Hate dental checkups? This app lets you check your smile by snapping a few selfies

Between finding the time for an appointment and possessing a totally logical fear of drills, surely no-one enjoys going to the dentist. Imagine how much easier life would be if getting your dental checkup was as simple as taking a few mouth-based selfies (“mouthies?”) and sending them off for a remote evaluation by a real dentist in your area.

That’s the pitch behind the company Toothpic, whose new app is trying to help the more than half of Americans who haven’t been to see the dentist in the last year. And, hopefully, to save them some dental pain down the road.

“We have a network of hundreds of dentists across all 50 states that make themselves available to review these cases,” Mark Moore, founder and CEO of Toothpic, told Digital Trends. “These dentists can identify a surprising amount from images, just like they would when looking directly into a patient’s mouth from their chairs. Dentists regularly observe cavities, gum disease, crooked or over-crowded teeth, stain, calculus build-up, cracked teeth, missing teeth, impacted wisdom teeth, infections, the range of oral hygiene from poor to excellent — as well as a whole host of other conditions.”

According to Moore, the quality of image which can be taken with modern smartphones is comparable to the images captured in dental offices. This has been borne out in a number of previous studies.

Moore said that the idea for Toothpic came to him after he suffered damage to his gums and, rather than go for a dentistry appointment, snapped a quick photo and sent it to his dentist father. While there was a degree of embarrassment in Mark Moore being the son of a dentist who nonetheless skipped out on appointments, his dad was able to use the photos to give him an idea of what treatment to seek and how much this would cost. He even recommended a good dentist he knew nearby.

While we can’t all send photos to Mr. Moore, Sr., Toothpic is based around a similar concept. Users answer a few questions, and are then guided through a photo-taking process. (Best results come from getting another person to take them for you.) After you submit the images, a licensed dentist then reviews them and contacts you with a report within 24 hours. What could be easier than that?

Toothpic is available to download on both the Google Play and iOS App Store.

Editors’ Recommendations

• The best electric toothbrushes of 2018
• The best movies on Netflix right now (September 2018)
• Popular Instagrammer caught using photos from image libraries
• ‘John Wick 3: Parabellum’ — here’s everything we know so far
• The best Netflix original series

What is a smart display?

If you’ve been watching for the latest smart tech and coolest new gadgets, then you’ve probably noticed the term “smart display” being used more often. Some products, like the Lenovo Smart Display (which we really liked), even have the phrase in the name. But what does “smart display” really mean, why is it becoming popular, and what differentiates it from all the other available tech? Let’s take a closer look.

Smart display: The easy definition

Bill Roberson/Digital Trends

A smart display is any smart speaker designed to be used around the home and also includes a sizable touchscreen. Specifically, these devices have touchscreens that you can use for more than just controls—screens that support entertainment, informational videos, video chats, and much more. They can also connect to and control other smart devices in the house.

In practice, the smart displays we’re seeing on the market are smart Bluetooth speakers that are being augmented with screens to add more usability. Like smart speakers, you speak to a smart display that is powered by one of the common voice assistants (Amazon Alexa or Google Assistant). Amazon was one of the first to start this trend with its Echo Show and Echo Spot devices featuring Alexa voice assistant, but other brands have joined the field.

Smart display vs. tablet

“Wait,” you may be thinking, “I have a voice assistant and video apps on my tablet. What exactly is the difference here?” The big difference between the average tablet like an iPad and a smart display like the Echo Show is mobility. A tablet is designed to be carried with you, and is only stationary when you are. A smart display is meant to occupy the same spot for a long time—like a land phone or alarm clock—and doesn’t take up a free hand.

Smart displays also have a much tighter focus on voice assistant commands and video-oriented capabilities. This specialization makes smart displays very easy to use, even without training: You just talk to them. That can appeal to a broader audience than tablet computers. Smart displays are also set up so that you can control smart devices, like light switches and front door locks, with just your voice.

