Aukey’s $15 PowerHub Mini replaces a single outlet with six charging slots

Power multiple devices at once!

Using coupon code YPFQIC8Y during checkout, you can grab Aukey’s Powerhub Mini for just $15, a savings of $5. It has two AC outlets and four USB ports built-in, meaning that your single outlet becomes far more valuable to you. The USB ports have a max output of 2.4A each, totaling 6A. The AiPower Adaptive Charging Technology allows the charger to automatically adapt to give your devices the fastest charge possible.

This desktop charging hub is a great addition to any desk, and if you’re just worried about data transfer, this Aukey 10-port USB hub is a must-have for $22.

See at Amazon

Android 9 Pie rolling out to Sony Xperia XZ2 and XZ2 Compact

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

Latest Updates

October 12, 2018 — Android 9 Pie rolling out to Sony Xperia XZ2 and XZ2 Compact

On October 12, reports started coming in to show that Pie is making its way to Xperia XZ2 and XZ2 Compact handsets. The update changes the build number from 51.1.A.11.51 to 52.0.A.3.27 on both phones and weighs in at around 1.059 GB. In addition to the usual Pie goodies, there’s also a new camera app and the October 2018 security patch.

The full roundup

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

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

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

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

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

• Google
• Android Beta Program Partners
• Samsung
• LG
• Huawei
• Motorola
• OnePlus
• Nokia
• HTC
• Sony

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

Google

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

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

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

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

Android Beta Program Partners

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

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

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

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

— Essential (@essential) August 6, 2018

Samsung

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

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

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

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

LG

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

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

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

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

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

Huawei

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

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

• The Huawei Mate 10 will be updated to Android Pie.
• The Huawei Mate 10 Pro is being updated to Android Pie while this article was being revised on October first.
• The Honor 9 and Honor View 10 series will be updated to Android Pie. I’m hoping, but less confident, about the Honor 8 Pro and 7X.
• The Huawei Mate 9 will probably be updated to Android Pie, but we’ll see.

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

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

Motorola

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

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

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

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

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

OnePlus

OnePlus is on the verge of becoming more than just a niche brand. But it won’t forget where its early success came from — providing fast updates because its customers wanted them. And just because it is never as fast as we wanted doesn’t mean it wasn’t as fast as possible. Sometimes, too fast even …

Here’s the list of phones OnePlus is going to update to Android P.

• OnePlus 3
• OnePlus 3T
• OnePlus 5
• OnePlus 5T
• OnePlus 6

Nokia

Hi, Android Pie will be available for the Nokia 3, 5, 6 and 8. Roll-out will be phased as usual to secure quality delivery. Nokia 7 Plus is part of the Android One program, which guarantees two years of software updates, including Pie.

— Nokia Mobile (@NokiaMobile) August 8, 2018

Nokia seems to understand that a substantial portion of its own customer base wants fast updates. Like OnePlus, they should listen to their current customers while trying to find new ones if they are to be successful. Here’s a list of phones expected to see Android Pie from Nokia.

• Nokia 3
• Nokia 5
• Nokia 6
• Nokia 6.1
• Nokia 7 Plus
• Nokia 8
• Nokia 8 Sirocco

HTC

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

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

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

— HTC (@htc) August 10, 2018

Annnnddd…that’s it.

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

Sony

Sony announced its Pie update plans on August 16, 2018, and as expected, the phones that’ll be the first to get the new software treatment are the company’s high-end flagships. Starting this November, the following phones will get Android 9 Pie:

• Sony Xperia XZ2
• Sony Xperia XZ2 Premium
• Sony Xperia XZ2 Compact
• Sony Xperia XZ Premium
• Sony Xperia XZ1
• Sony Xperia XZ1 Compact

On October 12, reports started coming in to show that Pie is making its way to Xperia XZ2 and XZ2 Compact handsets. The update changes the build number from 51.1.A.11.51 to 52.0.A.3.27 on both phones and weighs in at around 1.059 GB. In addition to the usual Pie goodies, there’s also a new camera app and the October 2018 security patch.

But wait, there’s more!

If you own a Sony Xperia XA2, XA2 Ultra, or XA2 Plus, you can expect Pie to land on your phone by “early 2019.”

Must mentions

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

• Any phone running the Android Go version will probably see an update once Google gets Pie optimized for the meager specs these devices have.
• The BlackBerry KEYone probably won’t be upgraded to Android Pie, but we know the KEY2 will be.
• Someone at XDA will update their Nexus One to Android Pie and I am going to do my best to get Google to send that person a brand new Pixel 3 NotchXL.

