5 ways the Lenovo Smart Display is better than the Amazon Echo Show

Despite being available for over a year, Amazon’s Echo Show doesn’t stand up against Lenovo’s Smart Display.

There’s a lot to like about the Lenovo Smart Display. It takes the smarts of Google Assistant and combines it brilliantly with a display and Google Cast functionality, which all comes together to make something genuinely enjoyable to use.

But it’s not the first product of its kind out there; in fact, Amazon has had its Echo Show on shelves for over a year now. If you compare the two side by side, it’s clear there are a couple of significant things Lenovo Smart Display offers over the Amazon experience and those things add up fast when choosing which to buy.

The information on display is just plain better on Lenovo Smart Display

Both Google Assistant and Amazon Alexa are great at offering an audio system for answering questions and offering insight into your day. Reasonable people can argue about which is “better” at answering different kinds of questions or integrating with your life, but overall these are comparable and quality services. Transitioning those audio skills to a visual medium is a little different, and in this respect, the Lenovo Smart Display blows Amazon’s Echo Show away.

Everything about the visuals on the Smart Display, from the way it shows you the translation of what you said in text form on the screen to the way the results are displayed on the screen, is way better than what Amazon has to offer. When you change the temperature on your thermostat, you get a visual confirmation. When you ask for the weather somewhere you get lots of information in a beautiful graph. When you ask for recipes, you get everything from step-by-step instructions to detailed videos for how to create your dish.

Amazon’s Echo Show does some of this, but not nearly as well or as detailed as Lenovo’s Smart Display. And if you have the larger version of the two Smart Display Options, the visual information doesn’t feel stretched or out of shape. It all feels pleasantly optimized for the hardware.

The touch interface on Lenovo Smart Display is actually useful

While there is a touch screen on the Amazon Echo Show, you don’t really use it for much. If you want to adjust some settings you can, if you want to answer a call from another Echo you can, but there’s really not much else you use that touch screen for on a regular basis. It’s seriously underutilized, especially when compared to the Lenovo Smart Display.

Google’s Android Things interface functions in many ways like Android. You can swipe away an app you’re currently using to see things in the “home screen” which usually has your calendar and other Assistive features at a glance. You can expand things like weather to get more information, you can scroll through steps in a recipe, and of course you can play and pause and select new things to watch across the dozens of video options streaming to the Lenovo Smart Display.

You don’t have to ever touch the Lenovo Smart Display if you don’t want to, but there are a lot of reasons to want to as you explore this experience further. Especially if you’re likely to use it in the kitchen.

Much respect for a physical camera shutter

I like using Google Duo as much as the next person, but seeing someone’s face pop up on your screen automatically before you’ve answered a video chat call is a little unsettling to people who aren’t familiar with the app. Personally, I love being able to see who is calling and what they might be up to before I answer, but it’s not for everyone. Not only does Google Duo respect that by making it possible for you to turn this feature off on your account, but the Lenovo Smart Display has a physical cover for it camera so you can be totally sure nothing is using that camera to look at you when you aren’t expecting it.

This seems like such a small thing, but for a lot of people it’s really not. The smaller Lenovo Smart Display could easily be the kind of thing you set on a bedside table, just like you would an Amazon Echo Show or Echo Spot, neither of which have camera covers built in. In a world of increasingly connected everything, this thoughtful design not only offers you some peace of mind, but gives those around you some control over their environment even if you’re not bothered by having an open camera near you at all times.

So. Many. Video. Options.

If you have an Amazon Echo Show, and you want to stream some video while you’re cooking or getting dressed, your options are ridiculously limited. You can stream from Amazon Instant Video, which is nice if you’re a Prime member, and you can stream video segments from your news feed. That’s pretty much it, which isn’t much when you look at what the Lenovo Smart Display has to offer.

Out of the box, Google shows off one major thing it can do because it’s Google. YouTube, YouTube Music, and YouTube TV are all on board and tightly integrated well. You can see what you’re going to watch or listen to next, voice and touch commands give you a lot of options, and it all integrates well into the apps on your phone. If you use these services right now, they really shine on Lenovo Smart Display.

Separate from YouTube, this is a Google Cast target. You can choose to stream a lot of different Chromecast-supported apps to the Lenovo Smart Display just like you would a television or Chromecast Audio source. Not every app is supported yet, big names like Netflix are glaringly absent, but Hulu and Plex and dozens of others are already available. The same can’t be said of the competition.

Deep integration with Google Services is important to me

As an Android user, and a long time fan of Google Assistant (and Google Now before it) I deeply appreciate the way I can make my data work for me through my apps. Google is very good at reminding me when I need to leave for an appointment, because I have given it access to my calendar and my turn-by-turn navigation. It all just happens automatically, which is great. And lots of other Google apps are integrated through Lenovo’s Smart Display. I can speak messages into Google Keep, make phone calls through my phone number, everything I can do with Assistant on my phone.

