Huawei verzint nieuwe geheugenkaart: Nano Memory Card (NM)

Blijkbaar vond Huawei de microSD-geheugenkaartjes die inmiddels gemeengoed zijn te groot en komt met een eigen kleinere standaard: Nano Memory. De geheugenkaartjes werden samen met de Mate 20-serie aangekondigd.

De NM-geheugenkaart heeft hetzelfde formaat als een nanoSIM-kaart; een kleine rechthoek met missend hoekje. De kaart dook op in de presentatie over de Mate 20 en Mate 20 Pro en specificaties ontbreken nog. Er lijkt in ieder geval een kaart te komen met een capaciteit van 256 GB met een snelheid van 90 MBit/s. Er gaan geruchten dat er ook een variant van 128 GB komt. Een echte noodzaak voor een kleinere kaart is er niet; beide kaarten zijn erg klein. Echter, door hetzelfde formaat als een simkaart passen beiden nu op elkaar in plaats van naast elkaar. Met de contactpunten naar buiten steek je hem terug in het toestel.

Steek Huawei’s NM-geheugenkaart bovenop de nanoSIM in het toestel

Het introduceren van een nieuwe geheugenkaartstandaard levert problemen op, dat heeft Sony wel bewezen. Die hield lange tijd vol aan haar eigen Memory Stick Micro (M2) kaartjes om in 2009 alsnog over te stappen op microSD. Daarvoor kwamen SD, miniSD, Reduced Size MMC en zelfs CompactFlash-kaarten nog voor bij telefoons. We hebben er een hele lade vol mee liggen. Wij zitten dus niet echt te wachten op weer een nieuw formaat. Een nieuwe standaard is mogelijk duurder omdat er simpelweg minder fabrikanten van zijn. De consument lijkt er dus niet op vooruit te gaan. Hoeveel de NM-kaarten moeten kosten zal blijken; we zijn ze nog niet tegengekomen. Er daar ligt meteen een ander probleem; kom er maar eens aan. Huawei had er misschien beter aan gedaan de geheugenkaartslot helemaal weg te laten; geheugen kost vandaag de dag niet veel meer en we slaan steeds meer op in de cloud.

Ember Temperature Control Mug Adds Support for Apple Health, Exclusive Colors Now Sold in Apple Stores

Ember today announced that its temperature control mugs will now sync with Apple’s Health iOS app, allowing users to track their caffeine consumption throughout the day alongside other Health app statistics. The updated Ember app introduces this Health integration, with features like setting a maximum caffeine intake measurement for the day that will warn users when they near the limit.

The company explains that users will also be able to use the Health app’s information to understand how their caffeine consumption affects other data tracked in Health, like heart rate and sleep patterns. Version 3.0 of the Ember iOS app [Direct Link] is available to download now on the iOS App Store.

“As a design-led brand, we are committed to delivering world class innovation that is as human and intuitive as possible. The updated Ember app with the Apple Health feature will give consumers a simple, easy way to track their caffeine consumption during the day, in order to make more informed decisions about what they are drinking. It’s one more step Ember is taking to provide the best experience for coffee and tea lovers.”

Ember’s mugs allow the user to set a precise drinking temperature to ensure that their coffee or tea remains at the perfect level of heat. Both the Travel Mug and Ceramic Mug support caffeine tracking, favorite drink presets, and integration with the Health app. The Ceramic Mug maintains the ideal drinking temperature for one hour (or all day if set on the charging coaster), while the Travel Mug maintains temperature for two hours (and similarly for all day on a charging coaster).

The Ember iOS app syncs to the mugs, allowing users to set their desired temperature, receive notifications when the temperature is reached, create and customize temperature presets, set timers when making tea, and more. Up to three mugs can be paired with the app at once.

Additionally, Ember announced that its mugs will be available in select Apple stores starting today, in countries including the United States, Canada, Europe, Hong Kong, Macao, and Singapore. Apple will also gain the new Ember Travel Mug ($149.95) in white as an exclusive on Apple.com and in Apple Stores in the U.S. and Canada. The Ember Ceramic Mug ($79.95) in black will be sold as an exclusive in select Apple stores across Europe, the U.S., Canada, Hong Kong, Macao, and Singapore and on Apple.com.