Smart display products on the market

Bill Roberson/Digital Trends

Lenovo Smart Display: The Lenovo Smart Display, available in two different sizes (10-inch and 8-inch screens), uses Google Assistant to provide video chats, play cooking and other videos from sources like YouTube, and control your smart home. It can also play music from a variety of sources. It’s a particularly good smart display if you already use Google Assistant or are a fan of Google Home. The display is crystal clear, and you can easily turn off the camera button if you want privacy.

JBL Linkview: This oval speaker with an 8-inch smart display also uses Google Assistant to help manage smart devices, video chats, visual web searches, and so on. It also supports Google Cast for beaming the same audio to multiple speakers around the house and boasts a rear-facing passive radio for stronger bass. We’re in the process of reviewing this device, and will let you know what we think of it once we do.

LG WK9: LG’s entrant in the smart display category is a ThinQ Bluetooth speaker with a touchscreen that works via Google Assistant. The 8-inch screen includes video chat capabilities and the ability to do things like watch cooking videos on YouTube. It’s a good option for those who care a lot about the audio quality of their speaker, but the blocky design is a little disappointing. The device isn’t available for purchase yet, but will be soon.

Bill Roberson/Digital Trends

Amazon Echo Show: The Echo Show was one of the very first smart speakers to add a smart screen. Of course, the big difference here is that Amazon uses its own interface and search functions with Alexa instead of Google Assistant. This allows the Show to use screen-compatible Alexa skills, like watching video news stories. It also allows you to watch Amazon Prime Video shows or movies, which is nice if you prefer Prime content. You can also control all compatible smart devices.

Amazon Echo Spot: The Spot is a small, round version of the Show. It’s not really big enough for videos and is primarily intended to act as an alarm clock that can also function as a video chat phone. It’s cool if you use these functions, but is somewhat limited.

Sony: Sony is also working on a smart display. In fact, the company released one of the first prototypes, the Dash, at CES 2010, but (ironically) it never took off. Now it appears Sony is ready to get back into the game, although its not certain what form the smart display may take.

Future of the smart display

Expect the number of smart displays on the market to keep increasing, at least for now (note that Apple does not yet have one out). This is still a new field, and brands will want to explore how it can be used. There’s a lot of room for growth and new specialties here.

There’s also a lot of room for new content experiences, including more ads…which could be a weak point in the smart display field. Currently, smart displays use a fairly mild ad format with generic, screensaver-like notifications when the smart display is not in use. But Google has developed more in-depth smart display ad campaigns that could pave the way for more advertisements on these devices—for better or worse.

Editors’ Recommendations

• Lenovo Smart Display review
• How to set up your Lenovo Smart Display
• Amazon Echo Spot review
• Amazon Echo Show Review
• Google Assistant-enabled smart displays to start shipping this week

Nvidia GeForce RTX 2080 Mobile sighting hints at more powerful gaming laptops

Soon, you’ll be able to take advantage of ray tracing and the powerful capabilities of Nvidia’s new GeForce RTX 2080 graphics processor on a slim laptop. After announcing the new desktop-class Turing graphics architecture, it appears that Nvidia is working on bringing its avdancements in the graphics card space to notebooks. A listing for the GeForce 2080 Mobile GPU was spotted recently, suggesting that a launch may be coming in the near future.

The mobile Turing-based GPU was listed as Turing TU104M on Device Hunt, and it’s believed that the “M” in that product listing stands for mobile. The listing described the processor as “GeForce RTX 2080 Mobile” with a device ID of 1eab.

For gamers who demand power in a portable package, there are reports that the RTX 2080 Mobile chipset will be available with Nvidia’s Max-Q design. Similar to the Max-Q designs for current GTX series mobile chips, this should result in slim and powerful mobile gaming notebooks. YNvidia may have been able to use improvements in the GPU’s architecture to overcome heat constraints. “TDP [thermal design power] is usually the next big concern, but considering 12 NFF is an improved version of 16nm FinFET, this is something that we should have quite a bit of leeway with (low clocks + 12 NFF = decent TDP),” Wccftech reported.

