Samsung says the Galaxy A9 won’t be its ‘best kept secret’ for much longer

Andy Boxall/Digital Trends

The Galaxy A9 2018 may be the first A series phone from Samsung you’ve paid attention to in a while, mainly due to the daring quad-lens camera on the back. However, don’t think that this is just a coincidence, as it’s all a part of Samsung’s plan to make its mid-range phones as desirable and feature-rich as the expensive Galaxy S and Note series phones.

Digital Trends sat down with Kate Beaumont, Samsung’s director of commercial strategy, product and planning, who called the A series and J series phones the firm’s “best kept secrets,” to better understand why it’s keeping them secret no more, and what it means for Samsung’s future.

Flagship lite

Beaumont admits Samsung’s announcements usually focus on flagship phones, mainly because that’s where the interest lies, and where there’s a lot of innovation.

Andy Boxall/Digital Trends

To illustrate the point, she talked about spending a day in a Samsung retail store interacting with people coming in to buy phones. They’d go straight for the S9 Plus or Note 9; but if the price was difficult to justify, they’d go down through the range from there.

But where would they go? That’s where the Galaxy A9 2018 comes in, along with a refreshed range of other A and J series phones.

“Price has become a key part of the buying process, more so than … in the past.”

“Why should people not have a “lite” flagship experience outside of the flagship range? We want to send the message that innovation doesn’t just come in our flagship series, and we’re trying to bring some of those features down through other devices.”

It’s a shift in strategy, Beaumont told us, with the number of A and J series phones available increasing from four to seven devices this year.

“It’s time we tell people we’ve got some other great devices,” she smiled.

Price, and value

Why the new push? “Price has become a key part of the buying process, more so than what we’ve seen in the past,” Beaumont pointed out, adding that Samsung’s seeing a switch to people looking for the best value in a new device, which is logical when phones — including Samsung’s own — regularly now reach or surpass $1,000.

Andy Boxall/Digital Trends

Even if you end up buying a cheaper Samsung Galaxy phone, the company doesn’t want you to feel short-changed on features and services. Even the simpler J series phones have Samsung Pay, for example, and we’re hearing rumors about wireless charging coming to more Samsung devices, although this did not happen with the Galaxy A9 2018.

“There are certain features people look for, and a great camera is one of the main ones people want.”

In the U.K. where Galaxy A phones have a strong following, 20 percent of the market is mid-tier phones.

The A9 2018 is aimed at young people, who’re, “experience-driven,” which means people who share lots of photos on Instagram. It’s not by chance the camera has the features it does.

“The top three Instagram categories are beauty, travel, and nightlife,” Beaumont told us, and when you look at the camera features it has introduced, the A9’s setup fits these very well, from the bokeh shots, the wide-angle lens for landscapes, and the f/1.7 aperture for low-light photos.

Competition

There is another side to Samsung’s keen interest in making the A9, and its other cheaper phones, of greater interest: An increased level of competition, and the choice it gives us when wanting to buy a new phone. And it’s just the start, according to Beaumont.

Andy Boxall/Digital Trends

“The competition is only going to increase,” she said. “It’s important to provide the right device at the right price.”

In the U.K., where the Galaxy A series phones have a strong following, 20 percent of the market is mid-tier phones, and the 2018 figures have increased by 46 percent over 2017, Beaumont revealed. Phones from Honor, OnePlus, Nokia, Sony, and others instantly spring to mind. Interestingly, Samsung doesn’t, and that’s the problem it’s looking to solve with the A9 2018.

The future

This brings us back to the introduction of the quad-lens rear camera, a world-first. Normally, we’d expect to see this type of new feature on an S series. Does this give us a hint at what’s to come from the Galaxy S10?

“We have the technology now, and as [the Galaxy A9 2018] is at the top end of the mid-range segment …”

“It’s a little early to talk about what’s coming up, and I think we’ve looked at a specific consumer segment here with the A9,” Beaumont said. “If some of the capabilities manifest on our flagship device, I think they may be a little bit different. How we bring about an optimized camera experience may or may not look the same on a flagship device next year.”

