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20
Jul

The AllTrails app gets even better, adds more details in new map layer


AllTrails (iOS/Android) has been a popular smartphone app among hikers, trail runners, and mountain bikers for some time now and has even earned a spot on our list of the best hiking apps. With its online community consisting of more than 8 million users, the AllTrails app and website offer crowdsourced info on more than 50,000 trails, including reviews, photos, and first-hand reports on current conditions. But a recent update to the app promises to deliver some nice improvements designed to make it even more valuable to outdoor enthusiasts.

The latest version of the AllTrails app includes a new map layer that the company says was rebuilt from the ground up to provide the best possible trail map its users have ever seen. Among the improvements are better labeling of local, state, and national parks, with the borders of those parks clearly visible on the maps themselves. This new design element was implemented to make it easier for hikers to find new places to explore, both at home and while traveling. Using their phone’s built-in GPS capabilities, users simply open the app and see which parks are nearby their current location.

But that isn’t the only improvement that outdoor athletes will find after updating the app. AllTrails says that its cartographers have completely redesigned the maps that it uses in an effort to improve legibility. These subtle, but important, tweaks reportedly make the maps easier to use, conveying a better sense of the space that the user is currently exploring. If that wasn’t enough, the app now includes more points of interests too, with campsites, restrooms, public parking, drinking water, picnic areas, and other important items now being added to the mix.

These improvements have been automatically added to the AllTrails app, which is free to users. The service also offers a premium tier for those willing to pay for some additional features. AllTrails Pro users gain the ability to download maps for offline use while customizing their routes with waypoints and personal notes. For $2.50 per month (or a $100 lifetime subscription), Pro users can also print maps, receive real-time weather alerts, and removes ads from within the app.

Editors’ Recommendations

  • Apple Maps vs. Google Maps
  • iOS 12’s best new features
  • The best fitness trackers for women
  • Mac Mini could make a comeback this year with a rumored refresh
  • The best fitness trackers of 2018



20
Jul

Here’s how to turn off camera shutter sound on your Android phone


Most Android phones come with a little automatic clicking noise whenever you take a picture with the camera. If this feature drives you crazy — and we don’t blame you — or if you really need a silent photo for another reason, you can turn it off. Learn how to turn off the camera shutter sound on your Android phone as we walk you through a few easy methods.

Note: The camera shutter sound is a legal requirement in some countries, like South Korea, to reduce the risk of people taking photos without consent. 

Master volume settings

Julian Chokkattu/Digital Trends

Most Android phones have physical master volume buttons on the side. These buttons control all volume on the phone, not just the volume related to calls or music. If you want a very fast way to disable shutter click sounds, these master buttons are your best option.

Step 1: Tap the volume down button while watching the screen. Once the volume is all the way down, the volume will switch to a vibrate mode, and then — if pressed again –most models will make your phone totally silent. Either vibrate or full silence should mute the shutter noise.

Again, this option should work with almost every Android phone or tablet, including Samsung, LG, and Google Pixel phones. But you still have to remember to restore volume again when you are done taking pictures, so it’s not a permanent solution.

Turning off the shutter sound directly

If you dislike all shutter sounds and want them off forever, but also want to hear all the other sounds on your phone, there is a more direct option in camera settings.

Step 1: Head to your phone’s main menu and select the Camera icon, as if you were going to take a picture.

Step 2: Head to your camera settings. This is typically represented by a gear icon in the upper right corner of the camera app.

Step 3: Scroll down in your camera settings until you find an option that says Shutter sound, Camera sounds, or something similar. Note that the interface may look a little different on your Android, depending on the phone, and OS version you have, but this is another setting that the majority of Android phones have. We used a Samsung Galaxy to provide shots for this guide.

Step 4: Toggle the Shutter sound option to off. This will permanently disable any shutter click sounds until you decide to toggle it on again.

