Apple preps production of updated MacBook Air for a 2018 launch

A new rumor may give more support to Apple’s rumored plans of launching a low-cost notebook before the year’s over. Whether the Mac laptop will replace Apple’s aging MacBook Air or slot in as a new member of Apple’s MacBook or MacBook Pro lines isn’t entirely clear at this point, but a new report from DigiTimes suggests that Quanta will be manufacturing the least-expensive notebook in Apple’s laptop lineup. Manufacturing should commence in the fourth quarter, and the laptop could launch in September or October, according to MacRumors.

The timeline matches an earlier Apple product road map provided by analyst Ming-Chi Kuo, a reliable source of Apple news and rumors in the past. Apple’s inexpensive laptop is expected to slot in at under $1,000, similar to what Apple charges for the MacBook Air today. Rumored features such as an update to Intel’s 8th-Gen processors and a Retina display mean that this would be the most significant upgrade to the platform in many years if this laptop gets branded as a MacBook Air. The current MacBook Air relies on Intel’s fifth-generation Broadwell chip architecture, so an update to an eighth-gen processor would give the new Air a major power boost.

Along with the MacBook Air, Apple is also rumored to update the rest of its Mac lineup. Apple is expected to update its MacBook, iMac, and Mac Mini this year. The company had quietly updated its MacBook Pro to Intel’s eighth-generation processor earlier this year, and it announced that a newly designed Mac Pro would not be ready until next year. The MacBook Pro refresh also introduced a new third-generation keyboard using Apple’s butterfly key switch. In addition to a quieter typing experience, the new keyboard also brought some under-the-hood design changes to help prevent some of the widely reported keyboard problems experienced by owners of previous generation laptop models.

Earlier reports indicate that Apple could launch its new smartphone models in September and reserve its computing products for an October event. Apple could also choose to quietly launch its refreshed Mac lineup without a media event, similar to how it debuted the new MacBook Pro laptops.

Editors’ Recommendations

• Apple’s new MacBook Air with Intel’s 8th-gen processors expected this year
• Don’t like the Touch Bar? Too bad. Apple’s new Macbooks make it almost mandatory
• A cheaper MacBook Air could still arrive in late 2018
• Intel’s 9th-generation processor could launch next month with 8 cores
• Mac Mini could make a comeback this year with a rumored refresh

White-hat Chinese hackers turn Alexa into a spy, briefly

This won’t come as any surprise to those of you who put tape over your laptop’s cameras, but Alexa might not be 100 percent secure. This week at the Def Con Hacking Conference in Las Vegas, researchers from the Chinese conglomerate Tencent Holdings disclosed that they were able to use a modified Amazon Echo to hack into another Echo running on the same network. The researchers were not only able to take full control over the secondary device but also silently record and transmit audio to a third party, essentially turning the smart speaker into great big bugging devices, as reported by Wired.

If you’re feeling the slightest bit paranoid right now, cool your jets. These white-hat hackers have already informed Amazon of the exploit and the company rolled out security fixes last month.

Researchers Wu Huiyu and Qian Wenxiang also explained that their technique involved far more than a straight-up remote hack, fortunately. First, they had to drastically modify a standard Echo by removing a flash memory chip, modify its firmware to get root access, and solder the chip back to the circuit board. Sure, this involves little more than a little engineering knowledge and some things from RadioShack but it’s still not something your average spy is likely to have on hand.

However, once they placed their rogue device on the same network as other Echo devices, they could use Amazon’s proprietary communication protocols plus some undiscovered Alexa interface flaws (address redirection, cross-site scripting, and web encryption downgrades) to gain full access over the device. They could, for a more banal example, play any sound they wanted to. Or, they could silently record and transmit every single sound in the room, including conversations in adjacent rooms.

When we extend the logic, that means that an espionage outfit could simply replace a single Amazon smart speaker in a hotel’s network and take complete command over every smart speaker on the network. Sleep tight.

“After several months of research, we successfully break the Amazon Echo by using multiple vulnerabilities in the Amazon Echo system, and [achieve] remote eavesdropping,” the hackers said in a statement to Wired. “When the attack [succeeds], we can control Amazon Echo for eavesdropping and send the voice data through the network to the attacker.”

