Android vs. IOS: Best mobile OS for writers

Smartphone revolution is here and it continues to change the way we communicate with one another. If you are not an Android user, then iOS is your darling any day. And with top tier tech companies like Google, Apple, Samsung, Microsoft and Amazon being at the centre of today’s mobile phones manufacturing, everyone is always glued to interwebs in the hope that they will for the next big thing in gadgets releases. For a student in high school, college or University, using writing Apps requesting a paper from writing services is the best news ever.

This post explores mobile OS for writers, and the aim is to make a distinction between Android and iOS, thereof, with finality, decide on the best. But, before further ado, here are a few things to job your mind.

Portability is the key to today’s writing gadgets

There are as many gadgets for writers as you can think of, but why is everyone shifting to smartphones from laptops? Well, the work of bloggers is to keep updating followers with breaking news, reviews and post educational content on a variety of subjects. Smartphones are the new kid in the block for these tasks because with writing Apps installed on your iPhone, Nokia or Samsung, you can always keep your readers abreast with everything they want to know.

However, the big question is; which is the best OS for this profession, especially between Android and iOS?

Don’t fall for marketing gimmicks

It is easier to fall in love with a fancy-looking e-gadget than falling in love these days, thanks to an information age where everyone is roped into a small world of high-speed internet connectivity.  Everywhere you look, a product reviewer is trying to present an opinion that may be far from truth yet makes you click ‘add to cart’ button. This is unhealthy, especially for a dummy writer looking for a device that runs on an Operating System suitable for professionals in the writing enterprise.  This post will keep you safe from making a wrong decision regarding the best OS for writers, so read on for details in the next section.

Android vs. iOS: The bare knuckle for writers

If you’ve always been stuck between Apple’s iOS and Google’s Android; which are arguably world’s top competing Operating Systems for writers, then it is time to get smarter than you have been thus far.  Take a look below for details.

·        Productivity

Mobile operating systems differ from each other on productivity, and with iOS and Android being the subject of this blog, it is important to make comparison on this basis before giving an honest opinion. Android carries the day on multitasking, quick switching between Apps, split screen use, interactive widgets for desktop and running multiple apps in background.  IOS, on the other hand, ranks well in bookmarking sites, quick toggles, hyper-linking addresses, opening maps and calendar linking.

·        Privacy and security

When using a smartphone to write or publish a blog, it is imperative to weigh into issues of security and data privacy. Will someone hack into your login and steal your post?  Well, iOS is safe for those using proxy servers, on-device encryption, and cloud backup, anti Wi-Fi tracking, end-to-end push encryptions and VPN. In fact, it is ranks better than Android on this front.

·        Input and Language

While iOS supports non-manufacturer languages, enables underlining of texts, and presents writers with multiple emoji support, Android remains a fair competitor because to iOS in all these areas.

·        Support for Peripheries

From Bluetooth, external keyboard, USB drive, to use of memory cards, Android supports all peripheries linked to an external device like a computer. IOS fails fairly on interchangeable external memory cards because it only allows importing videos and photos.

·        Connectivity and communication

A writer who uses a smartphone to publish blogs must also weigh into the issue of communication and connectivity.  While iOS fails on direct transfer of files and only allowing one to connect cameras and transfers pictures, it ranks fairly against Android which tops the chase here.

Final Thoughts

Using a mobile device like a tablet running on either iOS or Android should also be about one return on investment when making a living writing as a writer. In this regard, gadgets that run on android take the lead, not only because they are affordable even for a student looking for thesis help, but also because they support many of the best writing Apps in Google Playstore and compatible with APK downloads.

The best Xiaomi phones you can buy

Start here if you’re looking for a phone that offers excellent value for money.

Xiaomi is a smartphone manufacturer that is growing in stature day-by-day, despite having limited presence outside of Asia. The company is now the fifth-largest smartphone vendor globally, a considerable achievement seeing as how the brand started selling phones outside China just three years ago.

Impressive, certainly, and it seems Xiaomi is set to go toe-to-toe with the likes of Apple and Samsung in the higher reaches of the smartphone market. The company overtook Samsung to become the largest smartphone brand in India late last year, and is slowly making its way to European markets.

While so many may have heard the name, the phones are still relatively alien to many in the West. Xiaomi has a reputation for building devices that are an extremely good value without cutting corners. If you’re interested in picking up a Xiaomi phone or just interested in the brand, these are the phones you’ll need to know about.

