Lenovo’s Yoga Book with the cool touch keyboard may get a follow-up this fall

Julian Chokkattu/Digital Trends

Lenovo appears to be working on a follow-up to its Yoga Book according to a listing on the Bluetooth SIG website. It’s labeled as the Yoga Book 2 Pro along with the Yoga Book Pen 2. This is a 2-in-1 we’ll likely see this fall during the back-to-school season although the “pro” branding seemingly suggests older students much like the original target audience for the Surface Laptop sporting Windows 10 S. 

We don’t know any of the hardware specifics associated with the Yoga Book 2 Pro just yet outside the obvious Bluetooth connectivity. The original version launched in August 2016 during the IFA show in Germany packing either Windows 10 Pro or Android Marshmallow (aka Book UI). It was followed by the A12 in 2017 sporting a larger screen and a smaller price, but without the Yoga Book branding. 

At its heart, the Yoga Book is a 2-in-1 device although Lenovo heavily uses the “tablet” term. It sports a tablet-like 10.1-inch screen that is connected to an all-black “touchscreen” of the same size using a unique, 360-degree three-axis hinge. 

“The hinge is engineered to be smaller and features a custom-made three-axis hinge, with 130 different mechanical pieces comprising five different materials,” the company says. “Lab tested more than 25,000 times, the Yoga Book form offers a smooth, seamless transition between the four modes — Browse, Watch, Create and Type.” 

It’s this touchscreen that makes the Yoga Book unique: It replaces a physical keyboard with a touch-based Halo Keyboard that appears when needed. Want to draw or manually write? The Halo Keyboard will convert into the Create Pad supporting the included Real Pen stylus. Lenovo’s peripheral supports 2,048 levels of pressure so that every stroke looks just as good in digital form as it does on paper. The benefit here is that, unlike tablets, your hand isn’t blocking the screen when you draw. 

The current model still in stock relies on Intel’s Atom x5-Z8550 “Cherry Trail” mobile processor, 4GB of system memory (LPDDR3), and 128GB of storage. The screen itself is based on IPS technology providing wide viewing angles and rich colors. It packs a 1,920 x 1,080 resolution, 16.7 million colors, and a brightness of 400 nits. The screen is joined by an 8MP auto-focus camera on the back and a 5MP fixed-focus camera on the front. 

As for other specifications, the Yoga Book measures just 0.38 inches thin, provides Wireless AC (433Mbps) and Bluetooth 4.0 connectivity, and relies on an 8,500mAh battery promising up to 13 hours on a single charge. The Windows 10 Pro version ships in Carbon Black while the now-depleted Android stock shipped in Gold or Gunmetal. 

What Lenovo plans to shove into the Yoga Book 2 Pro is anyone’s guess although you’ll likely not see an Atom processor in this installment. Given the A12 was a larger 12.2 inches, perhaps we will see the Yoga Book 2 Pro move up into laptop territory with a 13.3-inch screen, an eighth-generation Intel Core processor, and maybe even discrete graphics. A Chrome OS-based version is possible, too, even though the rumored first-generation Yoga Book version never showed up in 2017.

Editors’ Recommendations

• Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Yoga Gen 3 vs Microsoft Surface Book 2 13
• Lenovo Yoga 920 review
• Microsoft Surface Pro (2017) review
• Asus ZenBook Flip 14 vs. Lenovo Yoga 920
• Lenovo Yoga 730 13-inch review

Ticketfly goes offline after refusing to pay hacker’s Bitcoin ransom

Ticketfly has been down since Thursday, May 31, after a hacker had digitally attacked the Eventbrite-owned ticketing website and leaked stolen customer information. The hacker who called himself IsHakdz vandalized the site by replacing the website’s content with an image of Guy Fawkes from the film V for Vendetta along with the phrase “Your security down I’m not sorry.” The page also contained links to files allegedly containing customer information, prompting Eventbrite to temporarily shut down Ticketfly until the security situation could be assessed and resolved.

“Following recent site issues, we determined that Ticketfly has been the target of a cyber incident,” the company said in a statement. “To protect our clients and fans, and to secure the website and related data, we have temporarily taken all Ticketfly systems offline.”