In addition to noting that the Alexa interface flaws have been patched, Amazon stressed that this particular hack requires a malicious actor to take physical access over at least one device.

This is just the latest in a series of attempts to crack the smart speaker’s security platform. Last year, British hacker Mark Barnes was able to install malware on an Echo via metal contacts accessible under the speaker’s rubber base. The security firm Checkmarx also revealed a potentially dangerous security flaw earlier this year when it hacked Alexa’s recording function via malware on a seemingly innocuous calculator app.

Editors’ Recommendations

• Amazon Echo Dot vs. Echo Dot Kids Edition
• Is a new Amazon Echo Dot resembling the Google Home Mini on its way?
• A California chipmaker is working to free Alexa from the power cord
• Amazon Echo Spot review
• Alexa reportedly says, ‘Every time I close my eyes, all I see is people dying’

The 4 best smart plugs for Alexa and Google Home

Save on your summer energy costs with the right smart plugs that work with both Google Home and Alexa.

Amazon Echo and Google Home speakers are so popular these days that we’ve crossed over from the early adopters to each finding a place within the mainstream culture. Both are functional if you’re like me you might not be convinced which assistant is right for you — that’s why I’ve got both Alexa and Google Home speakers set up in my home.

If you’re also figuring out which is right for you, be sure to buy smart home accessories that are compatible with both AI assistants. One of the best places to start is with smart plugs that let you control the stuff already in your house, such as lamps, TVs, and air purifiers. We’ve rounded up the best options for smart plugs that work with both Alexa and Google Assistant.

• Samsung SmartThings
• TP-Link Smart Home Outlet
• D-Link Smart Plug
• AWAIR Air Filtration Smart Plug

Samsung SmartThings

See at Amazon

Samsung’s SmartThings is a very capable and customizable home automation system that’s a great place to start for both Alexa and Google Assistant users. The starter kit includes a Hub for connecting different smart sensors for monitoring your home, which is a reasonable $160.

The SmartThings Home Monitoring Kit comes with a Hub, two Multipurpose Sensors, a Motion Sensor, and an Outlet. You can configure them however you like in your home, then get instant notifications if anything is out of the normal. You can also buy additional sensors, including an Arrival Sensor and a Water Leak Sensor, along with more smart plugs for controlling different lamps and devices around your home.

Since SmartThings works well with both Google Assistant and Alexa, it’s a great starting point for building out your wireless smart home system. The Hub starter kit is a good place to start, as many other smart devices are compatible with the SmartThings Hub, plus you’ll get some smart sensors to play around with, too. Samsung has also begun consolidating all of its smart home products under the SmartThings umbrella, so just another great reason to start with SmartThings when setting up your smart home. The whole kit is $160.

TP-Link Smart Home

See at Amazon

The Kasa Smart Wi-Fi Plug offers two separate outlets that let you set up and control two separate devices while leaving the second outlet free. The outlets work with either Alexa or Google Assistant and thanks to the built-in Wi-Fi technology, no hub is required to get things connected. Grab it for a reasonable $35.

TP-Link offers a line of smart plugs and switches that allow you to convert the lamps and appliances you already own into smart devices you can automate to power on or control with your voice. Alternatively, there’s the Kasa Smart Wi-Fi Plug Mini for just $26 that’s a bit more compact and still leaves that second outlet open.

D-Link Smart Plug

See at Amazon

You’re able to control devices plugged into the D-Link Smart Plug via the D-Link app on your phone from anywhere, but more importantly, you’ll be able to use and control things with your voice with your Amazon Echo or Google Home While not as compact as the TP-Link mini plug, the D-Link is still a great option for any room in your house and starts at $30 on Amazon.

D-Link is another brand that offers a smart plug that doesn’t require a hub to connect to either Alexa or Google Assistant.

AWAIR Air Filtration Smart Plug

See at Amazon

AWAIR has combined a smart plug with its own air filtration technology to create an uber-functional smart plug. The AWAIR Glow is the coolest device AWAIR sells — it plugs right into an outlet and can be set up to turn on an appliance such as a dehumidifier or air filtration system at a specific time or when levels get a bit high. Once connected to Google Home or Alexa, you’re also able to use the AWAIR Glow to control whichever device you have plugged in using just your voice. The Glow is currently available for just $99.

