Huawei overtakes Apple as the second-largest smartphone seller

Huawei has taken Apple’s spot as the world’s second top-selling smartphone manufacturer, according to Gartner. The report notes that Huawei sold 49.8 million units in the second quarter of 2018, taking 13.3 percent of the smartphone market share and beating out Apple’s 44.7 million units. The report confirms another report from Counterpoint research.

That 13.3 percent market share is up from the 9.8 percent market share that Huawei had in the second quarter of 2017, and Apple’s 11.9 percent market share is down from the 12.1 percent market share from last year — even if only slightly down.

Of course, it’s likely Apple will regain its spot in the third quarter, especially considering the fact that the company is expected to release as many as three iPhones in September. Still, that doesn’t take away from the fact that Apple is facing increased competition from Chinese manufacturers like Huawei, which is forcing Apple to rethink the iPhone and deliver new features in an effort to convince existing customers to upgrade to new models, and others to think about switching to the iPhone. According to Gartner, demand for the iPhone X, Apple’s flagship iPhone, has slowed down much earlier than previous new iPhone models.

After Samsung, Huawei, and Apple, the likes of Xiaomi and Oppo take the fourth and fifth spots, respectively, further highlighting the competition that Apple and Samsung face from Chinese smartphone brands. Xiaomi, in particular, made notable growth. While the company sold around 21 million units in the second quarter of 2017, in 2018’s second quarter, it managed to increase that to almost 33 million units, snapping up 8.8 percent of the smartphone sales market share in the process.

It’s no surprise that Samsung held on to the top spot, but its sales did slow a little. While the company held 19.3 percent of the market share, that is down quite a bit from the 22.6 percent of the market share that it had in the second quarter of 2017.

Gartner also reported on the smartphone operating system market share. According to the report, Android extended its lead over iOS with 88 percent of the smartphone market share, up from 87.8 percent in the second quarter of 2017. iOS held 11.9 percent, while everything else went down from 0.1 percent to 0.0 percent, reflecting the dominance of the big two operating systems.

Editors’ Recommendations

• Huawei just overtook Apple as the second-largest smartphone seller
• Huawei is gaining on Apple as it aims for 200 million smartphone sales in 2018
• Apple shrugs off Fitbit and Garmin to remain king of smartwatches
• Here’s everything you need to know about the Huawei P20
• 8 months after its release, the iPhone 8 outsells the new Galaxy S9

This underwater robot could soon autonomously hunt predatory lionfish

Worcester Polytechnic Institute

When you think about big problems technologists are working to solve, the first thing that comes to mind probably isn’t wiping out a species of invasive predatory fish. But maybe it should be, because here at Digital Trends we previously covered a surprising number of tech solutions to the lionfish problem — ranging from smart apps to a vacuum-inspired approach which sucks up the poisonous fish using jets of water. Now students at Worcester Polytechnic Institute (WPI) are working to develop an underwater robot capable of autonomously hunting and harvesting these creatures.

Lionfish represent a major problem in places like Florida’s Atlantic coast, where they arrived a quarter-century ago. Their venomous dorsal fins can trigger pain, nausea, and breathing difficulties in humans. More crucially, however, they have enormous appetites and are capable of rapidly diminishing local fish populations. They also breed at an astonishing rate, with females able to lay around 30,000 eggs every four days.

The robot developed at WPI consists of a computer vision system and lionfish harvesting tech. The computer vision system uses a TensorFlow neural network to recognize lionfish.

“The prototype harvesting system has a single spear shaft and a revolving piece that holds eight spear tips,” Craig Putnam, senior instructor in Computer Science and Associate Director of WPI’s Robotics Engineering Program, told Digital Trends. “The spear itself is cocked using a ratchet mechanism that stretches elastic bands. The next available spear tip is then rotated into position in front of the cocked spear, ready for the next shot. After each shot, the spear is re-cocked and the next tip is rotated into position. The spear tips themselves float: They stay in the speared fish and are buoyant enough so as to float the tip and the lionfish that was speared up to the surface for collection.”

Although the technology has so far only been tested in the university’s pool, it could one day be used in the open ocean. It could be deployed to hunt autonomously, before returning to the surface when it needs to be recharged or after a set period of time. The robots could potentially be privately owned and used as a fishing tool to harvest fish, which may then be sold. (Lionfish happen to taste great!)

