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

No camera, but plenty to look at.

I’ve been living with a Lenovo Smart Display for around two months now and it’s quickly become as indispensable as my coffee maker and frying pans. It sits in my kitchen, in view but not in the way, waiting for me to ask it to play The Daily Podcast or give me the weather forecast. When I am following a new recipe, I tend to bring it up on the Smart Display so I don’t have to get my phone’s screen grimy. When it’s not in use, it cycles through my favorite photos.

In other words, when I think about my Smart Display I think of an appliance, not a gadget. It just fits in with the rest of my kitchen appliances.

The moment I saw Google’s new 7-inch Home Hub, which runs the same Android Things OS as Lenovo’s larger, more expensive Smart Display, I knew I had to have one. Not for my kitchen — though Google claims it’s perfect there, too — but for my nightstand. Where my Amazon Echo Spot currently resides.

See, here’s the thing: Google’s idea of a smart display is one of compact simplicity, It has a 7-inch screen, the same size as the original Echo Show, but in an improbably tiny shell that makes it look like a Nexus 7 bolted onto a Google Home Mini. In a good way.

See at Google

Google Home Hub Hardware

The Home Hub is adorable. It’s smaller than you think, with a 7-inch HD display buttressed by relatively large bezels, with two microphones and a proximitiy sensor on the top part of the frame. The screen is bright and sharp and is touch-sensitive, which enables the many contextual Google Assistant features available on Android Things.

There is no camera on here, which is by design. Google’s Smart Display ecosystem is growing, and all of its partners, from Lenovo to LG to JBL and Sony, have Google Duo-enabled cameras on their units. To keep cost and size down, Google forwent this particular feature, which is interesting given that right now Android Things only supports Google’s own video calling service.

Bolted to the screen is a speaker covered in mesh, similar in texture and looks to the Google Home Mini. That’s a good thing, because though you won’t see much of the back, it helps make the Home Hub friendly and familiar, especially if you’re already invested in Google’s ecosystem. The rear of the unit has a physical microphone mute toggle and nothing else, which speaks to the focused austerity of this design.

These colors are really nice, and at least one will be perfect for a bedside table, living room shelf, or kitchen counter.

Available in four colors — green, pink, dark grey, and white — the Home Hub is small enough to easily stow away, or keep relatively hidden should you want to just use it as a speaker. And use it as a speaker many will: while I wasn’t able to get a sense of its fidelity next to, say, a Google Home, in my brief time with the Home Hub I was impressed by its volume, if not its dynamic range. Don’t expect a lot of bass from a speaker this size, but it’ll definitely provide sufficient volume to fill a medium-sized room with a podcast or recipe instructions.

Google Home Hub Software

The Home Hub runs Android Things, which is a variant of Android meant for “light touch” or audio-only appliances like this. Relying almost entirely on Google Assistant for context, the Home Hub offers visual accompaniment to most of the queries one would ask a Google Home or the Assistant on a phone. Query the weather and a forecast is displayed on the screen. Start playing a song from Spotify and the artist, album and track are shown, along with the ability to quickly scrub through. Inquire about a recipe and you get step-by-step instructions.

Android things is in its infancy, but it’s got a lot of potential.

Android Things on the Home Hub is, to my eyes, identical to what I see every day on my Smart Display, with one major exception: the Home View. It offers an overview of the status of the smart home — from lights to locks to security cameras — with a swipe down from the main screen. While the Home View feature will likely come to other Smart Displays (as well as the Google Home mobile app) with a software update, right now it’s a Home Hub exclusive.

Google Home Hub Final Thoughts

At $149, the Home Hub essentially replaces the original Google Home — which is now two years old — in the company’s Assistant-powered speaker lineup. Indeed, at $129 it’s difficult to justify keeping the original Home unless you’re explicitly looking for a more powerful speaker.

That leaves a lineup that looks a bit obscure: at $49, the Google Home Mini answers basic Assistant queries; at $149, the Home Hub gives you a visual representation of Assistant; and at $399, the Home Max delivers floor-crunching bass and room-filling fidelity.

