The best cases for the Samsung Galaxy S9+

There are plenty of cases available for the Samsung Galaxy S9+, but it can be hard to separate the good from the bad. The beautiful design of the Galaxy S9+ will quickly turn to horror after a nasty drop, so a case is almost a requirement. If you want something straight from Samsung that looks and feels great, the Alcantara Cover will be your best bet.

A luxurious first-party option

Samsung Alcantara Cover

This case fits your phone perfectly — as it should considering it comes straight from Samsung. The Alcantara feels great, and it’s thick enough to protect your phone in the event of a drop.

$50 at Amazon

If you want your phone case to be your wallet

Maxboost Galaxy S9+ Wallet Case

If you’re into wallet cases, this is the one for you. You get three slots for IDs and cards, a small pouch for paper currency, and plenty of protection for your phone. There’s a solid magnetic clasp to keep things closed, and the wallet portion doubles as a stand for watching YouTube on your phone.

$15 at Amazon

A rugged option

Spigen Neo Hybrid

If you want a rugged case, it’s hard to beat this one from Spigen. You get a great two-tone design — with a few color options — and shock absorbent rubber paired with a hard plastic frame for the ultimate protection. The Herringbone pattern looks classy as heck, so you don’t need to take this case off when you go for a night on the town.

$16 at Amazon

Same great glass feeling

Besiva Tempered Glass Case

This case still protects your phone, but the tempered glass panel on the back means it has the same smooth finish as your phone’s glass. And since this is just clear glass, you can still see whatever color choice you purchased.

$9 at Amazon

Another great wallet case

Mujjo Leather Wallet Case

If you want to consolidate things in your pockets without the bulk, this case is for you. There is a slot on the back of the case for your ID and cards, and just enough protection around the sides. The leather will feel luxurious, and you’ll have a slimmer profile since there isn’t a front clasp like on other wallet cases.

$55 at Amazon

Slim as can be

Spigen Thin Fit

This case is if you want the bare minimum protection and grip on top of your phone, in exchange for a super slim profile. The case is easy to put on and take off if need be, and its thin enough to allow easy access to all the ports. There are a few different color options, so you can choose the one that fits your style closest.

$10 at Amazon

Funky folio

Samsung S-View Cover

If you love an always-on display, but want to keep your phone safe, this is the case for you. This flip case comes straight from Samsung, and you’ll still be see all your notifications come, even when the flip cover is closed. You can also flip the cover around to watch YouTube videos, and you still get easy access to all of the phone’s buttons and ports.

$60 at Amazon

Phone sweater

Samsung Hyperknit Case

This case is great if you want your phone to feel as safe as you do when you wear that sweater your grandmother knitted you for Christmas a few years ago. Just like your grandmother knows you better than anyone else, Samsung knows its phones better than anyone else, so this fits your phone precisely. You can easily plug accessories into the ports at the bottom, use the rear fingerprint sensor, and the power, volume and Bixby buttons.

$24 at Amazon

Almost naked

totallee Galaxy S9 Plus case

This is another great case for those that just want some added grip. The case is only .02 inches thick, so you’ll hardly notice a difference when your phone is in your pocket. It covers the phone’s slick glass with a matte plastic. It’ll keep fingerprints and scratches away, and give you more grip so the phone doesn’t slip out of your hands.

$10 at Amazon

Rugged beauty

Caseology Legion for Galaxy S9+

There’s nothing wrong with wanting to protect your phone, but it doesn’t have to look ugly. Ara loved using this case on her S9+ and it’s still a great option for you. You get superb drop protection, generous cutouts for the camera, fingerprint sensor and bottom ports, and the choice of a few stylish colors.

$30 at Amazon

Built tough

Spigen Tough Armor for Galaxy S9+

Another great rugged option comes from Spigen. This adds a kickstand, so you can prop the phone up and watch your favorite YouTube videos or a quick episode of TV on your lunch break. Kickstand aside, you get a rugged design that should protect your phone from even the worst drops, and easy access to the fingerprint sensor and ports.

