TP-Link’s new Deco M9 Plus Mesh router is also a smart home hub

Everyone expects you to be able to multitask, so there’s no reason you shouldn’t have the same expectation for your devices. Here to live up to that expectation is TP-Link, whose newest mesh router not only purports to provide fast internet connections to more than 100 devices throughout your home, but also serves as a smart home hub for all of your connected devices. Meet the Deco M9 Plus Mesh Wi-Fi System, the latest multitasker in your life.

“From everyday activities like streaming Netflix and using smart voice assistants, to occasional video chats with friends or online gaming, our home lives are more connected than ever before,” said Derrick Wang, director of product management at TP-Link USA Corp. “Today, families need Wi-Fi systems that can support the higher demands put on their network, delivering reliable performance in every room of the home. Deco M9 Plus is a powerful solution designed to meet the Wi-Fi needs of the modern smart home.”

The second mesh router to come out of TP-Link, the Deco M9 is a tri-band router, which should make for faster speeds. That means that the M9 Plus creates a special network in order to allow routers to communicate with one another, which gives way to more efficient operation for networks associated with both your phone and computer.

The Deco M9 also promises “stronger and more dynamic backhaul than others, supplementing its dedicated 5 GHz backhaul with additional backhaul throughput from other Wi-Fi bands as demand on the network increases.” So whether you’re watching streaming video or video chatting with your friend, this router will find the strongest connection in every corner of your home.

But what really sets this router apart is its smart home capabilities. As a smart home hub itself, you won’t need to bring in another third-party device in order to control all the connected appliances in your home. Rather, this router will let you manage your ZigBee, Bluetooth, and Wi-Fi-enabled smart home products straight from the companion Deco App. The router works with a number of leading smart home brands, and is compatible with both Amazon Alexa and IFTTT.

The M9 Plus also boasts a HomeCare feature, which protects against viruses and malware, and should keep you safe from hackers and other ill-intentioned actors. The system is also constantly updated through updates from Trend Micro, so you always have the most current protection.

A two-pack of the Deco M9 Plus Wi-Fi System promises high-performance Wi-Fi for homes up to 4,500 square feet, and will set you back $300. A single router can be purchased for $180.

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Loupedeck+ brings improved hardware controls to Lightroom — and Luminar

The Loupedeck, the bespoke Lightroom control console, is no longer just for Lightroom. The new Loupedeck+ offers an enhanced build and compatibility with additional photo editing programs. Announced on Wednesday, June 20, the Loupedeck+ is compatible with Lightroom Classic CC and Skylum Luminar, and Capture One integration is currently being tested.

The Loupedeck+ looks very similar the original photo editing console, which we found to be both faster and more enjoyable to use than a standard mouse and keyboard, but features an improved design. It still gives Lightroom users direct, physical controls for making software adjustments, but Loupedeck says the second generation console features superior construction and the new mechanical keys give photo editors greater precision.

There has also been a renewed focus on customization, with two custom dials versus the single one on the original. The eight customizable preset buttons return and are now joined by dedicated modifier keys for shift, control, command, alt, and tab. Additionally, a new “custom mode” grants users full customization over 17 available keys on the console.

“We know how dedicated both the professional and amateur photography communities are in their work, and we’re committed to making their lives easier and more productive,” Mikko Kesti, Founder and CEO of Loupedeck, said in a statement. “There’s no better way to create the next evolution of our flagship product than by going straight to the source and taking their feedback to heart.”

The first Loupedeck originally launched after a successful Indiegogo campaign, raising over five times as much as its goal. The product was the still photographer’s analog to the bespoke hardware interfaces used by video colorists, like the powerful — and considerably more expensive — DaVinci Resolve panels from Blackmagic Design. For the second-generation Loupedeck, the Finland-based company of the same name is sending the product straight to retailers. Beginning today, the Loupedeck+ is available from Amazon, B&H Photo, and the Loupedeck website. The photo editing console retails for $229, which is less than the original retail price of $299 for the first version. Loupedeck is also offering a $50 cash back offer for current users to help ease the financial burden of being an early adopter.

Editors’ Recommendations

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Maxboost mSnap case for Galaxy S9 review: The only case you need

This is the best cheap case you can buy.

A couple years back I was perusing Amazon for a cheap case for my Google Pixel, and I found one from Maxboost called the mSnap — it was cheap and looked basic, so I decided to get it while I looked for something better. It turns out I didn’t need anything more — since then, I’ve been buying this exact case for every single phone I have for more than a two-week review period.

