OnePlus 6 vs. Samsung Galaxy S9+ camera comparison: Closer than you’d think

Does an extra $300 buy you a much better camera?

We’ve already compared the OnePlus 6 to the Galaxy S9+ in general, and found the OnePlus 6 to be a formidable opponent to Samsung’s latest despite a $300 difference in price. But with the history of OnePlus phones having mediocre cameras and Samsung phones having great cameras, it’s a good idea to hone in on photography in particular.

OnePlus made a huge leap in camera quality from the OnePlus 5 to the OnePlus 6, but is it enough to also challenge one of the best cameras available today? That’s what we’re here to find out.

Daylight

OnePlus 6 (left) vs. Galaxy S9+ (right) — click to view larger, use ‘left’ and ‘right’ keys to compare

Considering the aggressively mediocre camera offerings in previous OnePlus phones, I’ll admit I had pretty low expectations for this comparison — but after taking daylight shots, I was pleasantly surprised with how well the OnePlus 6 compared to the Galaxy S9+. Scrolling through my Google Photos library or seeing the images I share on Instagram, you wouldn’t be able to tell which shots were from the OnePlus 6 and which were the Galaxy S9+. Both produce images that are fundamentally sound and visually pleasing, with no consistent aberrations or issues that were repeatable from shot to shot.

The Galaxy S9+ takes better daylight photos — but the difference isn’t dramatic.

When you set them side-by-side, as I’ve done here, you start to notice some of the more subtle differences that illustrate where the OnePlus 6 is slightly inferior. Across the board, the Galaxy S9 takes brighter, more colorful shots that take advantage of HDR to make a bit more of an opinionated photo. The OnePlus 6 is a bit simpler, still with strong colors but sometimes not leveraging HDR to the point where it brings out the color and details across an entire scene of mixed lighting (the shot of the monorail tracks above is a great example). When zooming in, you’ll notice the Galaxy S9+ has sharper lines and crisper fine details, which may not be immediately perceptible when viewed normally but do contribute to an overall cleaner look. The Galaxy S9+ is just insanely sharp, even when you get in and pixel peep.

The only knock you could put on the Galaxy S9+ in this comparison is that it still tends to overexpose sometimes, which can over-brighten images to the point where it’s distracting. The OnePlus 6 may not have the high brightness and colors across the board, but the upside is that it never over-brightens photos. The rest of the differences here really are subtle, but when you add them up I feel you still get better photos out of the Galaxy S9+ in daylight — the difference just isn’t dramatic, and that’s a great sign for the OnePlus 6.

Low light

OnePlus 6 (left) vs. Galaxy S9+ (right) — click to view larger, use ‘left’ and ‘right’ keys to compare

When comparing the OnePlus 6 to its predecessor, it was immediately clear that it made a huge stride in low-light photography. I would easily classify the OnePlus 6’s low-light performance as being above average (regardless of price), but that’s not enough to match the Galaxy S9+. The Galaxy S9+ is sharper and clearer across the board, and often brighter with better white balance as well. This applies to fully dark scenes, but also challenging indoor scenes with very dark areas in addition to lighter areas.

The OnePlus 6 has come a long way, but it can’t match the best in the business.

Unlike daylight photos where the differences were mostly in color and brightness, there’s a distinct difference in sharpness and details between these phones at night — zoom in a little on any of the photos and you’ll see why. The Galaxy S9+ is amazing at processing lines and flat surfaces to be incredibly sharp and smooth, sometimes to the point where they almost look unnatural. On the other hand, the OnePlus 6 just doesn’t process things very much, and you get a photo with soft or muddy details by comparison. Take a look at the photo of the flowers above — the OnePlus 6 shot is good, but it’s a little soft and doesn’t have sharp edges on the petals; the Galaxy S9+’s photo is so sharp you can actually see the individual fibers in the weave of the petals … because they’re fake flowers. You can’t even tell in the OnePlus 6 photo.

