Make your kid’s car safer and smarter for $30 or less

Whether you’re rocking a ’67 Impala or your mother’s old minivan, your only need three things to make your car safer and more phone-friendly at the same time.

Android Auto offers a simplified UI in the car with Google Assistant voice commands that let you control the whole thing hands-free. Even better, non-essential notifications are quashed while in Android Auto’s Car Mode, so new emails from work or new Snaps from your friends won’t tempt you to try turning Android Auto off.

And since Android Auto can run right independently of a car stereo, you’re already at least a third of the way to a safer driving experience.

• Dependable, affordable magnetic car mounts
• Bluetooth adapter for car stereo
• Android Auto Autolaunch

Dependable, affordable car mounts

There are car mounts available for every style and price point, but the easiest car mounts on the market right now are magnetic car mounts. You stick a slightly magnetized metal plate to the back of your phone — or slip one between your phone and its case — and then just hold your phone close to the mount when you get in the car. Magnetism will pull the phone to the mount and keep it there.

These mounts aren’t as bulky as cradle mounts, are cheaper to buy, and the magnets will hold on pretty well so long as you’re not going over some backcountry dirt roads. Magnetic mounts come in all shapes and styles, but air vent mounts are compact, easily transferable, and cost less than a pizza.

Spigen Kuel Air Vent Magnetic Car Mount 2-Pack

$10 at Amazon

As easy to securely stick onto an air vent as it is to transfer, this mount is perfect for multi-car families that switch vehicles frequently. Spigen’s $10 2-Pack comes with 2 Kuel mounts and 4 magnetic plates.

Nite Ize Steelie

$20 at Amazon

Hitting potholes like a whack-a-mole champion? No worries! The Steelie’s concave magnet dot is super strong and moves around the spherical magnet mount to keep it from falling off. This mount is more expensive, but if you live in an area with bad roads, it’s well worth the upgrade.

If neither of these mounts strike your fancy, there’s an entire world of car mounts out there for you to choose from.

See some of our other favorite car mounts

Bluetooth adapters

You can use Android Auto without a car stereo, but unless the speaker on your phone is super loud, you’ll probably want to pipe the audio from your phone into your car’s radio. Bluetooth adapters also allow us to take advantage of Android Auto’s Autolaunch feature and start Android Auto up every time your phone connects to your car’s Bluetooth adapter.

There are several styles of Bluetooth Adapters out there, but we’re going to touch on two today: an AUX adapter and an FM adapter.

Soundbot SB360 Bluetooth 4.0 Car Kit

$20 at Amazon

This Bluetooth adapter plugs into the AUX port on your car’s stereo and an included USB charger. The other end of the adapter is a magnetically-mountable hub that houses a microphone and call/media control buttons.

Because the adapter can be mounted with magnets, that means that you can move the adapter from car to car easily, just like the Spigen Kuel phone mount we mentioned above. You can even clip it to your shirt or seatbelt if your car is especially noisy in order to ensure the microphone — and Google Assistant — can hear and understand you.

Nulaxy In-Car Bluetooth FM Transmitter Radio Adapter Car Kit

$18 at Amazon

If you don’t have an AUX port on your radio, then you’ll have to use an FM transmitter to get the audio from your Bluetooth in through the radio. FM transmitters are a clunkier solution, but the Nulaxy aims to make the experience as painless as possible without breaking the bank.

If neither of these options sound good to you, you can use your favorite pair of Bluetooth headphones, but you won’t be able to turn on Autolaunch. You’ll want to make sure that your state doesn’t have any laws against wearing a headset or headphones, which AAA has a handy list for, and consider using one bud or earcup and leaving the other ear open to better hear hear road noise or any weird warning noises your car may be making.

Best Bluetooth Headsets in 2018

Setting up Android Auto Autolaunch

Once you’ve downloaded the Android Auto app and you’ve paired your phone with either the Bluetooth already available in your car or a Bluetooth adapter, you can set Android Auto to automatically launch when it connects to that specific Bluetooth device.

Open Android Auto.
Tap Get started.

Google warns you that Android Auto is going to ask for several permissions. Tap Continue.

Tap Allow for each of the 6 permissions.
Android Auto will need notification permissions to see notifications and let urgent ones through. Tap Continue.

Tap the toggle next to Android Auto**.

Tap Allow.
An Autolaunch prompt will appear as the final section of setup. Tap the checkbox next to the Bluetooth device associated with your car stereo or Bluetooth adapter.

Tap Turn on.

Ready to ride

With Autolaunch enabled, when you get into your car, simply place your phone onto the car mount and turn on your car. Your phone should automatically connect to the Bluetooth adapter when it turns on, which will in turn on Android Auto. Cutting down distractions without giving up the convenience of Google Maps or your music subscriptions like Spotify or Google Play Music, Android Auto and a good magnetic mount can help you to drive safely and smartly no matter how outdated the rest of your car’s tech may be.

