Apple’s new iPhones show off its best tech, and also its greed

Justin Sullivan/Getty Images

Apple events are always big, and few tech product releases generate the level of excitement we see over new iPhones. This year, we saw an oddly-named trio of new phones and a new smartwatch, but that’s not all Apple unveiled on the Cupertino stage, we also saw a whole new level of greed from the world’s richest company.

We can wax lyrical about the stunning iPhone Xs, the super-sized iPhone Xs Max, and the more affordable iPhone XR. Make no mistake, these are highly-desirable, thoughtfully-designed smartphones that will bring joy to many people. Whether they’re worth the high fees Apple commands is debatable. A price of $1,450 for the 512GB iPhone Xs Max seems excessive, but most people will be perfectly happy with the $750 iPhone XR.

Ultimately, a product is worth what people are prepared to pay for it, and by that measure Apple’s wares are worth every penny. The greed we’re talking about here isn’t the price of the iPhones — it’s the clever little ways that Apple finds to gouge us for extra cash. Tactics that mostly Apple is indulging, though given the industry’s propensity for copying, it may only be a matter of time until other manufacturers follow suit.

Overcharging for fast charging

Julian Chokkattu/Digital Trends

As mentioned in last year’s iPhone 8 review, the fact that Apple advertises its iPhones as capable of fast charging, but doesn’t actually provide a fast charging adapter or cable in the box is ridiculous. This year’s iPhones are the most expensive yet, but even if you buy the $1,450 iPhone Xs Max, you’ll only get a standard cable and a 5W power adapter in the box with it.

Fast charging is an industry standard. You can buy a $250 Moto G6 and you will get a cable and power adapter in the box that enable you to fast charge it.

Apple offers a 1-meter USB-C to Lightning cable for $19 and if you want to charge at full speed you’ll have to pair that with a 30W USB-C Power Adapter for the princely sum of $49. To rub salt in the wound, Apple’s cables aren’t even good quality. There are many more durable options out there for much less.

We had truly hoped that Apple would at least upgrade the cable this year, if not the power adapter. There were many rumors to that effect, but instead of doing that, Apple doubled down on its accessory-based profiteering by quietly removing the Lightning-to-3.5mm headphone adapter from the box.

The dongle debacle

Chris DeGraw/Digital Trends

How much does this tiny accessory cost at the Apple Store? That’ll be $9 please. Thank you very much.

If you’re skeptical about this being a deliberate tactic to boost profits, then check out the report from Ceros which reveals that the dongle has been Apple’s best-selling product at Best Buy for the last year  — before that it was the Lightning-to-USB 2.0 cable. Those figures are from a time when Apple was including one in the box for free, so expect those sales to soar further when the new iPhones come out.

The thing is, Apple got rid of the headphone jack when it introduced the iPhone 7 back in 2016. It was never adequately explained, but other manufacturers followed suit. It has been suggested that getting rid of the headphone jack allows thinner designs and the pursuit of an edge-to-edge display, but we have to  point out that plenty of phones with a higher screen-to-body ratio than the iPhone have retained the headphone jack – most notably Samsung’s Galaxy smartphones.

Another point to make that seems terribly obvious is that — if people don’t need a headphone jack any more, why are they buying so many dongles?

It may also be worth mentioning that Apple is in the business of selling wireless headphones with Beats, not to mention its own AirPods at $160 a pop. We don’t doubt that wireless headphones are the future and they do offer some advantages, if you overlook battery life, but many of us still aren’t ready to give up wired headphones.

Eye-watering markup

Julian Chokkattu/Digital Trends

Every year someone posts a breakdown of Apple’s costs to actually build the new iPhone. For last year’s iPhone X, Bloomberg reported on analysis from IHS Markit that put the total bill of materials cost of the 64GB iPhone X at $370. Now that doesn’t include manufacturing costs, marketing, software, or research and development, but with $1,000 coming in there’s still plenty of room for profit. Apple is probably still making somewhere around 40 or 50 percent profit.

If you think the iPhone markup is big, you should consider that accessories like the headphone dongle cost pennies to manufacture. Even if we generously put the cost at 50 cents, that’s a profit of $8.50 on every dongle it sells. While devices like the iPhone are packed with reasons to justify the premium Apple charges, that’s simply not true of its overpriced accessories.

Companies are going to try and maximize profits, it’s a duty they have to their shareholders, but there’s a line where the gouging becomes unpalatable. It would cost Apple a few cents to include that dongle in the box, but it ends up costing us a few dollars. On top of devices that are already among the most expensive on the market, and coming from the richest company in the world, in a market where competitors all provide fast chargers and dongles in the box, this just feels greedy.

