Fitbit announces Charge 3 fitness tracker, coming this October for $150

Pre-orders for the new tracker are live starting today.

Fitbit’s been hitting the smartwatch market pretty hard over the past few months with its Ionic and Versa, and following those two wearables, the company’s now going back to revive one of its most popular fitness tracker series with the all-new Fitbit Charge 3.

The Charge 3 is an evolution of the Charge 2 that came out before it, and while it has the same general form factor as its predecessor, Fitbit spent a lot of time making sure that the Charge 3 is a more comfortable and stylish tracker. Aerospace aluminum was used for the Charge 3’s case while Corning Gorilla Glass 3 covers its display, and speaking of that display, the one on the Charge 3 is a gray-scale OLED panel that’s 40% brighter and sharper than the screen on the Charge 2.

There’s also a lot more you can do on the display. The dashboard from the Ionic and Versa is now on the Charge 3, too, allowing you to quickly see your steps, calories-burned, most recent exercises, heart-rate, and your current cycle if you’re using Fitbit’s female health tracking tools.

On the non-fitness side of things, the Charge 3 can also showcase all notifications you receive from your phone, supports apps such as Uber, Facebook, etc., and can make contactless NFC payments using Fitbit Pay if you pick up the Special Edition version of it.

Other highlights of the Charge 3 include up to 7 days of battery life, over 15 goal-based exercise routines you can follow, water resistance up to 50M, a new Swim Mode that allows for better tracking while in the water, and more. Along with the Charge 3, Fitbit’s also launching a new platform called Sleep Score that aims to provide better insights on data tracked while you’re sleeping.

If you’re interested, the Charge 3 is up for pre-order today and will be released at some point this October. Pricing starts at $149.95 for the base model and goes up to $169.95 for the Special Edition.

See at Fitbit

From the forums: Should you get the Note 8 now that the Note 9 is out?

Depending on who you are, the Note 8 might still be a great buy.

On August 24, the Galaxy Note 9 will officially exit the pre-order stage and be released out in the wild for everyone to buy. Our full review of the phone left us rather impressed, and although it’s not a drastic upgrade from the Note 8, there are a lot of subtle improvements here and there that create for an excellent user experience.

The Note 9 is obviously a great buy, but if you’re rocking a smartphone that’s a couple years old, is the Note 8 still worth considering now that its successor is here?

Here’s what some of our AC forum members had to say!

methodman89
08-19-2018 08:03 AM

“

I think I will be on the lookout for a good deal on a used note 8 once the n9 is out.

Reply

yarnsrj
08-19-2018 10:48 AM

“

Note 8 is still an excellent phone, but if both you and the misses need new phones, look at the current BOGO deals for the Note 9. That way both of you can have brand new phones for about the same price with this buy one get one free deal. Take a look at Verizon’s offers on their website.
PS. I tried to post a link but it’s not looking to Verizon page.

Reply

o4liberty
08-19-2018 06:45 PM

“

Absolutely would not hesitate to purchase a note 8 works well no issues at all. I looked at the note 9 yesterday at best buy and can see any reason to update.

Reply

music_man185
08-19-2018 08:08 AM

“

I’m hoping the prices of the note 8 will be slashed even more when the note 9 is finally released.

Reply

What do you think? Is the Galaxy Note 8 still worth getting even though the Note 9 is here?

Join the conversation in the forums!

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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Light up your home with two new collections from Philips Hue

The perfect lights.

Philips announced the new Signe and Play collections, which add indirect lighting to your entertainment space. The Signe Collection will feature a table light around 24 inches tall and a floor light around 59 inches tall. Both are designed to be pointed at a wall to give off indirect, ambient light that reaches up to the ceiling. They will have the full range of Philips’ White and Color Ambiance, similar to current starter kits, so you can choose between one of 16 million colors. The lights are only capable of one color at a time, but with multiple devices you can mix and match.

The Play Collection features a nine-inch bar that lays horizontally or vertically and creates light in a very similar way to Signe. These bars come with a base kit that you can plug the Play into, which helps reduce the electrical outlets you need according to Philips Hue.

Philips Hue has gotten into bias lighting in the past with light strips that can also be connected to your smart home, and both of these collections are designed so they can provide that same element for a TV when placed nearby. They can also be added to your smart home setup and be controlled using your voice with Alexa, Google Assistant, or Siri. Philips Hue also has a redesigned app you’ll be able to use to control the new lights from your smartphone.