Read more: Setting up Android Auto so you’ll actually use it

Here’s everything T-Mobile announced at its Un-Carrier Next event!

Here’s what’s new with T-Mobile’s latest Un-Carrier initiative.

T-Mobile took the stage in Charleston, South Carolina on August 15 to host its latest Un-Carrier Next event. There were three big announcements, including Team of Experts, a new partnership with Live Nation, and free Pandora Plus for all customers.

Here’s a quick breakdown of everything that was announced!

Team of Experts

Team of Experts is T-Mobile’s new initiative for rethinking the way customer service is handled. Gone are the days of constantly being transferred to different representatives, having to wait for hours on hold, repeating yourself over and over, etc.

As part of Team of Experts, T-Mobile is dedicating 30-40 employees to customer groups so that you’ve always got instant access to someone to help you out. You can get in touch with your Experts by phone, email, texting, or through the T-Mobile app 24 hours a day and 7 days a week. You can communicate with one of the Experts instantly to get your issue handled right away, or alternatively, leave a message and come back when you have time to pick up where you left off.

You’ll also be able to use Team of Experts to schedule calls at a time that’s convenient for you, see pictures of your Experts in the T-Mobile app to develop a more personal relationship with them, and more. There aren’t any robots, call menus, etc.

Team of Experts is available for all T-Mobile customers starting today.

Access to exclusive concerts via Live Nation partnership

T-Mobile’s partnering with Live Nation, one of the largest sites for buying concert/event tickets, to provide its customers with a slew of benefits. T-Mobile customers will be able to purchase tickets to sold-out events, have fast-lane entry to events, get $25 tickets to lawn/outdoor concerts, and be able to purchase T-Mobile branded lawnchairs and access T-Mobile-exclusive concession stands.

These perks will be rolling out to amphitheaters/event centers nationwide and many of the perks will be offered through the T-Mobile Tuesdays app.

Free Pandora Plus for the next year

Speaking of T-Mobile Tuesdays, all subscribers will also get a free year of Pandora Plus through the T-Mobile Tuesdays app on August 21.

Pandora Plus regularly costs $5/month and comes with unlimited personalized radio stations, ad-free listening, unlimited skips + replays, higher-quality streaming, and up to 4 stations you can save for offline listening.

Motorola announces Pie update plans for 8 of its Moto phones

A new version of Android means it’s once again time to peer into my crystal ball.

Did you hear? Android Pie is a thing now. And we know that everyone will want it and want it as soon as possible. That’s how it works and that’s how we are wired. We want updates, we want them to be spectacular and we want them right now.

The reality of the situation is a bit different. Most phones made in the last 18 months will see Android Pie, but some of them will only get updated when we see the first developer preview for Android Q (Quince Jelly or gtfo, Google!) come along. It’s a lot easier for manufacturers to update their phones to a newer version, but it’s still not any better. That’s another article for another time, though. This one is where I guess which phones will get updated sometime in the next 12 months.

Predicting anything Android-related is 10% science and 90% interpretation.

It’s not as easy as you think and many sudsy cold beverages worth of thought goes into my guesses each and every year. About one-third of them are no-brainers, but some of the others are basically the same odds as a coin flip. It seems like manufacturers only care about a few models that get a lot of press time. But I do have to toot my own hat (or something) and say I have a pretty good track record. Luck or skill? You decide. (It’s totally skill.)

Let’s break it down by the major manufacturers of the phones we love and make a few predictions. Remeber, these are just predictions and not any official word on anything from any company unless otherwise noted.

Still waiting for Oreo? Check to see whether your phone will be upgraded!

Google

I always start with Google because it’s easy and I’ll get it right every time. That’s what I want at the top of the page. I say it’s easy because Google has already told us which phones get updated and which won’t.

• The Pixel 2 and Pixel 2 XL have already been updated to Pie.
• The Pixel and Pixel XL have already been updated to Android Pie.
• While not actually from Google, any Android One phones manufactured since October 2017 will also be updated to Pie “later this fall.”

And that’s it. Prior to the Pixel, Google promised two years of full support and three years of security updates for phones they sell under their own brand. The Nexus 6P and Nexus 5X are just about three years old. Auf Wiedersehen, Adieu, Adios, Good Bye. They were great phones.

More: It’s time to say goodbye to the Nexus program for good

Android Beta Program Partners

For the first time ever other companies have joined Google in supporting the Android Beta Program. When it was started for Android Pie (then known simply as P) the following phones joined Google’s Pixel and Pixel 2 family in supporting it:

• Sony Xperia XZ2
• Xiaomi Mi Mix 2S
• Nokia 7 Plus
• Oppo R15 Pro
• Vivo X21
• OnePlus 6
• Essential PH‑1

That means that every one of these phones should see a full-on update to Android Pie in the very near future. In fact, the Essential PH-1 is seeing its update at the same time the Pixel and Pixel 2 are!