Temporarily turning off shutter sound (Samsung models)

This method works well if you will be taking camera photos for the next hour or two and don’t want the irritation of the shutter sound going off all the time — but after that, you won’t care as much and would prefer that sound to switch back on. This method works with Samsung phones and may not be present on all Android models, though alternative methods exist for phones like the Google Pixel.

Step 1: Head to your phone menu and swipe down from the top to open up the settings and notifications menu. Here, look for the volume icon, a megaphone-like design (this icon will have a slash through it if sounds are currently disabled).

Step 2: Press and hold the volume icon until it opens a menu for sound mode. This is a master volume shortcut window that allows you to switch between sound and vibrate. However, it’s the third option that you’re looking for — the option that says Mute.

Step 3: Select Mute and look for the Temporary Mute option that should be directly below it. Make sure that Temporary Mute is also toggled on.

Step 4: An option will now open that will allow you to select how long you want the mute to last in hours. Select the time frame that works best for you, and all sound will be muted for that duration. Many people like to use this option for important meetings and events, but it’s also a great choice if you’re going to be doing a lot of photography with your phone and don’t want to hear that shutter sound.

Editors’ Recommendations

  • How to use BlackBerry’s Privacy Shade
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  • How to improve your Android privacy
  • How to fix sound problems in Windows 10
  • Here’s how to track an Android phone, tablet, or smartwatch



20
Jul

The launch of the new MacBook Pro has been a complete disaster


Updating laptops to the newest generation of Intel processors shouldn’t be this difficult. Every year Dell, HP, and Asus handle it as a simple way to keep computers up-to-date without having to do a complete redesign every year.

Easy, right? Yet Apple has managed to completely fumble it.

No entry level update

We knew there was something fishy about this year’s MacBook Pro when we first saw the listing. While the $1,800+ models have refreshed 8th-gen CPUs, the lower-end models were conveniently left off the update. These cheaper models, ranging from $1,300 to $1,600, are stuck with the same 7th-gen Intel processors introduced over a year and half ago.

With word that Intel is about to drop 9th-gen processors next month, you can see where this is all going. The most affordable models will soon be two generations behind. It’s the MacBook Air’s problem all over again.

The most expensive models have problems

Malarie Gokey/Digital Trends

Despite the lack of updated entry-level options, we were happy to see Apple bring Intel’s Core i9 to the higher-end 15-inch MacBook Pros. We’ve tested these chips on other laptops and witnessed the processing power firsthand.

But even here, Apple took the easy route here and hoped nobody would notice.

Within days of the first fans ordering their new MacBook Pros, reports were posted about the throttling issue with these Core i9 chips. Because the new MacBook Pros use the same chassis as before, these high-powered Core i9 chips are severely throttled, to the point where they perform worse in intensive loads than the cheaper Core i7 model. 

If you want, you can manually control the fan speed to gain some of that performance back, but since when does Apple release products that aren’t optimized? The days of “it just works” seem long gone.

The keyboard continues to haunt Apple

iFixIt

The admission that Apple severely messed up on the MacBook Pro keyboard has been slow and painful. It came to a head when the company finally announced it would provide free repairs and replacement for sticky keys in May.

In the 2018, Apple has included what it calls a “third-generation butterfly mechanism.” When first announced, we assumed Apple had fixed the problem plaguing the previous generation of keyboards, but instead, Apple was silent on the issue. The initial response from Apple was that it hadn’t made engineering tweaks to address the sticky key issue, while also not covering it under the new repair program.

It was only until iFixit revealed the silicon pad installed under each key that Apple finally reversed its previous statement and admit its new keyboard had anti-debris protection. Apple played coy to downplay the problem rather than reassure buyers that these new MacBook Pros fixed it.

All of this is strange to see happen at a company like Apple. Clarity in branding is the exact thing that allowed it to rise to such great heights in the glory days. Those days seem to be waning. Apple’s recent  missteps in messaging, product differentiation, and reliability appear to be the new normal.

