Libratone ZIPP and ZIPP MINI Gain AirPlay 2 Support via Firmware Update

Libratone today announced that AirPlay 2 is available for its ZIPP and ZIPP MINI speakers through a firmware update that can be downloaded from the Libratone app.

Libratone first announced support for AirPlay 2 back in May when Apple released AirPlay 2 support in the iOS 11.4 update, but it took several months for AirPlay 2 to be implemented.

The ZIPP and the ZIPP MINI join several other speakers that have been updated with AirPlay 2 support, including several Sonos models. Sonos was one of the first companies to implement AirPlay 2 functionality.

With AirPlay 2 support, Libratone speakers will be able to be used alongside other AirPlay 2 speakers for a multi-room home audio experience.

Libratone’s ZIPP speaker can be purchased from Amazon for $300, while the ZIPP MINI can be purchased from Amazon for $250.

Tag: AirPlay 2
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Google Pixel 3 XL vs. iPhone XS Max: Which Camera Reigns Supreme?

Google’s newest flagship smartphones, the Pixel 3 and Pixel 3 XL, are officially launching later this week. With their high-quality cameras, fast processors, and other improvements, the new devices are direct competitors to Apple’s newly released iPhone XS models.

We were able to get our hands on the new Pixel 3 and Pixel 3XL ahead of their debut, and in our latest YouTube video, we compared the Google Pixel 3 XL camera to Apple’s iPhone XS Max camera to see which one reigns supreme.

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Both the Pixel 3 and the Pixel 3 XL are equipped with a single-lens 12-megapixel rear camera system, while the iPhone XS Max uses a dual-lens camera system that features a 12-megapixel wide-angle lens and a 12-megapixel telephoto lens.

The two camera system allows the iPhone XS Max to do things like capture Portrait Mode images with an adjustable depth of field and a blurred background, but the Pixel 3 XL has much of the same functionality enabled through software.

Like the iPhone XS Max, the Pixel 3 XL features a Portrait Mode. With its newest devices, Apple introduced some improvements to Portrait Mode with the A12 Bionic chip, and that gave it the edge over the Pixel 3 XL in our image tests. The Pixel 3 XL won out when it came to edge detection in most cases, with less blurring in areas we didn’t want blurred, but iPhone XS Max Portrait Mode images were sharper.

Google advertises a new “Super Res” zoom in the Pixel 3 XL, but the single-lens camera system can’t compete with Apple’s telephoto lens.

With the iPhone XS Max, Apple introduced a new Smart HDR feature that takes multiple images at different exposures and combines them for one ideal shot. Google’s Pixel 3 XL has a similar HDR+ mode that does the same thing to eke out more detail in photos with a lot of variation in lighting.

In our testing, we preferred the Smart HDR on the iPhone because it was able to preserve more detail without blowing out bright areas like the sky, but the Pixel 3 XL was not far behind.

Google’s Pixel 3 XL uses a Night Sight feature that’s designed to create brighter, clearer photos than the iPhone XS Max can produce. Night Sight isn’t available at launch, but will be coming to the Pixel phones later and could give the devices a serious edge over the XS Max.

In our low light photo tests, both performed well, but the Pixel 3 XL demonstrated more noise and grain than low-light photos taken with the iPhone XS Max. In Portrait Mode, though, the Pixel 3 XL outperformed the iPhone XS Max.

While the Pixel 3 XL has a single-lens rear camera, Google has implemented a two-camera system at the front of the device with two 8-megapixel cameras for taking selfies. The iPhone XS Max, meanwhile, has a single-lens 7-megapixel front-facing camera and TrueDepth camera system that allows it to capture the same Portrait Mode photos as the rear camera system.

Because Google is using two cameras, there are front-facing features not available on the iPhone XS Max, such as a wider-angle lens that captures 184 percent more of a scene to enable group selfies.

When it comes to front-facing camera systems, the Pixel 3 XL definitely beats the iPhone XS Max. Front-facing Portrait Mode photos look great on both devices, but the group selfie mode is something Apple can’t compete with.

The camera systems in the iPhone XS Max and Google Pixel 3 XL both have their strengths and weaknesses, but when it comes down to it, both are so good that determining which one is better is a matter of preference.

Photos from the iPhone XS Max, for example, tend to be a bit more even in color than the overly cool or warm-toned photos coming from the Pixel 3 XL, which some people prefer and others don’t. iPhone XS Max images also come out a bit darker due to the Smart HDR feature that preserves detail, which is another visual difference that may influence opinion towards one camera or the other.