$15 at Amazon

Clean and clear

Spigen Ultra Hybrid for Galaxy S9+

You’re going to want to show off the cool color on your Galaxy S9+, and the best way to do that is with a clear case. This case from Spigen wraps around you phone, so it’s protected from all sides. The case itself isn’t too thick, so it should be comfortable inside your pocket. You get easy access to the ports, a generous cutout for the cameras and fingerprint sensor, and the buttons are replicated on the case itself.

$13 at Amazon

All of these cases would be great for your Galaxy S9+, but my personal favorite would have to be the Spigen Neo Hybrid. I’ve used Spigen cases for years, so I know I’m getting something that will fit my phone perfectly. The Herringbone pattern adds a bit of grip, and it’s a classy addition to my phone.

Samsung Galaxy S9 and S9+

• Galaxy S9 and S9+: Everything you need to know!
• Galaxy S9 review: A great phone for the masses
• Complete Galaxy S9 and S9+ specs
• Galaxy S9 vs. Galaxy S8: Should you upgrade?
• Join our Galaxy S9 forums

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Huawei maakt Mate 20-serie compleet met Mate 20 en Mate 20 Pro

Huawei heeft zojuist in gebrekkig Engels de Mate 20 en Mate 20 Pro aangekondigd. Gelukkig is daar een Nederlandstalig persbericht die voor ons de gaten invult. Beide toestellen draaien een eigen op 7 nanometer gebakken Kirin 980-processor, triple Leica-camera en 40 watt SuperCharge-lader.

De Mate 20-serie is vanaf vandaag compleet. De Huawei Mate 20 en Mate 20 Pro vullen de eerder aangekondigde Mate 20 Lite aan. De Lite ligt al in de winkel, de reguliere Mate 20 en Mate 20 Pro zijn vanaf 2 november verkrijgbaar. De Mate-serie bestaat uit de grootste telefoons die Huawei aanbiedt. Het is dan ook geen verrassing dat de vandaag aangekondigde toestellen groot zijn. De Mate 20 krijgt het grootste scherm; 6,53 inch met Full HD+ resolutie. De Mate 20 Pro heeft een 6,39 inch Quad HD+ scherm.

De Huawei Mate 20 in Midnight Blue

De notch bovenin het scherm van de Mate 20 is het kleinst. Deze heeft de vorm van een druppel en heeft daardoor alleen ruimte voor een 24 megapixel selfiecamera. Op de Mate 20 Pro is de notch groter maar die ruimte wordt nuttig besteed door nauwkeuriger gezichtsherkenning waarmee je hem kunt ontgrendelen. Toch zich de grootste innovatie van beiden achterop. In een vierkante cameramodule zitten maar liefst 3 camera’s verwerkt. Op de reguliere Huawei Mate 20 is dat een 12 megapixel f/1.8 groothoeklens + 16 megapixel f/2.2 extra brede groothoeklens + 8 megapixel f/2.4 telezoomlens. Voor de meeste megapixels moet je bij de Mate 20 Pro zijn; 40 megapixel f/1.8 groothoeklens + 20 megapixel f/2.2 extra brede groothoeklens + 8 megapixel f/2.4 telezoomlens. De lenzen van de Leica Triple-camera hebben daarmee hetzelfde bereik als een 16mm full frame lens op een dure spiegelreflex camera.

En de Mate 20 Pro in Twilight

Huawei Mate 20 (Pro) in Nederland

Huawei hoopt beide toestellen vanaf 2 november in de winkels te hebben in 3 verschillende uitvoeringen: Midnight Blue, Black en Twilight. De eveneens aangekondigde Emerald Green en Pink Gold-uitvoering komen hier vooralsnog niet uit. Prijzen voor de Mate 20 beginnen bij 799 euro, de Mate 20 Pro kost 899 euro. Hiervoor krijg je in beide gevallen 128 GB aan opslaggeheugen wat overigens uit te breiden is met een Huawei’s nieuwe NM-geheugenkaart. Vroege bestellers krijgen bij een toestel een cadeau. Bestel voor 1 november een Mate 20 en krijg daar een gratis Watch GT bij, bij de Mate 20 Pro krijg je daar naast een Huawei Watch GT ook nog een draadloze lader cadeau bij.