Naturally, Beaumont wasn’t about to give much away, but it’s clear Samsung isn’t saving its new tech for the S series, if it’s ready to go.

“Why would we wait?” she said when asked about the camera’s general suitability for an S series phone. “We have the technology now, and as [the Galaxy A9 2018] is at the top end of the mid-range segment, the feature makes it a great entry into the flagship world.”

To sum up, greater competition and more price-conscious buyers are making Samsung look more closely at the mid-range devices it releases, to offer better value and more premium services, and it won’t hold back on bringing new tech to them either. We’d call that very good news indeed.

Editors’ Recommendations

• Samsung’s cheaper phones may join the Galaxy S9 in getting wireless charging
• How many? The Samsung Galaxy A9 has 4 camera lenses on the back
• Samsung’s going to up its (Galaxy) A game on October 11
• Samsung Galaxy S10: Here’s everything we know
• Samsung Galaxy S9 and S9 Plus: Here’s everything you need to know

3D Facebook photos jump out of the newsfeed, no glasses needed

Facebook photos are tapping into another dimension. On Thursday, October 11, Facebook launched 3D Photos, a format that uses dual-lens smartphone photos to add dimension to images in the newsfeed. The result? Images that have depth and movement when you tilt your smartphone or view inside a headset.

Like moving a smartphone to pan around a Facebook panorama, 3D images in Facebook will respond to the movements of a mobile device — creating movements in the photo that give the image a sense of depth. The format is also compatible with the Oculus Browser on Oculus Go and Firefox on Oculus Rift.

The 3D images are made using the depth information from dual-lens smartphones, so while any smartphone can view the images, you need a compatible smartphone with a portrait mode to capture and create the 3D effect. Sharing a 3D image is handled in the same way you would share a normal image, except you need to click on the 3D Photo option. You can find the 3D Photo option by clicking on the ellipsis in the corner of the new post box.

Facebook’s 3D Photo format supports images taken in portrait mode in the iPhone 7 Plus, 8 Plus, X, XS, and XS Max. Facebook says that images with the subject 3 or four 4 from other objects in the image work best. The company also suggests shooting images with objects in the foreground and background (a 3D-portrait shot standing against a brick wall probably won’t be as impressive). Facebook also suggests looking for shots with contrasting colors and textures.

The feature continues on the 3D post type Facebook previously introduced, but by expanding the format using a simple image shot on a dual lens smartphone, users are likely to see more 3D images in the newsfeed. While 3D isn’t entirely new, more users have access to a dual lens iPhone than advanced 3D software. Facebook told Digital Trends that the feature will be available to dual camera devices outside the Apple models in the future.

The ability to view 3D photos arrives today, while the ability to create them from a dual-lens smartphone is on a slow roll out over the next few weeks, Facebook says.

Updated on October 11 to include a comment from Facebook on non-Apple compatibility. 

Editors’ Recommendations

• The Facebook Red Manifold shows what 360 content from 16 8K lenses looks like
• How to take a passport photo
• How to take good photos with your phone
• Apple iPhone XS, XS Max, and XR: All the hands-on photos you could ever need
• Google is revolutionizing smartphone photos with computing, not lenses

This DIY kit teaches more than coding, it teaches you how to build a smartphone

With upward of a billion units sold, owning an iPhone is no longer a way to mark you out as a member of the phone-owning elite. Nor is having the latest Samsung flagship. You know what would garner admiring glances from fellow smartphone geeks, though? Building a functioning, limited-edition phone with your own hands.

That is exactly what makes MAKERphone special. Well, that and the fact that, while building your own DIY handset, you will get a crash course in electronics and coding. It’s the brainchild of 20-year-old Albert Gajšak, a young engineering-minded entrepreneur who previously created Makerbuino, a build-your-own 8-bit handheld games console. With his previous project raising 10 times its funding goal on Kickstarter, Gajšak has settled on phones as the next product people would likely enjoy piecing together.

“The idea for a DIY mobile phone was actually born before MAKERbuino’s campaign; we just weren’t skilled enough to make it happen,” he told Digital Trends. “We opted for a phone as a MAKERbuino successor since we wanted to bring electronics to people using a general concept that everyone understands. And there is nothing as general and common as a mobile phone, since everybody has one.”