According to AWAIR, the air inside your home can be up to five times more polluted than outside, and that can end up aggravating allergies or asthma, affecting your concentration or sleep quality, and much more.

To combat this, AWAIR has developed a line of smart products that monitor the air quality in your home. Each device monitors five aspects that determine air quality — temperature, humidity, CO2, airborne chemicals, and dust. AWAIR monitors all these factors and churns out a quick guide that gives you a good idea of how clean the air is in your home at a glance and will also send tips to your smartphone offering tips and suggestions.

Did we miss any?

Got a favorite smart plug that didn’t make our list? Let us know in the comments and we’ll check it out!

Updated August 2018: This month, the SmartThings kit and we’ve updated the TP-Link entry with their latest two-outlet product.

9 Android apps that power my work, my wonder, and my will to live

I can’t live without my phone, but I especially can’t live without these apps.

Few items have become as essentially to our everyday lives as our smartphones, but what makes our smartphones so vital isn’t the hardware itself, it’s the software it runs. The apps and the services our smartphones serve up to use turn these slabs of glass and metal into tools of productivity, procrastination, and mass communication. Everyone has a different set of apps that they put first in their phone and in their life, and these are mine. Some help me work. Some help me play. Some help me do nothing at all except kill time.

And they all have become apps I can’t live without.

• YouTube Music
• Google Keep
• Google Photos
• Smart Launcher 5
• Reddit
• KWGT
• DeviantArt
• Disney Emoji Blitz
• Google Assistant

For energy & throwbacks

YouTube Music

I’ve included it in my bio for years: if you see me without headphones, run. Music amps me up, tears me down, calms me, hurts me, moves me, come what may. Having music that’s easy to get going, doesn’t need a lot of pulling playlists together, and won’t throw off my groove with algorithmic misses is a wonderful thing, and it’s a bit alarming how quickly I’ve grown to love YouTube Music’s Your Mixtape.

Read more: YouTube Music, a mixtape full of promise

Don’t get me wrong, I’m still very much a Google Play Music user, especially since a lot of the uploaded collection music that I’ve curated over the years isn’t on YouTube Music (yet), but YouTube Music has already become my go-to music app for just about all on Wi-Fi listening. Yeah, offline mixtape gets me by when I’m running errands, but until YouTube Music gets Android Auto support, Play Music will still get my vote when I’m driving any real distance.

Download: YouTube Music (free, subscription)

For notes, outlines, and reminders

Google Keep

Google Keep is one of those apps that’s still something of a hidden gem among the vast suite of Google apps. Keep is a totally free note-taking, checklist-keeping, inspiration-organizing app that’s part Evernote, part Pinterest, and all awesome. Keep’s checklists and do-tos are way better than Google Tasks. The technicolor notes are easier on the eyes for typing out article outlines and new character ideas at 3am than Google Drive. Google Keep’s notes also allow recurring location- and time-based reminders, which is amazing for things like:

• Effortlessly pulling up an over-lunch meeting itinerary when you reach the restaurant
• Having your shopping list pop up as you walk into H-E-B after a double-shift
• Checking your post-shift list every night before you leave
• Gathering notes as you arrive at your weekly book club or D&D night

Reminders are especially important to me because I use Google Keep a lot, so reminders help important items avoid getting lost in a sea of article ideas and theme element links — oh, did I forget to mention that you can save images, voice memos and rich hyperlinks in Keep notes? Silly me. This is why I need Google Keep reminders!

Download: Google Keep (free)

For syncing article photos, timelines, and sharing work photos

Google Photos

Google Photos is a lifesaver. No more waiting for screenshots to send through Google Drive, no more hassling with cables every time I need to edit a photo, and everything is indexed and searchable. If I want to know when I took delivery of my car, I type in the car and look for the photos I took when I drove it home. I can also check my shots on my Chromebook as I’m in the middle of a photography session to make sure the images I’m taking with my phone are turning out the way I want them to.

Google Photos’ keyboard shortcuts are fairly simple, but they’ve been an excellent help in keeping photos organized, getting things downloaded and archived quickly, and letting me get on with my life. And it’s free, too!

