5 things the rumored Surface tablet will need to beat the iPad

Microsoft is rumored to be working on a brand new entry in its long-neglected Surface line of convertible tablets that we’re cautiously excited for. Although the original Surface range got off to a rocky start, by its third iteration it had built up a good head of steam and we quite liked it. While we’ve been enamored with Surface products that have been released since then, a return to cost-effective tablet computing holds some exciting potential for the range.

The only problem is, we have no idea what the new Surface tablet will be like. What we do know though, is what we want it to be like. Here are some things we want to see with the new Surface tablet.

A full Windows 10 experience

Mark Coppock/Digital Trends

One of the weakest elements of the Surface and Surface 2 was that they ran the much-maligned Windows RT — a cut-down version of Windows 8. That, combined with hardware choices at the time meant that full Windows applications weren’t generally available on the first two generations of the Surface tablet.

While it’s certainly possible that Microsoft could introduce a new Surface tablet with Windows 10 S or something from its rumored internal Core OS ventures, what we really want to see is a fully fledged version of Windows 10. That would give us access to all of the Windows-based applications we want, without being restricted to approved applications in the Microsoft Store.

A decent display

Kyle Wiggers/Digital Trends

Considering the rumored Surface resurgence will be going after the Apple iPad audience, whatever display the Surface comes with will need to be at least 10-inches diagonally. Ideally, a little more than that, though 10-inches would suffice. The first generation Surface tablet was marred by a poor resolution display and though the Surface 2 and Surface 3 improved that to 1080p, a new generation Surface would need to go beyond that.

Considering its prevalence in other tablet designs, a resolution of 2,560 × 1,600 would be ideal for a new-generation Surface and could give it the detail needed to compete with the likes of Apple’s iPad.

Some powerful performance

Mark Coppock/Digital Trends

Any new Surface would need to function as both a decent tablet and a serviceable laptop as and when required, so a decently powerful processor would be a must. The only question is, what processor would that be? The Surface 3 had a great offering in the Atom x7-Z8700, but Intel has only released one other Atom CPU since then  — the Z8750 – and that was released two years ago.

Recent rumors suggested that the new Surface would include an Intel CPU, but that leaves us with precious few options. There’s always the Gemini Lake Celeron N4000, but its power draw is three times that of the Atom chip used in the Surface 3. Perhaps the best option to hope for would be a Qualcomm chip. Its Snapdragon SoCs have been proven capable of running Windows 10 S in laptops like the HP Envy X2, so why not a Surface tablet?

Speaking of performance, some extra memory wouldn’t hurt either. As much as the Surface 3 improved on its predecessors, the base model still only offered 2GB of memory, with a 4GB upgrade for the more expensive configurations. Considering the problems that have sent memory prices soaring over the past year, we don’t hold out much hope of masses of memory in a reasonably priced Surface, but 4GB as standard seems like a necessity in 2018.

Pen power

Kyle Wiggers/Digital Trends

At its rumored $400 price point, the new Surface tablet will have a lot of competition, especially for artists who want a portable graphics tablet. That’s why whatever Microsoft does, it needs to make sure the Surface has full support for its ever-evolving Surface Pen.

Make it an optional extra like Google does with its Chromebooks if needs be, but Pen support is a must.

An aggressive price

Bill Roberson/Digital Trends

Surface products tend to be premium devices, but even Apple has dramatically reduced the price of its iPads recently. The rumored price of this Surface tablet is currently $400, which is cheap, but not quite as low as Apple’s $330 iPad.

While the Surface might be a bit more capable of a tablet, it’s going to face an uphill battle against the beloved iPad at its current price. Microsoft will need an aggressive price structure if it hopes to compete with the iPad.

Editors’ Recommendations

• The best tablets you can buy
• Microsoft Surface Pro (2017) review
• DT Daily: Microsoft plans budget Surface tablet to compete with iPad
• The best tablets for kids, no matter their age or your budget
• Is Microsoft planning a $400 Surface tablet?

HTC U12 Plus hands-on review

Research Center:

HTC U12 Plus

HTC may have sold around 2,000 engineers from its research and development team to Google last year, but that’s not slowing the Taiwanese company down from releasing smartphones. Right on schedule, the HTC U12 Plus is here, releasing almost exactly a year after its predecessor, the HTC U11.

The U12 Plus is the only U12 you’ll find – there’s no “regular” model. The new phone has a bigger screen, but also a higher $800 price tag. It’s clear HTC wants to directly compete with the big boys like the Galaxy S9 Plus, the Google Pixel 2 XL, and the iPhone X. Can it hold its own against top-tier competitors?

No mechanical buttons

Take a breath of relief — there’s no notch on the HTC U12 Plus. The notch is a growing trend in Android phones, ever since Apple popularized it on the iPhone X (though yes, the Essential did it first). We’ve grown used to it, having seen it on multiple phones like the Huawei P20 Pro, the OnePlus 6, and the LG G7 ThinQ, but we’re happy to see a phone not jumping on the trend. While the bezels surrounding the display are much smaller than the ones on the HTC U11, they’re not as thin as other modern flagships. Still, the U12 Plus looks attractive. Uniquely, it has two front-facing cameras, but more on that later.

