The MacBook Pro may finally get updated with faster processors

There’s no doubt Apple will update its MacBook Pros with eighth-generation Intel processors, but now a new benchmark listed on Geekbench gives us a better view at the specific chips we’ll see in the upcoming devices. In the case of the next 13-inch MacBook Pro with Touch Bar, one variant will rely on the Intel Core i7-8559U processor.

The current 13-inch MacBook Pro with Touch Bar released in the middle of 2017 sports the “MacBookPro 14,2” device ID whereas the new benchmarked model lists as the “MacBookPro 15,2.” As a reference, the 13-inch MacBook Pro without the Touch Bar has the “MacBookPro 14,1” device ID whereas the 15-inch MacBook Pro with the Touch Bar sports the MacBookPro 14,3” device ID. Models released in 2016 have device IDs based on “13.”

The benchmarked MacBook Pro clocked at 4,448 in the single-core score and 16,607 in the multi-core score using Intel’s Core i7-8559U processor. This chip was part of Intel’s third wave of eighth-generation processors introduced in April. The first eighth-generation chips, which were based on a seventh-generation design, focused on ultra-thin notebooks in August 2017 while the second wave targeted desktops toward the end of the year.

The Core i7-8559U consists of four cores with a base speed of 2.7GHz and a maximum speed of 4.5GHz. It has a maximum power draw of 28 watts although Apple is expected to throttle down the processor’s speed to reach a lighter 20-watt power draw to extend the MacBook Pro’s battery uptime. The chip sports an integrated Iris Plus Graphics 655 component as well.

Across the three current MacBook Pro models, you will find eight processor options pulled from Intel’s seventh-generation “Kaby Lake” processor portfolio. The two Touch Bar-packed MacBook Pros offer three processor options each while the Touch Bar-free 13-inch MacBook Pro only relies on two chips. The CPUs in the 15-inch models promise high-performance graphics and four cores whereas the chips in the 13-inch models are built for long battery life.

The benchmark arrives after another benchmark appeared showcasing what may be the next-generation 15-inch MacBook Pro with Touch Bar. Listed with the “MacBookPro 14,3” device ID, the Apple laptop managed a single-core score of 4,902 and a multi-core score of 22,316 using Intel’s eighth-generation Core i7-8750H six-core processor. This chip was also just released in April, and one of the first Intel-based CPUs to introduce six cores to the laptop market.

As the specifications show, the Core i7-8750H has a base speed of 2.2GHz and a maximum speed of 4.1GHz. It also draws 45 watts of power, but it can be tuned down to consume only 35 watts if needed. The chip also packs 9MB of cache and an integrated UHD Graphics 630 component. What’s interesting is that the chip appears in a current 15-inch MacBook Pro unless the listed device ID in the benchmark is incorrect.

While we were disappointed in not seeing new hardware during Apple’s developer conference in early June, the benchmarks show that the company is lining customers up with the latest from Intel when the devices go public later this year.

Editors’ Recommendations

• MacBook Pro 13-inch with Touch Bar review
• Rumored six-core MacBook Pro could be the fastest Apple ever made
• Huawei MateBook X Pro vs. MacBook Pro
• MacBook 12-inch vs. MacBook Pro 13
• Best Buy doubles down on sale offers with up to $400 off MacBook Pros

Refit your Fitbit Alta or Alta HR with a stylish Milanese Stainless Steel band from $4

Strap on a new style this summer.

Today’s the day to find a new look for your Fitbit Alta or Alta HR activity tracker at a discount. Using promo code YSBQL8OQ, you can grab a Milanese Stainless Steel Band over at Amazon for as low as $3.86. These bands include free shipping with Amazon Prime and come in a variety of colors. This offer saves you up to around $10 off the regular price of these bands and makes them affordable enough to grab a few at once.

These bands come in two different sizes (Small or Large) so you can select the most comfortable size for yourself. They’re lightweight, flexible, and made of premium woven stainless steel mesh. Most of the colors available for these bands are priced at $4.64 with the code, but the few jeweled and sculpted options rise as high as $5.46 with the code, which is still a pretty great deal.

