My Surface Book 2 is sleek, fast, innovative — and I hate it.

Bill Roberson/Digital Trends

In addition to reporting about technology as dispassionately as we can, we technology writers are also technology consumers who spend our own hard-earned money just like everyone else. As a very personal example, I swiped my already-strained credit card for over $3,400 back in December on a top-of-the-line 15-inch Surface Book 2.

And now I regret it.

Don’t misunderstand me: I love my Surface Book 2. It’s fast, innovative, and exudes quality. I love the display’s excellent contrast, high resolution, and lovely text — quite important for a writer. I love its battery life and its keyboard, and tearing off the tablet to flick through RSS feeds and watch video feels like the future.

But I also hate my Surface Book 2. Microsoft made some unfathomable decisions when they designed it, and those decisions render it far more limited than I would have ever imagined.

The Surface Book 2 won’t be your only PC

My editor, Matt Smith, wrote an editorial about some Surface Book 2 limitations that made it less than ideal as a user’s only PC. He spoke about scaling issues with external displays, inconsistent performance and GPU-related oddities, and the general tendency for Surface devices to exhibit early hardware and software problems (some of which I’ve experienced myself).

In fact, he only scratched the surface.

Everything he said is valid, but there are even more reasons why the Surface Book 2 isn’t the greatest standalone PC. Microsoft might fix some problems — the randomly disappearing discrete GPU and the laggy touchpad, for example — with firmware updates, but others are built in. And that sucks.

Seriously, what’s the deal with that power supply?

The 15-inch Surface Book 2 has a real problem with its power supply. I won’t detail the issue here, because I already covered it in another story. Suffice it to say that the power supply can’t keep up with the GPU in many situations and it taps into the battery to compensate. Mere inconvenience aside, I hate that pushing the GPU on the Surface Book 2 adds unnecessary charge cycles to the non-removable battery and shortens its lifespan.

Admittedly, though, I was aware of this limitation when I bought the machine and well within my standard return period. I decided to keep the machine because, on balance, I thought its performance and flexibility were worth the cost.

I was wrong, and the power supply that ships with the Surface Book 2 was only the first disappointment.

The Surface Dock is even weaker

Suppose you want to plug in a couple of external displays (Thunderbolt 3’s support of dual 4K displays at 60Hz would have been helpful here), a few USB devices, and an Ethernet connection. At first glance, Microsoft’s Surface Dock seems like a convenient solution, but there’s a problem: it provides only 60 watts to the notebook. If the dedicated 95-watt power supply causes battery drain, then imagine having only 60 watts available. In fact, don’t just imagine it — I ran a quick test with a 65-watt USB-C power supply, and my Surface Book 2’s battery lost 30 percent after less than an hour of playing Diablo III. Ouch.

The net result? I gave up on my plans of replacing my aging desktop with my (incredibly expensive) Surface Book 2.

The Surface Book 2 (mostly) won’t play Netflix in 4K

Here’s where things got even more disappointing. I’m an aspiring science fiction writer, and thus I naturally find science fiction movies and TV both entertaining and educational. Netflix has a ton of great sci-fi, much of it in 4K, and so once my first plan fell through I devised an alternative for my home office. I decided to set up a space for the Surface Book 2 as a secondary PC and to connect a 4K display for viewing Netflix’s growing library of 4K content while I worked on less demanding projects.

And so, I bought the Microsoft Surface USB-C to HDMI Adapter for $40, plugged in a known good HDMI cable, and… 1080p was the best I could get. I unplugged everything from the Surface Book 2 and plugged it into an Acer Switch 7 Black Edition I was reviewing, and voila! 4K in all its glory. I plugged into a Lenovo Yoga 730 review unit, and again, 4K. But the Surface Book 2 was stuck at 1080p.

Here’s some background: playing Netflix in 4K on a PC requires the right combination of CPU or GPU, ports, cables, and displays. Also, everything needs to support the most recent version of the High-bandwidth Digital Copy Protection (HDCP) protocol, or HDCP 2.2. If anything in the chain doesn’t support HDCP 2.2, then you’re out of luck. It’s Netflix in 1080p for you.