This is another situation where you wouldn’t likely be unhappy with the OnePlus photos on their own, but in this case if you set the Galaxy S9+ examples right next to them you’d take the GS9+’s shots every time.

Bottom line: Which one is best?

The OnePlus 6 has broken the mold of having a camera that’s “good for the money” — as this comparison has shown, the camera is good without any caveats or qualifications. In situations with ample light, the OnePlus 6 takes consistently great photos with a little punch of color, good details, and adequate brightness. At night, it’s a massive step beyond the OnePlus 5 and worthy of praise considering its basic components and sub-flagship pricing.

The OnePlus 6 deserves applause for what it can do for $529 — but the GS9+ is just better.

But if we start looking at the marginal differences that move the camera from “good” to “great,” like when comparing to a truly great camera in the Galaxy S9+, you can see the OnePlus 6 isn’t quite there yet. In good lighting, the Galaxy S9+ produces colors that really pop and a dynamic range that is outstanding. At night, the Galaxy S9+ has the same level of sharpness, smooth surfaces and fine edges that you get from the OnePlus 6 when it has good lighting — the GS9+ is just amazing at night, and the OnePlus 6 doesn’t match it.

The OnePlus 6’s camera is within a stone’s throw of the Galaxy S9+, and that’s darn impressive when you look at the $300+ price difference between these phones. If you buy a OnePlus 6, you have no reason to be disappointed by the camera — it can take fantastic photos in a variety of situations. But if you want the absolute best camera, the Galaxy S9+ is the one to get out of these two choices.

OnePlus 6

• OnePlus 6 review
• OnePlus 6 vs. OnePlus 5T: How much changes in six months?
• OnePlus 6 vs. OnePlus 5: Should you upgrade?
• These are the official OnePlus 6 cases
• The OnePlus 6 doesn’t work on Verizon or Sprint
• Join the discussion in the forums

Samsung Galaxy S9 and S9+

• Galaxy S9 and S9+: Everything you need to know!
• Galaxy S9 review: A great phone for the masses
• Complete Galaxy S9 and S9+ specs
• Galaxy S9 vs. Galaxy S8: Should you upgrade?
• Join our Galaxy S9 forums

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Watch free HD TV with this $8 25-mile AmazonBasics antenna

Watch for free.

This AmazonBasics Ultra Thin 25-mile indoor TV antenna is only $7.78 on Amazon. This antenna normally sells for around $13, and even though we’ve seen it drop to around $9 or so before, drops lower than $8 have been very rare.

Because of the limited range on this antenna, this is not going to serve you well in a rural place. You’ll get a lot more out of it if you live in a downtown, urban environment. Use this handy website to figure out how well it’ll work for you. This antenna lets you pick up channels like ABC, NBC, PBS, Fox, and more. It supports up to 1080p HD resolutions. It has black and white sides, and it can be painted over if you would like it to be a different color. The coaxial cable is six feet long. This antenna has 3.5 stars based on more than 2,600 reviews.

See on Amazon

Fitbit Versa and Android: Top 10 things you need to know

Fitbit’s got a winner on its hands.

I’m a big fan of 2017’s Fitbit Ionic, but as it turns out, a lot of people aren’t. Not pleased at all with the Ionic’s sales performance, Fitbit went back to the drawing board to create something that’d appeal to a larger audience. Five months later, we have the Fitbit Versa.

Where the Ionic is a smartwatch that’s really meant for sports and fitness enthusiasts, the Versa is supposed to be Fitbit’s truly mass appeal option. There’s a lot the Versa has going for it, and if you’ve been thinking about picking one up for yourself, these are the top 10 things you need to know before doing so.

See at Fitbit

June 4, 2018 — Fitbit’s shipped more than 1 million Versa units since Apil 16

About a month and a half since the Versa officially launched, Fitbit’s issued a press release announcing that it’s already shipped more than a million units. One million shipped Versas doesn’t mean Fitbit’s actually sold that many, but considering it’s also the best-selling smartwatch on Amazon right now, there’s reason to believe it’s doing a lot better than the Ionic.