All of these lights will be available for pre-order in September and fully released in October. The Play single base kit will retail for $69.99, and the double base kit with two fixtures will go for $129.99. The Signe Table Light will set you back $159.99, and the Floor Light will cost $249.99. Of course, we’re pretty confident we’ll be able to find them on sale eventually so you should probably just follow us on Twitter and wait for the discounts to roll in.

Google’s working on a new Chromecast that has Bluetooth and better Wi-Fi

For better or worse, the design is staying exactly the same.

It’s been a hot minute (read, 3 years) since Google updated the Chromecast, but according to a new FCC listing, it would appear that a new model could be on its way in the near future.

According to the filing, this new Chromecast will be the first to support Bluetooth. The current model does have a Bluetooth chip, but it’s only used during the initial setup process and can’t be enabled by users afterward.

The FCC documents show that Google thought about just sending a software update to the exisitng Chromecast to enable this functionality, but “because this new model requires a new equipment code (DSS) not covered by the original certification for FCC ID A4RNC2-6A5, the new version of device requires a new FCC ID.”

Along with Bluetooth functionality, the new Chromecast will also offer improved Wi-Fi reception with 5GHz networks:

This device has been changed to include a 0.5 mm trim on the 5GHz PCB antenna trace that increases the 5GHz maximum antenna gain from 2.1 dBi to 4 dBi.

Google might announce the new Chromecast at its upcoming Pixel 3 event that’s expected to take place in early October, but seeing as how the design for the updated model will be identical to the current one, it’s entirely possible it’ll simply be sold in place of the existing Chromecast with no fanfare surrounding it.

Here’s why the NVIDIA Shield TV is still being updated after three years

Chromecast

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• Join the discussion in our forums!

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How to protect your Wi-Fi network from hackers

It’s your house and your network, filled with your stuff. Nobody wants some random intruder snooping around in it.

The digital information age is pretty awesome. I can find the answer to almost anything in just a few seconds, I can look at a screen small enough to carry in my pocket to know where to go and why I need to go there, and I can even make the lamp brighter by telling Alexa or Google to do it instead of reaching over to the fixture and swiping its tiny touch panel. A big part of the reason why, as well as why it’s only going to get even more awesome, is because everything is connected.

If you’re a network engineer you’ve got all this covered. The rest of us have to actually try.

For us, there is usually only one small part of that connection we need to worry about — the last 20 meters or so. Once all those digital signals make their way into our home they spread out over a Wi-Fi network that we control. The other gazillion meters of any connection have trained folks who are very good at keeping it all private and secure working to do just that, but that last 20 depends on us making the right decisions. If we don’t, the consequences can range from the embarrassing to the criminal — if it happens on our network, we’re the ones with our feet at the fire when judges and lawyers and Sony get worked up about the things that have passed through it.

That means it’s important to keep hackers out of your Wi-Fi network. It’s incredibly simple to get into about half of the Wi-Fi networks in any given town. Drive around and wait for a $12 gadget to blink green, pull over somewhere safe and start scanning and typing the right things in the right places and you are in. Any of us are fully capable of using the simple tools and a few online resources to break into a poorly secured Wi-Fi network. Here are a few easy things you can (and should) do to make sure yours isn’t.

The username and password

If I wanted to get inside a secured Wi-Fi network the first thing I would do is try to determine what hardware is there and acting as a router. With WPA2 being compromised, it’s fairly easy to crunch enough numbers to crack a Wi-Fi password (WPA3 mostly fixes that) and once I’m connected there’s a 50-50 chance that the router still uses the default username and password for its admin utility. The number of Linksys routers in use that the word admin can grant you access to their setup is staggering. Seriously.

Don’t make things easier than they already are.

Once I have control over the things like open ports and it’s set up for me to get in anytime I like without being in Wi-Fi range, I’d turn off any automatic update feature and change the login details so another jerk can’t screw around in there. If a user didn’t bother to change the default login, they’ll never know that they can reset the router to undo everything I did or that I even did anything.

I’m not some sort of hacker-dood. You don’t need to be a hacker to do exactly what I described to a router that still has the default admin credentials. Your smartphone, a laptop, and a couple of free utilities make it easy as pie.

If you haven’t already done so, grab the manual that came with your router or Google its model to read it online and see how to reset the router, reconnect it to your modem, and then change the admin password. While you’re at it, change the Wi-Fi password, too. then put everything into your favorite password manager because you’ll never remember all those random passwords.

