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18
May

Want to improve your mobile snaps? Check out these eight photo editing apps


These days pretty much everyone uses their smartphone to take photos, and that subsequently means the market is flooded with photo editing apps.

Indeed, most social media apps like Instagram include editors in their interface. But if you want to add even more vivid customizations to your snaps, then you might want to install a few additional photo editing apps on your device.

But given that there are tons of such apps available in the Play Store, trying to find the best apps to enhance your snaps could seem a little intimidating.

That’s why we’ve put together a guide of some of the best photo editing apps you can try out on your Android phone right now. For this article, we’ve chosen to focus on lesser-known apps rather than re-list popular offerings such as Snapseed, Adobe Photoshop Express or Candy Cam.

Each of the apps in the list offers a few unique customization options on top of the standard. Most editing apps today let you adjust brightness, contrast, orientation and so on, but the apps in this article add a little something to make your photos look a lot catchier.

Glitchr

What it is:

Vintage photo editing is a growing trend, and retro photos are something many people aspire to take. And now you can, with apps such as Glitchr.

Why we like it:

  • It’s an extremely easy-to-use photo editor. Simply upload or take a photo and start applying retro filters including VSH, 3D, JPG or Triangulate. Tap on each multiple times to see variations of the effect.
  • Meet and interact with Glitchr fans all around the world. Use the #glitchr tag when you post to Instagram and get your work featured in the app itself. This way users will easily be able to check out your retro vision.
  • Lets you share edited images to any app.
  • There are no annoying ads.

Install Glitchr

Huji Cam

What it is:

Used to love taking pictures with an analog camera? Huji Cam is a modern app that helps enable us to recreate the same grainy and raw feel to our photos.

Why we like it:

  • The app lets you get the vintage 1998 vibe in your photos.
  • Super simple to use. Just snap a picture using the tiny viewfinder and the 1998 photo effect will be automatically applied to your images.
  • Either save the results to your gallery or instantly share them with friends on social media.

Install Huji Cam

Polarr

What it is:

Polarr is a more comprehensive photo-editing app with which you’ll be able to give a new dimension to your mobile photography.

Why we like it:

  • The app has everything you need to customize your shots. From filters and face editing tools to the ability to play with exposure, brightness or contrast.
  • Polarr even allows you to create, customize and share your own filters.
  • You can choose a Dark theme, Light theme or a custom color.
  • A Pro version is also available, which gives you access to a powerful set of adjustments on targeted areas including Radial, Gradient and Depth.

Install Polarr

LightX

What it is:

Want even more features? LightX takes mobile photo editing to the next level with a slew of advanced options.

Why we like it:

  • It’s among the few editing apps that have a Photo Background Changer option. It doesn’t always work 100%, but in most cases it gets the job done.
  • It includes Color Splash Photo Effects, which are very popular these days. Basically, you can selectively apply a different color, light or grey photo effect on different regions of your photos.
  • The app lets you create photo collages and frames. What’s more, users can apply numerous photo stickers, as well as use different doodle brushes to draw on photos.

Install LightX

Mirror Lab

What it is:

Mirror Lab is a unique photo-editing app which as the name suggests lets you create mirror photos, as well as kaleidoscope images and more.

Why we like it:

  • It includes creative effects you won’t find in most apps. Choose between 50+ filters including tiny planet effect, shape cut-outs, ripples, whirls and more.
  • You can also adjust standard parameters such as brightness, contrast and saturation.
  • All filters come with several parameters to modify like the intensity of effect, rotation angle or aspect ratio.

Install Mirror Lab

A Color Story

What it is:

A Color Story is an image editing app that focuses on providing fresh effects with bright whites and colors that pop.

Why we like it:

  • The app benefits from a clean-looking interface. It includes options for basic editing including brightness, saturation or vibrance, but also more advanced options.
  • It has a gallery of filters and movable effects (some like Light Leak are really neat).
  • A Color Story will create custom filters saved from your editing steps.

Install A Color Story

Portra

What it is:

Portra lets you take pictures (and selfies) that are more dramatic. The app automatically turns your snaps into real artwork.