Yes, it’s inexpensive. But it’s also good enough to warrant buying the same case over and over again for every phone — the latest purchase was for my Galaxy S9+.

Maxboost mSnap case for Galaxy S9

Price: $6.99

Bottom line: This case gives you great protection in a thin, understated package for very little money.

The Good

• Extremely rigid
• Thin and subtly grippy
• Large cutouts for buttons + ports
• Available in four colors
• Very inexpensive

The Bad

• Difficult to remove
• Not particularly flashy or stylish

See at Amazon

Tough and simple

Maxboost mSnap What I like

The mSnap case is all about being simple, adding grip and being extra-strong. It takes just a few seconds of looking at it to tell it’s simple — no styling, no bits of flare, all one color and not a single piece of exterior branding. All you get on the outside is some soft touch coating that adds quite a bit of grip, without being so grippy that it tugs at pocket fabric or gets in the way. The mSnap case makes the Galaxy S9+ easier to hold confidently in one hand.

The mSnap case is all about being simple, adding grip and being extra-strong.

Now, strength — the mSnap is extremely rigid, which keeps it strong despite being very thin. It’s stiffer than any other case of this thickness I’ve seen. These super-rigid sides are particularly important on the Galaxy S9+ because it has a curved screen. So many other thin and light cases I’ve had for modern Samsung phones are simply too flexible on the sides because they have to dip down to accommodate the curve. Over time, these cases get flimsy, let dust in behind the case and generally don’t protect the phone as much as they should. Not so with the mSnap.

The mSnap offers ample-sized cutouts for buttons and ports, and the openings for the USB-C port and headphone jack on the Galaxy S9+ version is particularly large so you’ll never have an issue using it with any sort of cable or headphones. The openings for all of the buttons are large enough to help you locate them by feel.

Hard to remove

Maxboost mSnap What I don’t like

There is legitimately only one gripe to be had with the Maxboost mSnap case: it’s ridiculously difficult to get off of your phone. The case is tough, rigid and won’t fly off if you drop your phone — but that means it also takes a lot of work to get it off when you need to. You’ll see the little slits in the corners of the case — they’re there because the sides aren’t flexible at all, and it’d be impossible to get off without them. It’s a worthwhile trade-off, and you’re not likely to be removing your case over and over again, but it’s something to be aware of.

It’s hard to find any fundamentally wrong with the mSnap.

Really, there’s nothing fundamentally flawed in any way with the mSnap. Yes, it doesn’t add any flair or style to your phone, nor does it add extra functionality. It’s just all about nailing the core values of a case: it’s simple, makes the phone easier to hold, is extremely strong and doesn’t add much bulk. But it’s inexpensive, and despite the low price it offers exactly what you want in a case — it’s the default choice for simple protection for your Galaxy S9+.

Best cheap case available

Maxboost mSnap case for Galaxy S9

Not everyone wants to spend upwards of $50 on a glorious Alcantara or Hyperknit case for their Galaxy S9. Most of us just want a cheap case that will protect the phone and look pretty good doing it. Striking the balance between being thin but also rigid and cheap is tough, but Maxboost does a darn good job of it with the mSnap case for the Galaxy S9. It may not be the only case you buy for your phone, but it should be the first.

4.5
out of 5

I’m reviewing the mSnap for the Galaxy S9+ in particular, but Maxboost has a version for many other popular phones. You can get one for the Galaxy Note 8, Pixel 2 XL, and iPhones as well. This is a damn good case for the Galaxy S9+, or any other phone it’s available for.

See at Amazon

What’s your favorite phone/dialer app?

A question for those of you that still make phone calls.

As much time as we spend tweeting, streaming Netflix, and wasting the day away on Reddit, our smartphones were originally designed to make — you guessed it — phone calls.

Phone calls may not be a huge part of how you use your phone anymore, but even so, there are a number of apps out there that try to make the phone call experience as awesome as possible.

One user on the AC forums is looking for a third-party app to replace the default dialer app on their Samsung Galaxy S9, and these are just a few of the apps the community suggested they check out.

mr_master
06-17-2018 05:38 AM

“

I would recommend Truecaller. Some additional useful features are spam call filtering and caller ID for unknown numbers.

Reply

Kirstein Gourlay
06-17-2018 10:38 PM

“

I like simpler contacts

https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.simpler.contacts

Reply

djrakowski
06-18-2018 06:53 AM

“

I prefer the Samsung apps, but Google’s are pretty good, too:

Google Contacts
Google Dialer

Reply

Now, we’d love to hear from you! What phone/dialer app do you use?