The other interesting question is how it fits in with the rest of the Smart Display ecosystem, where it’s the smallest and cheapest option right now, as well as how it competes with Amazon’s $129 Echo Spot and $199 Echo Show. I think it offers a pretty compelling value proposition on its own, especially given its diminutive stature, but we’re going to have to wait until we get our own unit to judge.

The Google Home Hub is available in the U.S., the UK, and Australia from October 22, and rolls out to other countries in the next few months.

See at Google

Amazon’s latest Echo devices are already discounted in India

The Echo Dot (3rd gen) is discounted by 33%, and the Echo Plus (2nd gen) picks up a 20% price cut ahead of its debut.

Amazon’s latest Echo devices are set to go on sale in India from October 11, and the retailer is offering enticing discounts on the products as part of its Great Indian Festival sale. The sales features lucrative discounts on the new Echo Dot and the Echo Plus, as well as the standard Echo and the Echo Spot.

The Echo Dot (3rd gen) was announced last month, and is set to go on sale starting October 11 for ₹4,499 ($60). Right now, you can pick up the device for just ₹2,999 ($40), which is a 33% discount on its asking price. The Echo Dot now comes with a fabric design and improved sound quality, and it’s an ideal entry point into the Echo ecosystem.

See at Amazon India

The Echo Plus (2nd gen) is more diminutive in stature, but it retains the smart hub that allows it to pair to smart lights directly. Amazon says the sound quality is also better on the new Echo Plus, and the fabric finish gives it a premium look. The Echo Plus is set to retail for ₹14,999 ($200), but it’s discounted by 20% and is available for ₹11,999 ($160).

See at Amazon India

In addition to the Echo Dot and the Echo Plus, last year’s Echo is on sale for just ₹6,999 ($95), ₹3,000 off its retail price. Amazon is also offering a 15% discount on the Echo Spot, which brings it down to ₹10,999 ($150).

That’s just a few of the Amazon devices that are currently on sale. Hit up the link below for a full list of Echo and Kindle devices that are discounted right now.

See at Amazon India

Amazon Echo

• Tap, Echo or Dot: The ultimate Alexa question
• All about Alexa Skills
• Amazon Echo review
• Echo Dot review
• Echo Spot review
• Top Echo Tips & Tricks
• Amazon Echo vs. Google Home
• Get the latest Alexa news

See at Amazon

Google Pixel Slate hands-on: An iPad Pro competitor?

The rumors are true: Google unveiled the Google Pixel Slate, a new tablet-laptop hybrid, at the company’s Pixel event today. This is the first tablet we’ve seen from the company since the Pixel C. Unlike the Pixel C, though, the Pixel Slate runs on Chrome OS instead of Android.

Read more: Google Pixel 3 and Pixel 3 XL hands-on

Chrome OS makes the Pixel Slate more like an ultra-portable Chromebook than a tablet. It also allows for better productivity, while still giving you access to Google’s entire library of Android apps. The detachable keyboard and Pixelbook Pen also make it a direct competitor to the Microsoft Surface and Apple’s iPad Pro.

The Slate is mostly flat with rounded corners and the body is constructed of metal for a sturdy design.

The Pixel Slate has a look and feel like what we would expect from a Pixel product. It’s mostly flat, with rounded corners and a sturdy metal construction. When in landscape orientation, the Pixel Slate features a USB Type-C port on the left and right sides, a volume rocker, a Google G logo in the upper left corner of the backside, and a power button on the top left. The power button also doubles as a fingerprint sensor.

Don’t miss

Google Pixelbook review: is it worth $999 now?

Google’s previous Chromebook Pixels were pretty mixed bags. The original launched in 2013 for $1299 and its successor for $999. The hardware was definitely worth the cash, but the software wasn’t.