Fitbit also shed some light on the reception to its new female health tracking features. According to the company:

• Over 2.4 million users have added/enabled female health tracking on the Fitbit app
• 1.8 million users have logged at least one period
• 500,000+ users have added two or more retrospective periods
• Almost 700,000 users have logged at least one symptom

On the development side of things, Fitbit says that over 18,000 people are now a part of the Fitbit developer community and have created more than 900 apps/clock faces for the Versa and Ionic.

It’s incredibly small and lightweight

Fitbit Versa (left) and Fitbit Ionic (right)

The Fitbit Versa looks like the love-child of a Pebble Time and Apple Watch, and that honestly works towards its benefit. The watch feels great on my wrist, and when Fitbit says it’s the “lightest metal smartwatch you can buy in the U.S. today”, it’s not joking around. The Versa practically disappears once you strap it on, and this makes wearing it for hours on end a joy.

Practicality isn’t the only thing the Versa gets right, however. Not only does the Versa feel good, it also looks good. Fitbit went with a squircle design for Versa’s body, and it’s available in Black, Graphite, Silver, and Rose Gold colors with a variety of different bands.

Versa looks right at home when worn at the gym with a sports band, but throwing on something leather or metal dresses it up nicely for a night out on the town. This flexibility with its design is really what wins me over, and it’s something I think Fitbit knocked out of the park.

Proprietary bands

Speaking of watch bands, it’s worth mentioning that Fitbit decided to go with proprietary ones. The watch bands here are different than the Ionic’s, and you can swap them out by moving a small metal nub that’s on each one. They’re not as easy to take on and off compared to the Ionic’s bands, but they often feel more secure thanks to the new mechanism.

Fitbit sells a number of bands in different colors and materials directly on its website, but you can also find a good selection of third-party ones on Amazon that cost considerably less.

Battery life is great

Battery life on the Fitbit Ionic is easily one of its best features, and despite the smaller size of the Versa, Fitbit’s touting that it can still get 4+ days of use on a single charge.

With the first review unit of the Versa I received, I was only seeing around 1-2 days of use before being forced to place it back on the charger. After contacting Fitbit and getting it swapped out for a fresh model, I was pleased to see that my shorter endurance was nothing more than a fluke.

The Versa that I have now consistently sees 4 days of continuous use before needing to sit on the charger, and if used sparingly, it’s possible to even pull 5 days out of it.

There’s no GPS

Although the Versa has most of the same features that the Ionic does, one thing you won’t find is built-in GPS. As such, if you want to go for a run/walk and see a path of where you go, you’ll need to bring your phone with you.

The lack of GPS is not a big deal.

I personally prefer to have GPS on my smartwatches, but that’s also because I’m a huge running nut. This likely won’t be a huge deal for most people, and anyone that needs built-in GPS that badly likely won’t blink an eye before picking up the Ionic.

NFC is only available with the Special Edition

Fitbit introduced Fitbit Pay with the Ionic last October, and this allows you to use the watch to pay for things at grocery stores, vending machines, and other places that accept NFC as a form of payment. Fitbit Pay makes a return to the Versa, but only for certain models.

In the U.S., only the Special Edition Versa comes with NFC to support Fitbit Pay. The Special Edition also comes with an exclusive fabric band in two color options, and this will set you back $30 more compared to the standard variant. However, if you live in Asia or Europe, NFC/Fitbit Pay will be available on all models.

The Versa is an excellent fitness-tracker

This should go without saying, but the Fitbit Versa is a superb fitness-tracker. It can do basic things like track your steps, calories burned, distance, stairs, and active minutes, but the Versa also goes far beyond that. Wearing the watch to bed will track how long you sleep and the quality of your rest, and Fitbit’s PurePulse heart-rate tracking keeps tabs on how fast or slow your heart is pumping 24/7.

