You might soon be watching a lot more video on Instagram

If you find Instagram videos just a bit too long for your rapidly diminishing attention span, then brace yourself. It’s apparently considering upping the limit to a full hour.

At the current time, the popular media-sharing app allows for videos of up to 60 seconds, so yes, 60 minutes would be a significant extension.

The claim comes via The Wall Street Journal, which heard from “people familiar with the matter” that Instagram is right now in discussions with content creators and publishers about producing long-form video content for the app.

Of course, it doesn’t mean the platform would suddenly be flooded with videos that all hit the 60-minute mark — merely that users and advertisers will have the option to post footage lasting anywhere up to a full hour. Videos streamed live, rather than recorded, are already allowed to run for up to an hour on the platform.

Interestingly, the Journal’s sources said the feature “will focus on vertical video, or video that is taller than it is wide,” an annoying format that still causes many a viewer to gripe, “Why don’t they hold their phone the other way?” whenever such footage appears on their screen.

Mark Zuckerberg, CEO of Instagram’s parent company, Facebook, has said many times how video is the key to growth for his online offerings, which besides Facebook and Instagram also include Messenger and WhatsApp.

“Over the next three years, the biggest trend in our products will be the growth of video,” the Zuck said toward the end of 2017. “When done well, video brings us closer together. We’ve found that communities formed around video like TV shows or sports create a greater sense of belonging than many other kinds of communities. We’ve found that Live videos generate 10 times the number of interactions and comments as other videos.”

Instagram has already seen great success with its video-focused Stories feature, which it lifted from rival social media app Snapchat in 2016.

Stories lets users share photos and short videos of up to 15 seconds uploaded to the service within a 24-hour period. It already has 300 million daily users among its community of 800 million, making it one of the fastest-growing features on Instagram.

Users can also post clips to their feed, with brands, too, able to advertise their wares through video presentations. If Instagram lifts the limit on its current video restrictions, brands will be able to put out longer ads on the platform — enabling Instagram to charge more for the privilege.

Longer videos could also see Instagram become a home to original long-form content made by professional content creators, shifting the app ever further away from its roots as a simple photo-sharing service and allowing it to take on the likes of Google-owned YouTube.

But we’ve not heard anything official yet from Instagram about its apparent plan to extend the video limit, which would probably arrive as a trial for select users. We’ll be sure to update if and when it happens.

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TP-Link’s one-day sale has discounted routers, cable modems, smart plugs, and more

Prices so low, oh my!

As part of its Gold Box deals of the day, Amazon has a bunch of popular TP-Link products on sale with prices starting at just $7. From energy monitoring smart plugs for under $20 to cable modems for $40, dual band smart Wi-Fi routers for $60, and so much more. These price drops are all temporary, and some of them drop these products down to new all-time lows.

TP-Link is well-known for making high-quality networking gear, but the company also has many other great products. Some of the best deals from this one-day sale include:

• AC1750 Smart Wi-Fi Router – $59.99 (Was $80)
• TC-7620 DOCSIS Cable Modem – $40.49 (Was $90)
• Deco Mesh Wi-Fi System – $134.99 (Was $180)
• AC750 Dual-Band Wi-Fi Extender – $18.99 (Was $30)
• Wi-Fi Smart Plug w/Energy Monitoring – $19.64 (Was $30)

There’s a bunch of other great gear that’s also on sale, so be sure to check out all of the items and grab what you want before the time runs out to save on them.

How to use the alert slider in OxygenOS on the OnePlus 6

How do I use the alert slider on my OnePlus phone?

OnePlus has a knack for leaving the best parts of Android alone while adding small conveniences here and there, and that’s not just true of its software. Ever since the OnePlus 2, a small alert slider has resided above the volume buttons on every OnePlus device, and it’s easily become one of the company’s most unique and useful features.

Similar to the iPhone’s hardware switch, OnePlus’s alert slider allows the user to quickly jump between different call profiles. There are three positions for the slider, and each can be customized to your liking.

Note: This feature is available on all OnePlus devices, starting with the OnePlus 2.

Why would you want to use the alert slider?

By default, the three positions from top to bottom represent the Silent, Vibration, and Ring profiles, but the alert slider isn’t just great for changing the behavior of your notifications.

