High-end Always Connected Windows 10 PCs may pack Snapdragon 1000 in 2018

Qualcomm is supposedly tackling Intel head-on by producing a Snapdragon 1000 chip targeting high-end Always Connected Windows 10 PCs. There are no specific details for now, only that it will draw more power at around 12 watts than the upcoming 6.5-watt Snapdragon 850 chip designed specifically for Windows 10 PCs. That power requirement would put Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 1000 in league with Intel’s 15-watt Core “U” series processors installed in most current Windows 10 laptops and 2-in-1s. 

The news arrives after ARM introduced its new Cortex-A76 processor design last week. Chips manufactured by Apple, Qualcomm, Samsung, and many others are based on ARM’s processor architectures that target high performance with little power draw on mobile devices. ARM’s designs are completely different than what you see provided by AMD and Intel (x86) thus Qualcomm chips and Intel processors seemingly “speak different languages.” 

While ARM’s processor architectures dominate the smartphone and tablet markets, Intel (and AMD to some degree) still rule the laptop and desktop markets. But ARM aims to change that, as its new Cortex-A76 design promises to provide laptop-class performance while keeping the same power draw required for smartphones. In Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 1000, these Cortex-A76 cores could be joined by Cortex-A55 cores that will kick on when you don’t need a lot of processing horsepower. 

Qualcomm is expected to introduce the Snapdragon 1000 later this year, possibly during the third-annual Snapdragon Technology Summit, given the company introduced its “always connected” initiative with Microsoft during last year’s show in December. At the time, Asus and HP were among the first manufacturers to jump on the always-connected bandwagon, producing laptops based on the Snapdragon 835 chip. The always-connected aspect stems from seamless movement from Wi-Fi to LTE no matter where you are, complemented by a battery life of more than 20 hours. 

Asus is supposedly one of the first to use the Snapdragon 1000 in an always-connected PC. Code-named “Primus,” the motherboard within the laptop design is said to support 15 watts, so perhaps Asus plans to increase the base and boost speeds to get more performance out of the Snapdragon chip. The chip will reportedly support at least one display with a 2K resolution and WiGig connectivity. 

Microsoft’s Always Connected initiative with Qualcomm is its second attempt to bring Windows to ARM-based devices. Microsoft’s first entry was Windows RT for the original Surface tablet, which confused and annoyed owners because they couldn’t run their favorite desktop software on the device. Why? Because ARM-based chips speak a different “language” than AMD- and Intel-based processors. The last release of Windows RT was on September 15, 2015. 

Now we have Windows on ARM. With Microsoft’s Universal Windows Platform foundation in full force, developers can use a common application programming interface to create apps that run on all Windows 10 devices, whether it’s an always-connected laptop, a desktop, a smartphone, or the Xbox One. 

With all of this said, Qualcomm’s always-connected roadmap seems to indicate PCs with the Snapdragon 850 will arrive “later this year” followed by Snapdragon 1000 units possibly landing toward the beginning of 2019. 

Editors’ Recommendations

• HP reopens pre-orders for its first ‘always connected’ Windows 10 PC
• Qualcomm Snapdragon 850 is made for Windows PCs with ‘innovative form factors’
• Samsung may be developing a Snapdragon 850-powered Windows 2-in-1
• Dell is reportedly working on its dual-screen version of the Surface Phone
• Microsoft is giving Always Connected PCs a performance boost and more apps

High-end Always Connected Windows 10 PCs may pack Snapdragon 1000 in 2018

Qualcomm is supposedly tackling Intel head-on by producing a Snapdragon 1000 chip targeting high-end Always Connected Windows 10 PCs. There are no specific details for now, only that it will draw more power at around 12 watts than the upcoming 6.5-watt Snapdragon 850 chip designed specifically for Windows 10 PCs. That power requirement would put Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 1000 in league with Intel’s 15-watt Core “U” series processors installed in most current Windows 10 laptops and 2-in-1s. 

The news arrives after ARM introduced its new Cortex-A76 processor design last week. Chips manufactured by Apple, Qualcomm, Samsung, and many others are based on ARM’s processor architectures that target high performance with little power draw on mobile devices. ARM’s designs are completely different than what you see provided by AMD and Intel (x86) thus Qualcomm chips and Intel processors seemingly “speak different languages.” 

While ARM’s processor architectures dominate the smartphone and tablet markets, Intel (and AMD to some degree) still rule the laptop and desktop markets. But ARM aims to change that, as its new Cortex-A76 design promises to provide laptop-class performance while keeping the same power draw required for smartphones. In Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 1000, these Cortex-A76 cores could be joined by Cortex-A55 cores that will kick on when you don’t need a lot of processing horsepower. 

Qualcomm is expected to introduce the Snapdragon 1000 later this year, possibly during the third-annual Snapdragon Technology Summit, given the company introduced its “always connected” initiative with Microsoft during last year’s show in December. At the time, Asus and HP were among the first manufacturers to jump on the always-connected bandwagon, producing laptops based on the Snapdragon 835 chip. The always-connected aspect stems from seamless movement from Wi-Fi to LTE no matter where you are, complemented by a battery life of more than 20 hours. 