Ontvang een e-mail wanneer de Mate 20 verkrijgbaar is

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Lyft’s All-Access Subscription Plan Rolling Out Nationwide, $300/Month for 30 Rides

In March, Lyft began testing a monthly subscription plan for select high-frequency users, and today the company announced that a version of this plan will now be available to everyone in the United States by the end of the week. Called the “All-Access Plan,” passengers will be able to pay upfront every 30 days, locking in a set price for their rides and not having to pay out for each individual Lyft trip.

Subscribers of the All-Access Plan will get 30 rides (for up to $15 each) for a monthly fee of $299, and can cancel their plan anytime. If a ride goes over $15, subscribers will have to pay the difference. If the 30 ride limit is exceeded, Lyft will offer five percent off additional rides. Additionally, unused rides will not roll over to the following monthly pay period.

During its test, Lyft tried out plans that cost $200/month, $300/month, and $400/month for different amount of rides and incentives, but it appears that the company landed on $299/month as the sweet spot. At the time, Lyft CEO Logan Green discussed the subscription plan tests, saying, “We are going to move the entire industry from one based on ownership to one based on subscription.”

In today’s press release, Lyft says the nationwide rollout of the All-Access Plan is the first step toward “delivering on our goal of making car ownership optional.”

When you spend less time driving (and parking), you have more freedom — and more savings. Americans who use the All-Access Plan for all of their personal car needs can save up to 59%* per month compared to owning a car.

This is the first step toward delivering on our goal of making car ownership optional, and we’re constantly looking for more ways to provide passengers with the easiest, most convenient options possible.

Lyft launches its subscription plan after rival Uber trialed its own similar monthly subscription payments in 2016, without following up with a full launch. Lyft has also partnered with Google’s Waymo “to bring autonomous vehicle technology into the mainstream.”

Tag: Lyft
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Apple Apologizes After Stolen Apple ID Credentials Aided in Phishing Attack in China

Apple has formally apologized to users in China over the hacking of some Chinese accounts in a series of phishing scams that hit the country last week. The successful phishing attacks used stolen Apple IDs to gain access to customer funds, leading to “a small number of…users’ accounts” being accessed through these scams (via The Wall Street Journal).

In a statement shared in China today, Apple said: “We are deeply apologetic about the inconvenience caused to our customers by these phishing scams.”

When news of the incident emerged last week, Chinese mobile payment companies Alipay and WeChat reported that hackers were able to take an unknown amount of money from accounts using stolen Apple IDs. Some users were said to have lost up to 2,000 yuan ($288) following the breach.

According to Apple’s new statement, these victims had not enabled two-factor authentication, making it easier for the hackers to gain access to their accounts. Apple didn’t confirm how many users were affected in China, how much money was stolen in total, or how the hackers gained access to the Apple IDs in question. The company encouraged all users to enable two-factor authentication on their accounts to ensure further security protections are in place.

China remains important to Apple’s overseas expansion plans, but the company has faced numerous speed bumps in this regard over the years. In 2018, Apple moved Chinese iCloud data to state-owned China Telecom, which brought up user privacy concerns; faced an issue with an overabundance of illegal gambling apps on the Chinese iOS App Store; and is now attempting to clamp down on iMessage spam in the country.

Note: Due to the political nature of the discussion regarding this topic, the discussion thread is located in our Politics, Religion, Social Issues forum. All forum members and site visitors are welcome to read and follow the thread, but posting is limited to forum members with at least 100 posts.

Tags: China, Apple ID
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Get twice the juice with Nomad’s Tesla Model 3 wireless charger

With Tesla’s Model 3 production lines turning out cars at a good clip, custom accessories for the Tesla’s entry-level electric vehicle (EV) will roll out at a faster pace as well. Nomad’s new Wireless Charger for the Tesla Model 3 is built to fit the car’s charging dock and can charge two phones at the same time.