Tag: Ember
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iPhone XS and iPhone XS Max to Launch in Additional Countries Starting October 26

Apple today announced that the iPhone XS, iPhone XS Max, and iPhone XR will be available to customers in additional countries and territories between Friday, October 26 and Friday, November 2.

Availability information:

• iPhone XS and iPhone XS Max pre-orders begin Friday, October 19 at 12:01 a.m. Pacific Time, with availability beginning Friday, October 26 at 8:00 a.m. local time, in Chile, Colombia, Malaysia, and Thailand.
• iPhone XS and iPhone XS Max will be available in South Korea and more than 10 additional countries on Friday, November 2.
• iPhone XR will be available in Israel beginning Thursday, November 1.
• iPhone XR will be available in Armenia, Bhutan, Brunei, Cambodia, Georgia, Kazakhstan, South Korea, Macau, Maldives, Myanmar, Ukraine, and Vietnam beginning Friday, November 2.

As a reminder, iPhone XR pre-orders begin Friday, October 19 at 12:01 a.m. Pacific Time in the United States and more than 50 countries, with deliveries to customers and in-store availability beginning Friday, October 26.

The new iPhones can be ordered through Apple.com, or purchased at an Apple Store or authorized resellers where available.

Related Roundups: iPhone XS, iPhone XRBuyer’s Guide: iPhone XS (Buy Now), iPhone XR (Caution)
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Skydio’s R1 Drone Expands to Apple Stores, Can Now Be Controlled via Apple Watch

Earlier this year, drone company Skydio introduced its first product, the self-flying R1 drone camera with advanced automation and tracking capabilities.

The R1 was designed to be the first fully autonomous drone, able to work without the need for a person controlling its every movement. Prior to today, using the R1 was as easy as tapping a few buttons in the Skydio iPhone app, and now it’s getting even easier.

As of today, the R1 can be directed through a newly introduced Apple Watch app that provides one-tap controls and directives right on your wrist.

The Skydio Apple Watch interface provides quick access buttons to set the R1 to follow you or a friend as well as options for doing tricks and stopping flight. While there are no manual controls available via the wrist, the R1 operates largely on its own. If you do want to control it manually, you’ll need to do so through the iPhone app.

MacRumors was able to give the R1 and the new Apple Watch app a try ahead of its launch, and it’s as simple as Skydio describes. The R1 detects people in front of it, and with just a tap, it can be set to follow you, where it records everything you’re doing as a sort of flying personal camera or photographer.

The R1 is a hands-off action cam replacement that’s fantastic for hiking, biking, skiing, and similar activities where you might want to capture action-oriented video without the hassle of controlling a drone.

What’s great about the R1 is that it has complex built-in obstacle avoidance capabilities. We wove it through trees and watched as it artfully dodged trunk after trunk with skill that even some advanced drone pilots would be unable to match.

The R1 is able to avoid obstacles because it’s outfitted with 13 cameras that can see in every direction and identify objects like trees, people, cars, and more, using that information to decide what to do and what to avoid.

Once you set the R1 to auto follow mode, it basically flies itself, and there are some neat tricks that Skydio has programmed into it, such as the Boomerang that sends it flying forwards and backwards to capture a unique video shot.

The Apple Watch app offers up little thumbnails of the people around so you can set it to follow someone (or yourself), and it uses the Digital Crown in a unique way — a twist of the knob rotates the direction of the drone.

Because it flies on its own, the R1 can do a series of neat little tricks, most of which are executable from the wrist. There are options for Dronie, Rocket, and Orbit, for example.

A Dronie starts close and then zooms out and up for a birds-eye view of a scene, while a Rocket shot starts close and then zooms straight up. An Orbit shot, as the name suggests, spins around you slowly. The Apple Watch app also includes a feature to return the drone to back to its starting place at the iPhone and shut it down, so you can get a full flight from the wrist.

