Should you update your NVIDIA Shield TV to Android Oreo?

The Shield 7.0 Experience for NVIDIA Shield TV will look a little different than what you had before.

Yes, but get ready for some changes.

The question popped up now that the Shield TV update is pushing out again, so let’s answer it. Should you update a perfectly good NVIDIA Shield TV to the Shield Experience 7.0, which among other things includes an update to Android 8.0 Oreo? (Yes, it’s annoying that NVIDIA’s versioning doesn’t match Android’s but we’ll all have to get over that.)

The short answer is that, yes, it’s worth updating. At the very least it’s because an update like this includes an update to the May security patch of Android. (Which, yes, isn’t June, but it’s also more recent than what we had.)

Pro tip: Hold the Home Button on your remote to quickly see all apps.

The longer answer? Also yes, you should update. But know that there are going to be some pretty major changes hitting your box. The biggest of which is an all-new home screen, and new remote control shortcuts.

Everything’s been moved into sections, and you’ll probably immediately wonder where all of your apps went. There’s still there — nothing’s been removed. But the Oreo update allows you to choose your own favorite apps, and that’s what you’ll see in the top row.

The quickest way to see all of your apps is to hold down the Home button on the Shield TV remote (or game controller) when you’re on the home screen.

From there you can long-select an app to add it to your favorites row, get info on the app (the easiest to clear app data should you need to), and move it around in the list.

If you long-press the back button while on the home screen it’ll take you straight to the settings menu. (Which also looks new.)

Below that Favorite Apps row you’ll see “Play Next,” which is a handy way to pick up where you’d left off in a movie, show or game.

And below that you’ll find row after row of what Android TV is now calling “Channels,” which basically is more content from the apps you have installed. It can be shows or channels on various streaming apps, or additional games to play. Long press any of those items and you might get the option to add it to the “Play Next” row, or remove it from the suggestions. Or you might be told you can’t do a damned thing with it, which isn’t all that helpful at all.

Also, it’s now more difficult to take a screenshot, because you can no longer just tell the Shield TV “Take a screenshot.” If you do, it’ll bring up a knowledge graph answer from Android Central. Which is funny, but not really helpful in this case.

That’s the big stuff. More niche updates include better support for mice in NVIDIA GameStreame, and more support for gaming controllers. Bluetooth and Wifi pairing gets easier, and Shield remote and game controllers get updates.

So, yeah. You want to update. You should update.

Just know that things are going to look a little different when you do.

NVIDIA Shield Android TV

• Read our Shield Android TV review
• The latest Shield Android TV news
• Shield vs. Shield Pro: Which should I buy?
• Join the forum discussion
• Complete Shield Android TV specs

Amazon

Apple’s Jimmy Iovine and Dr. Dre Ordered to Pay $25 Million in Royalties to Former Beats Partner

Apple’s Beats Electronics division today lost a lawsuit levied against it by Steven Lamar, who had a hand in the development of the Beats brand.

According to Bloomberg, a jury today decided that Lamar is entitled to $25 million due to a disputed settlement in 2007 with Beats co-founders and Apple execs Jimmy Iovine and Dr. Dre.

Lamar signed over the rights to the Beats design in exchange for royalties back in 2006. He claimed that under the terms of the settlement, he was owed royalties on all Beats models, while Dre and Iovine said he was entitled to royalties only on the original Studio model released in 2008, leading to a legal dispute.

The jury awarded Lamar royalties on all models of the Studio Beats headphones, but not on other models, an amount that could add up to a total of $40 million when interest and attorney fees are taken into account.

Lamar in 2006 claims to have shown a headphone design to Iovine, who recommended Dr. Dre as an endorser, creating the partnership that led to the creation of Beats Electronics. Lamar then helped to develop the Beats brand and the concept behind the headphones until he had a falling out with Iovine and Dre in 2006.

Apple purchased the Beats brand in 2014 for $3 billion, with Jimmy Iovine and Dr. Dre (otherwise known as Andre Young) joining Apple at that time. Since then, Apple has continued to sell products under the Beats label.

Tag: Beats
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AT&T More Than Doubles Administrative Fee for Wireless Customers

AT&T has raised the amount of the “administrative fee” that it charges many of its 64.5 million wireless customers, a move that will earn the company an additional $800 million in annual revenue.