Swees includes a one-year warranty with the purchase of any of these bands. At Amazon, close to 3,500 customers have reviewed them with 4.1 out of 5 stars collectively.

See at Amazon

ZTE is being allowed to temporarily operate in the U.S. until August 1

ZTE’s back and forth with the U.S. continues.

A new month means new beginnings, a fresh start, and more ZTE drama. Most recently, it’s been announced that the United States Department of Commerce is allowing ZTE it resume some of its operations in the U.S. until August 1, 2018.

According to a report from Reuters, ZTE will be able to “engage in commercial transactions needed to maintain existing networks and equipment in the United States.”

Things were looking up for ZTE in early June when the Commerce Department confirmed that an agreement had been made to lift the Denial Order that was first issued in April, but just a few days later, the Senate reimposed sanctions on the Chinese smartphone manufacturer.

We aren’t entirely sure what’ll happen to ZTE’s operations following August 1, but at the very least, this will allow ZTE to keep up to date with any current business it has in the country.

ZTE’s apparently making a phone with two notches because of course they are

Aukey Latitude wireless earbuds review: Wireless music on the cheap

With the lack of headphone jacks on so many smartphones today, it’s no wonder wireless earbuds are more popular than ever.

To answer the demand, many top companies like Google or B&O have released wireless earbuds, but unfortunately, these offerings aren’t really affordable. Google’s Pixel Buds, for example, will take you back with $129.99 (originally priced at $159.99).

But what if you like the convenience of being able to listen to wireless music while you go for your morning run, but are not willing to spend $100+ on a pair of wireless buds?

The good news is that you have options. A few weeks ago I was sent a pair of Aukey Latitude Wireless Headphones (EP-B40) and given that they were priced at just $25.99 on Amazon I was pretty skeptic to begin with. But as I set out testing them, I soon found myself presently impressed with the wireless earbuds.

Design

To make it clear from the beginning, the Aukey Latitude are not what you’d call “true wireless” headphones. Instead, they are earbud-style headphones that connect to each other through a wire.

SEE ALSO: Gear Up: myCharge portable chargers are perfect for Pokemon Go hunts

The design of the earbuds is minimal with a plastic construction to make them lightweight. The silicon wings and tips keep the earbuds secure and come in three different sizes, so you can get the optimal combination.

The Latitude earbuds boast a black finish with the Aukey logo plastered on each earbud. Yes, they do feel plasticky and a bit cheap, but hey they cost only $25.

The two headphones are connected by a wire with an in-line 3-button remote on one side of the cable, which allows you to perform things like adjusting the volume and skipping tracks.

On the left side of the remote lives the microUSB port which you will need to use to charge your wireless audio accessories.

In addition to extra silicone tips, the Latitude ship out with a tiny charging cable and a rubbery carrying case open at the top in the box.

Function

The in-ear headphones are really comfortable to wear, once you find your fit. You’ll probably have to try a few combinations before doing so. My ears are quite small, so most in-ear headphones are usually too loose or aren’t seated well in my ear. Aukey provides you with three sizes of ear-tips and in-ear ear-hooks in the box, and fortunately, the small sized one fit relatively well in my ear canal.

I do a bit of running in the morning, nothing too grand, but I found that during my sessions the buds stayed firmly in place. No slipping out! They also managed to provide pretty great noise isolation. I run in a small park that’s next to a busy road, so the buds helped me tune out the noise and focus on my workout.

On the negative side of things, the long cable does have a tendency to tug a bit when you turn your head, but it’s nothing I couldn’t get past.

The Latitude wireless earbuds are marketed as offering a Sports design. Which means they are IPX4-certified to be able to washstand sweet and rain. This is particularly helpful during workouts when every anyone would sweat profusely.

Another cool detail, the earbuds have magnets that allow you to clip the back of the Latitude around your neck when you’re not using them. If you’re forgetful like me, it’s a great addition.

How to get started

The in-ear headphones connect to any Bluetooth-enabled device including most Android phones. The Bluetooth range is fairly accommodating.