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

Android 9 Pie

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

Updated October 12, 2018: Added details about Pie rolling out to the Xperia XZ2 and XZ2 Compact.

UK Daily Deals: Xbox Live Gold membership, Fire HD 10, Anker speakers, more

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

We found plenty of great deals today Xbox Live Gold membership, Hive Smart Thermostats + free Echo Dots, refurb Amazon Fire HD 10 tablets, Anker speakers, Philips 4K TVs, and much more!

View the rest of the deals

Each day, the Thrifter UK team scouts out and shares amazing deals on products you know and love, helping you find the best prices on the ‘net.

For more UK deals coverage, be sure to keep an eye on Thrifter UK and follow the team on Twitter for the most up-to-the-minute coverage.

Game of the Week: Assemble your clone army for PvP battle in Badland Brawl!

Update October 12, 2018: This week, we’re playing Badland Brawl, a new take on the PvP tower defense genre!

Most mobile gamers should fondly recall Badland, the highly-stylized adventure game that raked in many awards and much accolades when it was first released five years ago. After a fairly successful sequel, the team at Frogmind Studios has returned to the Badland brand with a new PvP multiplayer experience that’s worth checking out.

The premise is pretty familiar if you’ve played other PvP mobile games such as Clash Royale — your goal is to destroy your enemies towers before they destroy yours by strategically deploying the right clones at the right time. What makes Badland Brawl stand out from the rest of the crowd is it’s physics-based combat that borrows the slingshot mechanic from another iconic mobile title, Angry Birds, and the way you can literally bump your enemy’s clones off course and completely derail your opponent’s attacks.

As you’d expect, upgrading your troops is a bit part of this game and relies on collecting and unlocking crates — in this instance, eggs — that give you upgrade points and coins for your different clones. As your collection of clones grow, you’ll get more variety to choose from for selecting your battle party. There are currently 37 different clone types to find and battle with, and there are in-app purchases available for purchasing gems which you can spend on eggs or coins.

If you love PvP arena games, Badland Brawl offers a fresh take on the tried and tested formula that’s made all the better by the gorgeous graphics that the Badland franchise is known for. The backgrounds are colorful and vibrant, and the character animations are butter smooth. It’s a free download so check it out if it seems like something you’d enjoy!

Download: Badland Brawl (Free w/IAPs, Ads)

Android Gaming

• Best Android games
• Best free Android games
• Best games with no in-app purchases
• Best action games for Android
• Best RPGs for Android
• All the Android gaming news!

Echo Dot (3rd Gen) Review: Bigger, better, and much louder

Amazon’s heavy hitter has been overhauled with a focus on quality and volume.

When people say they have an Amazon Echo, they almost always mean they have an Echo Dot. The cheapest of the Echo family regularly drops into stocking-stuffer price points, which allowed for these speakers to quickly rise in popularity over the last two years. But popularity doesn’t necessarily mean quality, and the competition quickly moved to make mini speakers with better speakers and a more visually pleasing design.

Amazon, now on the third generation of its Echo product line, has responded with a new Dot. And at first glance, it looks an awful lot like Amazon is reacting to the competition. After a few days of using it, and seeing how much better this new speaker is over its predecessor, I think the only company Amazon is competing with is itself.

Crank up the volume

Amazon Echo Dot (3rd Gen)

$49 at Amazon

A worthy upgrade in almost every way.

Amazon’s Echo Dot has grown up quite a bit, bringing with it improved audio and noticeably better microphones.

The Good

• MUCH louder
• Nice tactile buttons
• Improved design
• Easy set up

The Bad

• No more USB port
• Audio gets muddy at top volumes
• Light animations aren’t as smooth

Amazon Echo Dot (3rd Gen) What I like

I thought I knew exactly what I was getting myself into as I opened the box to the new Echo Dot. It’s an Echo, after all. Alexa is a ubiquitous platform, and the Echo Dot is supposed to be the low end of what this experience offers. I wasn’t expecting a lot of surprises here, as I already have multiple 2nd Gen Echo Dots in the house.

Wow, was I wrong.

Every part of this experience exceeded my expectations, starting with the initial set up. On multiple occasions, I have had to go in through the Alexa app and manually pair to an Echo product because the auto detection had failed. This time it immediately connected and, because my Wi-Fi network was stored in my Amazon account, was available on my network almost instantly.