Download: Google Photos (free, in-app purchases)

For a simple, consistent home screen

Smart Launcher 5

I’m always hopping launchers for theme building or trying out new beta features, but sometimes at the end of the day, it’s nice to come home to a home screen where everything’s just like you let it and everything works. I’ve been a Nova Launcher die-hard for years and year — and it’s still the best theming and customization launcher on the market, especially once the new 6.0 features make their way out of beta — but somewhere between Icon Pack Studio, gridless widgets, and the categorized app drawer, I fell in love.

Smart Launcher 5 review: balancing customization and simplicity

Smart Launcher 5’s layout borders on painfully basic for a themer like me, but when I’m not banging out a new theme, Smart Launcher’s dock and widget page layout works just fine for me, especially after I hide a second app or folder behind each and every app on my dock. Then there’s the categorical app drawer, which does by default what I’ve done manually on Nova for years: a tabbed app drawer organized by activity and/or type. All my theming and customization apps get a tab. Refreshing best keyboards? Throw them all in a new tab so I can keep them together as I review and re-evaluate them. It’s easy, easy to theme, and it’s nice to come home to at the end of a long day.

Download: Smart Launcher 5 (free, in-app purchases)

For passion projects and all the feels

Reddit

Reddit is somewhere I’ve lurked for a long time, but over the last year or so I’ve graduated from lurker to occasional contributor to semi-regular redditor, at least in a few niche subreddits. As I’ve delved deeper and deeper into YouTube Music, I’ve found myself answering more and more questions I encounter on /r/YoutubeMusic. Likewise, as I shift from relying on pre-built widget packs to building my own Kustom widget, I’ve drawn inspiration and given back to users seeking help in equal measure, and I’ve found fellow nerds to debate strategy, events, and future emoji in /r/DisneyEmojiBlitz. Other reddits I’m still strictly a lurker on, like /r/WritingPrompts.

While there are lots of great Reddit apps out there, I’ve found myself coming back to the official Reddit app recently, especially whenever I have replies and messages to the reply to. The only time I really find myself reaching for a third-party client is when I need to upload images in a reply quickly, especially on subbreddits that ban link shorteners (and thus Google Photos links).

Download: Reddit (free)

For scratching my theming itches and even more reminders

KWGT

I am a themer, and KWGT is a linchpin for most if not all of the themes I build today, both for readers like you and just for me. Widgets on Android have always left something to be desired, but KWGT is like the Photoshop of widget-makers: if you can dream it, you can do it. Just as people can build brush packs and share PSD templates for Photoshop, Kustom users can build komponents, fonticon packs, and presets to enrich their own projects and to share with others.

This collaboration means that KWGT has a robust community built up around on it, so newcomers can come ask questions and get help when they stumble with early projects — I go ask questions myself about the limits of KWGT’s widgets from time to time — and since Kustom presets can be packaged and sold in Google Play, newcomers can get their feet wet playing with pre-made widgets before they dive into building their own from scratch. In addition to being completely customizable, third-party music widgets work with multiple music apps, which is great when I’m switching back and forth between YouTube Music and Google Play Music.

Download: KWGT (free, in-app purchases)

For wallpapers, comics, and stress relief

DeviantArt

I’m a themer, and I’m a comic lover, and I’m an art lover. DeviantArt is the best place online to come look for art of all kinds, and whether I’m looking for a new wallpaper for a theme, a new comic series to fall in love with, or some truly magical artwork to get lost in, this is the app I turn to. While I’ve used DeviantArt for years, I didn’t get an account until about two years ago, because while using it on desktop is fairly straightforward whether you have an account or not, the app is ten times easier to use once you log in, regardless of if you’re ever going to comment or post art of your own.

Logging in and favoriting pieces will allow you DeviantArt to better tune search results to your tastes, and watching artists will give you a Watch feed full of new art every time you log in. At the very least, get logged in and get your filters set the way you want them — it’s not called Deviant for nothing.

Download: DeviantArt (free, in-app purchases)

For a daily Disney fix in match-three magic

Disney Emoji Blitz

Everyone needs some stress relief and I get mine in adorable Disney packaging. Disney Emoji Blitz is a match-three game like Candy Crush or Bejeweled, with two simple twists: all the characters and items are Disney emoji or Disney-related, and everything you unlock in the game is accessible through the Disney Emoji Blitz keyboard. Now, the keyboard itself sucks, and like all custom emoji keyboard, the number of apps that can use them is still fairly small, but the game is fun enough to play on its own, especially now that they’ve taken to having one or two events per week for users new and old to replenish their power-ups and coins through while unlocking new emoji or powering up ones they already had.

