How to set up and use Windows 10’s Your Phone app with Android

Your Phone for Windows 10 is currently in testing, so here’s how to set it up.

Want to try out the new Your Phone app on Windows 10? We’ve got you covered with a quick how-to showcasing all the steps you need to take to get things set up and ready to go.

How to use the Windows 10 Your Phone app

Right now, the Your Phone app only works on Android, and it allows you to see and share photos from your Android device directly on your PC. You must be a Windows Insider for this feature to function at this time. So, to begin, you need to open up the Your Phone app on your PC. You can either search for it or find it at the bottom of your Apps List in the Start menu!

If you do not have the app installed, you can download it first.

Open the Your Phone app on your PC.

Select Get Started to begin the setup process.

Select Link phone.

Type your phone number and press Send to send a text message to your mobile phone.

Select Close and wait for your mobile phone to receive a text message from Microsoft.

Once received, tap the link sent to you in the text message to open the Google Play Store on your device.

Tap Install to download the “Microsoft Apps” app required for Your Phone to function.

Launch the “Microsoft Apps” app and select Get started to begin pairing your phone with the Your Phone app.

Make sure you’re already a member of the Windows Insider Program and then select I’m already an Insider.

Tap sign-in and enter your Microsoft Account details. (Make sure you login with the same Microsoft Account used on your PC.)

Tap allow to give the app permission to show your photos on your PC.

Select return to Home Screen.

On your PC, in the Your Phone app, select see photos.

You should now be able to see all the photos on your phone directly on your PC. From here, you can open them up, edit them, share them, and more! Let us know what you think in the comments!

Learn more about Your Phone!

The best heavy duty cases for the Moto G6

Keep your Moto G6 well-protected with one of these heavy duty cases!

The Moto G6 is a great option for anyone on a budget. Despite its budget pricing, the Moto G6 sure looks premium with Motorola opting for a glass back on this phone.

For that reason alone you might be more inclined to buy a heavy duty case to keep your phone safe from harm, but especially if your work requires you to use your phone in situations where you might drop your phone on concrete or other harsh surfaces.

We’ve rounded up the best heavy-duty cases for your Moto G6!

Check out our roundup of the best cases overall for the Moto G6

• Poetic Revolution Full-Body Heavy Duty Case
• NageBee Heavy Duty Case w/ Holster
• Cimo Carbon Armor Case
• OEAGO Shockproof Defender Case
• Spigen Rugged Armor Case
• GSDCB Heavy Duty Case with kickstand

Poetic Revolution Full-Body Heavy Duty Case

Poetic is a case maker known for its unique cases that blend heavy-duty protection with sleek design elements and its $17 Revolution case for the Moto G6 is a great place to start for the Moto G6. This two-piece case offers 360-degree protection that includes a built-in screen protector along with a case that combines rugged polycarbonate with shock-absorbing TPU.

See at Amazon

There are dust flaps covering the ports to prevent dirt and pocket lint from getting into your phone, while the exterior of the case is covered in accents that help with grip and give it a unique look. Snag it in your choice of three colors.

NageBee Heavy Duty Case w/ Holster

Often the added bulk of a heavy duty case makes it hard to carry the phone in your pocket, which is why you often see the most heavy duty cases coming with a belt clip holster — as is the case with this NageBee Heavy Duty case. Not a fan of the camo finish? This case is also available in black for the same low price of just $10.

See at Amazon

This case combines a TPU inner sleeve with a rugged polycarbonate shell that features a pop-out kickstand for hands-free media viewing. The design of this case allows for the TPU to come through the sides, which will provide you with a bit of extra grip and it’s available in a camo finish for the outdoorsy types. Use the included holster if you need quick access to your phone in the field but want to ensure that it’s kept safe when not in use.

Cimo Carbon Armor Case

Cimo has you covered with its $6 Carbon Armor case. This dual-layer case features a rugged outer shell combined with a silicone sleeve that features a carbon fiber finish along the top and bottom of the case.

