Best Android apps for streaming music from OneDrive

With Groove Music retiring on Android, you’ll have to look elsewhere to stream your music from OneDrive.

Microsoft didn’t just discontinue Groove Music Pass; they’re also retiring Groove Music on iOS and Android later this year. Users that prefer purchasing music, storing it on the cloud, and streaming it to their devices will have to look elsewhere to get their music fix. Luckily, there are a number of apps for Android that allow you to stream music directly from OneDrive.

As a bonus, each of these also works with other popular cloud services like Dropbox and Google Drive, so you aren’t locked into one cloud provider.

Cloudbeats

Cloudbeats is a simple music streaming app that lets you use OneDrive or other cloud services a source for music. The interface is a bit boxy, but it works well and supports music, audiobooks, and playlists.

If you upgrade to the pro version, you can use Cloudbeats with Chromecast and download tracks.

Cloudbeats is available on both iOS and Android. There are free or lite versions depending on your operating system, but to remove ads and get all of its features you’ll have to upgrade for $4.99.

See in Google Play Store

CloudPlayer

CloudPlayer is my favorite app off of this list. The interface is excellent, it automatically detected all of my music and album artwork, and it supports downloading or streaming music. It also supports multiple clouds very well so you can take music from multiple sources.

The app supports Chromecast, Android Auto, and Wear OS, so there are plenty of ways to listen to your music through the app.

CloudPlayer is available on Android devices. It has a free version, but to get premium features like cloud streaming and casting support you’ll have to upgrade for $7.99. You can try premium features for free for 30 days to help you decide if it’s worth the price.

See CloudPlayer in Google Play StoreSee CloudPlayer Platinum in Google Play Store

OneDrive Music is still alive

When Groove Music was around, I didn’t even consider looking for another app to stream music from OneDrive. Thankfully, there are options to choose from that look great and work well. Some of them even have features that never were available through Groove Music, giving you an upgrade on your music streaming.

What apps do you use to stream your music? Let us know in the comments below.

Treat your home to an Ecovacs Deebot N79 robot vacuum cleaner for just $160 today

Free yourself from chores.

Right now you can grab the Ecovacs Deebot N79 robot vacuum cleaner for just $159.98 when you use coupon code I5V25QHP during checkout at Amazon. We haven’t seen a deal this good on the N79 since April. With over 4,700 reviews, this robot vacuum has a 4.1 out of 5-star rating, which is rather impressive.

You can use the free Ecovacs app to create a schedule, monitor cleanings, receive error alerts, and much more. It has four different cleaning modes and a 3-stage cleaning system to ensure your hard floors and carpets are nice and clean once it finishes.

See on Amazon

RHA MA650 headphone review: Made for Android, made with care

A three-button remote that works with most Android phones.

Headphone jacks are disappearing, and headphones themselves are all going Bluetooth. Right? Sort of, but that doesn’t tell the whole story.

In 2016, Bluetooth headphone sales surpassed those of their wired counterparts for the first time, and are largely responsible for growing the headphone industry as a whole. And that industry is growing — dramatically. But one thing is certain: headphones — cheap, expensive, wired, wireless — are more important to people than ever. We think about them more, we spend more time researching the right ones to buy, and we’re more invested in the experience, if not the sound itself, of listening to music on our phones.

This brings me to the RHA MA650 in-ear headphones, a set of wired earbuds that, in 2018, may not seem like a big deal, but to many Android users they should be. That’s because, for $60, you get a great-sounding, beautifully-made set of earbuds with a three-button remote that works with most Android phones. That means play/pause and volume up/down should work, something that only iPhone users have been able to claim until now.

RHA MA650 headphones

Price: $60

Bottom line: Excellent build quality, superb sound, and plenty of customization options — plus a working three-button remote on Android phones — makes this an obvious choice for those who don’t want to move to Bluetooth just yet.

The Good

• Clear, punchy mids and smooth highs
• Awesome build quality, at this price or any price
• Nine ear tip options in the box
• Three-button remote works on most Android phones
• Inexpensive

The Bad

• Bass is a bit underpowered
• Not optimized for running or working out

See at Amazon

RHA MA650 headphones What’s good

The value proposition for a pair of headphones like these is simple: if you don’t want to bother with charging a Bluetooth headset, or just don’t want to sacrifice sound quality, and you’re on an Android phone, the MA650s are a great choice.