The fee hike was first noticed by BTIG Research analyst Walter Piecyk (via CNBC), who pointed out that AT&T has increased its monthly fees by approximately $1.23 in 2018 with two price hikes in April and June. Customers are now paying $1.99 in administrative fees, up from 76 cents last year.

Approximately 85 percent of AT&T’s customers have seen the fee hike, as it applies to all postpaid accounts. Prepaid customers are not required to pay the administrative fee.

Prior to the doubling of the fee, it hadn’t changed much since AT&T introduced it in 2013, going from 61 cents to 76 cents over a period of several years.

Piecyk speculates that AT&T has increased the fee to offset the debt incurred by its recent $85.4 billion purchase of Time Warner. “Presumably the Administrative Fee is another way to help AT&T fund its network build and Time Warner acquisition going forward,” he wrote.

In a statement to CNBC, however, AT&T said that the fee is standard across the wireless industry: “This is a standard administrative fee across the wireless industry, which helps cover costs we incur for items like cell site maintenance and interconnection between carriers.”

Earlier in June, AT&T also raised the price of its grandfathered unlimited data plans by $5 per month. That plan, which was originally priced at $30, is now $45.

Tag: AT&T
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Apple May Create Subscription Service Bundle That Includes Original TV Content, Apple Music and News

Apple may be planning to develop a single subscription service that would offer customers access to its original TV shows, Apple Music, and digital magazines, according to sources with knowledge of the company’s plans that spoke to The Information.

Apple has ordered multiple television shows, ranging from comedies to dramas, but there has been no clear word on how these shows would be distributed.

Its first original shows, “Planet of the Apps” and “Carpool Karaoke: The Series” debuted in Apple Music as a perk for Apple Music subscribers, but that would not likely be sustainable for the more than a dozen shows that are in development, so it makes sense that a wider TV offering is in the works.

According to The Information, Apple will begin by launching a digital news subscription service next year, which will combine the Apple News app with magazine subscription service Texture, which Apple purchased back in March. Bloomberg in April also said that Apple was working on such a service.

Texture offers subscribers unlimited access to more than 200 digital magazines for $9.99 per month, with titles that include People, Better Homes and Gardens, Time, Forbes, Condé Nast Traveler, Allure, Billboard, Town & Country, ELLE, National Geographic, Rolling Stone, Vogue, and more.

Apple eventually plans to bundle the digital news subscription service with both Apple Music and the video content that is in the works, but it is not known when Apple will provide the new subscription offering, nor what it will be priced at.

Apple is said to be planning to continue to offer each of the services on a standalone basis, suggesting a standalone TV service as well, and discussions are still underway about what its subscription services will look like, so a bundle might not ultimately come to fruition.

It isn’t clear if Apple would roll out some of its original programming for free initially and then bundle it with the other services, the people said. The discussions at Apple are still ongoing about what the subscription service ultimately will look like and could change, they said.

Prior rumors have suggested that the first of Apple’s television shows will launch sometime between March 2019 and the summer of 2019, which would mean a TV subscription service would likely come out around that time.

Apple has previously attempted to build a television subscription service that offers shows and movies from third-party content providers, but it was never able to establish the deals necessary to make that happen. With its own slate of original TV shows, though, Apple does not need to rely on deals with content producers to roll out a streaming TV service.

Related Roundups: Apple TV, tvOS 12Tag: Apple’s Hollywood ambitionsBuyer’s Guide: Apple TV (Neutral)
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Space-age toothbrush promises to clean your gnashers in 30 seconds flat

Sure, your parents’ generation probably had four minutes per day to brush their teeth the old-fashioned way, but the world has changed since then. Work is 24/7, we’re constantly connected tweeting and snapchatting, and, at best, we can carve out one minute per day to making sure our teeth don’t wind up looking like something out of Austin Powers. Thank goodness, then, for the folks behind Chiiz, a so-called sonic tooth cleaner which promises to shine your teeth up real nice in just 30 seconds.

“Chiiz is designed to change the way people brush their teeth,” Michael Zhang, Chiiz founder and CEO, told Digital Trends. “Although the device only takes 30 seconds to clean your teeth, the time it takes — though important — is not my main concern. My original purpose for this product was to create a brush that guides to clean your teeth the right way. At the same time, I wanted to create a brush which was hands-free, where you didn’t need to worry at all about brushing duration, angle or strength when using it. Chiiz just does it all automatically.”