The Exercise app can record a variety of workouts, such as Run, Walk, Treadmill, Weights, and more, and you can even use Versa to log your swims thanks to 50M water-resistance. If you want to take things a step further, there’s also the Fitbit Coach app.

Fitbit Coach offers guided workout routines directly on Versa’s screen, and there are three included out of the box. If you decide to pay $39.99/year for Fitbit Coach, however, you’ll get up to six that often change based on your performance and fitness level.

Fitbit OS 2.0 is polished and fast

Fitbit OS powers the Versa, and this is the same operating system that shipped with the Ionic. Fitbit has since updated the platform to v2.0, and it offers a lot of welcome improvements.

The Fitbit Today app now shows more information than ever, including your three most recent workouts, a 7-day graph for your primary goal (such as steps, calories, etc.), and your resting heart-rate for the past week. Apps open faster, animations are considerably smoother, and you can now use Deezer to store music right on the Versa (in addition to Pandora and any local music you already own).

Quick Replies are available for Android

This May, Fitbit added Quick Replies to the Versa and Ionic, allowing you to reply to texts, WhatsApp messages, and more right from your wrist. There are five pre-loaded responses that you can send, and you can even customize what these say in the Fitbit app (up to 60 characters per response).

Better yet, Fitbit kicked things up a notch by improving the way notifications are handled by syncing them between your phone and watch. In other words, clearing notifications from your Versa will also clear them from your phone. It’s a subtle improvement, but one that makes managing your notifications much easier.

Quick Replies are currently an Android-only feature, meaning that they won’t work if you pair the Versa with an iPhone or (shudder) Windows Phone.

How to use Quick Replies on Fitbit Versa and Ionic

Quick Replies make the Fitbit Versa a much better smartwatch

Pricing starts at just $199

If you’re interested in buying the Versa, it’ll cost you $199.95 for the standard version and $229.95 for the Special Edition. The standard option comes in Black, Rose Gold, and Silver colors for the body, each being accompanied by a matching silicon band.

The Special Edition offers a woven fabric band in addition to the regular silicon one, and it’s available with a Graphite and Rose Gold body.

You can buy it right now!

If you want to buy the Fitbit Versa for yourself, you can pick it up at Fitbit’s website or at “major retailers worldwide.’

As mentioned above, the regular model costs $199.95 and the Special Edition will set you back slightly more at $229.95.

See at Fitbit

Updated 5/22/18 – Updated with availability of Quick Replies.

Best Android Tablets in 2018

Why trust us? We’re a virtual company that’s always on the move. That means we use tablets for everything — from watching shows and playing games to getting work done. These are the best Android tablets you can buy.

The Samsung Galaxy Tab S3 offers the best overall Android tablet experience, with a big screen, high-end specs, a stylus and support for a full keyboard. It’s expensive, and not the right pick for anyone who wants a smaller and more portable tablet, but as an all-around device it can’t be beat.

Our Pick

Samsung Galaxy Tab S3

Amazon — $475

• $475 from Amazon

The best Android tablet for most people

This is Samsung’s best-ever tablet, and a single device that can do it all. It’s built extremely well, with a metal frame and glass back that looks great and feels worthy of the price. It has high-end specs to handle anything you could throw at it, and easily has the best display of any Android tablet. There are super-loud speakers, a stylus in the box and support for a detachable keyboard that make the Tab S3 an all-around performer for work and play.

Who should buy this tablet

The two most important things to have in a full-size Android tablet are a great screen, loud speakers, strong build quality and software that makes use of the extra screen size. 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 stylus with 4096-level pressure sensitivity makes taking notes or producing digital artwork a breeze. Add on the optional keyboard to get some typing done, or just prop it up to watch a movie with that great screen and loud speakers.

Is it a good time to buy this tablet?