See at Amazon

There’s a cutout for the camera and also the Motorola logo for those who care about branding, and everything is designed to keep your Moto G6 well protected and functional. You can grab this in three colors.

OEAGO Shockproof Defender Case

This $8 case from OEAGO is basically a triple-layer case that offers you excellent protection for your G6. It starts with a robust TPU sleeve, which is wrapped by a polycarbonate shell, which is then plated with another layer of TPU complete with a grippy texture to ensure your phone doesn’t slip off the table or out of your hand.

See at Amazon

It all adds up to a pretty solid case available in multiple color options and just happens to be among the most affordable on this list.

Spigen Rugged Armor Case

Spigen’s $11 Rugged Armor case is my go-to case style for any new phone, so we’ll definitely recommend it here for the Moto G6. It’s got that carbon fiber finish at the top and bottom with a matte finish elsewhere, along with Spigen’s air cushion technology in the corners to help absorb impacts.

See at Amazon

It’s a slim, one-piece case that might not appear as rugged as the other cases on this list, but looks can be deceiving — this case is the real deal!

GSDCB Heavy Duty Case with Kickstand

This $6 case is worth at least triple its price, with its hard polycarbonate plastic shell, flexible TPU interior, and super convenient kickstand. It also comes in black, blue, pink, and orange. For the price, don’t even think about it. If you like the look, grab it.

See at Amazon

The GSDCB case is designed with air pockets in the inner shell, so that there’s a natural cushion when you drop your Moto G6. The kickstand is unobtrusive and folds away flush when you don’t need it, making this an excellent rugged case at a price that’s very hard to beat.

What’s your favorite heavy duty case?

Which of these cases we’ve highlighted caught your eye? Got a fave that didn’t make our list? Let us know in the comments below!

Updated August 2018: Added the GSDCB case with kickstand and updated pricing for everything else.

Moto G6, G6 Plus and G6 Play

• Moto G6 Plus review: Mastering the art of the mid-range phone
• Moto G6 review: Finding success in compromise
• Moto G6, G6 Play, and G6 Plus specs
• Join our Moto G6 forums

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Nicki Minaj Says Spotify Retaliated Against Her After She Debuted Her Latest Album on Apple’s Beats 1 Radio

Earlier this month, hip-hop artist Nicki Minaj debuted her latest album “Queen” on her new Beats 1 radio show “Queen Radio,” just minutes before its wider release. And, by the sounds of it, that didn’t make Spotify very happy.

In a series of tweets on Sunday, highlighted by Digital Music News, Minaj said Spotify retaliated by electing not to promote the album on its platform during its first few days of availability, as it had promised. Meanwhile, she said Drake, who has had a Beats 1 show since 2015, is highly promoted on Spotify.

Spotify put drake’s face on every playlist but told me they’d have to teach me a lesson for playing my music 10 mins early on #QueenRadio. Even tho they’ve been giving away my music for free for years & I am one of the top Spotify artists of all time.

— QUEEN (@NICKIMINAJ) August 19, 2018

Spotify had to teach me a lesson but rewarded the man who has had an Apple radio show the longest; inadvertently helping the Apple platform the most. Oh I can’t wait for #QueenRadio on Tuesday. They took away my promotion they had promised for the 1st cpl days b/c of this. #Queen

— QUEEN (@NICKIMINAJ) August 19, 2018

#Queen the album is coming at 9AM PT / 12PM ET!!! @NICKIMINAJ just announced it on #QueenRadio! https://t.co/nXJLMVkpTZ

— Beats 1 (@Beats1) August 10, 2018

Minaj said she “can’t wait” for the next episode of Queen Radio this Tuesday, presumably to speak further about Spotify’s alleged retaliation.

A few years ago, The New York Times reported that Spotify instituted a policy where music that has benefitted from promotional deals on other platforms may not be prominently featured or included in as many playlists on its service.