I use the alert slider all the time (seriously, dozens of times a day) to adjust my media volume. Save for Silent, which always defaults to muting media, each audio profile remembers your most recent volume setting for media, making it incredibly easy to quickly jump from max volume to something more fitting for a quiet room.

OnePlus 6 review: The matter is settled

How to configure the alert slider

It’s easy to fine-tune each position of the alert slider in the settings.

Open the Settings app.
Tap Alert slider.

Tap one of the three call profiles to adjust its settings.

The settings for each mode is pretty straightforward — just a couple of switches for you to toggle vibration and media volume on or off.

That’s it! Once you start using the alert slider throughout your day, you’ll wonder why it isn’t a standard feature on every Android device.

Questions? Comments?

Got any burning questions about the alert slider, or want to share something we might’ve left out? Let us know in the comments below!

Updated June 2018: This article was rewritten to reflect changes to OxygenOS on the OnePlus 6.

OnePlus 6

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

These are all the Huawei/Honor phones coming out in 2018

Having trouble keeping up with Huawei’s countless phones? You’re in the right place.

Although it may not be as popular as Samsung or Apple in the U.S., one of the world’s biggest smartphone brands is Huawei.

Huawei often releases some of the best and most interesting Android phones of the year, including powerful flagships and more affordable options through its Honor sub-brand.

It can be hard to keep up with Huawei’s endless releases, so to help keep you in check, here are all the phones the company’s launching in 2018.

The phones we’re still expecting

Huawei Mate 11

The Mate 10 Pro

Towards the end of 2017, Huawei decided to go out with a bang with the impressive Mate 10 and Mate 10 Pro.

The Mate 10 Pro paved the way for Huawei’s 2018 lineup, featuring the Kirin 970, a large 6-inch 18:9 screen, and fantastic dual cameras.

Rumors surrounding its successor are still pretty light, but if it’s anything like last year’s model, it’ll be big, powerful, and a true beauty to look at. The Mate 10 Pro was the first in the series to adopt a new glass back, and we’ll likely see Huawei continue that trend this year with the Mate 11.

Huawei Mate 10 Pro review: Best Android flagship for battery life

Huawei Nova 3/Nova 3 Plus

The Huawei Nova 2

During IFA last year, we got a chance to go hands-on with the Huawei Nova 2 and Nova 2 Plus. The phones featured much more similar designs compared to the drastic difference between the original Nova and Nova Plus and offered comparable specs for just $360 and $426, respectively.

The Nova 2 and 2 Plus were metal-clad phones with dual cameras, 1080p LCD displays, the Kirin 659 processor, and dual cameras.

There’s no reason to believe Huawei won’t release a Nova 3 series before 2018 is over, so we’ll be sure to keep an eye out for a Nova 3 and 3 Plus over the coming months.

Huawei Nova 2 + Nova 2 Plus hands-on

Honor 8X

Released at the very end of last year, the Honor 7X continues to be one of the best ways to spend less than $200 on a smartphone well into 2018.

Honor really hit the nail on the head with the 7X, offering a sturdy metal design, fast Kirin 659 processor, 5.93-inch 18:9 display, and respectable dual cameras for just $199 in the U.S.

We fully expect an Honor 8X to be announced before 2018 is over, featuring a similar price and even more bang-for-your-buck.

Honor 7X review: The new budget champion

The phones that have already come out

Huawei P20/P20 Lite/P20 Pro

A few months after the Mate 10’s U.S. launch, Huawei came out swinging once more with its P20 series — consisting of the P20, P20 Lite, and P20 Pro.

There are a lot of similarities with the three phones, including glass designs, fingerprint sensors, and notches in their displays.

While all of the handsets are worth a look, the P20 Pro is easily the most eye-catching. In addition to its ultra-reflective and color-changing glass back with the Twilight color, you’ll find not one, not two, but three rear cameras — including a 40MP RGB sensor, 20MP mono sensor, and 8MP telephoto one.

The end result of this wild combination are some of the best photographs you can take from a smartphone, especially when it comes to low-light shots.

You’ll find a lot to love about the P20 Pro, but depending on where you live, buying it could prove to be a bit tricky.

Where to buy the Huawei P20 Pro in the U.S. and Canada

Huawei Porsche Design Mate RS

If the P20 Pro isn’t cool enough for you and you’ve got endless amounts of cash to burn through, the Huawei Porsche Design Mate RS might be the perfect fit.