Essentially, Chiiz resembles the kind of mouthguard you wear for contact sports. Inside this are brushes which give total coverage to all your teeth at once. Add some toothpaste, pop it in your mouth, and the moment you bite down the device begins brushing at a speed of 25,000 strokes per minute, angled at the ideal 45 degrees.

Chiiz

“Chiiz is designed for people who are looking for a better way to protect their oral health,” Zhang continued. “The market for our device may include individuals with oral diseases, like bleeding gums such as myself, or individuals who lack confidence to speak or smile naturally due to issues with their breath. Another target audience would be individuals who are in a situation with limited mobility, such as after an injury or surgery. There are many more possibilities.”

As ever, we offer our usual warnings about the potential risks inherent in crowdfunding campaigns. While we don’t want to cast aspersions about this particular product, it’s also worth noting that some previous Kickstarter and Indiegogo futuristic toothbrush projects have failed to materialize. Nonetheless, if you’re aware of these possibilities and still want to get involved, head over to the project’s Kickstarter page. A basic kit — comprising a sonic motor, mouthpiece, toothpaste mousse, charging dock, travel dock, and USB charger — starts at just $69. Shipping is set to take place in September.

Editors’ Recommendations

• The best electric toothbrushes money can buy
• This $200 toothbrush eliminates the need for flossing with a clever new feature
• The Brush Monster makes an augmented reality game out of oral hygiene
• Awesome Tech You Can’t Buy Yet: Stick-on helmet speakers, bikes kids can build
• The Issalexa is a smart toothbrush that’s like a mood ring for your mouth

Facebook changes its cryptocurrency rules by easing its ad blocking policy

Facebook changed its mind about banning cryptocurrency-related advertisements from the social network. Since Tuesday, June 26, the updated policy will allow advertisements that promote cryptocurrency and related content, but only from pre-approved advertisers. Advertisements that promote initial coin offerings and binary options are still banned from Facebook’s pages. 

Facebook updated its advertisement policy in January to prohibit ads that promote “financial products and services” linked to “misleading or deceptive promotional practices.” Three examples given were binary options, initial coin offerings, and cryptocurrency. For example, an advertisement couldn’t promote purchasing Bitcoin using retirement funds, or purchasing ICO tokens at a discount. 

But cryptocurrency isn’t a problem: The issue resides with the people associated with cryptocurrency. For instance, one of the biggest scams is to lure hopeful investors into purchasing “valuable” tokens to financially help launch a new cryptocurrency. But instead of launching the new platform, scam artists are disappearing with the cash. This is one of the reasons why Facebook originally cracked down on cryptocurrency-related advertisements. 

Yet given that Facebook generates revenue from advertisements, banning all cryptocurrency-related ads may not have been a great financial decision. Facebook product management director Rob Leathern says that the company spent the last several months refining its advertisement policy to that some ads can safely show up on the social network. 

To enable these ads, Facebook implemented an application submittal process that includes submitting licenses, trading information on a public stock exchange, and “other relevant public background” information regarding the business wanting to advertise. That said, not all cryptocurrency-related companies will pass Facebook’s inspection. 

“We’ll listen to feedback, look at how well this policy works and continue to study this technology so that, if necessary, we can revise it over time,” Leathern says. “It’s important that we continue to help prevent or remove misleading advertising for these products and services.” 

Google began banning cryptocurrency-related advertisements from its AdWords platform in June, blocking ads related to “unregulated or speculative financial products.” Google lists cryptocurrency ads under its “emerging threats” banner given that digital currency isn’t regulated and therefore investors have no guarantee of safe, honest trading. 

Microsoft will join Google’s lead in late June or early July, banning cryptocurrency-related advertisements from Bing. The company sings a similar tune in its reasoning: Because cryptocurrency and related products aren’t regulated, there is potential for “bad actors to participate in predatory behaviors.” Microsoft already bans virtual currencies that are designed to facilitate illegal purposes, but now the company will ban all cryptocurrency ads. 

Outside of the search engines, the Twitter Ads platform began blocking advertisements in March that are related to cryptocurrency wallet services, initial coin offerings, and cryptocurrency exchanges that don’t meet specific requirements. Reddit began blocking cryptocurrency-related ads in early 2016, including Google-cached ads. 

Unfortunately, at least with Facebook, there is a possibility that something will slip through the cracks. The social network encourages everyone to report content that violates its advertising policies. If you see a bad ad, simply click “report ad” in the upper right-hand corner of the offending advertisement. 