One manufacturer of gaming systems told that publication that it was able to put the RTX 2080 Max-Q chipset inside current 15- and 17-inch systems with Nvidia’s help. Given that the RTX 1080 Max-Q works on systems designed for the older GTX chips, this hopefully means we won’t see any significant increase in weight or thickness on mobile gaming laptops.

At this point, Nvidia may likely be holding off its announcement of the RTX 2080 Mobile processor until it has depleted inventory of existing GTX 10xx Mobile series processors.

Like the current GTX 10xx series, Nvidia is also speculated to be working on more mobile processors in the RTX series to target different price points and levels of performances, including mobile editions of the RTX 2080 and RTX 2060 GPUs. It’s unclear when those chips may debut, but given that the desktop version of the RTX 2070 won’t be available until November, theRTX 2070 likely won’t debut before then. And Nvidia will likely not ship its RTX 2060 Mobile until it has shipped both the RTX 2080 Mobile and RTX 2070 Mobile. Are you excited for Nvidia’s RTX series processors to hit mobile systems? Or will you be taking advantage of the likely price drops that will happen on GTX-equipped systems once new laptops debut with RTX graphics?

Editors’ Recommendations

• A.I. makes Nvidia’s RTX 2080 twice as powerful as the GTX 1080
• Nvidia’s GeForce RTX 20 Series starts at $500 and features real-time ray tracing
• Nvidia’s Turing chip reinvents computer graphics (but not for gaming)
• Nvidia vs. AMD
• Here’s how to watch Nvidia’s GeForce event at Gamescom

Skype launches call recording across desktop, iOS, and Android

Recording your Skype calls will now be much, much easier.

Skype has been testing integrated call recording with preview users for some time, but it looks like the feature is now ready for primetime. <!–break– The Skype team announced today that call recording is now rolling out across its Android, iOS, and desktop apps, allowing you to capture your calls with a tap.

“Call recording is completely cloud-based and is now available on the latest version of Skype and on most platforms, except Windows 10,” Microsoft says. “Call recording is coming to Windows 10 with the latest version of Skype releasing in the coming weeks.”

Getting started with call recording appears to be fairly simple. Once you’ve begun a call, you can press to “+” sign on desktop or mobile, then press “Start recording.” Once the recording has started, a banner will pop up at the top of the call to alert the other participants that the call is being recorded.

After the call is over, the full recording is posted to your chat, where it will remain accessible for 30 days. If you want to hold on to it for longer, anyone involved in the recording can download it within that 30-day time period. Calls can also be forwarded to your other contacts.

Previously, you had to jump through some hoops to get Skype calls recorded, so it’s good to see the feature is now integrated with the app itself. Note that this is only available with Skype version 8 and later; the classic Skype app for desktop (version 7) doesn’t have native call recording capabilities. The Skype app for Windows 10 is also expected to pick up the feature “in the coming weeks.”

See at Microsoft See at Google Play See at App Store

GoPro’s Hero 7 action camera leaks with image stabilization and more

Adios, shaky-cam footage.

According to a new set of photos on Reddit (via The Verge), it appears as though we’ve just got our first look at the upcoming GoPro Hero 7 before its official announcement. The shots, which are of an in-store display reveal a little about what we can expect the new camera to bring, including image stabilization and increased waterproofing. It will be available in three colors, including white, silver, and black, and it looks like some of the models will have a front-facing screen, like the Hero 4 line did.

GoPro is expected to officially announce the Hero 7 sometime in September, though nothing is confirmed yet. This release could be a big one for GoPro, as it’s recently left the drone business after releasing the Karma, and not had much success with its Fusion 360 camera. With companies like Apeman, Yi and others undercutting their prices with some great action cameras, GoPro has to really nail the Hero 7 in order to remain competitive.

There’s no word on pricing or availability yet, so be sure to stay tuned for more information as it becomes available.

Wireless earbuds, robotic toys, and more are discounted today

Whether you’re looking for new tech gear or household items, we’ve got you covered.

We found plenty of great deals today that include big discounts on the BlackBerry KEYone smartphone, Anker’s true wireless earbuds, M.A.X. the interactive robot, and more!