On the bottom of the phone is a USB Type-C charging port, next to a bottom-firing speaker. The speaker works with the top earpiece to provide stereo sound (what HTC calls BoomSound). We haven’t had a chance to try the speakers out yet.

In a twist, the phone’s buttons – even volume — aren’t mechanical at all, meaning they don’t move when you press them. Instead, they’re touch-sensitive like the home button on the iPhone 8 and iPhone 7. There zero mechanical buttons on the U12 Plus, and we’re not so sure if that’s a good thing.

Why did HTC eliminate physical buttons? A company spokesperson told us it improves water-proofing, but HTC also wants a phone with a clean look. We’ll have to do more testing on the U12 Plus to see if touch-sensitive buttons interrupt day-to-day use, and if they’re a good idea.

Translucent Blue caught our attention because — like the name suggests — you can slightly see internal components.

Flip the phone around, and you’ll think you bought an LG V30. Both have a dual-camera setup that are horizontally-aligned, a stark contrast to the vertical alignment on many other new phones. There’s a nice, large fingerprint sensor below the separate flash module, and it’s easy to access. There’s a little too much going on in the top half of the phone, and we’d like to see HTC integrate some of the additional sensors and the flash into the main camera module for a cleaner look. There’s also the HTC logo in the middle, and a microphone hole at the bottom.

HTC is still utilizing its Liquid Surface design, which it unveiled last year. That means variations of colors have been added to layers of the glass, allowing it to reflect and display subtle changes in color when held up to light. It still looks fantastic, and we love the new color options — Translucent Blue, Flame Red, and Ceramic Black.

Flame Red won’t be available until later this summer, but Translucent Blue caught our attention because — like the name suggests — you can slightly see internal components on the rear of the U12 Plus. HTC already experimented this design with the HTC U11 Plus last year, but that phone didn’t make its way to the U.S. We love the translucency, but we wouldn’t mind if HTC removed the vertical lines under the HTC logo. Flame Red would be our immediate second choice, because it’s so flashy that it stands out from the competition.

Oddly, HTC is using Gorilla Glass 3 — not Gorilla Glass 5 like all the other flagships — on the rear and front of the phone. HTC told Digital Trends that’s because Gorilla Glass 3 is “the optimal balance of scratch resistance, shatter-proofing, and bendability for the 3D glass edges on the U12 Plus.” No matter what type of glass it uses, you’ll still need a case to protect this phone, and the company provides one in the box. Thankfully, the phone is IP68 water-resistant, which means it can survive a dip in the pool.

Also, glass on the back doesn’t mean there’s support for wireless charging. HTC said it doesn’t think the technology is much more useful than wired charging.

HTC U12 Plus Compared To

LG G7 ThinQ

Nuu G3

Vivo Apex

Asus Zenfone 5

LG V30S ThinQ

Alcatel 5 Series

Google Pixel 2

LG V30

HTC U11

Nokia 8

HTC One Remix

Huawei Ascend Mate 2

LG G Flex

LG Lucid 2

T-Mobile myTouch 3G

Improved Edge Sense

The edges of the phone are rounded, making it comfortable to hold, but the 6-inch screen can be a little unwieldy. It can be tough to reach the top corners. Luckily, HTC has a handy solution, and it involves its Edge Sense technology that debuted on the U11 last year. In addition to a short squeeze and a long squeeze of the phone, you can now double tap either side of the U12 Plus to trigger one-handed mode, which makes the content on the screen smaller and easier to reach.

Flip the phone around, and you’ll think you bought an LG V30.

The squeeze actions are done on the lower half of the phone, and it works thanks to sensors on the edge of the phone that can detect pressure. You can customize the apps you want to open or the actions you want to trigger with all three gestures, or you can turn it completely off. For example, you can set a double tap to open the camera, a short squeeze to launch the camera, and a long squeeze to open your favorite messaging app. Google used this same technology in the Pixel 2 and Pixel 2 XL, though only for launching Google Assistant.

HTC also uses the Edge Sense sensors to recognize how you’re holding it. If you are holding the phone in portrait mode and lie down, the screen won’t rotate to portrait. If you hold it in landscape orientation, it will automatically rotate. This feature may be moot, though, considering the next version of Android has a nifty way of managing those sudden screen rotations.

Julian Chokkattu/Digital Trends

We like Edge Sense, and the level of customizability to make those actions personalized, but we’ll need more testing to see if all these touch-based gestures — including the touch-sensitive buttons — genuinely improve usability.

Super LCD Display

The HTC U11 had a 5.5-inch screen, but the U12 Plus cranks that up to 6 inches. That doesn’t mean the new phone is much bigger, though, as the smaller bezels make the U12 just a tad taller than its predecessor.

The taller screen equates to an 18:9 ratio, a trend with new phones, as well as a 2,880 x 1,440 pixel resolution. That’s a pixel density of 537 pixels-per-inch, and HTC has opted for a Super LCD screen. The screen gets bright, but in our brief time with the phone, we noticed it was still a little tough to see the screen outdoors. The screen is colorful and sharp, though the blacks aren’t as inky as you’d find on an OLED screen.

Performance, software, and battery

The HTC U12 Plus is powered by Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 845 processor and comes with 6GB of RAM. You can choose between 64GB of internal storage or 128GB, but there’s also a MicroSD card slot to expand it more. We didn’t see any performance issues. Apps opened quickly, and transitions were fluid, though we’ll have to do more intensive testing. Based on the same processor in other phones, we don’t think anyone will have problems with the phone’s performance.

