Type away on your Galaxy Tab S4 with this $90 Book Cover Keyboard

Type away.

The Samsung Galaxy Tab S4 book cover keyboard has dropped down to $89.99 on Amazon. This keyboard cover normally sells for around $110 and was going for as much as $150 in early September. The drop to $90 is the lowest we have seen.

The Galaxy Tab S4 is, surprisingly, not included in that $90 price. However, you can get one to go with your new keyboard cover for just $748 on Amazon. The keyboard helps cover your screen when it’s not in use and increases your productivity by making typing more convenient. It has user-friendly key placement and a place to store your tablet’s stylus. The intuitive Pogo pin connectors make it easy to setup, too.

See on Amazon

Can you use a Samsung wireless charger with the Google Pixel 3?

Best answer: Yes. The Pixel 3 and Pixel 3 XL support the same Qi charging stand used in all of Samsung’s wireless chargers.

Amazon: Samsung Fast Charge Wireless Charging Convertible Stand ($58)

How does the Pixel 3 support Samsung wireless chargers?

While previous Pixel devices featured aluminum housings, the Pixel 3 and 3 XL have glass backs that are much more conducive to wireless charging. Like most other phones, the new Pixels use the Qi wireless charging standard, which is the same standard supported by Samsung’s charging stands.

Though tediously named, Samsung’s Fast Charge Wireless Charging Convertible Stand is a fantastic wireless charger with an adjustable surface that allows you to lay your phone flat or prop it up so that you can still see notifications with your Pixel 3 charging on a desk. Of course, that adjustable surface is also padded and soft to avoid scratching up your phone, and works well through even most thick cases.

Why not just buy Google’s Pixel Stand instead?

The Pixel Stand is great — it’s made specifically for the new Pixels, and has a few unique features like a specialized dock mode — but it’s also $79. While that’s not too much more than our top recommendation, the Pixel Stand doesn’t match the flexibility of the Fast Charge Wireless Charging Convertible Stand.

If you don’t care about changing the orientation of your phone while it’s charging, Samsung has other wireless chargers, including a standing charger for $35 and a flat charging pad for $50 — both of which are capable of 9W fast wireless charging. There’s also the Wireless Charger Duo, which can charge two devices at once, for $120.

Will a Samsung charger work as quickly as the Pixel Stand?

Not quite, but it’s very close. Google’s Pixel Stand outputs up to 10W to the Pixel 3 and Pixel 3 XL through its included 18W USB-PD power adapter. Most of Samsung’s wireless chargers, on the other hand, output at a maximum of 9W. That difference is fairly negligible, but it’s there nonetheless.

Our pick

Samsung Fast Charge Wireless Charging Convertible Stand

$58 at Amazon

The sit-stand desk of chargers.

Samsung’s convertible wireless charger allows you to top up your Pixel 3 from either a flat or raised position, and outputs up to 9W for a quick charge. It’s not quite as fast a wired connection, but it’s nearly as good.

Apple Says iOS 12 is Now Installed on 53% of Active Devices From Last Four Years

Apple’s iOS 12 operating system, released on September 17, is now installed on 53 percent of active devices introduced in the last four years.

Apple shared the installation statistics on its App Store support page for developers, which was updated today.

iOS installation rates are being broken down in a new way. The 53 percent statistic applies only to devices released in the last four years. Amid all devices, 50 percent are running iOS 12.

Of devices released in the last four years, 40 percent are running iOS 11 and 7 percent are running an earlier version of iOS. Among all devices, 39 percent continue to run iOS 11 while 11 percent use an earlier version of the operating system.

Apple’s data is in line with iOS 12 adoption rates that we’ve been monitoring from analytics site Mixpanel. A week ago, Mixpanel suggested right around 46 percent of devices were running iOS 12.

iOS 12 adoption has outpaced iOS 11 adoption rates at the same time last year. In early October of 2017, iOS 11 was only installed on approximately 38.5 percent of devices. It took until early November for iOS 11 adoption to hit 50 percent, based on Apple’s official numbers.

iOS 12 adoption rates are in line with iOS 10 adoption rates in 2016. On October 11, 2016, iOS 10 was installed on 54 percent of active devices.

It is not a surprise that customers are choosing to install iOS 12 at a more rapid pace given the speed improvements introduced with the update. On older devices, performance enhancements can make iPhones and iPads feel much faster.