Why we like it:

  • Ever wonder what you’d look like as a painting? Now you can find out with Portra. Use the app’s camera to snap an image or a selfie and then apply the dramatic filters for maximum effect.
  • More than 19 colorful filters are available including sketch, oil paintings and more.
  • Easily share your pics with friends and family from the app.

Install Portra

Hypocam

What it is:

A photo editing app developed especially for those who love black-and-white photography and aim at producing better B&W shots.

Why we like it:

  • The creators behind Hypocam have studied and tested a lot of creative tools developed for B&W photography, before creating a series of unique filters you won’t find in other apps.
  • You can discover beautiful photo blogs by talented B&W photographers via The Board section.
  • Edit your B&W snaps using editing tools such as Grain, Vignette or Fade.

Install Hypocam

18
May

Is the revolutionary Tesla Semi dead? Some analysts believe so


Tesla Motors

With Tesla Motors and CEO Elon Musk caught up in a bit of a crazy media whirlwind from launch issues with the Model 3, it seems such troubles have market analysts and investors convinced that the company’s next biggest prospect, the Tesla Semi, is dead.

Tesla didn’t mention the all-important Semi during its controversial first-quarter earnings statement, SeekingAlpha points out. Some investors and analysts consequently doubt in Tesla’s ability to deliver what it promised. Others believe Tesla is pulling a “smoke and mirrors effect” once again to try and raise more capital while hiding the truth behind a range of its internal problems. Musk alluded the Semi isn’t his priority at this point.

“I actually don’t know how many reservations we have for the Semi. About 2,000? Okay. I mean, we haven’t really tried to sell the Semi. It’s not like there’s like an ongoing sales effort, so sales – orders for Semi are like opportunistic, really companies approaching us. Yeah, it’s not something we really think about much,” he told CNBC’s Phil LeBeau.

A year ago, he envisioned taking on the trucking industry with the revolutionary all-electric-powered semi-truck. Tesla’s newest truck wouldn’t only say goodbye to diesel, but would solve many of the trucking industry’s problems in a transformative manner. But doubt and skepticism set in quite early.

From an industry standpoint, the Semi seemed a little bit too distant from the reality of actual big-rig trucking, an industry particularly sentimental to simplicity. Although initial orders by PepsiCo, Anheuser-Busch, Sysco, and UPS supposedly placed a total of 315 orders, with some from other companies establishing some confidence in the project, analysts still say it’s not enough.

Feeding the fire of uncertainty, trouble at the famed Silicon Valley, California EV startup first surfaced around the same time the Tesla Semi was announced, amid quality control and manufacturing issues with the Tesla Model 3, after missing initial sales targets due to “production issues.” Rubbing salt in the wound, a recent lawsuit surfaced from another EV startup called Nikola Motor, who claims that Tesla violated a number of its patents with its Semi concept.

Change, especially when geared toward full electrification over the tried, tested, and true traditional diesel motor, is incredibly hard to implement. This is extra difficult for the trucking industry, which is heavily dependent on simplicity and ease of maintenance and a highly developed fueling infrastructure. In comparison to traditional diesel-powered trucks of today, an EV truck would simply be too costly, too complex for maintenance, and charging infrastructure still pales significantly to diesel fueling infrastructure.

Altogether, it may be that although the Tesla Semi succeeded in scoring some investment funds, it was too optimistic and out of touch with trucking reality. And as a result, for now, the Tesla Semi remains to be a pipe dream.

Editors’ Recommendations

  • Tesla Model 3 sales rev up in first quarter, outpace other electric cars in U.S.
  • Tesla’s new electric semi truck is making its debut delivery
  • Nikola sues Tesla and gets an 800-truck Anheuser-Busch order in the same week
  • Tesla electric-car tax credits may begin phasing out soon
  • Tesla Model 3 review


18
May

New malware will crash your PC if you try to thwart its digital coin mining


An aggressive form of malware designed to mine cryptocurrency is now crashing PCs when you try to remove it from the system. Dubbed “WinstarNssmMiner” by the 360 Total Security team, the malware essentially hijacks the target PC by consuming loads of processing power to mine the digital coins and attaching itself to the critical system services in Windows to prevent removal. 