In addition to breaching Ticketfly while keeping the site’s HTTPS certificate intact, the hack also affected Brooklyn Bowl, Pear Street Warehouse, and Lafayette Theater, according to The Verge. And because Ticketfly was unable to comment on what information may have been compromised during this attack, if you’ve recently made any transactions through Tickefly or any of the affected sites, you may want to keep an eye on your credit card statements and credit report. Motherboard was able to confirm that home addresses, emails, and telephone numbers of customers were part of the files leaked by the IsHakdz. Additionally, the hacker said that he may release more stolen information on his website, PCMag reported.

The hacker claimed to have initially warned Ticketfly about the site’s vulnerability that would allow him to take control of the site and all its database, but he demanded a payment of one Bitcoin to reveal the details. Ticketfly didn’t reply, and it appears that the hacker went ahead and put his knowledge to use in hacking Ticketfly’s site, Motherboard reported.

If you had purchased a ticket for an upcoming event from Ticketfly, a support page notes that these tickets may be available at the door. You’ll need three forms of ID, Ticketfly advised, which includes an original photo ID and a copy of the printed digital ticket. If you’re not the original purchaser, you’ll also need a note from the buyer authorizing you to pick up the tickets.

Editors’ Recommendations

• Malware attack hits Chili’s restaurants, customer payment info nabbed
• Hackers could have credit card numbers of 880,000 Orbitz users
• Infected online chat service stole payment info at Best Buy, Delta, Sears, more
• Facebook acts as unwitting sales platform for identity thieves
• Email encryption flaw gives hackers full access to your secret messages

The Mito drone captures underwater action without the nausea-inducing footage

Underwater drones open up ocean exploration without getting wet, but placing a drone in the current can create some shaky footage. Startup Navatics is attempting to fight that with an aquatic drone equipped with stabilization. Now on Kickstarter, the Navatics Mito is a remotely operated underwater vehicle (ROV) with a 4K camera and advanced active stabilization.

The Mito uses a floating teether to transmit signals to the controller, but the teether also uses a built-in solar panel to extend the battery life of the drone from two hours to up to a four-hour run time. The drone is rated to dive to 135 feet and the teether allows for 165 feet of navigation away from the float.

The drone uses four thrusters to move underwater and can also tilt up or down up to 45 degrees without changing the depth. Mito can travel as fast as four knots, which is about 6.5 feet per second.

The ROV is equipped with a 4K, 30 fps camera for video, with eight megapixel still photos. Two LED video lights are also built onto the drone. Underwater footage often suffers from odd colors, so the drone’s app, available on iOS and Android, also has built-in color correction.

The drone is operated with an included controller that also uses a slot to attach a smartphone. The built-in camera can livestream to the app for navigation in 1080p quality.

Navatics says they built the Mito to fit into a carry-on suitcase or backpack at 15 inches on the longest side. The drone weighs 6.6 pounds.

“With Navatics Mito, our goal is to create an underwater drone with the ability to stream high-quality video and maneuver with maximum stability to get the best footage,” Navatics CEO Andreas Widy said in a statement. “We want to provide this professional level experience so that anyone from the hobbyist consumer to the professional videographer can experience the marine world without limitation.”

Navatics is a 2016 startup sparked from a college project of the founders at Hong Kong University of Science and Technology. The Mito is the company’s first underwater drone.

Navatics is using Kickstarter to crowdfund its first drone. The group reached its funding goal after five hours on the platform. Pledges that include a drone start at $1,199. If the Mito is successful, it’s expected to retail for $1,999.

Editors’ Recommendations

• Funding Nemo: Kickstarter underwater drone streams 4K footage from the deep
• Underwater swarms and sonar-bombing drones: Meet the deep-sea Xprize finalists
• The best drones of 2018
• Yuneec Breeze review
• Slice through the water like a dolphin with the AquaJet H2, now on Kickstarter

Sensory deprivation float tanks can cost a fortune, but this one is different

Until now, if you wanted a sensory deprivation flotation tank in your home you’d better be a tech millionaire or international arms dealer, based on how much they cost. With prices that can easily reach into the tens of thousands of dollars, float tanks simply aren’t something within budget for the vast majority of folks. But a new Kickstarter campaign promises to change all that. Created by the Zen Float Company, it’s an inflatable sensor deprivation chamber which will set you back a more palatable amount of cash. After all, average Joes and Janes need zen relaxation, too!