To get them started, hold the middle power button to turn them on (or off) and they will be ready to pair in seconds. The middle button doubles as play/pause music, answer calls (short press) and switch EQ modes (double press). While the volume buttons can be used to skip tracks back and forth (press 2 seconds).

Be warned that you might often find yourself hitting the wrong thing, especially if you’re running or jumping up and down at the gym. But the more you use them, the more you will get accustomed to the commands.

In case you’re wondering how much these budget earbuds can last you on a single charge, well I found them to be able to provide approximately 7-7.30 hours of music. Also in my experience, the buds need about an hour and 20 minutes to fully recharge.

Audio experience

For its tiny price, the Aukey in-ear headphones manage to deliver reasonably good sound. The manufacturer says it is using aptX technology to offer robust sound with punchy bass and a choice of three EQ sound signatures including vocals/bass/treble.

But despite the alluring presentation, I can’t really recommend the Latitude to an audiophile. Don’t get me wrong, for me, they proved great, although I have no real highlight to report. The earbuds are a lovely fit for hitting the gym or any place where stellar sound quality isn’t necessary.

Yet, if you want to be able to discern the subtle changed in the produced music, you’ll have to look somewhere else. And upgrade your budget for a pair of wireless earbuds.

Conclusion

All in all, these wireless earbuds proved perfect for my needs. I don’t focus much on audio quality while running or working out, but I do like the convenience of going wireless.

In situations when I do want great audio, for example while commuting, I will turn to my trusty over-the-year headphones. Basically, I don’t use the running buds all that often, as I usually jog once or twice a week. So the Aukey wireless earbuds are an excellent choice if you’re a casual user.

The bottom line is that the Aukey Latitude offer quite a lot for their price range. Yes, they might not be able to deliver stellar audio, but they get the job done.

So if you don’t feel like you want to invest a lot of money into a pair of wireless ear-buds you won’t use every day, the Aukey Latitude really offer a great package for only $25.

Our pair was all black, but you can also get a pair of Latitudes with Blue and Red accents on Amazon for $29.99.

Get the Aukey Latitude Wireless Headphones (EP-B40)

Pokemon Quest review: A mobile take on the iconic franchise

Pokemon Quest, the latest game in the ever-popular Pokemon franchise, is now available as a free-to-play Android and iOS game. Although it came out a full month earlier on the Nintendo Switch, it’s clearly a more of a mobile game rather than a console game (or even a traditional Pokemon game, for that matter).

For some, that might be a deal breaker. Those looking for a different kind of Pokemon game that still triggers nostalgia for the original titles may find Pokemon Quest is just what the doctor ordered.

Who needs a story?

Pokemon Quest plops you down onto Tumblecube Island, which is inhabited solely by the original 151 Kanto Pokemon, including Mew and Mewtwo. It’s anyone’s guess as to how they got there, or why you decided to explore the island with your drone companion MoBee IV.

In any case, you still get to choose your name (I went with Blue to stick with the theme) and a starting Pokemon. You have the choice of any of the original three starters, plus Pikachu who was technically a starter in Yellow, and the wildcard Eevee.

Rather than run through tall grass chucking Pokeballs at whatever you find to build your collection, you have to cook dishes to attract cubic Pokemon “buddies” to your camp. These can then be assembled into teams of three and sent out to explore the different areas of Tumblecube Island.

With no other humans in sight, there really isn’t any narrative at all. Pokemon Quest is more of a grind-and-collect mobile game than a traditional story-driven title, for better or worse.

Cube-alicious visual style

At first glance, Pokemon Quest feels like the odd man out in the Pokemon franchise. With its Minecraft-style cubic graphics and colorful scenery, it’s quite a departure from the anime style the series is known for, despite still being developed by Game Freak.

It takes some getting used to, but the new visual style is really well done. Everything, including UI elements, is a cute little square, rectangle, or cube. Some of the cubic scenery is destructible on expeditions, breaking into small cubes when hit by an attack.

The Pokemon themselves are also charmingly cubed. I found myself getting excited whenever a new cubic Pokemon showed up to the base camp as a silhouette like the classic “Who’s that Pokemon” from the TV show.