Dan Baker/Digital Trends

And this is where things get stupid. For some reason, Microsoft limited the Surface Book 2 to HDCP 1.4 for external wired displays. It’s HDCP 2.2 to the internal (non-4K) display and to Miracast devices (which aren’t a solution for me), but plug in a display, and you’re limited to the older copy protection standard.

Now, it makes no sense that an ultra-premium notebook released in late 2017 only supports HDCP 1.4. And as far as I can tell, this information isn’t published anywhere, and so buyers aren’t going to discover it while doing their research.

But here’s what they will find when — as I did — they come across the Microsoft Store description of the Microsoft Surface USB-C to HDMI Adapter:

“Connect the new Surface Book 2 with built-in USB-C port to an HDMI-compatible display to share pictures or videos on your big-screen HDTV. HDMI 2.0 compatible, HDCP 2.2 compliant, and 4K-ready, this is an active-format adapter that supports AMD Eyefinity and NVIDIA.”

Yes, that’s right. The Surface USB-C to HDMI Adapter supports HDCP 2.2, but only for PCs that aren’t the Surface Book 2. And if you’re assuming — again, as I did — that the Surface Book 2 supports HDCP 2.2, then this description isn’t likely to convince you otherwise.

And then life gets in the way

Unfortunately for me, I was delayed in testing things until after my Surface Book 2’s return period was over. Here’s the sad part of the story: my dog was diagnosed with bone cancer shortly after I bought the machine, and for the next few months I spent much of my free time and most of my extra energy taking care of him. It wasn’t until a little over a month ago that I had an opportunity to put everything together and discover this limitation.

Is the inability to play Netflix in 4K such a big deal? Maybe not, at least not in the grand scheme of things. But here’s what it is for me — the last straw. The fact it makes zero sense just adds insult to injury.

Now I’m stuck with the Surface Book 2 because as I’ve since learned, Microsoft is reluctant to make exceptions to its return policy. I’m not happy about it, and I’m left with one conclusion.

Microsoft needs to do better.

Editors’ Recommendations

• Dell XPS 15 2-in-1 vs. Surface Book 2 15
• Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Yoga Gen 3 vs Microsoft Surface Book 2 13
• Here’s what we want to see from the Surface Book 3
• Acer Nitro 5 Spin vs. Dell XPS 15 2-in-1
• Lenovo Yoga 920 review

Best LG G7 Cases

Protect your glass.

The LG G7 is one of the latest flagships released in 2018, and it’s got a lot of things going for it — the display looks fantastic, the sound is ridiculously good, the cameras are impressive, and the whole thing is packaged in a slick all-glass body.

To avoid the heartbreak of cracked glass on your brand new phone, you should absolutely consider a case when you’re pre-ordering your new phone. To help, we’ve rounded up the best cases available for the LG G7. Let’s dive in!

• SUPCASE Unicorn Beetle Pro case
• Ringke Air thin case
• Ringke Fusion-X rugged case
• Spigen Rugged Armor case
• Spigen Liquid Crystal case
• ProCase Folio Wallet Case
• OtterBox Defender Series case

SUPCASE Unicorn Beetle Pro case

Starting with one of the most popular heavy-duty case options for practically any phone on the market, the SUPCASE Unicorn Beetle Pro case is a great option to consider.

Featuring a dual-layer design that combines a rigid polycarbonate shell with a flexible bumper, the refined design here will keep your phone well protected from the nastiest of drops. It also features a built-in screen protector to protect against scratches, and the precise cutouts and buttons mean the functionality of the phone will never be impeded.

You can get this case in all-black or opt for a more colorful style for $22 on Amazon.

See at Amazon

Ringke Air thin case

For those of us who demand our cases be thin and let the phone design peek through, there’s this slim case option from Ringke.

The Ringke Air is lightweight and transparent and made of flexible TPU so it’s easy to install. A case like this is going to protect against drops and scratches on the back glass, while also providing a buffer for the camera and fingerprint scanner on the back.

It’s available as a clear case or tinted with Smoke Black or Orchid Purple for just $10 on Amazon.

See at Amazon

Ringke Fusion-X rugged case

Ringe offers a ton of case styles for a crazy number of phones, and there are three other styles available from Ringke for the LG G7. But we’ll focus on the Fusion-X for combining the views of a clear case with a reinforced bumper for rugged protection.