Editors’ Recommendations

• Microsoft Bing joins Google, Facebook in banning cryptocurrency advertisements
• Facebook updates its policies regarding weapon accessories and minors
• World domination, phase two: Facebook ponders its own cryptocurrency
• Coinbase bans Wikileaks from its currency exchange platform
• Apple just banned apps from cryptocurrency mining on iOS devices

Razer Blade vs. Microsoft Surface Book 2

Riley Young/Digital Trends

The notion of the gaming notebook has undergone some significant changes over the last several years. They’ve become thinner, lighter, and less flashy in their designs. In fact, with many powerful gaming notebooks looking a lot like more conservative business machines, you’d be comfortable carrying them into a conference room. And then some recent 2-in-1 machines aren’t built for gaming, but it sure seems like that’s one of their intended purposes.

Here, we’re comparing the newest Razer Blade 15, a decidedly dedicated gaming notebook, with Microsoft’s Surface Book 2 15 that builds in a gaming-like discrete GPU. Does Razer’s premier gaming machine beat out Microsoft’s pricey pretender?

Design

Bill Roberson/Digital Trends

The new Razer Blade is a refined design that builds on what was best about the older Blade 14 and expands the display via thinner side bezels. It’s surprisingly thin at 0.66 inches and maintains a relatively svelte, all-aluminum chassis that weighs in at 4.5 pounds. That sounds like a lot until you consider the powerful components that are tucked away inside (more on that in the next section). The keyboard is excellent, with good key travel, RGB lighting, and even spacing, although we did balk at some layout issues. And the touchpad is a smooth version with Windows Precision touchpad support for reliable multitouch gestures. The aesthetic is attractive and sleek, managing to straddle the line between overt gamer and conservative businessperson.

Microsoft’s Surface Book 2 is an entirely different kind of machine. Its design is thoroughly innovative, sporting a tear-off display that contains the main PC components and that can serve as a standalone, thin and light tablet for inking and swiping. Aesthetically, it’s a perfect fit within Microsoft’s Surface lineup, enjoying a thoroughly modern look thanks to its silver-grey magnesium chassis. Just like the Razer Blade 15, it exudes quality. It’s also a little thick (0.90 inches along the rear thanks to its “fulcrum hinge” that’s designed to balance the PC components that weigh down the display), and it’s also almost as heavy as the Razer Blade 15 at 4.2 pounds. It also has larger side bezels, which makes it look a bit outdated.

Both machines are solidly built and look great. The Surface Book 2 gets the nod for sheer design acumen thanks to its flexibility — it’s as good a tablet as it is a notebook, making the Razer Blade a one-trick pony by comparison.

Performance

Riley Young/Digital Trends

The Razer Blade features an 8th-generation Intel Core i7-8750H, which packs in six cores and twelve threads and runs at a hot 45 watts TDP. It’s a fast and furious CPU that churns through just about any task, from physics-oriented gaming to video editing and encoding. The PCIe solid-state drive (SSD) is also fast, and the RAM is optimized for performance as well. Finally, as a gaming notebook, the Razer Blade equips some powerful GPU options, with a choice between Nvidia GeForce GTX 1060 Max-Q and GeForce GTX 1070 Max-Q.

For its part, Microsoft equipped the Surface Book 2 with the latest U-Series Intel 8th-gen CPUs, topping out at the very fast Core i7-8650U. These quad-core processors ramp up the performance for demanding loads while reducing power and enhancing efficiency for lighter tasks. The company also gives a nod to gamers by jamming a GeForce GTX 1060 GPU into the keyboard base, which promises solid midrange gaming. The PCIe SSD provides quick access to data, and overall the Surface Book 2 performs well for a 2-in-1.

However, the Surface Book 2 has a flaw that sets it far behind the Razer Blade for gaming and the most GPU-intensive tasks. Namely, Microsoft ships the machine with a power supply that only provides 95 watts to the system, which is less than the CPU and GPU consume at full speed. Therefore, the battery is tapped to make up the difference, which causes throttling as battery capacity gets low enough and reduces the battery’s lifespan thanks to the extra charge cycles. The Razer Blade has no such problem, making it the far superior performer at the high end.

For gamers, we also need to note that while the Surface Book 2 offers a lovely 3:2 aspect ratio and high-resolution display with excellent contrast, the Razer Blade has an optional display with a fast 144Hz refresh rate to with 60Hz 1080p and 60Hz 4K UHD options. That makes Microsoft’s 2-in-1 better for productivity and the Razer Blade 15 better for gamers — which makes perfect sense given each machine’s true purpose.