View the rest of the deals

If you want to know about the deals as soon as they are happening, you’ll want to follow Thrifter on Twitter, and sign up for the newsletter, because missing out on a great deal stinks!

September 2018 security patches are here for the Pixel line

Fixing the latest bugs and exploits in Android every month.

Google has detailed the latest Android Security Bulletin and released the fixes for Nexus and Pixel devices.

These are exploits and other security concerns that affect Android as a whole. Issues with the operating system, kernel patches, and driver updates may not affect any particular device, but these need to be fixed in the Android base by the folks maintaining the operating system code. That means Google, and they’ve detailed the things they have improved for this month.

Updated factory images for Pixel and Nexus devices that are supported are available, and over-the-air updates are rolling out to users. If you don’t want to wait, you can download and flash the factory image or OTA update file manually, and here are some handy instructions to get you started.

How to manually update your Nexus or Pixel

The company that made your phone uses these patches to send an update out to you.

These changes have been released to the people making Android phones for at least 30 days, but Google can’t force anyone to deliver them to you. If you’re using a phone from Samsung, LG, or anyone besides Google, you’ll need to wait for them to send an update and shouldn’t try to flash any of the above files.

Of course, Google has safety checks in place to prevent any problems on your phone because of any security exploits. Verify Apps and SafetyNet are at work anytime you add an app to your phone, and seamless updates to Google Play Services will keep them up to date regardless of any hold up from a manufacturer or carrier. Details and incident numbers can be found in the yearly Android Security Review (.pdf file).

Highlights for September 2018

September 2018’s update comes with two patch dates: 09/01/2018 and 09/05/2018.

• Several patches mitigate an exploit that could allow a malicious app to read protected data is installed.
• Qualcomm has patched several critical and high priority issues in its closed-source components.
• Google also patched Pixel 2-specific issues to improve charging and car audio. Details can be seen here.

Previous bulletin highlights

Here are summaries and highlights of recent patches from the monthly Android Security Bulletin. As with the current bulletin, these issues were also mitigated by Google’s Verify Apps, Safety Net, and seamless updates to Google Play Services.

Highlights for August 2018

August 2018’s update comes with two patch dates: 08/01/2018 and 08/05/2018.

• The bulk of the fixes in April are patches to the Android runtime, Android framework, and media framework parts of the OS to prevent remote attackers from using specialized code to initiate attacks.
• Android hardware vendors are doing their part, too and we see new fixes from NVIDIA and Qualcomm that will make our gear safer.
• Google also patched several Pixel-specific issues. These can be seen here.

Highlights for June 2018

June 2018’s update comes with two patch dates: 06/01/2018 and 06/05/2018.

• Once again the Android Media Framework sees patches to prevent the latest exploits from gaining elevated privileges, as does the Application Framework.
• LG, Qualcomm, MediaTek, and NVIDIA all provide important fixes for their assorted binaries across all devices, and critical issues with the bootloader were patched by Qualcomm and LG.
• Google also patched a number of Nexus and Pixel-specific issues in this month’s bulletin as well as made usability tweaks for those devices. Those can be seen here.

Highlights for May 2018

May 2018’s update comes with two patch dates: 05/01/2018 and 05/05/2018.

• The most severe issues addressed are in the Android runtime and Media framework, and would allow a remote user to gain elevated privileges if not fixed.
• Qualcomm and NVIDIA both provide important fixes for their assorted binaries across all devices, and Qualcomm has addressed a critical bug in the WLAN driver of their chips.
• Google also patched a number of Nexus and Pixel-specific issues in this month’s bulletin, which can be seen here.

Highlights for April 2018

April 2018’s update comes with two patch dates: 04/01/2018 and 04/05/2018.

• As with other months, the bulk of the fixes in April are patches to the Android runtime, Android framework, and media framework parts of the OS to prevent remote attackers from using specialized code to initiate attacks.
• Google specifically calls out Qualcomm in this month’s bulletin for “their dedicated efforts to improve the security of mobile devices.” This is a result of Qualcomm’s inclusion of all patches sent upstream to Android (both closed and open source) between 2014 and 2016, which are now part of the public record.
• Google also patched a number of Nexus and Pixel-specific issues in this month’s bulletin, which can be seen here.