Chrome OS was a glorified …

The bezels are fairly thin (for a tablet anyway), but still big enough for dual front-facing speakers and for resting your thumbs. The device is impressively thin, giving it a sleek appearance, albeit at the expense of losing the headphone jack which some may not like. On the front and rear are 8MP cameras. The front camera is a wide-angle lens and both cameras utilize the same machine learning algorithms found on Google’s Pixel phones to produce portrait mode photos.

Like last year’s Pixelbook, the Pixel Slate carries a 3:2 aspect ratio screen with a 3,000 x 2,000 resolution. The LCD display measures 12.3 inches in size and is, of course, a touchscreen. Google calls it a Molecular display, which is just a fancy way of saying it’s very sharp and vibrant.

Android apps are fully supported on the Pixel Slate, giving you more productivity and entertainment options.

See also

Google Pixel 3 and 3 XL vs the competition

After far too many leaks, Google’s new Pixel 3 and Pixel 3 XL are finally official. There’s plenty of powerful hardware on offer here, finished off with Google’s signature style. There are also lofty photography …

Chrome OS on the Pixel Slate has been optimized to be tablet friendly, but also gives you a full desktop experience when you need it. The interface offers up an app drawer, app dock, and a Google search bar like a phone or tablet, but apps like Google Chrome will you give the full desktop version when you need a better workstation. Underneath the Google search bar are recommended shortcuts that will change over time based on your usage and apps you open frequently. Web pages you browse on your Pixel 3 or Pixel 3 XL will also appear here, so you can keep browsing from one device to the other. The Pixel Slate also fully supports Android apps, giving you more productivity and entertainment options.

The keyboard for the Pixel Slate is very different from last year’s Pixelbook. Instead of being attached on a 360-degree hinge, the Pixel Slate’s keyboard is detachable. It connects via copper pogo pins and magnets and effortlessly snaps into place. Similar to the Microsoft Surface, the back portion can fold to prop the tablet up when sitting on a desk or lap.

The keyboard does not need to be paired over Bluetooth and draws its power from the tablet itself. It instantly works when connected to the tablet. From the short time I spent with it, the keyboard was very comfortable to use. The circle keys are a bit odd visually at first, but they were great to type on. There’s plenty of separation between the keys, and travel and feedback were very satisfying. They weren’t overly shallow or noisy.

The trackpad was very spacious considering the overall size and provided good feedback when clicking. The keyboard is also backlit, which means it won’t be rendered useless when typing in the dark. Along with the keyboard, the Pixel Slate comes with support for the Pixelbook Pen for jotting down notes, creating drawings, or use as a laser pointer.

The Google Pixel Slate comes in four prices and configurations. The base model of the Pixel Slate starts at $599 which gets you an Intel Celeron processor 4 or 8GB of RAM and 32 or 64GB of storage, respectively. The highest end model costs $1,599 and comes with an 8th Gen Intel Core i7 processor, 16GB of RAM and 256GB of storage. These prices don’t include the $199 Slate Keyboard or the $99 Pixelbook — you’ll have to buy them separate. Even the base model’s price can add up very quickly. Without at least one of these accessories, you won’t get the most out of the Pixel Slate.

Google didn’t mention any specific availability other than “later this year,” but you can jump on the waiting list starting today if you feel this is the perfect productivity or multimedia machine for you.

Check it out on the Google Store

Check out our other related Pixel 3 coverage below: 

• Google Pixel 3 and Pixel 3 XL officially announced: Camera improvements galore
• Google Pixel 3 and Pixel 3 XL specs: This is no Galaxy Note 9
• Google Pixel 3 and Pixel 3 XL: Where to buy, when, and how much
• All the official Google Pixel 3 accessories we could find
• Google Pixel 3 vs Galaxy Note 9, LG V40, and Huawei P20 Pro
• Google Pixel 3 / 3 XL vs Pixel 2 / 2 XL: A tale of four flagships
• Google Pixel 3: Here are all the new camera features
• Google Pixel 3 cameras: Here’s what they can do
• Google Home Hub: Google’s in-house smart display announced

Google Home Hub hands on: A home with a view

Like Apple, Google isn’t always first to market, but both companies always try to do things better than the other. What Google typically does better than most is software, but not necessarily this time. With the new Google Home Hub, a surprisingly tiny voice-activated speaker with a screen, there’s not much difference between its software and the software found in Lenovo’s Smart Display. This time, the ace up Google’s sleeve is one Apple typically plays: branding.

