Where to buy the LG G7 ThinQ

Your guide for buying the G7 in the U.S. and Canada.

LG’s playing it safe this year with the G7 ThinQ, but that doesn’t necessarily mean it’s a bad phone. In fact, based on what we’ve seen so far, the G7 will be one heck of a smartphone that could be very well-deserving of a place in your pocket.

If you live in the United States or Canada and are interested in picking up the G7 ThinQ for yourself, here’s everything you need to know.

United States

AT&T

Although LG devices usually show up on AT&T like clockwork, this year appears to be different.

A spokesperson from AT&T recently confirmed that it won’t be selling the G7 ThinQ, but instead will “launch a new LG device this summer only from AT&T.” We aren’t sure if that’ll be a new phone entirely or a slightly improved version of the G7, but we’ll certainly be keeping an eye out for whatever happens here.

Sprint

If Sprint’s your carrier of choice, you’ll be able to place pre-orders for the phone beginning May 25. Following that, regular sales will begin online and in-stores on June 1.

See at Sprint

T-Mobile

Jumping over to T-Mobile, the Un-Carrier has announced that it’ll officially open pre-orders for the G7 on Friday, May 25 at 5:00 AM Pacific Time.

The phone will cost $30 down and then $30/month afterward, resulting in a final retail price of $750 ($30 more than the Galaxy S9). To help offset the cost, T-Mobile will be running a BOGO promo that’ll allow you to get two G7s for the price of one via monthly bill credits.

Following pre-orders, the G7 ThinQ will be available at participating T-Mobile stores around the U.S. starting June 1.

See at T-Mobile

U.S. Cellular

Similar to Sprint, U.S. Cellular will also start selling the G7 on June 1. The phone will be available in-stores and at uscellular.com, but there’s currently no word on pre-orders through the carrier.

See at U.S. Cellular

Verizon

Last but not least for U.S. carriers, Verizon has confirmed that it’ll open pre-orders for the G7 on May 24 – a day before Sprint.

Pricing for the G7 will be similar to that of T-Mobile, including a payment of $31.25/month for 24 months for a final price of $750.

In honor of the G7’s launch, Verizon’s offering an instant $100 off discount just for buying it on an installment plan. Better yet, that deal can be combined with Verizon’s other trade-in promotions.

See at Verizon

Canada

Bell

It’s been confirmed that the LG G7 will launch on Bell, and it’ll do so on June 1.

See at Bell

Freedom Mobile

Just like Bell, Freedom Mobile will also begin carrying the G7 on June 1. However, further details are currently unknown.

See at Freedom Mobile

Rogers

Once again, Rogers will begin selling the LG G7 on – you guessed it – June 1.

See at Rogers

SaskTel

Ready for a curveball? SaskTel will allow you to purchase the G7 on June 1.

See at SaskTel

Telus

Lastly, Telus has also been confirmed for a June 1 date on which it’ll open sales for the G7.

See at Telus

LG G7

• LG G7 hands-on preview: All about that bass
• LG G7 Specifications: Everything you need to know
• Join the LG G7 forums

Where to buy the Moto G6 series in the U.S. and Canada

The Moto G6 Plus isn’t coming to North America, but the Moto G6 and G6 Play are still fantastic options for budget shoppers.

There are few phones more prolific in the budget market than Motorola’s Moto G lineup. We’ve often crowned the latest Moto G as the best bang-for-your-buck smartphone around, so if you’re eyeing one of the new Moto G6 models … well, we can’t blame you.

The way that Motorola is distributing each Moto G variant across different regions this year is a bit strange — for one, you won’t be able to get the alluring Moto G6 Plus anywhere in North America. While this is a little frustrating, the standard Moto G6 and the cheaper Moto G6 Play are still compelling options, with sleek new designs and improved internals.

United States

Verizon

If you’re on Big Red, you’ll be able to choose either model being made available in the States — Verizon is carrying both the Moto G6 and the Moto G6 Play.

The Moto G6 goes on sale May 24 and it’ll set you back $10/month for 24 months. That brings you to a final price of $240 once all is said and done, and considering everything the G6 has to offer, that’s not a bad deal at all.

There’s still no word on the G6 Play, but we’ll update this page accordingly once that info is available.