On the iPhone 6 Plus, for example, apps launch up to 40 percent faster, while the keyboard can appear up to 50 percent faster. Opening the camera on the Lock screen to take a photo can be done 70 percent faster.

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Apple has made animations smoother and more responsive across the operating system, so accessing Control Center, scrolling in apps, or swiping up when multitasking feels more fluid.

iOS 12 also includes optimizations for when the operating system is under load. Apps launch up to twice as fast under a heavy load, as does the Share Sheet.

iOS 12 adoption is likely to see a decent bump with the launch of iOS 12.1, an update that is being beta tested. iOS 12.1 introduces eSIM functionality on the iPhone XS and XS Max, brings Group FaceTime, a feature that was removed before iOS 12 launched, and includes new emoji.

Related Roundup: iOS 12
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Review: The HyperJuice Adapter Lets You Charge Your AirPods Wirelessly, But It’ll Cost You

With Apple’s AirPower still missing in action, accessory makers have started coming up with alternate solutions to allow the AirPods to charge using a Qi-based wireless charger.

Hyper’s HyperJuice Wireless Charger Adapter is one such solution, adding wireless charging support to the AirPods for $50. The HyperJuice Adapter, which is made from a white plastic to match the AirPods, snaps on to the AirPods Charging Case.

One side of the HyperJuice Adapter is shorter than the other, and this side is meant to be positioned at the back of the case to leave the Bluetooth button on the back of the AirPods accessible. The front side of the adapter is longer and comes up close to the lid of the AirPods.

I guess one side of the HyperJuice had to be longer to house the wireless charging coil, but with the long side of the HyperJuice Adapter positioned right at the lid of the case, it’s a little bit harder to open the lid one handed with a thumb.

Having the longer side at the front also made the whole setup feel backwards to me, especially because the front of the HyperJuice features the HyperJuice logo and FCC regulatory information.

Inside of the adapter, there’s a Lightning connector that plugs into the Lightning port of the AirPods Charging Case, which is how the wireless charging works. On the bottom of the adapter, there’s a small green LED that lets you know when the HyperJuice Adapter is successfully charging with a wireless adapter.

Size wise, the HyperJuice Adapter adds some bulk to the AirPods. The case isn’t quite as pocketable as it is while naked, and while it wasn’t an unreasonable amount of bulk, part of the appeal of the AirPods is the small, sleek case. The HyperJuice Adapter is meant to stay on the Charging Case all the time, so the extra plastic is something to be aware of.

Because I only charge my AirPods once a week I didn’t feel like the bulk the HyperJuice Adapter adds was worth the convenience or the cost, but someone who uses the AirPods more frequently and charges more often may not mind the tradeoff.

You could use the adapter only when charging, but having to attach a case to charge feels like it would defeat the purpose of the wire-free solution.

Charging the AirPods with a wireless charger was relatively quick, but not quite as fast as charging with a Lightning cable. I drained the battery of the AirPods and the case and then charged for an hour on a 7.5W Belkin charger, certified to work with Apple’s iPhones.

In an hour’s time, both AirPods had charged to 100 percent, while the case had charged to 72 percent. It normally takes just about an hour for the AirPods and the Charging Case to charge completely over Lightning, so the wireless solution is a bit slower.

Hyper’s website says it’s supposed to take about an hour and a half to charge the AirPods to full with the adapter, which is in line with my charging results.

It’s worth noting that Hyper’s website says the case is meant to work with any 5W Qi-based wireless charger, but it does also work with the 7.5W versions. My AirPods and Charging Case did feel warm with the wireless charging
(both 5W and 7.5W) and I’m not sure if that has the potential to cause problems over time. With wired charging, my AirPods stay relatively cool.

Bottom Line

If you’re transitioning to an all wireless setup and are tired of waiting for Apple’s own AirPower charging mat, the HyperJuice Wireless Charger Adapter for the AirPods will let you charge sans Lightning cable.

Charging without a cable doesn’t come cheap, though, because Hyper is charging $50 for the accessory. That’s a lot pricier than a Lightning cable, but it’s less expensive than the AirPower will be when it launches.

The current AirPods Charging Case won’t even be compatible with the AirPower, so for customers who don’t want to upgrade to a new model, a solution like the HyperJuice Adapter is the only way to get access to wireless charging.