Amazon offers some of these features through the Echo Show, but none of them are particularly well integrated, making for a clumsy side by side comparison. I can give Alexa my work address so it can give me traffic patterns on the way to work in the morning, but even with access to my calendar it won’t do the same for the doctor’s office. Even when I manually provide Alexa with my information, it’s still not as good at being my virtual assistant as Google.

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UK Deal: Take up to 30% off Amazon hardware this Bank Holiday

Nearly all of its devices are on sale right now, so don’t miss out.

Right now, Amazon UK is celebrating the August Bank Holiday with up to 30% off a variety of its own hardware, including the £35 Echo Dot, £35 Fire TV Stick, Fire Tablets starting at £40, £90 Kindles, and more. Beyond just the Amazon-branded hardware, there are also discounts on Ring’s popular video doorbells for £149 and Spotlight cameras for £169.

Most of the discounts bring the items back down to the lowest they’ve ever sold for, so be sure to check them all out now and load up before the prices rise again.

For more UK deals coverage, be sure to keep an eye on Thrifter UK, sign up for the UK newsletter and follow the team on Twitter.

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Here’s what Android fans can expect from IFA 2018

Let’s get ready for some fresh tech, coming live from Berlin.

IFA is a yearly electronics trade show held in Berlin, Germany — and the 2018 version kicks off this week! The show technically runs from August 31 to September 5, but for the purposes of the technology enthusiast things get going around August 29. And of course, that’s when Android Central starts hitting all of the news.

As MWC has grown and several companies have decided to focus on running their own separate events for big product launches, IFA has become less important. But it still serves as a good place for the big companies to talk about smaller announcements: things like smartwatches, mid-range phones, products for international markets, accessories, connected home gear and more.

As we all get geared up to cover IFA live from Berlin, here’s what you can expect from this year’s show.

Samsung

IFA is typically a great show for Samsung to announce its less-important products like smartwatches and tablets … but this year, the company took the wraps off of the Galaxy Tab S4 and Galaxy Watch well before the show.

Because the big announcements are out of the bag, we’re not expecting anything notable in the mobile arena from Samsung. We could see a lower-end tablet (or two) released, plus a better opportunity to see the latest accessories for the Galaxy Note 9 and S9+. The biggest announcements out of Samsung this year will more likely land in the TV and smart home space, where Samsung is extremely influential. We’ll hear about the “Galaxy ecosystem” and how everything is tied together — much like we got ahead of the Note 9’s unveiling.

Samsung’s press conference is on August 30 at 11:00 a.m. CET / 6:00 a.m. ET.

Sony

It isn’t uncommon for Sony to time its smartphone releases with the major trade shows — mostly MWC and IFA. Sony’s Xperia XZ2, XZ2 Compact and super-spec’d Xperia XZ2 Premium all launched months ago, so IFA could be a great landing place for some sort of an XZ3 (and potentially a Compact version).

Rumors point to an XZ3 that’s effectively unchanged in design from the XZ2 Premium, with the new more rounded metal and glass look that we’ve seen in Sony’s 2018 lineup. There’s a moderate spec bump in RAM and storage, and it’s expected to run Android 8.1 Oreo with a forthcoming update to Android 9 Pie.

Sony’s press conference is on August 30 at 1:00 p.m. CET / 8:00 a.m. ET.

Lenovo / Motorola

Lenovo goes after trade shows in a big way, because it covers so many different product categories. Our friends over at Windows Central will have a full breakdown of the Lenovo laptop and convertible announcements, which are sure to be exciting and numerous.

For the Android Central crowd, you can expect Lenovo to have new announcements around its Chromebook lineup (both education and consumer), as well as potential refreshes of its tablet line.

We expect Motorola to announce further availability details for the new iPhone X-lookalike Moto P30 — while we don’t expect this to make an appearance in North America, we should hear more about it expanding beyond just China and India.

Lenovo’s press conference is on August 30 at 7:45 p.m. CET / 1:45 p.m. ET — it’s a bit of a different format than most, so the announcements may trickle out over the course of a few hours.

LG

Early rumors pointed to LG using IFA as a launch spot for the new LG V40, but since then we’ve heard nothing else to indicate the company will launch the phone at this show. Expect the V40 announcement toward the end of October instead.

Instead, like Samsung, we expect LG to make announcements regarding mobile accessories, TVs and smart home gear. You can expect to see lots of “ThinQ” thrown around, of course.

LG has the opening keynote on August 29, but the real product-focused keynote is on August 31 at 10:30 a.m. CET / 4:30 a.m. ET.