“This year’s MQP (major qualifying project) will primarily be focusing on navigation and path planning,” Putnam continued. “The robot ideally should be able to autonomously descend to an appropriate depth, plot a search pattern, and start searching for Lionfish. It should be able to do all this without running into the reef or targeting anything but lionfish. There is a lot of work to be done, but these are all solvable problems.”

Editors’ Recommendations

• Watch this robot tiptoe over stepping stones with human-like grace and agility
• Festo’s cuttlefish-inspired robot looks like it escaped an alien aquarium
• From robot insects to human-sniffing sensors, this rescue tech could save lives
• Microsoft’s Surface Pen may never need recharging in the future
• MIT’s Cheetah 3 robot doesn’t need sight to navigate stairs

Intel’s latest 8th-gen mobile processors improve battery life and performance

AFP/Getty Images

At IFA 2018, Intel announced additions to its 8th-Generation processor lineup with a focus on mobile performance and enhanced connectivity. The 8th-generation additions include the U-series, which was formerly known as Whiskey Lake, and Y-Series, formerly known as Amber Lake. Intel claims that these chipsets are optimized for mobile form factors, including laptops and 2-in-1 convertibles. The U-series includes the Core i7-89565U, Core i5-8265U, and Core i3-8145U, while the Y-series family includes the Core i7-8500, Core i5-8200Y, and Core m3-8100Y.

Both the U- and Y-series chipsets come with improved connectivity and other features. Intel claims that the integrated Gigabit Wi-Fi will bring up to 12 times the connection speeds to thin and light mainstream laptops for the first time, while the Y-series will come with fast Wi-Fi and LTE support. In terms of performance, the U-series should deliver up to two times the performance for laptop compared to the standard five years ago, and the Y-series delivers double-digit performance gains compared to the previous generation of laptops.

With the 8th-generation U-series chips, “consumers can now download their favorite shows and movies in under a minute, create, edit, and share 4K/360 video content 6.5x faster, and stream and play games, including World of Warcraft: Battle for Azeroth and World of Tanks,” Intel said in a statement. Systems with 8th-generation U-series chips will come with support for multiple voice services, such as Microsoft Cortana and Amazon Alexa, and support for Dolby Vision HDR and Dolby Atmos content.

Intel’s power efficient Y-series chips have been used on thin devices, such as Apple’s 12-inch MacBook, in the past, while the U-series has been a popular staple on mainstream Ultrabooks. In the past, Intel had used its Core m branding on Y-series machines.

Y-series chips will deliver better support for touch and stylus. And its likely we’ll see more convertibles with Y-series processors given improved support for stylus. These systems are expected to come in at just 7mm thick and weigh less than a pound. Coupled with eSIM and LTE support, Intel is positioning the Y-series devices as a competitor to Windows devices running Qualcomm’s Snapdragon chips, which are based on designs created by ARM. Intel’s advantage is that Y-series devices will be able to run the full version of Windows 10 instead of the more limited Windows 10 S Mode.

““The new 8th Gen Intel Core processors extend once again our leadership in delivering exceptional performance. Now with Gigabit Wi-Fi, we’ve enabled faster PC connectivity, added more intuitive voice experiences, and enabled longer battery life needed for the next wave of mobile computing.” said Chris Walker, vice president of the client computing group and general manager of Intel mobile client platform.

With both chipsets targeted at mobile users and for use in thin and light systems, Intel is also making battery life improvements. Devices with the U-series chips are expected to last for up to 16 hours on a single charge, and battery life can go up to 19 hours with power-optimized devices.

Editors’ Recommendations

• Dell’s refresh of the XPS 13 2-in-1 series dips its toes into Intel’s Amber Lake
• Intel upgrades the entry-level workstation market with six-core Xeon E CPUs
• New MediaTek chip brings premium features to budget phones
• Need a new laptop? We’re giving away a Dell XPS 13 compact laptop PC
• Sony crams 8x zoom in the RX100 VI, but it’s still pocketable

8 high-capacity power banks for the traveling techie

These aren’t your pocket-friendly power banks, but they can be your lifeline when battery life runs short across multiple devices.