We’re proud to bring Android 9 Pie to Essential Phone the same day it’s released! Check your phone now for the update. 🥧 pic.twitter.com/pniUDl9yr8

— Essential (@essential) August 6, 2018

Samsung

Samsung makes more models of a single flagship line like the Galaxy S each year than Google has made in total, but it’s also pretty easy to know which phones Samsung will update because they’re predictable. Samsung offers four “premium” models each year. like 2018’s Galaxy S9, Galaxy S9+, the Galaxy S9 Active that we all know is coming, and the Galaxy Note 9. Even when Samsung sold 15 different models of the Galaxy S6, they were all treated the same when it came to expecting an update.

When to expect it is just as predictable, and it will happen about a year from the date this was first published (March 2018). Some models in Europe will see it first, about a month later it will show up somewhere else, and once Samsung is satisfied it’s not going to totally wreck about a gazillion phones they will give it the green light. Add in whatever time your carrier needs and the final result is just about a year from its initial release.

• The Galaxy S9 and S9+ (and any S9 Active that comes in the future) will be updated to Android Pie.
• The Galaxy Note 9 will be updated to Android Pie.
• The Galaxy S8 and S8+, and the Galaxy S8 Active, will be updated to Android Pie.
• The Galaxy Note 8 will be updated to Android Pie.

Here’s where it gets interesting. there are a handful of other Galaxy phones that have a huge regional fanbase. In India, for example, the Galaxy J models are huge hits because they offer most of the same experience you find in a Galaxy S at a lower price. Samsung will give them the same treatment the Galaxy S and Note lines receive. That’s not the most interesting part, though. That would be the seemingly random phones that Samsung decides to update. We don’t know why we see this every year (Carrier requests? Developer favorites? Aliens?) we just like seeing it. And we all wish we saw more of it.

LG

LG has always been a wildcard when I write this post every year. Like Samsung, there are a few “important” models that get all the press coverage and plenty of other more inexpensive models that most of us aren’t talking about.

LG also mentioned some streamlining in the release cycle, which hopefully gives the development teams time to get an update out the door and have it be a good update.

• The LG G7 ThinQ will be updated to Android Pie.
• The LG V30 (including the V30S or whatever models we have seen or will see) will be updated to Android Pie.
• The LG V20 will be updated to Android Pie.
• The LG G6 will see Android Pie.

Older models like the G5 and V10 are done seeing any attention and won’t see any updates. LG makes a handful of phones that aren’t quite flagship material, and we know it is willing to spend the time and money on updating some of them even if your carrier isn’t and you never see it. That means nothing is a given.

I also think LG consolidating things and releasing phones when they think it’s time for a new model rather than by looking at a calendar will make a difference here and lead to longer support.

Huawei

Huawei is tough to read. It hasn’t abandoned the Asian way of doing smartphones like LG and Samsung have for their U.S. divisions and sometimes that means the things the company does can be puzzling to those of us used to the Western way of thinking. Just when I think I have figured out exactly which phones are the company’s flagship models that will get the lion’s share of time and money spent, they change it all up. That’s a good thing.

Something made Huawei change the way it redistributes and maintains phones running the EMUI operating system (Huawei’s version of Android) in 2017 and I think that’s going to be reflected when it comes to Android P updates.

• The Huawei P10 will be updated to Android Pie.
• The Huawei Mate 10 will be updated to Android Pie.
• The Honor 9 and Honor View 10 series will be updated to Android Pie. I’m hoping, but less confident about the Honor 7X.
• The Huawei Mate 9 will probably be updated to Android Pie, but we’ll see.

This includes the various Plus, Pro, and Porsche models (I want a Porsche phone) as well, and because EMUI is so different than every other smartphone software available users will have no idea which version of Android they are running unless they look.

Besides, if the things a handful of little birds are saying happen to be true, EMUI 9 isn’t going to be able to run on any hardware older than what comes in these phones.

Motorola

Motorola had a weird 2017. That’s putting it mildly. They released like 100 phones in the Americas and Western Europe (Editor’s note: it was actually 9) and they ranged from the surprisingly great $100 Moto E4 to the Moto X4, the first of hopefully many non-Google phones you can use on Project Fi, and all the Z and Force you can handle in between.. And they did it without compromising the G series which has been a company staple for years from the smartphone division.

Moto phones under Lenovo are slowly becoming like the Thinkpad — quietly chugging along in the background doing their thing. And doing it well.

