How to use YouTube for Android

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

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

Let’s get our viral video on.

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

How to search for videos

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

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

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

Tap on a video to view it.

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

Playback controls

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

How to change video quality

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

Tap the video you want to watch.

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

Tap Quality.

Tap a resolution in the list.

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

How to enable/disable captions

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

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

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

How to sign in to YouTube

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

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

Tap the account you want to sign in with.

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

How to subscribe to a YouTube channel

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

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

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

How to share a YouTube video

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

Add a message and Send or Share the video.

How to create playlists

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

How to add videos to a playlist from the thumbnail

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

Tap Add to playlist.

Tap Create new playlist.

Type a Name for your playlist.

Tap OK.

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

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

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

Tap OK.

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

How to cast YouTube to your TV with Chromecast

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

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

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

Your turn

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

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

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

Get to the bottom of the problem

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

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

Thread priority security exception. Make sure the APK is signed

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

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

There was a problem authenticating ownership of this product.

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

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

Using the “wrong” controller

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

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

Oculus Go

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

Oculus Go 32GB
Oculus Go 64GB

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

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

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

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

Broader retail availability

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

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

Wireless charging

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

Wireless Power 301: What Modern Dad uses in the car

Faster wired charging

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

USB-C needs to get smarter before it gets better

More refined gesture navigation

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

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

Some sort of secure face unlock

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

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

No notch

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

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

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

Honorable mention: A 3.5mm headphone jack

Pretty please?

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

How about you?

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

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

Google Pixel 2 and Pixel 2 XL

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

Best Buy
Verizon
Google Store
Project Fi

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

— 1Password (@1Password) June 5, 2018

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

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

Related Roundup: iOS 12
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Apple Details Upcoming Privacy and Security Protections in macOS Mojave

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Related Roundup: macOS Mojave
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Live Listen Coming to AirPods in iOS 12

Apple in 2014 introduced a Live Listen feature that’s designed to allow the iPhone to pair with hearing aids and then serve as a remote microphone that beams the audio the iPhone picks up to the hearing aids.

As noted by TechCrunch, Live Listen is coming to the AirPods with the iOS 12 update, letting iPhone users position their iPhones as a directional mic and have the audio relayed through the AirPods.

With this feature, an iPhone user could, for example, put an iPhone on the table in a noisy restaurant and then have the voice of whomever is speaking routed to the AirPods as a stand-in for hearing aids for those who are hard of hearing or need a bit of extra help separating voices in a loud environment.

Live Listen with AirPods is not going to replace a traditional hearing aid and people with hearing issues should still get a checkup from a doctor, but this feature is handy for people who need something in a pinch without carrying extra hardware.

Related Roundup: iOS 12Tag: accessibility
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Optoma NuForce BE Free5 True Wireless Earbuds Review – Refined and lower in price

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We love the idea of true wireless earbuds. Having absolutely no wires and such a compact headphone is invaluably convenient. If only the functionality was also as noteworthy. Building earbuds that have everything packed into their tiny earpiece spaces have their engineering challenges, and it shows in even top-end offerings, in the form of short battery life and unreliable wireless connection.

Optoma wasn’t exempt from these troubles with its first crack at it. We liked several things about last year’s BE Free8, such as its notable aptX-capable sound quality, but couldn’t look past some of its questionable functionality (primarily, too many Bluetooth signal hiccups). Well, the company has had time to work on it, arriving in the form of the more affordable BE Free5. Is this a memorable case of more for less? Let’s find out.

Design

Despite closely following in the Be Free8‘s footsteps, the Free5 is a different animal from a design perspective – some for the better but not all. For instance, it’s more blocky in shape than the streamlined, tapered Free8 earpieces. This also means a bit more girth in depth (but in turn, thinner width).

So they stick out a little more on the ear than the contoured Free8 earpieces, but it ends up being of little consequence. Optoma was carefully to make sure they’re still ergonomic and don’t fall out of the ears (more on usability later).

The primary smooth chassis feels similar as before – sturdy but pretty standard hard plastic. A big design difference is that Optoma cut back on the glossy plastic cap. This is a move we prefer, as that plastic on the Free8 felt cheap. But that’s not all. The scored texture is also gone in favor of a striped pattern underneath the transparent cover. It’s a grainy and silvery finish that shimmers at the right angle of light. We think it’s a lot classier than before and serves as a unique touch.