“The distributor has made tremendous profit via mining Monero on infected computers,” the team said in a blog. “According to our statistics, 360 Total Security has intercepted its attack over 500,000 times in 3 days.” 

What’s not clear is how victims end up with this malware in the first place. Presumably, though, they are opening files in emails or through social media. Once it lands on a victim’s PC, it scans for antivirus software and will disable any solution not developed by Kaspersky, Avast, and other high-tier providers. If a high-profile antivirus solution is present, the malware doesn’t do anything while the antivirus software scans the file, avoiding detection. 

After that, the malware creates two system processes called “svchost.exe,” injects malicious code into these processes, and sets their attributes to “CriticalProcess.” One svchost process then begins too mine digital currency while the second svhost process keeps an eye on the installed antivirus software. If the antivirus wakes up, they stop in their tracks to avoid detection. 

That said, antivirus software doesn’t detect the new malware. But the side effect of mining digital currency is that the process eats tremendous loads of CPU horsepower, slowing down victim PCs to an annoying crawl. Device owners digging into the Task Manager will attempt to manually close the offending Service Host only to get the dreaded Blue Screen of Death. Ouch.

The cryptocurrency miner is connected to four mining pools, which are groups of miners who share their processing power and split the coin stash based on their contribution. It relies on an open-source cryptocurrency mining project called XMRig for digging up Monero coins. Given the heavy load XMRig throws onto the CPU, it’s originally designed to run on dedicated PCs, not laptops and desktops used for everyday tasks.  

This isn’t the first encounter with XMRig in malware. The WaterMiner trojan appeared in a user-made mod for Grand Theft Auto V in late 2017 by an alleged Russian hacker. After installing the mod, a hidden downloader retrieves the cryptocurrency miner and hides it as a legitimate application. It then proceeds to mine digital coins, slowing down the host PC. To avoid manual termination by the device owner, it halts once the victim opens Task Manager, disappearing from the Processes list. 

The distribution of cryptocurrency miners is a growing trend with hackers. Instead of leaking information on the black market for profit or hijacking PCs for ransom, many have taken to generating digital coins on target PCs. Current methods include malware distribution, fake browser extensions, infected advertisements, and special code embedded in malicious websites. 

So far the hackers behind the new WinstarNssmMiner malware have only generated around $28,000 in Monero coins. 

Editors’ Recommendations

  • Google plans to ban cryptocurrency mining extensions from the Chrome Web Store
  • Hackers modify ransomware to deliver a Coinhive cryptocurrency-mining payload
  • What is an ASIC miner?
  • Cryptojacking turns your PC into a Bitcoin mine, but you won’t see a cent
  • What is Bitcoin mining?


18
May

A drone made out of pizza? This YouTuber shows you just how to dough it


How do you like your drones: Fixed-wing or multirotor? Civilian or military? Thin-crust or Chicago-style? That’s the question you’ll be asking yourself after a new video from unmanned aerial vehicle-centric Spanish YouTubers deDrones. Cutting out the unnecessary extra step between drones that deliver food and, well, the food itself, they recently set out to create a drone made out of pizza.

“I did it more than anything to entertain my YouTube audience,” deDrones creator Eric Ponce Rodríguez told Digital Trends. “On my channel, I have a section called ‘rare drones,’ which consists of trying to fly drones that are a bit out of the ordinary. In this case, I made a pizza and tried to make it fly. To do this, I baked the base of the pizza to be very hard, and then added all the components of a normal racing drone: Motors, ESCs (electronic speed controls), flight controller, propellers, camera, and a battery. Once I finished, I started to add cheese, pepperoni and green pepper as if it were a real pizza.”

Rodríguez said that he was interested in the challenge of whether such an unwieldy and impractical drone could ever fly. In the end, he was satisfied that a strong enough frame could indeed be created out of pizza dough. Not that it was easy to pilot.

