Add Ring’s 1080p Video Doorbell 2 to your home for only $110 today

Knock, knock. Who’s there?!

Right now you can pick up Ring’s Video Doorbell 2 for just $110.36, which is only $10 more than the original doorbell sells for right now. It normally sells for around $200, and previous deals were only dropping it to around $160. This is easily the best price we’ve ever seen on it, and we can’t imagine it will last for long.

It has a rechargeable battery so you can install it anywhere and it has the ability to be hardwired so you don’t need the battery, and it captures 1080p video. The money you save here can be used towards your first year of cloud storage so you can always access your videos.

See at Amazon

The Galaxy Watch doesn’t change much — and that’s okay

Change for the sake of change doesn’t equal progress.

There’s been a lot of talk about Samsung’s new Galaxy Watch lately — well, at least as much talk as there can be about a smartwatch in 2018. Reviews are mostly positive, and despite its lackluster third-party app support (as is typical for Tizen watches), it seems to be a great overall smartwatch with sleek hardware, polished software, and multi-day battery life.

The biggest criticism it’s faced from tech pundits and enthusiasts alike is that it just doesn’t change much coming from the previous Gear S3 range of devices. It’s visually hard to distinguish from the older devices, and the software doesn’t seem to add much to the experience either — but with the Gear S3 already being one of the best smartwatches around, is that really such a bad thing?

Nobody makes smartwatch hardware like Samsung. That isn’t to say that Samsung has some untouchably great level of build quality or anything of the sort; it’s more that Samsung has its own unique design that directly affects how you navigate through its watches. Like the Gear S3, the Galaxy Watch features a clicky, fully rotating bezel that lets you scroll through the Tizen software with ease — no need to block your view and smudge the screen with your finger. This has long been my favorite way to interface with a smartwatch.

Samsung’s rotating bezel remains my favorite way to navigate through a smartwatch.

The software is more or less the same as on the Gear S3 too, simply stepping up from Tizen 2.3 to version 4, but unless you need specific third-party apps that are only available on WearOS, that’s not such a bad thing either. Tizen is far more customizable than WearOS, and it’s simple and even enjoyable to operate, thanks in part to the aforementioned rotating bezel and the speedy interface.

The similarities don’t stop there, and that’s because the Gear S3 was already a full-featured smartwatch that still holds up today, nearly two years after its initial release. It wasn’t perfect, nor is the Galaxy Watch today; battery life on the Galaxy Watch is severely reduced when you enable the always-on display, and Bixby is … well, if you’ve seen the end of Andrew Martonik’s review video, you know what to expect with a wearable Bixby.

It’s hard to get too excited about a smartwatch these days, as the majority of manufacturers have seemingly given up on the form factor. Hopefully that’ll start to change with newly announced Snapdragon Wear 3100, but in the meantime, the Galaxy Watch remains one of the best options around, just as the Gear S3 was before it. It isn’t perfect, but don’t write it off just because it doesn’t make changes for the sake of change.

Spotify Increases Offline Downloads Limit to 10,000 Tracks Per Device

Spotify has increased the maximum number of offline downloads a subscriber is allowed as well as the number of phones and computers they can be stored across at any one time.

According to Rolling Stone, it was Spotify users who initially discovered that the limit on downloaded tracks has been raised to 10,000 songs per device, up from the previous cap of 3,333 per device.

Additionally, offline downloads can now be stored on up to five devices. Previously, users were able to download tracks for offline listening on up to three devices, which meant you could have a maximum of 9,999 offline tracks per account. With five devices now allowed each containing up to 10,000 songs, that ceiling rises to 50,000 tracks. The Swedish streaming giant subsequently confirmed the changes to Rolling Stone:

“At Spotify, we’re always working on improving the experience for our users. We can now confirm that we have increased the number of offline tracks per device — from 3,333 on three devices to 10,000 tracks per device for up to five devices,” a Spotify spokesperson said.

The new limits should please a large section of users who have long aired their grievances about the seemingly arbitrary cap on offline downloads. That said, Spotify could likely please even more subscribers by increasing the 10,000 track limit on personal libraries, which strangely remains in place.

(Via The Verge.)