You’ll appreciate the added grip that this case provides and the clean design that lets you show off the G7 (ThinQ) branding on the back.

Available with a black, gray, or lilac purple bumper, you can get this case for $12.

See at Amazon

Spigen Rugged Armor case

Spigen’s Rugged Armor case is about as good as it gets for a single-layer case. It adds barely any bulk to the phone itself while improving the in-hand comfort with a matte finish featuring carbon fiber accents at the top and bottom.

Thin enough to allow wireless charging yet rugged enough to protect against nasty drops, this case is a minimalist workhorse that looks great in all black.

Get it for just $8 for your LG G7.

See at Amazon

Spigen Liquid Crystal case

Another classic design from Spigen, the Liquid Crystal case is perfect if you want that ‘naked’ look for the LG G7 but also don’t want to unnecessarily risk your phone taking damage.

You may ask what could really differentiate between clear cases, and the answer from Spigen would be its Air Cushion technology. Each corner is designed with a little pocket of air that creates a gap between the phone and the ground for added protection. Made of a single piece of crystal clear TPU, this case is a great minimalist option that won’t disappoint.

Get it for just $12 on Amazon.

See at Amazon

ProCase Folio Wallet Case

For fans of wallet cases, ProCase has a stylish looking case made with a lightweight fabric finish and a built-in TPU case. This is a folio-style wallet case that features three card slots and a money pocket with magnetic clips to keep things closed.

Like a good folio case, it can be folded up to create a kickstand for hands-free viewing, and there are generous cutouts around the camera and fingerprint sensor on the back.

You can get this protective and functional case for just $10 for the standard black case, and up to $13 for a more colorful teal case.

See at Amazon

OtterBox Defender Series case

OtterBox has a full line of cases coming soon for the LG G7. The most popular Defender series case (pictured) will be available for $50, while the slimmer Symmetry series case will be available for $40.

OtterBox has shifted away from including built-in screen protectors with their cases, instead offering its own case-compatible screen protector for $40. It’s a steep price compared to the other cases on this list, but if you’ve ever dealt with OtterBox’s warranty process or customer service you know that you get what you pay for regarding product support.

OtterBox’s cases still aren’t on sale yet, but you can sign up to be notified as soon as they’re available.

See at OtterBox

Update June 2018: Replaced the VRS Design cases and updated the pricing information.

LG G7

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

Ring’s Video Doorbell 2, Anker’s dash cam, and more are all discounted today

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

We found plenty of great deals today that include big discounts on the Ring Video Doorbell 2, Anker dash cam, GrowlerWerks uKeg, and more! Time’s running out to take advantage of these prices, so hurry!

View the rest of the deals

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

How to use YouTube for Android

Get the most popular video platform in the world in the palm of your hand.

YouTube is one of the most popular websites on the entire internet, and one of the largest video platforms in the world. Whether you’re coming here for infuriatingly stupid “challenge videos”, the newest jaw-dropping music video, how to cook without ruining everything, or tech reviews. It’s a tool for information, education, and enough distracting videos to fill ten lifetimes. Aren’t we lucky that the YouTube app comes standard with just about every Android phone on the market?

Let’s get our viral video on.

• How to search for videos
• How to control video playback
• How to change video quality
• How to enable/disable captions
• How to sign in to YouTube
• How to subscribe to a YouTube channel
• How to share a YouTube video
• How to create playlists
• How to cast YouTube to your TV with Chromecast

How to search for videos

You can search for videos by keyword, topic, title, channel, whatever. Just type in what you want to find and away you go!

You can also find videos under the home (the little house button), trending (the fire button), and subscriptions (the play button with tabs behind it) tabs.

Launch YouTube from your home screen or the app drawer.
Tap the search button in the upper right corner of your screen. It looks like a magnifying glass.
Type in your search.
Tap the search button on the bottom right of your keyboard. It’s the magnifying glass.

Tap on a video to view it.

Once you search for a video and tap on it, it’ll play automatically.