Executives at two major record labels said that in recent weeks Spotify, which has resisted exclusives, had told them that it had instituted a policy that music that had benefited from such deals on other services would not receive the same level of promotion once it arrived on Spotify; such music may not be as prominently featured or included in as many playlists, said these executives, who spoke on the condition of anonymity in order to discuss private negotiations.

Bloomberg also reported that Apple Music exclusives may be “buried” in Spotify search results, which Spotify said was “unequivocally false.”

Several artists have debuted albums exclusively on Apple Music, at least for a brief period, including Drake, Frank Ocean, Dreezy, Taylor Swift, Katy Perry, and Chance the Rapper, and it would appear that Spotify isn’t pleased, as streaming platforms, record labels, and artists fight over rights in an evolving industry.

Spotify has yet to comment on the matter.

Tags: Spotify, Apple Music, Beats 1
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‘Minecraft: Education Edition’ to Launch on iPad in September

Mojang’s classroom-focused “Minecraft: Education Edition” will launch on the iPad in September, allowing teachers to incorporate the game into their lesson plans for the new school year (via GeekWire). Minecraft: Education Edition first launched in November 2016 on macOS and Windows platforms, and since then teachers have used the game as a tool to teach students science, engineering, math, history, art, and more.

Image via GeekWire
Deirdre Quarnstrom, general manager of Minecraft education at Microsoft, confirmed that students on Windows, Mac, and iPad will all be able to play and connect to one another. The company says it decided to launch Minecraft: Education Edition on iPad due to the number of school districts that already support Apple’s tablets in classrooms.

The reason Microsoft added iPad support was straightforward: School districts have iPads and want students to be able to learn about STEM and other subjects with Minecraft on Apple’s tablets in addition to the Windows 10 and Mac OS devices that can already run Education Edition.

However, making the Education Edition work with iPads required optimizing it for “pure touch input,” said Deirdre Quarnstrom, general manager of Minecraft Education at Microsoft. After testing it with a couple of schools, she said, “we’ve made sure it’s a great experience for touch” and will support newer Education Edition features introduced earlier this year.

Minecraft: Education Edition costs $5 per user, although volume pricing is available for larger schools. Those eligible to download Minecraft: Education Edition extend beyond normal public schools, and include libraries, museums, and individuals who are part of “nationally recognized home-school organizations.”

There are also a few features that first launched in the Education Edition version of Minecraft that have begun appearing in the normal edition of the game, including a “Chemistry Resource Pack.” With this pack, players have access to the full periodic table and can use a “Compound Creator” to build basic or complex substances.

Eventually, Quarnstrom says that Microsoft’s goal is to “bring over all of the education features and give access to all players,” except for the administrative classroom tools for teachers. “Bedrock” Minecraft (what the company refers to as the consumer version) is on 21 platforms, compared to Education Edition on three with the upcoming launch on iPad.

For teachers getting started with Minecraft: Education Edition, the game’s website includes resources like pre-made lesson plans, helpful tutorials, and starter worlds that’ll make it easier to acclimate students into the game’s mechanics. There’s also a “Minecraft Mentors” program that educates teachers on all of the basic principles of the game, along with how it can be adapted to their classrooms.

Tag: Minecraft
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World’s first flexible smartphone: unveiled

You know when you’re playing a game on your phone and you find yourself tilting it to one side, as if that would magically make the scene move or your character swing?

We’ve all done it at least once, it seems to be a natural and instinctive act although we are not exactly sure why: we do understand that physically moving the phone will not affect the result of the game at all and that the only way to make the character move is by giving it virtual instructions through the touch screen controls of our smartphone.

But what if we could explore also that dimension and bend our phone for a more sophisticated experience? Well, this might happen sooner than you think!

A Canadian team of researchers at Queen’s University’s Human Media Lab has been working since 2016 on a prototype that has a unique and attractive feature: its screen is flexible and can be bent (without breaking, of course).

This prototype has soon evolved into an almost tangible reality and now we’re sitting with ReFlex, a flexible smartphone that allows the user to interact with the apps also by bending the phone from side to side. When the device is bent, the pages on the screen will flip as those of a book; depending on the angle and the “strength” applied to the bending, the pages will go faster or slower.