Editors’ Recommendations

• iPhone Xs, Xs Max, and iPhone XR: 5 things we love, 5 things we hate
• How to buy the iPhone Xs, iPhone Xs Max, and iPhone Xr in the U.K.
• HTC ditches digital buttons for its midrange U12 Life
• Here’s how to buy the Apple iPhone XS, iPhone XS Max, and iPhone XR
• Apple iPhone XR vs. iPhone 8 vs. iPhone 7 vs. iPhone 6s: Which is best for you?

The big four U.S. carriers are joining forces to get rid of app passwords

The big four U.S. carriers are waging a war against passwords and specifically the need for a different password for each app you use on your phone. To that end, AT&T, Sprint, T-Mobile, and Verizon have joined forces to launch “Project Verify,” a new approach to password management that’s designed to make accessing apps easier while keeping your phone nice and secure.

Project Verify was first spotted by The Verge, and while it’s not available to customers just yet. we do have a few details about how it will work. It seems as though the idea is to use a number of authentication details uniquely available to carriers, to authenticate a user. Those unique details include things like phone number, IP address, SIM details, phone account type, and more.

Based on a marketing video from Project Verify, it seems as though the service will exist in the form of an app, allowing users to control and manage their passwords quickly and easily straight from their phone. That also puts the new service in direct competition with the likes of LastPass and 1Password.

There are some questions that Project Verify may have to answer. For starters, if the service uses your phone to authenticate, what happens if someone steals your phone? Presumably, phones are locked to fingerprints and PIN codes — but it’s not unheard of to figure out someone’s PIN code.

Another major use of Verify, when it does launch, is that it could serve as the second factor in two-factor authentication — which would likely be a little more secure than SMS or email-based factors, like the messaging of a verification code.

Carriers will also have to figure out how to convince users to trust them. Carriers consistently rank as some of the most hated companies in the country and trust has a big part in that.

Still, we will likely hear more about Project Verify in general, and the Project Verify app, in coming months. No specific timeline has been shared yet for the service’s release, though that will likely change soon. For an overview of the project, you can check out the new Project Verify website.

Editors’ Recommendations

• Android 9.0 Pie: Everything you need to know
• Network routers with roaming enabled are likely susceptible to a new attack
• How to reset your Apple ID password
• Here’s how to save time by setting up ‘visual’ voicemail on an iPhone
• What to keep your phone secure? Here’s how to use Android 9.0 Pie’s Lockdown Mode

Never remember a face? A new AR facial-recognition app could jog your memory

What do Brad Pitt, chimpanzee expert Jane Goodall, Apple co-founder Steve Wozniak, and the late neurologist Oliver Sacks, author of The Man Who Mistook His Wife for a Hat, have in common? Answer: All of them suffer, or have claimed to suffer, from prosopagnosia, a rare disease that affects around 2.5 percent of the population. Better known as face blindness, prosopagnosia is a neurological condition in which patients struggle to recognize people they have met — even when they might have known them for decades. Could augmented reality help?

A new startup called SocialRecall, created by Harvard neuroscience Ph.D. Barry Sandrew, is hoping the answer is “yes.” SocialRecall is developing an app that uses facial-recognition technology to help people in social situations be reminded of the identity of the individuals they meet.

“It breaks down the wall between people and allows them to interact without the customary formal introduction,” Sandrew told Digital Trends. “No need to ask any questions. You know them already. If you remember the old comedy sitcom Cheers, the neighborhood bar where everybody knows your name? Well, this app creates a Cheers-type atmosphere at the stuffiest of parties and gatherings.”

The app will allow event planners to create events where attendees must sign in via social media. For the duration of the event, the app then links attendees’ faces to their profile pages by using facial-recognition technology and smartphone cameras to match the two. “The camera does not take pictures; it merely sees a face, searches the database. and shows a person’s information, along with their company name,” Sandrew continued.

If a party where everyone is walking around with a phone in front of their face sounds odd (unless you’re under the age of, say, 25,), Sandrew notes that the service could hit its stride when AR glasses have taken off as a product category. “Once there are augmented reality smartglasses, the application will really become empowering to people who are shy or who are uncomfortable in social situations,” he said.

While there are certainly potential privacy issues with any app that uses facial recognition to identify people, this certainly sounds like an intriguing solution. From the sound of things, Sandrew is aware of these challenges. The app only identifies users for the duration of events and, even then, only when people have given their express permission to be identified.

Editors’ Recommendations

• There’s a new use for the failed Google Glass: Helping kids with autism
• The best augmented-reality apps for Android and iOS
• Snapchat now uses speech recognition to animate your face
• No keyboard? No problem. Masterkey will project you a virtual one to type on
• Hanwha Techwin enters the smart security market with two new indoor cameras

Can you mine cryptocurrency on the Raspberry Pi 3 B+?