Huawei / Honor

Huawei has a lot of products to announce seemingly at all times, and IFA is a good place for it to get news out particularly for its European-focused segments. The Honor brand has already launched the Honor 9N and Honor Note 10 officially, but this will be a proper global unveiling and our first opportunity to see the new devices. The Honor Note 10 is particularly neat because of its insanely huge size. There’s also rumor of the Honor Play — a big, inexpensive, gaming-focused phone — making its international debut.

We should also be in store for some new color variants of the already-stunning Huawei P20 Pro. And Huawei does like to announce its new Kirin processors with more fanfare than most manufacturers, and we could see the latest in high-end chips, the Kirin 980, shown off in prototype fashion. The only wild card is whether we hear about the Huawei Watch 3 — no solid rumors on that front.

Huawei’s press conference is on August 31 at 2:00 p.m. CET / 9:00 a.m. ET.

BlackBerry

BlackBerry may be riding the big launch of the KEY2 still, but it’s ready to announce something else at IFA. Rumors point to a certain announcement for the KEY2 Lite, or KEY2 LE (Lite Edition) at the show, which will be a value-focused inexpensive version of the phone to compete on a lower price point.

In order to hit the price BlackBerry is rumored to drop the specs across the board to a Snapdragon 636, 4GB of RAM and a 3000mAh battery. Basically, offer up that great keyboard in a more affordable package.

BlackBerry doesn’t have a press conference time set, so it’s more likely to show off the phone in a more casual setting considering its lower importance than the higher-end KEY2.

Others

• Casio Is expected to announce a new Wear OS smartwatch, which should be a follow-up to the WSD-F20.
• Fossil Group is likely to have some wearable announcements across its many brands. Some could be Wear OS, but most will be proprietary wearables along the lines of what we typically see from its sub-brands like Misfit and Fossil.
• Razer is supposed to have a presence of some sort at the show, though we would expect that to be on the PC/gaming side rather than mobile.
• ASUS will have its typical layout of consumer and gaming gear, but we could get an update on the status of the RoG Phone line.

Be sure to follow all of our IFA 2018 coverage right here on Android Central, subscribe to us on YouTube to see videos from the show, and check back in at the end of the show for our top device announcements!

Google Assistant’s voices are more than just a color

What’s in a voice? A lot more than you might think.

Google Assistant may interact with users on many different devices and platforms, but the most frequent way — and often the only way — it will respond to you is with its voice. As such, picking a Google Assistant voice that’s pleasing, comforting, and trustworthy can dramatically boost your feeling of connection to Google’s AI as well as increase your willingness to call on it for information or help.

If you live in the United States, you get a choice of which voice you’d prefer Google Assistant to speak to you with, but choosing one of these voices can be a bit like going on a blind date. When you go into Google Assistant’s settings to pick a new voice, each of the voices is not given a number anymore, nor is it given a name. Each Google Assistant voice is given a color, and just as the colors of the rainbow have whole hosts of meanings throughout our cultures, the color of each voice has a distinct sound, speed, and personality.

Let’s take a spin around Google’s color wheel and pick a voice that’s right for you!

Red: The Classic

Red is the original Google Assistant voice, and for some countries and many many hearts, she’s still the only voice. Her easy tone and subtle warmth conjured up images of lipstick and candy apples. Red’s voice is inviting, embracing, and welcoming to new users — not too fast or too slow, not too lively or too mellow — but as the default, Red also gets a little, well, stale.

For better or worse, Red is the most widely-used Assistant voice.

It’s not her fault. She’s everywhere: the ads for Google Assistant use Red’s voice, as do the demo videos and as the default voice, she’s what everyone who doesn’t realize or doesn’t care to customize their Google Assistant’s voice. She’s also the voice that some newer or more niche skills will switch back to if they’re not supported by another color’s voice yet.

Orange: The Sidekick

Orange is a bright, warm color of nutrition, of the fall harvest, and the highly visible color used for warning signs and visibility vests. Orange is bold, so Orange the color clashes ever-so-slightly with Orange the voice, which is a little slower and almost a little timider.

His voice that of an Assistant that bends over backward to stay out of your way; he wants to help you, but he won’t speak up unless called upon. Orange’s voice can be rich and fun once you warm up to him, and he’s not going to boss you around when you ask him for directions or recipe instructions.

Amber: The Cheerleader

Amber is warm and bright as her namesake color. Her higher pitch and honeyed voice encourages you to ask her more questions, play more games, and think of Assistant not as some stuffy, know-it-all taskmaster but as a friend that wants to help you when you’re bored just as much as she wants to help when you’re busy.

Amber’s cadence is a little faster than the classic Red, her excitement growing with each Routine she successfully executes and each game she lets you win. This is an Assistant voice that’s perfect for pushing you to go further, do more, and seize the day.