Skydio’s R1 basically flies itself and it needs so little interaction that it’s simple to use right out of the box, even for those who have no drone piloting experience. All it takes is an iPhone for setup and it can be controlled with nothing other than the Apple Watch.

The R1 is excellent at obstacle avoidance, but it’s still a drone and an expensive one at $1,999, so there are rules to follow. It can’t be flown in windy conditions, and its cameras aren’t able to detect thin branches as we learned during a crash, so caution needs to be exercised.

Skydio is continually improving the R1 drone with new features and further autonomous research. It’s out of the price range of most people who would use it casually at this point in time, and it’s not the most portable at the size of a pizza box, but the technology is worth paying attention to because this kind of autonomy could be the future of mass-market drone usage in a few years time.

Along with introducing a new Apple Watch app for controlling the R1, Skydio has additional news. Starting today, the R1 is available on the Apple online store and at select Apple retail locations. It can also be purchased from the Skydio website.
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Apple’s Latest Mac Mini Turns Four Years Old Ahead of ‘Pro-Focused’ Refresh Expected Later This Month

The latest Mac mini, introduced on October 16, 2014, is four years old as of this week. For emphasis, it has been 1,462 days since the portable desktop computer was last updated, according to the MacRumors Buyer’s Guide.

The current lineup, still sold on Apple.com, features five-generation-old Intel dual-core Haswell processors with clock speeds up to 3.0GHz. Other tech specs include up to 16GB of LPDDR3 RAM, up to 1TB of flash storage, and the choice of Intel HD Graphics 5000 or Intel Iris integrated graphics. Prices start at $499.

The good news is that the long wait for an update may be coming to an end, as two reliable sources in Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo and Apple scoopster Mark Gurman both expect a new Mac mini to be released later this year.

Kuo didn’t have a lot of information to share on the Mac mini, but he said a processor upgrade is expected. Gurman revealed more ambitious plans, claiming that the Mac mini is set to receive a “professional-focused upgrade,” with new storage and processor options likely to make it “more expensive” than previous models.

It’s unclear if the Mac mini will be redesigned, but the new processor options will hopefully include quad-core options at the very least.

Apple is expected to unveil the new Mac mini at a media event later this month, alongside new iPad Pro models with Face ID, updated iMac models, and an all-new MacBook or MacBook Air at the low end of its notebook lineup.

The big question: when will Apple hold its rumored October event? With invites yet to be issued to the media, and with Apple CEO Tim Cook in Belgium next Wednesday, the most likely date for an October event at this point is Tuesday, October 30, two days before its fourth quarter earnings results.

There’s a very slim chance that invites go out today or tomorrow for an event next Wednesday or Thursday, with or without Cook appearing on stage, but Apple likely wants the spotlight to be on the iPhone XR until it launches Friday, October 26.

Related Roundup: Mac miniBuyer’s Guide: Mac Mini (Don’t Buy)
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Huawei Mate 20 Pro vs. Samsung Galaxy Note 9: Flagship fight

Julian Chokkattu/Digital Trends

Following the flurry of awesome flagships like the Pixel 3 XL, Samsung Galaxy Note 9, and iPhone XS Max making their way to store shelves, Huawei is releasing its latest contender. Though the Huawei Mate 20 Pro is a little late to the game, it packs some incredible specs.

So how does the Huawei Mate 20 Pro compare to Samsung’s latest darling, the Galaxy Note 9? We put the two smartphones to the test to find out.