Yes. The Galaxy Tab S3 was released in March 2017, making it over a year old now, but we’ve seen over the years that these devices don’t need to be updated and refreshed every single year. The specs inside make the Tab S3 plenty capable even in mid-2018, and there’s nothing you’d be looking to do on a tablet that it can’t handle. We don’t expect it to be replaced with a new version until early 2019.

7 reasons to buy

• Best screen available on an Android tablet
• S Pen stylus included in the box
• Robust and beautiful metal-and-glass frame
• Recently updated to Android 8.0 Oreo
• First-party detachable keyboard support
• Quality speakers
• Extras like a fingerprint sensor

2 reasons not to buy

• Expensive if you’re only a casual tablet user
• Not really suited for portrait or handheld use for long periods

The Android tablet market is weak, but this one stands way above the rest

There aren’t a lot of good Android tablets available today, particularly in the “mid-range” part of the market — so if you want a great Android tablet, you have to go to the high-end with the Galaxy Tab S3. The biggest reason why it’s such a great tablet is because it’s essentially a mix of the Galaxy S7 and Galaxy S8 phones, taken up to a tablet size.

That means you’re getting internal specs that are way beyond the rest of the competition, with a super-fast processor, plenty of RAM, lots of storage and well-optimized software. And because it’s a Samsung product, you’re getting a best-in-class display and an amazing metal-and-glass build.

Because you’re spending top dollar on the Tab S3, you don’t have to make any compromises — you get it all. Beyond the specs, you get extras like great quad speakers, an SD card slot, a fingerprint sensor, an S Pen stylus included in the box and an optional first-party keyboard case that rivals some laptops. And despite being thin and light, it gets great battery life. If you want an Android tablet and you’re wiling to spend the money, there’s really nowhere else to go but the Galaxy Tab S3.

Alternatives to the Samsung Galaxy Tab S3

The Amazon Fire HD 10 isn’t going to blow you away with speeds and feeds, nor does it have a stylus or a keyboard — that’s not what it’s for. Instead, it’s simply the best big Android tablet for doing the basics, from watching movies and TV shows to playing some basic games. You don’t get the Google Play Store or Google’s great apps and services, but you also don’t pay much for this solid tablet.

Runner-up

Amazon Fire HD 10

Amazon’s Fire HD 10 is all about giving you the basic tablet experience that’s focused on media consumption on a big screen without the extra complication (and cost) of productivity features.

See at Amazon

Not everyone wants a big tablet that can do everything, they want to stay mobile. The last-generation Galaxy Tab S2 8.0 is a smaller 8-inch tablet that’s focused on being light and portable rather than offering a productivity-focused experience. The screen is still good and plenty big enough for watching TV or browsing the web, but is light and small enough to hold in your hands without having to prop up on a table after 15 minutes.

Smaller

Samsung Galaxy Tab S2 8.0

The Tab S2 may be a generation old, but it’s still a great tablet if you want something lighter and smaller — and it still has good specs and a high-quality display.

See at Amazon

Amazon also makes the best super-inexpensive Android tablet available, the Fire HD 8. At $80 with 16GB of storage, it’s an amazing deal. Like the HD 10 it doesn’t have the Google Play Store or Google apps, but you’re even more likely to look past that when you’re spending under $100 on a tablet. This is a great choice for media consumption, browsing or handing to your kids.

Budget pick

Amazon Fire HD 8

A light and portable tablet well under $100 — there isn’t much you can complain about in that equation. Better yet, it comes in four colors.

See at Amazon

Bottom line

For someone who wants the best possible Android tablet experience, the Samsung Galaxy Tab S3 is the best choice because of its high-end materials, great screen, capable software and accessory options — but you’ll pay quite a bit for it, roughly $500. For those who don’t need as many capabilities, the Amazon Fire HD 10 offers a good media experience but without the app support or productivity capabilities of the Galaxy Tab S3 — and it’s one third of the price because of it. If you want something smaller (and also cheaper), the last-generation Galaxy Tab S2 8.0 is much lighter and more portable than any other tablet, and for even less money you can pick up a Fire HD 8.