Join the conversation in the forums!

How to safely clean wax out of your earbuds

Earwax can muffle music or worse — kill your earbuds entirely. It’s not hard to keep things in working order.

Humans are disgusting creatures. One thing I always notice when I see someone else’s earbuds is a bit of earwax hanging off the end. Earwax serves its purpose for the body, but the waxy substance can do some serious damage to your earbuds. This ranges from making your music sound muddy, all the way to killing the speakers entirely.

Here’s how to safely clean earwax from your earbuds!

• Materials you’ll need
• How to clean your earbuds
• How to prevent your earbuds from getting dirty

Materials you’ll need

Earbud speakers are delicate, so we won’t use anything too heavy to clean them. Here’s what you need to clean your earbuds:

• Warm, soapy water
• 2 new, soft toothbrushes
• Hydrogen Peroxide – 3%

How to clean your earbuds

Remove the gel or foam ear tips from the earbuds.
Place these in the warm soapy water and let them soak for at least thirty minutes.
Brush any excess dirt or wax from the ear tips.
Rinse the ear tips with clean water and let them air dry.
Dip the other toothbrush in the hydrogen peroxide.
Shake the toothbrush to get rid of as much excess peroxide as possible.
Hold the earbud with the speaker facing downward — you don’t want any liquid getting in the speaker, and you don’t want any of the dirt getting pushed deeper into the speaker.
Brush in one direction to prevent dirt from going into the speaker itself.
Use some hydrogen peroxide or clean water to gently wipe around the speakers to clean any other dirt or wax.
Let the earbuds dry for at least 12 hours, again with the speakers facing downward if you can.
When you’re about to use the earbuds again, playing some music on full volume for a few seconds to shake out any leftover liquid.

How to prevent your earbuds from getting dirty

Prevention is the best medicine, and preventing dirt is more important than cleaning that dirt up in the end. The best tip for keeping your earbuds from getting dirty is to regularly and safely clean your ears. The ear tips will likely pick up a bit of dirt regardless, but these are less delicate than the speakers inside your earbuds.

What say you?

How often do you clean your headphones? Let us know down below!

Verizon and AT&T will stop selling real-time location data of its users [Update]

Now we’re just waiting on Sprint.

Last May, U.S. carriers came under fire after it was discovered that they were tracking real-time location info of their subscribers and then selling that information to third parties. Following a heap of backlash over security and privacy concerns, both Verizon and AT&T have confirmed they’re ending this practice.

First reported by The Associated Press, Verizon sent a letter to Oregon Democratic Senator Ron Wyden (who’s been particularly critical of this topic) on June 15 announcing that it would stop selling this data to brokers who then sell it to other companies.

Shortly after Verizon made this announcement, AT&T followed suit and confirmed it was doing the same thing.

As for T-Mobile and Sprint, things are still up in the air. In a statement to The Verge, T-Mobile said:

While we continue to review the facts and determine next steps, as of May 25th we have suspended all services with LocationSmart. Our ongoing internal review also includes our relationship with Zumigo and, if warranted, we will take additional action.

Following this, CEO John Legere tweeted:

Sounds like word hasn’t gotten to you, @ronwyden. I’ve personally evaluated this issue & have pledged that @tmobile will not sell customer location data to shady middlemen. Your consumer advocacy is admirable & we remain committed to consumer privacy. https://t.co/UPx3Xjhwog

— John Legere (@JohnLegere) June 19, 2018

Legere’s wording makes it unclear if this means T-Mobile will stop selling user location to third parties entirely or just ones that it deems to be “shady.”

Sprint hasn’t made any official statement on the matter, but if/when that changes, we’ll update this article accordingly.

While @Verizon & @ATT have now pledged to stop selling customer location data to shady middlemen, @TMobile & @sprint seem content to keep selling customers’ private information, Americans’ privacy be damned.

— Ron Wyden (@RonWyden) June 19, 2018

LocationSmart, one of the companies Verizon, AT&T, and other carriers sell location info to, can use this information to pinpoint the real-time location of someone in just under 15 seconds. The data is obtained using cell towers, and while it’s slower and less accurate than GPS, allows the tracking to happen seamlessly in the background without alerting the person in question.

This is a huge move from Verizon and AT&T, and I expect we’ll hear about Sprint following in their footsteps shortly. U.S. carriers are still going to collect your location info, but the fact that they’re no longer selling it to other businesses is a big step forward.