Xiaomi Mi A2

Released July 2018: The Mi A2 is a follow-up to last year’s Mi A1, which was the first Xiaomi phone to offer Android One. Xiaomi’s 2018 Android One device comes with a slew of improvements on the hardware front, including a beefier Snapdragon 660 chipset and 6GB of RAM along with 128GB of internal storage.

But the main draw here is the camera — featuring a 12MP + 20MP camera setup at the back, the Mi A2 sports one of the best cameras in the $300 category. The camera takes fantastic photos in both daylight and low-light scenarios, and there’s also a 20MP front camera with AI-assisted portrait mode that works particularly well for selfies.

Xiaomi Mi A2 review: A great sequel with a fantastic camera

As for battery life, the 3000mAh battery delivers a day’s worth of usage without any issues, and you get Quick Charge 3.0 as standard — and Quick Charge 4.0 if you’re picking up the device in India. The Mi A2 is slated to pick up the Android 9.0 Pie update sometime before the end of the year.

The Mi A2 is available in a host of European markets as well as India, and the phone will be available in most global markets where Xiaomi currently sells phones.

See at Mi.com

Xiaomi Mi Mix 2S

Released March 2018: The Mi Mix 2S is Xiaomi’s first flagship of 2018. The phone shares the same design aesthetic as last year’s Mi Mix 2, but has key upgrades both on the hardware and software fronts. The Mi Mix 2S is powered by Qualcomm’s latest 10nm Snapdragon 845 chipset, and comes with 8GB of RAM, 256GB of internal storage, and global LTE bands.

There’s also a variant with 6GB of RAM and storage options of 64GB and 128GB, but these models don’t offer global LTE connectivity. The highlight of the Mi Mix 2S is the dual camera arrangement at the back, with the phone featuring two 12MP imaging sensors. The primary 12MP camera is a Sony IMX 363 sensor and offers 1.4-micron pixels, whereas the secondary sensor is made by Samsung and is used as a telephoto lens.

The primary camera may just be the best Xiaomi has offered in a phone to date, and DxOMark give it a score of 97, just a few points shy of the Pixel 2 XL. The phone holds its own in daylight conditions, but it’s in low-light shooting modes where the camera truly shines. A lot of that has to do with the new AI-assisted features baked into the camera, giving it the ability to pick out the best shooting mode based on the lighting conditions.

Xiaomi Mi Mix 2S review: Great hardware and vastly improved software

The AI features also extend to portrait mode, giving you the ability to set the intensity of the background blur and even animate the background bokeh. On the software side of things, the Mi Mix 2S is the first Xiaomi phone to come with Android 8.0 Oreo out of the box. It offers the latest iteration of MIUI — MIUI 9.5 — and the interface as a whole feels much more polished.

With MIUI 9.5, you can also finally restore settings and apps from a previous Android phone or using your Google account. Previously, you were limited to choosing restore options from Xiaomi’s own Mi Cloud account — and the latest move makes MIUI a more enticing option to customers in Western markets.

The phone is on sale in China for the equivalent of $540. The variant with 8GB of RAM and 256GB of storage costs $640, and right now there’s no indication that the phone will be sold in global markets. But you can always pick it up from the likes of GearBest.

See at GearBest

Xiaomi Redmi Note 5 Pro

Released February 2018: Xiaomi unveiled the Redmi Note 5 Pro in India back in February, and it’s safe to say that the device is the best budget phone in the country by some margin. after just four months of sales, Xiaomi netted over 5 million sales for the Redmi Note 5 series, making it the fastest-selling lineup in the country. A lot of what makes the Redmi Note 5 Pro so great comes down to the hardware: it is the first phone in the world to be powered by Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 636, and the performance is staggering.

The Snapdragon 636 itself is an underclocked version of the Snapdragon 660, which is seen on devices that cost three times as much as the Redmi Note 5 Pro. Other specs include up to 6GB of RAM and 64GB of internal storage, along with a dual camera setup at the back. That camera is also interesting, as it is one of the best available in the budget segment right now.

Xiaomi Redmi Note 5 Pro review: King of the hill

For the equivalent of $220, there really isn’t a device that offers quite as much as the Redmi Note 5 Pro. The phone is available via weekly flash sales in India, with the base variant with 4GB of RAM and 64GB of storage available for ₹13,999 ($214). The variant with 6GB of RAM and 64GB of storage retails for ₹16,999 ($260).