On August 15, Motorola published a blog post outlining the handsets that’ll receive the official Pie update starting this fall. They include:

• Moto Z3
• Moto Z3 Play
• Moto Z2 Force
• Moto Z2 Play
• Moto X4
• Moto G6 Plus
• Moto G6
• Moto G6 Play

While that’s a strong list, the notable omissions include the Moto E5, E5 Plus, and E5 Play.

HTC

Disappointing sales have left the future of HTC’s smartphone business in uncertainty, but assuming the company doesn’t go under in the next few months, it’s announced that it’ll be updating four of its smartphones to Android 9 Pie. The list is as follows:

• HTC U12+
• HTC U11
• HTC U11+
• HTC U11 Life (Android One version)

We’re pleased as pie to confirm updates to Android Pie for the HTC U12+, U11+, U11, and U11 life (Android One). Timeframes for roll-out will be announced in due course. We can’t wait to know what you think of Google’s freshest slice of Android! pic.twitter.com/mPJePFegne

— HTC (@htc) August 10, 2018

Annnnddd…that’s it.

HTC says that it’ll release timeframes for its Pie updates “in due course”, and as those announcements are made, we’ll update this article accordingly.

Must mentions

These may be the companies we’re most familiar with in the west that sell Android phones, but they aren’t the only companies doing it. Out of the literally hundreds of models available, a few stand out and need mentioning.

• OnePlus will update the 5 and 5T and 3 and 3T.
• Sony’s high-end Xperia like the Zs and Xs from 2017 and 2018 will be updated, but other models probably won’t be.
• The BlackBerry KEYone probably won’t be upgraded to Android Pie, but we know the KEY2 will be.
• Now that Nokia has committed to Android One across all of its devices, there’s a good chance many of the more expensive models, like the Nokia 7 and Nokia 8 Sirocco, will join the 7 Plus in Pie-land.
• Someone at XDA will update their Nexus One to Android Pie and I am going to do my best to get Google to send that person a brand new Pixel 3 NotchXL.

Like mentioned earlier, these are just educated guesses at this point. but one thing I know for certain is that no matter what the phone, any updates will feel like they took too long to make it into our hands. That’s just how we’re wired.

Android 9 Pie

• Android 9 Pie review: Greater than the sum of its slices
• Everything you need to know about Android 9 Pie!
• Will my phone get Android Pie?
• How to get Android 9 Pie on your Pixel right now
• Join the Discussion

Updated August 15, 2018: Added new info regarding Motorola’s Pie plans.

The TicWatch Pro is the best Wear OS smartwatch you can buy right now

• Best overall
• Best for watch lovers
• Best lifestyle watch
• Best value

Best overall

Mobvoi TicWatch Pro

If you’re looking for a smartwatch you can use everywhere, this is it.

$249 from Amazon

A solid, sturdy watch with two displays for great performance indoors and out, with a classy design you can get away with anywhere and still feel great about using it.

Why the TicWatch Pro is the best

It’s not easy to find a Wear OS watch that ticks all the boxes. Some are great for fitness and the outdoor life, while others pack NFC payment tech and offer quality microphones for good Google Assistant functionality. TicWatch Pro is, in my opinion, the first Wear OS watch I’ve wanted to wear everywhere. It looks nice in every environment, comes with a leather strap you can wear while working out due to its textured silicone backing, and its two-stage display means you get phenomenal visibility everywhere.

And I’m far from alone. Here’s what Ara Wagoner had to say in her review of the watch:

You can glance down at your watch as you type, cook, drive, or go about your day and instantly, easily read the LCD display, and with tilt-to-wake, you can still see your flashy, fabulous custom watch face and notifications when you pull your wrist up to engage it. The handoff between the two modes is just as quick as the normal tilt-to-wake on any other watch, but it saves so much more battery. In short, I freaking love it.

This watch is a little on the bigger side, but the overall design makes it very comfortable to use despite this, and it’s honestly just a nice looking watch at the end of the day. If you’re looking for the best Wear OS experience, even if you’re an iPhone user, right now this is it.

Best for watch lovers

Huawei Watch 2 Classic

If you’re looking for something in a small package, this is for you

$225 from Amazon

A gorgeous, sharp 1.2-inch OLED panel and a comfortable leather wristband make for plenty of enjoyment, plus the heart rate monitor and GPS let the Watch 2 Classic live on its own, sans phone, when you want to go on a run.

Best lifestyle watch

Misfit Vapor

$199 from Amazon

Looks great and can be worn with just about anything.

The Misfit Vapor rocks a touch-sensitive frame so you don’t cover the screen while scrolling, and includes a programmable side button for launching your favorite apps.

Best value

Mobvoi Ticwatch E

$160 from Best Buy

Best bang for your buck that really does the trick

The folks behind Ticwatch E demonstrate the answer quite clearly by stuffing GPS, IP67 water resistance, and a 300mAh battery into a solid polycarbonate body.