At $60, they sound fantastic, and that’s for good reason: RHA has a legacy of producing some of the best-sounding in-ear headphones in the business. While the Scottish company built its reputation in the audiophile space, they’ve been able to bring many of the same design concepts, and materials, down to a more affordable space.

The headphones are made almost entirely of aluminum, from enclosure to pipe, and feel far more premium than their price would suggest. The unboxing experience feels similarly extravagant, with three sets of ear tips in each size — small, medium, and large — consisting of silicone, double flange and, my favorite, Comply foam. The attention to detail is pretty astounding.

The sound is equally good for the price. The earbuds lack a huge driver for bass output, but what’s there is tight and accurate. While the MA650s may not appeal to the heavy electronic music listener, I enjoyed Kendrick Lamar’s beat-heavy hip-hop to SZA’s groovy R&B and Arcade Fire’s danceable alternative, and everything in between. It did take me a bit of experimentation to find the right fit for my ears, which is why RHA’s generous assortment of tips is appreciated. (When in doubt, buy Comply tips for your earbuds — give them a little squeeze before inserting them in your ear and they expand to block out outside noise and deliver the best possible audio quality.)

Perhaps the best part of using these headphones with an Android phone like the Galaxy S9 or LG G7 is the fact that the three-button remote, which includes a centered play/pause button and volume up/down buttons at either side, is that it just works. Most headphones with remotes are optimized for the iPhone, which put the volume controls out of commission. A long-press of the MA650’s play button also activates Google Assistant without issue. The microphone also sounds great for calls — a nice bonus.

I even tried using the headphones on devices without headphones jacks, like the Huawei P20 Pro and Google Pixel 2, and they worked great. While I didn’t love the additional length from the adapter — the cord is already on the long side — the remote worked exactly as intended.

Finally, the braided nylon cord is both durable and resists tangling, something that I’m always appreciative of when reviewing wired headphones.

RHA MA650 headphones What’s not good

What’s not to like? Most of my concerns with these headphones have more to do with the ecosystem than the product itself. Most phones don’t have headphone jacks anymore, which means using them on a Pixel 2 or HTC U12+ involves a dongle. Said dongles are often cumbersome and add length to a cord that was specifically designed to extend a certain distance — the MA650s are already quite lengthy.

If you’re into running, these headphones aren’t going to survive the abuse of sweat and grit, but they weren’t really designed for it. I did attempt one run with them in my ears and, despite finding a comfortable fit, they kept coming loose, and I could hear the cord brushing against my shirt, making for a frustrating experience. If you want cheap Bluetooth headphones for working out, may I recommend these from Anker.

RHA MA650 headphones Should you buy them?

Are you still on the wired headphone train? Do you need great sound and excellent build quality without spending more than $60? Do you want a remote that works with Android phones? The RHA MA650s are your best bet.

4
out of 5

RHA also makes the MA650s in a $99 Bluetooth version, but I still enjoy the reliability of a cord — especially not having to remember to charge them. If you’re in the same boat, these headphones will be perfect for you.

See at Amazon

What’s new on Amazon Prime Video for July 2018

Three new Amazon Originals and a bunch of old favorites!

We’re getting into the meat of summer. That means a couple things. First is that you should probably be spending a good bit of time outside. But that also means you’ll be reminded of just how great things are inside, with conditioned air, a distinct lack of bug life, and a lot less perspiration. Outside? Hot. Inside? Cool. With loads to watch on TV — an specifically on Amazon Prime Video.

Amazon Prime Video has is one of the go-to destinations for on-demand content, thanks in no small part to devices like the new Amazon Fire TV Cube, the $50 Amazon Fire Stick, the $70 Amazon Fire TV, and even the $229 Amazon Echo Show.