This idea is revolutionary and creates a fantastic and more tactile user experience that goes beyond the actual screen.

The ReFlex smartphone is built with a high definition 720p LG Display Flexible OLED touch screen and is powered by an Android 4.4 “KitKat” board, mounted to the side of the display. We have to admit that the whole device looks a bit bulky and requires two hands to be held, not unlike a tablet or e-book reader, but this is certainly something the creators are keeping in mind and will work on to optimise user experience.

The implications are endless, and the real question is not whether this technology will be available, because we already know it is, but when and most importantly how it will be used. Just imagine how much our standard of mobile networking and entertainment will change! Reading an e-book will be an even closer experience to reading an old-school book, for example. Playing and gambling online will have a more tangible flare, especially as this industry is renowned for embracing new technology with the sole purpose of enhancing the user experience. So it is safe in assuming innovative brands such as mFortune, who create their very own bingo games, will already be thinking about how this exciting technology can be incorporated into its service.

Of course, we will have to wait for a bit to see how the main mobile brands employ the new tech in their devices. We suspect like everything else in the mobile world, developments will quickly come to the fore, with perfection not far behind. This is a very inviting pie and the main brands are all on a race to get the biggest piece. Huawei, Samsung, LG… who will win the race?

How to Share Files Stored in Your iCloud Drive

You can share files you’ve synced to iCloud with friends and colleagues who have an Apple ID using the step-by-step guide below. Whether you’re sharing from a Mac or an iPhone, you’ll be able to give people one-way access to the file, or allow them to modify the document if you’re collaborating on a piece of work.

The sharing options you choose automatically sync across your devices, so you could, for example, share a file on Mac and change access permissions on your iPhone or on iCloud.com at a later time. The following steps assume Mac users are running macOS High Sierra or later and that iPhone or iPad owners are on iOS 11 or later.

How to Share iCloud Files From Your Mac

Open a Finder window and locate the file in iCloud that you want to share. It could be in iCloud Drive or another folder that you sync to iCloud, such as Desktop or Documents.
Click the file to highlight it.
Click the Share button and select Add People from the dropdown menu. Alternatively, right-click (or Ctrl-click) the file and select Share -> Add People.

Choose how you’d like to send your invitation to access the file. In our example, we’re sharing a link via email. You can also click the chevron next to Share Options to control who can access the file (Only people you invite / Anyone with the link) and their permissions (Can make changes / View only).
Click Share.

Depending on how you chose to share the invitation, the relevant app will open containing a link to access the file. In our example, an email compose window appears, ready to add recipients and click Send.

How to Share iCloud files on iPhone and iPad

Launch the Files app on your iPhone or iPad.
Locate the file in iCloud Drive that you want to share.

Tap Select in the upper right of the screen.
Tap the file to check it in the selection.
Tap the Share icon in the lower left of the screen.

Tap Add People in the second row of the Share Sheet.
Tap the method you’d like to use to send your invitation. You can also optionally tap Share Options to control who can access the file (Only people you invite / Anyone with the link) and their permissions (Can make changes / View only).
Depending on how you chose to share the invitation, the relevant app will open containing a link to access the file, ready for you to share.

How to Change Access Rights to a Shared iCloud File

Changing file sharing permissions via Mac or iOS is easy. Once you’ve shared an iCloud file, the Add People option you used in the above steps is replaced with a Show People option. Selecting this will display who has access to the file, including an option to Stop Sharing the file completely.

If you’re on Mac, click the dotted icon next to a person’s name to reveal options to change their permissions or Remove Access. If you’re on iPhone or iPad, simply tap a person in the People list to access the same options.

Tags: iCloud, iCloud Drive
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Apple aficionados, these cute pillows are made just for you

Admirers of all things Apple might like the idea of cuddling up with one of these specially designed pillows as they tap away on their iPhone, iPad, or some other device in their possession that was produced by the tech titan.