Credits — The team that worked on this guide

Andrew Martonik is the Executive Editor, U.S. at Android Central. He has been a mobile enthusiast since the Windows Mobile days, and covering all things Android-related with a unique perspective at AC since 2012. For suggestions and updates, you can reach him at andrew.martonik@androidcentral.com or on Twitter at @andrewmartonik.

Jerry Hildenbrand is Mobile Nation’s Senior Editor and works from a Chromebook full time. Currently he is using Google’s Pixelbook but is always looking at new products and may have any Chromebook in his hands at any time. You’ll find him across the Mobile Nations network and you can hit him up on Twitter if you want to say hey.

Daniel Bader is the Managing Editor of Android Central. As he’s writing this, a mountain of old Android phones is about to fall on his head, but his Great Dane will protect him. He drinks way too much coffee and sleeps too little. He wonders if there’s a correlation.

This is what the BlackBerry KEY2 looks like

June 7 can’t get here soon enough.

This Thursday, June 7, BlackBerry will be hosting an event in New York City to unveil the KEY2 — the successor to last year’s excellent BlackBerry KEYone. Just a few short days before that event, Evan Blass has taken to Twitter to share a few press renders of the upcoming phone.

Similar to what we’ve seen from previous renders and hands-on photos, they KEY2 shares a very similar form factor compared to the KEYone.

The front is home to a large touchscreen display and below that is a full-fledged physical keyboard. In between those are capacitive navigation buttons for making your way around Android, and the fingerprint sensor appears to reside in the spacebar once again.

Around back is a textured finish with the BlackBerry logo and dual cameras, with the bottom frame being home to a USB-C port and two speaker grills. Along with that, the right side of the frame looks like it’ll be home to an extra button along with the volume rocker and power/wake button.

We still don’t know what kind of specs the KEY2 will come equipped with or how much it’ll cost, but those fine details will soon be set in stone later this week.

How are you liking what we’ve seen so far of the BlackBerry KEY2?

Why I’m still using a BlackBerry KEYone in Spring 2018

BlackBerry KEYone

• BlackBerry KEYone review
• KEYone vs. Priv: Battle of the BlackBerry keyboards
• BlackBerry KEYone specs
• The latest KEYone news
• Join the discussion in the forums

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DOJ Antitrust Chief likely won’t block the T-Mobile and Sprint merger

It looks like the merger may happen after all.

The Sprint and T-Mobile merger is expected to be completed by mid-2019, but before that happens, it needs to get approval from the proper government officials/agencies. We still have a ways to go, but at least according to the Antitrust Chief, the Department of Justice won’t give the merger much of a hassle.

According to Bloomberg, DOJ Antitrust Chief Makan Delrahim says the T-Mobile and Sprint merger isn’t “a deal killer” even though the four main U.S. wireless service providers will go down to just three. Furthermore, Delrahim also noted that “I don’t think there’s any magical number that I’m smart enough to glean about any single market.”

What does this mean for the merger?

Although Delrahim doesn’t seem to be too concerned about the deal, Bloomberg does remind us that “the Justice Department still must weigh the potential impact of allowing a merger of T-Mobile and Sprint, the No. 3 and No. 4 players, against having two smaller players battle on price and features against giants like Verizon Communications Inc. and AT&T Inc.”

Investors are still skeptical about the merger being approved, some even going as far to say the odds are 50-50. It’s difficult to say for sure, but with Delrahim’s recent comment echoing a similar theme we’ve seen from FCC Chairman Ajit Pai, the possibility of this going through is looking greater and greater.

What do you think will happen?