Playback controls

• Double-tap the left or right sides of the video area to rewind or fast forward 10 seconds.
• Tap the video area to bring up the play controls.
• Tap the center of the video to play or pause.
• Tap and drag along the red dot on the play bar to scrub through the video.
• Tap the next button or previous button to skip to the next video in the list or to go back to the video you were watching before.
• To minimize the video from full-screen, tap minimize at the far right end of the play bar.
• If you’re on a device with an extra-tall screen like a Galaxy S9, use two fingers to pinch and zoom the video to fill the whole screen. Zooming in will crop the top and bottom of the video slightly.

How to change video quality

If you’re trying to save on data or you prefer all of your video in as high definition as possible, you can raise or lower the video quality at will.

Tap the video you want to watch.

Tap the more button on the top right corner of the video pane. It looks like three vertical dots. You may have to tap the video to bring up the playback controls.

Tap Quality.

Tap a resolution in the list.

Setting a lower resolution can help reduce the amount of data you use while streaming on a cellular signal. Some videos may not have higher resolutions available.

How to enable/disable captions

Some videos are kind of hard to understand. Maybe the music’s too loud, maybe the talent mic was just recorded too low. YouTube has an automatic captioning option in YouTube so that even if proper captions weren’t submitted by the uploader, you can still read captions for it. That said, automatic captions can get words wrong, especially when dealing with names, acronyms, strong accents, or multiple speakers — though at Google I/O this year, YouTube showed off how it’s leveraging machine learning to get better when captioning people talking over one another.

Tap the more button on the top right of the video pane. It looks like three vertical dots. You may have to tap the video to bring up the playback controls.
Tap Captions.

Tap a language if there are more than one available or tap Turn off captions if you don’t want them on.

How to sign in to YouTube

If you want to like, comment, or subscribe on YouTube, you’ll need to sign in with a YouTube account if you haven’t already. Good news: If you have a Google account — and if you own an Android device, you really should — you already have a YouTube account! You just need to sign in to it.

Tap the Account icon in the top right corner of the Home feed. It’s the circle with the silhouette of a person inside.
Tap Sign In.

Tap the account you want to sign in with.

You’ll be signed in to YouTube with your new account.

How to subscribe to a YouTube channel

If you find a video you really like and want more from that YouTuber, you can subscribe to their channel. You’ll need an account.

Search the video or channel from the YouTuber to whom you’d like to subscribe.
Tap the red subscribe button. It’ll be the word “Subscribe” with a red play button next to it.

If you want to be notified for every video that YouTuber releases, tap the bell icon.

How to share a YouTube video

Tap the video you’d like to share.
Tap the share button in the video playback area. It’s the curved arrow. You may need to tap the video window to bring up the playback and sharing controls.
Tap a sharing method. You can share via message, email, Facebook, and just about any communication app.

Add a message and Send or Share the video.

How to create playlists

You can add videos to a playlist while watching a video or you can add them from their thumbnails.

How to add videos to a playlist from the thumbnail

Search for videos you’d like to add to your playlist.
Tap the more button on the right side of a video seaarch result. It’s the three vertical dots.

Tap Add to playlist.

Tap Create new playlist.

Type a Name for your playlist.

Tap OK.

The next time you add a video to a playlist, the playlist will appear in the Playlists list.

How to add the video you’re watching to a playlist

On the video listing screen, tap Add to playlist. It looks like a list with a + on it.
Tap Create new playlist.
Type a Name for your new playlist.

Tap OK.

When you add a new video to a playlist, the name of the playlist you’ve created will appear in the choices.

How to cast YouTube to your TV with Chromecast

From either the Home feed of YouTube or a video playback window, tap the cast button. It looks like a box with the Wi-Fi symbol in the bottom left corner.

Tap a device. It could be your television, and Android TV box, or other supported media streaming device. Smart TVs with a YouTube app installed may appear here as well.

You’ll know your phone or tablet is ready to cast when the case button turns white in the middle.

Your turn

Now that you’ve got the basics down, it’s time to get your YouTube on! Turn off your notifications, grab a snack or two, and see how many videos you can watch before you realize how much time has passed! And may we recommend subscribing to the Android Central YouTube Channel while you’re at it, so that we can keep you up to date on the latest Android and Google products and news.