See at Verizon

AT&T

Interestingly, AT&T will only be carrying the less expensive (but longer-lasting) of the two phones. The Moto G6 Play will be available on AT&T’s postpaid network.

See at AT&T

Boost Mobile

Sprint won’t be carrying either of the new Motorola phones, but its prepaid MVNO will. If you’re on Boost Mobile, you’ll be able to pick up the Moto G6 Play once it launches.

See at Boost Mobile

Cricket Wireless

Likewise, the AT&T subsidiary Cricket Wireless will be carrying the Moto G6 Play, though it’s inexplicably launching with a different name — the Moto G6 Forge. We’re not exactly sure why that is, but don’t worry. You’ll still be getting the same phone as everyone else.

See at Cricket Wireless

Virgin Mobile

Virgin is yet another prepaid carrier operated by Sprint, so it only makes sense that, like Boost Mobile, Virgin will be carrying the Moto G6 Play.

See at Virgin Mobile

TracFone

All work and no Play makes Trac a dull boy, or … something like that. TracFone won’t be carrying the Moto G6 Play, but it is getting the Moto G6 proper.

See at TracFone

Ting

Ting Wireless may not have any physical locations, but you can still order a compatible phone directly from its site. The popular prepaid carrier will be selling both the Moto G6 and the Moto G6 Play.

See at Ting

Republic Wireless

Much like Google’s Project Fi (which is not carrying the new Moto phones), Republic Wireless runs off of both Sprint and T-Mobile towers. If you’re shopping for a new phone, they’ll be happy to sell you either of the new Moto G6 models.

See at Republic Wireless

Unlocked

There are plenty of reasons to buy your phone directly from your carrier — financing options, the guarantee that it’ll work with your SIM card, and so on — but if you can afford to buy the phone outright, the best option is almost always buying it unlocked.

You’ll soon be able to pick up an unlocked Moto G6 or G6 Play at various local retailers, including Best Buy, Target, Fry’s, and B&H, though Walmart will only carry the Moto G6 Play.

Canada

If you live in Canada, your options for buying a standard fare Moto G6 are limited — the only carrier who will sell you one postpaid is Vidéotron.

See at Vidéotron

If, on the other hand, you’re after the Moto G6 Play, your options widen significantly. Vidéotron will still sell you a postpaid unit, and you’ll be able to choose between postpaid and prepaid with Bell Canada, SaskTel, Virgin Mobile, and Freedom Mobile.

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

Deal: Get 2 months of free unlimited data from MetroPCS

MetroPCS is introducing a new special offer that will net you 2 months of free unlimited data free! All you need to do to take advantage of this limited-time offer is to sign up for a new account and make 2 payments on a $50+ plan. After that, you’ll get two months of unlimited talk. text and data free.

Here’s the breakdown:

• Bring your number to MetroPCS
• Sign up for a new account and make 2 payments on a $50+ plan
• Enjoy Unlimited LTE data and get $100 prepaid Mastercard.
• This deal is available in store
• Activation fee is $10 per line

Here’s what you’ll get with MetroPCS Unlimited data plan:

• Unlimited talk, text, and 4G LTE data (users of more than 35GB in a month may notice a temporary reduction in speeds during times of high network traffic)
• Coverage on T-Mobile’s network
• Video streaming at SD quality (480p)
• Mobile hotspots (tethering) is not included

See at MetroPCS

Samsung Gear S4 smartwatch may use Wear OS, not Tizen

If true, this could be a huge win for Google.

It’s turning out that 2018 could be a very exciting year for Wear OS. Following rumors that Google’s working on its own Pixel Watch, it’s now being reported that Samsung’s developing a future Gear smartwatch that’ll ditch the Tizen operating system in favor of Wear OS.

Earlier this week, a rumor popped up on Chinese social network Weibo suggesting that the Gear S4 will be powered by Wear OS instead of Tizen. Weibo tips/leaks are usually pretty hit or miss, but shortly after that, Evan Blass took to Twitter with the following message —

Seen on the wrists of Samsung employees: Gear watches running not Tizen, but Wear OS.

— Evan Blass (@evleaks) May 23, 2018

This doesn’t necessarily mean that Samsung will decide to release a Wear OS watch to the masses, but this piling evidence leads us to believe that the company is certainly toying with the idea.

Tizen has been Samsung’s operating system of choice for most all of its wearables, save for the Gear Live that was powered by Android Wear and released in 2014.