Highlights for March 2018

March 2018’s update comes with two patch dates: 03/01/2018, and 03/05/2018.

• The most severe vulnerabilities addressed in this month’s patch are again tied to the media framework and an attacker’s ability to run arbitrary code using a specially crafted media file. This has been and always will be an issue for all operating systems until a better way to package up media files is invented.
• This patch also includes patches made to the upstream Linux kernel to address vulnerable issues in the USB driver
• As usual, Android hardware vendors are doing their part, too and we see new fixes from NVIDIA and Qualcomm that will make our gear safer.

If you get an update with a patch date of 03/05/2018, you also have every issue addressed by the 03/01/2018 update in place.

Highlights for February 2018

February 2018’s update comes with two patch dates: 02/01/2018, and 02/05/2018.

• The most severe vulnerability addressed in this month’s small patch is once again tied to the media framework and an attacker’s ability to run arbitrary code using a specially crafted media file.
• A second fix in the 02/01 patch blocks a malicious app from escalating its privileges or running code as a privileged user.
• The 02/05 update entails device-specific patches from HTC, NVIDIA, Qualcomm and the Linux Kernel maintainers to address issues in the Bootloader, Wi-Fi driver(s), and media framework.

If you get an update with a patch date of 02/05/2018, you also have every issue addressed by the 02/01/2018 update in place.

Highlights for January 2018

January 2018’s update comes with two patch dates: 01/01/2018, and 01/05/2018.

• January 2018’s most severe vulnerability addressed is a patch for the Android runtime that could let an attacker gain access to certain OS features without user interaction
• Vulnerabilities that allowed code execution through the Media Framework were patched, like every month.
• A vulnerability specific to the LG bootloader that allowed elevated privileges was patched. Life’s Good, once again.
• A vulnerability specific to the NVIDIA driver that allowed elevated privileges was found and fixed
• Qualcomm provided a handful of closed-source fixes in addition to patches for the display driver and bootloader

If you get an update with a patch date of 01/05/2018, you also have every issue addressed by the 01/01/2018 update in place.

Highlights for December 2017

December 2017’s update comes with two patch dates: 12/01/2017, and 12/05/2017.

• If your device didn’t get updated with the November 6 patch last month, December’s update also comes with a fix for the KRACK WPA2 Wi-Fi vulnerability.
• A vulnerability with Android’s framework that allowed malicious apps to get past user interactions requirements to access greater permissions has been squashed.
• The media framework has also been updated to patch a threat that allowed a remote attacker to send out an arbitrary code to your device.
• Components for numerous MediaTek, NVIDIA, and Qualcomm components have been updated with security fixes.

If you get an update with a patch date of 12/05/2017, you also have every issue addressed by the 12/01/2017 update in place.

Highlights for November 2017

November 2017’s update comes with three patch dates: 11/01/2017, 11/05/2017 and 11/06/2017.

• This month’s patch updates the network stack to patch the KRACK Wi-Fi exploit.
• The Android framework has once again been patched to prevent an exploit that bypass user interaction requirements in order to gain access to additional permissions.
• The media framework and the Android system itself were again patched to combat the ever-present attacks through media containers. This has been a monthly thing for over a year and will certainly continue.
• Critical updates were applied as far back as Android 5.02 for OEMs to use to patch their existing devices if they wish.
• Broadcom, MediaTek, NVIDIA, and Qualcomm have each patched a number of drivers that could potentially allow remote attackers to execute code.

If you get an update with a patch date of 10/05/2017, you also have every issue addressed by the 10/01/2017 update in place. Devices that receive a patch with the 11/06/2017 date have all the November fixes in place as well as all previous patches. This is something new and we’re hopeful that it continues.

Highlights for October 2017

October 2017’s update comes with two patch dates: 10/01/2017 and 10/05/2017.