Asus is supposedly one of the first to use the Snapdragon 1000 in an always-connected PC. Code-named “Primus,” the motherboard within the laptop design is said to support 15 watts, so perhaps Asus plans to increase the base and boost speeds to get more performance out of the Snapdragon chip. The chip will reportedly support at least one display with a 2K resolution and WiGig connectivity. 

Microsoft’s Always Connected initiative with Qualcomm is its second attempt to bring Windows to ARM-based devices. Microsoft’s first entry was Windows RT for the original Surface tablet, which confused and annoyed owners because they couldn’t run their favorite desktop software on the device. Why? Because ARM-based chips speak a different “language” than AMD- and Intel-based processors. The last release of Windows RT was on September 15, 2015. 

Now we have Windows on ARM. With Microsoft’s Universal Windows Platform foundation in full force, developers can use a common application programming interface to create apps that run on all Windows 10 devices, whether it’s an always-connected laptop, a desktop, a smartphone, or the Xbox One. 

With all of this said, Qualcomm’s always-connected roadmap seems to indicate PCs with the Snapdragon 850 will arrive “later this year” followed by Snapdragon 1000 units possibly landing toward the beginning of 2019. 

Editors’ Recommendations

• HP reopens pre-orders for its first ‘always connected’ Windows 10 PC
• Qualcomm Snapdragon 850 is made for Windows PCs with ‘innovative form factors’
• Samsung may be developing a Snapdragon 850-powered Windows 2-in-1
• Dell is reportedly working on its dual-screen version of the Surface Phone
• Microsoft is giving Always Connected PCs a performance boost and more apps

To give bees a break, farmers pollinated an entire apple orchard using drones

With bee populations continuing to decline, farmers, conservationists, and technologists alike are busy searching for a solution to help carry out pollination. A New York-based company recently lent a high-tech hand to assist a local apple orchard pollinate its 300 acres of tasty crops. The Beak & Skiff Apple Orchard in LaFayette called in startup Dropcopter and its pollen-spreading UAVs (unmanned aerial vehicles) to perform the world’s first apple orchard pollination by drone.

“Since 2015, we have been pollinating almond orchards with drones,” co-founder and CTO Adam Fine told Digital Trends. “We have a patent-pending device which accurately distributes a measured amount of pollen directly over the tree canopy. The drone flies an autonomous prewritten mission optimizing its speed to deliver the most effective application. We are the first real-world testing of automated aerial pollination in the nation.”

Pollination by drone isn’t the only alternative to insect pollination, but it may just be the most efficient current solution. Alternatives include using large tractor-mounted liquid sprayers or leaf blowers driven on quad bikes. Both of these are problematic due to the lack of reach and, in the case of liquid sprayers, the time-sensitive nature of the pollen once it gets mixed with liquid.

Dropcopter

Dropcopter’s drones, meanwhile, can cover 40 acres per hour, and can double the pollination window by also flying at night. This is one advantage they even have over bees since bees don’t fly at nighttime, when flowers remain open. At present, the company is seeking funding to help further improve its drone’s flight path efficiency.

“One-third of all food products rely on insect pollination,” Fine said. “Over the past 25 years, the world has lost one-third of its insect biomass, which is a scary figure since 80 percent of all species on Earth are insects. At the same time, rising populations and changing climates mean we’re going to have less arable land and fresh water to feed the 9 billion people that will be on this planet in the next 50 years. We are going to have to farm far more efficiently with far fewer resources to meet the 60 percent increase in crop production necessary to feed those 9 billion people.”

Using drones to pollinate crops doesn’t mean we shouldn’t try to get to the bottom of the current crisis affecting bees. But just like other forward-looking projects such as robot bees (yes, really!), drones like Dropcopter’s could serve as a useful supplement for when bees are unavailable or weather prevents them from flying. Since a 1,000 acre farm can spend $400,000 on honeybees alone each year, they could even turn out to be a cost saver.

Editors’ Recommendations

• In bid to compete with Amazon, Walmart files patents for farming drones
• The best drone apps
• This super-sized drone has several tricks up its sleeve
• Powered by a laser, this insect-sized RoboFly can take off and land wirelessly
• Watch your lawn mower cut your grass – while you sit on your front porch sipping a beer

Best Leather Bands for Samsung Gear S3

Looking for the perfect leather band for your Samsung Gear S3? Then look no further than this list!

Having a Samsung Gear S3 means that you can do a ton of awesome things with your fancy-schmancy wearable, but you know what you can’t do straight out of the box?

Look stylin’ with a leather band.

Luckily for you, there are a couple of leather bands for your Samsung Gear S3 that are totally worth picking up and putting on your wrist!

Here are the best leather bands out there for your Samsung Gear S3.