Best answer: Yes you can mine cryptocurrency with a Raspberry Pi. However, it’s extremely difficult to turn any profit as the cost of electricity can outweigh the return due to the Raspberry Pi’s relatively low performance when calculating hashes.

Amazon: Raspberry Pi 3 B+ ($40)

An exercise in counterproductivity

Cryptocurrency is “mined” by calculating complex equations on a computer. Any modern computer — even a smartphone — can be used to mine coin, but the hard part is mining enough of it to make things worthwhile.

Cryptocurrency value usually works on two sliding scales; as more is mined it becomes tougher to mine more and the value increases. However, these scales aren’t equal and even though the value may skyrocket, the complexity of mining them has skyrocketed more. Today, mining popular cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin on a Raspberry Pi would cost more in electricity that you would earn in profit.

You could, in theory, mine newer coin that hasn’t become as popular. this means it’s easier to find new coin but it also means the value is lower. Should a new currency follow the trend we’ve seen from currencies like Bitcoin or Ethereum, the few pennies of profit you make each day could turn into quite the sum of money in the future.

Mining cryptocurrency with a Raspberry Pi can be fun, but that should be the only reason you try. It’s simply not profitable.

Our pick

Raspberry Pi 3 B+

$40 at Store Amazon

The welcome version bump

With its1.4GHz 64-bit quad-core processor, dual-band wireless LAN, and integrated PoE (Power over Ethernet), this is the version bump that Pi enthusiasts need.

New Shadow of the Tomb Raider trailer gives deeper look ahead of release

This is one girl who will continue to kick our butts

“Everything lost
is meant to
be found.”
― Lara Croft

We’re about to get a sequel to the Tomb Raider franchise. This is the third game in a rebooted series and I literally couldn’t be any more excited. This sequel takes place in the dangers of a deep jungle and, of course, a tomb with unknown dangers within. So, get your thinking caps ready for the puzzles and dangers that lie before you because it’s coming to PlayStation 4.

Sept. 12, 2018

Ahead of its imminent release, Shadow of the Tomb Raider’s launch trailer gives us an even deeper look into the threats that Lara will face as she rushes to save the world from a Mayan apocalypse. Eidos Montreal implemented new gameplay mechanics like the ability to rappel down cliffs, making a more engaging platforming system as a result.

Shadow of the Tomb Raider features multiple accessibility options as well as the ability to independently switch the difficulties for combat, exploration, and puzzle solving.

You can pre-order your copy of Shadow of the Tomb Raider on Amazon for $60. It’s time to start getting hype for the rejuvenation of the well-loved series we’ve been dying to play. Two days, so start the countdown.

You can also check out the other pre-order options for deluxe editions and game guides by clicking here!

See at Amazon

Reestablish your memory with Tomb Raider

It all started with a mind-blowing news release. In December 2017, Square Enix took to Twitter and gave us a massive teaser about how they were in the process of making a new game.

A message to our fans! pic.twitter.com/HlDYsUtZMs

— Tomb Raider (@tombraider) December 7, 2017

They even went as far as letting us know that the release date and the official reveal wouldn’t be too far away from one another. It’s absolutely refreshing to get this hype about something and not have to wait over a year for the release date.

The first trailer we got from Square Enix in March of 2018 didn’t reveal much information on what the game will actually entail. This video gives us a taste of the setting as well as the much-improved graphics of the overall series.

So… if we’ve captivated you this far with information on the new Tomb Raider than read on to fill your brain with all the information we have to offer. Not just that, but if you want to secure your copy you can pre-order this title from the PlayStation Store for $59.99 and start playing on September 14, 2018.

See on PlayStation Store

Continuing a legacy

Created by a team of veteran Tomb Raider developers at Eidos-Montréal, in collaboration with Crystal Dynamics

Shadow of the Tomb Raider follows the tale of the lovely Lara Croft and proceeds the story from Rise of the Tomb Raider. This time around she’s faced with the task of saving the world from a Maya apocalypse that threatens to destroy it. There is a very real supernatural feeling to the dilemmas brought to us because of this. The trailer shown at E3 shows quick glances of ritual sacrifices, as well as Lara herself, explaining vivid visions of the future.

Trinity is once again the villains of the show. This terrible group of ancient and militaristic people is out to claim all the wonders of this world and lock them away from everyone. Unfortunately for our hero most of her actions of suppressing them have terrible, terrible consequences.

This year during E3 we received more information regarding this well-anticipated game along with a brand new trailer I’ve shown above. Emotions are high as the crowd is left wondering just how much of this deviation is actually Lara’s fault for perhaps taking a step too far in her efforts of preventing Trinity from getting their hands on something they never should. On the official release page Square Enix reveals one small sentence that only solidifies my estimation.