• This month’s patch updates several critical components to prevent privileged code execution, both locally and remote.
• The Android framework has been patched to prevent an exploit that bypass user interaction requirements in order to gain access to additional permissions.
• The media framework and the Android system itself were patched to prevent execute arbitrary code within the context of a privileged process.
• Critical updates were applied as far back as Android 4.4
• Broadcom, MediaTek, and Qualcomm have each patched a number of drivers that could potentially allow remote attackers to execute code.

If you get an update with a patch date of 10/05/2017, you also have every issue addressed by the 10/01/2017 update in place.

Highlights for September 2017

September 2017’s update comes with two patch dates: 09/01/2017 and 09/05/2017.

• The main issue this month revolves, once again, around a vulnerability in the media framework that, when paired with exploitative code, could remotely execute malware on a user’s device.
• Some of these patches go back to Android 4.4 KitKat.
• A runtime bug has been patched that would allow a remote user to execute code that could cause an app to hang.
• Broadcom has once again issued a number of patches for its Wi-Fi drivers.
• MediaTek and Qualcomm have each patched a number of drivers that could potentially allow remote attackers to execute code.

If you get an update with a patch date of 09/05/2017, you also have every issue addressed by the 09/01/2017 update in place.

Highlights for August 2017

August 2017’s update comes with two patch dates: 08/01/2017 and 08/05/2017.

• A moderate issue in the Android runtime that could enable privileged code execution has been patched.
• Again we see numerous issues that could allow remote code execution through the media libraries patched, with some changes going back to Android 4.4.
• Qualcomm has patched numerous escalation of privilege issues in the Snapdragon platform. These include moderate vulnerability patches for video, the GPU, and USB input/output. Since these include closed source changes, new versions are available from Qualcomm for your device manufacturer to implement as needed.
• MediaTek and Broadcom have also supplied patched device drivers for a range of issues rated from low to moderate. Any of these binaries that are applicable to Nexus or Pixel devices are available at the Google Developer site.

If you get an update with a patch date of 08/05/2017, you also have every issue addressed by the 08/01/2017 update in place.

Archives of all previous Android Security Bulletins are available at the Android Security website.

See the Android Security website for details on all bulletins

Updated September 2018: Google has detailed the latest Android Security Bulletin and released July 2018 security updates for Pixel devices.

September security patch now available for Android 9 Pie on Pixel devices

This patch improves Bluetooth car audio, charging in Retail Mode, and more.

If you’ve been enjoying Android 9 Pie on one of the Pixel or Pixel 2 devices, large or small, it’s about to get even better with its first security patch. Dated for September 5, the OTA files and firmware images are already available on Google’s site in case you don’t want to wait (as long as you’re comfortable with manually flashing software updates).

The September 2018 security patch brings with it a few software fixes, namely improving Bluetooth audio quality over car speakers, along with improving charging efficiency for Pixel phones in Retail Mode (the demo loops running on phones at carrier stores) and better software version reporting.

This security patch also includes some changes that keep potentially malicious installed apps from reading data generated by other apps.

If you’re feeling impatient and don’t mind flashing the update yourself, you can visit Google’s developer site to download the appropriate OTA and factory images. Otherwise, you should be seeing the update come to your Pixel device within the next couple of days.

Google Pixel 2 and Pixel 2 XL

• Pixel 2 FAQ: Everything you need to know!
• Google Pixel 2 and 2 XL review: The new standard
• Google Pixel 2 specs
• Google Pixel 2 vs. Pixel 2 XL: What’s the difference?
• Join our Pixel 2 forums

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Project Fi

How Does Tello Mobile Stand Out From Other MVNOs?

If you’re on the verge of losing faith when it comes to reliable wireless carriers, take a look at Tello Mobile, the Sprint powered MVNO that made quite a splash in the market in the last year when it comes to outstanding prices and reliable service.

While it’s no secret that MVNOs are a cost-effective alternative to the big 4 carriers, not all offer the same value for money.

Android users can now enjoy Tello Mobile’s plans & perks, as well as the same quality and coverage as the big players, minus the huge monthly costs. As long as your Android phone is compatible with Sprint, you’re in for a wireless treat.