This is essentially the same phone as the P20 Pro, but it’s got a different design, stunning red color, in-screen fingerprint sensor, and a pain-inducing $2000 price tag.

The Porsche Design Mate RS certainly isn’t for everyone, but it’s easily the most eye-catching phone in all of Huawei’s lineup for the year.

See at Porsche Design

Huawei Mate SE

On the complete polar opposite end of the spectrum from the Mate RS is the Huawei Mate SE.

The Mate SE costs just $249 in the States and comes with a 5.93-inch edge-to-edge 18:9 FHD+ display, dual 16MP and 2MP rear cameras, Kirin 659 processor, 4GB RAM, 64GB of storage, and a large 3,340 mAh battery. It’s also available in both Grey and Gold colors.

You get a lot of bang-for-your-buck with the Mate SE, but if you want to stretch your dollars even further, I’d suggest checking out the Honor 7X that was released at the tail-end of 2017.

Honor 7X vs. Huawei Mate SE: What’s the difference?

Honor View 10

Honor’s first phone for 2018 was the Honor View 10, and boy does it have a lot to offer. This is one of the pricier Honor phones at $499, but it comes equipped with just about every flagship feature you could ask for.

The Honor 10 impresses at first glance with a metal unibody design and ultra-slim bezels. The display measures in at 5.99-inches with an 18:9 aspect ratio and has a resolution of 2160 x 1080. There’s a fingerprint sensor underneath it, 3.5mm headphone jack on the bottom of the frame, and dual 16MP + 20MP cameras on the back.

Other goodies include the Kirin 970, 6GB RAM, 128GB of storage, NFC, and Android 8.0 Oreo with EMUI 8.0 on top of it. Add all that together with a face unlock feature and a long-lasting 3,750 mAh battery, and you end up with one heck of a phone.

See at Amazon

Honor 10

The Honor 10 was released in late April, and it has more in common with the Honor View 10 than just a similar name. Just like the View 10, the Honor 10 has the Kirin 970, 6GB RAM, and either 128GB or 64GB of storage. However, that’s where the similarities end.

You’ll find dual cameras on the Honor 10, but they’re a bit different with 16MP and 24MP sensors. There’s also a 24MP shooter for the selfie camera, 5.84-inch 1080p LCD screen with a notch at the top, and a reflective, color-changing glass back just like the Huawei P20 Pro.

The Honor 10 is available in China and the UK, and depending on the storage configuration you choose, you’ll spend between $414 and $478.

Honor 10 announced with the P20’s design and a much lower price

Honor 7A/7C

Rounding out our list we’ve got the Honor 7A and 7C. These are the cheapest phones on this list, coming in at £139.99 and £169.99, respectively.

You won’t find the most impressive specs on the 7A and 7C, but what you do get is all the basics for a solid experience at an incredible price.

The 7A is the more affordable of the two, offering a plastic body with a metal-like finish, Snapdragon 430 processor, 2GB RAM, 16GB of storage, and a single 13MP camera. With the 7C, you get a faster Snapdragon 450, 3GB RAM, 32GB of storage, and a depth-sensing 2MP camera to go along with the primary 13MP shooter.

You can purchase the Honor 7A and 7C in the UK and India.

Honor 7A + 7C bring face unlock to the sub-£170 price point

Huawei P20 + P20 Pro

• Huawei P20 and P20 Pro hands-on
• Huawei P20 and P20 Pro specs
• The Porsche Design Mate RS is a P20 Pro that costs $2000
• Join the discussion in the forums

Pick up a refurb original Pixel for as little as $190 while supplies last

Don’t miss out.

Woot is offering the original unlocked Google Pixel for as little as $189.99 in refurbished scratch and dent condition. There are a bunch of models available right now, including 32GB and 128GB versions of both the Pixel and Pixel XL. Some of them may have scratches, dings, and dents, though none of the cosmetic issues will affect the performance of the device. The Pixel XL starts at $209.99 for the 32GB version. You can pick between Quite Black or Very Silver in most of the configurations, though it’s not known how much stock of each one is available. This is the original Google Pixel, which is still a very good phone by today’s standards, especially at this price.