The software is close to stock Android, but there are some of HTC’s flourishes.

The U12 Plus runs Android 8.0 Oreo, and HTC confirmed it will get Android P when it’s released later this year. The software is close to stock Android, but there are some of HTC’s flourishes like Blinkfeed (a collection of personalized news and interests on the left of the main home screen). In the unit we tested, it looked like there’s quite a bit of bloatware pre-installed. We’ll double check with our final review unit when we receive it.

There’s a 3,500mAh battery in the U12 Plus, and it supports Qualcomm’s Quick Charge 3.0 technology. It also supports Quick Charge 4.0, but you’ll need to find a compatible adapter to utilize the faster charging speed.

Four cameras

There are four cameras on the HTC U12 Plus — two on the rear, and two on the front. On the front, top left corner are two 8-megapixel cameras with f/2.0 apertures each, and a fixed focus. You can’t swap between the two cameras, but the extra lens helps take Portrait Mode selfies — which blurs the background to bring out the focus on a subject. It’s quick to react, and the portrait mode photos it takes are solid. We did notice some issues with blurred edges, particularly with hair, but that’s par for the course with most other phones.

HTC has added AR stickers in the camera app in case you want to don a pair of rabbit ears, and you can also use the front-facing cameras for Face Unlock, which does what it says on the in. It’s meant for convenience, not security, so you can’t use it to access secure apps, as is true on the iPhone X.

HTC is no stranger to dual cameras on the rear — having been among the first to debut the technology in 2014 — but the company went back to a single lens set up for a period of time, kicking up its feet as the rest of the smartphone market fully adopted a dual-lens system. Well, the dual-lens system is finally back, though it’s not too different from the competition. There’s a 12-megapixel standard lens with a f/1.75 aperture, as well as a 16-megapixel telephoto lens with a f/2.6 aperture. The latter lens offers 2 times optical zoom, which means you can zoom in a little more without sacrificing image quality. Both lens have optical image stabilization.

DxOMark gave the U12 Plus a 103 score, which puts it second to the Huawei P20 Pro.

The camera shutter is fast, and the few photos we took look well-detailed, with accurate colors. We’ll do more testing to see how it stacks up in this increasingly competitive field. There’s now a Portrait Mode on the rear as well. You can see the blur effect live in the viewfinder, and you can change the intensity or remove the blur after you capture the image. The camera app also has a Pro mode that lets you access RAW photo files.

HTC has improved on a feature previously called Acoustic Focus. It’s now called Sonic Zoom, and it lets you zoom into a subject during a video. The camera will try to boost the sound of the subject you’re zooming in on, while suppressing other sound. We haven’t given it a try yet, but HTC did say it has genuinely improved, and it’s not just a name change. Speaking of video, you can now shoot 4K video at 60 frames per second, or slow-motion video at 240 frames per second and 1080p.

The camera on the HTC U11 was a surprise hit, competing head to head with the likes of the Google Pixel 2 and the iPhone X, and we’re expecting it to deliver strong results again on the U12 Plus. DxOMark gave the U12 Plus a 103 score, which puts it second to the Huawei P20 Pro.

Price and availability

You can pre-order the Translucent Blue version of the HTC U12 Plus now in either 64GB, which costs $800, or 128GB, which will set you back $850. The Ceramic Black version is also available, but only in 64GB. The Flame Red color will be available later this year. The U12 Plus is also available for $34 per month for 24 months at 0 percent APR. HTC is selling the phone unlocked on its website and on Amazon, and the phone is certified to work on AT&T, Verizon, and T-Mobile.

The HTC U12 Plus is on track to be a good phone that improves upon its predecessor in almost every way. But while it is unique in a few ways, the U12 Plus doesn’t have a heart-throbbing feature that makes us excited to use it – like triple cameras, for example. At its price range, we’re really hoping the camera delivers, because that’s what separates good phones from the rest.

The crazy fullscreen Vivo Apex concept is being made into a real phone

Andy Boxall/Digital Trends

A pop-up camera, no bezels to speak of around the screen, and an in-display fingerprint sensor that could recognise two fingers at the same time — just three of the reasons we were so excited to see the Vivo Apex concept phone at Mobile World Congress this year. However, while Vivo said we may see some of the technology from the phone in a future device, it was never certain the Apex itself would be released. The good news is, Vivo has decided to release the Apex on June 12.

How similar will it be to the phone we saw at MWC? A teaser video and image show the phone in some detail, and it’s clear two of the three technologies that made the Apex standout will be in the final version. The bezel-less screen remains, as does the pop-up selfie camera; but it doesn’t appear the exact same in-display fingerprint sensor will make it. That doesn’t mean it won’t have an in-display sensor though. Right at the start of the video, the phone is unlocked with an in-display fingerprint sensor, which more resembles the version we’ve seen on the Vivo X20UD.

It’s likely a sensible decision by Vivo. The Apex’s multi-function in-display sensor wasn’t very reliable, and rarely recognised multiple prints. The Synaptics sensor used on the prototype X20UD was very reliable in our early tests. If it is the same as the X21UD, the Apex has the potential to be a formidable phone.