Created by Seattle-based startup Throwboy, the “Iconic Pillow Collection” features designs resembling Apple products from yesteryear, namely the Apple II from 1977; the first Macintosh computer from 1984; the iMac G3, released in 1998; the iPod, launched in 2001; and the original iPhone from 2007.

Launched recently on Kickstarter and already funded, the cute-looking pillows feature many of the details found on each of the famous products, including the iPod’s scroll wheel, the G3’s distinctive splashes of blue, and the Macintosh’s 3.5-inch floppy disk slot. Trademark issues, however, prevented the Apple logo from appearing on any of the pillows.

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Throwboy designer and founder Roberto Hoyos describes his pillows as “a cuddly tribute to the tech that changed our lives,” and suggests using them as “a cuddly pal, a home decor conversation piece, a collector’s item, or all of the above.”

And no, this isn’t Throwboy’s first effort at producing tech-inspired pillows. Ten years ago, Hoyos had an idea to make a new kind of pillow “that let people express the things they love.” With that in mimd, he set about hand-sewing seven of them in the design of different computer icons as a gift for his girlfriend. When photos of the pillows went viral, Hoyos decided to turn his hobby into a business.

According to Hoyos, the pillows, which measure about 13in x 5in x 13in (33cm x 13cm x 33cm), feature “precision embroidery rather than low-grade printing techniques” and will be manufactured using the same outfit Throwboy’s been working with since 2013.

Assuming the project to launch the Iconic Pillow Collection runs according to plan, a pledge of $39 will bag you a design of your choice for delivery in February 2019. This represents a $21 saving on the expected retail price.

If you do choose to back Throwboy’s Kickstarter effort, you should of course do so with the kind of caution you’d apply to any other crowdfunding project.

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Spectacular twisting tower aims to become Australia’s tallest building

A spectacular twisting structure bedecked with trees and plants is on course to become Australia’s tallest building.

The so-called “Green Spine” was recently announced as the winner of an international design competition organized by property developer Beulah International, which hopes to build the 356-meter-tall structure in the center of Melbourne.

So long as it secures the necessary planning permission, the Green Spine, the brainchild of Dutch company UNStudio and Australia’s Cox Architecture, will become the focus of Melbourne’s skyline in the early 2020s.

The striking design features a glass facade and twisting cascades of greenery among two towers rising above Melbourne’s Southbank neighborhood, located just across from the city’s Central Business District and Royal Botanic Gardens.

A publicly accessible terraced park is also part of the design, as is a botanic garden atop the tallest of the two towers. The Green Spine includes space for apartments, a hotel, offices, restaurants, bars, and a “BMW experience center.”

‘A city in itself’

The designers describe the ambition of the Green Spine as twofold: “A building that is a city in itself, with its multitude of programs and connectivities, as well as being fully integrated in the existing city network of cultural, entertainment, leisure, and commercial offerings.”

The winning proposal, which was selected last week by a panel of seven judges, beat six other shortlisted designs that included entries from other major architecture firms, among them Bjarke Ingels Group and OMA.

Beulah International executive director Adelene Teh praised the winning effort for its bold yet thoroughly considered efforts.

“At the macro scale, the two-tower silhouettes with twisting forms provide a new, site responsive and elegant visual beacon in the precinct,” Teh said.

He added: “In its details, the scheme displays a strong intent for well-considered public and private amenity, and at street level, the proposal displays qualities that will truly transform the public realm by eroding the hard edges that is prevalent in Southbank.”

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Cox Architecture director Phil Rowe said it’s the city’s public spaces and civic infrastructure “that makes Melbourne ‘Melbourne,’” adding, “Our green spaces are key to this … they are our city’s lungs, its shade from the sun and our verdant green.”

Rowe said that such features “must be retained, nurtured and allowed to grow with the city … and that is the driving idea behind the Green Spine.”

Australia’s current tallest building is the Gold Coast’s Q1, which stands at 322 meters. The Green Spine, should the building work go ahead, will rise 24 meters higher. As a comparison, the Empire State Building stands at 381 meters (443 meters to the tip).