Editors’ Recommendations

  • Apple repair program won’t upgrade older MacBook Pros to new keyboard
  • Don’t like the Touch Bar? Too bad. Apple’s new Macbooks make it almost mandatory
  • Apple’s MacBook Pro problem will make you want to backup your files ASAP
  • MacBook Pro 13-inch with Touch Bar review
  • MacBook DIY keyboard repairs don’t void your chance of a free replacement



20
Jul

VR is in a tailspin, and the sales numbers prove it


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If you watch CNN, you’ve likely witnessed the commercials for its CNN Go streaming app, which introduce the “new” (as of a couple years ago) virtual reality division. The ad shows reactions from people who’ve never tried VR before as they slip on a smartphone-based headset and react to the life-altering moment of experiencing VR for the first time.

The commercial is only a couple years old but, in the accelerated timeline of technology trends, it looks like something out of a 1980s Spielberg flick. It promises a naive and slightly disturbing future, like a World’s Fair exhibit gone wrong.

In truth, consumers are done with VR. Sales numbers, as tracked by Amazon sales rank data at Thinknum, make that crystal clear.

Amazon releases its numbers via API several times a day, to help track how products are selling across its multitudes of product categories. Those sale ranks figures make it clear all the major VR headsets in a tailspin, with no signs they’ll pull out of it.

Sony has pushed virtual reality with its PlayStation VR headset. At first, Sony saw decent sales, and its version bundled with Skryim has been most successful in moving PlayStation VR. In February 2018, that bundle saw a favorable rank of 29 among all video game products. Today, it sits at spot 100. That’s not a total disaster — rank 100 among all video game products isn’t so bad — but it certainly doesn’t indicate the headset is flying off shelves. Gamers are modestly interested, at best.

Taiwan-based HTC launched the Vive headset HTC Vive review in April 2016. At the time, tech experts declared that high-end PC VR had arrived. The $799 HTC Vive, built for relatively high-end PCs, had the entertainment and gaming world scrambling to develop content for the new system, and sales for the system quickly climbed to an impressive top-50 spot despite the higher price tag. Today, though, its sales rank has plummeted.

Korean electronics giant Samsung wasn’t about to be left out of the VR fun. The company took a more mass-consumer approach, launching the smartphone-based Gear VR in 2014. Its most popular unit was a top-10 seller in September of 2016. Today, that device is at the more mediocre 83 spot. Other units from Samsung have straight-up failed to rank in Amazon’s best-seller charts.

In an attempt to get ahead of finicky consumers, Oculus released the all-in-one Oculus Go in October 2017. It originally sold quite well on Amazon, scoring a 7-spot in May 2018. But, as you can see above, it’s failed to maintain sales momentum, and has fallen off the top-100 product lists completely.

Where does VR go from here?

When VR first appeared and I was lucky enough to try early iterations of Project Morpheus, Oculus, and the like, my reaction was much like those of the newbies in the CNN commercial. “This is the future!” I proclaimed to anyone who would listen.

When the PlayStation VR came out, I scrambled to get one into my house. I ate up its games, burning through VR Worlds, goofing off in PSVR Playroom, and encouraging friends and family to give it a spin. They all had the same CNN-esque reaction. “Wow!”

But then, 30 minutes later, they wanted the thing off their heads for a return to reality. Not a single one of my friends or family members went on to buy a VR unit of their own. In fact, not one of them has asked to give the PSVR another try when they come over.

Even hardcore VR enthusiasts rarely use a headset for more than an hour at a time.

I dig VR. VR can bring a paradigm shift. The first time you strap into a VR experience, you’re taken somewhere else. It’s really cool. It’s a lot like seeing a 3D movie for the first time.

But then what?

Today’s VR headsets don’t answer that question. After the initial shock wears off they offer too little content, are too confusing to use, and leave too many users dealing with motion sickness or other VR-related ailments. Even hardcore VR enthusiasts rarely use a headset for more than an hour at a time.