Updated June 2018: Our guide has been updated to keep up with changes to YouTube’s looks and features, so that it can accurately help users like you navigate the most popular video platform on the planet.

Every Oculus Go error message, and what you can do to fix them

Get to the bottom of the problem

If you’ve been experiencing any error messages when trying to use your Oculus Go I’m gonna help you out. I’ve collected all the error messages and weird pop-ups people have experienced in the Oculus Go and what I did to get them to go away.

If you find that you had experienced one and it’s not listed, let me know in the comment section below.

Thread priority security exception. Make sure the APK is signed

This error message is coming up because of one of three problems. The app either does or doesn’t have an Oculus signature, or it contains one that isn’t compatible with your device. (Looks like the improper transfer of all GearVR games is just getting more and more real.)

Sometimes you can get rid of this error by closing out your game and reloading it. But, since these games aren’t entirely compatible with your device there’s a chance that even if you get it to load you’re still going to have problems with the controls not working properly for you.

There was a problem authenticating ownership of this product.

This is an error I’ve only ever noticed coming up for paid games from the Oculus Store, and it only ever popped up if I tried to launch the game as soon as it finishes downloading. You can avoid getting the error by waiting a minute or two before launching your downloaded games on your Oculus Go so that it has the right amount of time to install into your device. Furthermore, you can get rid of this error by exiting the game, waiting a minute or so and then reloading it.

If you’re still experiencing errors on the game try starting over by uninstalling and reinstalling the game or app.

Using the “wrong” controller

Don’t get too discouraged if you see a game or app load and it gives you the controller settings of a Gear VR. A lot of the games on the play store are still compatible even if the visual of the game has not been updated to match the OGO.

However, if you load into a game that the controls aren’t working with the Oculus Go controller, try connecting your Oculus Go to a gamepad if the game is compatible with one.

Oculus Go

• A parent’s guide to Oculus Go
• Oculus Go vs. Lenovo Mirage Solo
• Best Gamepad for Oculus Go
• Best Battery Backup for Oculus Go

Oculus Go 32GB
Oculus Go 64GB

Google Pixel 3 wish list: What we want to see from Google’s 2018 flagship

The Pixel 2 is already the best Android phone you can buy, but it can always be better. Here are the things I would like to see in the Pixel 3.

I’ve had my Pixel 2 XL since a week after release, and while a small number of early units had some issues, most owners have reported being happy with their device. I didn’t encounter any of the hardware issues that other early owners experienced, and I’ve been enjoying the phone quite a bit since receiving in the mail.

Having said that, there are some things I would change about the phone. Nothing major, but a few little things that would add up to a better device (in my eyes). I know the Pixel 3 will feature the newest processor, an even better camera, and whatever software features come in Android P. We’ve had a bit of time with the Android P beta, though we’ll surely see more changes come before P reaches stable status. Other pieces aren’t certain, and I hope these all make it into the Pixel 3.

Broader retail availability

This one doesn’t matter much for me, since I’ve been buying my phones unlocked for years. But I’m not most people. Most consumers — at least in North America — still go to their cellular carrier’s stores to play with a device in hand before buying it. Which mostly means those consumers are buying iPhones and Galaxies. That’s not to say those are bad choices, but if Google wants to improve the Pixel line’s sales numbers, the phone will need to be sold by all carriers. I’m not sure how long Verizon has a retail exclusive for the Pixel phones, but hopefully 2018 is the year they will be available in more stores.

Should you use your Google Pixel 2 or Pixel 2 XL on Project Fi?

Wireless charging

Way back when dinosaurs roamed the earth, Google’s Nexus line featured Qi charging fairly consistently. That changed when the Nexus 6P debuted with a metal body, and the Pixel line has continued the exclusion of any wireless charging. With the latest iPhones popularizing wireless charging more than ever and the wireless charging standards settling, I’d really like the next Pixels to bring back Qi charging. This will necessitate moving away from the metal back to using glass, but I think the tradeoff would be well worth it. There are some Qi charging adapters that would work with the current Pixels, but that would mean I couldn’t use the USB port to connect to my Android Auto head unit.