The HyperJuice Adapter is not without its flaws, but it works as described and provides a wire-free charging solution for existing AirPods cases.

Whether the $50 price tag is worth it for wireless charging instead of charging with a Lightning cable will depend on your personal setup and willingness to pay for the convenience of a wire-free charging experience.

How to Buy

The HyperJuice Wireless Charger Adapter for the AirPods can be purchased from the Hyper website for $49.99.

Note: Hyper provided MacRumors with a Wireless AirPods Charger for the purpose of this review. No other compensation was received.
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Facebook Launches 3D Photos Feature That Uses Portrait Mode Images From iPhone

Facebook today announced the launch of a new 3D photos feature that uses the Portrait Mode feature of the iPhone and other smartphones with dual lens cameras.

Facebook manipulates the Portrait Mode photo to display the scene in 3D, using the depth information between the subject in the foreground and the background.

Whether it’s a shot of your pet, your friends, or a beautiful spot from your latest vacation, you just take a photo in Portrait mode using your compatible dual-lens smartphone, then share as a 3D photo on Facebook where you can scroll, pan and tilt to see the photo in realistic 3D–like you’re looking through a window.

According to Facebook, 3D photos can be uploaded by starting a new post, tapping on the three dots for more options, and choosing the 3D photo option.

Facebook has several tips for creating ideal 3D photos using Portrait Mode, including choosing scenes with a clear difference in depth between the subject and the background, taking advantage of high contrast, and capturing images with some texture.

All Facebook users can view 3D photos in the News Feed and via VR starting today, with the ability to create and share 3D photos rolling out to all users over the coming weeks.

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Incredible images reveal the eye of a weevil and other microscopic wonders

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First: “Eye of a Metapocyrtus subquadrulifer beetle” Yousef Al Habshi / Nikon Small World

Second: “Fern sorus (structures producing and containing spores)” Rogelia Moreno / Nikon Small World

Third: “Spittlebug nymph in its bubble house” Saulius Gugis / Nikon Small World

Fourth: “Peacock feather section” Can Tuncer / Nikon Small World

Fifth: “Parasteatoda tepidariorum (spider embryo) stained for embryo surface (pink), nuclei (blue) and microtubules (green)” Dr. Tessa Montague / Nikon Small World

Sixth: “Primate foveola (central region of the retina)” Hanen Khabou / Nikon Small World

Seventh: “Human tear drop” Norm Barker / Nikon Small World

Eight: “Portrait of Sternochetus mangiferae (mango seed weevil)” Pia Scanlon / Nikon Small World

Ninth: “Security hologram” Dr. Harris Antonopoulos / Nikon Small World

Tenth: “Stalks with pollen grains” Dr. Csaba Pinter / Nikon Small World

Photographer Yousef Al Habshi says his work capturing small insects often feels more like photographing the beauty of jewelry than a scientific process. That approach has earned Al Habshi first place in the Nikon Small World Photomicrography Competition, as announced on October 11. The contest recognized three winning images and an additional 92 entries in an annual contest mixing science and art.

Al Habshi’s winning image captures the eyes and surrounding scales of an Asian Red Palm weevil. The image was created using a stack of over 128 micrographs and reflected light. The image captures both the insect’s eye and iridescent green scales. Al Habshi works with Claude Desplan, a professor of biology and neural science at New York University Abu Dhabi, using the images to help expand the understanding of the weevil and controlling infestation.

“Because of the variety of coloring and the lines that display in the eyes of insects, I feel like I’m photographing a collection of jewelry,” Al Habshi said. “Not all people appreciate small species, particularly insects. Through photomicrography we can find a whole new, beautiful world which hasn’t been seen before. It’s like discovering what lies under the ocean’s surface.”

The 44th annual contest also awarded second place to Rogelio Moreno for an image of a Fern sorus. The image is a 10x magnification of a spore-producing structure that was captured by lighting the sorus with ultraviolet light and using image stacking for a sharp capture.

Another bug shot took third place, the work of Saulius Gugis. The image shows a spittlebug making a bubble house, which the insects use to hide in. The image was shot with a 5x magnification.

“The Nikon Small World competition is now in its 44th year, and every year we continue to be astounded by the winning images,” said Nikon Instruments communications manager Eric Flem. “Imaging and microscope technologies continue to develop and evolve to allow artists and scientists to capture scientific moments with remarkable clarity. Our first place this year illustrated that fact beautifully.”