Conclusion

The TicWatch Pro is not just a good watch, it’s the best Wear OS watch you can currently buy. While that may change in the coming months with new wearables from big names like LG, Sony and others, no other Wear OS device right now does as much, and so well, as the TicWatch Pro.

Best overall

Mobvoi TicWatch Pro

If you’re looking for a smartwatch you can use everywhere, this is it.

$249 from Amazon

A solid, sturdy watch with two displays for great performance indoors and out, with a classy design you can get away with anywhere and still feel great about using it.

Update, August 2018: The TicWatch Pro is now the best Wear OS smartwatch you can buy right now. We’ve removed the Asus Zen Watch because it has been discontinued and replaced it with the Huawei Watch 2 Classic.

Throwboy Launches New Line of Pillows Designed to Look Like Apple Devices

If you’ve ever wanted to snuggle with your Apple devices, Throwboy has a new Kickstarter project that may be of interest. The new Iconic Pillow Collection includes a selection of plushy pillows that have been designed to look like Apple products.

The collection includes five pillows meant to mimic the Apple II, released in 1977; the first Macintosh, released in 1984; the iMac G3, which was released in 1998 and also happens to be celebrating its 20th anniversary today; the iPod, released in 2001; and the iPhone, released in 2007.

Each of the five pillows features embroidery and design details to make it look like the product it’s designed after. The 1984 pillow, for example, has a rainbow logo (not an Apple logo, for trademark reasons), a floppy disk drive, and vents at the sides.

The 2001 iPod pillow features the iPod’s two-toned body, a click wheel, and a screen, while the iPhone includes a Home button, speaker, and the silver and black color scheme from the original device.

According to Throwboy, all of its pillows are made from ultra-soft 100 percent vegan fine grain plush, with careful embroidery, woven and silk screen labels, and a poly fiber filling. Each pillow measures approximately 13 x 5 x 13 inches and weighs just about a pound.

The first backers can get a single Iconic Pillow of their choice for $27, after which prices will go up to $33. Pricing on two pillows starts at $54 for early backers, while all five can be purchased by the first backers for $135.

Specific pricing for each tier is available on the Kickstarter project site, and pricing will vary after early bird rewards run out.

Throwboy plans to begin shipping the first of the pillows out in January 2019. While Kickstarter project shipping dates are often delayed, Throwboy is an established company that’s been making quirky pillows for a decade, so it’s likely that’s a reasonable shipping timeline.
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T-Mobile Launches ‘Team of Experts’ Aimed at Personalizing Customer Service, Supports iMessage Business Chat

T-Mobile held a press conference today announcing a new “Team of Experts” service, which is the company’s next “Un-carrier” move that’s taking aim at the poor customer service performance of rivals like AT&T, Comcast, and Verizon. During the hour-long conference, T-Mobile CEO John Legere and EVP of Customer Care Callie Field explained that customer service is “the biggest pain point” in the telecom industry today.

Team of Experts aims to nullify that customer frustration by introducing a tight-knit team that is dedicated solely to each individual user, and others in their city, with no robots or automated phone menus to navigate around. The company hopes to make Team of Experts feel more personal than traditional customer service, and even allows you to see a photo of your team in the T-Mobile iOS app.

When you call or message T-Mobile, the company will put you straight through to a member of your team. If you open an issue and have to contact T-Mobile again, the same team will still be covering the matter, making it easy to keep track of ongoing service requests and fixes.

“Team of Experts isn’t just better customer service. It’s an entirely new way of thinking about customers … one that puts your happiness at the center of everything we do,” said Callie Field, EVP of Customer Care at T-Mobile. “Some brands attempt to give high-dollar customers the kind of treatment we give everyone with Team of Experts. Because at T-Mobile, we think just being our customer makes you a rock star. Team of Experts is ‘one percenter’ treatment for the rest of us!”

Team of Experts will be available 24/7, and you can schedule calls to let the team know when you’re available. In the future, T-Mobile will also support Alexa and Google Assistant prompts that can set up Team of Experts calls.

Notably, the new customer service feature is also launching with asynchronous messaging for all T-Mobile customers in both the T-Mobile app and in Apple’s Messages app thanks to Business Chat. This means you can easily launch Messages on iPhone, iPad, or Mac, text your Team of Experts with an issue, and let them get to work on it, all without having to call.

Team of Experts is live beginning today for T-Mobile postpaid customers as a free addition to their accounts. The company says that the best way to reach the team via phone call is to dial 611 from a T-Mobile phone.

The company also had a few music-related announcements, including the reveal that T-Mobile customers will get a free subscription to Pandora Plus for an entire year. Users will be able to get a code to unlock their free Pandora Plus subscription in the T-Mobile Tuesdays iOS and Android app on August 28.