Wireless Power 301: What Modern Dad uses in the car

Faster wired charging

Wireless charging is for when my phone would sit overnight, but when I need to charge in a hurry, nothing works better than just plugging in a cable. While the Pixels currently charge fairly quickly with the right charger, there have a few instances — entirely of my own making — where I’ve needed the phone to top up sooner. The Essential Phone can recharge at a blistering 27 watts, while the Pixels don’t charge any faster than 18 watts. That’s still plenty fast for most situations, but not all.

USB-C needs to get smarter before it gets better

More refined gesture navigation

” />

Gesture navigation was added in the first beta release of Android P, and while it’s rough around the edges, it’s promising. It’s not enabled by default — making it clear this is still a work in progress. Personally, it’s a bit weird right now because two actions — back and home — are done with a tap, while two others — multitasking and opening the app drawer — come with a gesture. The integration with the app drawer also makes using a third party launcher with the gesture navigation a bit… odd, to say the least. I’m sure these issues with be ironed out in the next few months.

More: Android P’s gestures are a jagged pill you should learn to swallow

Some sort of secure face unlock

This isn’t something I’m likely to use if a fingerprint sensor is also present, but it’d be a good option nonetheless. A secure face unlock system would be great when using gloves during the winter months, especially if it can tie into Google Pay. I still want a fingerprint sensor present, either remaining on the back or built into the screen. Giving users a choice on which biometric system to use would be perfect for me. Android has had insecure Face Unlock for years, but a native solution that plugs into the same APIs that are used for fingerprint sensors would be the best thing for the platform going forward.

More: OnePlus 5T gets OxygenOS 4.7.2 for improved face unlock, fingerprint sensor, and more

No notch

The first Android P developer preview included support for a software-based notch, presumably to help developers get their apps ready for all of the iPhone X clones that will surely be released over the next year. We have yet to see hardware leaks for the next Pixels, so we don’t have any indication on whether a physical notch would be present. With Google controlling both the hardware and software on the Pixels, a notch may not look bad, but I’d still prefer a smooth top for the display.

A recent leak showed what could be the display panel for the Pixel 3 XL sporting a notch, while the panel for the standard Pixel 3 does without. This is an early leak to take with a grain of salt, but we’ll know more as we get closer to October.

More: The notch is fine and you should get used to it

Honorable mention: A 3.5mm headphone jack

Pretty please?

More: USB-C audio: Everything you need to know

How about you?

What would you like to see in the Pixel 3? Let us know down below!

Updated June 4, 2018: This article was updated to add information about the Pixel 3’s gesture navigation.

Google Pixel 2 and Pixel 2 XL

• Pixel 2 FAQ: Everything you need to know!
• Google Pixel 2 and 2 XL review: The new standard
• Google Pixel 2 specs
• Google Pixel 2 vs. Pixel 2 XL: What’s the difference?
• Join our Pixel 2 forums

Best Buy
Verizon
Google Store
Project Fi

ZTE has reportedly made an agreement with the U.S. to lift Denial Order

The company will be faced with $1 billion in fines.

In mid-April, the United States Department of Commerce slapped ZTE with a Denial Order over an issue it had with U.S. sanctions in 2017. However, according to a report from Reuters, both ZTE and the U.S. government have reached an agreement that’ll lift the Denial Order and allow the company to return to business as usual.

James Rockas, a spokesperson for the Commerce Department, says that “no definitive agreement has been signed by both parties”, but it sure does look like things are moving in the right direction for ZTE.

It’s unclear when the agreement will be formally announced, but according to Reuters, ZTE won’t be getting off scot-free —

The deal includes a $1 billion fine against ZTE plus $400 million in escrow in the event of future violations.

However, the U.S. stands to get even more cash —

The Commerce Department plans to amend its settlement agreement from last year and count the $361 million ZTE paid as a part of that, allowing the U.S. to claim a total penalty of as much as $1.7 billion, sources said.

A few weeks after the Denial Order was issued, ZTE announced that it was stopping all major business operations as a result of being unable to use any exported hardware or software from the United States.

President Trump later said he was working with China President Xi to get ZTE back in action, and on May 22, it was rumored that the two countries were close to making a deal that would allow the Denial Order to be lifted.