Considering what’s on offer with the device, the Redmi Note 5 Pro is an absolute steal. Xiaomi is the king of the budget segment, and strong sales of the Redmi Note 4 last year allowed the brand to overtake Samsung. With the Redmi Note 5 Pro, the Chinese manufacturer is set to solidify its position in India.

See at Flipkart

Xiaomi Mi Mix 2

Released October 2017: Xiaomi made the smartphone segment stand up and take notice with the Mi Mix in 2016. The device’s ultra-thin bezels combined with the ceramic construction made it an enticing option for enthusiasts, but with availability limited primarily to Asian markets, it wasn’t the easiest phone to get a hold of. All that’s changed with the Mi Mix 2: the phone has the same basic design as the Mi Mix, but with a smaller 5.99-inch screen and a more rounded design that makes it much more accessible.

And with Xiaomi offering the device in over 30 markets, it is widely available for purchase. One of the highlights of the Mi Mix 2 is global LTE connectivity, with the phone featuring 42 bands in total — the most of any phone sold today, according to Xiaomi. Then there’s that evocative bezel-less design, which sees three edges of the screen sporting razor-thin margins.

Xiaomi Mi Mix 2 review: Astounding, audacious, accessible

Like the first-gen Mi Mix, the front camera has been moved to the bottom bar, which has also shrunk. The camera module itself is smaller, and has been blacked out to make it blend into the frame, creating a seamless look at the front. Xiaomi has retained the ceramic back, but switched to an aluminum mid-frame. There is a version with an all-ceramic chassis, but that particular model is exclusive to China and sold in limited numbers.

The Mi Mix 2 is no slouch either, sporting a Snapdragon 835, 6GB or 8GB of RAM, 64GB/128GB/256GB of internal storage, 12MP camera, 5MP front shooter, Wi-Fi ac with MIMO, Bluetooth 5.0, and a 3400mAh battery. One of the main drawbacks of last year’s Mi Mix was the primary camera, but this time around Xiaomi addressed the issue by using the same 12MP imaging sensor as the one on the Mi 6. As a result, images taken with the Mi Mix 2 look incredible.

With the Mi Mix 2, Xiaomi has made its bezel-less design accessible to a more mainstream audience. The device is now on sale in a handful of Asian markets, including India, where the model with 6GB of RAM and 128GB storage is available for ₹32,999 ($500). Xiaomi also kicked off sales in Europe, starting with the Spanish market.

If you’re looking to pick up the phone from a country where it isn’t officially available, then you’ll have to go through a reseller like GearBest.

See at GearBest

Xiaomi Mi 6

Released April 2017: The Mi 6 became the first sub-$500 phone to be powered by the Snapdragon 835. It also has the distinction of being the first Xiaomi device to ditch the 3.5mm jack. The highlight of the phone is the dual-camera setup at the back, which includes a standard 12-megapixel wide-angle lens, along with a 12MP telephoto lens that delivers 2x lossless zoom.

The design has picked up a considerable upgrade from last year’s Mi 5, with Xiaomi offering a chassis with rounded corners and two panes of glass sandwiched by a stainless steel frame. As you’d imagine from a Xiaomi flagship, the Mi 6 has beefy specs in the form of a 2.45GHz Snapdragon 835, 5.15-inch Full HD display, 6GB of RAM, 64GB/128GB internal memory, 8MP front shooter, Wi-Fi ac, Bluetooth 5.0, NFC, and USB-C.

Xiaomi Mi 6 review: A new beginning

The removal of the 3.5mm jack allowed Xiaomi to fit in a larger 3,350mAh battery — 15% larger than the battery in the Mi 5 — while also making the device splash-resistant. The Mi 6 is also offered in a variety of color options, as well as a limited edition ceramic version and a silver variant with a mirror finish.

The phone retails for the equivalent of $420 in China, and with availability limited to a few Asian markets, you’ll have to go through a Chinese site to get your hands on a device if you’re looking to use it in other markets. Just be aware that it doesn’t have global LTE bands, unlike the Mi Mix 2. You get bands 1/3/5/7/838/39/40/41, but if you’re in a market where there’s LTE connectivity on those bands, the Mi 6 is a great option for under $500.

See at GearBest

Xiaomi Mi A1

Released October 2017: If the Mi Mix 2 is innovative for its hardware, the Mi A1 is groundbreaking for its software. The phone is the first from Xiaomi to not run MIUI, with the Chinese manufacturer collaborating with Google on the Android One platform. As a result, you get a device with Xiaomi’s design language and Google’s software vision. The fact that the device costs under $250 is the icing on the cake.