Given today’s power-hungry phones and tablets, any power pack under 20,000mAh shouldn’t be considered high-capacity. While the majority of these beefier backup batteries aren’t suited for storing in your pocket, they’re still compact enough to toss in a backpack, suitcase, or laptop bag for a quick charge when you need it. Check out these power banks that provide enough battery to keep up with the most demanding tech-lover.

• Anker PowerCore+ 26800 Quick Charge PowerCore+ 26800 PD
• EasyAcc Monster 26,000mAh Power Bank
• USB-C RAVPower 26,800mAh
• ZeroLemon ToughJuice V3.0 30,000mAh
• EcoFlow Tech River 412Wh
• Aukey 30000mAh USB-C
• Maxoak 50,000mAh
• Be-charming 24,000mAh

Anker PowerCore+ 26800 Quick Charge / PowerCore+ 26800 PD

Anker brings two versions of the PowerCore+ 26800 to the market, one with Qualcomm Quick Charge 3.0 and one with USB PD (Power Delivery). Both offer a whopping 26,800mAh capacity and are only 7.1 x 3.1 x .9 inches in size. This is a power bank that you probably can fit into your pocket, and it starts around $120.

See at Amazon (USB PD)

The Quick Charge model also features PowerIQ so that non-Quick Charge devices can still charge at up to 3 amps and can be fully recharged in about 6.5 hours. It’s priced around $75.

The USB PD model features a 30-watt USB-C port capable of charging laptops like a MacBook or Chromebook as well as your phone. It can be fully charged in about four hours.

EasyAcc Monster 26,000mAh Power Bank

If you’re after more than just a pair outputs to keep your phones and tablets charged up, the $50 EasyAcc Monster packs a 26000mAh capacity and provides four USB ports as well as two Micro-USB inputs on the side that can work in tandem decrease recharge time up to 50%. With a total output of 4.8 amps, the more devices connected means a slower charge, but the overall convenience, functionality, and capacity outweigh reduced charging times.

See at Amazon

Next to the USB outputs is a built-in LED flashlight that’s handy for seeing in the dark, and on top are four tiny lights that indicate how much battery life remains in the power bank. EasyAcc has added plenty of safety features to prevent any damage to your connected devices, too.

RAVPower USB-C 26,800mAh

The new $80 USB-C RAVPower 26800 can output 30 watts through its USB-C port and has two “regular” USB ports that feature its iSmart technology to charge at up to 2.4 amps each. RAVPower says that its iSmart 2.0 system will automatically sense the correct charging current so that your devices that don’t use a fast-charging standard will still charge as fast as they are able.

See at Amazon

The USB-C port charges a MacBook at the same rate as the included charger, and can charge a Nintendo Switch while you’re playing.Using both charging inputs, you can fully charge the RAVPower 26800 in 4.5 hours.

ZeroLemon ToughJuice V3.0 30,000mAh

This beastly backup battery rocks an impressive 30,000mAh capacity that’s able to provide power to phones, tablets, and even laptops. It has a total of five USB ports three standard 1-amp outputs, one Qualcomm Quick Charge 3.0 output and one USB-C output so it’s compatible with almost everything. Starts around $65 on Amazon.

See at Amazon

It also features a rubber outer shell that makes the ZeroLemon ToughJuice V3.0 the most rugged power bank you’re likely to see.

Remember, this power bank is too big to carry on a plane in the U.S. without talking to your airline first.

EcoFlow Tech River 412Wh

This behemoth packs a wallop and comes at a steep price (about $600), but it’s your source for power when you wanna go totally off the grid for a while. This is the charging station you need for everything you take with you anywhere. It houses a 412Wh (that’s watt-hour) battery and features 11 independent outputs: 2 AC plugs, 4 USB ports, 2 USB-C ports, 2 DC ports, and a car charger.

See at Amazon

It also has a solar panel, so you can take it anywhere and it’ll juice itself up (albeit incredibly slowly). Just note that, despite its AC outlets, the River won’t power a hair dryer or coffee maker (heating elements are no joke!). That being said, our own Marc Lagace went into the forest and played electric guitar and did a whole bunch of other wild things; read his full review:

The EcoFlow Tech River: Portable power wherever you need it: Full review

Aukey 30000mAh USB-C

Go future-proof with this $60 Aukey portable charger, which houses a 30000mAh battery. It has one USB-C port and two USB-A ports for other devices, and will charge one Android phone roughly five times, depending on usage.