Although ZTE will be faced with a heap of fines to pay, this is undeniably good news for the company. We’re still waiting for this to be set in stone before we get our hopes up too much, but it sure does look like ZTE’s drama is finally coming to an end.

ZTE is DOA, but has the U.S. government gone too far?

MacRumors Giveaway: Win a Satchel, TechFolio, and iPhone X Case From Pad & Quill

In celebration of the 2018 Worldwide Developers Conference, which is taking place this week, we’ve teamed up with accessory maker Pad & Quill to offer a series of giveaways.

Pad & Quill is a company that makes high-quality hand-crafted leather accessories for iPhones, Macs, iPads, Apple Watches, and more.

Our first giveaway includes the Heritage Leather Men’s Satchel Bag, the TechFolio Cord Organizer, and a Bella Fino iPhone X case.

Priced at $395, the Heritage Leather Satchel Bag is an all leather bag made from full grain American leather. It features a padded laptop pocket able to hold up to a 15-inch MacBook Pro, a newspaper pocket at the back, two side slip pockets, and several inner pockets for accessories and other gear including an internal zip pocket.

A rolltop design ensures that everything in the Satchel stays dry, keeping what’s inside safe. As this bag is made entirely of leather, it will develop a unique patina overtime, and it’s going to hold up for many years to come with UV-resistant nylon stitching and durable brass hardware.

The $90 TechFolio, which fits neatly inside the Leather Satchel Bag, is designed to keep all of your cords neatly organized in one easy-to-access place. Like all Pad & Quill products, the TechFolio is handmade from leather and able to hold a ton.

It has three cord organizer pockets, an Apple Pencil slot, a larger zipper pocket for a MacBook charger, two smaller pockets for accessories, and slots for keys or SD cards. All of this folds down into a small package that secures with a rivet closure.

Rounding out our giveaway is Pad & Quill’s Bella Fino case for the iPhone X. Priced at $90, the Bella Fino is a slim wallet-style case that offers front and back protection without adding a ton of bulk.

The Bella Fino, made from full grain American leather, features a thin snap-on inner shell that keeps the iPhone X in place, and inside, there’s a money pocket and four slots that are able to hold cards and a driver’s license, making it a suitable wallet replacement. Wireless charging is fully supported, and all ports and the rear camera remain accessible.

We have one prize pack featuring a Bella Fino iPhone X case, a TechFolio, and a Heritage Leather Men’s Satchel Bag. To enter to win, use the Rafflecopter widget below and enter an email address. Email addresses will be used solely for contact purposes to reach the winners and send the prizes. You can earn additional entries by subscribing to our weekly newsletter, subscribing to our YouTube channel, following us on Twitter, or visiting the MacRumors Facebook page.

Due to the complexities of international laws regarding giveaways, only U.S. residents who are 18 years or older and Canadian residents (excluding Quebec) who have reached the age of majority in their province or territory are eligible to enter. To offer feedback or get more information on the giveaway restrictions, please refer to our Site Feedback section, as that is where discussion of the rules will be redirected.

a Rafflecopter giveawayThe contest will run from today (June 5) at 10:00 a.m. Pacific Time through 10:00 a.m. Pacific Time on June 12. The winner will be chosen randomly on June 12 and will be contacted by email. The winner will have 48 hours to respond and provide a shipping address before a new winner is chosen.

Tag: giveaway
Discuss this article in our forums

iOS 12 Makes Your iPhone More Secure With Easier Password Creation and Storage

The new iOS 12 update includes several new password related features that are designed to make it easier for iPhone, iPad, and Mac users to create strong, secure, and unique passwords for each and every login. All of the features were outlined yesterday by Apple in the Platform State of the Union address for developers.

Apple is implementing new tools for creating, storing, and autofilling passwords to streamline and simplify the way passwords work on iOS devices.

Apple will automatically suggest strong, unique passwords, with iOS 12 offering the tools to create, store, and retrieve passwords no matter where an account is created, with these new features working in both third-party apps and Safari alike. Many developers won’t need to make changes to their apps to support these features, which means we should see widespread availability.

You will no longer open up an app and encounter an experience where you need to make up a password on the spot (which often leads to weak passwords) or exit an app to generate a secure password. Apple will now offer these tools right within apps.