If you’re looking for a backup phone to load up Android P on or want to replace an aging phone with something better, these deals are worth checking out. At this price, we imagine that they will sell out before the end of the day, so be sure to grab one now. Remember, Woot does add a flat $5 shipping fee to all orders unless you are an Amazon Prime member.

See at Woot

Best places to buy unlocked phones in 2018

Get what you’re looking for without any hassle by starting right here.

You hear a lot of talk about the benefits of buying an unlocked phone; you can use it on any network, you don’t have a carrier deciding which apps are pre-installed or when you get updates, and you can usually save some cash. One important thing that often gets left out of said discussions is where to buy them. Like everything else, there are good choices here and not so good ones.

To make it a little easier if you’re itching to get on the unlocked phone bandwagon, here’s where you can get started!

Swappa

Swappa started when a software developer noticed how hard it was to find good, cheap phones to test his products with. Fast forward to today, and it’s the place to buy anything electronic second-hand. From phones to MacBooks to game consoles, Swappa probably has whatever it is you’re looking for.

Swappa isn’t some dodgy marketplace, either. Fully protected sales through the company make user-to-user selling and buying as safe as it is easy, and the phones listed are guaranteed to be gently used and in great working condition. There’s a separate section for “broken” products in case you’re looking for parts and zero overflows between the two sections.

If you’re in the market for an unlocked phone, Swappa should be your first stop. It’s amazing how much money you can save when your “new” phone has been used for a month or two.

Visit Swappa for unlocked phones and more

Amazon

Amazon has revolutionized the way we shop for just about anything, and that includes smartphones. You’ll find phones direct from the companies that make them as well as phones from specialized importers and bulk buyers, which equals savings for you.

Shopping at Amazon is easy (almost too easy) and safe; their buyer’s protection and hassle-free policies are legendary. Shipping is fast and complete with tracking so you’ll know where your stuff is during the trip, and you’ll also find just about any accessory you might need for your new phone. There is a reason Amazon has grown to be the internet’s most well-known and trusted online marketplace — all the happy customers.

Vist Amazon for unlocked phones and more

Newegg

Whenever you need anything electronic, you should check out what Newegg has before you pull out the credit card. And that includes smartphones!

You’ll see listing for all the major brands, including brand new devices and popular sellers that may not be the latest thing. Plus, you’ll see gear you didn’t know existed as Newegg also imports unlocked phones from all over the world.

Maybe the best part of shopping at Newegg are open box, refurbished and clearance deals. You’ll be able to find amazing prices on products with a full warranty, including all the accessories you might need for a new phone purchase.

Vist Newegg for unlocked phones and more

B&H Photo

Photographers know that B&H is the place to go for anything and everything when it comes to camera gear, but they also have a great selection of mobile products.

B&H has phones from most manufactuers, and they can be the place to go if you’re looking for those devices that have had a limited release such as Sony’s high-end devices or even products you never knew existed. One thing B&H has perfected that makes shopping easy and great is the search tools on the site. Narrowing things down by price or brand or even color makes shopping simple.

Vist B&H for unlocked phones and more

Updated June 2018: Updated with the best links to find great used Android phones.

Unlocked phones

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The latest unlocked phones deliver excellent performance and value. For the budget-conscious consumer, there is a lot to love in this space. Be sure to explore more and join the discussion in the forums!

watchOS 5 Beta Adds Manual Wi-Fi Connection Option to Apple Watch Settings Menu

Testers of the first watchOS 5 beta for Apple Watch are hailing a new option in the software’s Settings menu that enables you to manually connect your device to nearby Wi-Fi networks.

In previous versions of watchOS, your Apple Watch is locked to the wireless network that your tethered iPhone is using, and there’s no way to browse and manually connect to networks from your wrist.

But that all changes in watchOS 5, if the beta 1 seed is anything to go by. Reddit user whiskey_91 found a new option in Settings where users can search for and connect their Apple Watch directly to available Wi-Fi networks when their iPhone is out of range.

After a network is selected from the list, users are prompted to enter the Wi-Fi password via Scribble (scribbling characters one by one on the screen with their finger), while using the Digital Crown to select lowercase/uppercase and special characters. A Join button then appears for users to tap and connect to the network.

The new Wi-Fi option appears on both Apple Watch Series 2 and Series 3 models, but we’ve yet to confirm whether it works on Series 1 (watchOS 5 doesn’t support the original Apple Watch, or Series 0).