Where other manufacturers can happily slap Google software on their hardware, only Google can lay claim to it. A Google-branded speaker is always going to have more cache than other Android Things-based competitors. It may not be any better technically (you’ll have to stay tuned for the full Google Home Hub review to find that out), but it does have the Google name behind it. Fortunately, Google has still added a few special software features you won’t get anywhere else, just in case.

Even in the wake of a very recent privacy breach, Google has neatly sidestepped one particularly sensitive privacy issue that has always swirled around products of this nature: there is no camera on the Google Home Hub. I like this a lot. Yes, it still has far-field microphones, but I can live with the possibility of being audio recorded without my knowledge. This is why I already have a Google Home and Google Home Mini. I’d feel differently about adding a Google Home with a camera into my living room, though. Not being able to video call may well be a disappointment to some, but I think Google made the right move on this one.

The Google Home Hub could be described as a 7-inch Android Things tablet slapped on a Google Home. To be perfectly honest, it kind of is, but that’s not a bad thing.

The Google Home Hub could be described as a 7-inch Android Things tablet slapped on a Google Home. There’s nothing wrong with that though, and it’s for that very reason we thought the Lenovo Smart Display served its purpose well. But Lenovo isn’t Google, and Google has clearly taken a few cues from its competitors to build upon that first-gen base.

The interface is basically the same as the one found on the Lenovo Smart Display. It’s a simplified Android Things-based UI that, like Google everywhere, tries to surface the information you need as conveniently as possible.

The most notable new feature on the Home Hub is something called Home View. You can swipe down from the top of the screen to quickly access shortcuts for your connected devices like smart lights, thermostat, TVs, smart locks and more, or you can make changes room-by-room. The Home View dashboard means you no longer need to access several different apps to see the status of all your connected devices.

With Home View and Google Assistant’s Routines, the Google Home Hub can help you keep on top of everything going on in your home. There’s also a redesigned Home app for when you’re away from your Google Home Hub, again, with everything in your connected home being controllable from one place.

Related Articles

Google Pixel Slate hands-on: An iPad Pro competitor?

Google Pixel 3 and Pixel 3 XL hands-on (Updated with video!)

There are no physical buttons on the Google Home Hub, so you’ll be doing everything with swipes, on-screen taps and your voice. Everything is super-sized for ease of readability, and displayed information is neatly laid out. Android Things is a no-frills OS and it does the basics nicely. There’s no Google Play Store here and no games or anything, so a Google Home Hub won’t replace the need for a tablet or other similar device in your home. But that’s the point.

Google is fleshing out its hardware ecosystem, to ensure it has a product to suit every need.

Google Home, Google Home Mini, Google Home Max and Google Home Hub all serve the basic needs of voice-activated search and reminders, smart home control, and basic audio playback. If you want something more discreet than a Google Home, get a Google Home Mini. Want better audio? Google Home Max is for you. Need a screen? Say hello to Google Home Hub.

The visual layer means you can interact with the Home Hub with your eyes as well as your ears, massively improving its potential use cases.

A screen adds a lot of value to the equation. You get all the audio benefits of a Google Home with a visual layer on top. That visual layer means you can interact with the Home Hub with your eyes as well as your ears, massively improving its potential use cases. Is the volume set too low on your speaker or is there too much noise in the background? Just look at the screen.

I’ve tried cooking with a Google Home and it wasn’t pretty. Adding step by step instructions I can casually glance at and the option for instructional YouTube videos is a big deal for someone like me.

YouTube is a big part of why the Google Home Hub exists. Google is pushing educational and How-To videos a lot on YouTube this year. Finding a more targeted way of getting those videos into your home than just your phone or tablet is obviously a large part of what’s going on here. That’s probably why buyers of a Google Home Hub get six months of free YouTube Premium.