Specs

Huawei Mate 20 Pro 
Samsung Galaxy Note 9

Size
157.8 x 72.3 x 8.6 mm (6.22 x 2.85 x 0.34 inches)
161.9 x 76.4 x 8.8 mm (6.37 x 3.01 x 0.35 inches)

Weight
189 grams (6.66 oz)
201 grams (7.09 ounces)

Screen size
6.4-inch AMOLED display
6.4-inch Super AMOLED display

Screen resolution
3,120 x 1,440 (538 pixels-per-inch)
2,960 x 1,440 pixels (516 pixels-per-inch)

Operating system
Android 9.0 Pie
Android 8.1 Oreo

Storage space
128GB
128GB, 512GB

MicroSD card slot
No – features proprietary Nano Memory Card
Yes

Tap to pay services
Google Pay
Google Pay

Processor
Kirin 980
Qualcomm Snapdragon 845

RAM
6GB
6GB, 8GB

Camera
Triple sensor 40MP and 20MP and 8MP rear, 24MP front
Dual sensor 12MP rear, 8MP front

Video
2,160p at 30 frames per second, 1,080p at 60 fps, 720p at 960 fps
2,160p at 60 frames per second, 1,080p at 240 fps, 720p at 960 fps

Bluetooth version
Bluetooth 5.0
Bluetooth 5.0

Ports
USB-C,
USB-C, Headphone Jack

Fingerprint sensor
Yes (In-display)
Yes (back)

Water resistance
IP68
IP68

Battery
4,200mAh
4,000mAh

App marketplace
Google Play Store
Google Play Store

Network support
TBD
T-Mobile, AT&T, Verizon, Sprint

Colors
Emerald Green, Midnight Blue, Twilight, Pink Gold, Black
Ocean Blue, Lavender Purple, Midnight Black, Metallic Copper

Price
1,049 Euros (around $1,220)
$1,000

Buy from
Huawei
AT&T, Verizon, T-Mobile, Sprint, Amazon, Samsung

Review score
Hands-on
4 out of 5 stars

Performance, battery life, and charging

Julian Chokkattu/Digital Trends

Looking for power? You’re in luck because the Huawei Mate 20 Pro and Samsung Galaxy Note 9 have plenty to spare.

Inside the Huawei Mate 20 Pro you’ll find the Kirin 980 processor along with 6GB of RAM. Storage comes in at 128GB with an option to add an additional 256GB via a proprietary Nano Memory Card. Overall, Huawei claims you’ll see a 20 percent speed improvement with the Kirin 980 chip compared to its predecessor along with a 40 percent increase in power efficiency.

The Samsung Galaxy Note 9 has a Snapdragon 845 processor with 6GB of RAM for the 128GB storage configuration and 8GB of RAM for the 512GB option; if neither option provides enough storage, you can always add 512GB of storage via the Micro SD card slot. Either way, Samsung’s found a winning combination as it’s one of the highest scoring phones ever in our benchmark testing.

In terms of battery capacity, the Mate 20 Pro has a slight edge at 4,200mAh compared to the Note 9’s 4,00mAh battery. We’ve not had a chance to put the Mate 20 Pro to the test just yet, but Huawei typically fares better in overall battery life compared to Samsung.

What really seals the deal for this category however is charging. On the Galaxy Note 9 you’ll find the fairly standard Quick Charge 2.0 along with Qi wireless charging at 7.5W. Comparatively, the Mate 20 Pro features super fast charging via its 40W adapter along with Qi wireless charging and reverse wireless charging, meaning it can charge up another phone wirelessly.

We’re tentatively giving this round to the Huawei’s Mate 20 Pro. In addition to what’s reported to be a beefier processor and more efficient battery, it also has more innovative charging options. We’ll put the Mate 20 Pro through the wringer in our review and update this section if necessary.

Winner: Huawei Mate 20 Pro 

Design and durability

Julian Chokkattu/Digital Trends

It goes without saying that you expect great specs on a flagship smartphone, but aesthetics and durability certainly can’t be ignored. Both Samsung and Huawei make gorgeous phones, so let’s see how these two compare.

On the front of the Huawei Mate 20 Pro you’ll find a curved 6.4 inch screen with the ever popular notch at the top of the phone and slight bezel at the bottom. Flip the phone over and the first thing you’ll notice is the camera module; it’s square and a little awkward, especially when compared to the Huawei P20 Pro. And on the Midnight Blue and Emerald Green versions of the Mate 20 Pro the glass has been etched into what Huawei calls a Hyper Optical pattern to minimize fingerprints on the phone and add extra grip. If that’s not your forte, the other three color options have the traditional glass back.