Older Free8 (left) vs. newer Free5 (right).

Older Free8 (left) vs. newer Free5 (right).

This design cue is also cohesive with the finish of the carrying/charging case, which has undergone the most drastic change – and we’re really glad about it. The Free8’s case was completely made of the cheap-feeling and smudgy glossy plastic. Not only is it now matte, but Optoma sand-blasted it entirely, resulting in a grainy (almost sandstone-like), shimmery, and premium-feeling texture. It’s fabulous, and it feels sturdy too. We only wish the slimmer teardrop form of the Free8’s case was maintained, but it’s not a big deal.

Case differences between older Free8 and newer Free5 earbuds.

A benefit of modified design is that the earpieces are easier to remove from the case. The slippery caps of the Free8 made this frequent operation a minor annoyance. Additionally, Optoma listened to the gripes about the flimsy insertion of the earpieces. They now magnetically latch onto their corresponding silos.

Turn the case around and you’ll see how to charge it. We always cry a little bit when we continue to see a microUSB port instead of the current USB-C, but it’s acceptable in lower-costing devices, which the Free5 is.

Function

Optoma decently packages the BE Free5. Namely, we appreciate the use of SpinFit ear tips, which are highly-regarded for their fit (their stems flex to suit different ear canal shapes).

All of the contents in the Free5 box.

Still, we always like to see the option of foam tips. Silicone tips don’t isolate sound nearly as well. Something additional that we didn’t see with the Free8 are different sizes of ear fins. These hug the ear for an extra secure fit.

Speaking of the fit, it was a bit of a mixed bag for us. For some reason, the SpinFit tips that Optoma opts for are shallower than those packaged with the Free8. This makes getting an appropriate ear canal seal trickier than it should be. We managed an acceptable seal with the larger tips, but it’s borderline (i.e. the seal breaks with mouth movements).

Fortunately, the earpieces are shaped well to stay in place, so the seal shouldn’t rock with head movement or exercise. We were able to confidently work out without the ear fins with no worry about the earpieces falling out. However, we noticed that these bulkier earpieces aren’t as comfortable as the Free8, especially during longer listening sessions.

Each earpiece has its own status LED and single-button control

The Free5 continues Optoma’s single-button playback control method. But instead of a tiny button atop the earpieces, now the entire cap depresses for the function(s). We welcome this change (mostly). The buttons are definitely easier and more natural to press. But the area is so large that you’ll press it frequently by accident. This is especially when you don the earpieces. You have to get a habit of only grabbing the sides when you’re seating them, or you’ll be pressing the buttons like crazy.

Optoma’s instructions for all the button functions.

We’re not a fan of the complicated system of controls. With only one button, you have to learn what different kinds of presses do. What’s more, the left and right buttons can have different functions. For instance, double-clicking the left button skips the track but double-clicking the right toggles the phone’s virtual assistant.

What’s additionally not intuitive is the LED indicators. There’s one on each earpiece, and two on the case. They flash between white and orange, and all have a different indication. On the earpieces, what you essentially need to know is that they’re solid orange when charging and alternate white/orange when in pairing mode.

Although the two case LEDs look the same, they indicate different things. The left one lets the user know if the battery level of the charging case is below 25% (will flash orange when you open the case, or flash white if above 25%). The right LED just show the charging status (orange if currently charging and white if fully charged).

How the Free5’s LEDs work.

None of these things are complicated, but you do have to do some learning before you know what the heck is going on.

A big contention with Optoma’s first crack at a true wireless earbud was the finicky Bluetooth signal. We noted plentiful drops in our review of the Free8, making us hopeful that it would be addressed in this follow-up model. While the Free5 is not completely free of hiccups, we’re happy to report that the connection is drastically more stable. Even with phone in pocket or walking a few feet from it, the playback is largely uninterrupted.

As for technical specs, we have pretty common features. On a charge, the earpieces can last up to four hours, which is average for this kind of wireless earbud. The case has enough capacity to charge them four times over (so 16 hours total with a full case). And Optoma didn’t forget about designing the Free5 with IPX5-rated water resistance.