Bottom line, though, both the iPhone XS Max and the Pixel 3 XL produce impressive images that are better than both the previous-generation iPhone X and the Pixel 2 smartphones, and both are closer than ever to overtaking more traditional handheld cameras.

You can see all of the full resolution photos that we took with the Pixel 3 XL and the iPhone XS Max in this Imgur album that we created. Do you prefer Pixel 3 XL photos or iPhone XS Max photos? Let us know in the comments.

Related Roundup: iPhone XSTags: Google, Google PixelBuyer’s Guide: iPhone XS (Buy Now)
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Google Pixel 3 XL first impressions

Ah yes, here we are. It’s October, and that means it’s the time of year where we get to play with the newest phones from Google.

For 2018 we’ve gotten our hands on the Pixel 3 XL, the 6.3-inch flagship with all of Google’s exciting new features. Given we’ve literally only had the phone in our possession all but a couple of days so we are nowhere near ready to provide a review.

On the other hand, we have had enough time with it to get a feel for what’s going on here. What’s more, having used the Pixel family as our daily driver for much of the last two years, we can already draw a few early conclusions.

We’ll publish a full review later, but for now we would like to share the initial thoughts and first impressions.

We were provided with a 64GB Just Black model from Google.

Similar, but uniquely different

Although we’ve been there, done that with the black phones from Google, we couldn’t help but feel a little different about the Pixel 3 XL. It’s softer and more inviting than its predecessors.

There are curves everywhere and the phone is really fun to hold. It’s not a departure from the first two generations at all, and we weren’t excited about seeing “Just Black” on the box.

Taking it out, though, we immediately noticed it to be smooth and sturdy. In pictures this one looks like the same old utilitarian, and uninspired approach. In person it’s so much nicer. It’s softer to the touch but we do expect it might be easier to scratch.

Going through the initial setup is as easy as ever. Whether you’re new to Android altogether or migrating from another phone, Google makes it simple.

Looking through the box we find Google has thrown in a pair of USB Type-C headphones. These were not included with the predecessor and we appreciate that we don’t have to go wireless only. Well, there is that dongle adapter but nobody looks forward to toting one of those around.

Display

Big and beautiful. At 6.3-inches there’s not much on the market that’s going to be bigger, nor is it really necessary. We can distinctly recall 7-inch tablets feeling spacious and sprawling for reading, web browsing, and gaming. This isn’t far off, and it’s much more pocketable.

Yes, there’s a notch. And, yes, you probably feel a certain way about it, or them in general. While we were initially hardcore against the idea, and look, of them, we’ve since warmed up. Today it’s easier for us to see the top of our displays as having extra space for notifications instead of a chunk missing.

If you’re worried that you are forced to stick with the cutout around the camera, don’t be. It only takes a few moments to dive in and change the setting that removes it.

The picture is incredible on the Pixel 3 XL and we can see why DisplayMate awarded it with such distinction. Whether you’re just a casual user, 3D gamer, or VR fan, the image is great. Get up close and personal with it and you see the fine details.

Sound

We can already tell that the Pixel 3 XL is louder than the previous models. It takes all but a few songs and YouTube videos to understand things are turned up a few degrees — or is that decibels?

The dual, front-facing speakers promised to be 40% louder than their predecessors and we have already found it to be noticeable. Whereas we tend to watch most clips around 2/3 of the way up on the Pixel 2, we’ve stuck to about half thus far.

Camera

Google has done it again. We had maybe ten minutes with the camera out in the field before we understood this was something special. In an age where so many competitors are tapping dual-cameras and more, Google is sticking with one.

The auto-focus is incredibly fast and the shutter speed is instant. We’ve found that we’re getting the moments we hope for when tapping the button. What’s more, the camera grabs a handful of pics before and after you press the shutter. That, combined with AI, brings about a prompt which asks if we’d like to check for a better pic.

Click here to see a gallery of pictures taken with the Google Pixel 3 XL

We took the Pixel 3 XL to a high school cross country meet on a somewhat dreary Ohio day. Lighting was less than ideal and the subjects literally run past the camera. Nevertheless, we were impressed with how quickly pictures were taken and how clear they were — especially when compared to pictures grabbed by other attendees.