Simply put, the Razer Blade blows the Surface Book 2 out of the water when it comes to sheer performance. If you need a portable powerhouse, then the Surface Book 2 isn’t the best option — at least not compared to the Razer Blade.

Portability

Bill Roberson/Digital Trends

As we’ve already covered, the Razer Blade and 15-inch Surface Book 2 are equally heavy and just about equally as thin, although Microsoft’s notebook has a thicker rear end at the hinge. They’re both going to weigh you down a bit when you toss them into your backpack, but they’re both still quite portable compared to high-end notebooks and gaming machines of yesteryear. That makes them relatively easy to carry around given how much power is packed inside.

But portability is about more than just weight and thickness. It’s also about battery life, and this is where the Surface Book 2 gets a chance to shine. It squeezes in a whopping 90 watt-hours or so of battery capacity split between the tablet and the keyboard base, which compares to 80 watt-hours for the Razer Blade. But the Surface Book 2 also has a far more efficient CPU, and that translates into significantly improved longevity. We’re talking differences like over 20 hours of video looping compared to less than eight, and over 15 hours of web surfing versus less than five. If working away from a plug is important to you, then the Surface Book 2 is the superior option.

Conclusion

Riley Young/Digital Trends

These are two different machines, and we normally wouldn’t compare a gaming notebook with a 2-in-1. But Microsoft equipped the Surface Book 2 with a gaming-level GPU, and so it invited the comparison. It also priced the machine at the high end of premium, starting at $2,500 for a Core i7-8560U, 16GB of RAM, and a 256GB SSD and ramping up to a whopping $3,300 for 1TB of storage. The Razer Blade 15 is also a pricey machine, starting at $1,900 for a Core i7-8750H, 16GB of RAM, a 256GB SSD, 1080p display, at GTX 1060 Max-Q. At the high end, you can spend $2,900 for a 512GB SSD, GTX 1070 Max-Q, and 4K display.

Which is better comes down to your intended purpose, though. For the average person we’d recommend the Surface Book 2, but if you care at all about being able to game, then the Razer Blade 15 is what you want.

Editors’ Recommendations

• Razer Blade 15 (2018) review
• Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Yoga Gen 3 vs Microsoft Surface Book 2 13
• The best laptops for programming
• Dell XPS 15 2-in-1 vs. Surface Book 2 15
• 5 reasons why the new Razer Blade looks amazing

BenQ EX3501R ultrawide monitor review

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BenQ EX3501R Ultrawide Monitor

Big monitors are great, but when size alone isn’t enough, curved ultrawide monitors are the next step. Unfortunately, they aren’t cheap.

The BenQ EX3501R won’t change your mind if spending close to a thousand bucks on a monitor makes you cringe – but while $900 might sound like a lot, the EX3501R has a huge suite of features to back it up including HDR support, EyeCare technology, a 100Hz refresh rate, FreeSync, and 35 inches of glorious ultrawide screen space. That’s impressive, even next to its competitors from LG, Dell, and HP.

Blending in — until you turn it on

BenQ monitors have a look or, perhaps, an intentional absence of a look. The company’s monitors are meant to blend into the surroundings of the office, rather than stand out with flashy design. The EX3501R doesn’t have ultra-thin bezels, and even the base and back have an inoffensive silver finish. It certainly doesn’t feature the chrome and flash of a gaming monitor from Asus or Acer.

On the other hand, the idea of a 35-inch curved, ultrawide monitor “blending in” is a bit of a paradox. Any monitor of this size is an eye-catcher, and it’s no different with the EX3501R. Plop this 3440×1440 monitor on your desk, and coworkers won’t be able to help themselves from stopping and gawking at its sheer size. This isn’t the biggest ultrawide monitor we’ve ever reviewed — that goes to the 38-inchers from LG, Dell, and HP. However, it’s certainly wide enough to open multiple windows fullscreen and fully enjoy the immersive experience using a curved, ultrawide. If you’ve never used a 21:9 ultrawide monitor, you’ll be surprised at how convenient things like multi-window productivity becomes.