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The Arduino-based Makerphone comes as a kit, with everything you need to assemble it. There is a circuit board, dual-core processor, GSM module, 128 x 160 pixel LCD screen, sound module, and antenna. In terms of what you can do with it, it won’t compare with the latest top-of-the-range flagship smartphone, but it can make calls, send text messages, and give you the ability to code your own games in. Oh, and it has a custom media player app that only plays cat videos.

“Based on our experience, an 11-year-old kid should be able to assemble their own Makerphone with a tiny bit of help from an adult,” Gajšak said. “Despite it being a much more complex compared to Makerbuino, Makerphone is actually more intuitive and easy to assemble. No specific expertise is needed, just enthusiasm and interest in technology.”

As ever, we offer our usual warnings about the potential risks associated with crowdfunding campaigns. (Although, if it’s anything to go on, Makerbuino shipped as promised.) If you would still like to get involved, however, head over to the project’s Kickstarter campaign, where prices for a Makerphone start at $89. Shipping is planned to take place in March 2019.

Editors’ Recommendations

• Photo FOMO: Apple teaches photo editing, Sony’s submersible and bendable SD
• Ted Baker’s posh new iPhone cases teach you how to accessorize like a pro
• Teaching machines to see illusions may help computer vision get smarter
• Ford wants to avoid chaos by teaching all self-driving cars a common language
• Awesome Tech You Can’t Buy Yet: Screen-blocking specs, cybershoes, and more

This app solves all your problems with the Pixel 3 XL’s notch

Julian Chokkattu/Digital Trends

There are a lot of good things to say about Google’s new Pixel 3 XL smartphone, but there’s also a lot of blow back due to the size of the notch at the top of the phone. For those that don’t know what a notch is, it’s the top part of the display that houses the front-facing camera and other sensors. In a push to create edge-to-edge screens with minimal bezels, notches are one way of maximizing screen real estate, and it’s a method Apple has pursued with its iPhone X and XS range.

How do you feel about the notch on @Google's #Pixel3XL?

See how we feel–> https://t.co/jpyf5V2PlR

— Digital Trends (@DigitalTrends) October 10, 2018

Notches are divisive. Some believe it’s a design flaw that disrupts the user experience, while others don’t mind it or don’t care. We’re not fans, but we’ve grown accustomed to seeing them on our phones and don’t mind them much. However, the notch on the Pixel 3 XL is one of the ugliest we’ve seen to date. It cuts deep into the display, making it distracting, and there’s a lot of unused space taken up by the status bar. Thankfully, there are a few ways to get around the notch on the Pixel 3 XL, while still enjoying a fluid Android experience from Google. We’ve rounded them up.

Option 1: Get the smaller Google Pixel 3

Julian Chokkattu/Digital Trends

While you might prefer the larger size of the Pixel 3 XL, if you’re not married to a big-phone experience, the Google Pixel 3 is just as good in almost every way. You get the same camera tech, same internal hardware, and same software experience. The only differences between the two are the lack of a notch on the Pixel 3, the slightly smaller screen (5.5 inches as opposed to the XL’s 6.3-inch screen), and a smaller battery (though with the smaller screen, battery life will likely end up being the same).

Sure, there are thicker bezels on the top and bottom that don’t make it look as contemporary as other phones, but this is your best bet if you hate the notch but want a phone with the Google experience. The Pixel 3 is also $100 cheaper than the Pixel 3 XL, so you’ll save some cash along the way.

Option 2: Hide the notch

Julian Chokkattu/Digital Trends

Can’t do without the big screen? There is a way to hide the notch, but we don’t recommend this method. It’s built into the phone’s developer settings, but there’s a chance Google may make it an option in the standard Settings menu. Follow these instructions to hide the notch:

Open the Settings app.
Scroll down and tap on System.
Tap About Phone.
Scroll down and tap Build number seven times until you get a message saying that “you are now a developer.”
Head back to the main Settings page and type “notch” in the search bar. Tap on the result called Display cutout. (Or go to Settings > System > Developer options > and scroll down until you see Display cutout.)
Tap on the link to go to the Developer options. Select Hide.