T-Mobile is also partnering with Live Nation so that T-Mobile customers can get last-minute reserved tickets to sold out shows “at first day prices.” On LiveNation.com, users will be able to look for a T-Mobile Reserved Seats icon starting 30 days before select shows, confirm their T-Mobile account, and get access to the event. Discounted tickets will also be available starting August 21 in the T-Mobile Tuesdays app for concerts including Charlie Puth, Wiz Khalifa, and more.

There was no mention of T-Mobile’s upcoming OTT streaming television service during today’s press conference, which is supposed to launch in 2018.

Tag: T-Mobile
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Apple Expected to Release New MacBook Air at End of Third Quarter: September or October

Apple will release a new MacBook Air at the end of the third quarter, according to Taiwanese research firm TrendForce. That lines up with either September or October, depending on how the wording is interpreted.

TrendForce also refers to a new MacBook Pro in future tense, but it is surely referring to the models released in July, when the third quarter began:

The second quarter was the transition period when Apple was preparing for the releases of the upcoming new MacBook devices for the year. TrendForce therefore expects MacBook shipments to again post a large QoQ increase in 3Q18, as Apple will be releasing a new MacBook Pro at the start of the quarter and a new MacBook Air at the end of the quarter.

The report does not provide additional details, but both Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo and Bloomberg News reporter Mark Gurman expect Apple to release a new entry-level notebook later this year, and they are two of the more reliable sources as it relates to Apple’s upcoming product plans.

TrendForce specifically says it will be a new MacBook Air, but Kuo and Gurman have not identified what branding the notebook will have.

Earlier this year, DigiTimes claimed that Apple will release the first MacBook Air with a Retina display in the second half of 2018, and noted that it will be a 13-inch model in a separate report. This week, it said Quanta will assemble new “inexpensive notebooks” from Apple in the fourth quarter.

Whether it turns out to be a MacBook, MacBook Air, or something else, Gurman expects at least one of the entry-level notebooks, if there are more than one, to have a starting price of $999 or less in the United States.

The current MacBook Air hasn’t seen any substantial updates in over three years. Since that time, Apple has discontinued the 11-inch model, while the processor on the base 13-inch model received a minor bump in clock speed, but it’s still a Broadwell chip from the 2014–2015 timeframe.

Apple could announce availability of a new MacBook Air via press release at any point this fall, or save it for a September or October event. At this point, we lean towards an October release, as the September event should be busy, with a trio of new iPhones, Apple Watch Series 4 models, new AirPods, and more.

With refreshes to other Macs expected later this year, including the iMac and Mac mini, and a widely expected iPad Pro with Face ID, Apple may have enough in its pipeline for an October event, which it last held in 2016.

Related Roundup: MacBook AirTag: TrendForceBuyer’s Guide: MacBook Air (Don’t Buy)
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Apple Releases Safari Technology Preview 63 With Bug Fixes and Feature Improvements

Apple today released a new update for Safari Technology Preview, the experimental browser Apple first introduced over two years ago in March of 2016. Apple designed the Safari Technology Preview to test features that may be introduced into future release versions of Safari.

Safari Technology Preview release 63 includes bug fixes and feature improvements for Dark Mode, Custom Elements, Media, Web Animations, Web API, Accessibility, Web Inspector, Internationalization API, WebGL 2, and SVG.

The new Safari Technology Preview update is available for both macOS High Sierra and macOS Mojave, the newest version of the Mac operating system that’s currently being beta tested by developers. Apple notes that Adobe Flash content does not load on macOS Mojave in Release 63.

The Safari Technology Preview update is available through the Software Update mechanism in the Mac App Store (or in System Preferences in Mojave) to anyone who has downloaded the browser. Full release notes for the update are available on the Safari Technology Preview website.

Apple’s aim with Safari Technology Preview is to gather feedback from developers and users on its browser development process. Safari Technology Preview can run side-by-side with the existing Safari browser and while designed for developers, it does not require a developer account to download.

Tag: Safari Technology Preview
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Lenovo Smart Display review: Much more than a Google Home

When it comes to smart assistants, Google Assistant and Amazon Alexa are the most competitive options out there. Both platforms can do just about the same thing, but Amazon has had a leg up by offering two smart speakers with displays. With Smart Displays, Google now has a product category that fully utilizes the Assistant and competes with things like the Echo Show. 

Read our full Lenovo Smart Display review to see if this is something that you’d like in your home.

A note on this Lenovo Smart Display review: I’ve been using the 10-inch Lenovo Smart Display for roughly two weeks. Our Lenovo Smart Display is running Android Things system firmware version NIT1.180611.004, cast firmware version 1.32.127892, and Google Assistant Smart Display application version 1.2.24+prod.0.4.5.4850785.