The Nomad wireless charger slides into place snugly in the Model 3’s front-console charging dock with room for two smartphones side-by-side. According to Nomad, the Tesla Model 3 wireless charger works with all Qi-enabled Android phones but is optimally sized for Apple’s iPhone XS Max, iPhone XR, iPhone XS, and iPhone 8 and 8+.

If you want to use a Samsung Note 8 or Note 9 with the Nomad charger, neither phone will fit the charger with a case. Smaller phones can fit using an included optional spacer, so the charging coils align with the phone.

The Nomad charger has an integrated 6,000 mAH battery so it can charge one smartphone twice as fast as usual or charge two phones simultaneously.

Dual USB cables permanently attached to the charger plug into the Model 3’s two front USB ports. You can use the charger with just one USB cable plugged in, but then you lose the advantage of faster charging, although you can still charge two phones simultaneously.

If you already rely on one of the front USB ports to power another device, you’ll have three choices: run a USB cable from one of the two rear USB ports, plug into a USB adapter in the center console’s 12V power outlet, or use one of the front USB plugs, which cuts the Nomad charger’s power in half.

LED status lights on the Nomad device indicate charging status: amber for charging and white for fully charged.  If one the LEDs blinks amber that means the charger doesn’t recognize your phone.

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Charge two phones at once

Two USB plugs for twice the power

Anti-slip rubber surface

An exact fit for the Model 3 charging dock

Dual 7.5W wireless phone charging

Made from molded thermoplastic elastomers (TPE), a mixture of polymers and rubber, the Nomad has a polycarbonate frame. An anti-skid rubber grip should help keep your phone in place during somewhat spirited driving, but it won’t overcome the laws of physics. If you’re going to push the car to its limits, closing the charging dock’s cover would be prudent.

You can order Nomad’s Tesla Model 3 wireless charger now for shipment on November 30. Pre-orders get a $20 discount from the $150 retail price, according to the company. Nomad backs the Tesla 3 wireless charger with a 2-year warranty.

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Palm maakt rentree met 3,3 inch kleine companion telefoon

TCL heeft samen met een Amerikaanse start-up een telefoon uitgebracht onder de naam Palm. Het idee er achter is niet dat hij je smartphone vervangt maar dat ze samen gebroederlijk naast elkaar leven. Laat je grote telefoon thuis en stop deze Palm in je broekzak. Nieuw is dit idee echter niet.

Deze Palm telefoon heeft niets te maken met het oude Palm. Er is geen webOS besturingssysteem, geen uitschuifbaar toetsenbord en geen enkele knipoog naar het vroegere Palm dat z’n sporen in nagenoeg ieder aspect van de telecommarkt heeft achtergelaten. Het idee achter deze nieuwe Palm is een soort hulpje van je huidige smartphone. Soms wil je die gewoon ook even thuislaten maar je toch voor noodgevallen bereikbaar zijn. Het toestel is alleen verkrijgbaar bij het Amerikaanse Verizon en je moet er een apart abonnement voor af sluiten om je huidige telefoonaansluiting te klonen.

Dat klinkt als een dure oplossing voor een eenvoudig probleem; laat je dure smartphone thuis en koop een goedkope featurephone. Behalve dat deze Palm phone geen featurephone is, het is een redelijk volwaardige Android-telefoon. Om toch de hele dag met de 800 mAh batterij te doen is er “Life Mode” dat notificaties uitschakelt. Dat is geen wonder als je bedenkt dat de telefoon in deze modus alle radio’s uitschakelt en dus geen enkele verbinding meer met de buitenwereld heeft. Palm’s nieuwe telefoon doet in de verte wel wat denken aan de HTC Mini en Mini+. Dit was een als telefoon vormgegeven afstandsbediening voor je smartphone. Het flopte gigantisch. Dat belooft dus nog wat voor Palm’s nieuwe avontuur.

Apple Shibuya Store in Tokyo to Re-Open October 26

Apple has announced the reopening of its Shibuya retail store in Tokyo on Friday, October 26 – the same day as the launch of iPhone XR – following renovation that began almost a year ago.