See at Amazon

Aukey threw in a USB-A to USB-C cable, and there’s even a 45-day money back guarantee if you’re not satisfied. But with Quick Charge 3.0 on board, you should be more than happy.

The Kenruipu charger comes with its own AC adapter, comes in black or white. If you’re looking for a quality budget option, then this is your best bet.

Maxoak 50,000mAh

Maxoak’s $136 high-capacity powerbank is portable, but it’s also about the size of a paperback novel. That’s what you get when you cram 50,000mAh into a portable battery bank, and this one should last you days if you’re out and about. Headed out of town on a camping trip for the weekend? You’ll likely be able to keep your phone charged the whole time with this and then some.

See at Amazon

It should also be able to charge most laptops (not MacBooks) a couple times over, and Maxoak even supplies 14 different power connectors. At about $136, it’s not cheap, but it is a lot of juice.

Be-charming 24,000mAh

Be-charming’s $25 charger sports three USB ports and a built-in solar panel, so if you’re not able to charge it in a wall outlet, the sun can do the job for you (albeit incredibly slowly). This one’s perfect for camping, hiking, or any other outdoor activity where a charged phone might come in handy (uh, life?!).

See at Amazon

Be-charming’s battery features a super bright LED flashlight, which makes this another boon to your camping trip.

A note on air travel: What you need to know

While traveling in the U.S., the Federal Aviation Administration allows you to carry a device (like a power bank) with up to a 100 Wh capacity. You are also able to carry a limit of two spare batteries between 101 Wh and 160 Wh with prior approval from your airline. All lithium batteries must be in your carry-on bag and can’t be stowed with checked luggage.

Most power banks list their capacity in mAh (milliamp-hours) and not Wh (watt-hours). Let’s do some conversion using a 3.7-volt average. You can calculate from Wh to mAh using this formula:

(mAh)/1000 x (V) = (Wh)

After some rounding off, that means you can bring a 26,800 mAh power bank on your flight. With approval, you can bring up to two 43,240 mAh (again, some rounding is used) along as well. Just be sure not to put them in your checked luggage!

Other countries may have different regulations, so you should check before you travel outside the U.S.

Updated August 2018: Updated pricing and added Be-charming’s 24,000mAh solar charging power bank and Aukey’s 30000mAh USB-C bank. Removed Kenruipu charger because the Be-charming one’s better.

Shield your new Galaxy Note 9 with the best!

Life’s view is better when you take it to the edge.

For most of us, our phone is an extension of ourselves, and losing or damaging it can almost feel like breaking a finger.

But fear not, the protection your new Note 9 deserves is here. With your Galaxy Note 9 either already in your hands or on its way to you, it’s up to you to make sure it stays looking fresh. Whitestone provides the first true “Full-screen adhesive” tempered glass screen protector for curved bezel-less phones and they are the premier specialized brand for the high-end market of cellular devices. Thankfully, they have just released one of the most important accessories to keep your device looking just like it did when it first came out of the box.

For a long time, plastic or urethane protector have been the main option as screen protectors, but the truth is they don’t really give your phone true protection. They are vulnerable to scratches and even can reduce transparency, not to mention the greasy smudges or air bubbles that can happen when just putting them on. Then tempered glass protectors came about and allowed your screen to stay crystal clear.

But most other well-known brands try to be sneaky by falsely advertising themselves as full-cover tempered glass screen protector. Most only cover the flat side of your device and use a black cover adhesive along the side to hide lifts, or they have a poorly implemented visible Dot-Matrix which makes the device prone to touchscreen errors and can give off a rainbow/blurry effect. But that’s not the case with Dome Glass. The Whitestone Dome Glass uses several patented technologies to fill in those shortcomings and provide the Note 9 with the ultimate security like no other screen protector you’ve ever seen before.

Use Coupon code AC4NOTE9 for 30% off Note 9 Dome Glass
Use Coupon code AC4NOTE9 for 30% off Note 9 Dome Case

It is precisely because of Whitestone’s patented technologies that put them in a tier of their own. One such technique used is their patented LOCA technology which stands for ‘Liquid Optical Clear Adhesive’. LOCA is a revolutionary liquid glass adhesive that evenly disperses over the entire curved screen, forming a single, solid layer of anti-shatter glass. This is the only pure complete screen coverage out there for the Note 9, and as a bonus, the liquid can repair existing scratches and scuffs as well.