The Lenovo Smart Display used in the video review was provided to Android Authority by Lenovo while the unit used in the written review was purchased directly.

Show More

Design

The Lenovo Smart Display is probably one of the most modern-looking pieces of smart tech you can buy right now. The device’s 8- or 10-inch screen is the main attention grabber, but the speaker grill on the left creates a unique asymmetrical shape. I’m a fan of this design, but others might not be.

While I’m a fan of the Lenovo Smart Display design, it’s easy to see why others might not be.

Around back, the Smart Display features an angular design to house its internal components (Snapdragon 624, 2GB of RAM, 4GB of storage) and prop the device up. The unit sits best in a landscape orientation. The product’s design allows it to sit upright, but Google hasn’t actually implemented a portrait orientation for Smart Displays — at least not yet. Currently, the only time the screen can reorient itself is during Google Duo video calls (more on that below).

Other than the size of the screen and body of the Smart Displays, the only real difference between the 8-inch and 10-inch models is the material on the back of the device. The rear of the 10-inch variant we reviewed is made out of bamboo and the 8-inch unit sports a grey soft-touch material.

While I’m personally enamored with the bamboo look, it might not fit the style of whichever room you plan to keep the Smart Display in. My unit primarily sits up against a wall, so I rarely see its back anyway. 

The Smart Display is almost entirely controlled by voice, though there are still physical buttons on the edge of the device. The volume and mic mute buttons all feel premium and provide a nice tactile response when pressed.

Camera

One small detail on the front of the Smart Display is the 5MP camera. At the time of publishing this review, the only use for this is to place video calls through Google Duo. Overall, the video quality is pretty decent and gets the job done. 

Of course, we would like to see Google and third parties use the camera more. The search giant could at least include a camera app to let people snap selfies or shoot short video clips, or even just allow companies like Microsoft to add Skype integration.

For privacy reasons, Lenovo included a switch that moves a physical cover over the lens and turns off the camera.

For obvious privacy reasons, some users won’t love that the device’s camera is seemingly always watching you. Thankfully, Lenovo was wise and included a switch that not only turns off the camera but also moves a physical cover over the lens. We want this to be a standard feature on all future Smart Displays.

Software and performance

The Lenovo Smart Display runs on a new operating system Google calls Android Things, which is like a pared-back Internet of Things version of Android proper. By starting fresh, Google’s built an experience from the ground up for Google Assistant. 

Speaking of that, Google Assistant primarily drives everything on the Lenovo Smart Display. It’s the same Google Assistant you may already know from your phone, so there’s no additional learning curve. Most interactions with the Smart Display will be through the use of the “Hey Google” or “Okay Google” hotwords.

Touchscreen control is also a vital component of the experience once you dig into the visual response provided by the Assistant. You’ll be able manually adjusting a smart light bulb’s brightness and scrolling through a recipe, among other things.

The touchscreen can also navigate the Smart Display’s home screen. After tapping on the device to exit the screensaver, the gadget will present you with the weather, any upcoming calendar appointments or reminders, suggestions from services like YouTube and Spotify, and much more. I almost never visited this page, though it was handy for finding new Spotify radio selections.

Even though Smart Displays and Google Home smart speakers might have a similar feature set (ignoring the screen), they are not the same thing. You can read about the differences here, but to summarize, features like audio grouping and Continued Conversations aren’t available on the Smart Display.

Up next: Google slowly bringing smart display features to smartphones

This distinction between the two products is one Google can either minimize or continue expanding. Considering Smart Displays are seen by many as a Google Home with a screen, I think it’s wise to bring the two under one roof and avoid further confusion.

One other disappointing aspect of the Smart Display is its limited Chromecast support. I found it pretty annoying that I could cast YouTube and Play Movies to the unit, but not Netflix. While this is admittedly a pretty minor downside to the Smart Display, for those like me that watch content while in the kitchen, Netflix’s absence is noteworthy. This is more a Google issue than a Smart Display one, so maybe it will be fixed at some point.

I occasionally found my Smart Display took longer than normal to process a command. I don’t know if this has to do with the 2GB of RAM. Sometimes I could tell the Smart Display heard what I said, but it took a good five to 10 seconds to respond. Thankfully, this didn’t occur too often, but it’s something I hope Google addresses in the future.

All software updates to the Lenovo Smart Display will be handled by Google.

All software updates to the Lenovo Smart Display will be handled by Google. The company is clearly invested in Android Things’ future, so expect additional features and support for years. 

Display quality

The 8-inch Smart Display model sports a 1,280 x 800 HD IPS panel while the 10-inch variant features a 1,920 x 1,200 FHD IPS screen. I can’t say how good the 8-inch display looks, but I have been rather impressed with the picture and video quality on the 10-inch model.