What do you think of this news?

All major U.S. carriers give your real-time location info to third parties

Carriers

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• Everything you need to know about Sprint’s Unlimited Freedom plan
• Join the Discussion

Updated June 20, 2018: Updated article with Tweet from T-Mobile CEO John Legere.

UNREAL Mobile officially launches, lowers its unlimited plan to $10/month

More than 50,000 people signed up for beta access in under four weeks.

On May 23, FreedomPop announced it was launching a spinoff MVNO called “UNREAL Mobile” that would offer unlimited plans starting at just $15/month. Less than four weeks since that announcement was made, UNREAL Mobile is now going live with an even better deal than what was initially offered.

UNREAL was originally promoting unlimited plans that started out at $15/month, but in response to Sprint’s $15/month Unlimited Kickstarter offer, UNREAL’s cheapest plan has been lowered to just $10/month. However, unlike Unlimited Kickstarter that Sprint took away after just one week, UNREAL’s $10/month plan is sticking around for good.

There are three plans UNREAL has to choose from, and they work out as follows:

• $10/month — Unlimited talk, text, and 2G data + 1GB of LTE
• $15/month — Unlimited talk, text, and 2G data + 2GB of LTE
• $30/month — Unlimited talk, text, and 2G data + 5GB of LTE

No matter which plan you choose, all UNREAL Mobile subscribers also get access to a VPN service that can be enabled/disabled via the UNREAL app, an ad-blocker, the ability to use your UNREAL number on all of your devices, and rollover data that carriers any unused LTE data to the next month.

UNREAL Mobile is launching with three phones to choose from, including the Alcatel Dawn for $49.99, a certified pre-owned Galaxy S6 that costs $149.99, and a pre-owned iPhone 7 that’ll set you back $299.99. Alternatively, you’ll be able to bring your own CDMA phone later this summer.

In addition to UNREAL’s website, you’ll also find the MVNO scattered throughout Best Buy and Target target stores.

Now that we’ve got a bit more info, do you think you’ll sign up for UNREAL Mobile?

See at UNREAL Mobile

Carriers

• Which unlimited plan should you buy?
• Verizon’s Unlimited plans: Everything you need to know
• Everything you need to know about the T-Mobile ONE unlimited plan
• Everything you need to know about the AT&T Unlimited plan
• Everything you need to know about Sprint’s Unlimited Freedom plan
• Join the Discussion

Beautiful new ‘Sunrise Gold’ Galaxy S9 is exclusive to Best Buy and Samsung.com

New color is available June 24, for all carriers and unlocked in high storage options.

Just in time for the heat of summer, Samsung has a fresh new color for the Galaxy S9 and S9+: Sunrise Gold. The new color is arriving exclusively at Best Buy and Samsung.com, for both the GS9 and S9+, on June 24. The new color isn’t exclusive to any specific carrier, thankfully, and if you choose to buy unlocked through Samsung directly you’ll be able to option it up with 128 or 256GB of storage just like the other colors. Sunrise Gold doesn’t mark a price increase, either.

Though the rest of the phone is identical to the other colors available since launch, the Sunrise Gold color option does have one thing truly differentiating it: a slightly different finish to the glass Samsung is calling “satin gloss.” This finish is a bit more dull than the standard shiny glass exterior of the Galaxy S9, and should make it stand out just a little bit more than a gold-colored phone already does. It’s still completely black on the front, of course, though anyone who used one of the ultra-shiny versions of the Galaxy S7 will tell you that’s probably for the best.

Is the new Sunrise Gold color enough to swing you toward the Galaxy S9? How do you feel about it compared to the other colors? Let us know in the comments!

See at Best Buy

Samsung Galaxy S9 and S9+

• Galaxy S9 and S9+: Everything you need to know!
• Galaxy S9 review: A great phone for the masses
• Complete Galaxy S9 and S9+ specs
• Galaxy S9 vs. Galaxy S8: Should you upgrade?
• Join our Galaxy S9 forums

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AT&T
T-Mobile
Sprint

Press release:

Galaxy S9 and S9+ Sunrise Gold Arrive in the U.S.

The best phone for the summer, the Galaxy S9 and S9+ in Sunrise Gold will be available exclusively at Best Buy and on Samsung.com starting June 24

RIDGEFIELD PARK, NJ – June 20, 2018 – Samsung Electronics America Inc., announced that the Galaxy S9 and S9+ will be available in a new color in the U.S., Sunrise Gold, starting June 24. Consumers will be able to purchase the new Sunrise Gold Galaxy S9 and S9+ at Best Buy stores, BestBuy.com and Samsung.com. In addition to Sunrise Gold, the Galaxy S9 and S9+ are also available in Lilac Purple, Coral Blue and Midnight Black.