Each Pokemon’s icon is also unique, and there are some really interesting designs. It’s not easy to breathe new life into characters from a game released over 20 years ago, but Game Freak did it.

The interface is clean and modern, with smooth transitions between each screen. This level of polish is rare for a free-to-play title.

Mobile gameplay

Pokemon Quest is a mobile game first and foremost, and its gameplay reflects that. Rather than trainer battles and casual bike rides down Cycling Road, the action is packed into “expeditions” that last just a few minutes.

On each expedition, your team of three Pokemon moves about the fully 3D stage, fighting waves of wild Pokemon and bosses. You control when each Pokemon unleashes their abilities, but other than a “scatter” button that briefly sends your party running for the hills, you take the backseat to the game’s AI.

Pokemon Quest features a stamina system that limits how many expeditions you can go on

It sounds simple, and it is, but there is some depth to it. There’s an auto setting, but it gets rid of the scatter button, which means your Pokemon buddies will bear the full brunt of every single attack that comes their way.

My only complaint is that the camera controls are limited. Even in the base camp, the most you can do is tap on a Pokemon to temporarily zoom in on it. I wanted to zoom out, especially on expeditions, to get a better sense of what was going on. Often if one member gets separated from the rest, they’re off screen and you have no idea where they are or what they’re doing.

Pokemon Quest also features a stamina system (your drone companion’s battery) that limits how many expeditions you can go on. It starts capped at five, and regains one charge every 30 minutes. You can pay the game’s premium currency, PM Tickets, to recharge your battery. Unlike other free-to-play games, this is actually one of the best ways to use it.

In my experience, the stamina system wasn’t terribly limiting. Early quest rewards give full recharges and the game supplies you with enough free daily PM Tickets to play until your real life phone battery needs recharging. Spending money obviously speeds things up, but more on that later.

Other than expeditions, a lot of your time is spent collecting and equipping power stones to your Pokemon. Collecting strong power stones is more important than collecting strong Pokemon, since most of a Pokemon’s strength comes from the power stones it has equipped.

Cooking up delicious Pokemon dishes

As nice as seared Magicarp with garlic might sound, you don’t actually cook Pokemon in Pokemon Quest. Instead, you cook up a combination of the 10 available ingredients that you find on expeditions to attract new Pokemon buddies to your base camp.

Higher level cooking pots consume more ingredients to attract higher level Pokemon

Different recipes will attract different Pokemon. Certain recipes attract Pokemon by type, while others attract them by color. Precious ingredients attract rarer types of Pokemon, and higher level cooking pots consume more ingredients to attract higher level Pokemon.

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This also increases how long it takes to cook, which is measured in the number of expeditions you undertake, rather than in real time. With several cooking pots, you can have up to four dishes cooking simultaneously.

Higher level Pokemon have slightly higher base stats and — more importantly — more slots for power stones. All Pokemon start as their base forms, and evolve at the same levels they did in the original games. Evolution stones are absent, so those special evolutions also happen at an assigned level.

This system allows you to collect all 151 Pokemon without trading or restarting your game. Pokemon Quest also includes some of the deeper features of other Pokemon games, like IVs and shinies. Most players will never get there, but it’s a cool feature for the true Poke-fanatics.

One-time microtransactions

On to everyone’s favorite topic, microtransactions. Although Pokemon Quest features a premium currency (PM Tickets), Game Freak decided to go in a different direction with its microtransactions. It refers to the game as “free-to-start” rather than free-to-play, although the full game is available for free.

Rather than just buying the tickets outright, the game features three packs that increase the amount of daily PM Tickets you can collect from 50 to 190. They also give a few Pokemon and several bonuses (in the form of decorations for your base camp) that increase drops and experience gains, as well as boosting your battery capacity to 8.

After the initial 30 bucks, there is no need to spend money on the game ever again

These packs are also the only way to gain additional cooking pots. Each pack unlocks one additional cooking pot, effectively quadrupling the speed at which you can collect new Pokemon.

While you will still have to grind and plan your team carefully to advance through the game, these packs make progression much faster. It’s so much faster that it may be worth dropping the $30 early if you find you really like the game and plan to invest a lot of time into it.