Lara must master a deadly jungle, overcome terrifying tombs, and persevere through her darkest hour.

“Darkest hour?” Oh no. Don’t do my heart like this. I can’t handle it.

Gameplay

Judging from the trailers and screenshots available currently, we can see the general premise of the game will remain the same. There will be puzzles, combat, sneaking and all sorts of hard thinking required to get through this game. We also see the usage of knives, a bow and arrow and the iconic grappling hook in play during these sneak peaks. So get ready to duck, tumble and assassinate your way through this title to help Lara prevent anyone from altering the course of humanity.

Not just that, but we were given another subtle hint into just what this game will entail:

Our team has created a diverse set of skills, combat techniques and equipment for players to master, and they’ll certainly need them if they hope to survive the deadly jungle environments and tombs.

I don’t know about you, but they’ve got my vote (and my pre-order.) And, last but not least, this title will have the option of enhanced versions for the PlayStation Pro.

Pre-order options

So far you can preorder Shadow of the Tomb Raider from the following stores.

Amazon

Shadow of the Tomb Raider (Croft Steelbook Edition)

You get a limited edition Steelbook, three art cards, and the Season Pass, featuring 7 Challenge Tombs, each with new narrative side missions, as well as 7 Weapons, 7 Outfits, and 7 Skills. The Croft Steelbook Edition also delivers 3 additional weapons, 3 additional outfits, and the Original Game Soundtrack with this $89.99 purchase from Amazon.

See on Amazon

Shadow of the Tomb Raider (Limited Steelbook Edition)

This includes a Steelbook and three art cards – while supplies last for $59.99 on Amazon.

See on Amazon

Game Stop

Shadow of The Tomb Raider Season Pass

Includes 7 challenge tombs, 7 weapons, outfits, and skills, multiple narrative side missions, 1 of each of the above will be exclusive to the Season Pass. Following a first Weapon/Outfit drop on Sep 14th, Season Pass content will release on a monthly basis starting in October 2018. This is $29.99.

See at Game Stop

Shadow of The Tomb Raider

This copy of the game is available for $59.99 at Game Stop.

See at Game Stop

Shadow of the Tomb Raider Limited Steelbook Edition

Pre-order Shadow of the Tomb Raider and receive the Limited Steelbook Edition, which includes 3 Collectible Art Cards + Steelbook Packaging for $59.99. While Supplies Last. Not Valid on Digital

See at Game Stop

Shadow of The Tomb Raider Digital Deluxe Edition

The Shadow of the Tomb Raider Digital Deluxe Edition includes an additional weapon and outfit, and the Original Game Soundtrack. Pre-Order Shadow of the Tomb Raider Digital Deluxe Edition now to receive 48 Hour early access, and an additional Skills Booster Pack. $69.99.

See at Game Stop

Shadow of the Tomb Raider Croft Steelbook Edition

The Shadow of the Tomb Raider Croft Steelbook Edition includes a limited edition Steelbook, three art cards, and the Season Pass, featuring 7 Challenge Tombs, each with new narrative side missions, as well as 7 Weapons, 7 Outfits, and 7 Skills. The Croft Steelbook Edition also delivers 3 additional weapons, 3 additional outfits, and the Original Game Soundtrack. Pre-Order Shadow of the Tomb Raider Croft Steelbook Edition now to receive 48 Hour early access, while supplies last. $89.99.

Pre-Order Shadow of the Tomb Raider at GameStop and receive an Exclusive Tomb Raider Flashlight! While Supplies Last. Not valid on Digital.

See at Game Stop

Shadow of The Tomb Raider Digital Croft Edition

The Shadow of the Tomb Raider Digital Croft Edition includes the Season Pass, featuring 7 Challenge Tombs, each with new narrative side missions, as well as 7 Weapons, 7 Outfits, and 7 Skills. The Digital Croft Edition also delivers 3 additional weapons, 3 additional outfits, and the Original Game Soundtrack. Pre-Order the Shadow of the Tomb Raider Digital Croft Edition now to receive 48 Hour early access, and an additional Skills Booster Pack. $89.99

See at GameStop

PlayStation Store

Just the game

You can always choose to just get your copy of the game right off the PlayStation Store for $59.99.

• See on PlayStation Store

Shadow of the Tomb Raider – Croft Edition

The Croft Edition is also available on the PlayStation Store for $89.99. This includes the game, additional skills,
booster Pack, a Season Pass, 3 additional weapons & outfits and a digital OST.

If you pre-order this will also come with 48H early access and a PS4™ Theme.

See on PlayStation Store

Game Guides

You can also pick up the Tomb Raider: Shadow of the Tomb Raider Collector’s Edition Guide for $39.99 at Game Stop.