Green: The Legend

The Google Assistant that made the most waves at Google I/O back in May — well, apart from everyone freaking out over Google Duplex — was the news that one of the new voices coming to Google Assistant was that of singer-songwriter-actor-modern god John Legend, the Green voice. Now, don’t go getting any ideas that Green is going to serenade you with those Grammy-winning pipes; his voice isn’t exactly the same, but Green is smooth, gentle, and chill.

Green sounds like a voice that would ask you if you if you want to join him for a meditation session with Sleep Sounds. He’s very zen, and that’s a very good feature for a voice to have when the world feels like it’s flying apart at a million miles an hour.

Cyan: The Muse

Cyan is Green’s next door neighbor, and I like to imagine that she joins him for those meditation sessions and some early morning yoga. Cyan is another mellow voice, the voice of reason and calm that will guide you through your busy day and then help you kick back and unwind before summoning up the ocean waves for a well-deserved nap.

Cyan isn’t as quick as Amber, but she’s steady, smooth, and dependable while still ready to let down her hair and start the dance party at a moment’s notice.

Blue: The Confidant

Blue is Red’s fraternal twin brother. He’s got the same tempo and subtle warmth that welcomes new users in, ready to show off just what he can do. His voice is dependable but not deep; he’s trustworthy but not overbearing, making him a great companion and confidant.

When you need someone to share your ideas with — he writes them down for you to come back to later — you can safely confide your deepest darkest calendar plans with Blue, who may even have a few ideas about how to help you with pulling off that forbidden island escape or burying a body.

Or a surprise party. Let’s go with the surprise party.

Purple: The Guide

Purple’s the loving, gentle guide to newer users, older users, and anyone looking for a motherly mentor. Her slower, clearer cadence is easier to follow along with, and her voice is soft and sweet when you’re asking her how to do your homework late into the night or trying to figure out how to make breakfast without waking up your partner.

If you’re trying to acclimate someone to a Google Home who’s not used to Google Assistant seeming omnipotence, Purple is a voice that can help them lower their suspicions and ease them into trusting her with their timers, recipes, and help.

Pink: The Announcer

Pink may be last on Google’s color wheel — seriously, how do you not put Pink up front with Red? — but he has more than enough drama and panache to make up for it! Pink’s deep voice comes straight from an old-fashioned commercial, ready to pull out the classic “IN A WORLD…” and turn your everyday life into a movie trailer!

Pink’s deep voice can imbue a sense of trust and knowledge to some users, and his confident readings can make even the most mundane facts seem exciting. Like the color, Pink is bold, has flair for the dramatic, and hosts a good sense of humor.

Pink is also a good voice to remember as we head into the fall. After all, Real Men Wear Pink.

Which voice colors your world?

The voices and their personalities are quite hard to sum up into one-word colors — and I really do wish Google would name their voices — but which color voices your Google Assistant? Green has been my companion this summer, minus a few weeks where I had an affair with Pink.

I’m sorry, Green! You were going through an awkward phase and Pink was just so dynamic! FORGIVE ME!!!

Google Home

• Google Home review
• Google Home Mini: Everything you need to know!
• Google Home Max review
• These services work with Google Home
• Google Home vs. Amazon Echo
• Join our Google Home forums!

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Samsung’s now offering free Gear VR adapters to Note 9 owners

Here’s the lowdown on one of 2018’s most powerful smartphones 💥

It’s finally here. After relentless leaks, rumors, and more, Samsung’s finally unveiled the Galaxy Note 9.

Even though we already knew a lot about the phone prior to its official announcement, there’s still plenty to talk about. What colors does it come in? What are the final specs? Were we impressed during our hands-on preview?

All those questions and more are answered right here, so without further ado, here’s everything you need to know about the Samsung Galaxy Note 9.

The latest Galaxy Note 9 news

August 27, 2018 — Samsung’s now offering free Gear VR adapters to Note 9 owners

While there was a lot of hype and fanfare surrounding the Note 9 when Samsung announced it, something that was noticeably absent was a new Gear VR. Last year’s model doesn’t currently work with the Note 9 due to the phone’s larger size, but thankfully, Samsung’s announced a small fix.

If you call 1-800-SAMSUNG and give the company your Gear VR’s serial and model numbers, you’ll be sent an adapter within 10 business days that allows the Note 9 to properly fit inside the headset.

There’s currently no way to purchase the adapter online or in-stores, and as a quick reminder, this only applies to the Gear VR headset that was released last year alongside the Note 8.

August 21, 2018 — Google names the Note 9 as the best phone for YouTube

The Note 9’s 6.4-inch Super AMOLED display is one of the best you’ll find on a smartphone in 2018, and thanks to this, Google’s deemed it as the best phone for binging YouTube on.

YouTube’s Signature Devices list recently launched as a way to highlight Android phones that offer the best experience for all things YouTube, and as part of it, it’s noted that:

With this transition from TV screen to phone screen, YouTube has announced its Signature Devices for a best-in-class YouTube experience. Ranked against a variety of key attributes, YouTube endorsed a variety of devices as best-in-class for the platform.