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iPad battery explosion prompts Apple Store evacuation in Amsterdam

The battery inside an Apple iPad exploded in an Apple Store over the weekend, causing an evacuation, the fire brigade to attend, and several people to complain about respiratory issues. The incident took place at the Apple Store located in Leidseplein Square in Amsterdam, one of three official Apple stores in the Netherlands.

It’s believed a “leaking” battery pack overheated and caused the explosion, according to a member of the local fire brigade. However, there was apparently no smoke or fire involved; but three members of staff at the Apple Store complained about breathing problems. An ambulance attended to assist them. Local news outlet AS Media said the evacuation caused, “panic,” and shows a photo of the location with the public waiting outside the store.

What remained of the iPad and its battery was safely placed in a container filled with sand, and the fire department deemed the area would be safe for business once it had been completely ventilated. The Apple Store opened again late on Sunday afternoon. It’s not clear if the iPad was a model on display for use by the public, or if it was a model in for repair. The immediate presence of a sand-filled container, and only staff being afflicted by fumes, does suggest it may have been in the workshop, rather than out in the store itself.

This is at least the third example of battery fires or small explosions happening in Apple Stores around the world this year. An iPhone battery exploded in the Apple Store in Zurich, Switzerland in January, which also saw employees require medical treatment. Soon afterwards, another battery exploded in Valencia, Spain’s Apple Store. On that occasion, the incident was dealt with by staff, and no emergency services attended. There have also been reports of iPhone batteries exploding after being damaged, or when replaced by non-authorized Apple service centers, potentially using third-party replacement parts.

Despite these reports, lithium-ion batteries are used without a problem by millions of people around the world; but risks increase when they aren’t used properly. The London Fire Brigade advises you to always use the included charger and cable, or to buy genuine replacements, and not to leave phones on charge, unattended, for long periods of time.

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Airport’s low-tech solution to digital chaos involves the humble whiteboard

There are times when low-tech is the only way to go, a point proven by staff at Gatwick Airport, after the computer system that supplies information to the departure boards suffered an problem, leaving travelers without crucial details about their flight. The digital displays most of us are familiar with from airports around the world show flight status, departure time, and of course, the gate where once must wait ahead of boarding. If all this disappears, what can be done?

Staff @Gatwick_Airport are currently writing the flight times by hand. pic.twitter.com/DduPg1IIn9

— BBC South East (@bbcsoutheast) August 20, 2018

The team at Gatwick Airport has resorted to a low-tech and reliable, if time-consuming, alternative — whiteboards. Staff apparently resort to other rare forms of old-school communication, such as relaying verbal messages between each other, to pass information to those writing on the whiteboards, and directly to waiting passengers.

The unusual situation at the airport has turned it into a trending topic on Twitter, with passengers — some disgruntled, and others quite upbeat — sharing photos of the situation. In the departure hall, airport staff are using the same kind of whiteboards many of us will recognize from meeting rooms at work to write out the flight information. Crowds of people surround them, eager not to miss their flights.

@Gatwick_Airport two whiteboards for the entire south terminal on a monday morning! #gatwick pic.twitter.com/XRa7PkWVUn

— Ayla Herbert (@AylaHerbert) August 20, 2018

Some passengers complain that the whiteboard isn’t up to the job of displaying the required information, while others say it’s “calm and ordered,” due to airport staff’s diligence and organization.

What has caused the problem? According to Gatwick Airport’s official Twitter account, “an ongoing issue,” with Vodafone, which provides both the business and public data services, has stopped the flight information screens from showing data. A possible lack of mobile coverage may also make it difficult for people to use their phones to find other sources of flight information online. In a subsequent tweet, it’s stated the airport expects Vodafone to fix the problem soon, and the carrier told the BBC a damaged fibre cable was to blame. The issues began at around 9 a.m. on August 20, during one of the busiest travel periods of the year.

Currently only a handful of passengers have reportedly missed flights due to the confusion. In 2017, the airport served more than 46 million passengers.

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