• KADES Genuine Leather Retro Cowhide Smart Watch Band
• Austrake Replacement Leather Strap Classic
• TOROTOP Leather Strap Replacement Band
• Katrice Genuine Leather Strap
• Swees Classic Genuine Leather Band with Buckle

KADES Genuine Leather Retro Cowhide Smart Watch Band

Keep it stylish, comfortable, durable, and most importantly, 100% genuine cowhide leather with the KADES Genuine Leather Retro Cowhide Smart Watch Band.

This particular replacement band for your Samsung Gear S3 can easily be installed with quick-release pins, while the timeless, classic look makes it perfect for a day at the office, a night out on the town, or a quick run at the gym.

You can pick up your KADES Genuine Leather Retro Cowhide Smart Watch Band for around $12 to $13 depending on the style or a pack of two for $20.

See at Amazon

Austrake Replacement Leather Strap Classic

Looking to add a bit of class n’ leather to your Samsung Gear S3? Then look no further than the highly rated Austrake Replacement Leather Strap Classic.

The Austrake Replacement Leather Strap Classic is made from a super comfortable leather, meaning that you can wear it throughout the day without any rubbing or chaffing (plus you can easily adjust the band based on your wrist size).

This specific band comes with a stainless steel buckle, meaning you don’t have to worry about it snapping off if you’re doing some more rigorous activity, like travelling or hiking.

The Austrake Replacement Leather Strap Classic comes in five different color combinations, including a black band with a black buckle, a black band with a silver buckle, a brown band with a silver buckle, a brown band with a black buckle, and a gray band with a silver buckle for $13.

See at Amazon

TOROTOP Leather Strap Replacement Band

Adding a leather strap to your Samsung Gear S3 is one way to turn heads and take away from that chunky, clunky, techy, wearable vibe: and the TOROTOP Leather Strap Replacement Band does a great job helping with that look!

The TOROTOP Leather Strap Replacement Band is a band that’s made to easily be adjusted, so whether you have really large wrists of smaller wrists, this band’s got your back — er, wrist.

This leather band is made from a soft, genuine leather, and is also super easy to install and uninstall with its one-button removal.

You can pick up the TOROTOP Leather Strap Replacement Band in a number of colors and patterns including crocodile skin red, plain black, plain brown, crocodile skin white, plain red, and plain navy blue for between $15 to $16, or you could pick up a duo pack of the black and brown for $26.

See at Amazon

Katrice Genuine Leather Strap

Super highly rated, beautiful to look at, affordable, and designed to be worn through a plethora of situations, the Katrice Genuine Leather Strap is a phenomenal leather strap option for your Samsung Gear S3.

This specific watch band has nearly 250 5-star reviews on Amazon, so you know there’s got to be something good there: with its stainless steel buckle and genuine leather design, the Katrice Genuine Leather Strap combines both form and function into one fabulous package.

The Katrice Genuine Leather Strap makes adjusting the strap easy depending on the size of your wrist, while easy to remove pins make it simple to install and reinstall this particular watch band.

You can pick up your very own Katrice Genuine Leather Strap in a number of different varieties and styles, including black braided leather, coffee, brown leather with rainbow stitching, black, black with white stitching, plain brown leather, brown leather with white stitching, and orange leather with white stitching for between $13 to $18.

See at Amazon

Swees Classic Genuine Leather Band with Buckle

Swees up your life with this genuine leather replacement band for your Samsung Gear S3 that’ll deliver the comfort, the style, and the function you deserve in a watch band.

The Swees Classic Genuine Leather Band with Buckle is designed to be adjusted to fit a variety of wrist sizes, so whether you have a larger wrist or a smaller one, you won’t have to worry about this band slipping off you as you go about your busy day.

This particular band is made from a soft, comfortable genuine leather, while the strap is designed from a tough stainless steel. You can you quick release pins on both ends to clip the band on and off your S3 without a tool.

You can pick up the Swees Classic Genuine Leather Band with Buckle in a number of colors, including black, brown, coffee, dark brown, alligator skin black, alligator skin blue, and alligator skin coffee for between $14 to $17.

See at Amazon

What are your top picks?

Is there a particular leather band that you have in mind that didn’t quite make my list?

Let me know what your top options are in the comments below and I’ll be sure to take a peek at ’em!

Updated June 2018: This article still has the best of the best band options available out there!

The Fire TV Cube is available for pre-order and Prime members get $30 off

Something new and exciting.

Update: The pre-order discount on this item for Prime members ends later tonight. Make sure to get in on this deal while you can!

Amazon Prime members can pre-order the Fire TV Cube streaming media player for $89.99 if they order it before June 8. For everyone else, it is still available for pre-order, but they’ll have to pay $119.99 instead. The pre-order discount ends June 8, and the item releases June 21.

As an extra bonus, if you activate the Fire TV Cube before July 1, you’ll get a $10 credit for Amazon Prime Video. The credit has to be applied by August 31 and only works on digital video content sold by Amazon.

We broke down the Fire TV Cube earlier today. Essentially, imagine the way you use an Echo Dot now to control all the wirelessly connected appliances around your home. Then imagine that control plugged into your TV so you can control everything plugged in there with your voice as well. That’s what you get with this new device. It’s a way to turn on the TV, play your favorite DVD, adjust the volume on your home audio system, dim the lights, and get your microwave to cook some popcorn all without moving from the best spot on the couch.