In addition to some old favorites, Amazon has three new Originals coming up in July:

• Comicstaan S1: The Prime Original series is a nine-episode series that brings together seven of the biggest comedians in India, to find the next big name in stand-up. The show will be hosted by Abish Mathew and Sumukhi Suresh and the top ten contestants will be judged by a seven-member jury panel. Comicstaan season one is available in UHD. (July 13)
• Tumble Leaf S4a: The Prime Original kids series is aimed at preschoolers, set in a whimsical land where a small blue fox named Fig plays each day and discovers adventure, friendship and love around every bend in the path. Children will be enriched by narratives that promote play, the fun of learning and understanding the world around them. (July 24)

So let’s just get to it — this is what’s coming up on Amazon Prime Video in July 2018:

Coming to Amazon Prime Video on July 1

• 21 Jump Street, Seasons 1-2
• Burn Notice, Seasons 1-7
• Damages, Seasons 1-5
• NYPD Blue, Seasons 1-12
• The Closer, Seasons 1-7 (exclusive)
• 20,000 Days On Earth (2004)
• A.I. Artificial Intelligence (2001)
• All is Lost (2013)
• American Psycho (2000)
• American Psycho 2 (2002)
• An Inconvenient Sequel: Truth to Power (2017)
• And God Created Woman (1988)
• Angel Heart (1987)
• Angela’s Ashes (1999)
• Assassination (1987)
• Avenging Force (1986)
• Barfly (1987)
• Blazing Saddles (1974)
• Blue Chips (1994)
• Body Count (1997)
• Breakfast at Tiffany’s (1961)
• Cadillac Man (1990)
• Christmas Trade (2015)
• Cronicas (2004)
• Dead Man Walking (1995)
• Double Jeopardy (1999)
• Dr. T. and the Women (2000)
• Finding Bliss (2009)
• Gran Torino (2008)
• Highlander II: The Quickening (1991)
• Incident at Loch Ness (2004)
• Invaders from Mars (1986)
• Jeepers Creepers (2001)
• Killer Klowns from Outer Space (1988)
• Ladybugs (1992)
• Late Phases: Night of the Lone Wolf (2014)
• Letters to Juliet (2010)
• Maximum Overdrive (1986)
• Mixed Signals (1997)
• Monkey Shines: An Experiment in Fear (1988)
• Ms. 45 (1981)
• Mulholland Drive (2001)
• Murphy’s Law (1986)
• Next (2007)
• Number One with a Bullet (1987)
• Our Nixon (2013)
• P.O.W. the Escape (1986)
• Patriot Games (1992)
• Pee-Wee’s Big Adventure (1985)
• Pretty in Pink (1986)
• Rabbit Hole (2011)
• Sahara (2005)
• Sex Drive (2008)
• Six Shooter (2013)
• Snake Eyes (1998)
• State of Grace (1990)
• Street Smart (1987)
• Stripes (1981)
• Switchback (1997)
• The Act of Killing (2012)
• The Adventures of Buckaroo Banzai Across the 8th Dimension (1984)
• The Brothers Bloom (2009)
• The Eternal (1998)
• The Foot Fist Way (2006)
• The Fourth War (1990)
• The Graduate (1967)
• The Haunting of Molly Hartley (2008)
• The Invisible War (2012)
• The Longest Yard (2005)
• The Mechanic (1972)
• The Monster Squad (1987)
• The Twilight Saga (2008) (exlusive)
• Trade (2007)
• V for Vendetta (2005)
• Waste Land (2010)
• Witness (1985)
• Woody Allen – A Documentary Parts 1 & 2 (2011)
• Wooly Boys (2004)
• Yelling to the Sky (2011)
• Zodiac (2007)

Coming to Amazon Prime Video on July 8

• Snowden (2016)

Coming to Amazon Prime Video on July 13

• Movies
• A Fly in the Champagne (2009)
• Between Two Harbors (2015)
• *Comicstaan (Prime Original series), Season 1, Episodes 1-4
• Innersection: Black (2013)
• Innersection: Blue (2011)
• Modern Collective (2009)
• Ocean Driven (2015)
• Surfing Presents: Du Ciel (2016)
• Winter Out West (2018)

Coming to Amazon Prime Video on July 14

• The Forgiven (2017)

Coming to Amazon Prime Video on July 16

• Cook Off! (2007)
• Wanderland (2018)