This new Echo Dot is loud, especially when compared to its predecessor. Sitting the two side by side, a 2nd Gen Echo Dot at max volume is right around as loud as a 3rd Gen Echo Dot is at 30%.

It’s not just louder, too; there’s a lot more character to the audio. You get some bass with your little speaker, which absolutely could not be said of the last Echo Dot. If you were planning on listening to music with the last Echo Dot, you really needed to connect a speaker to the 3.5mm jack at the back. With this new Echo Dot you can certainly do the same, but in smaller rooms, you probably won’t need to. In fact, there’s a reasonable argument to be made for having two of these Echo Dots paired and playing audio together from different sides of the room instead.

This increase in volume meant a change in how the microphones on the Echo Dot are set up. The previous generation could barely handle picking up the Alexa passphrase when playing music at a reasonable volume, and the little animation for where the microphone thought the request was coming from is frequently wrong. This new Echo Dot has multiple microphones and does a noticeably better job picking up your voice even when the volume is up high. You can see the four microphone holes on the top of the speaker clearly, and the results are obvious from the moment you set it up.

This thing sounds better than its size suggests. A lot better.

Finally, I realize this is a small thing most people won’t notice, but the buttons on the top of the Echo Dot feel really nice. This speaker has the same four buttons its predecessor has, but they all have a more tactile and satisfying click when you press down on them. No more spongey buttons is a great thing, even if these buttons don’t get a lot of use.

Amazon Echo Dot (3rd Gen) What I don’t like

Amazon gets lots of credit for making the speakers on the Echo Dot louder and adding some character to the sound these speakers produce, but louder does not mean better. At higher volumes, the audio quality on this speaker suffers. Everything becomes a little muddy at the 70% mark, and gets noticeably worse as it gets louder. At 100%, none of the songs I played on it were things I wanted to listen to. It’s cool to be able to say this speaker is louder and noticeably better than the one in the Google Home Mini, but kind of hard to see how it matters much if you don’t ever want to use it at those louder volumes.

This new Echo Dot is an improvement in nearly every way.

This new, louder speaker requires more power to drive it, which makes sense. The small 9W power adapter included in the previous Echo Dot has been replaced with a larger 15W power adapter, and at the other end the miniUSB has been replaces with a barrel connector. This isn’t a big deal to many, but I really liked being able to grab a random cable and use it to power an Echo Dot. I liked being able to connect to things that weren’t a standard wall outlet, but those features are gone now. And, honestly, I doubt many others will notice.

Amazon’s new design makes the light ring around the outside of the Echo Dot more visible from more angles, which is fantastic. Lots of people rely on this light animation to confirm Alexa is listening before giving a command. This new design doesn’t contain an LED array that is quite as densely packed as some other Echo products, though, so the animations look a little segmented at times and not quite as smooth as I’ve come to expect from this line of products. Also not a huge deal, just worth noting if you’re already a fan of these speakers.

Amazon Echo Dot (3rd Gen) Should you buy it?

Amazon didn’t make a speaker to compete with Google or Apple. It made a speaker for people who already own an Echo Dot. This speaker isn’t going to convince anyone to switch platforms, and until we get to the holidays and Amazon drops it down to those crazy $30 prices there won’t be a mad rush to buy these from people who don’t already own them.

But if you own an Echo Dot right now and aren’t totally thrilled with it, this new upgrade is an improvement in nearly every way. If you are already a fan of the Alexa ecosystem, you’re going to love this speaker.

4.5
out of 5

Personally, I’m excited to see which company makes a big battery enclosure for this so it can be portable. That worked really well for the last generation.

See at Amazon

Samsung’s foldable phone will basically be a pocketable tablet

This will be the next big thing … at some point.

The mobile industry has been tracking this rumored Samsung “Galaxy X” prototype phone for several months, gradually pushing back the supposed launch timeline for what’s apparently to be a successor to the general “Galaxy S” line. But even so, we’re still struggling for details on what this supposed Galaxy X with a foldable display will be. Here’s the latest information.

The latest Galaxy X news

October 12, 2018 — Samsung’s foldable phone will basically be a pocketable tablet

The folks at CNET recently had a chance to speak with DJ Koh (Samsung’s head of mobile) about the upcoming Galaxy X, and during their conversation, Koh offered some further details about what we can expect from the upcoming foldable phone.