The Shibuya store opens its doors again on the same date as Apple’s Covent Garden retail location in London, although the Japan store has been out of action for significantly longer.

During the near 11 months of renovation work, the medium-sized store is likely to have undergone significant remodeling to bring it in line with SVP Angela Ahrendts’ objective to increase and modernize Apple’s retail presence in the country, which is currently home to nine Apple stores.

Back in March, Ahrendts announced a five-year plan for Japan, which aims to boost and significantly increase the company’s presence with “extensive modernization” and significant investment.

The Shibuya store has been around since 2005, but Apple opened a new store in Shinjuku, Tokyo, in April and another in Kyoto in August, after teasing the opening of more retail locations in the country.

(Via Storeteller.de)

Tags: Japan, Apple retail
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Microsoft co-founder, Seahawks owner Paul Allen dies at 65

PaulAllen.com

Paul Allen, a Microsoft co-founder and owner of the NFL’s Seattle Seahawks and NBA’s Portland Trail Blazers, died due to complications from non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma in Seattle on Monday. He was 65. News of his passing was confirmed on the website of his media company, Vulcan Inc.

“It is with deep sadness that we announce the death of our founder, Paul G. Allen, co-founder of Microsoft and noted technologist, philanthropist, community builder, conservationist, musician, and supporter of the arts. Mr. Allen died on Monday afternoon, October 15, 2018, from complications of non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma in Seattle. Mr. Allen was 65 years old,” Vulcan said in a statement.

Allen co-founded Microsoft alongside Bill Gates in 1975 after the two entrepreneurs started marketing a BASIC programming language interpreter. Allen called the software Micro-Soft. Allen’s ambition for Microsoft was to build software for personal computers. He was able to achieve that goal by helping Microsoft acquire Q-DOS. Together, Gates and Allen transformed Q-DOS into MS-DOS, which eventually became the operating system installed on IBM’s personal computers. In total, Allen holds 43 patents from the United States Patent and Trademark Office.

Because of Microsoft’s success, Allen’s personal wealth also grew with the company. He became a billionaire in his early 30s; Allen’s net worth is estimated to be close to $20 billion. He made a number of investments in emerging and new technologies and was a frequent contributor to charities. Allen also owned sports franchises in the Pacific Northwest.

“While most knew Paul Allen as a technologist and philanthropist, for us, he was a much-loved brother and uncle, and an exceptional friend,” Allen’s sister, Jody, said in a statement. “Paul’s family and friends were blessed to experience his wit, warmth, his generosity and deep concern.” Allen described himself as a philanthropist, investor, entrepreneur, author, owner of two sports team, guitarist, neuroscience supporter, space pioneer, and Microsoft co-founder.

pic.twitter.com/msJhSPZBXm

— Paul Allen (@PaulGAllen) October 15, 2018

After being diagnosed with Hodgkin’s lymphoma in 1982, Allen left his role at Microsoft. He overcame the disease after months of radiation. In 2000, Allen resigned from his board position at Microsoft, but remained with the company as a strategy consultant. In 2009, Allen was diagnosed with non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma. The disease was successfully treated until the cancer returned in 2018.

Though Allen never married and isn’t survived by any children, his spirit of entrepreneurship lives on. “As long as we work together — with both urgency and determination — there are no limits to what we can achieve,” his last tweet stated on the day of his death.

Details about Allen’s memorial services will be released as soon as they become available, Vulcan said.

Here’s a useful solution for saving clumsy drone pilots a few bucks

Drone technology has advanced markedly in the last few years, with improved stability and handling making them easier than ever to fly.

But whether through mechanical malfunction or sheer pilot incompetence, there will always be occasions when we’re left watching helplessly as our crippled quadcopter plummets from the sky as if it was never meant to be up there in the first place.

One solution is to stick a parachute on the drone that automatically activates when it detects problems. Such a system would not only save the drone from breaking into multiple pieces when it hits terra firma, but also reduce the risk of injury if the machine lands on someone’s head on the way down.