Their top choice? The Samsung Galaxy Note 9

August 21, 2018 — The 512GB Note 9 saw more pre-orders than the 128GB model in Korea

Pre-order numbers for the Galaxy Note 9 are slowly trickling out, and according to a report from The Investor, Samsung’s highest-end 512GB model was the most popular in the country.

SK Telecom, Korea’s biggest wireless carrier, notes that “users mostly preferred to buy the 512GB version” which costs 1.35 million won (or $1,208 USD). At this time, it’s unclear if the 512GB preference carriers over to the U.S. and other markets.

Korean pre-orders for the Note 9 have also been stronger than that of the Galaxy S9, but not as high as last year’s Note 8.

August 17, 2018 — Galaxy Note 9 already getting a software update that adds August 2018 security patch and more slow-mo video options

The Note 9 won’t officially be released until Augst 24, but even so, Samsung’s already pushing a software update to the phone that adds a couple goodies.

This update changes the software version number to N960FXXU1ARH5 and allows users to record Super Slow-Mo video for moments that last either 0.2 seconds or 0.4 seconds when in manual mode. 0.2-second shots are still in glorious 960 FPS while 0.4-second ones are limited to 480 FPS.

Additionally, this update also brings the more recent August 2018 security patch.

August 15, 2018 — Samsung talks about what it took to make the Note 9 so darn pretty 😍

It’s no secret that Samsung makes stunning phones, and with the Galaxy Note 9, the company put all of its design prowess on full display. However, as much fun as it is to look at and hold the Note 9, it’s even more exciting to take a closer look at just what goes into crafting a device of its caliber.

Samsung’s Infinity Display is once again being used on the Note 9, and measuring in at 6.4-inches, is the biggest the company’s created to-date. Samsung also says that the Note 9’s screen is an ever deeper black compared to past handsets, which “allows it to blend in with the bezels when the device is off and enhances the overall aesthetic.”

A process called Die-cutting was used to craft the Note 9’s frame, and as a result of this laborious process, the frame of the Note 9 ” features an interplay of glossy and matte finishes that complements the Galaxy Note9’s premium design cues.”

To read more about the Note 9’s design and the time/attention that went into its S Pen, check out Samsung’s full deep dive below.

Beautiful From Every Angle: The Design of the Galaxy Note 9

All the big details

Check out our written and video reviews

Before you do anything else, be sure to check out our full review of the Galaxy Note 9!

This is Samsung’s biggest and most powerful phone of the year, and as a quick spoiler, it definitely doesn’t disappoint. The Note 9 has a gorgeous display, insanely fast processing tech, a massive battery, and much more.

Get the full lowdown in the video review above and our written one below.

Samsung Galaxy Note 9 review: Welcome to the one comma club

Here are the specs

Like past Notes before it, the Galaxy Note 9 is packed to the gills with all of the latest available tech. That means it has the latest processor, a massive battery, an insane amount of RAM, and much more.

Here are all the specs you can look forward to.

Operating system	Android 8.1 OreoSamsung Experience 9.5
Display	6.4-inch Super AMOLED, 2960×1440 (18.5:9)
Processor	Qualcomm Snapdragon 845
Storage	128/512GB
Expandable	MicroSD up to 2TB
RAM	6/8GB
Primary rear camera	12MP Super Speed Dual Pixel, OIS, f/1.5 or f/2.4
Secondary rear camera	12MP, OIS, f/2.4, telephoto lens
Front camera	8MP, f/1.7, auto focus
Connectivity	Wi-Fi 802.11ac MIMO, 1.2Gbps (Cat-18) LTE, Bluetooth 5.0 LEANT+, NFC, GPS, Glonass
Audio	Stereo speakersDolby Atmos3.5mm headphone
Battery	4000mAhNon-removable
Charging
Water resistance	IP68
Security	One-touch fingerprint sensorIris scannerSamsung KNOX
Dimensions
Colors	Ocean Blue, Lavender Purple (U.S.)Midnight Black, Metallic Copper (intl)

Samsung Galaxy Note 9 specifications

Should you upgrade from the Note 8?

As exciting as the Galaxy Note 9 is shaping up to be, last year’s Note 8 is still one heck of a smartphone.

The Note 9 offers the expected improvements in regards to RAM, camera performance, etc., but really gets a strong edge over its predecessor thanks to its improved S Pen and a massive battery.

Then again, if you already have the Note 8 and don’t feel like throwing down $900 (?) on a new phone, maybe upgrading isn’t the right move for you?

Let Andrew break everything down for you in his comparison of the Note 8 and Note 9

How’s it compare to other phones?

That’s fine and dandy, but how’s the Note 9 hold up against other non-Note devices?