Starting June 24, the Sunrise Gold Galaxy S9 will be available for a manufacturer’s suggested retail price of $719.99 (64GB), $769.99* (128GB) and $839.99* (256GB) and the Galaxy S9+ will run $839.99 (64GB), $889.99* (128GB) and $959.99* (256GB). Additionally, for a limited time, consumers can save up to $400 when they trade-in their phone for an Unlocked Sunrise Gold Galaxy S9 or S9+ on Samsung.com. At Best Buy, consumers can save up to $300 on select carrier models.

I want to start seeing more crazy beautiful finishes on flagship phones

Translucent, color shifting, I want it all.

Aren’t you getting tired of seeing the same black slab of glass every time a new phone is released? I know I am. There are some wild designs being implemented in phones these days, from the curved glass edges of Samsung’s recent flagships to the Vivo NEX with an in-display fingerprint sensor, but as far as the finishes on those designs go … most brands don’t branch out much beyond black, white, or the occasional gold or blue anymore.

I get it, most people will slap a case on their phone and forget about what it looks like underneath, but what about those of us who use clear cases, or who don’t use a case at all? What about those of us who want a unique-looking phone, even if we only see the finish while swapping cases or cleaning off the back? And, while a bit more niche, what about those of us who just want something more interesting to take photos and videos of? As superficial as it may be, I love when phones come in crazy finishes. After all, they all do more or less the same things, so why not spice up the hardware a bit?

The HTC U12+ has some of my favorite finishes around. The translucent blue, which is the color HTC is shipping the most units with, lets you selectively see through the glass backing and peek at the internals. It’s not completely transparent — you’ll have to talk to JerryRigEverything to get that look — but after first seeing and loving the translucent look on the U11+ last year, I’m glad HTC is keeping it alive. Even more striking to me, though, is the flame red finish the company has been using for a couple of years now, which shifts from a deep crimson red all the way to orange and yellow, depending on your angle.

Speaking of color shifting, it’s impossible to talk about wild finishes without mentioning the Huawei P20 Pro. Without a shred of doubt, the twilight P20 Pro, which sits somewhere between indigo and purple with a reflective high-gloss coating, has my favorite finish I’ve ever seen on a phone. The other finishes are stunning too, though — pink gold and midnight blue are both great looks, with the latter reaching dark teal at times, one of my favorite colors.

None of this is to say that black phones aren’t still great, though, and you can still have both a black phone and a cool finish. The Vivo NEX — you know, that crazy new all-screen phone with the pop-out selfie camera? — is black at first glance, but when viewed off-axis it shines every color in the rainbow, with small geometric patterns underneath. Similarly, the Nexus 4 came in either black or white with a disco ball-esque pattern in the glass.

How much do you care about unique and crazy finishes like the ones mentioned above? Do you immediately gravitate towards them, or do you prefer a tried and true plain black look? Would a crazy enough finish be enough to make you buy one phone over another? Let us know all of your thoughts in the comments below!

Samsung Galaxy S9 and S9+

• Galaxy S9 and S9+: Everything you need to know!
• Galaxy S9 review: A great phone for the masses
• Complete Galaxy S9 and S9+ specs
• Galaxy S9 vs. Galaxy S8: Should you upgrade?
• Join our Galaxy S9 forums

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This 3-quart Instant Pot Ultra can replace 10 kitchen gadgets and is down to its lowest price

No excuse not to cook at home!

Amazon has the 3-quart Instant Pot Ultra on sale for $79.95 today, which is the lowest it’s ever sold for. This model generally sells for around $120, and any other time it has reached the $80 mark it’s sold out insanely fast. We expect we could see the same here, so if you want one, you’ll want to be quick about it.

If for some odd reason you haven’t already heard of Instant Pot, it may be just the kitchen gadget your looking for. Not only can you replace your aging slow cooker with it, but it also can make yogurt, bake cakes, cook eggs, sauté, steam, warm, and even sterilize. It combines 10 different kitchen gadgets into one small package. This version is the 3-quart model, which is better suited for individuals and smaller families.

You’ll probably want to grab yourself an Instant Pot Cookbook for some ideas, and maybe even a spare lid, steamer basket, and some egg molds to help you master cooking with it.

See at Amazon