There’s still many questions for Oculus, HTC, and Samsung to answer, and you shouldn’t expect to see VR sales return to their initial strength unless these companies can build new headsets that are far better than their predecessors — and sell them at a reasonable price.

Editors’ Recommendations

  • $200 Oculus Go VR headset hits Amazon
  • Oculus Go review
  • Oculus confirms second-screen support is coming to Oculus Go
  • More than 1,000 experiences are available for the Oculus Go VR headset
  • The Oculus Go is a VR headset for grannies, and that’s a good thing



20
Jul

How to install Windows on a Chromebook


Bill Roberson/Digital Trends

Between web apps and Android apps in Chrome OS, there’s a lot you can get done on Chromebooks. However, there still might be certain things about Windows you miss.

You might not have thought it was possible, but you have a few different options for bringing some of that Windows goodness to your Chrome OS machine. There are a multitude of ways to make this work — and we can show you where to go. Here’s how to use Windows on a Chromebook!

Before you begin

Before setting off on this adventure, there are a few important caveats to getting Windows up and running on your Chromebook. As always, and most importantly, messing with your operating system, firmware, and BIOS can have serious effects on your system. You’ll want to back up any important data away from your computer before you begin.

If something does happen and you find yourself unable to use your Chromebook, you can create a USB drive from another computer to try and recover the system. This will erase all of your data though, so make sure to back up anything that isn’t saved to Google Drive.

With that out of the way, let’s begin with the first (and easiest) method.

Method 1: Free Online Apps

If you are primarily interested in accessing apps from the Office suite and don’t really care about any of the other apps offered on Windows 10, this is by far the easiest option and you can do right from the Chrome browser.

Step 1: Launch the Chrome browser and navigate to this Microsoft site.

Step 2: Here you will see the selection of apps available for Office Online. Basically, Microsoft knows that certain core apps are very important for professionals and student, so they want people to be able to access them from any operating system. This is why they put up free online apps for options like Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Sway, Mail, Calendar, OneDrive, and more.

Step 3: Select the app or apps that you want to use. A version will open in your Chrome browser and you will be able to start using it. Take note, however, that these online versions won’t have all the capabilities that you would get with something like Office 365. However, they should work for most purposes.

Method 2: Chrome Remote Desktop

The Chrome Remote Desktop is an extension that simply allows you to access another desktop while using your Chromebook. Somewhat like a virtual machine, this will open a window that shows an entirely different operating system that you can use. The key to this method — and the caveat — is that you need another Windows 10 machine connected to the internet that you can link to. That’s the only way this works. Obviously this won’t be possible in some Chromebook situations, but if you have a Windows computer around, this can be an effective workaround.

Step 1: Navigate over to the Chrome Web Store and download the Chrome Remote Desktop extension on your Chromebook. Then head over to your Windows computer, pull up your Chrome browser, and make sure it’s updated with the same capability.

Step 2: Starting on your Windows computer, head over to your Chrome apps and select Chrome Remote Desktop, then choose “Get Started.” From here, choose “Share.” This will create an access code and ask you to define the computer you want to connect to. Email that code to yourself so that you will remember it.

Step 3: Now switch to your Chromebook. Start the Chrome Remote Desktop — this time it should see your Windows computer as an option to select and connect to. Select it, and input the access code that you sent yourself. Then click “Connect.”

Note: This is a very good remote desktop app, but remote desktop solutions still have their pitfalls. They are highly dependent on internet connections and can experience delays at times. This works best if you have high-speed internet all the way between your computers.

Method 3: CrossOver

CrossOver, by CodeWeavers, is a software solution that allows you to run specific OS apps on other operating systems. Thanks to the latest update, that now includes running Windows apps on your Chromebook. Before you get all excited, there are a few things to keep in mind before moving forward. First, it’s important to note that the Chrome OS version is still in beta. You can try it out, but it’s not guaranteed to be bug-free and easy-peasy for a little while yet.