The screen has almost no bezels at all, no notch, and no chin. Sensors and speakers are all hidden away or sculpted into the body, while the selfie camera motorises up from the top of the phone when the selfie mode is activated, and then slides away again when it’s not needed. It’s a neat, fun, and eye-catching way to deal with the problem of where to put the lens on bezel-less phones. The Apex phone’s design is likely to be very similar too, and a render of the phone published on Twitter, apparently based on leaked photos, may show the device in all its glory.

It’s impossible not to be excited about such a futuristic-looking smartphone. Vivo will launch the Apex at an event in Shanghai on June 12, but no price or availability has been provided yet. Vivo does sell some devices internationally, but not officially in the United States, so if you want one after it’s released you’ll probably need the services of an importer. We’ll keep you up to date with all the Vivo Apex’s release news here.

Razer Blade Stealth (2018) review

Research Center:

Razer Blade Stealth (2018)

The Razer Blade Stealth has always faced an uphill battle. Both gamers and average laptop buyers will make false assumptions about what this laptop is. It looks like a gaming laptop, but it’s not a gaming laptop. At least, not on its own.

Meant as a complement to Razer’s gaming laptop lineup, the Blade Stealth has much in common with the Dell XPS 13 and MacBook Pro. Its latest update brings 8th-gen Intel processor and an assortment of design refinements, priced at $1,400 and up.

While the Blade Stealth may have a tough fight ahead if it hopes to overturn expectations, once it’s plugged into the Core V2, Razer’s external GPU enclosure, the system comes alive.

It’s Razer, like it or not

Razer knows what it’s doing on the design front. In a market that favors flashing lights and chrome, Razer’s understated use of flat colors and straight lines is refreshing, especially when you compare it to Alienware and Asus’ Republic of Gamers.

The Blade Stealth follows in the legacy of the original Blade, which just happens to be one of the most portable and well-designed gaming laptops ever made. It has a slick, unibody aluminum frame, for sturdy build quality you’d easily confuse with a MacBook Pro. There’s no question the Blade Stealth takes a lot of influence from the designers over at Cupertino. But that’s okay — after all, the idea behind the Blade Stealth is to blend in, not stand out.

There are a few oddities, however. The first are the speaker grills, which have moved to the sides of the keyboard deck — again, like the MacBook Pro. They’re heavily emphasized, making them a bit of an eyesore. Speaking of eyesores, the display bezels aren’t exactly eye candy. For a laptop that’s competing with the Dell XPS 13 and even the MacBook Pro, the thick bezels are hard to overlook.

On the plus side, the Blade Stealth has the custom keyboard lighting Razer is known for. The colorful Chroma lighting is only available in the Black model, but we quite liked the white backlighting that came on our review unit, too. It’s bright, gives you multiple brightness settings, and offers plenty of ways to customize it. The Razer Synapse application lets you reprogram any of the keys to perform different tasks with the function keys. It’s not something a lot of people will use, but it’s a unique way to customize your PC.

As gaming brands go, subtlety is Razer’s calling card.

Speaking of the keyboard, it’s fantastic. Travel distance is deep enough to be comfortable and much better than the MacBook Pro, without adding any thickness to the overall size of the laptop. The touchpad is another high point. It’s a bit smaller than we’d like due to the larger, spaced out keyboard, but we never felt it wasn’t spacious enough to handle multi-finger gestures. The click action is precise and tracking across the glass surface feels accurate, easily on the level of a Surface, XPS, or Mac device.

The port selection here is solid, offering a Thunderbolt 3 USB-C, an HDMI, and two USB-A ports. It’s a good cocktail of the old and the new, refusing to go all-USB-C like the MacBook Pro, HP Spectre 13, and Dell XPS 13. Charging happens through the Thunderbolt 3 port. It should be noted that the Blade Stealth does not include a microSD slot, which you’ll find on the Dell XPS 13.

Great display, big bezels

The Blade Stealth is a high-quality laptop, and that fact was confirmed when we tested the screen. It’s a 13.3-inch, 16:9 display that looks great, whether you’re gaming, watching movies, or plugging your way through spreadsheets. It comes in at a resolution of 3200 x 1800 display, which Razer awkwardly calls QHD+. While the extra resolution is nice to look at, we would have preferred a 1080p option as well. Not only would that have knocked the price down a bit, it’d also extend the battery life, which we’ll touch on later.

Though it’s not the brightest screen in the world, coming at 252 nits, you probably won’t notice unless you try to use the laptop outdoors. It also doesn’t do as well in the AdobeRGB color space as laptops like the Dell XPS 13 or MacBook Pro, though its color accuracy is excellent.

As for speakers, they’re facing up at your instead of pointing down at the desk, which is always nice. Unfortunately, they look like the MacBook Pro’s speakers, but don’t sound anywhere near as good. The same goes for the 720p webcam, which is located above the screen.

Dan Baker/Digital Trends

The Core i7 packs a punch

Regardless of which configuration you choose, the Razer Blade Stealth features some high-quality components, both in terms of storage and processor. All configs come with the very capable 8th-gen Intel Core i7-8550U, up to 1TB of speedy Samsung M.2 PCIe solid state storage, and 16GB of dual-channel memory. While it means Razer doesn’t offer anything lower than $1,400, we do appreciate the simplicity of the purchasing experience.