Change the default SSID

SSID stands for Service Set Identifier but we know it better as the Wi-Fi network name. When you set up your Wi-Fi router it prompted you to create a network name and a password, but the network name was probably already filled in with the default. Like the admin credentials, a whole lot of people just left it that way.

Even an SSID named “Mom click this for internet” is better than XFINITYWIFI.

Changing the default name from something like Linksys doesn’t make your network more secure or do anything to thwart bandwidth piggybackers (unless you name your SSID something like “c:WinSystem32cmd-virus.bat” which will scare a lot of people away) but it does stop advertising what hardware you’re using. That’s easy to figure out another way but it means that utilities that search for specific brands using the SSID aren’t going to work. Doing anything to make a hacker single you out instead of advertising to him or her is a good thing.

Use a good password for everything

Just a few years ago something like SeaToShiningSea22$ would have been a great password. It’s easy to remember but complex enough that it’s not going to be in any password cracking dictionary and using any brute force methods to crack it would have taken months or years of computing time. Those days are gone.

You need a password of reasonable length that includes upper and lower case letters, numbers, and symbols. They all need to be in some random order that doesn’t mean anything to even you, and if you can you’ll even want to use spaces. Computer processors have come a long way and billions of clock cycles no longer take months or years, they take hours and days. Don’t be that unlucky person who gets their network password cracked in just an hour and make it hard as hell by adding complexity.

Reasonable means different things to different encryption schemes. Generally, 8 to 10 characters are pretty good and 15 is even better because we are only interested in making the password more complex so a tool that tries to crack it needs more time. You don’t need to write some sort of random character novella, just use a password generator that comes with your password manager. It’s better at this stuff than we are.

Beware of MAC filtering and firewall settings

Using these tools to keep access to your Wi-Fi a bit more controlled can be tempting, but if you’re not sure what you’re doing you probably shouldn’t. Take some time to read and understand what things are, what they can do, and how it all works together, first. A fun way to play around is to set up a second Wi-Fi router on your Wi-Fi to play around with — just be sure to unplug it when you’re not playing until you’re sure you can keep it from being exposed to traffic outside your own network.

Sometimes fixing things makes them more broken — be sure you know what you’re doing in these settings.

MAC (Media Access Control) address filtering uses a device’s “unique” network signature to build a list of which devices are allowed to access any router. It’s not a failsafe way to keep anyone out because a MAC address can be faked but it’s another way to make sure it’s not easier to break in than it needs to be. You can find a devices MAC address through its own network interface (Google instructions for the device) or through a router’s control panel, and you whitelist the devices you want to let in and blacklist everything else. Know that MAC addresses aren’t necessarily unique or permanent — they can be changed. And anytime you connect something new you’ll need to add it to the whitelist.

Firewall settings on most consumer routers aren’t very comprehensive, but you will usually find settings for port forwarding and domain blocking. Both can be great tools as long as you know how to allow the right ports to connect to the outside world and how (and why) to block a domain.

I monkey around with these settings because I almost remember everything I learned about them during some software administration certification classes (if you’re the head of a Fortune 500 company who wants to spend a lot of money and you still use RHEL 9 on your servers, call me). They’re worth learning more about if you’re curious or if you live next door to a house filled with CS students who will try to monkey inside your Wi-Fi just to see if they can. They will, and someone in the comments will verify that (don’t make me look bad my computing scientist friends).

If you just have no desire to learn about this sort of thing — and none of us here will blame you — it’s better not to touch any of these settings.

Make sure you have a good router

This is the easiest and most important item on our list. You want a router that can put good Wi-Fi everywhere you need it, is dependable, and updates regularly and automatically. Full stop — if your router doesn’t do all three of these things you should look into replacing it.

Google Wifi is easy. I like easy and recommend easy whenever i can.

Nobody likes to spend money if they don’t need to do it, but having dependable and secure equipment powering your Wi-Fi network really is more important than any of the things we can do to help keep it safe. Every piece of hardware connected to the internet is exploitable. Every Wi-Fi network is hackable. It’s crazy to not do everything you can to patch exploits and make it more difficult for hackers. Timely and automatic updates are a lifesaver here — a system that emails you and lets you know there is an update that needs to be applied to your router’s firmware is also acceptable if you’re the kind of person who hates automatic anything — because you don’t have to worry about looking for an update and applying it yourself.