Without a doubt, one of the Note 9’s biggest competitors comes from Samsung itself with the Galaxy S9+. A lot of features are shared between the two phones, including a large Super AMOLED display, Snapdragon 845, Samsung’s custom software, excellent dual cameras, and more.

The Note 9 is obviously the only one of the two that uses the S Pen, but is that reason enough to make the pricey upgrade?

Similarly, there are still plenty of other phones that are scheduled to come out before 2018 is over — most importantly the Google Pixel 3 XL. Rumors and leaks are hinting at a phone with considerably slimmer bezels, an even better camera package, and an all-glass back (not to mention the ginormous notch).

Samsung Galaxy Note 9 vs. Galaxy S9+

Should you buy the Galaxy Note 9 or wait for the Google Pixel 3 XL?

A lot is new with the S Pen

The S Pen is easily the biggest reason so many people flock to the Note series year after year, and this time around, Samsung’s giving the S Pen one of its biggest upgrades in years.

For the first time, Samsung’s adding Bluetooth Low Energy to the S Pen. With this new connectivity, the S Pen picks up a heap of new features that allow you to control the Note 9 from a distance.

Some use cases include being able to use the S Pen and its button as a camera shutter, navigating through presentations, and more. The presence of Bluetooth also means this is the first S Pen to have a battery, and as with all things that have a battery, the S Pen will need to be charged.

Thankfully, seeing as how the S Pen seamlessly charges in the background when stored inside the Note 9, this shouldn’t ever prove to be an issue of any sort.

Get the official wallpapers right here!

New Samsung phones always come with striking wallpapers to help jazz up your home screen, and even if you don’t have the funds/interest to get a Note 9 right now, you can still bring its look to your exisitng handset with its official wallpapers.

We’ve got all 12 listed above for your viewing pleasure, and if you want to throw one (or all) of them on your phone, feel free to download ’em as you see fit.

What color should you get?

Samsung’s typically one of the better OEMs when it comes to offering a good variety of colors, and with the Note 9, that’s no different.

In the United States, buyers will be able to choose from Ocean Blue and Lavender Purple. In other parts of the world, Samsung’s releasing Midnight Black and Metallic Copper.

Which color Galaxy Note 9 should I buy: Blue, purple, gold, or black?

Don’t forget about the cases!

The Note 9 has a striking design that combines metal and glass into one gorgeous package, but as great as the phone might look, it’s certainly not the most durable handset you’ll find.

Thankfully, to help keep your Note 9 looking as good as can be through all sorts of wear and tear, there are already a number of cases being sold.

Here are our favorites!

Best Samsung Galaxy Note 9 Cases

Here’s everything you need to know about buying the Note 9

There are a lot of reasons you may want to pick up the Note 9, and whatever those reasons may be, you’ve got a lot of options for deciding where to get it.

In the United States, pricing starts at $999.99 for the 128GB model and goes up to $1249.99 for the 512GB one. You can get the phone at Best Buy, Amazon, Samsung’s website, all of the major carriers, and more.

However, there are some questions that pop up when thinking about buying the Note 9. Should you buy it unlocked or through a carrier? What storage size is the best to pick up? You’ve got the questions, we’ve got answers.

Where to buy the Galaxy Note 9: Best deals for your new phone
Should you buy the Galaxy Note 9 unlocked or from a carrier?
Samsung Galaxy Note 9: Which storage size should I buy?

Samsung Galaxy Note 9

• Samsung Galaxy Note 9 review
• Galaxy Note 9 vs. Note 8
• Where to buy the Galaxy Note 9
• Galaxy Note 9 specifications
• Is the Note 8 still a good buy?
• Join our Galaxy Note 9 forums

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Updated August 16, 2018: Updated this guide with a news-roll and the latest available info!

YouTube Updates Smartphone Apps With ‘Time Watched’ Digital Health Tool

YouTube is the latest app to gain a new “digital wellbeing” section in its iOS and Android apps, allowing you to see how much time you’ve spent watching YouTube recently. Google announced at I/O in May that it would be introducing a “Time watched” section in YouTube, and today the rollout has begun.

Once you update YouTube on iOS to version 13.33, open the app and tap your profile picture in the top right corner, then tap “Time watched.” The main stats area shows how much of YouTube you have watched today, yesterday, the past week, and on average per day. This history is based on your personal YouTube history across YouTube products except YouTube Music.

Below this section are tools to manage your time on YouTube, including a setting that will remind you to take a break. If you toggle this on, you can customize the reminder frequency to enable the notification to appear every 2 hours of YouTube you watch, for example, and can increase that cap to as much as 23 hours and 55 minutes.

Outside of “Time watched,” there’s a new notification area in the settings tab of YouTube as well. Tap your profile icon, settings, and then scroll down to notifications. In here, you can enable a “scheduled digest” of your notifications, which will bundle all of your YouTube push notifications into a single notification each day, at your own preferred time.