The contest also recently awarded winners in a related microscopic video competition.

In total, Nikon Small World recognized 95 images out of 2,500 entries. Images entered in the contest came from 89 different countries.

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Here’s everything you need to know about Intel’s 9th-gen chips

After many rumors, leaks, and anticipation, Intel finally took the wraps off the first group of its 9th-gen processors this week.

The Intel Core i9-9900K processor is the star of the show for gamers, alongside some powerful, workstation-class options as well. Even so, Intel’s most recent generation of processors has only just begun. Here’s everything we know so far.

Price and release date

Intel wasn’t specific on how much these 9th generation processors will cost you at the store and instead recommended pricing for retailers who are planning on selling the chips. This means that you can find the processors for more or less than at certain locations, depending on where you are buying. Currently, you can buy the Intel Core i9-9900K at BestBuy for $530. The Core i7-9700K, on the other hand, comes in at $410, and the Core i5-9600K at $290.

As for the workstation-class Xeon Processors, Intel noted that it would start shipping in December. The Core X-Series, on the other hand, did pick up some suggested pricing starting at $590 and also goes all the way up to $1,980. The difference in pricing boils down to base clock speed, the amount of core and threads, and the Smart Cache amount.

More on the desktop chips

Intel’s first 9th-gen Core desktop chips are built for gamers and desktop enthusiasts and the firm is dubbing it as “the best gaming processor in the world.”  The Core i9-9900K is Intel’s first processor with a 5GHz Turbo Boost maximum, 8 cores, and 16 threads. It also features STIM technology, which helps dissipate heat and allow for more thermal headroom when gaming.

The cheaper Core i7-9700K and Core i5-9600K still present good options, coming with 8 cores and 8 threads, and 6 cores and 6 threads, respectively. Those come with a slightly lower base clock speeds of 3.6 GHz, and 3.7 GHz, turbo boost of 4.9 and 4.6 GHz, and Cache of 12 MB and 9 MB.

The specifications of  the Core i9-9900K add up to results, with Intel claiming that gamers can expect up to 10-11 percent more performance and frames per second in popular PC games compared to the last generation. They also claimed that video editing in Adobe Premiere can go up 34 percent faster than the previous generation, though there was some recent controversy in testing up against the latest from AMD.

The processor is compatible with the new Intel X390 chipset, and all Intel Series 300 chipsets. The new Intel X390 chipset includes high-speed integrated USB 3.1 Gen 2 and integrated Intel Wireless-AC with support for Gigabit Wi-Fi speed. Also, keep in mind that Spectre protection is built-in for the K-Series chips, but not the X-Series.

Mobile 9th-gen isn’t here (and won’t be for awhile)

Intel hasn’t announced the mobile and laptop versions for convertibles or 2-in-1’s. The company recently launched a new line of 8th-gen mobile chips at IFA 2018 in August. There were two generations of mobile processors, the first came in August of 2017, and the most recent U series and Y series in August of 2018. That is an inherently confusing and vague timeline, so it’s hard to point out an exact release date for the mobile 9th-generation chips. Desktop makers are only now introducing these 9th gen desktop chips, so more leaks and rumors might surface around IFA 2019 in February, and maybe even Computex 2019 in July.

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Google Assistant will now show you a visual ‘snapshot’ of your day

When Google launched the Google Pixel 3 and Pixel 3 XL on October 9, it announced a number of new features coming to Assistant — but only on Pixel phones. Now, however, it’s revealing a few new features coming to Google Assistant as a whole, meaning all Assistant-enabled phones will get them.

Perhaps the most interesting new feature is the ability to see a “snapshot” of your day, similar to how Google Now operated back in the day. Now, when you activate Google Assistant, you can swipe up on the display to see things like event recommendations, show recent notes and lists, reminders, and so on.

Next up is the ability to use Google Assistant straight from your lock screen. Because of the fact that Google learns its user’s voice, your voice can be used as a way to authenticate your identity. That means that you can use Google Assistant even while your phone is locked, as long as you opt in to the feature in your Google Assistant settings. Then, you will be able to ask Google Assistant to do anything it could do when the phone was unlocked, including asking it to show you unread emails or what’s next on your calendar.