Price-wise, Razer doesn’t seem to be adding a premium for the included 16GB of RAM, which is no doubt there to enhance the gaming experience when plugged into the external GPU (more on that later). Without the Core, 16GB is probably more than you need.

The Blade Stealth handles the CPU well, producing impressive single and multi-core performance. That means you shouldn’t notice Blade Stealth stutter or hiccup when handling a busy workload, including multiple applications, browser tabs, and watching videos simultaneously.

Even in an intensive workload like encoding a 4K video, the Blade Stealth handled it like a champ. It’s not quite as speedy as the Dell XPS 13, which pushes its CPU to the absolute limit, but the Blade Stealth is right in line with what we’d expect from the i7-8550U.

It can game, just not on its own

The Razer Blade Stealth can hardly game on its own, which seems contrary to the Razer brand. You’ll be able to manage around 30 FPS in a light game like Rocket League with settings turned down, but that’s about it. It’s what we’d expect from a laptop of this size, though when you see the Razer logo branded on you, you might expect a little more.

Of course, the Blade Stealth was always meant to go hand-in-hand with the Razer Core V2, the company’s external GPU. Using the laptop’s Thunderbolt 3 port, the two products work together nicely, but it’s not fair to count that as part of the overall package because they aren’t sold together.

We did try it out, though, stuffing an Nvidia GTX 1080 into the little, black enclosure. Once we had all the necessary drivers loaded up, we were impressed to see the GPU light up and instantly boost our gaming performance. Compared to just about any other laptop we’ve tested, the combination of the Blade Stealth with the Core V2 stomped the competition by a healthy margin. We saw a solid 62 FPS running Civilization VI in 1440p on Medium settings, which is 20 FPS more than on dedicated gaming laptops with similar hardware.

It’s a neat concept, though we’d like to see Razer bundle the laptop with the eGPU together to show some commitment to the idea. At its current cost, it’ll remain a niche solution. If the eGPU setup is the best fit for your lifestyle, however, this is a winning combination.

Battery life

One of the hallmarks of the modern, thin-and-light laptop is battery life. The 1080p version of the Dell XPS 13, for example, enjoys a healthy 13 hours of video playback. The Razer Blade Stealth didn’t excel in this area, unfortunately. While it did well enough on heavier loads in browsing tests, people will no doubt be disappointed by it lasting for just over 8 hours in video playback.

That’s not terrible performance, especially not for a laptop with this high display resolution. We just wish Razer would have offered a 1080p version that could be more competitive for long days on the road.

Our Take

The Razer Blade Stealth does a lot of things right, but without the Razer Core, it feels a bit lost. It’s slightly behind other systems in its price range, and the average laptop buyer won’t be attracted to the Razer brand. It feels designed exclusively for people interested in the Core graphics dock, making it hard to commend on its own.

Is there a better alternative?

Several alternatives outpace the Blade Stealth in terms of quality and value. The Dell XPS 13, for example, is better in nearly every way, whether you’re talking about battery life, performance, or the display. What’s more, you have a large variety of options that let you spec it down to $1,000, or up to almost $2,000.

Razer Blade Stealth (2018) Compared To

Acer Predator Helios 300

Alienware 15 R3 (2017)

Asus ROG Strix GL553VD-DS71

Acer Predator 15

AVADirect Avant P750DM2-G

Asus ROG G752VS-XB78K

Acer Predator 17 X GX-791-73FH

MSI GX70

Asus G750JX-DB71

Alienware M17x R4

Maingear eX-L 17

Gateway P-7808u FX Edition

Gateway P-7801u FX Edition

Dell XPS M1730

Alienware Area-51 m9750

It’s a bit of a tighter race with the Blade Stealth’s primary competitor, the MacBook Pro. We prefer the overall look and feel of Apple’s laptop, but the Blade Stealth takes a more conservative approach to things like the keyboard and the port selection that many will prefer to what Apple currently offers.

The HP Spectre 13 and Asus ZenBook 3 Deluxe are also good options, especially if you’re looking for something that can be scaled down to a more affordable starting price.

How long will it last?

The Razer Blade Stealth comes with all the latest components, so it should last you at least a few years. RAM is soldered on, though the SSD can be swapped out down the road I’d you want to upgrade.

Razer systems come with a standard one-year warranty — not great, but what we’ve come to expect from most laptop manufacturers.

Should you buy it?

Not unless you have the money to pair it with the Razer Core V2. On its own, it’s a solid thin-and-light laptop — just not of the best.

This one-day sale makes it a perfect time to buy a Kindle e-reader for $50

Time is ticking, so don’t miss out.

Amazon is running a one-day sale on select Kindle models, saving you $30 on your purchase. With summer coming, this is one of the best ways to read while kicking back at the pool and relaxing, and with the 6-inch reader being only $49.99 today, it’s hard to pass this up. This is the entry-level Kindle, and it comes with a 6-inch glare-free display, built-in access to Audible, and the battery should last you for weeks at a time.

If you want something with a better display, the Kindle Paperwhite is also on sale, priced at just $89.99. It has a higher resolution display (nearly double) and a built-in adjustable backlight. You’ll still get the same week-long battery life of the other Kindles, but this one also adds free cellular connectivity into the mix. Both options come in your choice of black or white.