The second issue is that because of the software requirements involved, this download won’t be available for everyone. Specifically, you can only run it on Intel-based Chromebooks and if you want to involve any Android devices or apps, they need to be compatible with Android 5.x or later. Also, certain functions like mouse locking (using often in FPS games) won’t function.

The good news, however, is that because the software is currently in beta, it’s free to try. Here’s what you need to do:

Step 1: Head over to Google Play and choose to install the CrossOver on Chrome OS Beta. This will install a new icon made of two semicircles on your dashboard. When you click on it, make sure to allow it to access your media and files on your Chromebook.

Step 2: Make sure you a copy of the application’s installation file in your downloads folder, even if it won’t currently work.

Step 3: When CrossOver is launched, the easiest way to search for Windows software is to use the search bar in the top of the window and just type in the name of what you want to use. Software like Quicken, as well as DirectX applications all work, so search for anything you want.

Step 4: In many cases, you can confirm the software you want, and CrossOvhttps://www.maketecheasier.com/replace-chromebook-bios/er will begin the installation process with no trouble. In some cases you may have to choose the right installation file from a list, so pay close attention to file names and make sure you are choosing the one that you want. You may also have to agree to License Agreements and similar contracts at this time.

Step 5: After the installation is done, you should be able to launch the installation directly. Keep in mind that large programs will take up significant space, which not all Chromebooks have. Hopefully smaller Android apps will eventually be fully compatible with our Chromebooks.

Google’s AltOS mode

Dan Baker/Digital Trends

Interestingly, it may soon be much easier to run Windows on a Chromebook, at least when it comes to certain models. Inspection of code and code comments has shown discussion of Windows hardware kits and names that appear to reference Windows as an “AltOS.”

In other words, Google appears to be working on an AltOS mode that allows you to switch your Chromebook from Chrome OS to another operating system (specifically Windows 10). This would be a native feature available in upcoming versions of Chrome OS for Pixelbooks.

We aren’t sure when this feature would arrive on Pixelbooks or if Google would wait for the next generation of Pixelbook laptops to implement it. But the rumors have solid evidence behind them, so it may not be long before you have a much easier way of running Windows on a Chromebook, albeit a high-end Chromebook directly from Google.

Editors’ Recommendations

  • Windows 10 vs. MacOS vs. Chrome OS
  • How to take a screenshot on a Chromebook
  • The best touchscreen laptops
  • Chromebooks will start to feel more like Windows, but in a good way
  • Google Pixelbook review



20
Jul

Best T-Mobile Phones in 2018


  • Best overall
  • Best runner-up
  • Best for less

Best overall

Samsung Galaxy S9+

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See at T-Mobile

Every carrier has to offer the latest Galaxy, and for good reason: this is the top-end phone everyone knows and lusts after, right alongside Apple’s latest iPhone. T-Mobile, of course, offers both the Galaxy S9 and larger S9+, but which size you want is purely personal preference — the experience is ultimately the same on both aside from a few differences.

Inside you obviously get all of the latest specs, including Samsung’s go-to features like wireless charging, waterproofing, and an industry-leading display. Its hardware is typical excellent Samsung design and execution. The dual camera on the Galaxy S9+ is extremely impressive in all lighting conditions, and the 960 fps slow-mo is a crowd pleaser. The phone is of course expensive, but you just can’t skip over considering the latest Galaxy when shopping for a flagship phone.

Bottom line: The Galaxy S9+ is as top-of-the-line as it gets, packed with every feature under sun.

One more thing: The Galaxy S9 is smaller and less expensive, but doesn’t have the same battery life or secondary camera as the GS9+.

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Why the Galaxy S9+ is the best

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There’s no better marriage of form and function than the Galaxy S9 and larger S9+. The curved edges on both sides of the phones are engineering marvels, and feel sleek in the hand. The 18.5:9 displays fill almost the entire front of each phone without having to bother with controversial notches, and the dual aperture cameras take phenomenal photos.