The T-Mobile / Sprint merger could be great for consumers, but it probably won’t be

Carriers

• Which unlimited plan should you buy?
• Verizon’s Unlimited plans: Everything you need to know
• Everything you need to know about the T-Mobile ONE unlimited plan
• Everything you need to know about the AT&T Unlimited plan
• Everything you need to know about Sprint’s Unlimited Freedom plan
• Join the Discussion

These Cameras Work With Amazon Echo Show and Echo Spot

The Amazon Echo Show and Echo Spot are special because they have displays. And that means they have a very special set of skills. The better to see you with, my dear.

So you’ve got an Amazon Echo Show or Echo Spot. Those, as you’ll well know, are the Amazon Echo devices that in addition to being powered by Alexa and able to do all of those Alexa-esque things, also have a display.

The Echo Show is the larger of the two, with a 7-inch touchscreen. The Echo Spot is a baseball-like device with a screen about half that size. And both can show you all sorts of things, including feeds from some popular security cameras you might have at home.

(And it’s worth mentioning that the Echo Show and Echo Spot aren’t the only Alexa-powered things that can view your camera feeds. The Amazon Fire TV is hooked into Alexa, of course, and generally has a huge screen — a television set — hooked up to it. The Amazon Fire tablets also have Alexa, and so they also can view the feeds.)

You’ll just need to enable the specific Alexa Skill for your brand of camera, and then you’re on your way. Just be sure that your cameras have distinct names that are easy to remember.

Here’s a quick look at the more popular cameras Amazon that support Alexa.

• Ring doorbells and security lights
• Nest cameras
• Netgear Arlo cameras
• Logitech Circle 2
• Amazon Cloud Cam

Ring doorbells and security lights

Ring Video Doorbell 2 ($169 at Amazon.)

Ring started out with connected doorbells — it’s got many good ones from which to choose — and it’s since expanded to connected security cameras. They all connect to Alexa via a Skill, and you can view any of the feeds on any of your Alexa-enabled devices.

The process is the same whether you’re talking about a Ring doorbell or camera — just tell Alexa to show it to you, and she’ll do it.

The full line includes:

• Ring Video Doorbell ($179)
• Ring Video Doorbell 2 ($199)
• Ring Video Doorbell Pro ($249)
• Ring Video Doorbell Elite ($499)
• Ring Spotlight Cam ($199)
• Ring Floodlight Cam ($249)

See at Amazon

Nest

Nest Security Camera ($168 on Amazon.)

Nest’s line of cameras remains an excellent option, particularly in conjunction with Nest’s own connected thermostat or the newer Nest Secure security system.

Nest has a basic indoor camera, as well as an outdoor camera. Or for some extra smarts, you’ll want to check out the Nest IQ line, which can learn to identify individual faces. The Nest Hello doorbell should also tie into Alexa.

The full line includes:

• Nest Cam Indoor ($199)
• Nest Cam Outdoor ($199)
• Nest Cam IQ ($299)
• Nest Cam Outdoor IQ ($349)
• Nest Hello Doorbell ($229)

See at Amazon

Arlo

Arlo Pro ($150 on Amazon.)

Arlo is the full line of security cameras from Netgear (which you probably know better as the maker of all kinds of networking gear). The big deal about Arlo cameras is that they’re great for wireless setups, with mounting options that are as easy as they are flexible.

The full line supported by the Alexa Skill includes:

• Arlo Wire-free ($179, Model VMC3030, VMS3x30)
• Arlo Q & Q Plus ($249, Model VMC3040, VMC3040S)
• Arlo Pro ($189, Model VMC4030, VMS4x30)
• Arlo Pro 2 ($439, Model VMC4030p, VMS4x30p)
• Arlo Go ($417, Model VML4030)
• Arlo Baby ($198, Model ABC1000)

See at Amazon

Logitech Circle 2

Logitech Circle 2 ($179 on Amazon.)

The Logitech Circle 2 is consistently rated as one of the top DIY camera solutions. It’s got a number of mounting mechanisms (including a very cool one that plugs directly into a 110v outlet. It’s another camera that has numerous options for mounting and powering. The wired camera runs $179, and the wireless option is just $20 more.