“Floating, or sensory deprivation, involves lying in a tank or pod filled with about 10 inches of water and 1,000 pounds of Epsom salt,” creator Shane Stott told Digital Trends. “The salt renders you weightless so once you lie on your back you automatically float. While you are in there your skin is absorbing the magnesium and your mind is free of all sensory distractions, allowing yourself to just clear your mind and recharge. The water is heated to skin temp so it’s like you can’t even feel it.”

Unlike some of the pricier options on the market, the Zen Float Tank is fully inflatable (and deflatable) — which also helps if you’re living in a regular apartment, where space is at a premium. It’s made using drop-stitch inflatable technology, the same method used for blow up paddle boards and kayaks. Despite being made out of thousands of finely woven strands, once it’s fully inflated the exterior is rock solid. Setup can be completed in just 15 minutes, and while it requires a bit of weekly maintenance, the water and salt can last up to two years.

“I used to suffer from debilitating anxiety and panic attacks,” Stott explained. “It came to a head one night in Las Vegas, and the only thing I could think to do to escape the attack was to hop into the bath with the water up to my ears. Weeks later, I discovered floating and it was all over from there. Floating changed my life completely, and we have lots of similar stories from our customers. At the time, there were no float spas in Utah so I did some research and built a tank out of a fertilizer tank and aquarium parts.”

Since then, the Zen Float Company has gone from strength to strength — including a previous 2014 Kickstarter campaign that raised more than $300,000. As ever, we offer the usual warnings about the risks inherent in crowdfunding campaigns. However, if you understand these and still want to get involved, head over to the team’s Kickstarter page to pledge your cash. Prices start at $2,905, with shipping set for October 2018.

Editors’ Recommendations

• This throwable life preserver inflates instantly when it hits water
• This portable grill transforms your bike into a rolling BBQ
• Awesome Tech You Can’t Buy Yet: Battling bots, launch clocks, and bike-mounted BBQs
• Blea Shark e-surfboards let you surf on flat water at 30 miles per hour
• What is vaping? A beginner’s guide to vaporizers and ecigs

Best Samsung Fitness Tracker in 2018

• Best overall
• Best with more features
• Best for less

Best overall

Samsung Gear Fit2 Pro

See at Amazon
See at Best Buy

When looking at Samsung’s range of wearables, for many the Gear Fit2 Pro is its best overall performer. It checks all of the boxes for fitness tracking, with the sensors and software capable of following everything from your daily movements all the way up to running, gym workouts and swimming.

The Fit2 Pro manages to be relatively small compared to full-blown smartwatches, but still has a big enough screen that you can see everything you need to. It can even handle basic “smartwatch” tasks like showing you your notifications and incoming calls to your phone. It also has standalone GPS, storage and Bluetooth for headphones, so you can leave the phone behind if you want to go for a run unencumbered.

Bottom line: The Gear Fit2 Pro does everything you’d need in a fitness band, and also has some basic smartwatch-style features as well.

One more thing: Be sure to look at the size guide and choose whether you want a small or large band to properly fit your wrist.

Why the Samsung Gear Fit2 Pro is the best

For the Gear Fit2 Pro, Samsung took what it learned from its last few rounds of general-purpose smartwatches, added in some knowledge from the first Gear Fit2, and came out with a great overall fitness tracker. The Fit2 Pro is a bit bigger than the barebones trackers out there, but for good reason: it has a great display for showing you all of your fitness-related information, and can even pull in notifications from your phone.

It’s a fitness tracker for almost every kind of person, and has some smartwatch-like features too.

Sure it does the typical daily tracking of steps and floors, but can also be utilized for running (with GPS tracking), gym workouts and now swimming as well. The newly designed strap will stay on your wrist through vigorous workouts unlike the original Fit2, and it can be swapped out for different sizes and styles if you want to change the look.