Playing with the various modes is a blast and we find ourselves using the portrait mode quite often. Given we’re not using any add-on equipment, lenses, or special apps, we were really pleased with the results. Look for more feedback on these options in the full review.

Performance

The hardware hasn’t changed much from last year’s model so we aren’t looking for a huge step forward in terms of performance. We’ve slowly begun adding our accounts and daily apps to the review unit as it’s our goal to make it the daily driver.

With much of the difference coming in the form of software, things shouldn’t too unlike what we’re getting with the Pixel 2 and Android 9 Pie. To that end, the year-old flagship runs just as good today as it did when it arrived. Thus far the Pixel 3 XL handles everything we’re throwing at it without so much as a stutter.

As much as we like to personalize our phones and customize them with apps, configurations, and effects, we relish the opportunity to start fresh. Rather than cloning our current phone and its suite of apps, we like to push the reset button.

Starting fresh on a Pixel gives us a chance to see what Google has in mind and find out how things are set up. One thing we noted from the first Pixel, and which continues to the Pixel 3 (XL) is the cohesive feeling. It’s an excellent blend of hardware and software.

One of the biggest gripes we’ve had for the last two generations, wireless charging, has been addressed. In other words, there’s one less box left unchecked when it comes to creating the perfect phone.

Our team was provided with a Pixel Stand which we’ve left at the office for the first few days. It’s really refreshing to have wireless charging and the new Google charger is actually quite cool. Cool enough, really, that we’d like to have them in other places like the kitchen counter or bedside stand.

Early Conclusion

It’s really hard for us to justify spending upwards of $1,000 for a phone, regardless of the brand. Not from Samsung, not from LG, and not from Google. Having the luxury of testing other “flagship” models from different brands that run a fraction of the cost tells us we can certainly live without the big-name stuff.

On the other hand, we have a very difficult time walking away from the Pixel line. Once you’re in, you’re in. We really like what we see in the Pixel 3 so far and expect to it will stake its claim for best of the year.

Updated Intel processor benchmarks still beat AMD Ryzen competitor, but by less

Intel Core i9- 9900K

After some major controversy surrounding Principled Technologies’ testing of the Intel i9-9900K and AMD Ryzen 2700X processors, the benchmarking firm has finally published updated results. This time around, the new testing shows things to be much worse than before for Intel, with the AMD Ryzen 2700X seeing better overall performance than Intel’s latest processor.

In the updated testing, paid for by Intel, Principled Technologies turned off the highly controversial Game Mode on the AMD Ryzen 7 2700X. This caused games to leverage the full power of the eight cores and sixteen threads on board the processor in its native Creator Mode. It adds up big time and showed major improvements for the AMD processor in most of the 19 games tested.

In tests using the ultra-benchmark-demanding game, Ashes of the Singularity, Intel’s original claim that its processors were 50 percent faster over AMD’s fell down to just a 17-percent advantage. Initial testing of the AMD Ryzen 7 2700X with Game Mode on scored it a total of 35.5 FPS over the Intel Core i9 9900K’s 55.8 FPS. The updated testing now ups the framerates on AMD Ryzen 7 2700X to 47.4 FPS with Creators Mode on. Across the board, the results are broadly the same, with Intel’s processors having a 12-17 percent FPS advantage over the AMD Ryzen 7 2700X in most games.

“We tested various generations of Intel and AMD processors as listed in our original report. Based on community feedback, we have done additional testing … We have now added results from our testing of the AMD Ryden 7 2700 X in its default mode. That mode overall yielded the best gaming performance on the 2700X,” explains Bill Catchings, co-founder of Principled Technologies.

An Intel spokesperson also issued the following statement on the updated testing, echoing on the feedback from those who originally pointed out issues in the original Principled Technologies benchmarks.

“Given the feedback from the tech community, we are pleased that Principled Technologies ran additional tests. They’ve now published these results along with even more detail on the configurations used and the rationale. The results continue to show that the 9th-Gen Intel CoreTM i9-9900K is the world’s best gaming processor. We are thankful for Principled Technologies’ time and transparency throughout this process. We always appreciate feedback from the tech community and are looking forward to comprehensive third-party reviews coming out on October 19”

Intel claims the Core i9-9900K to be the “best gaming processor yet,” and the updated benchmarks still hold that to be true — albeit with a smaller advantage. The processor is still relatively expensive when compared to the competition, and more in-depth benchmarks and comparisons are likely to surface soon once more reviews hit the streets later this month.