You can also get $30 off a bundle that includes the Fire TV Cube and Amazon’s Cloud Cam Security Cam. The bundle is discounted to $200 instead of the $240 you’d have to pay for each item individually, and Prime members pay just $169.98 total with the extra $30 off.

If you’re not a Prime member but want to take advantage of these discounts, you can sign up for free today and get the deals with your 30-day trial.

See on Amazon

Best Places to Buy a Used Phone in 2018

Getting a second-hand phone doesn’t have to be overly complicated or stressful.

The used phone market is an iceberg; you can only see the tip sticking out of the water, but it goes far deeper than you can imagine. This bears out in a recent Deloitte report that claims the used phone market grew to 120 million units in 2016, generating $17 billion for their owners. That number is only going to get bigger faster, too: IDC believes that by 2020, over 220 million used devices will be sold or traded in annually.

That’s a lot of gear, and similar to how a new car loses its value once it’s driven off the lot, phones immediately become cheaper once they’re removed from the plastic wrapping. For a seller — even one who treats his or her phone with the utmost care — that can be problematic. For a buyer, though, that becomes an opportunity to pick up a gently-used device for a great deal.

Things to consider before you buy a used phone

We’ve already written of the most important considerations you need to take into account when buying a new phone — do a visual inspection if possible; always purchase from a reputable seller; be patient; be aware of carrier locks or other roadblocks; look into insurance, especially if the phone is out of warranty — but there are a few other things to think about.

The first is what kind of used phone you’re looking to buy:

• A used phone purchased directly from a seller (eg. Swappa, Craigslist)
• A used phone purchased through an intermediary that has verified its condition (eg. Gazelle, Best Buy)
• A refurbished phone that has been through a “touch-up” directly from the manufacturer or a partner (eg. Verizon, Samsung)

Know what kind of used phone buying experience you want before you start shopping around.

You can probably get the best deal buying directly from someone else because there is no intermediary taking a fee, but you also run the risk of the phone having issues that the naked eye can’t see. If you know exactly what you want and know what to look for, you’re probably going to be comfortable buying a used phone from a direct marketplace like Craiglist, Swappa or one of many buy/sell forums.

If you don’t want to take any chances with the quality, but still don’t mind a bit of wear and tear, buying through an intermediary marketplace like Gazelle could work really well. The phones often come with (admittedly limited) warranties and money-back guarantees which, as a buyer, offers considerably more peace of mind than the average “meet up at the nearby 7-Eleven and hand over a wad of cash” type deal.

Finally, buying a certified refurbished phone is your safest bet, but comes with the least discount over a new product. Both Samsung and Apple sell refurbished phones directly on their websites, and though the savings are not substantial, they’re at least guaranteed to work, and well properly. For example, Samsung sells an AT&T-locked 32GB Galaxy S6 for $399. The same phone can be had for between $239 and $309 at Gazelle, which inspects but doesn’t refurbish the products, and between $130 and $225 at Swappa, which merely connects buyers and sellers. But Samsung sells its refurbished models with a 12-month warranty, a charger and cable, and brand new headphones. Gazelle throws in a charger but no headphones, and Swappa just ensures a clean exchange (for a small fee).

The best places to buy a used phone

This is not an exhaustive list. There are innumerable places to buy a used phone on the internet, and depending on your country, this list may not be as applicable (though we tried to highlight international marketplaces as much as possible).

Craigslist

Craigslist tends to set up “meet up at the nearby 7-Eleven and hand over a wad of cash” type phone deals, which can be hit-or-miss depending on how adept you are at identifying scams — of which there are many.

The main thing Craigslist has going for it is size and scale — it’s practically everywhere, and has communities for almost every city in the world. You will be able to find a used phone on Craigslist, that’s not the problem; the problem is sifting through the thousands of listings to find something worth pursuing and ensuring that the phone you decide on does not have underlying damage or, worse, that its IMEI (a unique number that helps identify individual devices) hasn’t been blocked due to theft.

Good: Good prices, excellent availability, and plenty of choice, with the option of buying local to check condition.

Bad: Hard to verify sellers or the quality of the phones.

Learn more at Craigslist

eBay

eBay is enormous, and today continues to be one of the top places to purchase a used phone. It has the advantages of Craigslist, scale, with few of the disadvantages, especially since it uses PayPal to ensure that payments can be recalled should there be a problem.

For buyers, eBay has a robust filtering system, allowing you to search for exactly what you want, with filters for price, carrier — even color. Of course, eBay still has its roots as an auction house, and that is how some used phones are still sold, but far more of them are sold at set prices. eBay charges sellers, not buyers, to host their listings, so all you need to do is find the right listing and you’re off to the races.

eBay’s best feature is its Money Back Guarantee which, combined with the extensive seller profiles, make it easy to buy with confidence. If there’s an issue with the device, or the shipment, you can apply to get your money back and, within reason, eBay will either cancel the PayPal transaction or, if it’s already gone through, refund you. And seller profiles let you filter potential purchases based on trusted sellers that have been around the block once, ten, or ten thousand times.