Samsung’s gotten a lot right with Tizen, but one of its pain points has long-been lacking developer support. Wear OS is far more endowed in these regards, and having a big name like Samsung backing the platform would be huge.

Would you like to see a Samsung smartwatch with Wear OS?

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Android Wear

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• Discuss Android Wear in the forums!

DirecTV Now adds DVR to Android and Amazon Fire TV

Roku is coming next — and still no Android TV.

The fine folks at DirecTV Now today announced that it’s updated its apps for Android and Amazon Fire TV, bringing with it not just the new user interface, but the long-awaited cloud-based DVR as well.

Just like with iOS, Apple TV and the web version, you’ll simply look for the REC button in the UI. Hit it and you’re recording.

The DVR “storage” still works the same, too. You’ve got 20 hours to play with, and recordings will expire after 30 days.

DirecTV Now says that Roku support is still on the way. Hopefully proper Android TV support is, too.

How to use cloud DVR with DirecTV Now

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These Custom iPhone X Models Made From Marble, Alligator Leather, or Sapphire Glass Cost Up to $10,000

Hadoro, a Parisian company that specializes in high-priced upscale iPhone cases, custom iPhones, and Apple Watch bands, today released a new lineup of custom iPhone X models made from a range of luxury materials including wood, sapphire glass, carbon fiber, marble, and alligator leather set in anodized stainless steel frames.

It’s not cheap to replace the entire casing of an iPhone with a new shell crafted from expensive, rare materials, so these iPhones, priced at 4,500 to 8,900 euros ($5,250 – $10,400) are not designed for the average Apple customer.

The most expensive of the devices replace the glass body of the iPhone X with a gold-plated frame covered in alligator leather complete with a diamond Apple logo, while some of the more affordable options are made from anodized, gold plated stainless steel covered with Karelian birch, sourced from a small forest in Finland.

Several other iPhones feature back panels made from durable, scratch proof sapphire glass, which as we know, Apple at one point explored as a material for the iPhone. The Moire Gold iPhone X, for example, features sapphire glass with a silkscreen printed moiré design nestled in a frame made from black anodized stainless steel and carbon fiber.

The craziest of Hadoro’s iPhone X models is a carbon fiber model that has a 3D image of a skeleton with glowing eye sockets. The eyes of the skeleton light up whenever the iPhone is turned on, and the color can be customized in the device settings.

All of these modified iPhones start out as the 256GB iPhone X and then have the housing, buttons, and Apple logo replaced with new materials. In many cases, the logos on these devices light up thanks to the modifications put in place. Core functionality remains intact, but for devices where the glass has been replaced by other materials, wireless charging is likely to be affected.

The aforementioned light up Apple logos glow whenever the iPhone is turned on or when an incoming call or text message is received, and the settings can be tweaked on the phone itself.

Replacing the casing of the iPhone naturally voids the standard Apple warranty, but people able to shell out thousands of dollars for a fancy iPhone aren’t likely too concerned about that. Hadoro does, however, include a one-year warranty with purchase.

If you have $5,000+ earmarked for a new iPhone, you can check out Hadoro’s full custom iPhone X collection on its website or at Harrods department store in London, Nous in Paris, and Ali Bin Ali in Qatar.

There’s been a market for insanely priced custom iPhone models for years now, and Hadoro isn’t the only one selling crazy custom devices. Caviar, another manufacturer known for creating iPhones from custom materials, recently debuted the iPhone X Tesla, an iPhone inspired by Tesla vehicles that is able to charge using solar power.

The iPhone X Tesla is is priced at just over $4,600, and for that price, you get the aforementioned solar charger with shock resistant panel and a custom carbon fiber frame. Caviar also has a range of other custom iPhone X models for those seeking the most ostentatious designs available.

Related Roundup: iPhone XBuyer’s Guide: iPhone X (Neutral)
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macOS 10.14 Wishlist: Features MacRumors Readers Hope to See in the Next Version of macOS

Apple is expected to preview the next-generation version of macOS, macOS 10.14, at the keynote event for the Worldwide Developers Conference, set to be held on June 4. Though the keynote is less than two weeks away, we’ve heard little about what we might expect to see in the new version of macOS aside from the possibility of cross-compatible Mac and iOS apps.