For people who prefer a more traditional smartphone look, we’ve added an option to hide the display cutout (the notch).

— Made by Google (@madebygoogle) October 9, 2018

Your Pixel 3 XL should now feature a black bar at the top, hiding the notch and replacing it with what looks like a somewhat large bezel. The big disadvantage here is that you lose more display real-estate, since the status bar has moved lower. However, it does a convincing job of making it look like the phone has no notch.

Option 3: Use a third-party app like Nacho Notch

Nacho Notch, a third-party app on the Google Play Store, was specifically built to make notches a little more bearable for those that can’t stand them. It hides the notch, but it also makes sure the display real-estate around the notch doesn’t go to waste. Unlike the built-in Android method, Nacho Notch leaves the status bar on the sides of the notch. That means your notification icons and system tray information stay around the notch at the top, but you still get black bars that mask the look. It’s an elegant solution.

Nacho Notch allows you to quickly toggle the feature on and off because it’s a quick settings tile in the notification drawer. You can even set the app to round the corners on the display, making it look a lot more natural on a device like the Google Pixel 3 XL. There is one downside here — the feature doesn’t work on the lock screen, so you won’t be able to hide the notch there.

Nacho Notch is a free app available in the Google Play Store.

Option 4: Buy a Google Pixel 2 or Pixel 2 XL

Julian Chokkattu/Digital Trends

If you were impressed by the features Google showed off on stage, but don’t necessarily feel like dropping $900 to buy the latest flagship phone, then perhaps it’s worth going for a Pixel 2 or Pixel 2 XL instead. The phones are still up on the Google Store with some small discounts, or you may be able to purchase them from other retailers for even lower prices. The Pixel 2 is set to get many of the stand-out features announced alongside the Pixel 3, such as “Call Screening,” which uses Google Assistant to verify calls from numbers you don’t know; Google Duplex, which will let you make restaurant reservations with Google Assistant; and Night Sight, which uses artificial intelligence to dramatically improve low-light photos.

Editors’ Recommendations

• What to expect from Google’s October 9 event in New York City
• Here’s everything Google announced at its October 9 event
• Google Pixel 3 and Pixel 3 XL: Everything you need to know
• Google Assistant: Everything you need to know
• Pixel 3 XL vs. Pixel 2 XL vs. Pixel XL: Which XL is best for you?

Robot vacuums, car media receivers, 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 robotic vacuums to hatchets, these are today’s best deals.

Tech Deals

View the rest of the deals

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!

The Google Home Hub is running a different OS from other Smart Displays

Google’s also using a completely different processor — but why?

At Google’s big hardware event this Tuesday, the company announced a slew of new products — one of which was the Google Home Hub. The Home Hub is the latest Smart Display to hit the market and is essentially Google’s version of products like the Lenovo Smart Display and JBL Link View.

However, while Lenovo and JBL’s gadgets run something called Android Things (an Internet of Things platform built by Google itself), the Home Hub is powered by something completely different.

In an interview with Ars Technica, Google’s Vice Presiden of Product Management, Diya Jolly, explained that the Home Hub is actually based on a modified version of Google Cast — the same platform that powers the Chromecast. Commenting on this, Jolly said:

There’s no particular reason. We just felt we could bring the experience to bear with Cast, and the experiences are the same. We would have easily given the third-parties Cast if they wanted it, but I think most developers are comfortable using Android Things.

In addition to the discrepancy with the operating system, the Home Hub also uses a custom Amlogic processor instead of the Qualcomm Snapdragon 624 that was built specifically to power Android Things devices. Although it’s unclear why exactly this was done, one possibility is that it was a cost-cutting move to help get the Home Hub at its $150 price tag.

While that may sound like substantial differences between the Home Hub and other Smart Displays, there’s honestly nothing user-facing that we’ve seen so far that really makes the Home Hub a seriously better or worse product. All of the new software goodies shown off at the Google event are coming to other Smart Displays, but even so, it’s still interesting to think that Google built a turn-key platform for OEMs to make these sort of gadgets and then decided to not use it itself.

If you’ve got any takes on this, feel free to sound off in the comments below.