A reliable and strong network is also important because it takes away the temptation to do something like adding more equipment that you need to secure — repeaters and APs can be exploited, too. Thankfully, there are plenty of routers to are strong, reliable and automatically updated on time whenever it’s needed. They’re all pretty good, too, and your favorite brand (do people have a favorite brand of router?) likely makes one. As most of us here are Android users and have already sold our life’s information to Google in exchange for its great services, I’d recommend Google Wifi as a great option for most folks. But Netgear, Linksys, ASUS and names you might not know like Eero and Amplifi make great stuff, too.

More: Google Wifi vs. Orbi vs. Eero vs. AmpliFi: Wireless Mesh Network Face-off

An unsecured network is better than a poorly secured network. You won’t have a false sense of security that way, and you can tell a judge that lots of people use your Wi-Fi and it wasn’t you who downloaded that pirated music, and he or she might buy it. But the best thing to do is try and make things as secure as you can.

Stay safe, Y’all.

Google Hardware

• Google Wifi review
• Google Home review
• Chromecast Ultra: all you need to know
• Which Chromecast should you buy?

Google Wifi: Google
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Google Home: Google
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Popular PC strategy game ‘Stellaris’ warps onto PlayStation 4 soon

Get ready, console owners.

Stellaris is an evolution of the grand strategy genre with space exploration at its core. It features deep gameplay, a rich and diverse selection of aliens, and emergent storytelling. According to publisher Paradox Interactive, Stellaris contains engaging moments that reward interstellar exploration as you traverse, discover, interact, and learn more about the species you encounter during your travels. There are a lot of mechanics to master here, so be prepared for a somewhat steep learning curve when you first dive in. It takes some time to get familiar with the gameplay, but it’s quite satisfying once you do.

Stellaris has only been available on PC ever since it launched in 2016, but that’s about to change soon. Today at Gamescom 2018, the publisher announced that the title was coming to PlayStation 4 and Xbox One “soon”. The popular space exploration game will be the first ever grand strategy experience to hit consoles.

Stellaris: Console Edition is made with thumbstick input in mind. There will be a few different versions to choose from when the game goes on sale. For example, if you pick up one of the deluxe editions, you get access to a few upcoming expansions. Just like the PC release, the console port will be regularly updated with new features and improvements.

Hopefully Stellaris will be a polished experience on PlayStation 4 and Xbox One at launch. We’ll keep you posted as soon as we receive a concrete release date. Since the game’s release in May 2016, it has sold over 1.5 million copies on PC. While success on PC doesn’t guarantee success on consoles, it’s still a good metric to gauge interest.

See at Green Man Gaming

Huawei Mate 20 renders show a tiny notch and three rear cameras

Huawei’s next flagship family is looking awfully exciting.

It can be difficult to keep up with all the phones Huawei releases over the course of a year, but one that continues to stand out from the pack is the Mate 10 Pro.

The Mate 10 Pro is a gorgeous and powerful piece of tech that made a splash in various countries but was unfortunately held back from greatness in the U.S. thanks to continuous pushback from the government.

Huawei’s expected to follow-up on the Mate 10 Pro’s greatness with the Mate 20 Pro and two other versions to accompany it, and even if it once again gets heat from the States, it’ll still likely be one of the best phones you can get early next year.

The latest Mate 20 news

August 20, 2018 — New Mate 20 renders show an incredibly small notch

After getting a good look at the affordable Mate 20 Lite a few days ago, the folks at XDA Developers have now provided device renders of the more premium Mate 20.

Looking at the front of the phone, the thing that sticks out the most is the notch. Despite housing a front-facing camera and speaker grill that’ll likely support stereo audio, it’s considerably smaller than notches we’ve seen on the OnePlus 6, Pixel 3 XL, etc. The top of the phone is home to a 3.5mm headphone jack and microphone while the bottom is where you’ll find the USB-C port, another speaker grill, and another microphone.

Moving over to the back of the Mate 20, the camera housing holds three rear cameras and an LED flash in one compact area. The renders are based off photographs that XDA obtained, and since the pictures in question didn’t show the entire back of the Mate 20, it’s unclear what the rest of this side will look like or where the fingerprint sensor will be located.

August 14, 2018 — Huawei Mate 20 Lite appears in a leaked render

The Huawei Mate 20 Lite, the cheapest of the Mate 20 trio, is the first of this phone family to rear its head in a leaked press render.

Evan Blass shared the above photo early in the morning on August 14, and to not much surprise, the Mate 20 Lite looks like any other phone that’s been released in the past few months. There’s an all-glass back, dual cameras on the front and back, rear-mounted fingerprint sensor, a bezel-light display, and a notch.