“It was really difficult. The motors were placed as well as I could on a pizza, but the drone was vibrating a lot, and after I tried to make a roll, one arm broke and the drone fell to the ground.” In an attempt to make piloting it as easy as possible, Rodríguez used the camera to create what is surely another world first: The first flying pizza to be piloted using first-person-view goggles.

As Rodriguez noted, this isn’t the first unusual drone he’s created. His previous innovative creations have included a 3D-printed drone, a drone made out of a CD-ROM, and a cardboard drone. He told us that he also has “very good ideas” for other original drone concepts planned for the near future.

As for the million-dollar question of whether he got to tuck into his delicious drone creation? “It’s a good question,” he laughed. “My idea was to eat the drone after the maiden flight, but this was impossible because the drone was broken in 100 pieces. I had to make a replica — and yes, I ate that one!”

Editors’ Recommendations

  • Do more with your drone: 5 things you can do with a UAV (aside from taking pics)
  • Take to the skies with the best drones under $500
  • Wish you could fly? Here are the best drones on the market right now
  • Switzerland’s new air traffic control system to put drones, planes in same skies
  • Halo Drone Pro review


18
May

Samsung’s 49-inch display pushes horizontal resolution beyond 5,000 pixels


For future Samsung displays, prospective buyers can expect to have the option of a newly detailed panel with a horizontal resolution in excess of 5,000 pixels. The new resolution is being called “dual quad HD (DQHD) and will come out at 5120 x 1440. The panel will also sport Samsung’s own three-side frameless design, a 120Hz refresh rate, and an 1,800R curvature.

Building off past efforts, Samsung’s new focus with its panel development is in ultrawides. The format is becoming increasingly popular among business users and gamers and moving forward Samsung will cater to both those groups with, large, detailed ultrawides that also support high refresh rates. It will also offer curved models and more traditional flat panels.

Alongside the more common 16:9 and 21:9 aspect ratios, Samsung will be looking to produce more niche panels in formats such as 18.5:9 and 32:9, as per TFTCentral. With that in mind, one of the most intriguing new panels Samsung discussed in its latest release is its 49-inch VA panel which will have a resolution of 5120 x 1440. That represents a sizable increase in pixel density over the previous iteration’s resolution of 3840 x 1080. However, that size increase does come at a cost, as the panel will have a slightly reduced refresh rate of 120Hz, versus its predecessor’s 144Hz.

Another new panel Samsung discussed in its release is a 43.4-inch VA panel which will have the same 1,800R curvature of the 49-inch model, a 3840 x 1200 resolution, and the higher 144Hz refresh rate. Both will be released at some point in September 2018.

Coming before then is a new, 31.5-inch VA panel with a resolution of 3840 x 2160, a 120Hz refresh rate and a massive 3,000:1 contrast ratio. That panel is slated to show up around July. It will be followed a month or two later by a new 34-inch panel based on its existing VA design, though it will be upgraded to a 144Hz refresh rate.

Whether any of these panels will make their way on to our list of the best ultrawides available today is anyone’s guess, but more options for gamers and enterprise users usually leads to a more competitive industry, which is anything but bad for consumers.

Editors’ Recommendations

  • The Animus Control Panel opens a dev toolbox for ‘Assassin’s Creed: Origins’
  • Nvidia ‘confident’ monitors using its G-Sync HDR tech will arrive in April
  • The best HDR monitors
  • The best ultrawide monitors
  • What is the ‘Soap Opera Effect’ in TV and how to turn it off


18
May

Sennheiser’s CX Sport in-ears are tough enough to keep up with your daily run


True wireless earbuds might be great for some things, but if you’ve ever tried a pair, you’ve probably noticed that they aren’t ideal for your daily run. Sennheiser’s CX Sport in-ear Bluetooth headphones, the company’s latest in the CX line, aren’t fully wireless, but they are tough as nails and probably won’t fall out of your ears like your AirPods do.