I’m finishing most events within 48 hours of them starting — though finishing them within 24 is nice when it happens — and I unlocked Fairy Godmother at Level 200 last week. I’ve played this game for two years, and I don’t see myself putting it down anytime soon.

Download: Disney Emoji Blitz (free, in-app purchases)

For home control, web searches, and even more reminders

Google Assistant

Google Assistant was once limited, in both devices and in features, but now the helpful AI is available just about everywhere, and I use it just about everywhere. I use Google Assistant in the car to control my music, pull up directions, and read/dictate replies to text messages. I use it in the kitchen to set timers, control my music, and listen to the latest BBC Minute. I use Google Assistant in the shower to hear how much time is left until my meeting, what the weather will be like today, and control my music. I use it at work to look up scores while I update baseball graphics, to make sure supers are spelled correctly, control my music, and fact-check seemingly infallible producers.

I use Google Assistant in bed to fall asleep to nature sounds, to wake up using the new time-trigger function in Google Assistant Rountines, and — you guessed it — control my music.

Google Assistant’s music controls are what I’ve dreamed of for years

If there’s any big trick to Google Assistant, it’s the simple adage that the more you use Google Assistant, the better it gets. The voice match and speech recognition improve the more you use it; the Google Home in my bedroom even understands me with my nightguard in. Oh, and my other suggestion is to change the voice away from the standard “Red” voice; it helps Assistant feel more personal and comfortable to use. I’m using Green, but I mix things up with Pink or Blue every now and again.

Download: Google Assistant (free)

What apps power your life?

So, these are the methods to my madness, but everyone’s Android experience is different — be different, not the same — so which apps are must-haves on your phone? Which services get your money, your data, and your devotion? Share with us in the comments; which apps do you use the most, and which apps would you like to see us cover more here on Android Central?

This $13 TrackR Pixel can help prevent you from misplacing your gadgets

What once was lost is now found!

Right now you can pick up the TrackR Pixel for just $12.55 at Amazon, which is the lowest that it has ever sold for. Normally, this Bluetooth tracker sells for between $20 and $25, and has never dropped below $14 in the past. The device itself is on the smaller side, which means that you can easily attach it to just about anything that you find yourself misplacing.

It uses Bluetooth to find items at close ranges, and the free iOS and Android app can be used to ring your device and flash the light to help you find it even faster. There is a battery inside the TrackR, and the app will let you know when it’s running low. You’ll be able to order a replacement for free, directly from the app, meaning you don’t have to replace the whole unit like you do with a Tile tracker. You can see where you last had your device on a map, and if you have the device but lost your phone you can simply press the button on it to ping your phone.

These are extremely useful, and at this price, you may want to pick up a few of them!

See at Amazon

The Bose QuietComfort 35 Series II is a no-brainer purchase at just $299

At $50 off the MSRP, you’d be silly to skip out on this deal.

As someone that’s never been an audiophile, I was a bit hesitant to pick up the Bose QuietComfort 35 (Series II) last year for their staggering retail price of $349. That’s easily the most I’ve ever spent on a pair of headphones by a large margin, and while my wallet certainly felt the sting of that purchase for a couple weeks afterward, I don’t know how I got by for so long without the things.

I called the QC35 II my favorite pair of wireless noise-canceling headphones when I reviewed them earlier this year, saying:

I’ve always enjoyed listening to music, but with these headphones, I find myself wanting to just sit on the couch, throw them on, and close my eyes while listening to some of my favorite tunes.

That’s something I’ve never felt with any other pair of headphones I’ve owned, and when you combine that with the design, noise canceling, and everything else I talked about, you end up with something special. I’ve been using these headphones on a daily basis since I got them in October of last year, and I don’t plan on giving them up anytime soon.

Bose’s combination of excellent sound quality, fantastic design, and the industry’s best noise-canceling make the QC35 II a force to be reckoned with, but like I mentioned above and in my review, $349 is a lot of money to spend on a pair of headphones.

Thankfully, if you’ve been holding out on buying the QC35 II and have been waiting for the perfect moment to do so, now’s your chance. Amazon’s currently selling them for just $299, saving you a cool $50.