See at Gamestop

Update September, 2018: We’ve updated this article with Shadow of the Tomb Raider’s launch trailer along with its accessibility options.

PlayStation 4

• PS4 vs. PS4 Slim vs. PS4 Pro: Which should you buy?
• PlayStation VR Review
• Playing PS4 games through your phone is awesome

Amazon

MacRumors Giveaway: Win a 7.5W Wireless Charging Stand From Choetech

For this week’s giveaway, we’ve teamed up with Choetech to offer MacRumors readers a chance to win a Wireless Charging Stand that’s perfect for use with Apple’s newly announced 2018 iPhones.

Choetech’s Wireless Charging Stand, which supports the faster 7.5W charging specification, works with the iPhone X, iPhone 8, iPhone 8 Plus, iPhone XS, iPhone XS Max, and iPhone XR.

Priced at $24, the Wireless Charging Stand comes bundled with the QC 3.0 power adapter that’s necessary to enable 7.5W wireless charging on iOS devices. For other Qi-based devices, such as Samsung’s Galaxy line, it will also charge at up to 10W.

This upright charger features a little shelf to hold the iPhone in place along with two charging coils so that it will work well with iPhones of all sizes. Your iPhone can be placed in either portrait or landscape orientation when using the Wireless Charging Stand.

Choetech has included temperature protection, over-voltage protection, and short circuit protection for safe charging, and there’s a built-in indicator to show charging status with a sleep-friendly muted light.

Choetech is offering a discount on the Wireless Charging Stand and the separate power adapter for those who don’t win our giveaway. The Wireless Charging Adapter is available for $18.99 with the code MACHO524B, while the Wireless Charging Stand is available for $9.99 with code MACHO524.

We have 30 of the Choetech Wireless Charging Stands to give away. To enter to win, use the Rafflecopter widget below and enter an email address. Email addresses will be used solely for contact purposes to reach the winners and send the prizes. You can earn additional entries by subscribing to our weekly newsletter, subscribing to our YouTube channel, following us on Twitter, or visiting the MacRumors Facebook page.

Due to the complexities of international laws regarding giveaways, only U.S. residents who are 18 years or older and Canadian residents (excluding Quebec) who have reached the age of majority in their province or territory are eligible to enter. To offer feedback or get more information on the giveaway restrictions, please refer to our Site Feedback section, as that is where discussion of the rules will be redirected.

a Rafflecopter giveawayThe contest will run from today (September 13) at 3:30 p.m. Pacific Time through 3:30 p.m. Pacific Time on September 21. The winners will be chosen randomly on September 21 and will be contacted by email. The winners will have 48 hours to respond and provide a shipping address before new winners are chosen.

Tag: giveaway
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Motorola Moto E5 Play review

For more than a couple of years now, Motorola’s E series of phones has delivered entry-level, straightforward phones for users who don’t demand a lot of their device. It makes sense that they do so well in developing and emerging markets; it’s all that you need with just a little extra left over.

As a no-frills line of handsets, the Moto E is solid, budget-friendly, and offers up an excellent first phone experience. The 2018 model, the E5 is more of the same. We’ve spent time with an E5 Play and are happy to share our impressions.

If you’ve ever had the chance to use a Moto E phone, you know that’s it not an overly sexy device. Simple in design and straightforward in its approach, it’s what we would call an “everyman” phone. That’s the same for the Moto E5 Play.

Design and Features

The E5 Play follows the same design language set forth by its predecessors and goes with the same approach internally, too. In essence, look for a utilitarian phone with capable specs, and not much else.

In terms of hardware, the Moto E5 Play packs a 5.2-inch 1,280-by-720 IPS panel, a quad-core processor (1.4GHz), and 16GB storage. Additionally, it offers up a microSD expansion card slot for external storage of media; a 2,800mAh battery powers the show.

As for cameras, this one has an 8-megapixel shooter on the back with a 5-megapixel sensor on the front. Taken as a whole, there’s nothing too fancy, to be sure.

Despite not being a “rugged” phone, the Moto E5 Play does have a water-repellent coating and can handle life’s spills and accidents.

You’ll find the volume and power buttons on the right side of the phone with a 3.5mm headphone jack at the top edge. A microUSB charging port is located along the bottom; the rear cover removes to access the SIM and microSD slots.

It’s worth noting that while the Verizon model comes with a fingerprint reader on the rear, not all versions are the same across carriers. At last check, the Boost Mobile and Cricket Wireless models do not include the sensor.

Where we do find the Moto E5 to be really interesting, though, comes in the supported network bands. And, while our particular review unit is offered through Verizon and its prepaid line, it supports LTE bands 1/2/3/4/5/7/8/12/13/14/17/25/26/29/30/38/41/66. In other words, that’s pretty much anyone you’ll encounter carrier-wise.