“For many, headphones are a true workout essential. We have designed the CX Sport to deliver everything athletes need to get the most out of their workout session — great sound, secure fit and a robust but lightweight design,” Marcel Salzmann, Sennheiser product manager, said in a statement. To that end, the CX Sport headphones are both sweat- and-splash resistant, so you don’t need to worry about going for a run in the rain.

Fit is everything when it comes to in-ears, so Sennheiser has included four sizes of ergonomic ear adapters to make sure that not only do the CX Sport fit, but remain comfortable and sound great as well. The headphones include a cable that is meant to run either behind your head or in front of you, but you don’t want this to aid in pulling them out of your ears, so an included cable organizer helps you keep the cable at the perfect length, while an optional clip will secure them to your shirt.

Sennheiser’s CX Sport headphones feature Bluetooth 4.2 and aptX for the clearest sound possible over Bluetooth, with Qualcomm aptX low latency to keep everything in sync when you’re watching a video. The headphones feature multi-connection capability, allowing them to stay connected to two devices at once, while the handy three-button remote lets you manage volume, playback, and calls.

When it comes to battery life, Sennheiser claims up to six hours of playback time on a single charge, though factors like overall volume will impact this number. A short 10-minute charge will get you another hour of playback time, and the headphones can be fully charged in around 1.5 hours.

The CX Sport in-ear Bluetooth headphones retail for $130 and can be purchased now via the Sennheiser website. They will bedome available worldwide in June. If these aren’t quite your style, take a look at our list of the best headphones you can buy.

Editors’ Recommendations

  • Put your health first and get into shape with the best iPhone fitness apps
  • Jabra Elite 65t review
  • The best fitness trackers with a heart rate monitor
  • The best fitness trackers
  • The best fitness trackers for women


18
May

Nest’s network failed and people’s smart home devices went dark for 3 hours


What happens when your smart home has a brain lapse? Nest product owners found out last night when the network went down, cutting the digital connection.

Nest customers were still able to set the temperature on thermostats and lock and unlock doors manually, according to The Verge. It’s uncertain, however, if Nest’s alarm systems were functional during the dark period. A Digital Trends staff member who has Nest Protect, the smoke alarm, did not receive any notification from her app, nor did she receive an email alerting her of any problems.

Nest has not issued a formal statement about the incident. A series of tweets on the Nest Support Twitter page do reveal part of the story, however.

The drama started on Wednesday night at 11:30 p.m. ET when Nest Support tweeted, “We’ve received reports from Nest Secure and Nest x Yale Lock customers who are unable to arm/disarm or lock/unlock via the Nest app. Physical controls aren’t affected. We’re currently investigating this issue and will provide more info when available.”

We've received reports from Nest Secure and Nest x Yale Lock customers who are unable to arm/disarm or lock/unlock via the Nest app. Physical controls aren't affected. We're currently investigating this issue and will provide more info when available.

— Nest Support (@nestsupport) May 17, 2018

Shortly after the first message, Nest followed up, tweeting that customers were reporting problems with the Nest app, some of whom couldn’t get it to open.

Yep, we're also getting reports from some customers who are unable to load the Nest app at all. We're investigating this as well and will provide an update when more info is available. We're sorry for the inconvenience and we're working on a solution.

— Nest Support (@nestsupport) May 17, 2018

More than an hour later, Nest updated its earlier message, saying its app was working again on iOS, Android, and the web. The company was also working on restoring functionality to its devices, particularly the Nest Secure and Nest x Yale Lock. 

Update: the Nest app should load again on iOS, Android, and the web. We're still working on bringing all devices back online and restoring arm/disarm and lock/unlock functionality for Nest Secure and Nest x Yale Lock. We'll post another update when we have more info.

— Nest Support (@nestsupport) May 17, 2018

The final update, at 2:28 a.m. ET, announced that the problem was over. “Update: this issue is now resolved–thanks for your patience. The Nest app should now be fully responsive, including being able to arm/disarm Nest Secure and lock/unlock the Nest x Yale Lock. If you’re still having any issues, contact us by visiting nest.com/help.