After that initial 30 bucks, there is no need to spend money on the game ever again. This puts it at a similar price to other Pokemon titles, despite having less content to play through.

I stuck to a free experience for this review and didn’t find it too limiting. You can still make it to the end game in a week or two if you know what you’re doing. Beyond that, you’ll likely either want to spend the money or quit.

Pokemon Quest Review: Conclusion

As far as free mobile titles go, you’ll be hard pressed to find a more polished game than Pokemon Quest. Many of the freemium elements can be bypassed with a one-time purchase, and the game never nags you to spend more money.

Pokemon Quest is not the typical Pokemon experience. It may disappoint those looking to relive the excitement of their first encounter with Pikachu, but give it a shot. Even if it’s not your bag, at least it can help kill some time until the Let’s Go titles land on the Nintendo Switch later this year.

What do you think of Pokemon Quest? Does it hit the mark or is it just another freemium mobile title in an already saturated market? Let us know in the comments!

How to make Windows 10 look like Windows 7

Although Windows 10 commands 47 percent of the Windows PC market worldwide and continues to show steady growth, Windows 7 still remains a fan-favorite, falling into second place with a 39 percent market share. And while Windows 10 is a more secure, modern platform, there are methods of keeping the Windows 7 aesthetics without sacrificing all the benefits provided by Microsoft’s latest platform. 

There’s no simple way of switching on a Windows 7 mode, but there are number of things you can change using third-party software and built-in settings. Before starting, as always, you should create a restore point in Windows 10 to revert back to the state before you converted the interface to Windows 7. 

Change the Start Menu 

Step 1: For starters, Classic Shell comes highly recommended and serves as a good starting point. With this free tool, you can modify the Windows 10 Start Menu to resemble the version provided in Windows 7. Once installed, you’ll see six entries on your Start Menu listed under “Classic Shell.” Here you will want to choose “Classic Start Menu Settings.”

Step 2: On the “Start Menu Style” tab, choose “Windows 7 style” as shown above.

Step 3: Next, head here to download the Windows 7 Start Menu orb. Once downloaded, choose “Custom” near the bottom of the Start Menu Style tab and select the downloaded image. You may need to tweak the button size, as we used “60” given the default setting was too large for our desktop resolution.

Step 4: On the “Skin” tab, choose “Windows Aero.”

Step 5: Hit “OK” and you’re done.

Change the wallpaper

Step 1: To install Windows 7 wallpaper, download the images from here.

Step 2: Right-click on the desktop and select “Personalize.”

Step 3: The “Settings” app now appears, defaulting to the “Background” panel. Make sure the “Background” drop-down menu reads “Picture” and then select the “Browse” button to find your downloaded wallpaper.

Hide Cortana and Task View 

Step 1: Right-click on the taskbar, select “Cortana” and then “Hidden” to remove Microsoft’s assistant.

Step 2: Right-click on the taskbar and select “Show Task View button” to disable this feature.

Change the colors 

Step 1: Right-click on the desktop and select “Personalize.”

Step 2: Choose “Colors” on the left of the “Settings” app.

Step 3: As shown  above, we selected “Navy Blue.”

Step 4: Next, we’ll switch the colors of the title bar. Right-click on the desktop and select “Personalize.”

Step 5: Choose “Colors” on the left side of the “Settings” app.

Step 6: Check the “Title bars” option towards the bottom of the panel.

Swap Microsoft Edge with Internet Explorer 

Step 1: Right-click on the Microsoft Edge icon and unpin the browser from the taskbar.

Step 2: Search for Internet Explorer using the Start Menu’s search field.

Step 3: Right-click on the result and select “Pin to taskbar.”

Step 4: Open Internet Explorer, select the gear-shaped “Tools” icon in the upper-right corner and select “Internet options.”

Step 5: Once the Internet options pop-up appears, select the “Programs” tab.

Step 6: On this panel, click “Make Internet Explorer my default browser.”

Step 7: Select “Internet Explorer” on the resulting list and then choose the “Set this program by default” setting.

