U.K. government in a sensible way to reduce fears. The result is more phones on sale, and a stronger, faster, more robust network on which they operate.

Losing out

Huawei didn’t become the world’s third largest phone maker and the largest supplier of telecoms equipment by not adapting. It’s conscious of China’s poor record when it comes to espionage, and it knows it needs to do all it can to convince governments and companies it’s not a threat.

Its success has come with a limited amount of exposure in the U.S. But it’s a business, and selling phones and equipment in America means more profit, and a greater chance to become the world’s number one phone manufacturer — a repeatedly-stated company goal.

American phone buyers aren’t just missing out on the P20 Pro; but also Huawei’s investment and expertise in 5G network equipment. The Wall Street Journal reported Washington is consumed with the idea that China will have wider 5G connectivity before the U.S., and wants to do nothing to assist in its technological advancement. It’s a closed-minded approach that may see consumers suffer once again, and place more control in the hands of officials and carriers.

The barrier has resulted in Huawei deciding to leave the U.S. to get on without it for now. Current Huawei CEO Eric Xu said he “couldn’t explain” what was going on between China and the U.S., and that it was “beyond him.” Instead, Huawei will focus on the places where it’s already seeing success. And who can blame it?

Don’t just shrug your shoulders

That’s it. No P20 Pro for you. But if you want one, what can you do? Write to government representatives. Write to networks. How about going into AT&T, Verizon, or Best Buy stores and asking for the Huawei P20 Pro? If enough people tell them, it’ll get back to management. Or, why not import one and really thumb your nose at the establishment? It’s not a choking hazard, so customs won’t seize it. Alternatively, you could always not buy a phone through AT&T or Verizon next time, and choose an unlocked Google Pixel 2 instead.

Why not import one and really thumb your nose at the establishment?

Don’t think this will make a difference? If 60,000 Kinder Surprise eggs were stopped at the border, imagine how many slipped through. This, and a subtle change in packaging by Kinder, resulted in the considerably more throat-friendly Kinder Joy being sold in American stores by 2017. If we’re proactive enough, and refuse to take scaremongering at face value without evidence, perhaps Huawei’s next phone (which will have 5G, by the way) and the network equipment it connects to will be vetted by a government-backed operation in the U.S., to make sure no one is listening in.

More choice means we all win, remember?

Editors’ Recommendations

• Huawei CEO teases upcoming P20, targets 2019 for 5G-connected phone
• Huawei P20 Pro vs. Huawei P10 Plus: A year is a long time in tech
• Huawei P20 Pro vs. Samsung Galaxy S9 Plus: Are three better than two?
• The best keyboards for Android that will help you type efficiently in 2018
• Huawei P20 Pro vs. Apple iPhone X: A battle of flagship smartphones

Moto G6, G6 Play, and G6 Plus: Everything you need to know!

It has six Gs. Count ’em.

Motorola’s new Moto G6 series isn’t a reinvention of the product line exactly, but it moves the brand further in that luxury budget category so many companies, from Honor to Xiaomi, are vying to win.

There are three new phones in the series — the Moto G6, G6 Plus and G6 Play — and they’re all intriguing in their own ways. Let’s take a look at what you need to know.

Read (and watch) our preview!

Interested in jumping right into the action? We’ve got a full hands-on preview for you to look at right… now.

Moto G6 series hands-on: Hello photo

There are three to choose from

The Moto G6 isn’t a single phone, but three (so far), each aimed at a different segment of the budget market.

The Moto G6 Play is the cheapest, and forgoes some of the camera fanciness for a $199 price point. It’s also made of shiny plastic instead of shiny glass. Its 720p display isn’t great, but it’s good enough in its 5.7-inch, 2:1 aspect ratio. Its rear fingerprint sensor is tucked into the Motorola batwing symbol, which is awesome.

In the middle, the Moto G6 is the one that most people will be interested in. Made of curved Gorilla Glass 3 and adorned with two rear cameras and the ability to wake and respond to voice commands without turning on the screen first. The 5.7-inch 1080p panel is bright and gorgeous, and there’s a front-facing fingerprint sensor. At $249, it’s going to be tough to beat in the budget segment.

The Moto G6 Plus, which isn’t going to be available in North America, adds a more powerful Snapdragon processor to the mix. It’s also got a bigger 5.9-inch 1080p screen than the Moto G6, and features a slightly better camera combo, front and rear.