By filling in any cracks and then firmly setting, the Dome Glass creates a watertight, edge to edge protection. This can provide a new lease on life for your Note 9 if you are unfortunate enough to damage it before getting any protection in place. Now, there is no need to go out and spend the money on a whole new replacement screen due to a scratch or two, let the Whitestone Dome Glass come to the rescue.

With their LOCA technology, Whitestone also utilizes a unique curing process that harnesses the power of UV light to securely attach the glass to your phone giving you flawless protection. This is not a quick process by any means, but it is by far the best way to get the ultimate protection. Make sure you give yourself ample time to follow the step by step guide included (It’s also recommended to watch their installation video) and don’t just try to slap it on in a few minutes.

To prevent installation errors from happening, each Dome Glass two-pack includes three adhesive bottles, a UV curing light, an install frame, and all the other necessary components. Also, it is possible to use the extra glass to re-install if you do happen to make a mistake. The only thing not included in the package is the power adaptor for the UV light. But since it is micro USB compatible, you can use any USB wall adapter to power it. For help with the installation, you can follow this link to see some of the Whitestone Dome Glass reviews and installation tutorial videos.

Available in a single or as part of a two-pack (perfect for those on a family plan), the Whitestone Dome Glass is already a top seller on Amazon Worldwide and AT&T, and it is touted as one of the best-tempered glass protectors by NTT Docomo (the largest cellular provider in Japan). Moreover, every Whitestone Dome Glass product comes with a Limited Lifetime Warranty which means that if your Dome Glass is damaged or worn, you could request a replacement through Whitestone’s webpage.

These are only a few of the reasons why as a brand Whitestone is the only tempered glass screen protector recognized by SMAPP (Samsung Mobile Accessory Partnership Program). Samsung as a brand recognizes the quality of protection that the Dome Glass provides, you should too. Also, for a limited time, our very own Android Central readers can use the code AC4NOTE9 to save 30% off the Whitestone Dome Glass for the Note 9.

At $999.99 the Samsung Galaxy Note 9 is no small investment, it’s the top of the line. If you’re not going to settle for a second-rate phone, why would you settle for a second-rate screen protector? Well, the short answer: You shouldn’t! Get your own Dome Glass today!

Use Coupon code AC4NOTE9 for 30% off Note 9 Dome Glass
Use Coupon code AC4NOTE9 for 30% off Note 9 Dome Case

The best game controllers for Android

We live and breathe Android, but we’re also gamers and love playing just about everything on our phones and tablets. Gaming controllers make a big difference, and we’ve use nearly every one to find the best picks for you.

The SteelSeries Stratus XL is regularly at the top of our list for the best controller you can use for just about everything, due in no small part to its familiar feel and superior build quality. These are great controllers, regularly beating the rival MOGA an others for the top spot.

Best Overall

SteelSeries Stratus XL

$44 at Amazon

The best gaming controller for your Android phone.

If you want a no-compromises controller, something that feels just like the controller you use when you’re sitting in front of your television, SteelSeries has what you need.

Who should buy this controller

If you spend most of your gaming time in front of a television, especially one with an PlayStation or an Xbox connected to it, you’re going to feel right at home with the SteelSeries Stratus XL controller. It borrows a lot from the Xbox design language, offers battery life for days, and has more than enough buttons for any game your phone can play.

Is it a good time to but this controller?

SteelSeries has had the Stratus XL out for quite a while now, and it remains our favorite. It has also seen several price drops in the last year, making now the perfect time to pick one of these controllers up. We’re not expecting anything to replace this model any time soon, and what it already offers is superior to the competition.

Reasons to buy

• Great build quality
• Familiar design
• Solid battery life

Reasons not to buy

• No color options
• Bulkier design makes portability an issue

Your mobile gaming should be as comfortable as possible

Plain and simple, most Bluetooth gaming controllers suck. They’re shrunk down versions of other controllers which sacrifice battery life and make my hands cramp up after using them for a while. If you’re on an airplane for a few hours and want to keep yourself distracted, you want that controller to feel good the whole time you are using it.

This is what makes the SteelSeries Stratus XL stand out. It’s built as though you were playing on a full console, and it sells very well for that very reason.