All of your passwords will be stored in iCloud Keychain no matter where they are created and they are synced across all of your devices.

Also new in iOS 12 is a feature that lets you ask Siri to get your passwords. With a simple command like “Siri, show me my passwords,” Siri will open up your iCloud Keychain after you authenticate your identity with a fingerprint, a Face ID scan, or a passcode.

Apple also plans to let users know when a password is weak or has been reused by flagging inadequate passwords. With flagged passwords, you’ll be taken right to the website the password is for so you can update it with something more secure.

To streamline two-factor authentication functionality, a new security code autofill feature is being implemented. Incoming SMS security codes will appear in the Quick Tap bar of the keyboard when you need two-factor authentication to complete a login. The security code will show up as soon as it’s texted to you so you can enter it with a tap. This unfortunately does not work for third-party two-factor authentication apps like Authy.

For third-party password apps, such as 1Password or LastPass, Apple is adding a new Password Autofill Extension that will let these password management apps to supply autofill passwords in apps and Safari, making it much easier to enter a password stored in an app like 1Password or LastPass. 1Password showed off this feature in a video shared yesterday and announced plans to support it. These passwords will be accessible from the QuickType bar in apps and in Safari.

What a wonderful present for us at WWDC this year! Thank you to all our friends at Apple for this great new API. #1PasswordAutofill pic.twitter.com/jpvRVogslS

— 1Password (@1Password) June 5, 2018

You’re also going to be able to share and receive passwords from nearby iOS devices, from an iOS device to a Mac, and from an iOS device to an Apple TV, cutting down on the number of times that you need to use a password.

All of these new password features will work across iOS devices, Macs, and the Apple TV to make it easier than ever to keep your products secure through strong passwords and two-factor authentication.

Related Roundup: iOS 12
Discuss this article in our forums

Apple Details Upcoming Privacy and Security Protections in macOS Mojave

Apple is beefing up security in both iOS 12 and macOS Mojave, and in a yesterday’s Platforms State of the Union event for developers, Apple outlined a number of new protections that are coming to the Mac with Mojave.

First of all, Apple is extending privacy protections to the camera, microphone, and other sensitive user data that includes mail database, message history, Safari data, Time Machine backups, iTunes device backups, locations and routines, and system cookies.

In macOS Mojave, apps will need express user consent for all API and direct access to these resources, with users able to access their security preferences in the Security section of System Preferences.

Your information, your image, your voice — they’re yours and yours alone to share with apps. macOS Mojave requires apps to get your approval before accessing the camera or microphone on your Mac. The same goes for data like your Messages history and Mail database.

For apps that are distributed outside of the Mac App Store and signed with a Developer ID, Apple is introducing a secondary “Notarize” review process that’s designed to detect malware faster and provide Apple with finer-grained revocation tools to revoke a specific bad release rather than a developer’s entire certificate.

Notarization will let macOS Mojave users know for sure that a third-party non-App Store Mac app has been double checked by Apple and that it’s free from malware. Eventually, Apple plans to require all Developer ID apps to be notarized before they can be installed, but Apple says this is not an app review process and is used exclusively to analyze apps for security purposes.

Apple is introducing enhanced runtime protections that will extend System Integrity Protection features to third-party apps, protecting them from code injection and other tampering.

As in iOS 12, macOS Mojave is gaining support for automatic strong passwords, with Safari automatically creating, autofilling, and storing passwords. Passwords on macOS Mojave will be flagged if they’ve been reused, making it easier for users to create unique passwords for each login.

Multiple anti-tracking and privacy improvements are coming to Safari to keep your browsing habits private. Right now, advertisers use browser and device characteristics to create a “fingerprint” for you to surreptitiously track you across the web.

Apple is aiming to put a stop to this by sharing only a simplified system profile when you browse the web, giving advertisers less of your data to work with. Improved Intelligent Tracking Prevention also prevents social media Like, Share, and Comment buttons and widgets from tracking you without your permission.

As we covered earlier, macOS Mojave will be the last version of macOS to support 32-bit apps, another move that Apple is making to keep its Mac operating system secure and up to date.

Related Roundup: macOS Mojave
Discuss this article in our forums