Audio

One of the BE Free5’s biggest compromises is the lack of aptX support for higher fidelity streaming.

One of the Free8’s standout features was the inclusive of aptX support in its chipset. This wireless audio codec can be found in many Qualcomm-powered smartphones these days, allowing for a higher bandwidth channel (up to 352 kbps). Alas, aptX was forgone in the Free5. But Optoma doesn’t leave us hanging. It does support the AAC codec, which is still better than standard bit-rates. Also, the Free5’s driver diaphragm is said to be made from a new graphene material that’s lighter in weight and responds more quickly (retrieving clearer details) than the typical diaphragm.

But more importantly, how does it sound? Pretty darn good for the most part. One of the first things that caught us was the clean sound. The noise floor is surprisingly silent (most earbuds of this type have some level of audible hiss). This makes it easier to pick up the details, which the Free5 has ample of despite the lack of aptX.

The mid-range is more forward than you’ll typically hear, so elements like vocals and guitars really shine. The bass can sometimes be subtle and sometimes show a great deal of body (particularly when there’s a strong mid-bass presence in the track). We appreciate how controlled it is. It’s never boomy or overbearing. That said, the separation between upper bass and lower mid-range isn’t the cleanest. But we should expect a little muddle in a $99 true wireless earbud. It’s perfectly acceptable in this case.

The treble is decently conveyed. It’s not the most detailed (especially with a clear roll-off of the upper frequencies that you’ll miss out on) but is clean and has a nice presence. You shouldn’t expect much of a soundstage/spacious quality from the Free5. Its airy characteristic does help the sound not be so 2D, but you just won’t get a fuller, encompassing reproduction like that in higher-end earphones.

Final Thoughts

The BE Free5 isn’t a perfect true wireless earbud (then again, none of today’s are). However, we have to keep reminding ourselves that this is a $99 offering. It’s not just that but the Free5 make a couple worthy improvements from the more expensive Free8, such as its more premium charging case and remedied Bluetooth signal stability. All the negatives we’ve noted aren’t in deal-breaker territory and can be easily justified by the lower price. We look forward to seeing how Optoma pushes the “value” envelope next.

Optoma NuForce BE Free5 Product Page

Adobe’s next big software secret? An augmented reality tool called Project Aero

Adobe is jumping into augmented reality. On Monday, June 4, Adobe teased a new venture called Project Aero, a tool for creating AR graphics. The software giant will also bring USDZ file support to Creative Cloud apps, including Photoshop CC and Dimension CC. The announcement comes on the heels of Apple’s WWDC keynote announcements, and will give creatives tools to publish AR objects compatible with Apple devices.

Project Aero is a multiplatform tool that brings graphics into an augmented reality space. In a demo video of the new software, designers started with graphics from Photoshop CC and Dimension CC before exporting as a Project Aero file. Inside the demo video, Project Aero uses a tablet to finalize the AR elements of the graphic, including using the device’s camera to preview the changes in an AR space. The demo also shows tools for animating the graphic along with scaling, rotating, and exporting to a USDZ file.

Project Aero is designed with Apple, but Adobe is also working with Apple and Pixar to add support for those USDZ files into Photoshop CC and Dimension CC. Converting into USDZ allows the files to be used with Apple’s ARKit.

Crafting a platform that simplifies AR creation isn’t an easy task — Adobe says every business group within the company is collaborating on the new project. The company says it will have more details on the upcoming software during Adobe Max, a conference later this fall.

“AR content development today also requires a combination of creativity and technical skills,” wrote Abhay Parasnis, Adobe executive vice president and CTO. “Project Aero will deliver a system for both developers and creatives to build simple AR scenes and experiences leveraging Apple’s ARKit. Designers can easily create immersive content that can then be brought into Xcode for further refinement and development.”

For developers, Adobe’s announcement means upcoming software could help simplify the process of building AR objects. With easier content creation, Project Aero could mean wider accessibility to new AR content for the average smartphone user.

The AR graphic created in the demo video will be part of what Adobe calls “the first large scale immersive art exhibition,” named the Festival of the Impossible. Adobe is working with 15 different artists on the project, which will be held from June 8-10 at the Minnesota Street Project, a gallery in San Francisco, Calif.

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