Alternatives to the SteelSeries Stratus XL

Nice as it is, there’s no such thing as one controller for everyone. If you’re on a train every day and want something more portable, or if you’re looking for something small on purpose so you don’t need a bag to carry it, there are options from MOGA and 8BitDo which deliver on everything you want.

Runner-up

Moga Hero Power

A simple controller designed to hold your phone.

$28 at Amazon

If portability is what you need, MOGA offers the best with the Hero Power controller.

Folks who dig the Xbox key layout and prefer the controller actually hold the phone while playing are going to love the Hero Power from MOGA. It’s a nice flat design with side grips for different hand sizes to enjoy, but best of all the phone mount handles just about every phone in existence with east. The battery life isn’t the best out there, but it’ll get you through a day or two of gameplay with no problem and is still great for commuters.

Top budget option

8BitDo Zero

It’s just so tiny, you can’t help but love it.

$17 at Amazon

Small enough to hang from your keys, this controller is an extremely portable barebones option for any wallet.

Can we all take a moment to stop and appreciate how small and functional this controller is? It’s a classic SNES format in a package small enough that you could hang it from your car keys. That’s damned impressive. 8BitDo has a history of making quality hardware that appeals to Nintendo nerds, and this latest version if no exception. The buttons are nice and tactile, the battery will last for several days of gaming, and it even comes with a wrist strap just in case.

Bottom line

There is no such thing as one kind of gamer. If you want a controller for your phone that feels like a console controller, get yourself the SteelSeries Stratus XL. If portability is the most important feature, the Moga Hero Power is what you need.

For those on a budget, or just want something pocketable, 8BitDo nails it with the Zero. Either way you win, because each of these are exceptional controllers delivering quality gaming experiences. Have fun!

Credits — The team that worked on this guide

Russell Holly is a Contributing Editor at Android Central. He lives for the shiniest new thing, and loves explaining its potential to improve your life. Whatever you do, don’t tell his spouse about the drawer full of tech under the bed.

Updated August 2018: We’ve refreshed this page with our favorite gaming controllers for Android!

Chromebooks, microSD cards, and more are 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 the Samsung Evo microSD cards, an Acer Chromebook, an under-desk pedal exerciser, and more!

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!

Instagram is opening up verification and finally supporting authenticators

Here’s your destination for all things Insta!

When you think of social media apps, one of the first that probably comes to mind in Instagram.

Launched back in October 2010 as an iOS exclusive, Instagram has quickly grown up to be the most popular platform for sharing photos and videos with people around the world.

Whether you need a refresher of the app or want to stay on top of the latest news surround it, here’s everything you need to know about Instagram.

The latest Instagram news

August 28, 2018 — Instagram users can request verification and finally use code-based 2FA

The verified checkmark has always been a sought-after badge in social media, and starting today, Instagram is making it easier to get your own. While there was previously no way to initiate verification — you basically had to wait and hope Instagram randomly gifted you with the badge — users can finally request verification through the settings.

As with most new Instagram features, this will be a slow rollout, presumably hitting iOS users first and coming to Android users a few days or even weeks later. In case you’re curious to check, it should appear near the bottom of the Settings list in its own menu titled Request Verification.

In addition, Instagram accounts with large followings will begin to show an Account Info tab, which displays when the user first joined Instagram, the account’s country of origin, any previous usernames, and even any ads the user is currently running, among other details. This is all in the name of transparency and helping flush out fake or misleading accounts.

As far as secure sign-ins go, Instagram has offered two-factor authentication for a while, but until now the only way to receive a code was through SMS, rather than the much more secure method of generating a code through an app like Google Authenticator or Authy.

Starting today and rolling out to users over the coming weeks, you’ll soon be able to generate your sign-in code through your app of choice by going to the two-factor authentication menu in the Settings.

August 14, 2018 – Instagram users are reporting a strange hack that locks them out of their accounts

Since the beginning of August, Instagram users have reported a bizarre hack: users will be ‘logged out’ of their account, and once they go to log back in, their username will no longer exist. Their handle will be changed, along with their profile picture, as well as the email and phone number that’s connected to the account, making it impossible to access their information.