Tag: Spotify
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Moment Launches MFi-Approved Battery Photo Case for iPhone X and iPhone XS

Smartphone lens maker Moment has begun shipping the first MFi-approved Battery Photo Case compatible with iPhone X and the new iPhone XS.

The battery case first drew interest earlier this year as a Kickstarter campaign highlighting several notable features, some of which are clearly aimed at photographers.

The case has a 3,100mAh built-in battery for charging your iPhone on the go, and it’s wireless-charging compatible, so it can be placed on any Qi-compatible charging pad.

The case also features an integrated Lightning port to charge an iPhone X/XS, rather than the typical micro-USB found on charging accessories, while a wrist/neck strap can be easily attached for safety.

In addition, there’s a two-stage shutter button on the case for taking pictures, so pressing the button halfway focuses the lens and a full press takes the picture.

The Battery Case is compatible with the Moment lens lineup, which includes telephoto, wide, super fish, macro, and a soon-to-be-released Anamorphic lens.

The case costs $99 and can be ordered today on the Moment website, which will offer upgraded versions for iPhone XS Max and iPhone XR come November.

Tags: MFi Program, photography
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iPhone XR Could Account for Over Half of New iPhone Sales in Second Half of 2018

Global shipments of Apple’s new iPhone lineup should exceed 85 million units in the second half of the year, according to research conducted by DigiTimes, with the more budget-friendly iPhone XR expected to account for over half of all sales.

Shipments of the LCD-based 6.1-inch iPhone XR are expected to account for over 50 percent of combined shipments of the new three models being released, although the availability of the iPhone XR will come on October 26 compared to September 21 for iPhone Xs and Xs Max.

Total iPhone shipments – including older-generation models – are expected to top 127 million units in the second half of 2018, representing “modest growth” for the tech giant’s mobile business.

Meanwhile, Apple’s total smartphone revenue is likely to reach nearly $100 billion in the second half of the year, which is a 10 percent increase compared to the previous year.

The estimates for the new iPhone XS, XS Max and XR are said to be based on supply chain information, combined with Apple’s annual sales and the average selling prices over previous years.

Apple’s lower-spec iPhone XR features an edge-to-edge “Liquid Retina” LCD display with wide color and True Tone support, and the same all-screen design as the iPhone Xs and Xs Max, but with an aluminum frame instead of stainless steel.

It comes in White, Black, Blue, Coral, Yellow, and (PRODUCT)Red colors, and will be available in 64GB, 128GB and 256GB models. Pre-orders for Apple’s new smartphones begin on Friday, September 14, ahead of an official launch a week later on Friday, September 21 in over 30 countries and territories.

Related Roundups: iPhone XR, iPhone XSTag: digitimes.com
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Reddit and Wikipedia criticize EU’s controversial copyright law

The European Parliament has voted overwhelmingly in favor of an amended version of the Copyright Directive that was originally rejected by Members of the European Parliament this summer. After Articles 11 and 13 — the link tax and piracy filter requirements– were revised, the lawmakers passed the copyright law 438 to 226 on September 12. The passage of the law generated harsh criticism from Reddit and the Wikimedia Foundation, the parent organization of Wikipedia.

“Today’s vote dealt a significant blow to the open internet, and to smaller companies like Reddit,” a Reddit representative told The Verge. “It is disappointing to see the Parliament disregard the concerns of those constituents and experts who know the internet best– including its very architects. We’re evaluating what this means for Reddit, and we will continue to keep our community informed.”

The law was designed to give publishers a way to monetize when companies link to their content. It also requires platforms like YouTube to implement filters to prevent users from sharing unlicensed materials. Critics have argued in the past that monitoring the internet would create an undue burden for smaller platforms, and that filtering could lead to censorship. In passing the legislation, parliament essentially is reversing an earlier ruling by the EU court in Luxembourg. In that decision, the court argued that sites should not be compelled to install filters to check for privacy.

In its initial opposition of the proposed legislation, the Electronic Frontier Foundation penned an open letter arguing that “Article 13 takes an unprecedented step toward the transformation of the internet from an open platform for sharing and innovation, into a tool for the automated surveillance and control of its users.” Essentially, even content like GIFs and memes are at stake.