With so few rumors about macOS 10.14 available, we turned to the MacRumors community to ask our readers what they would like to see the most in the next version of macOS.

• Unified macOS and iOS design – With rumors of apps compatible with both iOS devices and Macs, MacRumors reader Glmnet1 would also like to see a more unified design between Macs and iOS devices. What that might look like is unclear, and while it could happen at some point, it’s not likely for this year as we’re not expecting major design changes with iOS 12 or macOS 10.14.
• Apple iOS apps for Mac – In the same vein, based on cross platform app rumors, several MacRumors readers would like to see iOS-exclusive apps like Apple News, Health, Activity, and Home made available on the Mac. A dedicated Apple Music app that’s separate from iTunes is also on at least one reader’s wishlist, as is an improved version of iTunes.
• HomeKit – A way to control HomeKit devices on Mac is a highly requested feature, either through the aforementioned Home app for the Mac or through Siri. At the current time, while Siri is available on macOS, the personal assistant can’t control HomeKit devices from the Mac.
• Complications as Menu Bar items – Complications are limited to the Apple Watch, but since the device’s debut, Apple Watch users have been hoping for their expansion to other platforms, including macOS and iOS. MacRumors reader ButteryScrollin would like Apple Watch-style complications to be added to the Mac’s Menu Bar, introducing new quick-access shortcuts.
• Split-Screen improvements – MacRumors reader bmac89 would like some iPad-like improvements to the Mac’s split-screen functionality, with options for dragging to resize or dismiss a split-screen view, opening apps into a split-screen view from the Dock or Spotlight, and initiating split-screen in the same way.
• APFS improvements – With macOS High Sierra, Apple introduced a new Apple Filesystem. The rollout of APFS was something of a nightmare for Apple customers who have Fusion drives that combine SSDs with traditional hard drives, and to this day, Apple has not implemented APFS support for Fusion drives. MacRumors reader Ncrypt would also like to see Apple use APFS to allow for macOS updates to install in the background to cut down on installation times.
• Group FaceTime – Group FaceTime is on both the macOS 10.14 and iOS 12 wishlists, and while it’s something Apple is rumored to be working on, it’s not clear if this is a feature that’s ready for debut.

As with iOS 12, many readers listed performance and stability improvements at the top of their wishlists for macOS 10.14, and it’s likely this is on Apple’s to-do list as well. Apple is rumored to have delayed some macOS 10.14 and iOS 12 features to 2019 in order to focus on internal improvements following a slew of high-profile bugs that have impacted iOS 11 and macOS High Sierra.

What new features are you hoping Apple adds to macOS 10.14? Let us know in the comments. Make sure you check out our macOS 10.14 roundup for more on what we might see in the update, including possible naming choices. We’ve also got a separate iOS 12 wishlist that has a list of what MacRumors readers are hoping will come to iOS in 2018.

Related Roundups: WWDC 2018, macOS 10.14
Discuss this article in our forums

Workhorse Group’s drones are now delivering packages in Ohio

Companies from Amazon to Airbus are talking about using drones to deliver packages, but Workhorse Group is actually doing it, on a small scale, at least. The company has teamed up with the Federal Aviation Administration and the city of Loveland, Ohio for a drone delivery pilot program.

Residents of Loveland (near Cincinnati) can opt into the program and have their packages delivered by drone. The drones are summoned using a dedicated app connected to “existing online ecommerce platforms,” a Workhorse press release said, although the company did not name any specific retailers. Customers can also use the app to set a delivery location, monitor the progress of a delivery, and receive a photograph as confirmation once the package is dropped off.

The Workhorse HorseFly drones used in the pilot program are octocopters with carbon fiber construction, autonomous GPS navigation capability, and infrared cameras used for landing. A HorseFly can deliver a 10-pound package, fly at a top speed of 50 mph, and stay airborne for 30 minutes at a time, according to Workhorse.

Drones will launch from Workhorse delivery vans as part of a so-called “last mile” delivery system. Having drones do some of the work will save money, said Workhorse, which expects the HorseFly to cost just 3 cents per mile to operate. Drones will launch off the back of a van’s roof and return after dropping off their packages to recharge. Remote observers will monitor video feed of each deliver to judge effectiveness and safety. Drones must also remain in line of sight at all times.