Bill Roberson/Digital Trends

The 1800R curve isn’t quite as bold as the 1500R Samsung CF791, but it’s still fantastic for watching movies and playing games. That’s right — the BenQ EX3501R serves as a very capable gaming monitor. Despite its mundane exterior, the EX3501R features a 100Hz refresh rate, which is lacking in the HP Z38c monitor. It’s not quite as smooth as 144Hz, which is the highest refresh rate commonly available, but games still feel snappy and responsive. And, thanks to the monitor’s included FreeSync support, you don’t have to deal with torn or unevenly-paced frames. Its four-millisecond response time isn’t groundbreaking either, but unless you’re a professional esports athlete, it’ll be more than responsive enough.

Any monitor this size is an eye-catcher, and it’s no different with the EX3501R.

Aside from HDR, it’s perfectly matched against the Samsung CF791, which is currently $150 cheaper than the BenQ. Meanwhile, the LG 34UC98-W costs $1,000 and the Dell UltraSharp U3415W is now discounted at $800 – but both have a more mundane 60Hz refresh rate. That’s fine, but they won’t look quite as smooth in games.

Attaching the screen to the stand and base is quick and easy — no tools are required at all. It’s not as sturdy as HP’s full-aluminum Z-series monitors, but we never felt nervous transporting it or adjusting the angle. Speaking of the stand, the BenQ EX3501R features 60 millimeters of vertical adjustment, which is decent — though monitors like the HP Z38c give you more flexibility with swivel adjustment as well.

All the ports you need

The BenQ EX3501R features a standard array of ports including USB-C, HDMI, DisplayPort, and two USB-A ports. Most important is the USB-C port, which allows for single-cord connection, so long as the computer you use supports it.

We wish BenQ had taken it one step further by including quick access to USB-C and USB-A on the side of the display, as unfortunately they’re placed by the others in a hard-to-reach location beneath the screen. It’s something HP and Dell include on many monitors, and we miss it here.

Bill Roberson/Digital Trends

As for the menus, the EX3501R has six, down-firing physical buttons located along the bottom of the display. There are dedicated buttons for power and input, while the other four help you navigate through the menus. It’s not a great system, and it makes finding your way to certain settings difficult at first.

We became familiar with it eventually, but not before accidentally flipping the power off several times. Dedicated buttons control basic functions like brightness and contrast, but there’s no indication from the front of the monitor to distinguish them from each other. That means you’ll have to memorize which does what or rely on the guess-and-check method.

Vibrant, accurate colors

The BenQ EX3501R is a performer in display quality. Of all the monitors in of this kind that we’ve reviewed, the EX3501R has the best contrast ratio, holding 1100:1 at full brightness. The BenQ maxes out at 336 nits, which was plenty bright in our experience, and just barely brighter than its competitors, which hovered around 330 nits.

It’s not perfect on color gamut, but displaying 100 percent of sRGB and 82 percent of AdobeRGB, the BenQ EX3501R is a great fit for photographers and videographers who need a fine level of detail to the job done. It’s only bested by the 85 percent of the Samsung CF791, which just barely takes the cake in color gamut. When it comes to producing accurate colors, the EX3501R is, again, a champ. With a reading of 1.38, it’s the most accurate of all its competitors. Colors are beautiful and vibrant, never saturated or blown out. BenQ has once again lived up to its reputation for shipping extremely high-quality displays.

That is, until you try to use HDR.

While many of the flagship features included on the EX3501R are available on other monitors, BenQ wants this monitor’s calling card to be its HDR support. On one hand, it’s great to see HDR implemented on an expensive display like this. For the videos we checked out in HDR, the effect is a game-changer. Colors pop in a way that will make you never want to go back to SDR.  In addition to some videos, HDR works in a growing list of PC games, especially since the monitor includes support for HDR10, the most commonly used standard in games.

The display comes with an “HDR mode,” which really does make the colors pop, though it’s just an emulation — not true HDR. Things turned ugly when we went to turn on HDR mode in Windows 10 settings, however. Our beautiful, vibrant monitor transformed into a washed-out mess right before our eyes. Even with the settings changes in Microsoft’s most recent Windows 10 April 2018 Update, it’s still not fixed. Until Microsoft fixes it, we’d recommend leaving Windows 10’s default HDR settings off by default. You can turn HDR on in specific games or turn HDR on when watching HDR-compatible movies.

The EX3501R maxes it out at 363 nits, which isn’t bad for a computer monitor. But compared to HDR televisions, that’s pretty weak. Because the quality of HDR is affected by how bright a screen is, that’ll always limit the experience of HDR a bit and shows just how far back monitor technology is from televisions.

BenQ has once again lived up to its reputation for shipping extremely high-quality displays.