On Twitter, there have been more than 100 of these types of anecdotal reports in the last 24 hours alone. According to data from analytics platform Talkwalker, there have been more than 5,000 tweets from 899 accounts mentioning Instagram hacks just in the last seven days. Many of these users have been desperately tweeting at Instagram’s Twitter account for help. (Mashable)

Once the accounts have been hacked, the picture is typically set to a Disney or Pixar character. The email associated with the accounts is switched to a Russian .ru email address. Their bios and personal information are also deleted.

To prevent things like this from happening to your Instagram account, we recommend turning on two-factor authentication. Plenty of users who have been affected by the hack didn’t have two-factor authentication turned on — however, it is worth noting that even having this extra security step might not fully keep your IG profile safe.

The extra security measure didn’t protect Chris Woznicki, who was using two-factor authentication at the time his account was hacked 10 days ago. Woznicki says Instagram sent him security emails notifying him the email address on his account had been changed (once again, to a .ru address) and 2FA had been disabled. But by the time he saw the messages, it was too late and he had already lost access to his account, which had 660 followers. Others have reported similar occurrences. (Mashable)

July 19, 2018 — Instagram now shows you when your friends are online

If you frequently send direct messages to other Instagram users, you’ll now that there’s never been a way to know if your friends/followers are online and actively using the app. Thankfully, this changes today!

As part of a new update, Instagram will now show you when other people are online. On your inbox page for DMs and when browsing your friends list to share a post from your main feed, you’ll begin to see a green indicator next to profile pictures of other users if they’re on the app at that time. With this, it’ll be much easier to know if you’ll get an immediate response from someone if you send them a private message.

June 28, 2018 — A lite version of Instagram is now available in Mexico

Over the years, companies like Facebook, Twitter, and Spotify have released “lite” versions of their apps that offer all of the core features/experiences while being easier to run on slower hardware, taking up less storage space, and using less data.

Following this idea, Instagram Lite was just launched in Mexico and aims to offer all of Instagram’s best features while being much more accessible for people in developing markets.

Instagram Lite weighs in at just 573KB and allows you to post and view photos on your feed, use Instagram Stories, use all of the regular photo-editing tools, and more. There’s no way to send direct messages quite yet, but that’s something that’ll be coming soon.

Also, while Instagram Lite is currently limited to users in Mexico, there are plans to expand it to other markets in the near future.

Download: Instagram Lite (free)

June 20, 2018 ― IGTV has landed!

IGTV, Instagram’s next big project, is all about bringing long-form video content to the platform to try and compete with the likes of YouTube.

You can access IGTV through the main Instagram app or through the standalone IGTV one, and once you’re there, you can browse through videos by For You, Following, Popular, and Continue Watching.

All video content on IGTV is meant to be shared/created vertically, and while that might sound bonkers at first, Instagram says that “IGTV is built for how you actually use your phone: vertical and full screen.”

Anyone can create IGTV content and upload videos through the Instagram app on your phone or through a web client.

Download: IGTV (free)

All the big details

The Home tab is where you’ll spend most of your time

When you’re using Instagram, most of your time will likely be spent on the Home tab. This is the page you’re taken to each time you open the app, and it acts as a central hub for everything Instagram has to offer.

At the very top, you’ll see three icons. From left to right, these are for taking a photo for Instagram Stories, opening IGTV, and going to your inbox for direct messages. Below that are circles for people you follow so you can view any of their Instagram Stories posts.

Underneath all of this is your main feed. Here, you’ll be able to endlessly browse through posts from people and hashtags you follow. On each post there are buttons for liking it, leaving a comment, privately sending it to one of your contacts, and adding it to your Saved page (more on that later).

Find new stuff on the Explore page

If you tap on the magnifying glass icon at the very bottom, you’ll be redirected to the Explore page.

On Explore, you can scroll through photos/videos from people and hashtags you might not be following but that Instagram thinks you’ll be interested in nonetheless.

You can search for a specific person or hashtag at the very top, and below that are recommended categories to filter the page by — including things like Humor, Animals, TV & Movies, and more. By default, this is set to For You.

Play around with the editing tools

Editing photos has been a big part of Instagram for years, and in 2018, that hasn’t changed one bit.

After selecting a photo you want to post, you can browse through a list of numerous filters. As you tap each one, you’ll instantly see how it’s going to affect the look of your picture. If you don’t like any of the filters you’re seeing, keep swiping to the left until you see the Manage button. Tap on this and you can add even more to your collection.