The Samsung Galaxy Note 9 is a traditional glass sandwich. On the front there’s a curved 6.4-inch screen with minimal bezels. The back is pretty nondescript with a dual camera setup and fingerprint sensor.

In terms of durability, there’s not much difference between the phones. Both are constructed of hardened glass and feature an IP68 rating to protect against water and dust. For either phone, you’ll definitely want to invest in a case.

In the end, both phones have their own unique design aesthetic that makes them each appeal to different people. And durability is a wash, so we’re calling this round a tie.

Winner: Tie 

Display

Julian Chokkattu/Digital Trends

When it comes to exquisite displays, you can’t go wrong with either the Huawei Mate 20 Pro or the Samsung Galaxy Note 9. In fact there are more similarities than differences between the two phones for this category.

The Huawei Mate 20 Pro has a notched, 6.39-inch OLED display with a resolution of 3,120 x 1,440 pixels. The aspect ratio for the phone is 19.5:9. The Samsung Galaxy Note 9 has a 6.4-inch OLED display with a resolution of 2,960 x 1,440 pixels. The aspect ratio is similar at 18:5, but the Mate 20 Pro’s screen is slightly wider because of the notch.

This round is a tie. You can’t go wrong with either display and we believe most people will not notice any real difference between the two.

Winner: Tie

Camera

Julian Chokkattu/Digital Trends

Huawei and Samsung have some of the best smartphone cameras on the market. But who wins when you pit the Mate 20 Pro against the Galaxy Note 9?

On the Huawei Mate 20 Pro, you’ll find a triple camera module with 40, 20, and 8-megapixel lenses. Huawei used a 27mm wide angle lens for the primary camera with an f/1.8 aperture. The secondary 16mm Ultra Wide Angle lens has an f/2.2 aperture, while the tertiary camera has an 80mm telephoto lens with an aperture of f/2.4 and Optical Image Stabilization (OIS). The front-facing camera comes in at 24 megapixels with an f/2.0 lens.

The Samsung Galaxy Note 9, on the other hand, has a 12 megapixel dual camera array. What’s most exciting about the Note 9, though, is the f/1.5-2.4 variable aperture that allows you to get great shots in any light. The front camera on the Note 9 is no slouch either, coming in at 8 megapixels with a wide f/1.7 aperture.

Right now, we’re giving Huawei the win for this category. Huawei’s flagships have historically had excellent cameras and we believe the Mate 20 Pro will continue in that tradition. That said, we still need to do more camera tests on the Huawei Mate 20 Pro and will update this category if needed.

Winner: Huawei Mate 20 Pro 

Software and updates

Julian Chokkattu/Digital Trends

Both the Huawei Mate 20 Pro and Samsung Galaxy Note 9 are Android phones, but neither ship with a stock version of the OS. Instead Samsung and Huawei ship with custom skins that are meant to enhance user experience.

On the Samsung Galaxy Note 9, you’ll find Android 8.1 Oreo with the heavily customized Samsung Experience laying over it. While some of the customization is nice, there are a lot of pre-installed apps that take up a lot of space.

The Huawei Mate 20 Pro ships with Android 9.0 Pie under the EMUI 9 skin. Although Huawei’s EMUI skin is not perfect, it’s more refined than previous iterations.

The Huawei Mate 20 Pro takes this round. For the most part we’re giving it the win because it ships with Android 9.0 Pie while the Samsung Galaxy Note 9 ships with Android 8.1 Oreo. Huawei has also committed to bi-monthly software updates for its Mate and P series in the past, and we expect it to continue the tradition with the Mate 20 Pro; Samsung has not made such a commitment.

Winner: Huawei Mate 20 Pro 

Special features

Julian Chokkattu/Digital Trends

One thing that sets the Huawei Mate 20 Pro and Samsung Galaxy Note 9 apart from their competition is the abundance of special features. Both phones offer some unique features that are hard to come by on other phones and make them incredibly interesting.