Good: Lots of selection with verifiable sellers with a money-back guarantee and buyer protection.

Bad: Potentially high cost of shipping, and you won’t be able to see the device before buying.

Learn more at eBay

Swappa

Swappa began its life as a small Android-based phone buying and selling community, but it’s since expanded to include all mobile devices like iPhones, as well as tablets, Chromebooks and MacBooks.

Swappa works on a set fee structure that’s very different to most other platforms, and this is important: the buyer pays the fee. Most will pay under $20 for the privilege, and all payments are done over PayPal, which is incredibly convenient and secure. Why is a buyer fee better for both buyers and sellers? Because it encourages sellers to list their products on Swappa, adding inventory to a service that relies heavily on participation.

Swappa does not physically inspect devices, but it does do a few things to make sure the buyer is getting what he or she pays for: all listings are verified by a human, who ensures that the IMEI is valid and can be activated. All listings must have good quality photos that clearly show any damage, and the quality (fair/good/excellent) should match the photos. And the cost of shipping is included in the price of the listing, which should prevent post-sale price gouging. And because Swappa uses PayPal, all listings are protected, so if a device doesn’t arrive as advertised, buyers have recourse to get their money back.

Finally, Swappa’s prices tend to be lower than many curated services since, aside from the flat fee, the seller sets the price.

Good: Plenty of listings with clear quality guidelines and good prices.

Bad: Buyer pays fee, but there’s no warranty or guaranteed accessories.

Learn more at Swappa

Gazelle

Gazelle uses an interesting model: it buys phones from sellers and resells some of them on its website just like a regular e-commerce store (the rest are either recycled or sold to third parties). The advantage is that once Gazelle receives the device it performs a so-called “30-point inspection process” to ensure that it is in working order, and puts a SIM card in it to make sure it can properly connect to a network.

As a buyer, that means you may pay slightly more than Swappa for the equivalent model, but you get a phone that is guaranteed to work, either unlocked on a number of carriers or the one that it is advertised to be locked to, and there is a 30-day return policy if you’re not completely satisfied.

Gazelle also offers financing options, which allows it to compete with carriers by offering flexible payment plans that don’t require a lot of money up front. At the same time, Gazelle doesn’t accept every type of Android phone because its inspection system is only optimized for a handful of models — all popular Galaxys are accepted, but it only recently started buying (and selling) the Google Pixel — which ensures a higher-quality buying experience.

Good Seamless buying experience with plenty of choice, all phones come with a charger and are guaranteed to work, 30-day money back return policy.

Bad: Doesn’t sell every type of phone, and could be more expensive than other options.

Learn more at Gazelle

Glyde

Glyde has an interesting business model, somewhere between Swappa and Gazelle. Like Swappa, it’s a user-to-user e-commerce portal but, like Gazelle, it asserts some control over the potential exchange by forcing the seller to use its secure shipping container, and doesn’t release payment to the seller until the buyer receives it. It also promises to refund a disappointed buyer within 72-hours.

All phones, from iPhones to Galaxys to Windows phones, are available to purchase on Glyde, and buyers pay no additional fee beyond what is shown on the site.

Good: Lots of choice and buyers have leverage if unhappy with a sale

Bad: Phones are not inspected beforehand so what you see may not be what you get

Learn more at Glyde

Update June 2018: Updated with the latest links and information to help you get a great deal on a used phone.

Gmail now lets you customize swipe actions on emails

Available in v8.5.20 of the app.

Gmail’s desktop site got a huge redesign in late April, but since then, the Android app has remained more or less the same. However, the v8.5.20 update adds a handy trick we think a lot of you will like — customizable swipe actions.

Prior to this update, swiping left or right on an email in your inbox would archive it. This is a handy tool, but the limitation to just archiving has always been slightly irritating. In v8.5.20, jumping into the Gmail app and going to Settings -> General Settings -> Swipe Actions now allows you to customize the action for both left and right swipes.

The Swipe Actions page shows what you have each direction currently set to and tapping the blue Change button near the top right of either one allows you to set it to one of the following:

• Archive
• Delete
• Mark as read/unread
• Move to
• Snooze
• None

This is something that really should have been in Gmail all along, but we’re still thrilled to finally see it make an appearance.

Download: Gmail (free)

How to indent list items in Google Keep

Tabbed lists are live in Google Keep here’s how to use them.

Google Keep is part to-do app, part note-keeping app, part inspiration board, and all awesome. While there may be more powerful productivity services out there like Evernote, Google Keep is easy to use, available on just about every platform you work on — and built right into the recent Gmail redesign — and it is free. Google Keep’s lists have long been my go-to for article outlining, grocery shopping, and theme building, but now they’ve been turned up to 11 with the ability to indent list items.

Indenting items in Google Keep allows you to create sublists and keep sections of items together. For instance, I can now arrange my handy-dandy Grocery shopping list by food type or store section, like Produce, Frozen, or most importantly, Snack.