Coming to Amazon Prime Video on July 20

• Max Steel (2016)

Coming to Amazon Prime Video on July 24

• *Tumble Leaf (Prime Original series), Season 4a
• How to Talk to Girls at Parties (2017)

Coming to Amazon Prime Video on July 27

• *Eat.Race.Win (Prime Original series), Season 1
• The Glass Castle (2017)

Coming to Amazon Prime Video on July 28

• Friends with Kids (2012)

Coming to Amazon Prime Video on July 29

• The Americans, Season 6

Available to rent on Amazon Prime Video on July 3

• 7 Days in Entebbe (2018)
• Beirut (2018)
• Blockers (The Pact) (2018)

Available to rent on Amazon Prime Video on July 6

• You Were Never Really Here (2017)

Available to rent on Amazon Prime Video on July 10

• A Quiet Place (2018)

Coming to Amazon Prime Video Channels

Amazon Prime Video Channels is another section of Amazon Video that gives subscription access to countless other video feeds, including major premium movie providers an live sporting events. Here’s what’s coming up in July 2018.

July 1

• Power, STARZ, Season 5

July 2

• Jakers!, PBS Kids, Seasons 1-2
• The Tunnel: Vengeance, PBS Masterpiece, Season 3 Premiere

July 6

• AVP San Francisco Open at The Embarcadero, AVP (7/6-7/8)

July 7

• Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle, STARZ (2017)
• Justice League, HBO (2017)
• *UFC 226 (PPV) – Miocic vs. Cormier, UFC

July 8

• I’m Dying Up Here, Showtime, Season 2 Finale
• Sharp Objects, HBO, Season 1

July 11

• TKO: Total Knock Out, CBS All Access, Season 1 Premiere

July 14

• Battle of the Sexes, HBO (2017)

July 20

• Outcast, Cinemax, Season 2 Premiere

July 21

• The Snowman, HBO (2017)

July 27

• Wild Kratts, PBS Kids, Season 14 Premiere
• AVP Hermosa Beach Open at Hermosa Beach Pier, AVP (7/27-7/29)

July 28

• Victoria & Abdul, HBO (2017)

July 30

• Endeavor, PBS Masterpiece, Season 5 Finale

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Google Account page on Android updated with new UI and features

The new look will come to iOS and web later in the year.

Your Google account is an important part of your online presence, and to make sure it’s as easy to understand and manage as possible, Google’s revamping the way you interact with it on Android.

If you head to Settings -> Google -> Google Account on your Android phone, you’ll see a brand-new interface for your entire Google account. A new Home page shows important info at a glance, such as your account storage, options for increasing your security, and more. From here, you’ll find other tabs for your personal info, contacts you’re sharing info with, payment methods and subscriptions, etc.

The updated UI looks really sleek, and it’s reminiscent of the design found in Google’s recent Tasks and News apps.

Along with the revamped interface, there are also a few new features to check out. You can now search for specific topics/settings you’re looking for, quickly get help from the new Support tab, and there are more tools for better-managing your data and privacy.

Although the new Google Account page is currently only live on Android, Google says it’ll expand to both iOS and the web later this year.

Pixelbook 2: What Google can do to make the best Chromebook even better

Best Android Phone Under $400 in 2018

• Best overall
• Runner-up
• Best for outside the U.S.
• Best for less

Best overall

Moto X4

See at Amazon

The Moto X4 is the long-awaited sequel to the Moto X Pure Edition and it’s the best phone you can buy under $400. It has a striking design, clean software, a great display, and a pretty good pair of cameras on the back. It’s also one of the few phones in its price range with an IP68 rating. Even better, you can get Amazon’s Prime Exclusive version for $270. Even better, all models work with all U.S. carriers

Bottom line: If you’re buying an unlocked phone and have a $400 budget, the Moto X4 is your best bet right now.

One more thing: The model made for Project Fi is the only Moto X4 with Android One, and the only model that’s guaranteed to receive updates for at least two years.

Why the Moto X4 is the best

The phone to get if you want bang for your buck.