And, of course, it’s all tied in with an Alexa Skill.

See at Amazon

Amazon Cloud Cam

Amazon Cloud Cam ($99 at Amazon.)

Amazon has is own Cloud Cam. It’s the least expensive of the bunch at just $99, and it’s a pretty simple product, with no real frills to speak of. You just figure out where you want to put it, plug it in, and go. It ties into Amazon’s services via its own app (instead of through the Alexa app). And while it does have a Skill, it’s automatically enabled on all Alexa-capable devices, so you don’t have to do anything separate.

See at Amazon

Updated June 4, 2018: Added the Nest Hello doorbell as a supported camera.

Amazon Echo

• Tap, Echo or Dot: The ultimate Alexa question
• All about Alexa Skills
• Amazon Echo review
• Echo Dot review
• Echo Spot review
• Top Echo Tips & Tricks
• Amazon Echo vs. Google Home
• Get the latest Alexa news

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Apple Unveils ‘ARKit 2’ and New LEGO AR App That Connects to Physical Sets

Craig Federighi today announced ARKit 2 at WWDC 2018, which will include improved face tracking, realistic rendering, 3D object detection, persistent experiences, and shared experiences. The company gave a demo of two users sharing a virtual environment using ARKit 2, playing on a table with wooden toys and trying to knock down the other player’s objects.

Continuing from that demo, Apple brought on Martin Sanders, the Director of Innovation at LEGO, who demonstrated an all-new LEGO AR iOS app that will integrate with ARKit 2 features and connect to physical LEGO sets. An entire LEGO city was shown off in the demo, allowing users to build objects, place characters, go on quests, open sets to see inside, and play with friends in the same world.

Up to four friends can play in the same set on four different iOS devices, and notably all of the virtual aspects of the LEGO AR app will be connected to physical LEGO sets. “We can save our entire world back into our physical set, and pick up where we left off later,” Sanders said.

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Apple Unveils New ‘For You’ Tab and Sharing Suggestions Coming to Photos in iOS 12

Apple has announced at its WWDC keynote that a new For You tab is coming to its iOS 12 Photos app that will include intelligent Sharing Suggestions.

Apple explained that the Photos app is gaining a new “For You” tab, similar to Apple Music, that has an “On this day” section showcasing existing memories, looping Live Photos, Portrait photos, and more.

The For You tab will also suggest editing tools to try out to improve pictures in your library.

The Sharing Suggestions feature meanwhile essentially uses AI to suggest people with whom you might want to share your photos, based on who appears in them. Photos shared through the new feature can be shared at full resolution over iCloud.

Related Roundup: iOS 12Tags: Photos, WWDC 2018
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Apple Details Siri Updates Alongside ‘Shortcuts’ App to Create Customized Voice-Controlled Workflows

Apple has revealed a collection of Siri improvements coming to iOS 12, centered around a new app called “Shortcuts.” Shortcuts will let users connect certain third-party apps to Siri to greatly streamline voice controls. For example, the Tile app will let you add a shortcut to Siri so you can say “I lost my keys,” activating Siri and showing Tile actions right in the Siri UI.

Other examples include creating a Shortcut to automatically open an app when you get to the gym every day, turning on Do Not Disturb at the movies, calling a family member on their birthday, and more. With the Shortcuts app, all of these customizable edits can be added and connected to an invokable Siri phrase.

Apple gave another example where a person created a Shortcut from the Kayak app, connecting their hotel address with the Siri phrase “Travel Plans.” So, when they quickly needed to get the address all they had to do was say “Travel Plans” to Siri and it came up immediately.

Far more intricate Shortcuts will be available, with one Siri phrase able to do things like adjust HomeKit thermostats, text a friend, read the news, and more, by simply saying something like “Hey Siri, I’m heading home.”

Tag: WWDC 2018
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