To further lessen the amount of time you spend browsing YouTube, the company will let you disable notification sounds and vibrations completely during any hours you specify, a feature that can also be found in settings. YouTube says that it is “dedicated to making sure that you have the information you need to better understand how you use YouTube and develop your own sense of digital wellbeing.”

Digital health tools have become immensely popular over the past few months, with Apple launching its own system-wide iOS “Screen Time” features in iOS 12 this fall. More recently, individual apps have taken to introducing their own tools, including Facebook and Instagram.

Tag: YouTube
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Barclays: All 2019 iPhones May Lack 3D Touch, New AirPods and Lower-Priced HomePod to Launch Next Year

Barclays analyst Blayne Curtis and his associates traveled across Asia last week to meet with companies within Apple’s supply chain. Today, they shared new predictions based on the information they gathered.

Highlights from their research note to investors, obtained by MacRumors:

• Barclays says it’s “widely understood” that 3D Touch will be removed from iPhones with OLED displays in 2019—aka the third-generation iPhone X and second-generation “iPhone X Plus.” However, they caution that the plans aren’t finalized yet, so they could change.

Earlier this year, Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo said 3D Touch won’t be a feature on the rumored 6.1-inch iPhone with an LCD, part of the upcoming 2018 lineup. So, by the sound of it, 3D Touch won’t be a feature on any 2019 iPhones, assuming Apple sticks with the same three models expected in 2018.

While the lack of 3D Touch on the 6.1-inch iPhone would make sense, given expectations that it will essentially be a budget iPhone X, it’s not entirely clear why it may be removed from the more expensive OLED models next year. As a somewhat hidden feature, perhaps Apple no longer finds it essential.

• “AirPod 2” will launch in the fourth quarter of 2019. Meanwhile, an optional wireless charging case for the original AirPods, and Apple’s new AirPower charging mat, will be available this September.

This prediction is rather confusing, as back in February, Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman said Apple will release new AirPods with a new wireless chip and “Hey Siri” support as early as this year. Gurman also said a subsequent pair of AirPods with water resistance would be released as early as next year.

One possibility is that Apple will add “Hey Siri” support to the existing AirPods this fall by way of a software update, without a new wireless chip, but it’s unclear if the current W1 chip can support the feature. In that case, Apple might elect to continue referring to them as first-generation AirPods.

In that scenario, the “AirPods 2” that Barclays is referring to could be the water-resistant pair that Gurman also believes could launch in 2019. However, this is admittedly a bit of a stretch, so it remains to be seen.

• Barclays expects the launch of a “cheaper HomePod in 2019,” with “broader appeal.” The analysts say HomePod sales continue to “underwhelm,” with less than five million sold since it launched in January.

Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo, along with some Chinese publications, have also claimed that Apple has considered a lower-priced HomePod. One rumor suggested that it could be a Siri-enabled Beats speaker priced around $149 to $199.

• Barclays says it “does see the potential for the new iPhones to support pen input,” without naming the Apple Pencil specifically.

Taiwanese research firm TrendForce predicted that the higher-end 2018 iPhones will be compatible with the Apple Pencil.

Related Roundups: HomePod, 2018 iPhones, AirPodsTags: Barclays, 3D Touch, Apple PencilBuyer’s Guide: HomePod (Buy Now), AirPods (Caution)
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Latest Apple Music Android Beta Includes Support for Android Auto Platform

Apple appears to be testing integration of Apple Music with Android Auto, according to a report today by Android Police. Discovered in the the most recent beta version of Apple Music on Android, Apple’s streaming music app includes support for the Android Auto platform.

With this support, Android smartphone owners can control playback of Apple Music songs directly from the infotainment center in their vehicle. Similar to CarPlay, Android Auto encourages drivers to focus less on their smartphones while in a vehicle, bringing numerous features from the handheld device onto a touchscreen placed in the dashboard.

The Apple Music version 2.6.0 beta on Android also includes numerous other features that have arrived to Apple Music users on iOS: lyric searches, updated artist pages, Friends Mix, and various performance improvements and big fixes.

Android Auto is an alternative to Apple’s CarPlay, both offering customers in each ecosystem a way to easily get directions, make phone calls, check text messages, talk to voice assistants, and more.

Tags: Android Auto, Apple Music
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Kuo: No Apple Pencil Support for 2018 iPhones, Upcoming 6.1-Inch Model to Be Slightly Delayed

Apple’s upcoming 2018 iPhone models will not support the Apple Pencil because it does not offer a “good user experience,” according to respected Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo who shared the information in a note sent out to investors.

Kuo believes that Apple will announce the three new iPhones expected in 2018 during the week of September 9, which is in line with other rumors that have pointed towards a September 12 unveil date, a September 14 pre-order date, and a September 21 launch date.