Google Photos is also part of the mix, with the Google Home Hub able to serve as a kind of digital photo frame, cycling through your photographic moments. All you need to do is select an album you’ve created or that has been shared with you and it will display whenever Hub isn’t being used.

Live Albums lets you select specific people so Google Photos can automatically create a new album with only those people in it. Live Photos will also filter out random photos like receipts, blurry shots or multiple shots.

Besides YouTube and Photos, Google Home Hub is built to deliver information from Google Maps, Google Calendar and Search seamlessly.

Besides YouTube and Photos, Google Home Hub is built to deliver information from Google Maps, Google Calendar and Search seamlessly. All of these services have been redesigned for Android Things so you can control them with your voice and make them more “glanceable.”

Google Home Hub works with big smart home brands like Philips Hue lights, Nest thermostats, Belkin Wemo, TP-Link Wi-Fi gear and many more. It also supports streaming services like Spotify, Deezer and Tune-In internet radio, and works with both Android and iOS devices.

The Google Home Hub comes in four colors: chalk, charcoal, aqua and sand (or white, black, green-blue and pink for the chromatically challenged among us).

I didn’t get a chance to properly test out the audio quality from the Google Home Hub because in the crowded demo area it was impossible to judge. If it’s anywhere near as good as Google Home audio though I can’t really see why anyone would bother buying a Google Home anymore. Even if you don’t plan on using the display a lot, it’ll still be there if and when you need it.

Thanks to ambient light sensors, Home Hub will adjust the screen brightness to the conditions around it and even modify the on-screen colors. It can recognize multiple voices too, so your Google Home Hub will respond differently to different members of your family. Parents can also set filters for younger family members.

“Downtime” mode works a little like Do Not Disturb mode on Android, with only critical interactions like alarms interrupting your peace and quiet. Likewise, Google Home Hub can serve as a kind of sunlight alarm, gently increasing the brightness of warm colors on the display in advance of your morning alarm going off.

Related Articles

Google Home Hub: Google’s in-house smart display announced

Non-Google smart speakers aren’t performing Assistant Routines correctly

The styling of the Google Home Hub might not be to everyone’s tastes, but it’s subtle and unassuming. I wouldn’t say I love it, but it’s hard to dislike strongly either. The thing is seriously small too, a fact not immediately evident by Google’s promotional materials or even the photos in this post. 

At $149 the Google Home Hub won’t break the bank. If you’re new to smart hubs and voice controlled devices, the Google Home Mini might be a better starting point. But if the one thing you always wished connected speakers had was a screen, then the Google Home Hub could be for you. It can be bought from Google via the button below or at select retail locations starting October 22 in the U.S., UK and Australia.

BUY FROM GOOGLE

What do you think of the Google Home Hub? What connected products do you have in your home?

Borderlands 2 VR: Everything you need to know

Handsome Jack awaits you in glorious cel-shaded madness

The Borderlands series by Gearbox has been a fan favorite for years and with the 2-year anniversary of the PlayStation VR, Gearbox and Sony have just announced a VR version of the acclaimed Borderlands 2.

While information is still a little sketchy, here is everything we know right now.

• What is Borderlands 2?
• What is the control system?
• Is it still multiplayer?
• What on earth is BadAss Mega Fun Time?
• What other VR goodness is there?

What is Borderlands 2?

Borderlands 2, which came out in 2012, is a unique take on the first person shooter (FPS). With a funny and crazy story, Borderlands 2 never took itself too seriously, giving you the chance to enjoy the cel-shaded visuals spraying blood all over you and the literal millions of weapon combinations the game could spit out at you. If you don’t own it already in non-VR form, it’s still worth picking up and playing through, especially since it’s available on just about every platform and console. Even now it holds up as one of the most fun FPS I’ve ever played.

See at Amazon

What is the control system?