Among a growing number of such offerings is one from Austria-based Drone Rescue, which has been working on incorporating parachutes into drones for a while now. This week it’s planning to carry out its first public demonstration of its latest system at the tech-focused Intergeo event in Frankfurt, Germany, New Atlas reports.

Drone Rescue has created two parachute modules, the DRS-5 and DRS-10, that can be attached to a range of remotely controlled copters. The DRS-5 is effective for drones weighing up to 18 pounds (8 kg), while the DRS-10 is for drones weighing between 11 and 44 pounds (5 and 20 kg). The team has also created the DRS-M600, which is essentially the DRS-10 designed especially for DJI’s Matrice 600 drone, a machine popular with professional aerial photographers and independent filmmakers.

The automatic parachute system comprises a carbon container for the parachute, together with sensors that tell the system when things are going awry in the sky. The moment the drone begins to drop rapidly, the parachute automatically deploys to decrease the speed of the machine’s descent. An important part of the system ensures that the drone’s motors automatically cut out at the same time as the parachute deploys to eliminate the risk of the propellers slicing through the lines or causing injury to individuals on the ground.

Drone Rescue CEO and co-founder Andreas Ploier says in a release that its system “has the advantage that it manages completely without explosive, pyrotechnical solutions.” This means the parachute can simply be quickly repackaged for reuse, and also results in a system that’s “considerably lighter, and functions even in a worst-case scenario.”

A neat but important touch is the inclusion of a data recorder that allows for more detailed analysis of a drone failure.

While regulators are still wary about letting commercial drones fly out of the line of sight, as well as over populated areas, a system like the one created by Drone Rescue — together with a drone traffic control system — could pave the way for broader use of drones by businesses.

When you see how hard this broadcaster’s hefty camera drone came down at a skiing event a few years ago, narrowly missing one of the skiers, it’s easy to understand how effective a parachute-equipped drone could be when things go wrong in the sky.

Drone Rescue plans to launch its parachute system for drone owners before the end of 2018.

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‘Bloodhound’ rocket car needs a speedy cash injection to survive

Bloodhound

A company bidding to drive a car at an eye-watering 1,000 mph has been forced to put the brakes on the project while it seeks extra funds to help it reach its goal.

The U.K. team behind the rocket-powered Bloodhound car needs investment of 25 million British pounds (about $33 million) in the next few weeks or it may have to wave goodbye to its speed-record dream, the BBC reported on Monday.

The troubling news comes exactly a year after the extraordinary vehicle reached 210 mph in a public test run ahead of a planned 1,000-mph drive in Hakskeen Pan — a vast, dried-out lake bed — in South Africa in 2020.

For last year’s run, which tested the car’s responsiveness and stability among other things, the Bloodhound car was powered by a Rolls-Royce EJ200 jet engine that’s normally found on a Eurofighter Typhoon combat aircraft.

For the record attempt, however, the team wants to use three Nucleus rocket motors developed by Scandinavian firm Nammo, in addition to the EJ200 jet engine. But those plans now appear to be balanced on a knife edge as the company, Bloodhound Programme, seeks emergency funding.

Speaking to the BBC, Andrew Sheridan of FRP Advisory, the firm aiming to free Bloodhound Programme from its financial difficulties, described the rocket-powered car as “a project that is very much alive and on the cusp of delivering its goal, which is ground-breaking with leading technology.”

Sheridan added: “However, it does need circa 25 million British pounds to get it over the line, and that now requires an investor, be that a wealthy individual or a corporate of some kind.”

If the team behind the supersonic car can secure the vital funds and continue toward its goal, it could yet have a chance to break the current land speed record of 763.035 mph set in 1997. The record-breaking vehicle was the Thrust SSC and in the driving seat was Andy Green, the very same guy behind the wheel of the Bloodhound during its 210 mph test run last year and the person hoping to have a go at setting the new record in South Africa.

Mark Chapman, Bloodhound‘s chief engineer, told the BBC that if they can find an investor, then they could be prepping for the speed record within just 10 months. “We’re that close,” he said.

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