The 5.8 and 6.5-inch OLED iPhones will be available in September, says Kuo, but the 6.1-inch model, which has reportedly been plagued by production issues, will be available “slightly later due to its production schedule.”

Kuo expects both the 6.1 and 6.5-inch iPhone models to offer both single and dual-SIM versions, with the dual-SIM models to be available in specific markets like China. Kuo’s information is in line with details shared by Bloomberg this morning.

The 5.8-inch iPhone will not offer dual-SIM support, but Kuo says it could include an e-SIM as well as single-SIM functionality. Kuo is not certain, however, if the e-SIM will be activated.

According to a chart shared by Kuo listing prospective specs for the three new devices, the 6.5-inch iPhone is expected to include a 2-cell 3,300 to 3,400 mAh battery, while the 5.8-inch model will offer a 2-cell 2,700 to 2,800 mAh battery, and the 6.1-inch LCD model will offer a 1-cell 2,600 to 2,700 mAh battery.

Kuo believes the 6.5-inch iPhone will have a resolution of 2688 x 1242, with the 5.8-inch model continuing to offer a resolution of 2436 x 1125. The 6.1-inch model, meanwhile, is expected to have a resolution of 1792 x 828.

As past rumors have suggested, the two higher-end iPhones will offer dual-lens cameras, while the 6.1-inch model will offer a single lens camera. Both the OLED models will also offer 4GB RAM and a maximum of 512GB of storage, while the 6.1-inch model will cap out at 256GB of storage and 3GB RAM.

The 6.1-inch model will also be limited to a 2X2 MIMO modem while the two OLED devices will get faster 4×4 MIMO modems, but it will be available in a wider array of colors. Kuo has previously said that he expects the 6.1-inch iPhone to be available in red, blue, orange, gray, and white, while the 5.8 and 6.5-inch iPhone models will be available in three colors, presumably silver, space gray, and gold.

All three models, including the lower-cost 6.1-inch iPhone, are expected to include support for the new A12 chip, as the 6.1-inch iPhone is meant to be a followup to the iPhone 8. Apple’s iPhone 8, iPhone 8 Plus, and iPhone X all use the A11 chip.

Kuo expects the new 6.1-inch LCD model to account for 50 to 55 percent and 65 to 70 percent of new iPhone models’ total shipments in the second half of 2018 and the first half of 2019, respectively.

The new 6.1-inch iPhone will “increase replacement demands” compared to iPhone X and iPhone 8 because of its price tag, which Kuo expects to be between $600 and $699. As he has said in the past, Kuo believes Apple will price the 5.8-inch OLED iPhone at $800 to $899 and the 6.5-inch OLED iPhone at $900 to $999.
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Apple Seeds Ninth Beta of macOS Mojave to Developers

Apple today seeded the ninth beta of an upcoming macOS Mojave update to developers for testing purposes, one week after releasing the eighth beta and more than two months after introducing the software at the Worldwide Developers Conference.

macOS Mojave introduces a new method of installing software updates, so after you’ve installed the initial beta using the appropriate profile from the Developer Center, additional betas can be downloaded through opening up System Preferences and choosing the “Software Update” icon.

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Apple’s macOS Mojave update introduces a systemwide Dark Mode, with Mojave users able to choose between a light theme or the new dark theme, which changes the color of the dock, menu bar, apps, and other elements. Dark Mode is accompanied by Dynamic Desktops, aka wallpapers that subtly change throughout the day. Additional wallpapers were introduced in the fourth and fifth betas.

Stacks, a new desktop organization system, keeps all of your desktop files neat and organized, while Finder has been enhanced with a Gallery View, a Sidebar, a revamped Quick Look option and Quick Actions, so you can do more in the Finder window than ever before.

Screenshots can now be edited using Markup tools and a new management options that also allow for easy screen recording, while Continuity camera, a new feature, allows you to import photos and document scans directly from an iPhone or iPad to the Mac.

The Apple News, Stocks, Home, and Voice Memos apps have been ported from iOS to macOS as part of a multiyear project Apple is working on to make it easier to bring iOS apps to Macs, and Apple has introduced several new privacy protections to keep your data safer than ever.

Apple is also making it harder for websites to track you with a range of new Safari tools, and it’s also easier to make and store secure, hard-to-guess passwords for each and every website.

Apple has added an entirely revamped Mac App Store to macOS Mojave that makes it easier to discover apps with a featured section and specific categories for games, creative apps, productivity apps, apps for developers, and more.

macOS Mojave was initially supposed to include a Group FaceTime feature that includes support for chatting with up to 32 people at one time, but it was removed in macOS Mojave beta 7 and the feature won’t be available until later in the year.

macOS Mojave is available to developers and public beta testers to work out bugs and other issues ahead of an upcoming fall public release.

Related Roundup: macOS Mojave
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