Beyond the basic on-person tracking, the Gear Fit2 Pro can also sync up with Samsung Health for tracking other parts of your health like food and water intake, as well as heart rate and sleep information. There are also partner apps from big names like Under Armour, MapMyRun and more so you can integrate the Fit2 Pro into your existing routine.

Best with more features

Samsung Gear Sport

See at Amazon
See at Best Buy

As the name implies, the Gear Sport offers a near-identical feature set to the Gear Fit2 Pro. It can do all of the same daily and active tracking for all of your workouts, but it just does it in a larger smartwatch form factor instead.

That means you get a larger circular display that gives you more information per screen, as well as a great rotating bezel for navigation. You also get full-on smartwatch features like interacting with and replying to notifications, installing apps and managing more local data on the smartwatch itself.

Bottom line: For a full-featured smartwatch that’s still extremely capable for fitness tracking, the Gear Sport is the one to get.

One more thing: This may not be the best choice, size-wise, for intense gym workouts or swimming — even though it can track those activities.

Best for less

Samsung Gear Fit2

See at Amazon
See at Best Buy

Though it lacks the “Pro” moniker, the original Gear Fit2 is still a great fitness tracker — and now that it’s getting older, it’s much cheaper. It has the same overall dimensions and core capabilities as the new Fit2 Pro, but has a weaker strap and lacks the hardcore waterproofing required for swim tracking.

When it comes to getting the basic fitness tracking, run tracking and notification management done, the Gear Fit2 will handle the task the same as the newer Fit2 Pro will. Just be sure to know the exact limitations before choosing to save some money compared to the Fit2 Pro model.

Bottom line: For a great core fitness tracking solution for a bit less money, the standard Fit2 is still a great choice.

One more thing: Consider a different style of band if you plan to use the Fit2 for high intensity workouts where it could come off.

Conclusion

The Gear Fit2 Pro is the best fitness tracker Samsung makes, and in general one of the better fitness tracker options out in the market today.

Best overall

Samsung Gear Fit2 Pro

See at Amazon
See at Best Buy

When looking at Samsung’s range of wearables, for many the Gear Fit2 Pro is its best overall performer. It checks all of the boxes for fitness tracking, with the sensors and software capable of following everything from your daily movements all the way up to running, gym workouts and swimming.

The Fit2 Pro manages to be relatively small compared to full-blown smartwatches, but still has a big enough screen that you can see everything you need to. It can even handle basic “smartwatch” tasks like showing you your notifications and incoming calls to your phone. It also has standalone GPS, storage and Bluetooth for headphones, so you can leave the phone behind if you want to go on a run unencumbered.

Bottom line: The Gear Fit2 Pro does everything you’d need in a fitness band, and also has some basic smartwatch-style features as well.

One more thing: Be sure to look at the size guide and choose whether you want a small or large band to properly fit your wrist.

Update June 2018: Samsung hasn’t released any new fitness trackers, so these are still the best available.

HQ Trivia for Android: Everything you need to know

What you need to get started with the hottest trivia game for Android!

We love trivia games. Whether they be on the television or at the table-top, quiz and trivia games have been a long-time favorite for a lot of people. HQ Trivia is the evolution of everything from those old black and white shows from yesteryear through to today’s newest tech, all mashed together into one heck of a fun app.

HQ can be a lot of fun, and with a chance to win real money — a lot of it — everyone is playing! Each game averages around one million players, with prime time and weekend games regularly surpassing two million players. Prizes range from $5,000 to $300,000 and are split between the players who make it through all 12 questions. Do you have what it takes to win HQ?

June 1, 2018 — HQ Trivia is giving away big money throughout the NBA Finals!

HQ Trivia has announced an insane sponsorship with the mobile game Toon Blast that will deliver some crazy big prize pools throughout the NBA Finals. Game one saw $100,000 up for grabs (with 4000 winners getting $25 each) and HQ plans to increase the prize pool by $100k per game throughout the Finals — with a potential Game Seven trivia game with $700,000 up for grabs!