The Mi A1 has a premium design with antenna bands running along the top and bottom of the phone at the back, and the aluminum body gives it an upmarket look. The phone also has dual 12MP rear cameras, with the same configuration as the Mi 6: a wide-angle lens augmented by a telephoto lens for 2x optical zoom.

The rest of the specs include a 5.5-inch Full HD display, Snapdragon 625, 4GB of RAM, 64GB of internal storage, microSD slot, 5MP front shooter, 3.5mm jack, and a 3080mAh battery that charges over USB-C.

Xiaomi Mi A1 review: Best of both worlds

In the two months the Mi A1 has been on sale, Xiaomi has rolled out two updates, delivering the latest security patch. The phone is set to receive the Android 8.0 Oreo update before the end of the year, and is slated to be in the first wave of devices to pick up the Android P update once it becomes available next year.

The Mi A1 is widely available, with Xiaomi kicking off sales in all markets it currently has a presence. In India, the device is sold on Flipkart for ₹14,999 ($235).

See at Flipkart

Xiaomi Redmi 5A

Released November 2017: The Redmi 5A has the distinction of being the most affordable Xiaomi handset to date, with the phone making its debut in India for under $100. Xiaomi saw a lot of success with the Redmi 4A, and it didn’t alter the formula too much with the Redmi 5A: you get the same basic hardware, but the lower price means the phone will be accessible to a wider audience.

The Redmi 5A is aimed at the Indian market, where the base variant with 2GB of RAM and 16GB of storage is on sale for just ₹4,999 ($77). That’s ₹1,000 ($15) less than the Redmi 4A, and while that price is limited to the first five million units, Xiaomi’s decision to sell the device for under ₹5,000 should give the brand an added boost when it comes to sales figures.

Specs of the Redmi 5A include a 5.0-inch 720p display, Snapdragon 425, 2GB/3GB of RAM, 16GB/32GB of internal storage, dedicated microSD slot along with two SIM card slots, 13MP rear camera, 5MP front shooter, and a 3000mAh battery. On the software front, the phone runs MIUI 9 out of the box.

The Redmi 5A is all about delivering incredible value in the entry-level segment, and it manages to do that with aplomb.

See at Flipkart

Xiaomi Mi Max 2

Released May 2017: The Mi Max turned out to be a surprise hit for Xiaomi last year, so the company rolled out an updated variant with a better design and upgraded internals. The large 6.44-inch screen combined with a massive battery makes the Mi Max 2 a multimedia powerhouse.

With the latest iteration, Xiaomi switched to a unibody design with antenna lines at the back, and made the edges rounded to make it easier to hold the device. The phone isn’t made for one-handed usage, but it is a far sight better to look at and use when seen next to the Mi Max.

Xiaomi Mi Max 2 review: Bigger is better

The Mi Max 2 features a 6.44-inch Full HD display, Snapdragon 625, 4GB of RAM, 64GB/128GB of internal storage, microSD card slot, 12MP camera, 5MP front camera, and a huge 5300mAh battery that is designed to provide at least two days’ worth of usage from a full charge.

The sheer size of the Mi Max 2 makes it a niche device, but if you’re in the market for a phone with a large screen and class-leading battery life, there isn’t a better device available today.

See at Flipkart

Updated August 2018: This article was updated with the Mi A2.

Google Duo is finally coming to iOS and Android tablets

A little over two years after its launch, Google Duo, Google’s FaceTime competitor, is getting an upgrade — it’s finally coming to Android and iOS tablets, meaning that you’re not limited to just your smartphone if you want to use the service. The update is rolling out to users starting today, so if you don’t yet have the new version of Google Duo with support for tablets, you may need to hold tight for a few days.

According to Google, the entire Duo app has been optimized for tablets. What that means is that there is support for both portrait and landscape modes, and Google says the service should be easy to set up on tablets, and easy to understand given the customized user interface.

Duo comes to Android and iOS tablets! With Duo v39, starting to roll out today, you can enjoy the same great Duo quality on a large screen. We’ve optimized the whole app for tablets – easy setup, custom UI, and support for both portrait and landscape.pic.twitter.com/ABCwVdqn7A

— Justin Uberti (@juberti) August 27, 2018

Google Duo, in general, has had a bit of a tough launch. The service was launched alongside Allo, the text messaging service, a few years ago — but since then Allo has been depreciated and Google will instead be focusing on developing the default Android Messages app, and integrating Chat, the next-gen messaging standard based on RCS. Since launch, Duo has gained a number of features — including integration with Google Assistant, screen sharing, and more.