Indenting items is easy to do, and there’s two way to do it:

• Drag a list item right along its line to indent it on mobile or on Keep’s website. Drag it left to un-indent it
• When using a keyboard on Keep’s website or the Google Keep panel in Gmail, type Ctrl and ] to indent a list item. To un-indent, type Ctrl and [.

At the moment, you can only indent items one level, so you can’t have a sublist inside a sublist. Indented items are automatically grouped with first non-indented list item above them.

If you check the item at the top of a sublist as done, it will mark every item in that sublist as done and move them down to Completed items. If you mark a single item in a sublist as done, then that sublist item will appear in Completed items under a second sublist heading while the unfinished items stay under the main sublist in the Non-completed items.

Sublists were one of the few things that Google Tasks had that Google Keep did not, and Google Keep does them out of the gate better than Google Tasks ever has. There are still a few more things Keep needs — a black note color, allowing multiple reminders and reminder types on a single note, bringing back proper Google Assistant integration — but sublists are a welcome addition to Google Keeps’ robust toolbox and I intend to take full advantage of it.

Google Keep: Everything you need to know

PlayStation VR: The Ultimate Guide!

Let this be your extended user manual for all things PlayStation VR!

It wasn’t all that long ago VR was considered either something simple you added to a phone for a quick distraction or something amazingly complex for those who could afford the lengthy requirements of ownership. Sony created a compelling middle ground by doing what they do best — making something you actually want to have in your living room. PlayStation VR is a companion for your PlayStation 4 that elevates your current games and helps you explore an entirely new way to feel like you are the character you’re playing.

Being able to fully enjoy this experience requires more than just taking one out of the box. Here’s our complete user manual for all things PSVR! Don’t forget to stay updated with our PlayStation VR Newsfeed!

Try before you buy!

Which PlayStation 4 should I use for my VR system?

There’s more than one box named PlayStation 4, but don’t panic! They all work with PlayStation VR, but one may offer better experiences. If you’re using a PlayStation 4 Pro, you have a few more options than you would with a normal PlayStation 4. Here’s what you need to know!

• Which PlayStation 4 is the best for VR?
• How to keep HDR support when using PlayStation VR
• Every PlayStation VR game enhanced through PlayStation Pro

Meet your PlayStation VR

Now that you’re settled on which console to run, you’re ready for the unboxing of your new piece of equipment. Sony’s first efforts in VR are incredible, and in several important ways, quite a bit ahead of the more expensive Desktop PC-based system. If you don’t already own a PlayStation VR, here are a few reasons you should seriously consider dropping everything and grabbing one today!

• I tried PlayStation VR and bought a PlayStation 4 the next day
• How to get the perfect PlayStation VR room setup
• PlayStation Move controllers vs HTC Vive controllers vs Oculus Touch controllers
• Why there’s no “screen-door effect” in PlayStation VR
• PlayStation VR vs Oculus Rift
• Everything you can do with a PlayStation VR besides gaming
• The true cost of PlayStation VR
• Where to buy used VR headsets

See PlayStation VR at Amazon

Getting started with your PlayStation VR

Taking PlayStation VR out of the box is step one, but there’s a lot more you should know about making sure you and whoever you share this system with have the best possible experience. You need space to move around, and you need to make sure the headset stays comfortable while you are doing so. Here are the best ways to get yourself not only set up but comfortable!

Don’t worry, we know updates can be a little scary so we even have a walkthrough of Everything different about the new PlayStation VR for those who have had their consoles a little longer!

• How to set up your PlayStation VR
• How to get the perfect PlayStation VR room setup
• What’s the ideal camera height for PlayStation VR?
• How to make the most of your PlayStation VR play space
• How to get the perfect fit for PlayStation VR
• Readjust your VR space after decorating for the holidays
• Everything you can do with the PlayStation Aim controller

Now that you’re set up, check out some of the best gear to add to your PlayStation VR! We’ve gone through and tested quite a few products to find you the best not just in performance, but fir your wallet too!

• Best headphones for PSVR
• These are the best travel cases for PlayStation VR
• The best charging docks for PlayStation VR
• The best HOTAS controllers for PSVR
• Best place to buy you PlayStation Aim controller

Getting to know Cinematic Mode

PlayStation VR isn’t just for playing virtual reality games. In fact, anything you can do through your PlayStation 4 can be done through PlayStation VR thanks to Cinematic Mode. A wide virtual screen that floats in front of you and fills your vision can free you from distractions, and maybe for some, become the only screen you use to enjoy your PlayStation.

• What to expect with PlayStation VR Cinematic Mode
• PlayStation VR’s Cinematic Mode got an update and it’s better than ever!
• The best VR180 videos to watch on PSVR
• Best 3D Blu-Ray movies to watch on your PlayStation VR
• The best music videos to watch in VR
• How to watch 360-degree and 3D YouTube on PlayStation VR
• Get the best possible 3D Blue-Ray experience with your PlayStation VR
• Best events you can watch live on PSVR

Gaming in PlayStation VR

This is what we’re all here for, right? Leaning over a virtual pool table to sink the perfect shot, losing your balance a little as you fling your body from tree to tree, and screaming as a demon gets a little too close before you squeeze the trigger. VR games are intense and incredibly enjoyable. The audio and video fill you and replaces the real world, letting you dive in and become someone else for a little while. Here’s what we’ve found so far!