Staying with networks, you can purchase the Moto E5 Play through the following providers as of today: Verizon, Cricket, Boost Mobile, T-Mobile, Sprint, Virgin Mobile, and Xfinity. Color options vary but you’ll find it in Black, Dark Lake, and Flash Gray.

Performance & Impressions

In our testing of the phone we found this to be about the baseline for an acceptable smartphone experience. It’s somewhat frustrating to go directly from a flagship to something like this as the differences in hardware are glaringly obvious. With that in mind, we expect that more casual users, or those who don’t replace their phones all that often would complain much.

Powered by Android 8.0 Oreo, the Moto E5 Play has but a smattering of extra touches. Motorola, as always does a fantastic job of keep the platform pretty much untouched. There’s nothing added to the user interface, meaning it’s basically what Google envisions for its software experience.

Viewing angles are good for the Moto E5 Play and the picture is decent enough for our tastes. Because of its resolution it’s not the sort of phone you’ll want to put in a VR headset.

We did find the phone to feel larger than the 5.2-inch display, at least physically in hand. There’s more bezel around the screen than you’ll find in other phones, but that is a trade-off we’re okay with considering the price. The top and bottom edges could shrink somewhat, though, if we’re being totally honest.

When it comes to taking pictures, the Moto E5 Play delivers passable results. Images look good on the phone and when viewed over social media but close inspection reveals fine details are lacking at times. Lower light conditions seem to impact things more than we expected. Pictures taken in cloudy or rainy days were dull and uninspired and not simply because of the subject and environment.

The front-facing camera is alright but nothing spectacular. If selfies are super important, or if you spend a lot of time video chatting with others, you might want to temper your expectations.

The Moto E5 won’t win any benchmark awards. It also won’t take first prize in a beauty contest. Do we care? Not really. It’s all about practicality at this level. You’re not buying this phone because you expect to get a tier-one experience for less than a night on the town. No, you’re buying it because you need a phone or are just starting out with your first one.

With prices that range from around $40-$100 at different outlets, it’s a terrific pickup for the money. And, when you understand that it can go with you from carrier to carrier, that peace of mind is worth it alone. Hell, assuming you opt for something more expensive later on, we’d suggest keeping this one for backup purposes or travel.

If you’re going camping for the weekend, headed to an amusement park for the day, or spending a few weeks abroad, the Moto E5 Play does the trick. In all of those instances you are not going to spend a ton of time using the phone. What’s the point in buying an expensive phone for those purposes? Moreover, why take the risk in losing or damaging one?

We like that the Moto E5 Play is paired with a variety of prepaid carriers. It’s the perfect demographic for it here in the US. Many of those user types are lesser demanding and the price point is right in line with its hardware.

Admittedly, battery life could be better. The phone’s 2,800mAh is touted as being “all-day” but that’s stretching things a bit. With that said, you don’t exactly have to keep a charger on you at all times. And, even when you are charging, it’s super fast (10W) and you’re back up and running before you know it.

In our testing we found it to last plenty long enough for our liking just so much as we plugged it when driving and didn’t pass up any opportunity to charge during meals. If you have a charger at work, you may really only need it once every so often.

Software

While the overall Android experience is excellent in 8.0 Oreo, and Motorola’s extra gestures and enhancements are minimal, we can’t say the same for the installed apps. There’s plenty of carrier-branded influence here, at least on our Verizon review unit.

Among other titles, we found ours to have Yahoo Finance, Yahoo Sports, Solitair, Slotomania, Word Blitz, Yahoo Mail, Wish, and Weatherbug. This was in addition to the Verizon stuff. Fortunately, we were able to uninstall these non-essential titles.

We noticed that there was approximately 40% worth of storage space already spoken for so definitely look for a microSD expansion card. A few apps and games later and you’re sitting on the down side of the hill. That’s not even counting the pics and videos you’re likely to take.

We recommend at least trying out some of the Motorola gestures and functionality. A lot of them provide a bit of handiness and practicality. And, really, we miss them when they’re not activated or enabled.

Conclusions

Regardless of where you buy it, the Moto E5 Play makes for a solid all-around value. It’s everything you need in a device (web, social media, email, and messaging) with just a little bit left over.

There’s nothing overly sexy about the phone but we appreciate having the 3.5mm headphone jack, fingerprint sensor, and microSD card. It runs a very modern version of Android and the custom Motorola touches are essentially opt-in. We might like to remove some of the Verizon branded stuff but that ought not reflect on what Motorola’s done here.