The revised articles included exemptions for Wikipedia and Github, and the link tax would not be exercised for sharing of hyperlinks. This amendment would preserve the 2016 EU court ruling stating that simply linking to copyrighted material does not constitute infringement. Yet, despite being excluded from the law, Wikimedia remains steadfast in its opposition.

“Today, the European Parliament voted to adopt new rules that entrench outdated copyright policies and impose even greater barriers to access to knowledge online,” the foundation said in a statement to The Verge. “Despite an outpouring of support from European citizens, including the Wikimedia community of volunteers, Parliament passed amendments that would require pre-filtering of uploads to internet platforms and failed to institute freedom of panorama protections across the European Union. We are disappointed by this outcome and the missed opportunity to modernize copyright for the digital age. Wikimedia remains firmly committed and will continue to advocate for an open, balanced vision for copyright which enables everyone to learn and create online.”

Google has been more restrained in its reaction, noting that it is committed to working with legislatures to give people “access to quality news and creative content online.” Twitter and Microsoft did not provide comment. The legislation will face a final vote in January 2019, The Verge said, and if it passes, individual EU member states will have to interpret how to enforce the directive.

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Google is done with its Inbox email app and will shut it down in March 2019

Launching as an invite-only app in 2014, Google’s Inbox set out to create a more efficient email experience for users.

Four years and multiple updates later, the web company announced this week it’s going to retire Inbox in March 2019 and instead concentrate on improving Gmail.

Product manager Matthew Izatt said in a blog post the Inbox app had been “a great place to experiment with new ideas like snoozing emails to later, as well as try the latest AI-powered experiences like smart reply, nudges, and high-priority notifications to help you stay productive.” Indeed, many of the app’s more popular features have ended up in Gmail.

But Izatt said the company had recently decided to take “a more focused approach” with its email-based efforts to help it bring “the best email experience” to all of its users.

A major Gmail redesign arrived in April this year — its biggest overhaul in seven years — bringing with it some popular Inbox features to Google’s core web-based email service, which launched back in 2004.

Izatt said that with Inbox it had “learned a lot about how to make email better.”

Using Gmail

Google has created a transition guide for any Inbox users concerned about switching from the soon-to-be-retired app to Gmail, though it should only be a case of  familiarizing yourself with the Gmail interface, if you haven’t checked in for a while.

“All your conversations are already waiting for you in Gmail,” Izatt said, reminding everyone that Inbox and Gmail work with the same email address and share all the same data.

When Inbox launched in October 2014, Google CEO Sundar Pichai — then senior president for Android, Chrome, and apps — said the software had been “years in the making,” adding that it was aimed at those for whom “dealing with email has become a daily chore that distracts from what we really need to do, rather than helping us get those things done.”

For Google developers, Inbox was a neat way to test new features to improve Gmail, but it seems the usefulness of the app has run its course for the company as it pools resources and throws its weight behind improving its better known email service instead.

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Apple Shares ‘Shot on iPhone XS’ Video Demoing Slo-mo, 4K, and Time-Lapse Modes

Apple has shared a video on its YouTube channel showcasing the video recording capabilities of the new flagship iPhone XS, which debuted on Wednesday at Apple’s Gather Round event held at Apple Park.

The content provides a “first-look” at video shot on the new 5.8-inch device, which Apple claims has the “highest quality video shot on any smartphone”, and looks at how water, metals, and other substances were used to create the impressive clips.

Over 1 minute and 44 seconds, viewers get a sample of what the smartphone’s 4K, Slo-mo, and Time-lapse modes can capture in close-quarters, interspersed with short clips of how the experimental conditions were set up.

For example, one low-light experiment in 4K (at 60fps) mixes ink and clay over several glass panes to create a stunning interstellar-like scene complete with planets, satellites and nebulae looming in the background.

Apple says the XS family features larger pixels and a faster sensor than previous iPhones, enabling improved low-light performance and video stabilization, while four built-in mics allow video to be recorded with stereo sound.

The iPhone XS and iPhone XS Max come in 64GB, 256GB, and 512GB storage capacities, and in Space Gray, Silver, and Gold. The iPhone XS starts at $999 in 64GB, while the iPhone XS Max starts at $1,099 in 64GB.