Don’t forget, every month we update the PlayStation VR games coming out this month! So be sure to check out that list often to see what new types of experiences are coming your way!

The best games

• The best PSVR games Updated often!
• The most anticipated PSVR games Updated often!
• The best PSVR games for move controllers
• The best shooters for VR
• The best PlayStation 4 games for kids
• The best free games your probobally haven’t heard of
• These are the exclusive games for PlayStation VR
• The best multiplayer games for PlayStation VR

Looking for a certain game type?

• 20 minute games for under $20 on PlayStation VR
• The most physical games for PSVR
• Every PlayStation VR game with HOTAS support

Apps

• The best free apps for PlayStation VR
• PlayStation VR add-on experiences, ranked!

Available game reviews, tips, and tricks

Seeing lists of the best of the best not enough to get your blood pumping to decide which game to choose? It’s okay, we’ve got a few detailed reviews on the games you really wanna check out, complete with some Tips and Tricks as well! Don’t see a review listed here for a game you wanna know more about? Let us know in the comment section below!

• Rick and Morty: Virtual Rick-ality Ultimate Guide
• Doom VFR: Tips, Tricks and Cheats
• Skyrim VR review: a clumsy, hilarious trip through a familiar world
• Skyrim Tips and Tricks for survival
• Monsters of the Deep: Final Fantasy XV review
• Farpoint review
• Rec Room review
• UltraWings review
• Werewolves Within review
• Star Trek Bridge Crew review
• RIGS: Mechanized Combat League review
• Battlezone review
• Eagle Flight review

Doing more with PlayStation VR

Gaming is an increasingly social experience, and that means some games are meant to be shared with everyone. That can occasionally mean sharing with others — even those who don’t have a PlayStation 4. Sharing can also be as simple as a screenshot, or maybe you’re ready to share your whole session on Twitch. Whatever your choice, know that your hardware is built to listen (unless you tell it not to). Here’s a helpful list of how-tos when it comes to your PlayStation VR!

Commands

• How to take a screenshot in PlayStation VR
• How to change the screen size in Cinematic Mode
• How to update your PlayStation VR

Equipment

• The best driving wheel for PlayStation VR
• How to turn off the microphone on your PlayStation Camera
• PlayStation VR and macOS can play together thanks to MacMorpheus!
• How to connect PlayStation VR to your PC

Helpful Hints

• How to get the best Twitch stream with PlayStation VR
• How to buy PlayStation 4 games from the Japanese store
• How to view comments while streaming

Troubleshooting

Like anything, your PlayStation VR may not always behave exactly as it should. To help with that, we’ve assembled a troubleshooting guide to help you deal with everything that could potentially go wrong with your headset.

• How to deal with a shaking image in PlayStation VR
• Check out our PlayStation VR Troubleshooting Guide!
• Change the color hue of your room to help with tracking
• Your wireless headphones will not work with PlayStation VR
• How to prevent lens fog in any VR headset
• How to deal with Aim controller drift
• How to deal with menu stutter on PlayStation VR
• How to fix every tracking issue on PlayStation VR
• Fixing lense scratches on your VR headset
• How to get the best light calibration
• How to deal with nausea while playing PSVR
• How to deal with blurry images in PlayStation VR
• Getting your PSVR to work with a Christmas tree, or any other multi-light source!

Selling your PlayStation VR

Maybe you’ve decided this isn’t for you, or maybe you’re in immediate need of some cash. Whatever your reason, if you need to sell your PlayStation VR quickly there’s no need to rush out to the closest electronics shop and take their slim values. You have options, and we can help!

• How to clean your PlayStation VR
• Getting the best deal when selling your PlayStation VR

Updated April 2018 We’ve updated the article with several more helpful articles as well as including a Troubleshooting Guide!

PlayStation 4

• PS4 vs. PS4 Slim vs. PS4 Pro: Which should you buy?
• PlayStation VR Review
• Playing PS4 games through your phone is awesome

Amazon

HTC U12+: Everything you need to know

This is HTC’s big flagship for 2018. Thinking about picking it up? Here’s what you should know!

HTC may not be that well-known in the U.S., but if you ever take some time to look at what the company’s kicking out, you’ll see that it knows how to make an excellent phone. There’s a reason it was chosen to create the first-ever Android device, after all!

HTC’s last two flagships, the 10 and U11, were both top-notch phones that flew under the radar for a lot of people. The same will likely be the case for the U12+, and should you decide to pick it up, this is what you can expect.

Read and watch our hands-on preview!

Our review of the U12+ will be coming soon, but in the meantime, why not check out our hands-on preview?