Per CNET’s article:

DJ Koh, CEO of Samsung’s mobile business, said you’ll be able to use the device as a tablet with multitasking capability before being able to fold it up into a more portable phone.

We’ve been expecting that the Galaxy X will offer more screen real estate compared to traditional phones, so it’ll be interesting to see how close of a tablet experience it really is able to offer.

The Galaxy X is still scheduled to arrive at some point before 2018 is over, so stay tuned.

September 4, 2018 — Samsung confirms a folding phone will be launched this year

While there’s been no doubt that Samsung’s working on a foldable smartphone, one detail we haven’t had a definite answer on is when the thing will be released. That’s now changing, however, as the company’s CEO of its mobile division — DJ Kohn — confirmed to CNBC that a folding phone will launch at some point this year.

Koh told CNBC that “it’s time to deliver” and that Samsung has “nearly concluded” its development of the phone. We’re still uncertain how exactly the foldable nature will be implemented, but during IFA in Berlin, Kohn went on record saying:

You can use most of the uses … on foldable status. But when you need to browse or see something, then you may need to unfold it. But even unfolded, what kind of benefit does that give compared to the tablet? If the unfolded experience is the same as the tablet, why would they (consumers) buy it? So every device, every feature, every innovation should have a meaningful message to our end customer. So when the end customer uses it, they think ‘wow, this is the reason Samsung made it’.

July 18, 2018 — Galaxy X reported to fold in the shape of a wallet, might cost over $1,500

A report from The Wall Street Journal surfaced this morning outlining a few key details we can expect from the Galaxy X. When describing the design of the phone, part of the report notes that:

The screen can be folded in half, like a wallet, these people said. When folded, the exterior of the phone boasts a small display bar on the front and cameras in the back, they added.

Furthermore, it’s said that the Galaxy X has a screen that measures in at 7-inches diagonally.

As for pricing and availability, WSJ notes that the Galaxy X has “taken on a greater sense of urgency in recent months” and that its price tag could reach well beyond $1,500. The phone’s expected to be released at some point in early 2019.

All the big details

Some background on Galaxy X rumors

No, you didn’t miss an announcement — Samsung didn’t have anything public to say about the Galaxy X (if that is its real name) at CES 2018. But as many companies do, Samsung took the opportunity of having so many high-up industry people together to show off what it’s working on to partners. According to The Investor, this year that included the Galaxy X. The device in question has a 7.3-inch display that can fold in the middle — multiple versions were shown, with different capabilities such as folding both inwards and outwards.

The inward-folding model (protecting the screen when closed) is reportedly the design with the most traction at the moment. The outward-folding one, on the other hand, includes “more advanced next-generation technology,” whatever that entails. The rest of the specs of the phone aren’t yet known, and considering how far out we are from a potential release — reportedly as late as early 2019 — those can and will change between now and then.

How will a ‘foldable’ phone actually work?

Samsung has of course been putting curved panels in production phones since the Galaxy Note Edge that eventually spawned into a phenomenon that has become a hallmark of Samsung’s high-end devices. The company has been experimenting with bendable OLED panels for years, going so far as to show them off publicly as technology demonstrations. But the question is whether it could make devices with displays that could be actively bent or folded thousands of times as a regular part of use. The display would have to be very robust, but then you also have the issue of what covers the display panel — typical Gorilla Glass wouldn’t do the trick.

LetsGoDigital has worked up renderings based on reports and patent filings that show the Galaxy X as a vertical-orientation phone, but with a hinge mechanism built into the sides of the phone. The phone would be rigid (and what looks to be extremely tall as well) when the display is extended and flat, but you could pull the top and bottom apart to expose the hinge to then bend while the screen follows suit.

Further renders show the phone while closed, which leaves a gap around the hinge portion not unlike a Microsoft Surface Book laptop. Large internal components would of course split between the top and bottom halves of the phone by the hinge.

Early rumors pointed to a Galaxy X with a hinge and two displays, but now we’re talking about just one panel.

Early rumors of the Galaxy X pointed to some sort of announcement or teaser as early as late 2017, which obviously didn’t happen. But those same rumors questioned whether the Galaxy X was truly a “bendable” phone with a single screen, or simply a hinged device with two distinct panels — like the ZTE Axon M, for example. It seems now that Samsung’s going to attempt a full-on single bendable display. Other rumors also had indicated Samsung had a more tablet-shaped device with this bendable display technology in place, and that may still be on the table in different future devices, but in terms of the “Galaxy X” it looks to be a traditional vertical phone orientation.