Borderlands 2 VR is controlled primarily with the DualShock 4 controller but is said to be “Enhanced by the Move Controllers.” The team at Sony have mentioned that the game will include teleporting as your means of locomotion, which has been utilized in a lot of VR games since teleporting helps to reduce the motion sickness that can occur in VR. However, using the DualShock controller will allow you to move around at a walking and running pace.

Using the Move Controllers should allow us to use the melee and gun powers separately for some pretty sweet combos and it will definitely make dual wielding heaps of fun, while the teleporting mechanic will hopefully make boss fights a little easier, or crazier. At least, it’ll put a new spin on the game if you’ve played it already.

Is it still multiplayer?

Unfortunately no, Gearbox made Borderlands VR a single-player experience. That means it edited some of the hunter skills to better reflect that single-player feeling. One example is for Maya, who’s going to see the following change:

We updated previous skills that relied on a co-op partner, such as Maya’s “Res” ability, which now is called “Empathy” – causing Phaselock to deplete half your current health, damaging enemies based on how much health you lost.

While it’s a shame we won’t be able to play on Pandora with our friends, it’s good to know that Gearbox has reworked the game instead of just doing a straight port, which given the crazy nature of the gameplay would have probably made for a poor port.

What on earth is BadAss Mega Fun Time?

BadAss Mega Fun Time — or BAMF Time — is a new mechanic especially developed by Gearbox to help you cope with the frantic nature of the game in VR.

Essentially, it’s a bullet-time mode that allows you to move around in real-time while everyone else is going as slow as molasses. This kind of slow-motion is exceedingly helpful in VR as a way to gather your thoughts and take specific aim at something rather than just raining a hail of bullets on everything.

It’ll also allow you to use your skills while in BAMF Time, making kills even easier, or crazier, depending on your tastes. For me, crazier is always better.

What other VR goodness is there?

Borderlands 2 VR will let you play with all the original hunter classes but with their skill list updated to use the VR view and the BAMF Time mechanic. This is another welcome change from Gearbox, showing they have put thought and effort into the VR version of the game.

The other big VR experience is going to be the driving. Taking the unique way VR handles visuals, Gearbox is trying a different approach to the vehicular mayhem from the original game. You’ll use the Move Controllers to steer the vehicle while your headset acts as your target reticule. All you need to do is look in the direction you want and your gun will shoot that way. This could, of course, be a recipe for disaster and make you feel sick but I think Gearbox is aware of this and is just trying to have some fun with us.

When and where can I get it?

Borderlands 2 will be available on December 14 but is available now to pre-order through the PlayStation Store. If you do pre-order, you get a PS4 theme for your troubles.

The Pre-order price is $50, which makes sense since it’s a full-length game.

Pre-order at PlayStation Store

PlayStation 4

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

Amazon

This is the best time to pick up a OnePlus 6 in India

OnePlus 6 gets a rare discount in India, with the phone now available for just ₹29,999 ($405).

The 2018 instalment of the Amazon Great Indian Festival is in full swing, and one particular deal caught our eye. The OnePlus 6 is currently on sale for just ₹29,999 ($405), making it a fantastic option. What makes this deal all the more enticing is that OnePlus doesn’t usually offer up discounts on its phones.

The OnePlus 6 is one of the best phones for under ₹40,000, and it’s a steal at ₹29,999. The phone normally retails for ₹34,999 ($475), and you can avail an additional 10% discount — up to ₹2,000 — if you have an SBI credit or debit card. That brings the cost of the phone down to ₹27,999, and at that price you really shouldn’t miss out on the deal. Idea is also rolling out a ₹2,000 cashback that will be spread out over 20 billing cycles.

With the OnePlus 6, you’re getting top-notch hardware combined with one of the best third-party software experiences available on Android. OnePlus is one of very few companies that has rolled out the stable Android 9.0 Pie update, introducing a host of new features.