Google Home Hub hands-on: The perfect compact bedside gadget

Keep your Google Pixel 3 XL svelte with a thin case

The Google Pixel 3 XL is tall, dark, and handsome, so why would you make yours gain weight wearing a thick, bloated case? The Pixel 3 XL’s glass back needs protecting, to be sure, but we can protect it without locking it in Fort Knox with cases like the Cimo Slim Grip that give your new phone some extra grip and guard against scuffs and scratches.

Like nothing’s there

Cimo Slim Grip

$8 at Amazon

Cimo’s Slim Grip is one of the thinner clear cases on the market. Its translucence lets the Pixel branding and two-tone glass shine through one of three cool colors — blue, purple, and clear — while the TPU offers extra grip so you can keep your Pixel 3 XL safely in hand.

Crystal Clear

Spigen Liquid Crystal

$12 at Amazon

Eschewing hard polycarbonate backs that have a tendency to produce oily rainbows on many a clear case, the Liquid Crystal’s flexible TPU is easy to apply and easier to grip. This case offers light protection that is as thin as it is beautiful on the Google Pixel 3 XL.

Affordable crystal

MoKo Clear Case

$8 at Amazon

MoKo’s clear cases display the Google Pixel 3 XL’s beauty to the world with a hard polycarbonate back while a more flexible TPU bumper lets you get the case on and off the phone with ease. Moko’s case is a little tougher to get on and off than a pure TPU case, but its hard back offers stability and a good surface for phone grips or card sleeves.

Air cushion corners

TGOOD Slim Grip

$8 at Amazon

Want a thin case but want still want more protection for your Pixel 3 XL and those dreaded corner-drop shatters? TGOOD has your answer with their Slip Grip case, which stays thin and clear and beautiful on the back and sides of the phone where you’ll grip it most often while sporting some serious air cushions on the four corners of the case.

Like totally perfect

Totallee Case

$29 at Totallee

It doesn’t get much thinner than Totallee’s 0.02-inch ultra-thin case. This premium case comes with a premium price and three styles — Frosted Clear, Solid Black, and a softer Glossy Clear — but it won’t be shipping until later this month.

Lightweight protection

Spigen Thin Fit

$12 at Amazon

Spigen’s Thin Fit wraps around the sides and back of the phone for an open, minimal look. You get corner protection and just enough lip around the camera and screen to help avoid scratches and scuffs.

The Totallee case is as thin as cases get, but it’s also more than double the price of any other case on this list. For a thin case that won’t thin your wallet, I recommend grabbing either the Cimo Slim Grip or the Spigen Thin Fit. It’s also worth reminding you that while lightweight cases will offer your phone some scuff and scratch protection, don’t expect this slim cases to protect your phone from a 2-story fall like a heavy-duty case.

Add two USB ports to any wall with the $12 Legrand electrical outlet

Get plugged in.

The Legrand Pass & Seymour electrical outlet with two AC plugs and two USB-A ports is down to $11.94 on Amazon. That compares to a regular street price of $22, and this device was selling as high as $26 recently. This drop is the best we’ve seen.

If USB-A is fine, but you could get a lot more use out of a USB-C port, this Topgreener outlet might be the way to go for you. It’s also on sale right now. Elevate the ports to a sitting position with Legrand’s desktop charging station, which is on sale for $24.

Once installed you’ll be able to have two appliances plugged in and charge two mobile devices with the extra USB ports. Each port provides up to 1.55A. You can say goodbye to wall adapters with this since you can just get powered up directly. The outlets have a shutter system that helps prevent unwanted objects from getting plugged in, providing some safety especially with children. The few users who have reviewed this give it positive ratings.

These Anker charging cables are on sale today and would work well with your new outlets.

See on Amazon

MrMobile’s Razer Phone 2 Hands-On: Glowing with potential

A blocky build chock full of right angles; a slick and smooth 120hz display; a big battery between even bigger speakers. Yep, the Razer Phone 2 sure is familiar! But in building a sequel to its gaming-focused flagship from last year, Razer has taken the opportunity to fix nearly every single flaw I called out in my review of that older model. From water and dust resistance to a glowing Chroma logo to a brighter display to a wholly reworked camera, the Razer Phone 2 seems poised to finally deliver on last year’s lofty promises – as long as you’re willing to shell out the asking price of $799.