Even though this isn’t a definitive review, we still cover a lot of ground — including the phone’s specs, highlight features, design, and much more. There really is a lot to talk about!

If you want an idea of what it’s like to mess around with the U12+, definitely give these a watch and read.

HTC U12+ hands-on preview: Big, beautiful, unattainable

Take a gander at the specs

The U12+ is HTC’s flagship phone for 2018, and as such, it’s equipped with some of the best tech around.

Between the blazing-fast Snapdragon 845, an impressive set of dual cameras, IP68 dust/water resistance, and a large 3,500 mAh battery, the U12+ has everything you could ask for in a 2018 flagship.

HTC U12+ specifications: Dual cameras, BoomSound, Edge Sense 2 for $800

HTC’s got three colors to choose from

If you like to make sure your phone stands out from the crowd, HTC’s got you covered with the U12+.

The phone’s available in three colors, including Ceramic Black, Flame Red, and Translucent Blue.

Ceramic Black is the most subdued of the trio, looking more gray than anything else. However, if you want something that really sticks out, the color-changing Flame Red and see-through Translucent Blue will be right up your alley.

There’s no wireless charging despite the glass back

You might think the U12+ supports wireless charging thanks to its glass back, but similar to the OnePlus 6, wireless charging is nowhere to be seen.

Thankfully, HTC does offer Qualcomm QuickCharge 4.0 to help you refuel the U12+ in no time at all. We certainly would have liked to see wireless charging make an appearance, but c’est la vie.

A word on the U12+’s “buttons”

The power button and volume rocker on smartphones haven’t really changed that much over the years, but for whatever reason, HTC decided to shake things up by removing physical buttons altogether and replace them with button-shaped nobs that don’t actually move at all.

Similar to the Force Touch trackpad on Apple’s recent MacBooks and the home button on the iPhone 7 and 8 series, putting force on the U12+’s “buttons” will trigger a vibration through the phone and perform the desired action — such as turning the screen off or changing the volume.

HTC says they made the change to help with the phone’s IP68 rating, but we came away less than impressed with their performance during our hands-on preview.

How does the U12+ stack up against the competition?

In a bubble, the HTC U12+ would easily be the best phone you could buy. However, the Android space is anything but.

We’ve seen a lot of excellent smartphones so far this year, and with prices creeping up all the time, it’s important you spend your money wisely on something that’s going to serve your needs as best as possible.

Here are the most recent phones we’ve put against the U12+:

HTC U12+ vs. Samsung Galaxy S9+: Which should you buy?

HTC U12+ vs. LG G7 ThinQ: Which should you buy?

Edge Sense is more powerful and customizable than ever before

The U11 was the first gadget to tout HTC Edge Sense, allowing you to squeeze the phone to open apps, take pictures, and more.

With Edge Sense 2, HTC made using your phone while laying in bed less of a hassle.

That functionality makes a return on the U12+ in the form of Edge Sense 2, and as the name suggests, lets you do even more than you could on the U11.

Most notably, Edge Sense 2 allows you to trigger certain actions with other gestures instead of hard squeezes, such as light taps. On the U12+, you can double-tap the left or right side of the phone to shrink the UI down to a one-handed mode. Double-tap the right, the screen goes to the right. Double-tap the left, it goes to the left. That might not sound very impressive, but it should prove to be incredibly useful in day-to-day use.

Something else we’re excited about is a sub-feature of Edge Sense 2 called “Smart Rotate.” The sides of the phone can detect how you’re holding it, meaning that even if auto-rotate is on, the screen won’t flip horizontally by accident. If you’ve ever been frustrated by your phone’s UI flipping all over the place while trying to use it while you lie in bed, the U12+ just solved that problem once and for all.

The U12+ is expensive

There’s a lot to like about what HTC’s done with the U12+, but one aspect you may not be too keen about is the price.

If you’d like to own the U12+, you’ll need to cough up a hefty $799 in the U.S. for the model with 64GB storage. Want more room with 128GB? Get ready to pay $849.

HTC does offer 0% interest financing through its website to stretch that price over the course of 24 months, but even so, this is a phone that’s going to put a big dent in your wallet.

See at HTC

To make matters worse, you can’t buy it on any U.S. carrier

The U12+ is being sold through HTC’s own website in the States, but that’s it. Unlike phones from Samsung, LG, and just about everyone else, you won’t find this thing in your local carrier store.

HTC fans or people that want the U12+ bad enough will be able to purchase it just fine, but that lacking carrier support means HTC isn’t getting the U12+ in front of eyes of potential customers that may not even know the phone exists.

Speaking of carriers, the U12+ works on AT&T, T-Mobile, and Verizon

On the plus side, folks that purchase the U12+ shouldn’t have any trouble getting it to work on the carrier of their choice.

The U12+ is compatible with AT&T, T-Mobile, Verizon, and any MVNO that uses those carrier’s networks (such as Cricket Wireless, MetroPCS, etc.)

There’s no support for Sprint, however, so Big Yellow subscribers are going to have to sit this one out.

Updated June 2018: Completely overhauled this guide now that the U12+ has been announced.