There’s plenty more to look forward to when watchOS 5 gets its official release in the fall, but eager adopters are advised to stay patient while Apple works out the kinks. Apple temporarily pulled the watchOS 5 beta 1 seed from its developer portal in the early hours of this morning after reports that the software was bricking some devices.

Related Roundups: Apple Watch, watchOS 4Tag: watchOS 5Buyer’s Guide: Apple Watch (Neutral)
Discuss this article in our forums

macOS Mojave Removes Integration With Third-Party Internet Accounts Like Twitter and Facebook

When Apple released iOS 11, the company removed built-in integration with Twitter, Facebook, Flickr, and Vimeo, a feature that allowed iPhone and iPad users to store their third-party account information and access it within apps that needed to use those services.

The equivalent integration remains in macOS High Sierra, but Reddit user Marc1199 has noted that Apple appears to have removed support for third-party accounts completely in macOS 10.14 Mojave.

Image via Reddit user Marc119
The image above shows the Internet Accounts preference pane in Mojave, with a distinct lack of OS login options for Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, Flickr, and Vimeo.

The removal means that third-party sharing options previously available in Notification Center and other native apps are no longer be available, at least in the latest beta of Apple’s new macOS.

Dropping support for third-party social network accounts fits into Apple’s vision of enhanced privacy protections in macOS 11.14 and iOS 12, both due to release in the fall. In the meantime, users running macOS High Sierra can remove lingering third-party accounts from their Macs with the help of our how-to guide.

Related Roundup: macOS MojaveTag: privacy
Discuss this article in our forums

Apple Watch Series 3 LTE Models Available to Pre-Order in Four New Countries From June 8

Apple has announced through its regional websites that Apple Watch Series 3 LTE models will be available to pre-order in Brazil, Mexico, South Korea, and the United Arab Emirates on Friday, June 8.

Brazilian customers hoping to pick up and Apple Watch Series 3 with LTE can expect to pay 3,119 reais (about $826) for the 38mm model and 3449 for the 42mm model. Claro will be the sole network provider.

In Mexico, the 38mm LTE model will cost 8,999 pesos (about $441), while the 42mm LTE model will cost 9699 pesos (about $475). Stainless steel variants start from 13,999 pesos (about $685). AT&T and Telcel will provide the cellular coverage (via El Universal).

Prices in South Korea start at 529,000 won (about $495) for 38mm models and rise up to 829,000 won (about $774) for 42mm stainless steel versions. The carrier will be LG Uplus.

Finally, prices in UAE will start at 1,364 dirham (about $371) and will be supported by the Etisalat network (via Gulf News). In-store availability for all three countries begins on June 15.

The moves reflect the continuing expansion of Apple’s cellular smartwatch market reach around the globe. Last month, the company made LTE variants of its Apple Watch Series 3 available in Denmark, India, Sweden, and Taiwan.

Related Roundups: Apple Watch, watchOS 4Tags: Brazil, Mexico, United Arab Emirates, South KoreaBuyer’s Guide: Apple Watch (Neutral)
Discuss this article in our forums

Apple Pulls watchOS 5 Beta 1 From Developer Portal After Reports of Bricked Devices

Apple appears to have temporarily pulled the first watchOS 5 beta from its website after some users reported cases of the software bricking Apple Watch devices.

Several users on the MacRumors forums and over on Reddit have expressed problems trying to get the software onto their devices, with freezes reportedly occurring during the installation phase, particularly on Apple Watch Series 2 models.

Apple has obviously deemed the issues to be sufficiently widespread for it to take action. As such, developers accessing Apple’s beta software download portal are currently unable to get a download link and are instead met with the following message:

Seed 1 of watchOS 5 is temporarily unavailable. We are investigating an issue that occurs while updating. If you’ve experienced any issues, please contact AppleCare.

Both the watchOS 5 configuration file and the over-the-air update have been removed, and right now it’s unclear when they will return.

As is often the case, initial software beta releases can be susceptible to bugs and issues which only reveal themselves during device propagation. We’ll update this article when Apple fixes the problem and makes a revised version of the beta available once more.

Related Roundups: Apple Watch, watchOS 4Tag: watchOS 5Buyer’s Guide: Apple Watch (Neutral)
Discuss this article in our forums