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On top of that, there’s no shortage of hardware features, both new and old, on the Galaxy S9. You want wireless charging? You’ve got it. Water resistance? Check. MicroSD expandability, flexible mobile payments, and a headphone jack? All present. There’s even a blood pressure monitor. You may not use every single feature on the Galaxy S9, but it’s always better to have too many features than not enough.

Best runner-up

LG G7 ThinQ

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See at T-Mobile

LG continues to play second fiddle to Samsung’s dominance in the flagship smartphone space, but it keeps getting better even though it may not get the same amount of attention. LG’s done with the gimmicks, and is just making great phones — the G7 is the latest that shows how far it’s come.

The G7 has a beautiful metal body, big display, and all of the highest end specs. There are a few neat tricks in the camera and software, plus solid battery life and performance. The only really negative mark on the LG G7 is that it doesn’t do anything particularly better than the Galaxy S9+ does. You can argue it has a better audio experience with a high-end DAC and new speaker setting, and that its wide-angle camera is unique, but other than that Samsung has it matched or beat.

You’ll pay a high price for the LG G7, but when you compare it directly to Samsung’s latest it actually comes out looking alright. At $750 it’s just a little more than the standard Galaxy S9, but in reality competes more with the larger Galaxy S9+ given its bigger screen, bigger battery and dual cameras.

Bottom line: It’s a good all-around phone with an above-average camera and all of the latest specs, for a little less than a Galaxy S9+.

One more thing: If you’re willing to wait, LG has a history of putting its phones on steep discount a handful of months after launch.

Best for less

LG G6

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See at T-Mobile

When you’re looking to save some money, LG’s last-generation G6 is a great pick at just $360. Sure it’s over a year old, but this is a wonderful price for the amount of phone you’re getting — a $3-400 phone unlocked is typically filled with compromises, and considering the G6 was a true flagship when it launched in 2017 it has lots of nice-to-have specs and features.

The metal-and-glass body with an extra-tall display still feels modern in 2018, and the internal specs — Snapdragon 821, 4GB RAM, 32GB storage — are still capable of giving you solid performance. You get a headphone jack, wireless charging and water resistance. There’s also a really good dual camera setup on the back that was one of the top performers in its time.

Bottom line: For half the cost of a Galaxy S9, you can get last year’s LG G6 which is still a great device for the money.

One more thing: When you buy a phone that’s well over a year old, you have to expect few (if any) software updates going forward.

Update July 2018: The Galaxy S9+ is still T-Mobile’s best phone, alongside its smaller version the standard Galaxy S9. The LG G7 ThinQ is a good alternative for a little less money, and if you want to save even more, the last-generation LG G6 is a great choice.

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20
Jul

Smart microwaves, Philips Hue starter kits, Bluetooth speakers, and more are all discounted 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 a GE microwave and Echo Dot bundle, a 2-bulb Philips Hue starter kit, a portable Bluetooth speaker, 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!

20
Jul

Instagram now shows you when friends are online


A simple tool that makes it easier to chat.

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The Instagram app is loaded with all sorts of features these days, one of which is the ability to send direct messages to friends and family members. Thanks to a new update that’s rolling out, it’ll now be easier to get in touch with friends right away.

Starting today, you’ll begin to see a small green icon next to people within Instagram that indicates they’re online and actively using the app.

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This indicator will be present just about everywhere you go, including your inbox for direct messages and your friends list when sharing a post you see on your main feed.

If you don’t want that indicator showing up by your name, you can jump into the new Activity Status section of the app and toggle off the Show Activity Status option.

Download: Instagram (free)

20
Jul

iFixit Tests Silicone Membrane on 2018 MacBook Pro Keyboard With Dust Exposure


Following the release of the new 2018 MacBook Pro models, iFixit last week tore apart the 13-inch version and discovered the presence of a new silicone membrane underneath the keyboard’s butterfly keys that Apple internal documents have since confirmed has been added to prevent dust and other small particulates from causing key failures.