The OnePlus 6T is on the horizon, with the phone set to be unveiled on October 30. The phone will feature an in-display fingerprint sensor and a larger 3700mAh battery, but it won’t come with a headphone jack. So if you’ve been holding out on the OnePlus 6, now is the time to pick up the phone. The deal is valid until the end of day today, October 10, so hit up the link below to get your hands on the OnePlus 6 for just ₹29,999.

See at Amazon India

OnePlus 6

• OnePlus 6 review
• OnePlus 6 vs. OnePlus 5T: How much changes in six months?
• OnePlus 6 vs. OnePlus 5: Should you upgrade?
• These are the official OnePlus 6 cases
• The OnePlus 6 doesn’t work on Verizon or Sprint
• Join the discussion in the forums

Best Amazon Fire TV Deals for September 2018

The Amazon Fire TV Stick is a godsend for those of us who want to stick with our trusted non-smart television and also want to access Netflix on it, but there are also Fire TVs which have all the capabilities of Amazon’s Fire TV stick built into the TV itself. They’re generally affordably priced, but the best time to purchase one is during a sale. Below are the best deals we could find to help you locate the right Fire TV device or Fire TV for your home.

Sometimes, Amazon offers deals which are only available to Prime members, so it helps to keep your membership active while you’re on the hunt.

Fire TV devices

• Up to $35 off Fire TV devices with Roku, Apple TV or Chromecast trade-in
• Fire TV Game Controller for $19.99 (was $50)
• Fire TV Stick; buy two and save $5 with code 2PACK
• Fire TV Stick 4K; buy two and save $10
• Fire TV Stick + Echo Dot (2nd Gen) for $74.98 (was $90)
• Fire TV Stick 4K + Echo Dot (3rd Gen) for $79.98 (was $100)
• Fire TV Cube + Cloud Cam Security Camera for $199.98 (was $240)
• Fire TV Recast + Fire TV Stick 4K + HD antenna for $249.97 (was $300)

Fire TVs

• Toshiba 32″ Smart HDTV – Fire Edition for $149.99 (was $180)
• Toshiba 43″ Smart HDTV – Fire Edition for $279.99 (was $330)
• Toshiba 49″ Smart HDTV – Fire Edition for $329.99 (was $400)

Fire TV device or Fire TV?

Have you decided which product is right for you yet? Let us know in the comments, and if you already own a Fire TV device or Fire TV, feel free to share your favorite available apps too.

How to Access Control Center and Home Screen in iOS 12 With the iPad’s New Gestures

Apple in iOS 11 revamped the iPad’s interface and changed the way we interact with the tablet through a new Dock, a revamped App Switcher, and Drag and Drop, and with iOS 12, further iPad changes have been implemented.

There are new gestures to learn for accessing the Home screen, App Switcher, and the Control Center, along with a new status bar.

Subscribe to the MacRumors YouTube channel for more videos.
The new iPad gestures are identical to the gestures on the iPhone XS, with Apple preparing us for the elimination of the Home button in future iPad models. Rumors suggest upcoming iPad Pro models will feature a TrueDepth camera system and Face ID rather than a traditional Touch ID Home button.

If you use an iPhone X, XS, or XR, the new iPad gestures will be familiar to you, but if you don’t, it could take a bit of time to get used to.

Dock Changes: Getting to the Home Screen and App Switcher

In iOS 11, when you wanted to access the Home screen from within an app, you would press the Touch ID Home button. That’s still true, but you can also now get to the Home screen when you swipe up from the bottom of the display, as demoed in the video above.

When in an app, swiping up from the bottom of the screen takes you right to the Home screen rather than just bringing up the iPad Dock within an app.

The iPad’s Home screen. Get here with one quick swipe on the Dock.
To get to the Dock to open more than one app for multitasking purposes, you need to do a swipe and a slight hold hold rather than just a swipe at the bottom inch of the screen while you have an app open already.

The iPad Dock in an app. A quick swipe brings you to the Home screen, but a swipe and a hold brings up the Dock in an app.
If you swipe and hold a bit higher on the screen, you can access the App Switcher on the iPad for quickly swapping between apps or closing apps, which is done with a swipe upwards on an app card. This gesture works both within apps and at the Home screen.