Check out the MrMobile hands-on in the video above, and be sure you’re subscribed to the channel so you don’t miss the full Razer Phone 2 review coming soon! Then be sure to check out the Razer Phone 2 hands-on posts from Android Central and Windows Central for their platform-focused takes on this monster.

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Should you get the Netgear Arlo Pro or the Arlo Pro 2?

We’re a virtual company made up of tech experts from across the globe. We know that when you’re looking for a security system kit, you want all the features that’ll keep your home safe.

Arlo Pro

Wire-free; hassle-free

$301 at Amazon

Pros

• 100 percent wireless.
• Weather-resistant.
• 2-way audio support.
• Night vision.
• 130-degree field of view.

Cons

• 720p resolution .
• No defined activity zone.
• No 24/7 recording.

The Arlo Pro kit makes for a great entry-level security system that features an easy 100 percent wireless installation. Extras like 2-way audio and audio detection are a plus, but the lack of 1080p video and custom defined zones are a bit of a downer.

Arlo Pro 2

Pro redefined

$420 at Amazon

Pros

• 100 percent wireless.
• Weather-resistant.
• 1080p video.
• 24/7 recording with a local storage option.
• 130-degree field of view.

Cons

• Expensive.
• Battery life can be spotty.

The Arlo Pro 2 builds on the success of the original Arlo Pro and adds much-requested features like 1080p recording and full-time surveillance (with optional local storage). However, features like this drive the price up and it’s quite expensive.

The Arlo Pro and Arlo Pro 2 systems are nearly identical. That’s great because they have a list of features that make them stand out among other DIY security system options. One major difference is the price. Arlo Pro 2 clocks in about $120 more expensive than the original for a 2-piece kit. Have a look and see if the extras are worth the price bump.

Impressive specs

DIY home security has seen a boom in recent years. Smart homes and new tech offer ways to fit cameras into our lives like never before, and well-established companies like Netgear are now offering comprehensive solutions that can rival multi-thousand dollar professional installation.

The Arlo Pro name comes highly recommended by just about everyone, and the release of the latest generation — the aptly named Arlo Pro 2 — brings about a few more features that make Arlo a name you need to look at before you buy any security system. The list of features speaks for itself.

The major differences between the Arlo Pro and the Arlo Pro 2 system are highlighted in this impressive list of features. 1080p vs. 720p video, the lack of a 24/7 “surveillance” option, and no ability to create custom zones to monitor activity are features the original Arlo Pro system lacks.

These features bring about a healthy increase in price, though. For a comparable system consisting of two cameras, a base station with alarm, two batteries, and a charger, the Arlo Pro 2 costs $120 more. To put that into perspective, it’s more than the cost of an Arlo Smart Home Security Light to add into your system. $120 is real money. Arlo’s cloud storage — seven days of recordings for free with multiple inexpensive upgrade options — is the same price for either system.

The system that’s best for you depends on more than the price. The Arlo Pro 2’s 24/7 recording feature — the base station has a USB connection for a storage device — is a must for some of us, as is the 1080p recording. The best feature, though, is the user-definable capture zones. Through the Arlo app, you can tell the camera where to look for motion before it begins recording. When you’re using the camera totally wire-free and running off of the battery, this can mean a much longer battery life.

Unless $120 is just too much of a difference to swallow, we recommend the Arlo Pro 2 as the better purchase.

Arlo Pro

Wire-free; hassle-free

$301 at Amazon

DIY ease with Pro features

The Arlo Pro kit makes for a great entry-level security system that features an easy, completely wireless installation. Extras like 2-way audio and audio detection are a plus, but the lack of 1080p video and custom defined zones are a bit of a downer.

Arlo Pro 2

Pro redefined

The Best DIY camera system

$420 at Amazon

The Arlo Pro 2 builds on the success of the original Arlo Pro and adds much-requested features like 1080p recording and full-time surveillance (with optional local storage). However, features like this drive the price up and it’s quite expensive.