When it will be announced

During IFA 2018 over in Berlin, Samsung’s mobile division CEO — DJ Koh — confirmed that a foldable smartphone will be launched before the year is over.

Koh teased that we may learn more information during the Samsung Developer Conference in November, but it’s still unclear when this year the phone will actually go up for purchase.

Update August 2018: Updated with a new statement from Samsung about the Galaxy X’s launch.

These two Arlo Q cameras for $208 help you keep an eye on your home

Watch from anywhere in the world.

Two of the Netgear Arlo Q 1080p HD security cameras are on sale together for $207.99 at Amazon today. This two-pack bundle normally sells for $280 and was as high as $350 in July. Today’s discount marks its lowest price ever there.

The Arlo Q camera allows you to live stream 1080p HD video from anywhere in the world using your smartphone, tablet, or computer, while its enhanced night vision ensures you can see clearly even in total darkness. You can set it to record when motion or sound is detected and then access your recordings from anywhere using the Arlo app.

The camera features a built-in microphone and speaker so you can talk back and forth with people using the app as well. Arlo allows you to keep seven days of footage and audio in the cloud for free. The coolest thing about these cameras is that they work with Alexa for voice control, allowing you to pair it with a device like the Echo Dot.

At Amazon, over 4,700 customers reviewed this camera resulting in a collective rating of 4.1 out of 5 stars.

For a more robust system, check out Arlo’s smart home security camera starter bundle which is down to $462 right now.

See at Amazon

Zo maak je screenshots op vrijwel iedere mobiele telefoon

Soms wil je gewoon even een screenshot, ook wel schermafbeelding, maken van je mobiele telefoon. Bijvoorbeeld om iemand jouw telefoonscherm te laten zien of doordat je iets leuks bent tegen gekomen. Hoe je dat voor vrijwel iedere telefoon doet leggen we hier uit.

Screenshot op Android-telefoon

Vroeger kon het maken van een schermprint op Android nogal een uitdaging zijn. Je moest hem aan je computer koppelen en speciale software downloaden. Tegenwoordig is het meestal niet meer dan een toetscombinatie, meestal de aan- en uitknop met de volume omlaagtoets. Houdt deze twee knoppen tegelijk ingedrukt totdat een geluid klinkt en/of het scherm flitst. Dat is de bevestiging dat er een schermafbeelding is gemaakt. Je vindt hem daarna terug in de galerij of foto-app in een mapje ‘screenshots’. Je screenshot vind je ook terug onder het notifcatievenster waarna je hem eenvoudig kunt bewerken of delen.

Screenshot op Android: Druk powerknop met volume-omlaag in

Menu-optie onder de powerknop

Bij sommige nieuwe Android-telefoons (of waar geen fysieke volumeknoppen aanwezig zijn) is er vaak een screenshot-optie wanneer je de powerknop enige tijd indrukt. Er zijn ook fabrikanten die een aparte menu-optie hebben ingebouwd. Zo hebben Lenovo-telefoons onder het notificatie-menu vaak de optie ‘Screen Shot’ en bij LG heet dat ‘Capture+’. Weer andere fabrikanten gebruiken een speciale gesture, een beweging om een screenshot te maken. Zo kun je bij de OnePlus 5, 5T en 6 met drie vingers naar beneden vegen om een screenshot te maken.

Screenshot-optie onder de powerknop

Screenshot op Samsung-telefoons

Bij sommige oudere Samsung telefoons met een fysieke homeknop werkt de eerder genoemde toetscombinatie vaak niet. Dan werkt vaak de combinatie van de homeknop met volume omlaag-knop. Houdt deze dan enkele tellen ingedrukt.

Google Assistant een screenshot laten maken

Wil je je handen vrij hebben dan kun je de Google Assistant, aanwezig op sommige Android-telefoons, ook aan het werk zetten. Roep de assistent op met “Oké Google” gevolgd door “maak een screenshot”. Handig voor wanneer je in de auto zit of vieze handen hebt.

Screenshot op iPhone

Ook bij Apple iPhones is het indrukken van een toetscombinatie meestal de oplossing om een schermafbeelding te maken. Van oudsher was dit het tegelijk indrukken van de sluimerknop met homeknop. Druk deze kort tegelijk in waarna een geluid klinkt en het scherm flikkert. De schermafbeelding vind je terug in de camerarol van de Foto’s-app. Roep je steeds per ongeluk Siri op bij het maken van een schermafbeelding druk dan eerst op de sluimerknop en daarna pas de homeknop.

