Astronomers finally confirm general relativity around a supermassive black hole

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This artist’s impression illustrates gravitational redshift as the star swings by the supermassive black hole. ESO/M. Kornmesser

ESO/M. Kornmesser

For the first time, astronomers have confirmed Einstein’s century-old theory of general relativity by observing action near a black hole. Using the European Southern Observatory’s Very Large Telescope (VLT) in Chile, an international team of professional sky-gazers watched as a star swung by the supermassive black hole at the center of the Milky Way Galaxy, and observed the effect the black hole’s extreme gravitational field had on the star’s motion.

The observation was the culmination of a 26-year-long project that saw some of Earth’s most powerful astronomical tools pointed in just the right place at just the right time.

“Since this was the first time such a close passage could be observed with very high precision, and since such an event occurs only every 16 years, you can imagine that we were very excited to see this unfold in front of our eyes,” Stefan Gillessen, a staff scientist at the Max Planck Institute for Extraterrestrial Physics, who worked on the study, told Digital Trends.

A supermassive black hole sits at the center of the galaxy, some 26,000 light years away from Earth. It’s a relatively close neighbor, millions of light years closer than other black holes of similar size. By pointing the highly sensitive instruments of the VLT towards the galactic center, astronomers were able to “see individual stars dance around the black hole,” Gillessen said. “It is a wonderful system, offering detailed views of the motions of stars under the influence of such a gravity monster.”

Using these instruments, the astronomers observed a star called S2 undergo an effect known as gravitational redshift, which signifies that the star’s light is being stretched to longer wavelengths.

“Light feels a gravitational field, very much like a stone does,” Gillessen said. “When you throw it up, it will lose energy, slow down and eventually fall back to Earth. Light traveling outward against gravity also loses energy, however it cannot slow down — it always moves at the speed of light — but it can change its wavelength, its color. Light gets redder when it moves out.

“The effect is significant to observe, since it occurs as a consequence of general relativity,” he added. “Newton would not have predicted that this occurs.”

This study represents the first time astronomers have confirmed this gravitational redshift through the observation of a black hole. Though similar observations have been made in the past, prior studies lacked the precision instruments of today’s VLT. Gillessen said they will continue continue to observe this S2 with the hopes of detecting other relativistic effects.

A paper detailing the research was published last month in the journal Astronomy and Astrophysics.

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Want to smarten up your ride? Here’s a list of all the cars with CarPlay support

More CarPlay content

Best CarPlay apps

Apple CarPlay review

What is CarPlay?

Apple introduced CarPlay in 2014 to make driving safer and more convenient. Once your smartphone and car are properly connected, the infotainment system lets you utilize a dashboard-mounted screen to access a number of iPhone apps and functions, including messaging, music, and navigation. Basically, cars equipped with CarPlay instantly become mobile entertainment centers with iOS baked in.

To use CarPlay, you’ll need an iPhone 5 or newer running iOS 7.1 or later. You’ll also need a compatible car. Finding one was easier said than done in 2014, but, thankfully, car companies have gradually warmed up to the technology (and its rival, Android Auto). Now, a vast majority of new cars in the United States and Canada come with Apple CarPlay. Just keep in mind that some companies make buyers pay extra for the feature, or force them into certain models or trim levels to unlock it.