The design of the Moto X4 is just as nice to hold as it is to look at, thanks to its gentle curves, and it’s durable with IP68 water and dust resistance. The software is as close as it gets to stock Android without bearing the Pixel brand (even more so with the Android One variant on Google Fi), but you still get all of Motorola’s useful motion gestures for quickly launching functions like the camera and flashlight.

You won’t get support for Motorola’s extensive collection of Moto Mods like on the Z2 Play, nor is the battery life from its 3,000 mAh cell the best we’ve seen. But the display is terrific, performance with its Snapdragon 630 chipset is smooth and speedy, and its dual cameras can take some really great photos.

Runner-up

Sony Xperia XA2 Ultra

See at Amazon

If you thought Motorola was the only game in town under $400, think again. Sony’s excellent Xperia XA2 Ultra has a 6-inch 1080p panel with slim bezels and a fingerprint sensor on the back. Its Snapdragon 630 platform, 4GB of RAM and 32GB of storage are equal to the Moto X4, but its 3,580mAh battery is ginormous, and should last over a day on a single charge. Sony’s Android 8.0-based software is also minimal and fast.

Moreover, this beast has a massive 23MP rear camera and a 16MP front camera with a flash and OIS, making it one of the most capable camera phones on the market. So why doesn’t this take the overall lead? Because it only works on AT&T and T-Mobile in the U.S.

Bottom line: The Sony Xperia XA2 Ultra is a huge phone with plenty to like, but it only works on two major U.S. carriers.

One more thing: There’s a smaller Xperia XA2 for just $340 with practically the same specs and a smaller 5.2-inch display.

Best for outside the U.S.

Moto G6 Plus

See at CPW

Motorola’s 2018 budget flagship is the Moto G6 Plus, and it’s basically a taller, skinnier Moto X4 — which is why it’s not available in North America. But if you’re in South America, Europe, or the UK, the Moto G6 Plus is going to be your best bet under $400. At £269.00 or around EUR 260, you get a Snapdragon 630 platform, 4GB of RAM and 64GB of storage, and a great 12MP rear camera with a secondary sensor that does portrait mode and more.

Made of Gorilla Glass 3, the Moto G6 Plus has a beautiful shiny back plate and a great overall design, and the 3,200mAh battery keeps things going all day.

Bottom line: If you can buy it, the Moto G6 Plus is an oustanding, affordable phone.

One more thing: The Moto G6, which is available in the U.S., is a great alternative to both the G6 Plus or the more expensive Moto X4.

Best for even less

Moto G6

See at Amazon

The Moto G6 is the best budget phone you can buy, and at $249 it’s way below our $400 budget. With Gorilla Glass 3 on the front and back, a dual camera setup, and a spritely but power-efficient Snapdragon 450 processor, the Moto G6 is beautiful and capable — and you’d never think you were getting it for a third the price of many flagships.

It doesn’t have the same quality camera as the Moto G5 Plus, but it’s close, and the added features, great battery life, and awesome Moto software make up for it.

Bottom line: You can’t go wrong with the Moto G6, which is far better than its $249 price tag would suggest.

One more thing: The Moto G6 is available through Amazon’s Prime Exclusive program, offering a $15 discount in exchange for pre-loaded Amazon apps.

Conclusion

The sub-$400 market is both extremely competitive and a little confusing, but there’s never been more great options readily available, and with the emergence of Android One, you can finally count of getting consistent updates without having to buy a flagship phone straight from Google. The Moto X4 and Sony Xperia XA2 Ultra are both great examples of attractive, affordable phones with premium features like water resistance and fast fingerprint sensors. At the same time, devices like the Moto G6 and G6 Plus redefine what it means to be a top-tier budget device.

Best overall

Moto X4

See at Amazon

The Moto X4 is the long-awaited sequel to the Moto X Pure Edition, and at $399.99, it’s the best phone you can buy under $400. It has a striking design, clean software, a great display, and a pretty good pair of cameras on the back. It’s also one of the few phones in its price range with an IP68 rating. Even better, you can get the Amazon’s Prime Exclusive version for $280.

Bottom line: If you’re buying an unlocked phone and have a $400 budget, the Moto X4 is your best bet right now.