Despite how little you’ll use HDR on your PC today, it’s a futureproofing feature that’s likely worthwhile. If you buy an expensive monitor you want it to last you many, many years, and HDR support will ensure that it’s still up-to-date once years down the road. Who knows — maybe once the market is flooded with HDR monitors, Microsoft will figure out its HDR situation. For now, it’s an investment that’s sure to pay off later.

The good news is BenQ hasn’t added a significant surcharge to the HDR, meaning you’re free to ignore it until it’s a bit more useful. Otherwise, this is a high-quality monitor with fantastic color gamut, contrast, and color reproduction.

Post-calibration results

BenQ has shipped an accurate and vivid display right out of the box. The only real change we saw after calibration was in color accuracy — making it even better than before. After calibrating, we saw the average color error reduced to just 1.11, which solidifies its lead as most accurate display of any of its competitors.

Our Take

The BenQ EX3501R isn’t flashy, but it has the goods where it counts in display quality. The EX3501R surpasses its rivals in almost every aspect of image quality. It’s a bit more expensive than some of its competitors, but with HDR support and decent gaming features, the BenQ is a do-it-all monitor that earns its price.

Any alternatives?

The most obvious competitor is the Samsung CF791, which matches the BenQ in every category, at a discounted price of just $750. It’s hard to beat that. Though if HDR is a must for you, the EX3501R is your best bet.

BenQ EX3501R Ultrawide Monitor Compared To

LG 32UD99-W

HP Z38c

Dell Ultrasharp U3818DW

LG 34UC89G

Acer Predator XB272 Gaming Monitor

BenQ EX3200R Gaming Monitor

Dell S2418H

Acer S277HK

Acer XB280HK

Acer B286HK

AOC G2770PQU

AOC mySmart A2472PW4T

Dell P2314T

Toshiba 14-inch USB Mobile LCD…

Gateway FPD1930

There are some decent offerings from LG, HP, and Dell, but the BenQ EX3501R is a better monitor in most aspects.

How long will it last?

This monitor comes with a three-year parts and labor warranty, which is standard among monitors like this. Good port selection, build quality, and HDR support ensure this monitor will last you for many, many years.

Should you buy it?

Yes. It’s a fantastic monitor that’s futureproofed for a day when HDR will be a must.

Best Android Phone Under $100 in 2018

• The best
• Runner-up
• Best on Verizon
• Best on Cricket Wireless
• Best on MetroPCS
• Best on Boost

The best

Nokia 2

See at Amazon

Right on the dot at $99, the Nokia 2 is simply the best low-cost phone you can buy. It features a sleek and sturdy design with a metal frame, along with a 1.3GHz quad-core processor and a near-stock build of Android. It’s a bit lacking internally, with just 1GB of RAM and 8GB of storage, but the clean software keeps it running smoothly, and you can expand its storage with a microSD card.

The 5-inch 720p display is fairly impressive as well, but where you’ll really be wowed is with the 4100mAh battery, which easily manages two days of moderate usage. It also has a surprisingly decent 8MP primary camera, as well as a 5MP selfie shooter.

Bottom line: The Nokia 2 offers clean software and speedy performance for just a Benjamin.

One more thing: Nokia has promised an upgrade to Android 8.1 Oreo soon, bringing the Nokia 2 far more up to date than anything else on this list.

Why the Nokia 2 is best

The ideal package in any price range is a well-built phone with clean and quick software, and the Nokia 2 delivers. With HMD Global already promising an update to Android 8.1 Oreo, it’s easily the most up-to-date device below $100, making it even more attractive on the software front than the popular Moto E4.

It’s not the flashiest or showiest smartphone, with a relatively generic design, but you don’t expect pizzaz when you’re paying a Benjamin for a full-featured smartphone. The only thing it’s missing — and this is a big one — is a fingerprint sensor, meaning you’ll have to revert back to using a PIN for security.

Runner-up

Alcatel 1X

See at Amazon

The first Android Go-powered phone on the market exceeds our expectations. The Alcatel 1X doesn’t look like much, but its tall 5.3-inch display is great, and it’s got all the specs necessary to power Google’s version of Android that’s optimized for entry-level smartphones. There’s even an 8MP camera around back, a fingerprint sensor, an LTE modem and a nice 2,460mAh battery.

Bottom line: At just under $100, the Alcatel 1X is a good alternative to the Nokia 2.