Tweak Explorer 

Here we used the free tool OldNewExplorer. It’s downloaded as a RAR file so you’ll need to install third-party software to unpack the installer. The file to use is OldNewExplorerCfg.exe, and once launched, here’s what you’ll need to change: 

Step 1: Select “Use classical drive grouping in This PC.”

Step 2: Select “Use libraries; hide folders from This PC.”

Step 3: Select “Use command bar instead of Ribbon.”

Step 4: Select “Show details pane on the bottom.”

Step 5: For Appearance style, you have three options: Default, Silver cream, and Flat white.

Step 6: For Status bar style, select “Gray.”

Step 7: Now open File Explorer. Navigate to “Tools” and then “Folder Options.” On the “General” tab, select “This PC” in the drop-down menu for “Open File Explorer to.”

Step 8: On the same “General” tab, uncheck “Show recently used files in Quick access.”

Step 9: Now uncheck “Show frequently used folders in Quick access.”

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Nvidia’s GTX 11 Series may get people ready for the next generation of VR

Bill Roberson/Digital Trends

Unnamed sources claim that Nvidia’s upcoming GeForce GTX 1180 add-in graphics card for desktops will likely include a proprietary connector for virtual reality headsets to support 120Hz refresh rates over a single cable. This port will likely be based on the current HDMI 2.1 specification given it’s widely accepted across manufacturers.

Current desktop-based headsets support refresh rates of 90Hz, the vomit-prevention standard in virtual reality where the visuals are rendered at 90 frames per second to prevent motion sickness. This is why you need a somewhat-beefy graphics card to handle the experience. Both the top-of-the-line Samsung HMD Odyssey and HTC Vive Pro render frames on two 3.5-inch AMOLED displays at 1,440 x 1,600 while the HTC Vive and Oculus Rift rely on two 3.5-inch AMOLED screens at 1,080 x 1,200.

But with the GTX 1180, Nvidia is seemingly getting customers ready for the next generation. For instance, Google and LG teamed up to create a 4.3-inch OLED display with 1,443 pixels per inch and a 120Hz refresh rate designed specifically for a wide field of view in virtual reality. The prototype shown earlier this year had a 4,800 x 3,840 resolution while the accompanying paper said the display would rely on eye tracking to blur the areas residing outside the player’s current focus, putting less work on the graphics card.

While rumors point to a definite 2018 release for the GeForce GTX 11 Series, when the cards actually arrive is still somewhat of a mystery. So far, Nvidia appears set to launch its GeForce GTX 11 Series during Gamescom, as the company is supposedly sending members of the press out to Germany for a specific GeForce-related event before or during the gaming convention. Given that’s a long trip, Nvidia likely has more to show the attending press members than a few cool games running on GeForce hardware.

Backing this Gamescom rumor is the volume production of Micron’s GDDR6 memory announced at the end of June, which will supposedly be used on the GTX 11 Series cards. Reports also state that add-in card manufacturers will receive Nvidia’s GPU by the end of August or the beginning of September, which could then take weeks or several months to produce on-the-shelf products. Any problems related to the new “Turing” architecture could push mass availability into the first quarter of 2019.

A recent photo removed from Reddit indicates that card manufacturers may already have the boards manufactured but are waiting on the graphics chips and memory. The version seen in the photo was a prototype that included three eight-pin power connectors, 12 modules of Micron’s GDDR6 memory, and a possible NVLink component, but no GPU.

Signs of a 2018 release was up in the air after a comment made by Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang during a Computex press conference. At the time, he admitted that gamers may not see next-generation graphics cards for “a long time from now,” but didn’t state a release window. Given mass availability may not happen until the end of 2018, that is a long time for gamers eagerly waiting for Nvidia’s next-generation graphics cards.

Editors’ Recommendations

• Nvidia could debut GTX 11 Series graphics cards during Gamescom
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• Nvidia GeForce GTX 11 Series’ arrival is uncertain after Computex remark

Have a question? Ask it on Instagram with open-ended questions in a Story

Polling public opinion is getting easier than ever on Instagram. The photo-sharing app is constantly introducing new features and its latest is the ability to ask questions in Instagram Stories. While users already have the option of adding yes/no polls and multiple choice questions to their ephemeral content, as well as emoji sliders (where you literally slide an emoji on a scale to express your emotion), this is actually the first time that Instagram is letting folks pose open-ended questions to their followers.