A few features set the Huawei Mate 20 Pro apart from the pack. First off, the Mate 20 Pro is Huawei’s first phone to ship with a 40W charging adapter. With the adapter you can charge the phone from zero to 70 percent in just 30 minutes. The phone also supports wireless charging, and can actually be used to reverse charge other Qi compatible devices you may have — a first for smartphones.

In addition to face unlock on the Huawei Mate 20 Pro, there’s also an in-display fingerprint sensor. While most users will probably opt for the secure facial authentication feature, its nice to have multiple options.

On the other hand, the defining feature of the Samsung Galaxy Note line is the S Pen, and for 2018 it got a lot better. In addition to drawing and taking notes, the S Pen is now a Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) device that works as a remote for your camera and even PowerPoint presentations when the Galaxy Note 9 is in DeX mode. Speaking of DeX mode, Samsung has incorporated this wonderful feature into the Note 9 and it only requires a cable now. With DeX you can quickly attach your phone to an external monitor (with a USB-C to HDMI adapter) to create a desktop computing environment.

There’s also Samsung’s digital assistant, Bixby, built into the Samsung Galaxy Note 9. For the most part it’s a more limited version of Google Assistant, however it does play well with other Samsung smart devices. Samsung also has Intelligent Scan, which lets you unlock the phone and apps with your iris and face.

Both phones have awesome features that are hard to find on other phones, but the Note 9 has the edge here.

Winner: Samsung Galaxy Note 9

Price

Both the Huawei Mate 20 Pro and Samsung Galaxy Note 9 are flagships phones, and carry the hefty price tag that comes along with the latest technology. While U.S. pricing has yet to be announced, the Huawei Mate 20 Pro will sell in Europe for 1049 euros (around $1,220). The Samsung Galaxy Note 9 starts at $999.

Overall winner: Huawei Mate 20 Pro

Julian Chokkattu/Digital Trends

When all is said and done, you can’t go wrong with either of these phones. But since this is a specs comparison, we have to give the crown to the Huawei Mate 20 Pro.

In addition to having a beefier processor and battery, the Mate 20 Pro also offers impressive advancements like 40W charging and reverse wireless charging. And we’d definitely be remiss if we didn’t take the camera module into consideration. The Huawei P20 Pro produced some of the best photos we’ve ever seen from a smartphone.

Editors’ Recommendations

• Samsung Galaxy Note 9 vs. Huawei P20 Pro: Two high-end phones clash
• Samsung Galaxy Note 9 vs. OnePlus 6: Does more expensive mean better?
• Huawei Mate 20, Pro, and X: Everything you need to know
• Samsung Galaxy Note 9 vs. Galaxy Note 8 vs. Note 5: All the changes of note
• Samsung Galaxy Note 9 vs. BlackBerry Key2: Productivity powerhouse punch-out

Best alternative USB-C headphones for Google Pixel 3

Google bundles a pair of USB-C earbuds in the box with every Pixel 3 and 3 XL purchase, and the sound quality on offer is pretty decent, all things considered. However, if you’re looking for something with a bit more oomph, there are a few options around.

Perfect for Pixels

Libratone Q Adapt

Libratone’s Q Adapt are the best option right now if you’re looking for USB-C earbuds. The earbuds are designed for the Pixel, they’re rated IPX4 for water-resistance (so they’re good for workouts), and come with a dedicated button for Google Assistant. You also get a variety of eartips and the ability to select the level of noise isolation.

$149 at Amazon

A great alternative

Essential HD earphones

The Essential HD earphones combine great sound quality with a tangle-free design that makes them easy to carry. The single-button in-line remote can be used to receive phone calls or invoke Google Assistant, and they’re certified for hi-res audio.

$64 at Amazon

Tune out the world

Xiaomi Mi ANC Earphones

Xiaomi’s USB-C earbuds continue to be a great option in this space. Like the Essential HD, Xiaomi’s earbuds are also certified for hi-res audio, and they also feature a titanium-plated metal chamber. The cable is more durable, however, and you get better noise isolation.