Because I mostly use the Lenovo Smart Display to listen to music throughout the day or watch videos while cooking dinner, I am continually looking at the screen. In the two weeks I’ve used the Smart Display, I was never disappointed by the visuals and quite enjoyed what I watched. 

If you get up close to the display and look, pixels are visible. However, this device isn’t meant for prolonged use, so most will never notice these details.

Audio quality

Throughout the Lenovo Smart Display review period, I used it for a variety of audio including music, movies, YouTube videos, Duo calls, podcasts, news, and voice searches.

Both variants of the Smart Display include a 10-watt speaker with two passive tweeters. From our testing, this is great for listening to the casual dialog of podcasts and TV shows, but the unit struggles when playing back audio with a lot of low-end and bass. Android Authority‘s own Lanh Nguyen handled our Lenovo Smart Display review on YouTube and found the speaker distorted at max volume when playing music with a lot of treble. I didn’t experience this on my unit.

Think of the Lenovo Smart Display’s speaker as something that will get the job done but won’t blow you away.

The Lenovo Smart Display’s speaker will get the job done, but it won’t blow you away. If sound quality is the make or break feature for you, it’s probably wise to hold off until JBL releases the Link View. 

Lenovo Smart Display review: Should you buy it?

Smart Displays are an entirely new product category for Google. Companies like JBL and LG have shown off upcoming devices, but Lenovo is first to actually release one. As such, we don’t really have much to compare this to. 

Despite this, the Smart Display itself was everything I wanted it to be and more. While it’s not a Google Home, it did 90 percent of the tasks I expected it to and provides rich visual information on top of the queries and commands that I give it. I find this incredibly valuable, and a valid reason to consider replacing my collection of Google Homes and Assistant speakers — or at least some of them.

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PSA: Smart Displays aren’t a replacement for your Google Home — at least not yet

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If the screen will benefit your needs, you understand its limitations, and acknowledge this is the first product in an entirely new category, I would absolutely recommend the Lenovo Smart Display. In time, Google will roll out new features and bring more functionality to the platform — the device should only get better over time. The Lenovo Smart Display sets a high bar for any upcoming competition.

The 8-inch Lenovo Smart Display costs $199, while the larger 10-inch model will set you back $250. I enjoyed having the larger variant in my kitchen because I watch a lot of TV and movies there, but the 8-inch model makes more sense for other, less-trafficked areas of your home.

8″ Lenovo Smart Display
10″ Lenovo smart display

Trust us, you need to pay attention to Samsung’s new mobile modem

Samsung has announced the Exynos Modem 5100, something that would usually be a relatively uninteresting piece of equipment, but made more special here because of its 5G capabilities. Be prepared — the onslaught of 5G-related technology is only just getting started.

What makes this special? It’s almost certainly the modem that will provide 5G connectivity for future 5G smartphones and other mobile devices from Samsung and its partners. Samsung does not explicitly state which devices it will be used in or when it will happen, but does say the modem has been successfully tested using a 5G “end user equipment prototype” — that’s a phone to you and me — equipped with the modem and connected to a 5G base station.

The good news is the Exynos Modem 5100 isn’t solely a 5G modem, as it will connect to most networks we use right now, including 2G, 3G, HSPA, 4G LTE. This is essential, as 5G will take a while to become widely available, and even with a 5G phone in our hand, we’ll have to fall back on 4G LTE and perhaps even 3G regularly for a start.

Samsung also estimates the kind of speed boost we’ll get from a phone that uses the Exynos 5100 Modem. The maximum downlink, says Samsung, will be between 2Gbps and 6Gbps, depending on the type of connection it has at the time. This means the connection could be up to five times faster than Samsung’s current modems. Squeezing all this technology, both current and future, into a single chip that unlike Motorola’s 5G Moto Mod, stays hidden away inside a device is a major step towards a consumer-friendly 5G’s launch.

5G’s actual launch window is still unknown, even with Verizon’s bluster surrounding the 5G Moto Mod, and even when it does come we’ve no idea how many people will be able to take advantage of such a fast connection, or how much it will cost. Samsung has warned that the Galaxy S10, expected early in 2019, will not be a 5G phone, indicating it will be later in the year before we see a compatible device from the manufacturer. When it does come, it will likely have the Exynos Modem 5100 inside.

One other thing to consider here is the use of the Exynos name. This may mean only Samsung’s phones that use its own Exynos processors — usually launched internationally — will get the Exynos Modem 5100, and Qualcomm-powered devices launched in the U.S. and selected other regions will use a different chip. The modem’s announcement comes soon after Samsung revealed a new RAM module suited to 5G mobile devices.

Samsung will make the Exynos Modem 5100 chip available to its customers, which may have different plans for it, before the end of this year.

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