In addition to filters, tapping the Edit button at the bottom will allow you to fine-tune your photos even more with controls for the brightness, contrast, fade, highlights, etc. And, if all else fails, tapping the sunshine icon at the top-middle will enable you to control the Lux for your post and instantly ramp up the saturation and brightness for a much more vibrant-looking photo.

Take advantage of the Saved feature

If you come across a post on Instagram that you particularly like, it’s easy to save it for later without notifying anyone.

When looking at the post you want to save, tap the bookmark icon at the very right. Once you do this, head over to your profile,tap that same icon once again, and it’ll be right there for your viewing pleasure.

No one is notified when you add their photos to the Saved section, and if you want to go a step further, you can create a Collection to categorize the posts you add here.

Be sure to check out IGTV

This past June, Instagram added one of the biggest new features to its app in years — IGTV.

IGTV is Instagram’s take on long-form video, and unlike something such as YouTube, is designed around having people create and share vertical video content.

You can access IGTV through the main Instagram app or by downloading the standalone IGTV one, and upon opening it, you’re able to browse through videos from people you follow and what’s currently trending/popular.

IGTV clearly has a long ways to go before it’s on the same level as YouTube, but even this early on in its life has a lot going for it. The interface is easy to understand, it’s integrated nicely into an app that billions of people are already using, and anyone can make their own IGTV content and manage it through their phone or a web client.

Download: IGTV (free)

There’s more to see with Instagram Stories

Instagram Stories is basically Instagram’s way of taking Snapchat head-on, and while I briefly mentioned it in this guide, there’s not enough time to dive into everything it has to offer.

Thankfully, Hayato already put together a fantastic guide going through absolutely everything you could want to know about Stories. Check it out below!

Instagram Stories on Android: Everything you need to know!

This $52 RAVPower 26800mAh portable charger can power up everything you own

Stay powered up for days!

The RAVPower 26800mAh PD portable charger is down to $51.99 with code THRIFTER058. This code actually brings it down to a dollar or two better than outside deals, and we’ve only seen it go this low once before.

That 26800mAh battery carries a lot of juice for one charger, and it shows. Because of the Power Delivery functionality, the RAVPower can charge a Nintendo Switch while you play it. The port can reach 30W, which means it can charge an Apple MacBook, too. It only takes 4 to 5 hours to completely recharge. The large capacity and multiple outputs means you can charge multiple devices to full at the same time, and it will probably last through several charges for most gear. Users give it 4.4 stars based on 542 reviews.

See on Amazon

Apple Offering 30-Minute One-on-One Phone Lessons on Editing Images With Photos App

Apple recently started offering customers one-on-one phone-based tutorial sessions with a “Photos expert,” allowing them to receive training on using the image editing tools built into the Photos app.

According to a new support document, Apple users in the United States can sign up for a 30 minute session with an Apple Support Advisor that’s an expert in “using Photos to transform pictures from good to amazing.”

It’s not clear how useful these sessions will be for customers as they seem to be conducted over the phone with no visual aid included.

You’ll have 30 minutes one-on-one with a Photos expert who’ll describe how to edit pictures from your own collection. They’ll tailor the session to your skill level and show you how to get the results you want.

The support document instructs customers to update their Macs and iOS devices to the latest versions and call using speakerphone or headphones for hands-free access to editing tools while talking to an advisor.

Apple says that customers will learn about all of the editing tools that Photos offers, from Auto Enhance to detailed color and light adjustments. The lesson will also cover editing Live Photos and images taken in Portrait mode along with tools like cropping, filters, and more.

While phone-based Photos app tutorials appear to be a new offering, Apple has long offered online lessons for new device purchasers.

The Personal Setup feature, for example, lets new device owners get help from Apple in store or online, with Apple support staff helping users find apps, personalize their devices, and discover key features.

On the iPhone, for example, Personal Setup covers details like transferring contacts, setting up email accounts, and using Find My iPhone, plus it includes “handy camera tips” and App Store suggestions.

Apple also hosts many “Today at Apple” training sessions in its online stores on topics like editing videos, getting started with coding, shooting photos on iPhone, photo walks that focus on photography tips, and more.

Apple’s new online Photos session appears to be something of an online extension of Today at Apple and the Personal Setup process, with Apple perhaps planning to extend these online tutorials to other topics in the future.

Tags: Photos, Today at Apple
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