No More Predefined Phone Plans

Tello Mobile’s biggest hook is the freedom to build your own plan instead of getting the predefined packs forced as default by other carriers.

Tello customers can choose the amount of minutes, text and data they need, and go up or down as they please, free of charge.

Nowadays, smartphones have become a small extension of our persona, so it’s only natural people want flexibility and tailor made solutions that can adjust to their way of life. Tello mastered the well known need of a customizable experience that all Android lovers have.

Tello’s plans range from $5/month to $39/month, all with a side-dish of savings. Competitive pricing, no strings attached and a flexible service is the perfect combo that sets Tello apart. You can have the popular plan with 1GB of data, unlimited minutes & text for just $14/mo, go for 2GB + unlimited minutes & text for $19/mo or even start slower, with a talk & text only plan, perfect for kids, or seniors.

Freebies: unlimited 2G data, hotspot, visual voicemail, free calls to Canada, Mexico & China included in every plan. You can always mix your phone plan with Pay As You Go Credit for your international calls, and enjoy low rates all around.

Human Customer Service — No Robots

A 9.1 rating based on over 2.9k unbiased reviews on TrustPilot, makes it clear that this carrier is all about customer satisfaction.

With practically no waiting time and 4 different languages spoken by Tello support team, it’s no wonder they’re among the only wireless services to get a 5 star rating.

Real Cell Phone Service

A lot of alternative phone service providers offer primarily voip service.

That is not the case with Tello, which provides actual cell phone service on the Sprint network so you don’t have to worry about constant Wifi access to ensure the quality of our calls.

Wifi calling is however available through My Tello App – great when abroad to make calls over Wifi to any country in the world using their Pay As You Go balance or to the US using their Plan balance.

Transparent all the way

The budget-friendly MVNO keeps things easy and upfront.

The signup process is hassle free and everything can be managed online, via the website or the dedicated Android app.

Once you sign up for Tello, their app makes it easy to review your plan and paygo balance, check your all records, set payment methods or even upgrade or downgrade your plan for no added cost.

There are no contracts and no credit checks.

No extra fees whatsoever, not even for porting out.

Is your Android phone a match with Tello?

Not matter the brand, if your Android device was manufactured for the USA and is compatible with the Sprint network, you’re good to go.

Got an Android you want to enroll? Dial *#06# and you’ll view your ESN code. Use the code to check if your phone is Tello compatible here.

Before you enroll, be sure to check Sprint coverage in your area. Sprint has been doing a lot of work on improving its signal and Tello customers clearly enjoy everything this MVNO has to offer:

“Tello for Life”
“…What you guys are doing in the mobile phone market is unmatched. I get unlimited talk and text I used Ting before swapping to you. While I could keep my bill about $15 a month, it was with less than 300 minutes or texts. Now it’s $15 and that’s with a gig of data thrown in. I also get to use any phone that I want. ..”

“Honest”
“Honest, quick results. I was with sprint for over a decade, and I’m more impressed with tello than I have been with sprint. Thank you for all that have helped me!”

“Tello is the best thing since sliced…”
“Tello is the best thing since sliced bread. Great rates, great customer service. I hope the founders of this company will soon be millionaires, because they deserve it. I have told everyone that I know about it and they can’t believe how tremendous everything about Tello is. I am a big fan.”

Keep a few valuables in this unsuspecting $9 Stalwart lock box

Hiding in plain sight.

The Stalwart A200017 lock box with key diversion book safe is down to $9.41 on Amazon. This lock box normally sells for around $14, and even though it has dropped from that price before it has never sold as low as this.

It’s a $10 safe, so it’s safe to say if it gets discovered it won’t take long to get inside. Its biggest security is in its unassuming nature and the fact that no one reads dictionaries anymore. I probably wouldn’t keep anything absolutely irreplaceable inside, but it could be a nice place to store a few extra bucks, a backup flash drive, or a two-factor authentication key. It comes with two keys to open the safe, and the inside storage measures 2 x 5.625 x 9 inches. Users give it 3.9 stars based on 244 reviews.

See on Amazon