Tonight we had a $100,000 game. Sunday at 9p ET… we’re upping the ante to $200,000.See you there 💰 pic.twitter.com/TDYnShbyPs

— HQ Trivia (@hqtrivia) June 1, 2018

HQ also popped a surprise game during halftime of a new “HQ Sports” trivia game. It seemed to be a test that was made available to some players but could be a sign of big things to come as HQ continues to expand its trivia empire. The next big game is this Sunday at 9PM ET — don’t miss out!

May 9, 2018 — See your friends’ answers and other people playing nearby

More HQ goodies are on the way, with this latest bundle launching during the Friday, May 11 game.

According to HQ, it’s officially launching “Friends Friday” which will allow you to see your friends’ answers during Friday’s game. This is something we caught an early glimpse of last month, and it’s a great way to see how your friends are doing while you all play together.

Also new is something called Nearby Freinds. If other people are playing HQ around you but aren’t in your address book/contacts, you’ll still see them pop up during a game.

Download: HQ Trivia (Free)

Interested in participating in the HQ phenomenon? Here’s everything you need to get started having fun and winning some cash.

What is HQ Trivia?

Think of HQ Trivia as a live game-show app. It’s very much like Jeopardy! except you don’t have to fly to a TV studio to get in on the action and play.

Twice on weekdays at 3 pm and 9 pm Eastern, a host hands out multiple choice questions on a wide range of topics and you answer as best you can. Get all 12 correct and you win a share of the pot. Get a question wrong, and you’re out for the session and will need to wait until the next round to try again.

You watch and play right from your phone, as it happens in real time, against hundreds of thousands of other players. Prizes range from a few dollars to a whopping $20,000 we saw given away in that Super Bowl game and it goes straight into your PayPal account. It’s a lot of fun and a chance to win real money — two things we all love. Prizes for Sunday night games now regularly top out around $25,000

How to download HQ Trivia

That’s the easiest part! HQ Trivia for Android is officially out of beta so all you need to do is fire up the Google Play Store app!

Downloading and installing HQ Trivia is completely free.

Download HQ Trivia from Google Play (free)

How to sign up

You’ll need a unique username and a phone number to get started with HQ Trivia.

You sign up right inside the app and it is the first thing you’ll be asked to do when you open it. When a game isn’t in session, opening the app tells you when the next one starts and lets you see your total winnings or look through the leaderboards.

Be sure to read the terms and conditions before you go any further, and after you’re properly signed in you are asked f you’d like to receive push notifications letting you know when games are about to begin so you can get in on the action.

How to play

Right now HQ Trivia is free to play and free of any ads. Make sure you’re signed in on your phone and every day at 9 pm and weekdays at 3 pm all you need to do is open the app to get started.

You’ll be asked a question and given three possible answers. Questions cover just about every topic imaginable and just like the game shows you’ll see on TV they can be hard or they can be easy, but get progressively more trivial as the game goes on. Answer correctly before the 10-second timer runs out and you move to the next question. Get it wrong or take too much time and you’re out of the game, but can keep watching to see how many people win.

There’s a live chat during each game if you want to be a little social, but you can also swipe it off the screen if it gets too distracting. Even if you get eliminated early you can keep watching — and finding out how many lucky dogs make it to the winner’s circle is the fun part!

Extra lives

Like any good game worth its salt, HQ Trivia gives you extra lives.

If you have an extra life while you’re playing a game, you get a chance to answer a question wrong or take too much time and not be ejected from the game. If that happens and you have an extra life on your account, you’ll get the option of spending your extra life to stay in the game. You can only spend one extra life per game so make them count!

You earn extra lives by referring your friends to HQ Trivia. For example, if you used the referral code crackberry kevin I’d get a free life. Go ahead and try, I’ll let you know if it worked.

How much can I win?

A lot! While HQ Trivia is free to download and play, you can win real money if you make it to the end of a game.

The cash prize for a basic weekday game starts at $5,000 and is split evenly between everyone who survived the 12-questions. On the rare occasion that everyone is eliminated, the prize rolls over to the next game. It keeps going until someone wins. Sunday games are typically in the $25,000 range or more and often go up to 15 questions and HQ has started regularly involving a special guest host for Wednesday games with the cash pool rising exponentially. Most recently, Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson hosted a $300,000 game in part to promote his film Rampage, and HQ regularly drops hints about future surprises on Twitter.