It is nice to see Google continuing to update Duo, and it makes sense that Duo would live on past Allo. Around a year ago, Google announced that Duo had hit 100 million downloads — so it’s likely even more used now, a year later. Still, it’s unlikely that the app is anywhere near as popular as the likes of Apple’s FaceTime, which comes pre-installed on all Apple devices. Still, the clear advantage that Google has over Apple is that Duo works on both iOS and Android devices — so Duo users can talk with their friends who are using iPhones and iPads.

It will be interesting to see how Google continues to update and refine Duo, and if the app continues to grow in popularity.

Editors’ Recommendations

• Redesigned Google Fit uses Heart Points and Move Minutes to keep you active
• Google Lens is now available as a stand-alone app or inside Google Camera
• Schlage locks and Google Home team up to make your smart home safer
• Google Assistant: Everything you need to know
• Get all your pods in one place with Google’s streamlined Podcasts app

8K TV, A.I. everything, and more trends we expect to see at IFA 2018

IFA is right around the corner, and if history is any indication, we’re about to see some seriously awesome tech. We’ve kept our ears to the ground and snooped around to learn what’s coming this year, and one thing is certain: You do not want to miss the news coming from IFA 2018, and Digital Trends has boots on the ground to bring it to you. Here’s a teaser of what to expect over the coming days from Europe’s biggest technology show.

TV

Televisions will probably steal the lion’s share of media spotlights this year, and that’s because this will be the year of 8K TVs. Yes, we’ve seen 8K TVs before, but the news we expect to hear this year is that 8K TVs will finally go on sale in the coming months. Many of you will balk, but we’ve got some pretty compelling reasons why 8K TV is worth getting excited about.

Aside from 8K, we do expect microLED to remain a buzzword, and of course, there should be some OLED surprises in store. We’ll be positioned in the right place at the right time to get you up close and personal with all the new TV hotness, so stay tuned!

Phones

IFA has never been a big show for phones – most brands save their best for Mobile World Congress, held in February – and this year will probably be no different. A few new toss-ins from Chinese phone makers like Huawei and ZTE are likely, but don’t get too excited since many of these phones never make it to the US.

Samsung’s already released its Galaxy S9, and LG isn’t expected to bring anything new, but Sony could surprise us. We’ll know for sure by Thursday morning!

Smart home and appliances

If its one thing you can count on at IFA, it’s a glut of smart home devices and smart appliances. This year, we expect to see not just internet connectivity, but A.I. built into just about everything. We also expect Samsung to push its Bixby voice assistant and Smart Things ecosystem, while LG will hopefully show off more of what its ThinkQ A.I. system can do. The trend this show should be interoperability – your fridge talking to your washer, which is talking to your phone, which is talking to your TV, and so on.

Our big question: Will all this “smart” stuff finally become easy to use?

Voice assistant

Alexa! Hello Google! Alexa! Hello Google! ALEXA!  Imagine several buildings chock full of people trying to use voice assistants. It’s going to happen – we’ll see voice control in refrigerators, washers, dryers, TVs, speakers, smart displays, mirrors, doorbells, security cameras, projectors … the list goes on.

Of course, recognizing accents has never been either the Google Assistant’s or Alexa’s forte, so rather than see voice assistants integrated into more devices, let’s see some improvement on the voice recognition end.

Robots overlords

Sony already unveiled the latest edition of its Aibo Robot dog, and we’re sure to see it at the show. But Sony will have competition in Berlin this year, as we expect teems of robots armed with cloud-based artificial intelligence to be found vacuuming floors, playing games, and clinging to people. Yes, LG’s got a wearable robot designed to aid mobility and it looks like its straight out of a movie. We’re going to give it a try and let you know what it’s like.

Computing

Franky, it will be a quiet year for PCs. Digital Trends’ Senior Editor Matt Smith told us most laptop announcements will involve incremental improvements, but no bold upgrades. Nvidia just unleashed a slew of graphics cards, so it’s unlikely we’ll see any movement there, and though the promise of a Qualcomm Snapdragon-powered PC still lingers, we’re starting to wonder if that’s just going to take a few more years.

IFA’s press day starts Wednesday morning in Berlin, Germany at 10:00 AM. You can follow our coverage by simply following @digitaltrends on Twitter and Instagram. You can also catch all our video coverage at our YouTube channel.