Update: this issue is now resolved–thanks for your patience. The Nest app should now be fully responsive, including being able to arm/disarm Nest Secure and lock/unlock the Nest x Yale Lock. If you're still having any issues, contact us by visiting https://t.co/mnq22BsNT5

— Nest Support (@nestsupport) May 17, 2018

So for approximately three hours in the middle of the night when many people were sleeping, the digital control and protection promised by Nest’s internet-connected devices failed. It’s a good thing that physical overrides were built in, or people might have been locked in (or out) of their own homes.

If and when Nest issues a statement about what actually happened, we’ll cycle back with an update.

Editors’ Recommendations

  • Control front door security from your phone with the Nest x Yale Lock
  • Nest expands offerings further with new $39 temperature sensors
  • Nest Temperature Sensor review
  • Nest Secure review
  • Nest Hello review


18
May

Best Android Tablets in 2018


  • Best overall
  • Best smaller tablet
  • Best on a budget
  • Best for enthusiasts

Best overall

Samsung Galaxy Tab S3

galaxy-tab-s33850.jpg?itok=gxHF7Snt

See at Best Buy

The two most important things to have in a full-size Android tablet are a great screen and software that uses every inch of it. That’s what makes the Samsung Galaxy Tab S3 the best Android tablet.

An amazing screen from Samsung is no surprise. The 9.7-inch 2048×1536 Super AMOLED on the Tab S3 carries on the tradition, and it’s simply the best display on a tablet. Android and Samsung mesh to provide a great software experience and the new S Pen and its 4096-level pressure sensitivity makes taking notes or producing digital artwork a breeze.

Bottom line: The Galaxy Tab S3 is the best tablet Samsung has ever made, as well as the best Android tablet you can buy.

One more thing: The internal hardware is also top notch and will keep up with everything you would want to do.

Why the Galaxy Tab S3 is the best

It’s exactly what we want from a tablet.

In 2018, a tablet is no longer just a bigger version of a phone. They have to pull extra duty and be a media player, a book reader, a web browser, and a work tool without any complaints or complications. Some tablets are great at some of these things, but the Tabs S3 is great at all of them.

Working, whether it’s on a presentation for your boss or a paper for your professor, is very different on a tablet than it is on a more conventional computer. Apps are designed to be more simple and easy to use with a touch screen, while omitting many of the battery-hungry features you would find in their desktop counterparts. The biggest hurdle has always been finding a way to organize the things you’re doing on your screen while you’re doing them. Samsung has had this figured out for a while and with the debut of native features with Android Nougat, you’ll be able to run your apps just how you like to run them.

The S Pen takes things over the top. A tablet with a wonderful screen, a custom-fit keyboard and cover, and powerful hardware is made better with a fully capable digital pen. The excellent Wacom integration makes taking notes or using photoshop a fluid and enjoyable experience that you won’t find with any other tablet on the market.

Best smaller tablet

Samsung Galaxy Tab S2

galaxy-tab-s2-8-back-box.jpg?itok=FL2X2Y

See at Amazon

The Samsung Galaxy Tab S2 is an 8-inch tablet that would have been the best tablet you can buy last year. It’s the predecessor to our top pick, and shares features like an incredible screen, great battery life and plenty of power.

The Tab S2 may be a year old, but it’s still a great tablet if you’re looking for one in the 8-inch category. And the price won’t make you cringe — you can pick up a Tab 2 for under $300.

Bottom line: If you want something super thin and ultra-light, the Tab S2 is the best.

One more thing: The Tab S2 also has a fingerprint sensor!

Best on a budget

Amazon Fire HD 10

amazon-fire-hd-10-2017-6.jpg?itok=aKbM4L

See at Amazon

The Amazon Fire HD 10 isn’t going to blow you away with speeds and feeds — that’s not why it exists. Instead, it’s simply the best budget tablet for doing many things, from watching movies and TV shows to playing mindless games. Best of all, at under $150, you can hand it to your kids and not worry about it.

Bottom line: The Fire HD 10 is one of the best values in technology products you’ll find.