HQ used to have you wait until you hit the $20 mark you can cash out via PayPal, but they’ve changed the rules so you can cash out your winnings no matter the prize amount. You won’t need to enter a credit card or pay anything to play.

Update June 2018: Added the latest info on the big payouts being offered during the NBA Finals!

OnePlus 6 vs. Samsung Galaxy S9+: Which should you buy?

Do you really need to spend big money on the big name?

Samsung’s Galaxy S9+ is a known quantity at this point. It’s been out for a few months, covered every way possible and evaluated by everyone. By most accounts, it’s a darn good phone. The hardware is great, the specs are top-notch and the camera is wonderful. But … it’s expensive. Very expensive.

That’s where the OnePlus 6 comes in. It’s $300 less than the Galaxy S9+, but on the face of it looks like a comparable device. It also has solid hardware, top-end specs and a pile of other enticing features. So the question is, if you’re in the market for a flagship phone today, should you get the Galaxy S9+ or consider the OnePlus 6? And does the story change at all if you’re trying to hold to a budget? We’re here to give you all of the information you need.

See at Galaxy S9+ at Amazon
See OnePlus 6 at OnePlus

What’s the same

Smartphone designs have coalesced in the last few years. Screens got taller and skinnier, and a majority of devices are comprised of a metal frame squished between two panes of glass. The story continues when you set the OnePlus 6 next to a Galaxy S9+. Not only do they have the same type of construction, but also very similar finishes — these are glossy and shiny bodies that attract attention and fingerprints alike. They’ve both even went with the same type of vertical arrangement for their cameras and fingerprint sensors, though the OnePlus 6’s is a tad easier to use because it’s physically separated from the camera grouping.

These are metal-and-glass sandwiches that feel very similar and are filled with comparable specs.

The phones are near-identical in shape, size and weight, due to their small bezels wrapping around screens that are almost the same size. The 19:9 aspect ratio 6.3-inch display on the OnePlus 6 is barely larger and taller than the 18.5:9 ratio 6.2-inch on the Galaxy S9+ — that is to say you’d never notice the size difference. The body curves make them both a bit slippery without a case, but that’s the cost of beauty. The Galaxy S9+ is a tad narrower, but in daily use you wouldn’t notice. Both phones have a typical array of buttons on the side, and all of the ports collect at the bottom — including a headphone jack on both phones.

OnePlus 6 specs

Internally, the similarities continue. Both phones are powered by a Snapdragon 845 processor (aside from GS9+ models with a similar Exynos), 6GB of RAM and 64GB of storage. In either case you can pay to option up 128GB or 256GB of storage, but OnePlus also gives you 8GB of RAM in those higher storage models — though you’d be hard-pressed to find a need for it. The OnePlus 6 has a slightly smaller battery at 3300mAh to the GS9+’s 3500mAh, but battery life ends up being about the same — and in some cases, the OnePlus 6 actually goes longer on a charge.

What’s different

So when the base of the hardware, specs and features is the same, where does Samsung differentiate to justify its higher price? Well, in the details. On the hardware side, Samsung offers IP68 water resistance, which gives you true peace of mind in knowing it can get wet without issue. Its glass back also hides dual-mode wireless charging for those who enjoy the convenience, there are dual speakers available, and its Fast Charge wired charging system, while slower than Dash Charge, is cross-compatible with every Quick Charge charger as well as USB-C Power Delivery.

The GS9+ gives you more ‘nice to have’ features, a proven camera and an amazing display without a notch.

Then we have to address the big difference that stares you in the face: the display notch. I can easily argue that the OnePlus 6’s notch isn’t bothersome and simply lets you get a little more display without making the phone larger, but the simple fact is the Galaxy S9+ doesn’t have one and you don’t have to deal with it. All else being equal, not having a notch is preferable. And further on the display front, the GS9+ just has a downright better panel — its brightness and clarity are unmatched by any Android phone, making it better than the still-very-good OLED panel on the OnePlus 6. It’s also higher resolution, if you’re into that sort of thing.