You can’t go wrong with either of these models, but remember that time’s limited. Be sure to grab one today, before the discounts disappear.

How to use Google Lens in Google Photos

Get more information about the photos you take. Hopefully.

Google Lens is the search giant’s new method for recognizing content in your photos, and making information available to you. This includes offering language translations, bring up reviews and menus for restaurants, and giving background information on monuments and landmarks. At launch, Google Lens was only available for the Pixel phones, but this has since expanded to any phone with Google Photos.

Here’s how to use Google Lens in Google Photos!

Take a photo of the object you want more information about.
Open the Google Photos app.
Tap the photo you took to open it.
Tap the Google Lens icon at the bottom of the screen.

Lens will offer different information based on what the photo is of. At least, in theory. For example, taking a photo of a vinyl record should give you information about that album. Taking a photo of your non-native language should offer a translation. Taking a photo of any text should offer you the ability to copy that text to your clipboard.

It kinda works, but I found that a lot of small business logos I took photos of just didn’t offer anything. That’s not entirely surprising, but it also means that Lens isn’t very useful yet. Either way, it’s still fun to experiment and see what information Lens will offer.

Do you use Google Lens? Let us know down below!

Google Photos: Everything you need to know!

Android P issue tracker: The biggest bugs and problems

Half the fun of using beta software is seeing what you can break.

Android P is still a long way from being final. It’s part of Google’s Android Beta Program, which lets users with specific devices try Developer Preview software for Android phones and watches. All of this means that Android P in its current form just isn’t ready for production use and Google wants you to know it.

That said, if you’re interested in getting on the Android P beta, we have a comprehensive guide for the Pixel series, Nokia 7 Plus, and OnePlus 6.

Be sure to back up your Android phone before installing beta software. The updates that you’ll receive as a part of this program are pre-release versions, and may contain errors and defects that can affect normal functioning of your device.

We all cool? Good.

Google gets valuable feedback by letting enthusiasts with certain phones try to break stuff. Google engineers are pretty good at breaking stuff, but enthusiasts are really good at it. Way better than any professional could be because we do lots of crazy things the software that pros would never think about. We’re like the chimpanzee astronauts who do the real testing. And it’s great to be a chimpanzee with all the new goodies in our hands, especially now that its open to phones from other manufacturers!

More: The Android P Beta includes phones from 7 manufacturers in addition to Pixels

So far, the early beta isn’t looking terrible when it comes to bugs. I’ve spent a few days scouring the ‘net to see what’s good and what’s not with the P beta, and have found that almost everything users are saying is broken is on the official bug tracker and has a developer assigned to fix it. There are a few showstoppers but not as many as I expected. Good job, G!

Here’s what’s happening as of late May 2018:

Small bugs/issues

• Day and date font in home screen widget is dynamic and can change size. Temperature font in the same widget is not.
• Volume sliders on Bluetooth headsets don’t synchronize with system volume slider.
• Bluetooth devices do not unpair automatically.
• Status bar icons overlap while in a call.
• Black gradient above the status bar while in portrait mode.
• Can’t adjust ringer volume outside of phone app.

Significant bugs/issues

• App intents that are directed to any settings entry are broken. They return the user to main settings page instead of the app that called the intent.
• Play Store crashes when multiple users are signed into the same device.
• Tethering causes an fstat system call error.
• Apps crash when the main activity is recreated (example — refresh app after color change).
• DnD setting for “Listed contacts only” also allows unknown and blocked numbers.
• Settings app crashes when using settings search.
• Swipe up gesture will cause multitasking window to freeze if done very slowly.
• Transition animations can become stuck when zoomed in.

Some of these bugs are self-explanatory, and some totally code geek level. The smaller issues are mostly cosmetic and aren’t anything that should keep you from trying the beta out if you happen to have an extra phone. But there are a few bigger issues that might change your mind.

Final thoughts

I’ve tried to recreate these bugs on my Pixel 2 and can see most of them. That’s good news because it means troubleshooting won’t take some serious detective work. One of them is a complete showstopper that means I can’t use the beta on a phone I need to depend on — the animation zoom bug.

My Pixel 2 on Project Fi gets the zoom bug every single time a phone call comes in. I can’t answer because the controls aren’t there and have to let it ring until I can check the call log and call the person back.

The two bigger issues from a platform point of view are the intents bug and the activity recreation crash. Those are ways developers use Android inside of the apps they are building, and if the apps don’t work the platform suffers. Those are probably getting the most attention. All the bugs are important, but there’s a logical order of importance here and the application platform gets first dibs.

I know plenty of other people are seeing some bugs, maybe these or others that aren’t listed. If you’re trying Android P and seeing things that are off-kilter, jump into the comments and let everyone know what you’re seeing and on what phone.

To file an official bug report, look here for the right place to talk about your particular device.

Note: This post will be continually updated throughout the Android P beta and after the final software is released.

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

How to Request a Copy of Your Apple ID Account Data

Apple now allows its customers to download a copy of their personally identifiable data from Apple apps and services. This can include purchase or app usage history, Apple Music and Game Center statistics, marketing history, AppleCare support history, and any data stored on Apple servers, including the likes of calendars, photos, and documents.