Moto G6, G6 Play, and G6 Plus specs

Not every country is getting every model

The reality is that Motorola approaches each market in which it sells like a separate business, and caters the release schedule for each product to various market demographics.

The Moto G6 Play and Moto G6 will be available in almost every market that Motorola operates, including the U.S. and Canada.

Unfortunately, because the Moto X4 is already so close in style and specs to the Moto G6 Plus, Motorola is choosing not to sell it in the U.S.

Let’s take it to 11 2:1

Every model in this year’s Moto G6 series has a 2:1 (aka 18:9) screen aspect ratio, aligning it with popular budget models like the Honor 7X and the new Nokia 6 as well as most high-end phones today.

That means the phones are each taller and narrower than their Moto G5 predecessors, but despite the significantly larger screen size on paper, there isn’t much additional usable space on the 5.7-inch Moto G6 than compared to, say, the 5.2-inch Moto G5 Plus, which has a more traditional 16:9 screen.

A glass house

In addition to elongating each phone, Motorola has swapped out the metal enclosures of last year’s G5 for glass — at least on the two higher-end Moto G6 phones (the G6 Play is made of a shiny plastic resin, much like the Moto E5).

The Gorilla Glass outer layer is surely more slippery and prone to picking up fingerprints, but its curves also shimmer in the light and feel more substantial, making the new Moto series much more attractive and premium-looking than their predecessors. Motorola also includes a simple clear rubberized case in the box to keep that glass looking pristine when you’re expecting to be a bit rough on the phone.

Go out and Play

The Moto G6 Play has a 4000mAh battery which, despite the phone’s last-generation Snapdragon 427 processor, ensures that it should have multi-day battery life. More importantly, it seems to be a great phone for people who just want a no-frills Android Oreo experience.

The 13MP camera isn’t going to change the game, but in our brief time with it, it worked very well, and launched quickly.

The G6 is the G5 Plus sequel

It may not seem like it on paper, but the Moto G6 is the real sequel to last year’s Moto G5 Plus. It has a Snapdragon 450 platform, which seems on paper to be a step down from the G5 Plus’s Snapdragon 625, but it’s basically the same chip with only a few minor regressions, like maximum clock speed.

For U.S. buyers, the Moto G6 is actually going to be a pretty big upgrade, owing most to the…

Camera, man

The Moto G6 has a dual camera setup: a main 12MP sensor with an f/1.8 lens and a secondary 5MP sensor that facilitates portrait mode and a few other niceties.

Motorola is also taking the camera experience a lot more seriously than in previous generations, with an interesting Smart Camera mode that identifies objects and landmarks.

The Moto G6 Plus also has a dual camera, but its 12MP sensor has a slightly wider f/1.7 lens, and its front-facing camera has a special low-light mode that uses pixel binning to get more light from every one of its 16 megapixels.

Say it, don’t spray it

On the Moto G6 and G6 Plus, Motorola has improved the popular Moto Voice functionality, allowing users to perform actions on the device itself (like turning off Bluetooth or starting to play a specific movie on Netflix) in addition to activating Google Assistant when necessary. The phones can also be activated by voice without turning on the screen first.

It’s a nice compromise and something that will be quite useful for those who use their phone in the car or when it’s across the room.

Get on the beta train

If you’re looking to be on the forefront of Motorola innovation, you’ll soon be able to sign up for the company’s new Beta Experiences program, which promises to allow users to sign up for beta versions of Motorola’s new and upcoming software and apps. We don’t know a whole lot yet about the particulars, but it’s good to know that Motorola is taking software experiences more seriously than before.

Motorola’s new Beta Experiences program will let you test new Moto features before they’re public

Where and when can you buy them?

Here’s the rub. While the Moto G6 series is already available to buy in Brazil, and will be coming to Mexico and a few other countries in Latin America in the coming weeks, it’s not coming to North America or Europe until late May.

We’ll update you when we know exactly what’s going on with the pre-order details, but if you’re interested in checking out the cases that are already available for the phones, we’ve got an early list.

Should you upgrade to the Moto G6 or another phone?

There are so many great budget phones to choose from, and Motorola has some stiff competition. At the same time, if you already have a Moto G5 series phone, should you upgrade?

• Moto G6 Plus vs. Moto G5 Plus: Should you upgrade?
• Moto G6 Plus vs. Xiaomi Redmi Note 5 Pro: Spec comparison

What’s on your priority list?

Let us know what you think about the Moto G6 series? Let us know in the comments below!