In general, Google Assistant is getting much better, and quickly. That’s not good news for the likes of Amazon’s Alexa, which has generally been hailed as one of the better digital assistants out there, but it’s even worse news for Apple’s Siri, which has seriously been lagging behind the competition over the past few years.

Google has also started supercharging Assistant with its new Google Duplex technology, which sounds ultra-realistic and will be able to do things like taking phone calls, booking tables in restaurants, and more. To start, Duplex will only be available on Google Pixel devices, though it’s likely the technology will roll out to other Assistant-enabled phones eventually. Recently, Google also announced a new version of the Google Home app, which gives users more visual control over their smart home devices, plus it’s integrating its Nest smart home products a little more with devices like the new Google Home Hub smart display.

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Don’t install the Windows 10 cumulative update if you have an HP computer

The most recent cumulative update for the Windows 10 October 2018 Update is causing the blue screen of death on some HP devices, according to Windows Latest. Only a small subset of consumers appear to be impacted, and the issue appears to be primarily linked to a conflict related to HP drivers.

Concerns over the most recent KB4462919 cumulative update were documented on the Microsoft answers forum. “After installing KB4464330 (build 17763.55) my HP EliteDesk 800 G3 the machine refuses to boot, ending with BSOD WPF_VIOLATION,” explained post author Mikael Sillman.

The post suggests that the issue is only due to compatibility issues with HP keyboard driver. Concerned consumers in the Microsoft forum reported seeing the issue with HP Elitedesk G3 and the HP 600 G2. A separate discussion on Reddit also confirms the issue happens on HP Prodesk 400 G3 machines, though most there weren’t using HP keyboards.

Microsoft has yet to officially issue a comment on these forums, but the author of the post in the forum cites a chat with Microsoft support which attempts to explain the situation. Again, this isn’t an official response, so take it lightly.

“Actually HP computers are not the only product affected for this issue other computers as well like Dell, etc. That’s why for now, we’ve temporarily paused the update for people who seek to check for updates, to investigate an isolated reported issue and will make it available for download again once ready. That’s correct and other issue has been reported as well but our higher level of support already working on it.”

It probably will be best to temporarily pause Windows Update in order to avoid getting the bad KB4462919 update for now. However, if it already installed, your options aren’t limited and you can still fix your PC. Some in these forums have reported that going back to an earlier restore point, going to the command prompt on the recovery screen and deleting the HpqKbFiltr.sys file from the system32/drivers restored their systems to an original state.

This is just the latest headache for consumers who installed the Windows 10 October 2018 Update. Earlier in the month, some reported the loss of files, and Microsoft was forced to pull back on the release to investigate. The company has since confirmed that only a small number of users were impacted and rolled out an update to Windows Insiders which it claims isolated and fixes the problem.

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Genius gives Apple Music a brainy boost with new lyrics integration

If you’ve ever wondered about the words to a given song, chances are fairly good that you’re at least somewhat aware of music lyrics service Genius. In a major move, Genius has partnered with Apple Music to add lyrics to the streamer’s content.

One major complaint users have had about Apple Music is that it doesn’t have any built-in support for lyrics. Now that has changed, as you’ll be able to find the lyrics to any of the “thousands of hit songs” supported by the service. That’s cool on its own, but the partnership goes further.

As part of the new working relationship, Genius has made Apple Music its player of choice for both the website and its mobile app. Now Apple Music subscribers will be able to easily play any music they find on the Genius website, simply by signing in with their Apple Music account details.

“Being able to read lyrics and annotations on Genius while you listen along on Apple Music is a dream Genius experience,” Genius chief strategy officer Ben Gross said in the blog post announcing the new integration. “We’re proud to make Apple Music our official music player, and we’re doubly excited to bring Genius lyrics to their amazing platform.”

This isn’t the first time Genius has partnered with a music subscription service. In 2016, the company partnered with Spotify to launch the Behind the Lyrics feature, which combined snippets of lyrics with the meaning behind them and explanations of background details. Earlier this year, Genius teamed up with YouTube to launch Song Stories, which combines clips from music videos and concert footage with informational snippets about the song in a Behind the Music-style format.

The difference with this new partnership is that Genius seems much more heavily invested in its partnership with Apple Music. This could be simply due to the fact that Apple Music is currently leading Spotify in the U.S., or we could see more from the two companies moving forward. Apple Music is currently available on the web version of Genius and its iOS app. Genius says it will have more to show off moving forward.

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