This deal started over the weekend, as reported by our pals at Thrifter, and we aren’t sure how long this deal will be around. You’ll want to be sure to hop on it before it disappears. $299 is still a good chunk of change, but for headphones of this caliber, it’s one of the best deals you’ll find.

See at Amazon

Samsung DeX review, 2018 edition: More productive, but still problematic

DeX has come a long way, but there’s still some work to be done.

When Samsung DeX debuted in early 2017 it was… not great. The idea had been tried by Microsoft and Motorola before them, and it sounds good on paper: you already own a phone, so why not expand it into a desktop to be more productive?

Again, that sounds great on paper, but it’s a wildly different experience when the rubber meets the road. Or in this case, when the phone meets the dock. I’ve been playing with DeX for the last few weeks in the ramp up to the Galaxy Note 9’s announcement, so it’s time to see how DeX has grown in the last year and a half.

• What hasn’t changed
• What’s better
• What still needs work
• Compared to other platforms
• Is DeX good enough to replace a standalone computer?

What hasn’t changed

The interface looks mostly the same as it did in Spring 2017, and that’s perfectly fine. The DeX desktop interface takes a few design cues from Windows 10 and Chrome OS: there’s an app list button in the lower left, a taskbar with icons for your active apps along the bottom center, and status icons and quick toggles in the lower right. You also get a proper desktop where you can place app icons, or you can pin them to the taskbar. It’s not a carbon copy of Windows or Chrome, but DeX follows the same design conventions close enough to make it so anyone can start using DeX without trouble.

The interaction with apps hasn’t really changed either. Apps can either be in portrait or landscape, and are the same size and layout as they would be on your phone in those orientations. It’s still not a replacement for a laptop, but then again Samsung isn’t selling a laptop-like dock for this.

What’s better

DeX’s biggest strength now comes from the hardware it ships on. The Note 9 and Galaxy S9+ come with 6GB of RAM, 2GB more than came on the Galaxy S8 that DeX launched alongside. The extra RAM is crucial to keeping the interface smooth, and keeping more apps up at once. Using DeX on my Galaxy S8 still leads to some apps force closing as I try to open more apps up, and extra RAM and newer processors make for a much better experience.

You also need a smaller monetary investment to use DeX. You still need a Galaxy flagship from the last two years, but the S8 are cheaper than ever while still being great phones. With the Note 9, you can use DeX from almost any USB-C hub — you can unofficially do this with other phones too — if you don’t want to spend extra money on a DeX dock. If you do want the dock, it goes on sale regularly. As for other accessories, you still need a separate monitor, but you can use the Note 9’s software keyboard or touchscreen if you don’t want to pony up for desktop accessories.

Galaxy Tab S4 users have it even easier: DeX is built right into the tablet’s software. You can change between the two modes at any time, even when the tablet isn’t docked into its Book Cover keyboard case, but it’s better with a keyboard and mouse.

What still needs work

The biggest limitation from DeX’s launch is still around: the apps. These are still mobile apps, and while companies like Adobe and Microsoft have put effort into making their services great on DeX, that’s definitely not true of all apps. There are other limitations too: you can only have one Google Doc, Slide or Sheet open at once, since that’s what’s expected of those applications on a smartphone. Chrome works well enough, including common shortcuts like Ctrl + Shift + N to open an incognito window. But there aren’t any Chrome plugins or apps, so your favorite ad blocker isn’t available.

This situation isn’t in Samsung’s control since it requires effort from app developers, but it’s definitely to the detriment of the DeX experience. Samsung makes the most popular phones that run Android, so hopefully they keep investing in DeX and application developers put the work in for their apps.

Compared to other platforms

Windows and macOS have been around since dinosaurs roamed the earth, and every piece of software you may need is likely to be on either of these operating systems. Chrome OS is newer, but with a full desktop browser and Android applications that know they’re on a larger screen you can do almost anything.

DeX is much more limited than any of these other platforms. Apps look and behave just they would on any other smartphone, but the app window can’t be used across your entire monitor. Chrome and other browsers have their mobile interfaces, which are much more constrained than the desktop equivalents. You’ll be more limited using DeX than you would another operating system.

Is DeX good enough to replace a standalone computer?