Editors’ Recommendations

• Amazon Echo Show Review
• Samsung may launch its first 8K TVs this year, but will the U.S. get them?
• The best shows on Netflix right now (August 2018)
• Alexa can play smart home camera video recaps on Echo, Fire devices
• The best Alexa-enabled devices

Google Duo now supports Android tablets and iPads

The update is making its way to users over the coming days.

Google Duo, Google’s big video chatting app that’s been around since August 2016, is just now getting support for video calls on Android tablets and iPads.

The Duo Twitter account confirmed this news on August 27 and noted that the new functionality will be rolling out to users “over the next few days.”

Rolling out over the next few days, the newest #GoogleDuo update lets you make video calls on Android tablets and iPads → https://t.co/jNB787MXhd pic.twitter.com/Kz3MeL5RUU

— Google (@Google) August 27, 2018

It’s hard to believe the app’s gone this long without support for larger form factors, and while it’s great to see this is finally being added, it seems like a strange feature to put resources in before group video calling when users have been nagging for that pretty much since Duo’s release.

If you’re a Google Duo user, what do you think about the new support for tablets?

Download: Google Duo (free)

Publicist for Metallica, Madonna and Green Day Joins Apple Music

Brian Bumbery, a publicist who has worked with with Metallica, Green Day, Madonna, and Chris Cornell, has joined Apple, reports Variety. Bumbery ran his own press firm, BB Gun Press, before deciding to join Apple as a Director of Apple Music Publicity.

Bumbery’s hiring comes as Jimmy Iovine, a key Apple Music executive, has completed his transition into a consulting role. Rumors suggested in March that Iovine would step back from daily involvement in Apple Music starting in August to spend more time with his family.

Apple Music’s new global head of music is Oliver Schusser, who was appointed to the position in April and reports directly to Eddy Cue.

Bumbery’s BB Gun Press company has been working with Apple Music for “many months” according to Variety, so his hire has not come as a total surprise. Prior to starting BB Gun Press, Bumbery spent eight years at Warner Bros. Records.

Tag: Apple Music
Discuss this article in our forums

How to unlock the galaxy skin in Fortnite

Earlier this month, Samsung announced that with the launch of the Samsung Galaxy Note 9, Epic Games would also be launching the Fortnite Beta for Android. People who preordered the new smartphone between August 10th and August 23rd were given a special offer that included the option to choose between a pair of AKG noise-canceling headphones or 15,000 V-bucks and an exclusive galaxy Fortnite skin. While that offer is no longer available, there is still another way that players can unlock and redeem this rare cosmetic item.

Unlock the Galaxy skin without a pre-order

First, you’ll need to own or buy a Galaxy Note 9 or Galaxy Tab S4. These are the only Samsung products eligible for the offer and pre-ordering them is not required. It’s important to know that Samsung has limited the offer to one skin per mobile device which means if your friend already redeemed the skin on their eligible phone or tablet, you won’t be able to use it again.

Next, you must download Fortnite from Galaxy Apps in your Samsung folder. You can presently find the banner for it under the tab labeled GAMES in the store. Tap the banner and select INSTALL & OPEN. Agree to the terms and conditions to finish installing the game. You will also need to have an Epic Games account to log in.

Once you have the game up and running, play three games of Fortnite on your phone. Make sure that after you finish each round, you select “Return to Lobby”. This will ensure that each match counts toward your three-game total.

After you complete all that’s listed above, wait for one to two days and you’ll receive a gift box with the Fortnite Galaxy skin inside!

Yea, you’re going to need a Galaxy phone

At this time, it seems that owning a Galaxy Note 9 or Tab S4 is the only way you can get this psychedelic space-themed item. Who knew that players would have to spend upwards of $600 to get an exclusive skin? While this technically doesn’t count as a microtransaction, this poses the question — do players really like loot boxes, and other forms of buying in-game items?

Epic Games hasn’t mentioned if the availability of this skin will change over time but we do know that Samsung has encouraged players to redeem the offer by 12/31/18 or you may risk losing it. If you can’t get a hold of the galaxy skin, don’t sweat it too much! Exclusive cosmetic items are on the rise in Fortnite, especially with its release on various gaming platforms so there will be plenty of more opportunities to get a cool, rare skin for your collection.