Unlike the previous options, the question feature allows users to ask questions that could have extremely lengthy answers. Rather than asking your followers whether or not your outfit is flattering, you can delve deeper, perhaps inquiring as to the meaning of life (though you probably shouldn’t expect particularly illuminating answers … we are, after all, on Instagram). Your followers can also respond in as many characters as they like (because this isn’t Twitter).

As Android Police notes, the feature is not yet available to everyone quite yet, as only a handful of people seem to be experiencing the open-ended question option. That said, it does seem to be rolling out internationally — users in both Indonesia and Spain have spotted the open-ended question.

It’s not entirely clear as to exactly how responses are received. Do they land in your inbox? Will all answers be combined and then sent to you as part of the Story? Currently, if you post a Story, fellow users respond via direct messages (which are, of course, located in your inbox). But as Instagram continues to make its Stories more interactive, it could be the case that responses will be made somewhat collaborative, and turned into a Story of their own.

Instagram has not officially confirmed that it is testing the feature, but based on the reports we have seen thus far, it seems quite clear that the Facebook-owned platform is already well on its way to seeing what else it can do to improve its interface. Of course, we will keep you posted as we learn more about open-ended questions in Stories, and may just have a few questions of our own to ask.

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Developers may have been reading your private Gmail messages

Even though Google does not allow its employees access to your private emails, the same stringent privacy policy does not extend to third-party developers. In addition to being able to read your full emails in Gmail, Google also gives developers access to details like the recipient’s address and time stamps, The Wall Street Journal reported. However, it doesn’t appear that any user information has been misused at this time.

If you have used a Gmail plugin for price comparison, travel planning, or other tools, your emails may have been exposed to outside eyes. Google claims that it vets all third-party developers before granting access to its users’ emails, and that the user’s permission is required. The problem is that the request for permission often doesn’t state whether you’re granting access to your emails to a human or a computer. “The vetting process involves checking whether a company’s identity is correctly represented by its app, its privacy policy states that it will monitor emails, and the data that the company is requesting makes sense for what the company does,” according to The Verge.

In one example, Google partner Return Path scans more than 100 million emails a day sent and received by Gmail users using its computer network, but its employees also read more than 8,000 emails to train the software, the Journal noted. Return Path claims that its algorithms can detect personal emails and discard those from its system. Initially, the algorithm mis-categorized personal emails, and so two data analysts spent several days reading 8,000 emails to train the system to properly label emails. Another Google partner, Edison Software, claims that it needed access to emails to develop the artificial intelligence to build its smart reply tools.

Gmail isn’t the only email platform that allows developers access to users’ emails. Microsoft and Verizon’s Oath — which owns Yahoo — also provide similar access to third-party developers. As with Gmail, developers tapping into Microsoft’s and Oath’s services must ask for user consent. Though privacy may be a concern, some of these apps provide a valuable service in exchange for access to emails. Earny, a partner of Return Path, offers an online price adjustment service when it finds a lower price. By being able to scan your inbox for receipts, Earny can save users money and time when comparison shopping.

Still, Gmail’s app crisis comes on the heels of Facebook’s Cambridge Analytica scandal, which brought public scrutiny to how platforms manage, maintain, and share data with third-party partners. For its part, Google announced last year that it would stop scanning your Gmail as part of its targeted ad service. Instead, Google said its computers will continue to scan your emails as part of its efforts to deliver artificial intelligence-powered features, like smart replies, as part of Gmail’s major overhaul.

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Best Screen Protectors for Samsung Galaxy S9

Keep your Galaxy S9 display safe and scratch-free

With every unboxing of the Samsung Galaxy S9 comes the inevitable debate of the best way to keep this beautiful (and expensive) phone safe. Some people are content with just “being careful” with their phone to avoid scuffs and cracks, but the rest of us are better off staying safer than sorry.

But protecting the curved display of the Galaxy S9 is no easy task — tempered glass offers the best protection but a PET film can generally flex around to the edge of curved displays better. There’s also a price difference so there’s a lot to consider when you’re buying.