One more thing: The phone is only compatible with AT&T, T-Mobile and other GSM carriers in the U.S.

Best on Verizon

Motorola Moto E5 Play

See at Verizon

The Moto E5 Play doesn’t have the 18:9 display or huge battery of the rest of Motorola’s refreshed lineup, but it still features a quad-core processor, 2GB of RAM, and 16GB of microSD-expandable storage. The phone ships with Android 8.0 Oreo, and the 2800mAh battery is one of the few removable batteries left on the market.

Bottom line: For just $69.99, the Moto E5 Play is a great prepaid phone for Verizon customers.

One more thing: This phone isn’t likely to receive many software updates.

Best on Cricket Wireless (AT&T)

LG X Charge

See at Cricket Wireless

If you want to get a prepaid phone from one of the big four carriers, your choices are limited, but AT&T’s Cricket sub-brand has a great selection, including the LG X Charge for $79.99 (at least for new lines). It’s got a big 5.5-inch HD display, a quad-core processor, Android 7.0 Nougat, and a massive 4500mAh battery.

Bottom line: The LG X Charge’s huge battery will outlast any other phone in Cricket’s lineup.

One more thing: If you’re upgrading from an existing Cricket device, the X Charge will actually cost $129.99.

Best on MetroPCS (T-Mobile)

Moto E4

See at MetroPCS

The Moto E4 is one of the best deals around, coming in at just $59. With it, you get a 1.4 GHz Snapdragon 425, 2GB of RAM, and 16GB of storage. The 5-inch 720p display barely draws any battery from the 2800mAh cell inside, and the 8MP camera isn’t half bad either.

Bottom line: The Moto E4 offers stock Android and speedy performance at a shockingly low price.

One more thing: You won’t find a fingerprint sensor on the Moto E4.

Best on Boost Mobile (Sprint)

ZTE Max XL

See at Boost

The Max XL may not have the latest version of Android, but it still packs a lot of punch. There’s a huge 6-inch 1080p display, a 3990mAh battery, and a fingerprint sensor — a rarity in this price range. The Max XL also features an octa-core Snapdragon 435 processor, 2GB of RAM, and 16GB of expandable storage. It even charges over USB-C, which is uncommon in the sub-$100 category.

Bottom line: You won’t find a bigger battery and screen for the money.

One more thing: The Max XL only runs Android 7.1.1 Nougat, with no Oreo update in sight.

Conclusion

The Nokia 2 is the best overall device, largely thanks to its clean software and high-end build quality, but customer discounts could land you a better deal depending on your carrier.

The best

Nokia 2

See at Amazon

Right on the dot at $99, the Nokia 2 is simply the best low-cost phone you can buy. It features a sleek and sturdy design with a metal frame, along with a 1.3GHz quad-core processor and a near-stock build of Android. It’s a bit lacking internally, with just 1GB of RAM and 8GB of storage, but the clean software keeps it running smoothly, and you can expand its storage with a microSD card.

The 5-inch 720p display is fairly impressive as well, but where you’ll really be wowed is with the 4100mAh battery, which easily manages two days of moderate usage. It also has a surprisingly decent 8MP primary camera, as well as a 5MP selfie shooter.

Bottom line: The Nokia 2 offers clean software and speedy performance for just a Benjamin.

One more thing: Nokia has promised an upgrade to Android 8.1 Oreo soon, bringing the Nokia 2 far more up to date than anything else on this list.

Updated June 2018: Replaced the Moto E4 with the Moto E5 Play on Verizon, and added the ZTE Max XL as the best choice for Boost.

Google Calendar gets new out of office and work hour tools

Rolling out to all G Suite users in the next couple weeks.

Google spent a lot of time at I/O talking about its new focus on helping people with their digital wellbeing, and the latest efforts with this initiative come in the form of a couple new features for Google Calendar.

When making an event on Calendar, you’ll see a new “Out of Office” event type. When you select this, the event will have a different appearance on your calendar so co-workers and supervisors can more easily see when you’ll be unavailable.

Any meeting invitations you receive that take place during times your out of the office will automatically be declined, and going forward, Google Calendar will automatically select the Out of Office event type based on what you enter for the title.

Along with this, Google Calendar will give you more control over your work schedule. You could previously create one set of hours for your working week, but soon you’ll be able to customize these for each day.

These features are rolling out for all G Suite users and should become available over the next two weeks.

The Android P feature I’m most excited for will actually help me use my phone less