The only area on the front where the OnePlus “wins” is that its display is flat and not curved. Yes this is a bit like the complaints about display notches, but many people don’t care for the Galaxy S9+’s curved screen edges because they make the phone tougher to operate in one hand. Just like the notch discussion this may not be an issue for you, but no matter what camp you land in you’ll never have to think about a curved display on the OnePlus 6.

OnePlus wins the software battle, both out of the box and over time.

One of the biggest differentiators here is the software experience. OnePlus has a lot of fans purely based on its clean and fast software experience that has minimal interruptions and delightful improvements over stock Android. Samsung’s phones do more, that’s not even up for debate, but the trade-off is that the Galaxy S9+ probably has a whole bunch of features that you don’t care about but have to deal with anyway. With its simple software the OnePlus 6 is going to be fast out of the box and stay fast over time, and that’s something that isn’t exactly guaranteed on a Samsung phone.

The final part of this comparison is the cameras. OnePlus has made a big improvement with the OnePlus 6, using a new 16MP primary sensor that’s larger, with an f/1.7 lens and OIS. It’s supported by a 20MP secondary camera to help with Portrait Mode photos, and is no longer for zooming. The pair is undeniably a large step beyond the OnePlus 5 and 5T. It gets close to what the Galaxy S9+ can do, and in daylight scenes you can’t really tell the difference unless you set the two side-by-side.

OnePlus 6 (left) vs. Galaxy S9+ (right) — click images to view larger.

The Galaxy S9+ still has better HDR and colors in many scenes, which can somewhat be attributed to its overall warmer color profile, but the OnePlus 6 isn’t far behind on average. Samsung’s camera also just seems smoother and crisper in areas of fine lines and details. On the other side of things, the OnePlus 6 doesn’t seem to have the same kinds of exposure issues that can often over-brighten shots from the Galaxy S9+.

Which should you buy?

Choosing which phone is right for you really should start with a discussion of price. The OnePlus 6 starts at $529, which is dramatically cheaper than the base Galaxy S9+ at $839. Even the top-end OnePlus 6 with 8GB of RAM and 256GB of storage is $629, still $210 less than the base Galaxy S9+.

The Galaxy S9+ undeniably offers more, but it’s tough to say it’s worth an extra $300 over the OnePlus 6.

But what if you’re willing to spend the extra money, but don’t want to if it’s not actually worth it? A whole lot of the experience is shared between these two phones. The hardware is great on either one, as is the performance, specs and core features — they’re also nearly identical in size, both in display area and overall. For the extra money the Galaxy S9+ offers a better display (without a notch), a marginally better camera experience, and extra hardware features like wireless charging — and we can’t entirely discount the value of its more recognizable brand. That being said, the OnePlus 6 has a cleaner software experience that’s simpler to use and isn’t as susceptible to long-term problems — and, as previously noted, the entire package is dramatically less expensive.

If your budget for a phone is only about $600, it’s tough to imagine that you’d all of a sudden decide to spend an additional $250 beyond that to get a Galaxy S9+ — and the few improvements it offers over the OnePlus 6 don’t really justify that price increase if you’re at all price sensitive. But If the extra money doesn’t mean much to you, the Galaxy S9+ does indeed offer a better overall experience provided you’re enticed by the extra features rather than the simplicity of the OnePlus software. But no matter your budget, you’d be doing yourself a disservice to not consider the OnePlus 6 in any case — it has a whole lot going for it as a complete package at any price.

See at Galaxy S9+ at Amazon
See OnePlus 6 at OnePlus

OnePlus 6

• OnePlus 6 review
• 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

Update May 2018: Now that the OnePlus 6 is fully released, we’ve updated the comparison with details on how the battery life and cameras compare between these phones.

Gaming mice, fitness trackers, camping gear, and more are on sale today

Whether you’re looking for new tech gear or household items, we’ve got you covered.

We found plenty of great deals today that include big discounts on the Razer DeathAdder Elite gaming mouse, the Garmin Forerunner fitness tracking smartwatch, Streamlight LED flashlights, and more! Time’s running out to take advantage of these prices, so hurry!

View the rest of the deals

If you want to know about the deals as soon as they are happening, you’ll want to follow Thrifter on Twitter, and sign up for the newsletter, because missing out on a great deal stinks!