This isn’t the first time Workhorse has tested drone delivery. Last year, the company teamed up with UPS for a small-scale test. A HorseFly successfully delivered a package from the roof of a UPS delivery van in Lithia, Florida. The test served as an important proof of concept, but Workhorse is expecting more insight from its Ohio pilot project.

“Data from the pilot program will provide essential insights into consumer preferences, as well as real-world evidence to support expanded use cases of drone delivery with the FAA,” Workhorse said. It could be a major step toward Workhorse commercializing drone delivery, if other companies don’t do it first.

Google hypes mobile game creators in new behind-the-scenes series

Google wants to take you behind the scenes of some of your favorite video games. Google Play is launching a new video series called First Person: The personal stories of the creative people behind mobile gaming, and it’s aimed at highlighting some of the creative minds behind the games you might play on your phone.

To start with, the company is releasing three videos on three different individuals in the gaming industry. These individuals have worked not just on great mobile games, but also other games that have made waves in the gaming industry as a whole.

For starters, there’s Ashly Burch, a voice-actor known for voicing characters like Aloy in Horizon: Zero Dawn and Nebula from Guardians of the Galaxy: The Telltale Series. In this episode, Burch goes over things like where she draws inspiration for a voice-acting role and how that translates into her voice.

Next up is Bennett Foddy, a game designer and instructor at New York University’s Game Center. Foddy has been involved with games like QWOP and Getting Over it with Bennett Foddy, which have become pretty successful online. In this episode, Foddy goes over what makes creating challenging games so exciting.

The third and final episode to be released for now follows Vassiliki Khonsari, who co-founded Ink Stories and co-created 1979 Revolution: Black Friday, a popular mobile game. Khonsari specifically aims to use games to educate people, and in this video, she discusses Fire Escape, a virtual reality experience that goes over gentrification in Brooklyn.

The videos are each only a few minutes long, but they are an interesting look at the creators and developers behind the scenes of some of the best games out there.

Of course, it’s possible that Google is hoping to create more hype about some of the games on the Google Play Store through series like this. After Apple redesigned the App Store in 2017, it was found that users were downloading more apps from the service. While we don’t expect a major redesign of the Google Play Store anytime soon, Google could still be trying to encourage users to download more apps through other means.

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FBI inflates the number of encrypted smartphones it can’t access, report says

The number of encrypted smartphones the FBI has been unable to access has been grossly inflated to the public and lawmakers, according to The Washington Post. While the bureau said it was locked out of nearly 8,000 devices connected to crimes in 2017 alone, it appears the actual number of inaccessible phones may fall closer to 1,000 and 2,000.

After first becoming aware of the error nearly a month ago, the FBI has been working to get a better idea of the actual number of handsets it is unable to access due to encryption. The current internal estimate is around 1,200 handsets but the number may change in the coming weeks as the FBI launches an in-depth audit.

On Tuesday, May 22, the FBI released a statement about the miscount noting, “the FBI’s initial assessment is that programming errors resulted in significant over-counting of mobile devices reported.’’ The bureau went on to explain the miscalculation is due, in part, to three separate databases counting handsets multiple times.

While the FBI admits it grossly inflated the number of inaccessible smartphones to lawmakers and the public, the bureau remained steadfast about the danger of such devices. “Going Dark remains a serious problem for the FBI, as well as other federal, state, local and international law enforcement partners. … The FBI will continue pursuing a solution that ensures law enforcement can access evidence of criminal activity with appropriate legal authority.”

The acknowledgment is the latest blow for the FBI and law enforcement agencies around the country. After a string of attempts to strong-arm Apple into providing a backdoor to access devices involved in crimes, a company called GrayKey announced it created a relatively inexpensive device that allowed law enforcement agencies to unlock encrypted iPhones.

Just months after GrayKey was unveiled, hackers managed to access code for the device, putting its vulnerability center stage. Grayshift, the company that manufactures GrayKey, told Motherboard “a GrayKey unit’s UI was exposed to the internet for a brief period of time earlier this month.” While the company admitted one of its devices was exposed online, it maintains that the device is safe and no personal information was accessed through the breach.

Apple has also been aggressively working to protect its users’ private date since GrayKey was released. In April, the tech giant updated iOS 11.3 to limit access to iPhones. The update disables the lightning port of any iOS device seven days after it was last authenticated with via passcode, fingerprint, or Face ID.

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