For a first time smartphone user, less demanding consumer, or someone who might need a phone in a pinch, the Moto E5 Play is a great bargain. If your phone use is a mix of want and need, you may wish to look elsewhere.

AppleCare+ for Apple Watch Series 4 Costs $79, Up From $49 for Series 3

AppleCare+ for Apple Watch Series 4 models is priced at $79 per month, $30 more than AppleCare+ cost for the Apple Watch Series 3 models.

The new AppleCare+ pricing for the Apple Watch Series 4 models is listed on purchase pages and on Apple’s AppleCare+ product page. Customers purchasing AppleCare+ for a new Apple Watch can pay the $79 up front or pay a fee of $3.99 per month for 24 months.

AppleCare+ for Apple Watch Series 3 models is priced at $49 up front or $2.49 per month for 24 months.

It’s not clear why Apple has increased the price of AppleCare+ for the Apple Watch Series 4 by $30, but these models do include larger displays and new electrical sensors to enable ECG functionality.

The $79 price point applies to both aluminum and stainless steel Apple Watch Series 4 models with LTE + GPS connectivity and GPS connectivity alone.

AppleCare+ for Apple Watch Series 4 extends warranty coverage up to two years from the date of purchase and it adds coverage for two incidents of accidental damage, each subject to a $69 service fee.

For Hermès Apple Watch Series 4 models, Apple is continuing to charge $99 for AppleCare+.

Related Roundups: Apple Watch, watchOS 4, watchOS 5Buyer’s Guide: Apple Watch (Caution)
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Third-Party Retailers and Carriers Offering iPhone XS, XS Max and Apple Watch Series 4 Pre-Orders Tonight

Pre-orders for the iPhone XS, iPhone XS Max, and Apple Watch Series 4 will begin at 12:01 a.m Pacific Time on September 14, which is just hours away. While Apple tends to offer the smoothest, more streamlined pre-order process through its website and Apple Store app, multiple carriers and retailers will also be offering September 14 pre-orders.

There are no rumors suggesting supplies of the new devices are going to be constrained, but it’s always a good idea to pre-order early if you’re aiming for a launch day device. It’s a good idea to have a backup plan if Apple happens to sell out of a particular device that you’re aiming for.

Below, we’ve rounded up the carriers and retailers in the United States that we’ve confirmed are offering pre-orders for the new Apple Watch and iPhone models.

Carriers

T-Mobile will begin accepting pre-orders for the iPhone XS and iPhone XS Max at 12:01 a.m. Pacific Time on September 14.

Customers can elect to sign up for a reminder email on the T-Mobile website, and those with the T-Mobile app will receive a push notification when pre-orders go live.

T-Mobile’s Equipment Installment Plan will require a $279.99 down payment for the 64GB iPhone XS, with monthly payments at $30. Higher down payments of $429 and $629 are required for the 256 and 512GB models.

For the iPhone XS Max, T-Mobile will require customers to pay $379.99 up front, with monthly payments at $30 per month. A downpayment of $529 is required for the 256GB iPhone XS Max, while a $729 downpayment is required for the 512GB iPhone XS Max.

T-Mobile customers can get an aluminum Apple Watch Series 4 model for $0 down with monthly payments of $20.83 for the 40mm version and $22.08 for the 44mm version. Stainless steel models will require a downpayment of $171.99 (40mm) or $221.99 (44mm) with a monthly payment of $22.

T-Mobile says that its “super well-qualified customers” can pre-order iPhone XS and iPhone XS Max models for $0 down, with the chart above pertaining to “well-qualified customers,” so pricing may vary.

Customers who trade in an eligible iPhone can get up to $300 towards the purchase price of a new iPhone.

AT&T will begin accepting pre-orders for the iPhone XS and iPhone XS Max at 12:01 a.m. Pacific Time on September 14. AT&T will also be offering the Apple Watch Series 4 starting on September 14.

AT&T is featuring a countdown to when pre-orders begin on its website, and customers can also sign up to receive an email when pre-orders go live.

Pricing for the iPhone XS starts at $41.63 per month for 24 months using AT&T’s payment installment programs, with options available for 12 or 24 month upgrades.

Pricing for the iPhone XS Max starts at $45.80 per month for 24 months.

Verizon will begin accepting pre-orders for the iPhone XS, iPhone XS Max, and Apple Watch Series 4 at 12:01 a.m. Pacific Time on September 14.

There is a countdown to pre-orders on the Verizon website, and customers can sign up for email updates.

iPhone XS pricing at Verizon starts at $41.66 per month for 24 months, while iPhone XS Max pricing starts at $45.83 per month for 24 months.

Verizon will be selling the Apple Watch Series 4 for $83.33 per month paid over six months, with the company planning to temporarily waive line charges when a new Apple Watch is activated.