$68 at Amazon

There isn’t a lot of variety if you’re in the market for USB-C earbuds, with audio manufacturers instead focusing on the wireless space. However, if you’re not willing to make the switch to Bluetooth audio just yet, then the Libratone Q Adapt is a great choice for your Pixel 3 or 3 XL. They’re the only earbuds currently available under the Made for Google program, and the sound quality combined with IPX4 sweat resistance along with customizable noise isolation makes them worth the $149 asking price.

UK Deal: Save up to 25% on Amazon devices for a limited time

Amazon is offering some great discounts on a variety of its own hardware — but these deals won’t last forever!

Amazon has today dropped prices across a range of its own-brand hardware including devices in the Echo smart speaker and Fire tablet lineups. These are some of the best prices we have seen on these devices outside of major shopping holidays like Prime Day and Black Friday, so it’s a great time to pick up whatever you need while supplies last.

Standout deals include a £20 saving off the current-generation Amazon Echo, currently down to just £69.99, and the latest Amazon Echo Spot at £99.99 — also £20 off.

Some of our other favourite deals in the promotion include:

• Fire TV Stick with Alexa Voice Remote (1st Gen) – £34.99 (Was £40)
• Echo Dot (2nd Gen) – £34.99 (Was £50)
• Echo Plus (1st Gen + free Philips Hue bulb) – £99.99 (Was £140)
• Fire 7 Tablet – £39.99 (Was £50)
• Fire HD 8 Tablet – £59.99 (Was £80)
• Fire HD 10 Tablet – £119.99 (Was £150)
• 2x Echo Show (2nd Gen) + 2x Philips Hue bulbs – £339.98 (Was £470)

Be sure to check out the full range included in the promotion, with different colours and capacities discounted to varying levels.

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

See at Amazon UK

How to use an old phone as a dash cam

Your old Android phone makes a great dash cam because it can do a lot more than just record the road.

A dash cam is a really cool thing to have. You never know when you’ll see something worth recording on the road until it’s too late (never whip out your phone for a photo while driving!) and sometimes you need to document what happened in case of an accident or another traffic incident. Someone you know probably has a dash cam and is glad they had it at least once.

Dash cams are also pretty cheap nowadays, but they are also pretty basic. If you’re going to have something attached to your windshield, why not use something that can do so much more than “just” record the road? Your old Android phone can make for a great dash cam, and if you want to put a SIM card in it or tether to your current phone, it can become a standalone GPS unit or music player, too. Beats sending it to the recycle center, right?

Here’s what you’ll need and how to go about doing it.

The gear

You’ll need your old phone, of course. But you’ll also need a few cheap accessories to get it in place and keep it running.

• You’ll need a car charger and cable long enough to reach. You don’t need anything fancy here because you won’t be trying to quick charge anything or worry about supplying a lot of power. An $8 Amazon Basics USB car charger and a long charging cable like this 15-foot model for $8 is fine. Just make sure you use the right cable for your phone — USB-C cables will be a little more expensive.

• You’ll also need a good dash mount. That doesn’t mean the prettiest one; it means the one that will hold your phone in place with the camera lens uncovered without obstructing your view of the road. On that note, be sure to check any local laws about sticking anything to your windshield because the local police will know those laws and tickets are expensive. Everyone loves the $25 iOttie One touch Dashboard & Windshield mount and my wife swears by the $10 INCART Rearview Mirror Phone Holder. Make sure you buy something that will fit your phone and allow the camera lens to see the road and you’re set.

• Next you need some software. Google Play is chock full of apps that can act as a dash recorder, but most everyone loves AutoBoy Dash Cam and Black Box. It’s filled with features that will remind you why a phone makes for a better dash cam that one you can buy. You’ll find features like auto-start and stop, GPS tracking, and more in AutoBoy, and best of all it’s free. There are plenty of others, though, and you might want to try them all and see if you like another better. If you do, let me know, please!