Even if this design isn’t breaking any new grounds, the Mate 20 Lite does look like a fairly attractive phone. It’s unclear if this design language will carry over to the regular Mate 20 and Mate 20 Pro, but we’ll let you know as soon as we learn more.

August 1, 2018 — Leaked firmware suggests the Mate 20 will ship with Android P, have a 4,200 mAh battery, and use the Kirin 980

We’re likely a couple months out from an official announcement from Huawei regarding its Mate 20 phones, and just in time, the rumor mill has kicked into full gear with a ton of info that was recently shared in firmware files obtained by XDA Developers. The files outline three phones — the Mate 20 Lite, Mate 20, and Mate 20 Pro — but focuses mostly on the mid-tier option

The Huawei Mate 20 will reportedly ship with a large 6.3-inch OLED display, and as expected, use Huawei’s next-generation Kirin 980 processor. To accompany this, we’re expecting 6GB RAM, 128GB of internal storage, and a seriously huge 4,200 mAh battery.

And, to help you charge that battery pack, Huawei is finally going to jump on board the wireless charging train.

Not much is detailed about the other two phones, but there is mention of the Mate 20 Pro including an in-display fingerprint sensor similar to what we’ve seen on the Mate RS and Vivo X21.

All three phones will likely ship with Android P and Huawei’s EMUI 9.0 skin on top of it.

All the big details

How many phones will there be?

Similar to last year, we’re expecting three different versions of the Mate 20 family — including the Mate 20, Mate 20 Lite, and Mate 20 Pro.

The Mate 20 will be the mid-tier option, whereas the Mate 20 Lite is the most affordable and the Mate 20 Pro is the most expensive/powerful.

If Huawei follows a similar launch pattern compared to the Mate 10, we’ll only get the Mate 20 Pro in the U.S.

What are the specs?

Although specifications for the Mate 20 Lite and Mate 20 Pro have been mostly non-existent, we already have a pretty good idea of what to expect from the regular Mate 20. Here’s what we know so far!

How much will the Mate 20 cost?

Before we can speculate about how much the Mate 20 family will cost, we need to first look at last year’s pricing.

• Huawei Mate 10 Lite — £280
• Huawei Mate 10 — £699
• Huawei Mate 10 Pro — £799

The Mate 10 Pro started off with a $799.99 price in the U.S., but right now, can be purchased on Amazon directly from Huawei for just $549.99.

I expect we’ll see similar pricing for the Mate 20 lineup, with an increase of £20 – £50 here or there thanks to the rumors of a 4,200 mAh battery and in-display fingerprint sensor.

When will it be released?

As for when we’ll be introduced to the Mate 20 series for the first time, we’re likely looking at an announcement within the next couple of months.

The Huawei Mate 10 family was announced on October 16, and a year before that, the Mate 9 was unveiled on November 24.

Huawei Mate 10

• Huawei Mate 10 Pro review
• Huawei Mate 10 series specs
• Huawei Mate 10 Pro U.S. review: Close to greatness
• Join the discussion in the forums
• More on 2016’s Mate 9

Updated August 20, 2018: Added a new section regarding the Mate 20’s specs.

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

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

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

How to use the Windows 10 Your Phone app

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

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

Open the Your Phone app on your PC.

Select Get Started to begin the setup process.

Select Link phone.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Select return to Home Screen.

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

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

Learn more about Your Phone!

The best heavy duty cases for the Moto G6

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

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

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

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

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

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

Poetic Revolution Full-Body Heavy Duty Case

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

See at Amazon

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

NageBee Heavy Duty Case w/ Holster

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

See at Amazon

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

Cimo Carbon Armor Case

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

See at Amazon

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

OEAGO Shockproof Defender Case

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

See at Amazon

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

Spigen Rugged Armor Case

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

See at Amazon

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

GSDCB Heavy Duty Case with Kickstand

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

See at Amazon

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

What’s your favorite heavy duty case?

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

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

Moto G6, G6 Plus and G6 Play

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

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

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

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

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

— QUEEN (@NICKIMINAJ) August 19, 2018

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

— QUEEN (@NICKIMINAJ) August 19, 2018

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

— Beats 1 (@Beats1) August 10, 2018

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

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

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

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

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

Spotify has yet to comment on the matter.

Tags: Spotify, Apple Music, Beats 1
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