One more thing: The model made for Project Fi is the only Moto X4 with Android One, and the only model that’s guaranteed to receive updates for at least two years.

Updated June 2018: The Moto X4 is still our best phone under $400, while the U11 Life with Android One has become our top recommendation for European shoppers. We’ve replaced the Moto G5 Plus with the Moto G6.

These are all the Moto phones Motorola is releasing in 2018

2018 is shaping up to be a big year for Motorola.

Ever since its acquisition by Lenovo, Motorola’s turned into a company that’s not shy about releasing a lot of different phones each year. This allows for a lot of choices, but it can also make trying to pick the perfect phone a bit headache-inducing. No matter your opinion on Motorola’s release cycle, however, there’s no denying that 2018 is already shaping up to be an exciting year for the company.

We’ve seen a ton of leaks, rumors, renders and more for Motorola’s lineup of phones for 2018 ever since the beginning of the year, and this is everything we know so far.

The phones that are still on their way

Motorola One Power

The wildcard on this list easily goes to the Motorola One Power. We didn’t have any idea such a phone existed until late May, and based on what we know so far, it looks quite a bit different from the rest of Motorola’s 2018 handsets.

First off, the overall design language isn’t anything like the rest of this year’s Moto phones. There’s a giant notch at the top of the screen, vertical dual cameras on the back, and what appears to be a metal unibody.

Android One branding suggests that this phone will be among the first Motorola phones to get software updates and new security patches, and the full-on “Motorola” branding is unique from the short-hand “Moto” tag on the rest of the company’s products.

Shortly after the phone broke cover for the first time, even more press renders and a hands-on photo surfaced along with alleged specs. According to Andri Yatim on Twitter, the One Power will come equipped with the Snapdragon 636 processor, 6GB RAM, 64GB of storage, a large 3,780 mAh battery, and NFC for Google Pay support. Then, on June 21, TechInfoBit shared multiple hands-on pictures that showcase the phone from various angles.

As for the camera situation, the two sensors on the back include a primary 16MP shooter with f/1.5 aperture and a seondary 5MP f/1.9 one. As for the front-facing camera, its 16MP with f/1.9.

Moto Z3

Next, let’s talk about Motorola’s highest-end and most premium phone for 2018 – the Moto Z3.

Just like last year, we’re expecting Motorola to release two entries in its Z-series in 2018. The regular Moto Z3 will be the most powerful of the two, and it’s expected to come with a 6-inch FHD+ display. Like we saw through a lot of 2017, bezels surrounding the screen should be cut down considerably. The Z3 is said to have the slimmest bezels of the two, but the Z3 Play still looks a lot more modern when compared to the Z2 Play.

Along with showing off the phone itself, the image of the Z3 also reveals a new Moto Mod. It may not look like anything at first glance, but the “5G” branding near the bottom suggests that this Mod will allow the Z3 to get 5G data speeds. Furthermore, the monthly data allotment page is taken right from the Project Fi app and could be a hint that more Moto phones will find their way to Google’s MVNO.

Moto X5

If you’re not about the Moto Mod life but still want a quality phone from Motorola, the X series has proven to be the way to go. Our first look at the Moto X5 shows a very similar design compared to the X4, but there are a couple key differences.

Just like the Z3/Z3 Play, we’re looking at a tall display with slim bezels on all sides. However, unlike those two phones, the X5 appears to have a notch near the top just like another phone with an X in its name. This is one trend I was really hoping wouldn’t catch on, but if it has to make its way into one Moto phone, so be it.

The screen on the X5 is said to measure in at 5.9-inches with a FHD+ resolution, there are dual cameras on the front and back, and there’s also mention of “Moto’s Smart AI.”

Unfortunately, it’s possible none of this will mean anything. A report surfaced in early March suggesting that Motorola had canceled the Moto X5, meaning it won’t be released at all. As a big fan of the X4, this would be incredibly disappointing if it turns out to be true.

The phones that have been released

Moto Z3 Play

Following up last year’s Moto Z2 Play, Motorola’s released the Moto Z3 Play. The overall design is mostly the same due to the phone supporting all existing Moto Mods, but the bezels surrounding the 6.01-inch 2160 x 1080 AMOLED screen are considerably smaller.