Verizon is offering a promomotion that provides $700 off a second iPhone when purchasing an iPhone X, iPhone 8, iPhone 8+, iPhone Xs and iPhone Xs Max using a Verizon device payment plan and activating a new line of service.

As for trade-ins, Verizon is offering a $100 minimum trade-in with iPhone XS or XS Max purchase.

Sprint will begin accepting pre-orders for the iPhone XS and iPhone XS Max at 12:01 a.m. Pacific Time on September 14.

According to Sprint, Sprint customers can “jump the line” and receive Sprint Priority Status by downloading the MySprint app. Sprint is reserving pre-order spots starting now, allowing customers to save a spot without needing to get up at midnight PT.

Sprint customers are instructed to choose a device and then re-visit the Sprint app by midnight on Saturday, September 15 to place an official order.

Retailers

Best Buy confirmed to MacRumors that it will begin accepting pre-orders for Sprint, Verizon, and AT&T iPhone XS and XS Max models at 12:01 a.m. Pacific Time on September 14.

Apple Watch Series 4 pre-orders will also be available at the same time.

Target will be offering iPhone XS, XS Max, and Apple Watch Series 4 for sale, and while the website does not list a specific availability time, it’s likely pre-orders will kick off at 12:01 a.m. Pacific Time.

Target will have Verizon, AT&T, and Sprint models available for purchase.

Like Target, Walmart is listing the iPhone XS and iPhone XS Max as “coming soon,” with no specific availability date listed. Apple Watch Series 4 is also listed as “coming soon.”

We’ve asked Walmart for clarification, but it’s likely pre-orders will begin at 12:01 a.m. Pacific Time.

B&H Photo is accepting pre-orders for the Apple Watch Series 4 starting at 12:01 a.m. Pacific Time on Friday, September 14. Most customers ordering from B&H Photo will not need to pay taxes as taxes are only applicable in New York or New Jersey.

B&H Photo does not sell iPhones and will not have iPhone XS and iPhone XS Max models available.

Related Roundups: Apple Watch, watchOS 4, watchOS 5, iPhone XSBuyer’s Guide: Apple Watch (Caution)
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Audi’s new e-tron dispenses with physical toll tags via its Integrated Toll Module

Audi USA

Roadway tolls are a bit of an inconvenient necessity. They may cause lots of traffic from slowdowns and bottlenecking. But they are one of the key ways governing bodies tax drivers for using roads while generating a revenue stream to pay for the maintenance of those roadways.

To try and mitigate slowdowns and congestion at toll plazas on major roadways, state highway authorities implemented electronic toll tags. Signing up for these e-tags eliminates the need for drivers to stop at a toll and physically hand over a small sum of cash to pass through without penalty. For those of us on the East Coast and major parts of the Midwest, there’s EZPass, while California has FasTrak, Texas has TxTag, and Florida has SunPass.

Now, Audi wants to take this technological concept even further by integrating electronic toll tag technology in its vehicles, beginning with the up and coming e-tron. Ingolstadt’s finest, in conjunction with Gentex Corporation, recently announced that the all-new Audi e-tron will feature new “integrated toll module technology” when it debuts next week in San Francisco. Officially coined “Integrated Toll Module” or “ITM” by Audi engineers, it’s the latest technology available in terms of vehicle-to-infrastructure connectivity.

Audi’s ITM essentially takes the concept of all the aforementioned electronic and wireless toll tags and integrates that tech into the e-tron itself. The system places a toll transponder into the car’s rear-view mirror. From there, drivers will be able to pair their vehicle with their wireless toll accounts So there’s no more need to mount and deal with physical electronic tag devices on the upper portion of the windshield, or on the front license plate.

Gentex, by the way, is also the company that supplies the brand with automatic-dimming mirrors for all Audi vehicles.

Audi hopes this new “Integrated Toll Module” will make paying for tolls easier for drivers, especially for individuals needing to manage multiple accounts if traveling through more than one state. Additionally, Audi says the system is already compatible with existing toll agencies around the nation and drivers will be able to register a current account without any difficulty.

Wireless connectivity and data communication technologies are some of the latest innovations to surface in the automotive industry. Initially, the technology was intended to get individual cars to “talk” to each other, allowing engineers to utilize vehicle data to provide real-time traffic updates for other drivers while improving road safety. Now, the technology is advancing further as automakers and roadway authorities look for ways to improve road infrastructure.

The all-new Audi e-tron itself is scheduled for a worldly debut in San Francisco next Monday, September 17. It’s anticipated to be an all-electric five-passenger midsize crossover SUV (essentially a Tesla Model X competitor) and is one of three battery-electric vehicles planned for production by 2020. It will be the first vehicle in the company’s portfolio to feature the Integrated Toll Module.

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