Whether you prefer tempered glass or a flexible film, these are the best screen protectors for the Samsung Galaxy S9.

• Whitestone Dome Glass
• Zagg InvisibleShield Glass Curve Elite
• amFilm Tempered Glass Screen Protector
• Spigen NeoFlex Screen Protector (2-pack)
• IQShield Case Friendly Film Screen Protector (2-pack)

Whitestone Dome Glass

The Whitestone Dome Glass screen protector is another option that’s been getting people talking. The big selling feature for this wet install screen protector is its unique curing process, which uses UV light.

It’s proven to be a very popular screen protector and is currently on sale for $45, down from $60. Check out this review and installation guide to get an idea of how this tempered glass screen protector uniquely adheres like no other screen protector you’ve seen before. If the worst case scenario has already occurred and your screen is cracked, think of this as a second chance screen before dropping hundreds of dollars on a proper replacement screen. With a UV light packaged to complete the curing process, this is a pricier option than other screen protectors out there, but based on video review and reviews on Amazon it’s an early favorite. I guess time will tell how well the Whitestone Dome Glass holds up in real-life use.

See at Amazon

Zagg InvisibleShield Glass Curve Elite

Zagg consistently delivers top-quality screen protectors for all the latest devices, and it’s no different for the Galaxy S9 and S9+.

If you want a tempered glass screen protector, check out the InvisibleShield Glass Curve Elite. Made with smooth tempered glass, these are precisely designed screen protectors that conform to the curved edges of the Galaxy S9 screen.

Zagg has even added a layer of shock absorbing material to add extra protection from drops. This is a $50 screen protector, but it’s backed by Zagg’s limited lifetime warranty, so if it wears out or gets damaged while you’re using it you can get a replacement sent to you for free!

Zagg also has the InvisibleShield HD film screen protector ($20) if tempered glass isn’t a top priority for you. Both are also available for the Galaxy S9+.

See at Zagg

amFilm Tempered Glass Screen Protector

Whereas the Whitestone Dome Glass might require the most complicated installation process, amFilm has tried to simplify the process by providing an installation guide so you can line up the perfect fit.

The offering here is a curved tempered glass screen protector that adheres to the phone using a silicone gel along the edges and a dot matrix along the majority of the display. amFilm says if you properly install this phone you will get a perfet fit with no clicking, no rainbow effect, and a strong adhesion that won’t peel up. This is a case-friendly option that can be yours for just $12.

See at Amazon

Spigen NeoFlex screen protector (2-pack)

Spigen always makes great cases so it only makes sense that they’d also offer screen protectors that are compatible with cases.

If you’ve got the patience to take the time for a film screen protector with a wet installation, you should be more than satisfied with this two-pack of reliable screen protectors. Because it’s a flexible film, the NeoFlex can offer full protection for your screen without affecting the touch responsiveness. Spigen provides a comprehensive installation video that actually recommends installing the screen protector with your phone in a case to help like things up on the first shot. Didn’t get it quite right? Just peel it back off and try again.

It will take 12 hours for the screen protector to fully adhere so make sure you give it enough time. Get this two-pack from Amazon for just $9.

See at Amazon

IQShield Case Friendly Film Screen Protector (2-pack)

IQShield offers a two-pack of plastic film screen protectors that have been updated to be completely compatible with even the most rugged cases. That’s in part due to these being PET film screen protectors rather than tempered glass.

This is a paper-thin screen protector that you will hardly notice after a clean installation. These screen protectors have an oleophobic coating to help prevent fingerprints and smudges and are easy to install. With over 100 5-star reviews on Amazon, you can buy with confidence. Get your two-pack of case-friendly screen protectors from IQShield for just $8.

See at Amazon

Where do you land on the screen protector debate?

Are screen protectors and cases a must-buy for any new phone you own or do you prefer the naked look and feel? Have you had hands-on experience with a screen protector that others should know about? Let us know in the comments!

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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Update July 2018: Updated pricing information for all of our picks, and removed the Ringke screen protector due to an increased number of poor reviews citing application and sticking problems.