This article outlines the steps you need to take to request a copy of your data from Apple. As of writing, the service is available to customers in the European Union, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway, and Switzerland, but Apple will be rolling it out worldwide over the coming months. If you live in a country or region that’s not listed above, you can still contact Apple to request a copy of your data.

Apple promises to fulfill all data requests within seven days. Bear in mind that the size of the data download depends on the items that you choose to include (iCloud Photo Libraries can be several gigabytes, for example), but Apple will divide it into multiple files to make the download more manageable.

How to Request a Copy of Your Apple Account Data

Open a web browser on your Mac, PC, or iPad, and navigate to privacy.apple.com. (Note: this procedure won’t work on an iPhone).

Enter your Apple ID email and password, and authorize two-factor authentication on another device if prompted.

On the Apple ID & Privacy page, click Continue.

Under “Get a copy of your data”, click Get Started.

On the next page you’ll see a list of data categories. Click the selection box next to each category that you want include in your download. You can refine inclusions from certain categories by clicking Show more to reveal sub-categories of data, or click Select All to include all your information.

Click Continue.

Using the dropdown menu on the next page, choose a maximum file size that you want to download (1GB, 2GB, 5GB, 10GB, or 25GB). Apple divides the data into files of this size or smaller. You can review your selection below the dropdown.

Click Complete Request to confirm.

Apple will email you to let you know it is preparing your data, with a reminder that this process can take up to seven days. As a security measure, Apple uses this time to verify that the request was made by you.

You can view and check check the status of your request at any time by visiting privacy.apple.com/account.

Tag: privacy
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Apple Launches New Data and Privacy Website

Apple has launched a new Data & Privacy website that includes an option for Apple users to download all the data associated with their Apple ID account that the company keeps on its servers.

The data download that users are able to request includes purchase and app usage history, calendars, reminders, photos, and documents stored in iCloud, Apple Music and Game Center statistics, marketing history, and AppleCare support history.

The data download option arrives before the GDPR deadline and is currently limited to Apple accounts registered in the European Union, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway, and Switzerland, but Apple says it will roll out the service worldwide “in the coming months”.

We’ve compiled a separate how-to outlining the steps involved in requesting the data. If you live in a country or region that’s not listed above, you can still contact Apple to request a copy of your data.

The new Data & Privacy site also includes links that customers can use to update their account details, temporarily deactivate their account, or delete it permanently.

Tag: privacy
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HTC U12 Plus hands-on: Literally more sensitive than ever

HTC’s latest flagship has arrived! On top of new cameras and a full screen without a notch notch, HTC has created a phone is literally more sensitive than ever. This is the HTC U12 Plus.

The HTC U12 Plus gives a great first impression, at least when it comes to design. Almost every modern flagship is made of glass panels held together by a metal frame, but HTC’s design feels sturdy with an almost brick-like heft to it. HTC may have changed designs over the years, but the build quality continues to be excellent. The new phone still manages to retain some of HTC’s signature style, so you won’t mistake it for anything other than an HTC.

The HTC U12 Plus will be available in ceramic black, translucent blue, and flame red.

The ceramic black (known as titanium black in some markets) is probably the least exciting of the three options, but that’s not to say it looks bad. It’s a shiny, reflective, and polished glass option that is actually more gray than black.

The translucent blue model is partially see-through, allowing you to see some of the internals. It isn’t quite on the level of a clear case, but it is still pleasantly unique.

Finally there’s the flame red variant. This model has an eye-catching sheen that seems more pink than red. Unfortunately, the flame red won’t be available immediately at launch.

Be sure to check out our HTC U12 Plus color comparison for more details.

One immediately recognizable change from the HTC U11 is the lack of any buttons on the front. Gone are the front facing home buttons, fingerprint readers, and capacitive keys that used to add more bezel below the screen. Long gone are the days of the black HTC bar, and in comes the full screen 18:9 display experience. Very minimal bezels on the side give the phone a taller profile, with just enough on the top and bottom for the front facing camera, the phone speaker, and the USB-C port and speaker unit on the bottom. Granted this design isn’t completely alien, as the HTC U11 Plus made made of these changes late last year.

No, there isn’t a headphone jack, but adapters are available from HTC’s website. The phone will also include USonic USB-C earphones in the box, just like last year.

The rest of the phone looks fairly conventional, but don’t let this fool year. Just like last year, one of the U12 Plus’ biggest design features isn’t actually a cosmetic element.

You can actually squeeze the HTC U12 Plus in order to trigger a few special functions. All you have to do is quickly squeeze the phone or squeeze and hold until the haptic feedback shows the phone has registered the pressure. This functionality is officially dubbed Edge Sense. The HTC U12 Plus kicks things up a notch by adding pressure sensitivity onto the area where you would normally see the power button and the volume rockers.

In other words, what looks like buttons are actually just bumps on the side. Despite not being conventional buttons, they still function the same, they just provide vibrations to signal their usage instead of physically clicking. This kind of button design not only feels cool, but it also helps eliminate even more areas where dust and water might seep in. Speaking of which, the HTC U12 Plus is IP68 certified.

The change to pseudo-buttons made us wonder what would happen if you needed to use the buttons in certain specific ways, like going into recovery or fastboot. According to HTC, the U12 Plus gives that pressure sensitive panel its own power source that is outside of the 3,500mAh unit. Think of it like the reserves tank in your car – it will power the buttons for a while after the rest of the phone loses juice, but eventually even that energy has to be replenished via a little extra charging time.