Editors’ Recommendations

• Intel stands by Core i9 benchmarks, testing company to seek more data
• AMD vs. Intel
• Intel i9-9900K storms ahead of competition in potential early benchmark
• The best processors for gaming
• AMD’s new gaming-ready Athlon processor starts at just $55

The best Pixel 3 screen protectors to keep your phone Pixel perfect

Julian Chokkattu/Digital Trends

So you’ve gone and bought a Pixel 3. It’s not hard to figure out why you have purchased one of Google’s phones — it’s probably because you love getting the best Android has to offer, and the Pixel 3’s super-fast Snapdragon 845 processor paired with buttery smooth Android does just that. It certainly helps that it’s not a bad looking phone either, with two-tone glass and a large 5.5-inch P-OLED display.

That display is your window into your Pixel’s world, and without it your phone would become nothing more than a fancy glass paperweight. Don’t let cracks and scratches mar the beauty of your Pixel 3’s screen — grab yourself some protection to keep it covered. Here are the best Pixel 3 screen protectors.

InvisibleShield Glass+ VisionGuard ($45)

Did you know that blue light from your phone can trick your body into thinking it’s daylight, and can make it harder to get to sleep at night? While staying away from devices before bed is a great idea, this screen protector from InvisibleShield means you don’t have to. It’s made from tempered glass, so it’ll provide great resistance to keys and scratches, and protect well against drops and similar — but the headline feature here is the protective Eyesafe layer that InvisibleShield claims will block blue light from reaching your eyes. Unlike software-based solutions, it doesn’t tint the screen a different color while doing it either, which means your experience is uninterrupted. It’s expensive but potentially helpful.

Buy it now from:

InvisibleShield

Skinomi Matteskin Anti-Glare Twin Pack ($8)

Skinomi’s film protector won’t be as protective against bumps and scratches as a glass protector, but the film does still provide good protection against day-to-day wear, dirt, and marks. It has a non-reflective matte finish which gives it anti-glare properties, making the screen easier to see in bright sunlight. It’s fully case compatible, so it won’t interfere with a Pixel 3 case, and it even comes with self-healing properties that mean smaller scratches will fix themselves over time. It won’t yellow over time like some film protectors do, and it comes with a spare, making it exceptionally good value-for-money.

Buy it now from:

Skinomi Amazon

Olixar Full Cover Glass Protector ($16)

Looking for a reliable tempered glass screen protector that’s not too expensive and won’t let you down? That’s what Olixar is promising to deliver. It’s made from 9H hardness tempered glass and comes with an anti-shatter film that means it won’t fall apart if it does break — keeping glass shards out of your fingers. It’s thin at just 0.33 mm thick, and Olixar boasts of 95 percent light penetration, making it extremely clear, too. It’s a full-coverage screen protector, which means it comes all the way to the edges of your display, ensuring complete protection. It’s not badly priced for a glass protector either.

Buy it now from:

Mobile Fun Amazon

IQ Shield LiQuid Fully Body Shield ($16)

Another great film option, this protector from IQ Shield comes with a wet installation method, which applies a layer of solution between the protector and the Pixel 3’s display. This adhesive layer ensures a tight fit with the device. It’s made from a tough film and comes with a multi-layer structure, including an anti-UV layer that prevents yellowing, and a firm protective liner. It won’t guard as well as glass against drops and other heavy impacts, but it will provide great protection against scratches and daily wear and tear. Best of all, this protector also comes with a protector for the back of the phone, especially good if you’re happy to go without a case, but still want scratch and fingerprint protection.

Buy it now from:

IQ Shield Amazon

BodyGuardz Pure 2 ($32)

BodyGuardz is becoming increasingly well known for its high-quality screen protector options, and the Pure 2 is one of its best. It’s made from aluminosilicate — a material that BodyGuardz claims is able to provide thinner but more durable protection than regular soda-lime glass found in other glass protectors, and that its protector offers up to five times more scratch protection than the competition. There is also an impact-absorbing, adhesive layer that should ensure some good drop protection. There’s an easy-align tray included for simple installation, and it comes with BodyGuardz’s lifetime replacements policy.