Pre-orders for the smartphones begin on Friday, September 14, ahead of launch on Friday, September 21 in more than 30 countries and territories.

Related Roundups: iPhone XR, iPhone XS
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Apple Watch Series 4 hands-on review

Research Center:

Apple Watch Series 4

Last year’s Apple Watch Series 3 cemented its place as the best smartwatch you can buy. This year, Apple has gone a step further to make the Apple Watch Series 4 the only wearable you need. The improvements range from a larger screen to two times better performance over the Series 3, but the spotlight falls on the electrocardiogram (ECG) app, which has been certified by the Food & Drug Administration, making the Apple Watch Series 4 the first over-the-counter ECG alternative for consumers. It’s an impressive feat, and it shows just how much of a lead Apple has over the competition.

We managed to spend some time with the new watch at Apple’s event in Cupertino. The ECG app won’t be available until later this year, but that still left us plenty to explore.

Bigger screen, sleek design

Like before, the Apple Watch Series 4 comes in 40mm and a 44mm size options. What’s new here is the screen real estate — you get more screen, without having to deal with a significantly bigger watch body.

Slimmer bezels allow a 30 percent larger screen, which means you can see more content than ever before. Will this affect battery life? Apple claims new low-temperature polycrystalline oxide (LTPO) display technology should improve power efficiency, so we’ll just have to wait and see. The screen looks excellent, as usual, though we’ll need to use it outdoors to see if it’s easy to see in bright sunlight.

We liked the Vapor watch face, which showed off neat, dynamic animations on the watch as it lit up.

The Series 4 watch looks a little curvier than previous Apple Watch devices, but it’s just as elegant and sleek. We tried on the stainless steel 44mm watch, which felt lightweight and supremely comfortable. The leather magnetic strap wrapped around our wrist without much fuss, and the lug design meant there were no gaps between the watch and our wrist.

All this being said, we would have been thrilled to see what Apple would do with a circular watch, but it looks like that may never happen.

Accompanying the larger screen are several new watch faces, and some look better than others. The Infograph watch face, for example, looks a bit too cluttered for our tastes, but it does provide a ton of information at a glance if that’s what you want. It has an air-quality index, ultraviolet index, weather, and access to breathing exercises, heart rate, activity, music, and workout. The complications can be customized to your liking.

Julian Chokkattu/Digital Trends

Other new watch faces have pretty animations that shift to the rhythm of breathing exercises — handy if you constantly find yourself stressed out.

We much preferred the Vapor watch face, which showed off neat, dynamic animations on the watch as it lit up. We do think Apple missed an opportunity here to launch a store for third-party watch faces, but baby steps were made. The Infograph Modular watch face lets you add in a slice of data from any other Apple apps or third-party apps — if developers add support. Baby steps.

Major breakthroughs

One of our favorite features on the Series 4 is the haptic feedback implemented in the Digital Crown. As you rotate the button, you can feel vibrations for every selection you move past. It’s a small but wonderful touch that makes interacting with the watch a little more fun.

The Series 4 Apple Watch can also alert you when it detects a low heart rate or an irregular heartbeat.

The crown is also what you will use for the electrocardiogram app when it’s available later this year — just tap your finger on it, and the electrical heart sensor will do the rest. You’ll be able to download a PDF to share with your doctor.

While we can’t comment on how well it works, the ECG has the potential to make a significant impact in the health community.

Many people wear the Apple Watch all day, but may not do the same with traditional ECG monitors. While the results likely won’t be as accurate as what you may find in the doctor’s office, the ability to take measurements quickly at any moment will be a major boon.

The Series 4 Apple Watch can also alert you when it detects a low heart rate, and recognize an irregular heart rate. If you have any heart-related issues, these features make the Apple Watch the watch you want to have on your wrist at all times.

Julian Chokkattu/Digital Trends

Going a step further, the watch can also detect when you fall, and send out an alert to your emergency contacts if it doesn’t detect movement after a minute. Sure, Life Alert exists, but a stylish watch is a lot more enticing than a clunky pendant.