You can squeeze, hold, and tap the sides – but an entirely separate pressure sensitive panel now replaces the buttons you know

The areas below the buttons, where squeezes are registered, have also been tweaked to allow one more shortcut – a double tap of one’s thumb.

Depending on grip, the phone knows when it is being held in either hand and will then recognize a user’s thumb tap which can trigger yet another shortcut. By default, this is programmed to enable the one-handed mode where the entire interface is shrunken down for easier reach. One handed mode has been around for some time, but making it this easy to trigger makes using the phone much easier for those that prefer a one-handed experience.

HTC’s grip recognition also helps eliminate screen rotation issues. Pretty much everyone has run into the issue where they are laying down and the interface keeps going into landscape at inopportune moments. With Smart Rotate on, the U12 Plus understands that the phone is being gripped vertically and will keep in portrait mode. It is a slight annoyance that now has a solution we didn’t realize we needed.

Sick of rotation problems when lying down? A firm grip keeps portrait mode from changing

Finally, we can get into more general specifications and that starts with the 18:9 display. There is no notch here, which is probably a welcome development for some users. There is still plenty of room for work and play on this 6 inch Super LCD 6 panel that comes in a Quad HD resolution and supports HDR 10. It also sports an always on function called Smart Display. This feature lets you keep the display on at all times or you can set it to turn on whenever the phone is picked up, a la HTC Motion Gestures. The latter is probably the better idea when it comes to conserving battery life.

No notch!

HTC’s Sense looks mostly the same as last year and comes with Blinkfeed as the secondary homescreen. Personally I am a fan of Blinkfeed because it doesn’t try to do too much – it is literally a news feed that sprinkles in some social media. Otherwise, the software is clean and should be familiar to anyone who has used an HTC device in recent years.

Every phone in this lineup will be getting 6GB of RAM, though the storage options can differ. The most premium version will have 128GB of onboard storage, while the base model sports 64GB. Regardless of your storage choice, there is still a microSD card slot available for memory expansion. The 3,500mAh battery is a pretty sizeable unit that can be charged via Quick Charge 3.0 or 4.0 if you have a compatible adapter. Unfortunately, there is no wireless charging capability.

The U12 Plus supports every carrier even though it won’t be sold on any

All connectivity options are available including support for Verizon’s network. This is great news, especially considering the phone will only be sold on Amazon and through HTC’s website, as opposed to carreir stores.

It’s also worth mentioning that both Google Assistant and Amazon Alexa are supported by the phone’s four microphone setup.

Sound is still a high consideration for HTC and Boomsound returns with its dual speaker setup. One speaker doubles as the call speaker up top alongside the bottom firing unit. The stereo sound is quite good in our quick testing and should be on par with previous offerings. Again, HTC is bundling the phone with USB-C earphones that we have used and enjoyed last year, but an adapter is available as a separate purchase.

If you prefer staying wireless, the U12 supports every high quality codec including Apt-X HD and LDAC. All of these different ways of experiencing audio have different tweaks and settings that users can play with for personalized sound.

You may have already noticed that there are two lenses for the front facing camera. Together, these lenses allow the HTC U12 Plus to capture proper 84-degree selfie portraits. The two lenses are identical at 8MP and f/2.0 aperture, but one takes the photo while the other senses for depth. The result is not only a bokeh effect, but editable focal points. You can go into the gallery app and change which focus point you want in your selfie, then use a slider to change the strength of the blur.

We are always happy to see a portrait mode on the front facing camera because let’s face it – it’s all the rage these days.

Two cameras on the front AND back means portrait mode no matter what side you’re using

The same bokeh tweaks can be done on pictures captured by the rear shooter, which is a combination of a normal and a telephoto lens. The normal lens is a 12MP f/1.75 aperture while the zoom lens bumps up to 16MP and f/2.6 aperture. As expected, the main draw for this combo is the 2X optical zoom and the tighter portraiture. Phase detection and a laser are both used on the rear shooter to ensure fast focusing, and both OIS and EIS are used to make sure that especially videos are as stable as possible.

Speaking of video, HTC also made slow motion a priority, as 1080p video capture can get up to 240fps while 4K video recording can get up to 60. With the four microphone setup, audio should also be pretty great in the footage, with directional capabilities from last year’s U11 returning. Overall, this phone is bringing a lot to the table fundamentally and should be more than a worthy flagship contender. We’re excited to put the camera through its paces and see where it stands against the competition, as HTC has also touted a 103 DxOMark score that puts it just below the current top contender.

And so, there you have it for our quick look at the HTC U12 Plus.

It seems HTC is putting just as much effort into the basics as they are in the extras, and there is plenty outside of the core experience that makes the U12 Plus exciting. Squeeze features might not seem essential, but they add an extra layer of unique personalization that could prove practical to many users. An extra lens on the front facing camera might seem superfluous, until the portrait mode results prove otherwise. They also come in a package that is very unique, especially when it comes to the translucent blue color.

The HTC U12 Plus will be available on their official website and via Amazon for $799, while the 128GB Translucent Blue model will go for $849. For more pricing details head here. In the meantime, stay tuned for our full review a bit later.

Next: Check out the HTC U12 Plus’ top features