The iOS 12 iPad App Switcher, accessible with a longer swipe and hold on the Dock, either at the Home screen or within an app.

Getting to Control Center

Control Center in iOS 11 was paired with the App Switcher and was accessible by swiping up on the Dock, but that gesture now opens the App Switcher alone without providing access to Control Center.

Getting to Control Center is now done by swiping downwards from the right portion of the status bar, where it displays your battery life and Wi-Fi/Cellular connection.

All other gestures on the iPad remain the same, such as a swipe downwards from the top middle of the display to bring up your notifications and a swipe to the right to get to the Today section for widget access, but there are other iPad improvements worth noting in iOS 12.

iPad Status Bar

The iPad’s status bar has been redesigned in iOS 12, and it now resembles the status bar of the iPhone XS. The date and time are listed on the left hand side of the status bar, while battery life and Wi-Fi/Cellular signal and connection are displayed on the right hand side.

The middle of the display, where the date was previously shown, is left open, perhaps for a future notch. Prior to iOS 12, the iPad’s status bar did not show the date, so that’s also a new addition.

Spacebar Trackpad

When typing on the iPad, if you press and hold with one finger on the space bar, it turns the keyboard into a trackpad to make it easier to navigate through a document and move the cursor.

This is a feature that has been available on iPhones with 3D Touch and on the iPad with two fingers, but in iOS 12, it’s simpler to use. A two finger touch also continues to work.

Related Roundup: iOS 12
Discuss this article in our forums

How to Force Restart iPhone 7 and iPhone 7 Plus

If your iPhone 7 or iPhone 7 Plus is acting up and needs a quick restart, you can follow these steps to force it to reboot without the need to shut it down.

The iPhone 7 and iPhone 7 Plus feature a haptic Home button rather than a physical Home button, so forcing a restart is different than on earlier devices. It’s also different than restarting an iPhone 8 or later.

Force restarting an iPhone 7 or iPhone 7 Plus takes just one step. You’re going to want to hold down the Volume Down button on the left side of the device and the Sleep/Wake button on the right side of the device at the same time.

Hold the buttons for approximately 10 seconds until the screen goes dark and an Apple logo appears on the screen, which indicates the iPhone is restarting.

You can also hold down the Sleep/Wake or Side button on the device to bring up a screen that will let you shut down the iPhone entirely. The same option appears as part of the Emergency SOS screen if you press the Side button a total of five times.

Finally, if you open up the Settings app and go to the General section, you can scroll all the way to the bottom to find a “Shut Down” option.
Discuss this article in our forums

How to Force Restart iPhone X, iPhone XS, iPhone XS Max, and iPhone XR

Apple’s newest crop of devices, the iPhone X, iPhone XS, iPhone XS Max, and iPhone XR don’t have a Home button and feature new Side buttons with unique functionality, so Apple has introduced a new method for forcing a quick restart.

It takes a unique combination of button presses to cause your iPhone to restart, and while it’s not immediately obvious, once you’ve learned the steps, a force restart is the quickest way to restart your iPhone if it’s acting up.

Force Restarting iPhone X, iPhone XS, iPhone XS Max, and iPhone XR

Quickly press and release the Volume Up button.
Quickly press and release the Volume Down button.
Press and hold the Side button until the Apple logo appears, then release the Side button.During this process, you will see a slider to power off the iPhone. You’re going to want to ignore it and continue holding down the Side button until the screen goes black. At that point, the Apple logo will pop up, and after the restart is complete, the screen will activate once again.

Using the force restart process prevents you from having to shut the iPhone down entirely, which takes several more steps.

If you do want to shut the iPhone down, you can do so by going to the General section of the Settings app, scrolling down to the bottom, and choosing the Shut Down option.

You can also hold down the Volume Up button and the Side button at the same time to bring up the Emergency SOS interface that also houses a “slide to power off” option.
Discuss this article in our forums