Google reported to stop working on Maven, its government-licensed AI tech

The contract with the Pentagon could have cost as much as $250 million.

Over the last few months, Google’s faced nonstop backlash for partnering with the United States Pentagon to work on an AI system that can swiftly identify people and points of interest from drone footage. The system is called Maven, and a new report’s surfaced suggesting that Google’s decided to cease its involvement with it.

According to emails received by Gizmodo —

Google Cloud CEO Diane Greene announced the decision at a meeting with employees Friday morning, three sources told Gizmodo. The current contract expires in 2019 and there will not be a follow-up contract, Greene said. The meeting, dubbed Weather Report, is a weekly update on Google Cloud’s business.

In addition to backlash from people outside of Google, a report from mid-May revealed that multiple employees had resigned from the company due to their frustration with Google’s involvement with Maven. Google’s contract with the Pentagon was initially set at around $15 million, but it appears that the company planned on spending as much as $250 million on it.

As further emails reveal, Google’s senior executive team was excited to work on Maven and the future doors it would open. Per Gizmodo —

But internal emails reviewed by Gizmodo show that executives viewed Project Maven as a golden opportunity that would open doors for business with the military and intelligence agencies. The emails also show that Google and its partners worked extensively to develop machine learning algorithms for the Pentagon, with the goal of creating a sophisticated system that could surveil entire cities.

Greene reportedly told employees that Google is concerned about the ethical use of AI and that “It is incumbent on us to show leadership” in this department.

What are your thoughts on Google’s decision to stop working on Maven?

Some Google employees are resigning due to involvement with Project Maven

Samsung Galaxy Note 9 rumors: Release date, specs, price, and features!

Here’s everything we know about the Galaxy Note 9!

Now more than ever, Samsung’s Galaxy S+ phones are becoming eerily similar to the Note series. The Note used to be Samsung’s way of touting all of the latest and greatest tech it had to offer, and while this is still the case, the same can be said for this year’s Galaxy S9+.

Samsung needs more than just the S Pen to make the Note 9 stand out from its own phones and the rest of the competition, and luckily, all signs are pointing to something exciting for this year’s release. Here’s what we know so far!

June 1, 2018 — The Galaxy Note 9 will be announced on August 9 with an upgraded camera

Per a report from Bloomberg, Samsung will host an Unpacked event in New York on August 9 where it’ll officially unveil the Galaxy Note 9.

There’s still a lot that’s unknown about the phone, but it’s reported that the Note 9 will have a very similar design compared to the Note 8, a much-improved camera, and Qualcomm’s latest Snapdragon 845 processor in select markets.

Following the event, Samsung hopes to officially release the phone by the end of the month.

March 29, 2018: Samsung may launch the new Note as early as July

Samsung’s Galaxy Note series usually makes its debut in August, but according to a report from The Investor, the Note 9 could launch much sooner.

Samsung typically starts producing its OLED panels for Note devices in June, but it’s said that the company will be moving ahead of schedule this year and start production as soon as April. As such, we could see the Galaxy Note 9 released as early as July.

The reason for this change? Although not confirmed, it’s reported that this is a result of unimpressive sales of the Galaxy S9 and Apple’s own OLED production requirements for two of the iPhones it’s expected to release this September.

When will the Galaxy Note 9 be released?

Samsung typically releases its Galaxy Note series in the second-half of the year, often in mid-to-late August.

It was reported on March 29 that Samsung had begun production of OLED panels for the Note 9 two months earlier than it usually does, suggesting that this year’s Note may be released as early as July.

How much will the Galaxy Note 9 cost?

Pricing for the Note series has steadily been going up each year, as has the majority of the smartphone industry.

The Galaxy Note 8 costs $950 unlocked, and I’d expect the Note 9 to cost either the same or slightly more. Apple proved with the iPhone X that people aren’t afraid to shell out $1000+ for a new smartphone, and I don’t consider it to be out of the question for Samsung to follow suit with the Note 9 – especially if it adopts newer technologies like an in-display fingerprint sensor.

Samsung Galaxy S9 & S9+: Everything you need to know!