Editors’ Recommendations

• ‘Fortnite’ for Android beta confirmed as timed exclusive for Samsung Galaxy Note 9 and more
• How to get ‘Fortnite: Battle Royale’ on an Android device
• Rare copies of ‘Fortnite’ are selling for up to $1,000 on Amazon
• ‘Fortnite: Battle Royale’ review
• ‘Fortnite Battle Royale’ is coming to Android, but not the Google Play Store

A nanofiber cloth could pull fresh drinking water straight from the air

Imagine if it was possible for people in drought-stricken parts of the world to literally pull fresh drinking water from the air. Such technology does, in fact, exist in the form of fog collectors. Fog collectors are mesh nets, able to capture between 2 and 10 percent of moisture in the air, depending on the efficiency of the material used. But it’s not a perfect solution since, as its name suggests, it relies on fog to work — thereby limiting it mainly to high altitude, mountainous areas, close to cold offshore currents. Could modern technology provide a better approach?

Yes, it can, suggests work coming of out Ohio’s University of Akron. Researchers at Akron, led by Shing-Chung Wong, have been developing a special nanofiber cloth material which could be used to gather water even in some of the world’s driest regions.

“What I’ve done is to develop a nanofiber membrane, based on an electrospinning process that we have studied for more than a decade,” Wong, a professor in the university’s Department of Mechanical Engineering, told Digital Trends. “The idea is to harvest water from the most abundant source that we have: the atmosphere.”

The electrospun polymers process Wong referred to describes a technique for the creation of nanoscale fibers, wrapped around tiny fragments of expanded graphite. An article for New Scientist aptly describes it as being similar to “spaghetti around meatballs.” The high surface-area-to-volume ratio of the nanoscale fiber polymers around the expanded graphite provides a large surface area for water droplets to condense on. When the material is squeezed or heated, the water drips out of it.

University of Akron

According to Wong, it should be possible to gather up to 180 liters of water daily for every square meter of the material. The technology can function without a battery, but using one to cool an attached element makes it more versatile and effective in locations such as deserts.

“This work is to address a humanitarian crisis,” Wong continued. “The ultimate goal is to provide a viable solution to help those areas around the world which are affected by drought. In my opinion, every human being is entitled to fresh water; not just the richest people globally.”

Going forward, Wong wants to explore new form factors for the material. For instance, he suggested that a backpack might prove the ideal design, since this contains an interior hollow section which could be utilized to gather pooling water — a bit like a mobile water cooler. “If we can get some research funding, it would really help speed up the process to develop a workable prototype,” he said.

The work was recently presented at the National Meeting and Exposition of the American Chemical Society in Boston.

Editors’ Recommendations

• Super absorbent wound dressing will swell up to save soldiers’ lives in combat
• Solar-powered nanoscale coating could defrost frozen car windows
• Even in the desert, an innovative device pulls fresh water out of thin air
• Electrified ‘fog harp’ could make power plants more sustainable
• There’s a new way to 3D print graphene, the strongest material on Earth

YouTube is making it easier to track how much time you spend watching videos

Large tech companies like Google and Apple are slowly but surely realizing that people are addicted to their phones — and that it’s not a good thing. Both are rolling out features aimed specifically at helping people track how much time they spend on their devices — and Google’s latest effort to help people track their usage comes in the form of a new “Time Watched” section in the YouTube app, as well as integration with Android’s Digital Wellbeing feature.

In the Time Watched section of the YouTube app, which is available on both the Android and iOS versions of the app, you can see how long you’ve spent watching videos that particular day, the day before, and the previous 7 days. You’ll also get a daily average. The stats aren’t just derived from time spent watching videos on mobile either — any time you watch YouTube videos and are signed in to your Google account, it’ll count towards the stats. YouTube Music and YouTube TV, however, are not included.

“Our goal is to provide a better understanding of time spent on YouTube, so you can make informed decisions about how you want YouTube to best fit into your life,” said Google in its blog post.

To find the Time Watched menu in the YouTube app, simply head to the Account menu by tapping on your profile picture in the top right-hand corner. Then hit the Time Watched option, and you should be able to see your stats. Google is also promising that Digital Wellbeing on Android, which is currently on beta, will be able to deep link to Time Watched on the YouTube app. At the bottom of Time Watched, you’ll also get shortcuts to other aspects of Digital Wellbeing.

Within the Time Watched section, you’ll get more than just statistics. You’ll also be able to get tools to be able to manage how long you spend watching videos. For example, you can tell the YouTube app to remind you to take a break from watching videos, and you can set when that reminder should kick in. You can also turn off autoplay features, and tell YouTube to send all notifications in one daily digest, instead of when they become available.

It’s nice to see the likes of Google and Apple releasing features for those that feel they spend too much time on their devices, but only time will tell if these features actually make an impact on user habits.