This is all easy to figure out how to use. Put the mount in place, put your phone in it, and run the cord so it won’t get tangled up in anything while you’re trying to drive. These little stick-on cable clips can be a lifesaver for that. Make everything nice an neat, but be sure you’re able to take the phone out of its mount easily and you’re good to go.

Don’t forget it’s there

The biggest downside to any dash cam also apply when using a phone — people will steal it and the sun can ruin it.

Phones, locked cars, and hot sunlight don’t mix.

Never leave a phone in a mount right on the windshield for passing thieves to see because that will lead to broken windows and stolen stuff. Just because a phone is old to you and makes for a good dash cam doesn’t mean it’s not going to be a nice prize for people who steal things out of cars. Unfortunately, those people do exist.

And it’s never a good idea to leave any sensitive electronics inside a hot vehicle exposed to the sun. Especially ones with a lithium battery inside. Either use a windshield shade or pull it out of the mount and toss it in the glove box (or carry it with you) to mitigate both of these issues.

Most of all, be safe. Anytime you mix a gadget with a car there is an urge to start messing with stuff. Don’t do it! That’s the whole purpose of using a specialized app for this instead of just using your phone’s built-in camera app, and while we hope you never need to document anything for your insurance company, we especially don’t want it to happen because you couldn’t resist touching stuff. Be smart and have fun!

Huawei’s ‘One More Thing’: 7.2 inch grote Mate 20 X

Naast de Huawei Mate 20 en Mate 20 Pro trok Huawei nog een toestel uit de hoge hoed; de 7.2 inch grote Huawei Mate 20 X. Onpraktisch groot maar daardoor wel erg geschikt voor het verslinden van content en lange tijd spelen van games. Eén nadeel; het toestel komt hier officieel niet uit.

Eigenlijk houden we niet zo van verrassingen maar die van Huawei kunnen we ergens wel waarderen. De Mate 20 X lijkt een toestel waar eigenlijk niemand op zit te wachten, hij is onpraktisch groot, te bedienen met een pen en voorzien van een een nieuw type koeling om het hoofd bij games koel te houden. Dit tegendraadse karakter is juist iets wat wij wel kunnen waarderen. Wat dat betreft is het jammer dat Huawei geen plannen heeft hem hier uit te brengen. Mogelijk volgt hij later nog als grijze import.

De Huawei Mate 20 X met M-Pen

De Mate 20 X lijkt een grotere variant van de Mate 20 met een notch in de vorm van een druppel. Toch is hier gebruik gemaakt van niet een LCD-scherm maar van een OLED-paneel, net als in de Mate 20 Pro. Ditmaal meet hij 7,2 inch waarmee hij ideaal is voor het lange tijd bekijken van video, spelen van games of bladeren door webpagina’s. De batterij van 5000 mAh moet je telefoonverslaving mogelijk maken. Ben je meer van het content maken in plaats van verslinden dan is het goed om te weten dat er een aparte pen verkrijgbaar zal zijn om mee te tekenen; de Huawei M-Pen. Deze kent 4096 verschillende drukniveau’s; net als Samsung’s S Pen. Jammer is dat de pen niet op te bergen is in het toestel wat de kans vergroot om hem kwijt te raken.

Ultieme gaming-telefoon

Net als alle andere Mate 20-modellen maakt de Huawei Mate 20 X gebruik van Huawei’s eigen Kirin 980-chipset al is hier gekozen voor een ander type koeling. Net als de Razer Phone 2 maakt de 20 X gebruik van een Vapor Chamber maar nu in combinatie met grafeen. Deze combinatie moet hitte veel sneller afvoeren. Hoe koeler de processor is hoe beter hij piekprestaties kan neerzetten, iets wat vooral bij gaming essentieel is. Om de game-ervaring compleet te maken is er stereo geluid. Verder kent het toestel de kenmerkende drievoudige Leica-camera achterop die gecombineerd met het nodige AI-geweld uitstekende foto’s moet schieten. Allemaal leuk en aardig maar niet iets waar je wat aan hebt zolang hij hier niet verkrijgbaar is. Uiteraard houden we dat scherp voor je in de gaten.