One constant since Spring 2017 is a complex question: who is DeX actually for? Laptops and desktops are common enough to be a commodity, and it makes little sense to replace a perfectly good machine with a DeX dock that will leave you less productive. For heavy mobile users, a macOS, Windows or Chrome laptop is going to worlds better than trying to find a monitor for your DeX dock.

But let’s say you already do 95% of what you need to on your phone. You may already have an old desktop, monitor, keyboard and mouse that have been in your house for years. You don’t really need the desktop anymore, it’s just there because it’s always been there. You may consider DeX because you don’t use that desktop enough for your productivity to suffer from moving to DeX. The limitations listed above don’t apply to you because of the way you use your computer, and that’s okay.

3.5
out of 5

Or, you could be a corporation that issues Galaxy phones to your workforce. Again, a vast majority of their work is done on the go. But again, you likely have a stock of monitors, keyboards and mice. It’s not that much more of an investment to set up a few DeX stations for those workers to type up longer emails and documents. If you just want a bigger screen for the things you do on your phone, DeX makes a lot of sense.

What say you?

Do you still use DeX in 2018? What’s better, and what still frustrates you? Let us know down below!

Samsung Galaxy Note 9

• Samsung Galaxy Note 9 hands-on preview
• 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

AT&T
Verizon
T-Mobile
Samsung

Get all the benefits of Alexa with better sound quality than an Echo

Get what Alexa has to offer without having to put up with an Echo’s subpar sound.

If you want everything that Amazon Alexa has to offer, but don’t actually want to put up with the Amazon Echo’s mediocre sound, you can get other speakers with Alexa built in!

Here are our top picks.

• Sonos One
• Sugr Cube Minimalis
• Eufy Genie
• Libratone Zipp
• VAUX Cordless

Sonos One

Sonos is the number one name in wireless home audio, with great sound and ridiculously easy setup, and the Sonos One is the first of its speakers to have Alexa built in. Six mics mean it can hear you from far away, but at its core, it has the Sonos signature — which means it sounds incredible. Get it for $200.

See at Sonos

The Sonos One is the best Alexa-powered speaker you can buy. It sounds amazing, with awesome deep bass, smooth highs and blissful mids. Sonos has added AirPlay 2 to the Sonos One, too, and Google Assistant support is coming soon, too, but it works best with Alexa. Pair it with a second Sonos One for a true stereo pair.

Sugr Cube Minimalist

Get this one mainly for the looks, because at $230 it’s expensive and doesn’t sound all that great. But it’s beautiful in either cherry or maple wood, and that is more than enough for most people. There’s also a massive battery, making it portable.

See at Amazon

Despite the mediocre reviews, Sugr Cube Minimalist is exactly as its name suggests: minimal. It looks great, and operates as an Alexa-powered Wi-Fi or DLNA speaker that can take with you throughout the house.

Eufy Genie

While it looks a lot like the Echo Dot, this tiny speaker has better sound and a lower price tag. Eufy is an upcoming name in smart speakers, and the Genie is a great option.

See at Amazon

If you want something that’s more like an Amazon Echo Dot but comes in even less expensive, then you need to check out the Eufy Genie. It’s currently listed at a mere $35 — or about half the cost of an actual Echo Dot. And you get a pretty good experience from it. I still think I looks better than the Dot, and it performs reasonably well despite having fewer microphones with which to listen for you.

It’s a really inexpensive way to get into the whole Alexa thing, and it’s worth checking out.

Libratone Zipp

Libratone’s Zipp sounds incredible, and while it came to market as a Bluetooth or AirPlay speaker, it has since been gifted Alexa support. You’ll need to pair it with an Echo speaker, but it’s worth it — just look at it! Grab it for $299.

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Libratone is a brand that focuses as much on design as it does on performance, the Zipp speaker has both in spades. While its main function is a Wi-Fi or Bluetooth speaker — it has DLNA and Spotify Connect support, as well as AirPlay compatibility — it pairs with an Echo or Echo Dot for Alexa.

VAUX cordless home speaker

This thing is genius. It uses an existing Echo Dot’s AUX port to improve its sound quality by a lot. Essentially it swallows the Dot and its Alexa integration and makes it into a better-sounding Echo. Grab it for just $40.