Better performance, louder speaker

The Apple Watch Series 4 is powered by Apple’s new S4 chip, which the company claims delivers two times faster performance. We never ran into a problem with performance on the Series 3, but we’ll happily take any improvements. Moving around the watchOS operating system is fluid and smooth, and we didn’t see any issues here.

Apple has also shifted the placement of the microphone to reduce echo during calls, and the speaker is purportedly 50 percent louder. We weren’t able to tell in the loud environment we were in, but if true that should make using the new Walkie-Talkie feature in watchOS 5 easier. Speaking of watchOS 5, you can check out all the new features available in our handy guide.

Apple Watch Series 4 Compared To

Garmin Fenix 5X Plus

Casio Pro Trek WSD-F30

Alpina AlpinerX

Fossil Q Venture

Garmin Vivoactive 3

Emporio Armani Connected touchscreen…

Fitbit Ionic

Apple Watch Series 3

Diesel On Full Guard Smartwatch

Huawei Fit

Garmin Vivoactive HR

Apple Watch Series 2

Asus ZenWatch 2

Asus ZenWatch

Garmin fenix 2

We’re not expecting much of a difference with battery life of the Series 4, so expect more than a day, perhaps two, based on our experience with the Series 3.

Pricing and availability

The Apple Watch Series 4 starts at $400 for the Wi-Fi and GPS model, and $500 for the GPS and cellular model. Prices also vary depending on whether you want the aluminum case or the stainless steel. There are a ton of options to choose from, so it’s easy to find something you’ll like. The two size options are also great for people who want a smaller or larger watch. Pre-orders start September 14, with sales starting September 21.

There’s a lot of technology fitted into the relatively small case of the Series 4 Apple Watch. It’s impressive, but we haven’t really been able to test many of these features, so we’re not ready to recommend it quite yet. Still, considering the FDA certification and the host of new heart-tracking features, this is certainly a smartwatch worth considering for everyone.

Need a new iPhone battery? You’d better hurry as prices are going up

Apple announced a bunch of new iPhones on Wednesday, but if you’re sticking with your current iPhone for now, there’s a chance you may be considering a new battery for the device.

And with news this week that replacement fees are set to rise at the start of 2019, you’ll want to sort it out sooner rather than later.

Apple cut the cost of battery replacements for out-of-warranty iPhones  in January after it got into hot water over some less-than-transparent behavior that involved slowing down older iPhones to prevent unexpected crashes. But these lower prices will be ditched at the end of this year.

From January 1, 2019, a battery replacement for the iPhone Xs, iPhone Xs Max, iPhone XR, and iPhone X will cost $69. For all other eligible iPhones — that includes the iPhone SE, iPhone 6 and later — the fee will rise from the current $29 to $49. Before Apple’s battery fiasco kicked off at the end of 2017, a new iPhone battery cost $79.

If the iPhone is in warranty or part of AppleCare+, the battery can be replaced free of charge. If you’re not sure if you have AppleCare+ coverage, enter your iPhone serial number on this Apple webpage to find out.

Replacements can be carried out at an Apple Store or at one of its authorized service locations, or can be mailed to one of its repair centers. Full details are available here.

So how do you know if your iPhone needs a new battery? Well, in March 2018, Apple included a new Battery Health tool with iOS 11.3, which, as the name of the feature cleverly suggests, tells you all about the state of your phone’s power source. Battery Health also lets you disable Apple’s controversial performance management system, though if you do so, your phone may sometimes shutdown unexpectedly, depending on the condition of the battery. You can find out how to use Battery Health here.

In short, Apple recommends replacing an iPhone battery once its capacity falls below 80 percent.

Battery mess

Apple admitted last year that it deliberately slowed down some iPhones to stabilize performance as the battery ages.

The disclosure upset a lot of iPhone owners who were annoyed that Apple hadn’t been upfront about its actions when it began the practice via a software update it put out in 2016.

Some also suspected it was a deliberate move by the tech giant to frustrate owners with slowed-down phones as a way of encouraging them to upgrade to a newer iPhone, a strategy known as planned obsolescence.

The Cupertino, California-based company has always insisted its actions were supposed to benefit the user by reducing instances of sudden shutdowns caused by aging batteries. But the backlash prompted Apple to slash the cost of battery replacements for the whole of 2018.

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