One more thing: Did we mention that it’s under $150?

For the enthusiast

Google Pixelbook

Pixelbook-Design-6_0.jpg?itok=m4uVuPFI

See at Best Buy

Google, like Microsoft, thinks a two-in-one is the way to go and no longer makes an Android tablet device. Instead, the Pixelbook is just as slim and just as light as an average 10-inch tablet but also has the benefit of a desktop web browser because its software is both Android and Chrome OS. It’s on our list because the hardware is amazing.

Enthusiasts will love the Pixelbook because it offers current generation PC hardware, Android, and Chrome in one sleek package.

Bottom line: Google has left the traditional tablet form factor to other companies and its all-in-one Pixelbook is a great enthusiast’s tablet.

One more thing: Because this is a Chrome OS hardware product, it comes with six years of software support from Google..

Conclusion

Like most things, there is no one Android tablet that’s right for everyone. That’s one of the big reasons Google was able to break Apple’s dominance in mobile computing — it offers a choice for just about everyone. Whether you want the stylish look and thin profile of the Samsung Galaxy Tab S3 or the sort-of-tablet Pixelbook — or anything in between — there’s a tablet that will work for you.

Our pick with the Galaxy Tab S3 is tough to beat. Great construction, an awesome screen, and Samsung’s unique S Pen experience put it at the top of our list.

Best overall

Samsung Galaxy Tab S3

galaxy-tab-s33850.jpg?itok=gxHF7Snt

See at Best Buy

The two most important things to have in a full-size Android tablet are a great screen and software that uses every inch of it. That’s what makes the Samsung Galaxy Tab S3 the best Android tablet.

An amazing screen from Samsung is no surprise. The 9.7-inch 2048×1536 Super AMOLED on the Tab S3 carrys on the tradition, and it’s simply the best display on a tablet. Android and Samsung mesh to provide a great software experience and the new S Pen and its 4096-level pressure sensitivity makes taking notes or producing digital artwork a breeze.

Bottom line: The Galaxy Tab S3 is the best tablet Samsung has ever made, as well as the best Android tablet you can buy.

One more thing: The internal hardware is also top notch and will keep up with everything you would want to do.

Update, May 2018: The Samsung Galaxy Tab S3 is still the best Android tablet you can buy right now.

18
May

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


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

Today you can get big discounts on the Mohu Curve 30 HDTV antenna, pet cameras, Super Smash Bros. for the 3DS, and more! Don’t pass these up.

View the rest of the deals

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

18
May

Android Auto’s wireless mode to work on non-Pixel phones running Android P [Update]


It’s currently limited to just Pixel and Nexus phones.

Updated 5/17/18 — Since issuing its press release at I/O, Kenwood was told by Google that it’s “working with several smartphone manufacturers to bring wireless compatibility to devices with Android 8.0 OS. According to Google, this compatibility will be available on select non-Google smartphones soon.”

In mid-April, Google finally launched its wireless mode for Android Auto that was announced back at CES in January.

The feature’s currently exclusive to Pixel and Nexus phones, but later this year, it will open up to many more people.

crv-android-auto-calling-list.jpg?itok=m

According to a press release issued by Kenwood –

For other manufacturers, wireless Android Auto will be implemented with the adoption of Android OS 9.0 or higher.

Google previously noted that it was “actively working” with other OEMs to bring Android Auto’s wireless option to more devices, and rather than having to wait for individual brands to be supported, it looks like any phone running Android P or higher should work just fine.

Wireless Android Auto enables you to use your phone to power a supported infotainment system in your car with the Android Auto interface without having to physically plug in your phone. It’s a pretty slick setup, so it’s exciting to see that more people will get to join in on the fun once Android P’s officially released later this year.

What’s new in Android P at Google I/O 2018

Android P

  • Android P: Everything you need to know
  • Android P Beta hands-on: The best and worst features
  • All the big Android announcements from Google I/O 2018
  • Will my phone get Android P?
  • How to manually update your Pixel to Android P
  • Join the Discussion