Inside the Z3 Play is the Snapdragon 636 processor, 4GB RAM, 32 or 64GB of storage, and a 3,000 mAh battery.

Motorola’s introducing dual cameras to the Z Play line this year, with the Z3 Play featuring a 12MP + 5MP sensors. The front-facing camera captures pictures at 8MP, a fingerprint sensor can be found on the right below the volume buttons, and Motorola’s has a new on-screen gesture system not unlike what Google’s messing with in Android P.

Despite all these improvements, the Moto Z3 Play will be faced with a lot of stiff competition — especially with a starting price of $499 in the U.S.

Moto Z3 Play hands-on preview: Three’s company

Moto G6/G6 Plus/G6 Play

Motorola’s Moto G series has been its most popular (and profitable) since the very first Moto G that came out in 2013, and this year’s entries have proven to be some of the best so far.

For 2018, Motorola released three G phones — the Moto G6, G6 Play, and G6 Plus. The Play is the most affordable of the bunch, with the G6 Plus being the flagship entry and the regular G6 finding home in between the two.

While the G6 Play is made out of a shiny plastic, the G6 and G6 Plus both have glass bodies that look and feel much nicer than their asking prices. Add that together with dual cameras, 18:9 screens, and Snapdragon processors, and there’s a lot to like here.

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

Moto E5/E5 Plus/E5 Play

Similar to the G series, Motorola released three entries in its E5 series this year in the forms of the Moto E5, Moto E5 Plus, and Moto E5 Play.

The E5 Play is the cheapest phone in Motorola’s 2018 portfolio, touting a plastic body, 16:9 display, removable battery, and pretty low specs.

The E5 and E5 Plus still won’t blow your socks off, but they’re a bit more modern with glass designs, big, 18:9 screens, and respectable specs across the board. Oh, and did we mention the E5 Plus has a gigantic 5,000 mAh battery? 😳

If this year’s G6 phones are too rich for your blood, the E5 models are absolutely worth a look.

Moto E5, E5 Plus and E5 Play: Everything you need to know!

Updated June 21, 2018: Added new hands-on photos of the Motorola One Power.

Final Cut Pro Gains Support for Editing RAW Files From DJI Inspire 2 Drone

Apple today updated Final Cut Pro, its video editing software for professionals, to version 10.4.3, introducing minor new features and a few bug fixes.

The new update introduces support for viewing and editing ProRes RAW files from the DJI Inspire 2 drone with the DJI D-log setting, which is the only new feature that Apple listed in its software release notes.

The update also addresses a bug that could cause deleting unused render files from a Compound clip in the browser not to work, and it fixes an issue that resulted in some Panasonic P2 video files being imported with mixed-down audio channels.

Today’s 10.4.3 update to Final Cut Pro comes one month after 10.4.2, another minor bug fix update, and more than two months after the release of Final Cut Pro 10.4.1, a major update that introduced a new ProRes RAW format, new closed captioning tools, and enhanced tools for exporting files.

Final Cut Pro can be downloaded from the Mac App Store for $299.99. [Direct Link]
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GarageBand for Mac Updated With New Drummers, Loops, Sound Effects and Free Artist Lessons

Apple today updated its GarageBand music creation software for Mac to version 10.3, introducing new loops, sound effects, drummers, and more, all for free.

There are two new Drummers that offer Roots and Jazz-influenced brush styles, along with 1,000 new electronic and urban loops that cover genres like Reggaeton, Future Bass, and Chill Rap.

Apple says that it has added more than 400 animal, machine, and voice sound effects that can be worked into music creations, and there are also free downloadable Artist Lessons.

The new Artist Lessons are designed to teach users how to play hit songs on piano and guitar, and are taught by the artists that made the songs famous.

This is the first major update to GarageBand for Mac in a year. The last update, 10.2, was introduced in June 2017 and brought new Drummers along with support for the Touch Bar on the MacBook Pro.

Since April 2017, the GarageBand apps for both iOS and Mac have been available to download for free. You can get the new version of GarageBand for Mac from the Mac App Store. [Direct Link]

Tag: GarageBand
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