See at Amazon

VAUX is a name you’ll see associated with innovative solutions to improve existing products. Why buy a separate speaker with Alexa installed when you can spend just $40 to add a great speaker and a 6-hour battery to your existing Echo Dot? Win-win!

Amazon Echo

• Tap, Echo or Dot: The ultimate Alexa question
• All about Alexa Skills
• Amazon Echo review
• Echo Dot review
• Echo Spot review
• Top Echo Tips & Tricks
• Amazon Echo vs. Google Home
• Get the latest Alexa news

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Samsung Introduces ‘SmartThings Wi-Fi’ Combination Mesh Router and Smart Home Hub

The latest offering for users looking to add mesh networking to their homes has been revealed by Samsung today, called the SmartThings Wi-Fi (via The Verge). The router includes mesh networking technology from Plume, which itself recently revealed its “SuperPod” mesh router along with a $60/year subscription.

Samsung’s SmartThings Wi-Fi isn’t subscription-based, and in addition to the usual mesh networking features, the device also acts as a smart home hub for any SmartThings accessories. Similar to Apple TV and HomePod acting as a hub for HomeKit, SmartThings Wi-Fi will allow customers to set up and manage SmartThings-compatible plugs, switches, lights, cameras, and doorbells from Philips, Ring, Arlo, Kwikset, and much more.

With Plume’s technology, SmartThings Wi-Fi learns the environment to optimize performance for consistent coverage throughout the home. The system is sold on Samsung’s website in a 1-pack for $119.99 (covering 1,500 square feet) or a 3-pack for $279.99 (up to 4,500 square feet).

The company today also revealed a new standalone SmartThings Hub priced at $69.99, for those users who already have a router but still want to implement SmartThings products into their home. As an upgrade to the previous hub, the new device does not need to be plugged directly into your router and can instead work wirelessly anywhere in your home.

There are a few other SmartThings announcements that happened today, including upgrades to the platform’s Motion Sensor, Multipurpose Sensor, and Water Leak Sensor. There’s also a new SmartThings Outlet for $34.99 and a SmartThings Button for $14.99, all available to purchase on Samsung.com beginning today.

The SmartThings product launches today follow last week’s Galaxy Note 9 reveal event, during which Samsung showcased its latest flagship smartphone. The company also detailed a new Galaxy Watch, Wireless Charger Duo, and Galaxy Home Smart Speaker.

Tags: Samsung, mesh routers
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‘Industry Insiders’ Believe AirPower Will Cost Around $149 and Work With All Three 2018 iPhones

Apple previewed its multi-device AirPower charging mat at its iPhone X event last September, and confirmed that it will be released at some point in 2018, but it has yet to reveal how much it will cost.

According to Chinese website Chongdiantou (via LoveiOS), however, so-called “industry insiders” speculate that the AirPower will be priced around 1,000 Chinese yuan, which is roughly $145 based on the current exchange rate. Rounding, this suggests the AirPower could cost around $149 in the United States.

Chongdiantou is the same source that recently leaked photos of what is claimed to be an engineering prototype of Apple’s faster 18-watt USB-C power adapter for 2018 iPhones, but overall, the publication lacks an established track record, so this information should be viewed with some skepticism.

According to the oft-reliable Mark Gurman, Apple aims to release the AirPower by the end of September, so there’s a good chance its pricing and availability will be confirmed at Apple’s usual September event, alongside a trio of new iPhones, Apple Watch Series 4 models, new AirPods with “Hey Siri” support, and more.

$149 would be pricy for a wireless charging mat, but the AirPower can inductively charge multiple Apple devices at the same time, including the iPhone 8, iPhone 8 Plus, iPhone X, and Apple Watch Series 3 models. It will also work with AirPods when placed in an optional wireless charging case, likely available next month.

Chongdiantou also recently claimed that all three iPhones expected to be released in 2018 will feature wireless charging, including an all-new 6.1-inch iPhone, making them all compatible with AirPower.

AirPower’s ability to charge multiple devices is achieved with a propriety technology developed by Apple. Apple said it will work to have its technology become part of the universal Qi standard supported by many devices, so there’s a good chance we’ll see true multi-device mats from other companies eventually.

Of note, the AirPower has yet to be authorized by the FCC, a requirement for sale in the United States, according to Apple’s website.

Tag: AirPower
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