Op moderne iPhones: Sluimerknop met volume omhoog indrukken

Screenshot op iPhone X, iPhone XS, iPhone XS Max en iPhone XR

Apple heeft de iPhone X, iPhone XS, iPhone XS Max en iPhone XR niet meer uitgerust met een homeknop. Er is bij deze modellen een andere methode beschikbaar om een schermprint te maken. Druk kort op de sluimerknop en de volume omhoog-knop, het scherm zal flitsen samen met een sluitergeluid. Ook hier vind je de screenshot terug in de camerarol in de Foto’s-app.

Screenshot soms verboden

Sommige apps hebben het maken van een screenshot verboden. Denk dan aan apps om mee te bankieren, wachtwoord managers of andere apps die gevoelige informatie weergeven. Je krijgt dan meestal een waarschuwing dat het maken van een schermafbeelding niet toegestaan is. Dan zit er helaas weinig anders op dan met een tweede telefoon een foto van je telefoonscherm te maken.

Kom je er ondanks deze uitleg niet uit? Wil jouw mobiel niet meewerken of loop je tegen iets anders aan? Laat het ons weten in de comments en we zoeken het voor uit!

Stockholm’s New City Council Opposes Planned Apple Store at Kungsträdgården

Stockholm’s newly elected city council has promised that plans will not proceed for a flagship Apple Store bordering Kungsträdgården, a public park in the city center, according to Swedish newspaper Dagens Nyheter.

A render of Apple Kungsträdgården by Foster + Partners
While the previous city council had approved the plans, the proposed store received some pushback from local residents, as the Kungsträdgården is a popular gathering space with concerts, events, and other activities. The new city council assured those residents that the store will not be built at a press conference today.

Earlier this year, Stockholm residents were invited to share their opinions about the proposed store during a consultation period, according to The Local. Swedish blog Teknikveckan’s Peter Esse told MacRumors the city received nearly 1,800 comments about the plans, many containing negative feedback.

According to The Local, critics said the store would block the entrance to the north side of the park and change the environment from an open-air space for public use to a commercialized one. A TGI Fridays restaurant is already located on the spot, but the Apple Store was expected to be larger.

Apple had planned to host its own events and performances in the park, as part of its goal of having its stores double as “town squares.”

Apple retail chief Angela Ahrendts confirmed the company’s plans to open a store in Stockholm in February 2016, in a statement provided to Swedish newspaper Expressen. That report said Apple hoped to open the store within two years, but construction never began due to a series of roadblocks and delays.

A model of Apple Kungsträdgården
Renders of the store released by Apple and architecture firm Foster + Partners indicated that it would be situated on the north side of the park, taking over the location of a TGI Fridays restaurant. The store’s design would resemble the Apple Park Visitor Center and Apple Michigan Avenue in Chicago.

It’s unclear if Apple will accept the decision or try to push forward with its plans, as it has with its proposed store at Federation Square in Melbourne, Australia. Apple did not immediately respond to our request for comment.

Related Roundup: Apple StoresTag: Sweden
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Sygic’s ‘Car Navigation: GPS & Maps’ iOS App Introduces CarPlay Support

Sygic’s “Car Navigation: GPS & Maps” iOS app has updated to support CarPlay today. Sygic’s app has a long history on the iOS App Store as one of the first GPS navigation apps available to download on the iPhone.

With CarPlay support, Sygic Car Navigation on iOS [Direct Link] connects to a car’s infotainment system, projecting Sygic’s turn-by-turn directions onto a car’s screen. Drivers can control Sygic Car Navigation features through steering wheel buttons and touch screen controls, if they are signed up for the company’s Premium plans.

Downloading the app is free, but after a seven day free trial, users will have to pay for one of a handful of bundles to acquire a license to use the app. The Premium lifetime licenses included features like offline maps, speed limits, voice-guided navigation, fuel prices, lane guidance, route sharing, traffic information, and more. Prices for North American bundles range from $13.99 for “basic” to $74.99 for “connected.”

At WWDC in June, Apple announced that third-party navigation apps would be able to work with CarPlay this year, finally opening up CarPlay navigation to more than just Apple Maps. Following the announcement, CarPlay support rolled out for both Waze and Google Maps in September, and AutoNavi followed in China a few weeks ago. Sygic’s app is the latest addition to this list.

Tag: CarPlay
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