To give us a better look at the new third-generation butterfly keyboard included in the new 2018 machines and how it works, iFixit has done a much deeper dive, exposing the keyboard to debris to test it out.

iFixit exposed the keyboard to a powdered paint additive that glows, allowing the site to track where and how dust accumulates. On the 2018 MacBook Pro keyboard, the dust settled at the edges of the membrane, leaving the butterfly mechanism of the keys protected. The same test was performed on the 2017 MacBook Pro keyboard, demonstrating less protection.

Lo and behold, the dust is safely sequestered at the edges of the membrane, leaving the mechanism fairly sheltered. The holes in the membrane allow the keycap clips to pass through, but are covered by the cap itself, blocking dust ingress. The previous-gen butterfly keys are far less protected, and are almost immediately flooded with our glowing granules.

With a combination of a lot of dust and aggressive typing, the dust did penetrate the membrane-covered key clips, hitting the top of the switch, suggesting that there’s still a small potential for failure. iFixit was indeed able to cause the keyboard to fail by adding “a few poorly placed particles” of sand.

While the silicone membrane does not appear to be impenetrable, and there’s no way to tell how the barrier will hold up over time as iFixit points out, it’s still more protection than offered in earlier versions of the butterfly keyboard.

Following the dust test, iFixit did a more extensive teardown of the new keyboard, tearing it apart layer by layer. After a grueling experience pulling it apart, which explains why Apple has to replace the entire top case when installing a new keyboard, iFixit found that the silicone barrier is a single die-cut and molded sheet.


The keycaps on the keyboard have also been slightly redesigned, measuring in at 1.25mm thickness compared to 1.5mm thickness in the 2017 MacBook Pro, which iFixit suggests is to give the keys room to travel with the addition of the membrane.

The spacebar has been redesigned, with a keycap that easily separates from the butterfly mechanism, a departure from earlier models where the spacebar was more difficult to remove. All of the keys, spacebar included, were easier to remove and harder to ruin, in iFixit’s testing.

Apple has not publicly confirmed that the new third-generation butterfly keyboard was introduced to enhance reliability and to cut down on the the key failures that were seen in 2016 and 2017 machines, though the company has informed Apple Authorized Service Providers that this is the case.

Instead, in its 2018 MacBook Pro marketing materials, Apple claims the new silicone barrier was added to introduce a quieter typing experience, an issue that few people seem to have had with the original keyboards.

Related Roundup: MacBook ProTag: iFixitBuyer’s Guide: MacBook Pro (Buy Now)
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20
Jul

Apple Launches New Summertime Savings Apple Pay Promotion


Apple today launched a new Apple Pay promotion called Summertime Savings, offering a range of discounts on Apple Pay purchases made within select apps or on select websites from July 19 to August 1.

Participating companies include Fandango, Groupon, Grubhub, Hotels.com, Houzz, and more, with a full list of discounts below:

  • Fandango: $5 off 2 or more movie tickets
  • Groupon: 20% off local deals in the Groupon app (up to $40)
  • Grubhub: $10 off first order of $15 or more
  • Hotels.com: 10% off bookings in the Hotels.com app
  • Houzz: Free shipping on top lighting, rugs, and furniture
  • RueLaLa: $10 credit towards your next purchase
  • Seamless: $10 off your first order of $15 or more
  • StubHub: $10 off purchases of $100 or more in the StubHub app

To get these discounts, customers will need to use Apple Pay as the payment method when making a purchase within a participating app or on a participating website using an iPhone, iPad, or Mac that works with Apple Pay.

There may be additional restrictions with these offers, which are outlined by Apple’s partners when redeeming a deal. The discounts will be available through August 1.

Related Roundup: Apple Pay
Discuss this article in our forums

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