Editors’ Recommendations

• The best free movies on YouTube
• YouTube begins rolling out Dark Theme setting for its Android app
• YouTube TV offers a week of free service after frustrating World Cup outage
• How to use YouTube’s Incognito Mode in the Android app
• YouTube Music is replacing Google Play Music: Here’s where, when, and why

The best Galaxy Tab S4 cases and covers

Julian Chokkattu/Digital Trends

The Samsung Galaxy Tab S4 is the powerful new Android tablet for 2018, and it boasts Samsung’s S Pen,the super-productive DeX mode, and an all-new design that looks great. But it’s not an invincible machine. Tablets may not have to weather the same storms as smartphones, but they can still come into harm’s way with drops, bashes, and scrapes.

If you want to keep your tablet looking brand-new, then you’d better get some protection. We’ve put together a list of some of the best Samsung Galaxy Tab S4 cases you can buy to make sure your tablet is fully protected at all times.

Skinomi TechSkin Dark Wood Skin ($20)

Covering a device with a case just isn’t acceptable for people who want their device to feel as slim as it does straight out of the box. But a completely uncovered device can attract scratches, so grab yourself a protective skin rather than a case. This skin from Skinomi attaches to your device with adhesive, and comes off easily. Made from a thin but tough material, it’ll protect against scratches, but not so much against drops. It comes in a huge variety of styles, so if you’re not taken by the Dark Wood skin, you can pick up a Brushed Aluminum or Carbon Fiber one instead.

Buy it now from:

Skinomi Amazon

Olixar Leather-Style Stand Case ($23)

Looking for something simple to protect your tablet and help it function as a media center? Look no further than this effective stand case from Olixar. It’s made from leather-style PU leather — not real leather at this price — but still looks great when placed on your Tab S4. It’s also durable and easy to keep clean. The front cover stays over your tablet when not in use, protecting the screen, and it can be folded back behind the tablet into a stand for easy video watching, or for use with a Bluetooth keyboard. The back cover is made from hard polycarbonate, and the whole thing has a sleek and stylish look that won’t be out of place in any setting.

Buy it now from:

Olixar Mobile Fun

Poetic Turtleskin ($17)

If you’re expecting your tablet to do a lot of legwork, then you might want some more serious protection to keep it safe. Poetic’s line of phone cases has a great record, but don’t overlook its tablet cases. The Turtleskin case is made from kid-friendly silicone, with textures around the sides that help with grip. It’s thick and protective, with special shock-absorbing corners and additional heat vents to help keep your tablet cool. It’s not the slimmest and most subtle of cases, but it’s super-protective, and even comes with a stylus holder to keep it held tightly when not in use.

Buy it now from:

Poetic Amazon

iCarryAlls Crazy Horse Padfolio Organizer ($89)

While not really a case, this Padfolio organizer from iCarryAlls is a fantastic choice if your Galaxy Tab S4 is just part of your daily kit as you travel from place to place. Your tablet is kept safe and snug in the back of the organizer, but is still ready at a moment’s notice. In front of that, you’ll find space for an A4 pad of paper, a phone pocket, multiple spaces for pens, cards and and lots of handy extra pockets. There’s room for another pad of paper too, making this the ultimate organizer for note-taking. It then zips up fully, completely covering all your kit. The outside is made from genuine leather, while the inside is lined with soft microfiber, keeping all your valuables safe. Not keen on the above design? There are other options available, with variations on what can be carried.Buy it now from:

iCarryAlls Amazon

Official Samsung Keyboard Cover ($150)

Jullian Chokkattu/Digital Trends

Samsung‘s official keyboard case is one of the slickest cases you can buy to turn your tablet into a productivity machine. It’s made from tough polycarbonate to resist damage, and while it won’t be as protective as some bulkier cases, it’ll still do a good job keeping your tablet safe and secure. The real magic is the keyboard though — it connects via pogo pins, and once activated, it automatically starts the Tab S4’s DeX mode, giving a Windows-like experience on your Android tablet. There’s even an S Pen holder.

Buy it now from:

Samsung Mobile Fun

Editors’ Recommendations

• Samsung Galaxy Tab S4 vs. Galaxy Tab S3: Android Tablet Showdown
• Samsung Galaxy Tab S4 vs. iPad Pro: Which high-end tablet takes the crown?
• The Samsung Galaxy Tab S4 is a tablet and computer rolled into one
• Samsung Galaxy Tab S4 review
• How to unlock the galaxy skin in Fortnite