Buy it now from:

BodyGuardz

ArmorSuit Case-Friendly Protector ($14)

As we’ve mentioned, film is never going to be as protective as glass — but that doesn’t mean it can’t be protective. ArmorSuit claims the film used in its film protectors is also used to protect military aircraft, helicopters, and space shuttles, and provides military-grade protection and great durability. It reduces fingerprints left on your display, and also has self-healing properties that close up smaller scratches over time. It has a wet installation method, which ensures a close fit, and it’s quick and easy to apply. With protection against a wide variety of everyday hazards, ArmorSuit’s case-friendly protector is a great film option at a reasonable price.

Buy it now from:

ArmorSuit Amazon

SuperShieldz Full Coverage Protector ($11)

Another great option for glass protection, SuperShieldz is well known for supplying strong glass protectors at a great price. This protector comes in a pack of two — giving you an additional protector just in case the worst happens — and is made from 9H hardness tempered glass. SuperShieldz claims it offers a 99.99 percent HD Clarity, and excellent touch sensitivity. Thanks to it being glass, it will protect against scratches and other hazards, as well as hopefully taking the destructive impact of a fall instead of the glass in your Pixel 3’s display. It’s super cheap, especially for two, and the coverage extends all the way over the edges of your display.

Buy it now from:

SuperShieldz Amazon

Editors’ Recommendations

• The best Pixel 3 cases and covers
• Google Pixel 3 vs. Pixel 2 vs. Pixel: Picking the perfect phone for you
• The best Pixel XL cases and covers
• The best Pixel 3 XL cases to keep your notch in one piece
• The best Google Pixel 2 XL cases and covers

Regular paints and plastics will soon be able to ‘heal’ like skin

Imagine if paints, plastics, or even coatings like the ones which protect our cell phone screens were able to heal the way human skin does whenever they suffered damage. That’s what researchers at Clemson University have been working toward — and their solution is almost ready for mass-manufacturing prime time.

Although the technology sounds futuristic, self-healing polymers aren’t actually all that new. Materials scientists have been making them for the past couple of decades, although this has always been in very small batches, since production on a commercial scale has been too expensive. The approach favored by the Clemson scientists is different. What makes their work so exciting, and so potentially promising for commercialization, is that it involves giving self-healing abilities to polymers that are already in wide use in low-cost products. That in turn means it wouldn’t be necessary for manufacturers to invest in new equipment or, potentially, even entire new factories.

Their breakthrough co-polymer material possesses its awesome self-healing skill because of the way that it can fit together with other pieces of the same material, a bit like aligning two bead necklaces so that the beads from one fill any spaces available in the neighboring string.

“We sometimes refer to this as interdigitated topology,” Marek Urban, a professor in Clemson’s department of materials science and engineering, told Digital Trends. “It turns out that due to their chemical nature, these beads ‘like’ each other as a result of favorable forces called Van der Waals interactions. As individual chains are separated by mechanical damage, they come together, resulting in self-healing.”

Urban described the potential application for this research as incredibly vast. “The sky is the limit,” he said. “At present, we are in the process of designing new copolymers with different properties for different applications.” As for how quickly this could be turned into a commercial product, Urban estimated that increasing the scale to make polymers or paints in the region of hundreds of gallons could be carried out in the next six months to one year.

“In terms of commercialization, the technology is available, and if there are industrial partners interested in pursuing these efforts they are welcome to contact our Clemson University Tech Transfer offices,” he said.

A paper describing the work, titled “Key-and-lock commodity self-healing co-polymers,” was recently published in the journal Science.

Editors’ Recommendations

• 15 major milestones along the brief history of 3D printing
• Materials scientists have found a way to make graphene twice as tough
• There’s a new way to 3D print graphene, the strongest material on Earth
• Here’s how Stanford scientists measured the speed of death
• Here’s how scientists read a charred 16th-century scroll without unraveling it

Keep track of the time and your health with Samsung’s $299 Galaxy Watch

Beautiful watch. Better looking price.

The Samsung 42mm Bluetooth Galaxy Watch is down to $299 for the first time. You can find this deal price at several retailers like Walmart or even direct from Samsung. The watch normally sells for around $330. The price is available in Black and Rose Gold.

You can also upgrade to the 46mm watch, which is on sale for the first time today, too. Get it from Amazon for just $319. You can find it on sale at BuyDig and other retailers.

The Galaxy Watch is a brand new smartwatch just released in early September. Our review gave it four out of five stars and called it the “do-everything smartwatch”:

The Galaxy Watch continues to offer excellent hardware, a beautiful display and software that’s uniquely tailored to the form factor and glorious rotating bezel. Its software is more advanced than Wear OS, and can be configured to offer just as much — or as little — as you need it for.

The watch has built-in health tracking, a stylish design, and a three-day battery life with wireless charging. It even comes with a wireless charging dock. The Bluetooth connection helps it pair with both Android and iOS smartphones, and it comes with a one-year warranty.

See on Amazon

The Galaxy Watch, microSD cards, and more are discounted today

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

There’s never a shortage of deals available, but sorting through all of them can be difficult at times. We’ve handpicked all the best tech, and everyday essentials discounts that you can take advantage of right now and brought them to one central location. From the Galaxy Watch to Igloo’s picnic backpack, these are today’s best deals.

Tech Deals

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Everyday Essentials

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

With these heavy duty cases, your Google Pixel 3 is in good hands

Some people prefer to use a brand new phone without a case — but if you’re on the exact opposite end of the spectrum and know you need the most rugged protection for your Pixel 3, you’ve come to the right place. We’ve rounded up some of the best heavy duty cases available for the Pixel 3, from perennial favorites like the Otterbox to more wallet-friendly options from other trusted brands we like. We’re sure you’ll find a case that speaks to you and your needs.

X-cellent protection

Ringke Fusion X

The Ringke Fusion-X is one of the more unique-looking cases you’ll find for the Pixel 3. It offers heavy-duty protection with a clear PC backplate combined with an impact-resistant bumper around the edges to protect against drops and bumps.

$10 at Amazon

Spigen’s toughest

Spigen Tough Armor

This case offers maximum durability without adding too much bulk to the Pixel 3’s design. Designed with a shock-absorbing TPU sleeve hugged by a rugged shell, the Tough Armor will live up to its name with a built-in kickstand offering a nice little bonus.

$16 at Amazon

All-round protection

Poetic Revolution 360 Degree Protection 

The only case on this list that comes with its own screen protector, Poetic Revolution is able to claim 360-degree protection with this heavy duty case that certainly looks the part. Thick, textured edges should ensure you always have a solid grip on your phone, and there’s a built-in kickstand that works in both landscape and portrait orientations.

$17 at Amazon

Best on a budget

CoverON HexaGuard Series

CoverOn offers a great budget option for those who want to protect their Pixel 3 for under $10. This is a dual-layer case that is designed to take the abuse of your daily use (hey, that rhymes!). The back features a basketball-inspired grip pattern that looks and feel great in your hand.

$8 at Amazon

Iconic brand

OtterBox Defender Series 

One of the most trusted names in smartphone cases, OtterBox offers its premium product for the Pixel 3. This is by far the most expensive option on our list, but if you’ve ever bought an OtterBox case before and dealt with its superb customer service, you know that you’re likely to get your money’s worth.

$50 at OtterBox

These are the best cases that offer heavy-duty protection for your Pixel 3. If you’re also interested in adding a screen protector to your phone, the Poetic Revolution is worth considering, but my recommendation goes to the Spigen Tough Armor. Spigen’s products are always top quality and the Tough Armor style in particular is a reliably rugged option for any smartphone. If you don’t mind spending a lot of extra money, the OtterBox Defender Series is going to be worth the money.

Set your messages to private to avoid the latest alleged PS4 hack

Don’t let your console get bricked without warning.

PlayStation 4 users across the internet have reported being affected by an alleged hack that completely bricks their consoles. According to these reports and this Reddit thread surrounding the matter, this hack is occurring when people receive a message on their account. Sony has yet to officially comment on the matter, but there are safeguards you can take in the mean time to prevent one of these messages from reaching your console.

Set your messages to private

Go to Settings.
Select Account Management.
Select Privacy Settings.
Select Personal Info/Messaging.
Select Messages.
Choose Friends Only or, even better, No One.
Confirm your selection.

By setting your messaging preferences to Friends Only or No One, you won’t be able to receive the alleged hacked messages going around. Though some people have reported that they can delete these messages from the mobile app on iOS or Android, others have reported that this does not circumvent the problem. Your best bet it to stop it before it happens.

If you’re one of the unlucky people already affected by this issue, you may need to factory reset your console.

Factory reset through Safe Mode

Turn off your console.
Hold down the power button for several seconds until it beeps twice.
Select Initialize PS4 on the Safe Mode screen.

PlayStation 4

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

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