Acura – Cadillac

Make

Model

Acura
2018 MDX

2017-2018 NSX

2019 RDX

2018 TLX

Alfa Romeo
2018 Giulia

2018 Stelvio

Aston Martin
2017-2018 DB9 Volante

2017-2018 Rapide

2017-2018 Vanquish

2017-2018 Vantage

Audi
2017-2018 A3

2017-2018 A4

2017-2018 A5

2017-2018 A6

2017-2018 A7

2019 Q3

2018 Q5

2017-2018 Q7

2019 Q8

2017-2018 R8

2017-2018 TT

 Bentley

2017-2018 Bentayga

BMW
2017-2018 2 Series

 2017-2018 3 Series

201-20187 4 Series

 2017-2018 5 Series

2017-2018 6 Series

2017-2018 7 Series

2018 X1

2017-2018 X3

2017-2018 X4

2017-2018 X5

2017-2018 X6

 Buick

2017-2018 Encore

2017-2018 Envision

2016-2018 LaCrosse

  2016-2018 Regal

 Cadillac

2016-2018 ATS

2016-2018 ATS-V

2016-2018 CTS

2016-2018 CTS-V

2016 ELR

 2016-2018 Escalade / ESV

2019 XT4

2017-2018 XT5

2016-2018 XTS

Chevrolet – Dodge

Make

Model

 Chevrolet

2017-2018 Aveo

2019 Blazer

2017-2018 Bolt

2016-2018 Camaro

2016-2018 Camaro Convertible

2016-2018 Colorado

2016-2018 Corvette

2016-2018 Corvette Convertible

2016-2018 Cruze

2016-2018 Impala

2016-2018 Malibu

2016-2019 Silverado

2016-2018 Silverado HD

2017-2018 Sonic

2016-2018 Spark

2016-2018 Suburban

2016-2018 Tahoe

2017-2018 Trax

2016-2018 Volt

Chrysler
2017-2018 300

2018 Pacifica

 Dodge

2017-2018 Challenger

2017-2018 Charger

2018 Durango

Ferrari – GMC

Make

Model

Ferrari
2016-2018 488 GTB

2016-2018 488 Spider

2018 812 Superfast

2016-2017 California T

2016 F12 tdf

2016-2017 F12 Berlinetta

2016 FF

2017-2018 GTC4Lusso

2018 Portofino

 Fiat

2017-2018 500

2017-2018 500L

2018 500X

 Ford

2017-2018 C-MAX

2017-2018 Edge

2017-2018 Escape

2017-2018 Expedition

2017-2018 Explorer

 2017-2018 F-150

2017-2018 Fiesta

 2017-2018 Flex

2017-2018 Focus

2017-2018 Fusion

2017-2018 Mustang

2017-2018 Super Duty

 2017-2018 Taurus

2017-2018 Transit

2017-2018 Transit Connect

 Genesis

2017-2018 G80

 GMC

2017-2018 Acadia

2016-2017 Canyon

2016-2019 Sierra

2016-2018 Yukon

2016-2018 Yukon XL

Honda – Maserati

Make

Model

Honda
2016-2018 Accord

2016-2018 Civic

2017-2018 CR-V

2018 Fit

2019 Insight

2018 Odyssey

2017-2018 Pilot

2017-2018 Ridgeline

 Hyundai

2015-2018 Azera

2017-2018 Elantra

2016-2018 Elantra GT

2015-2016 Genesis

2017-2018 Ioniq

2017-2018 Santa Fe

2017-2018 Santa Fe Sport

2015-2018 Sonata

2016-2018 Tuscon

2016-2018 Veloster

 Jeep

 2017-2018 Compass

2018 Grand Cherokee

2018 Renegade

2018 Wrangler

 Kia

2017-2018 Cadenza

2017-2018 Forte

2017-2018 Forte5

2017-2018 Forte Koup

2018 K900

2017-2018 Niro

2015-2018 Optima

2015-2018 Sedona

2017-2018 Sorento

2014-2018 Soul

2015-2018 Soul EV

2017-2018 Sportage

2018 Stinger

 Lamborghini

2017 Centenario

Lexus
2019 ES

2019 UX

 Lincoln

2019 Aviator

2017-2018 Continental

2017-2018 MKC

2017-2018 MKS

2017-2018 MKT

 2017-2018 MKX

 2017-2018 MKZ

2019 Nautilus

2017-2018 Navigator

Maserati
2017-2018 Ghibli

2017-2018 Levante

Mercedes-Benz – Subaru

Make

Model

Mercedes-Benz
2016-2018 CLA

2016-2018 CLS

2016-2018 E-Class Cabriolet

2016-2018 E-Class Coupe

2016-2018 E-Class Sedan

2016-2018 GLA

2016-2018 GLE

2017-2018 GLS

2018 SL

Mini
2018 Clubman

2018 Countryman

 Mitsubishi

2018 Eclipse Cross

2017 i-MiEV

2016-2018 Mirage

2016-2018 Mirage G4

2018 Outlander

 Nissan

2019 Altima

2018 GT-R

2018 Kicks

2018 Leaf

2017-2018 Maxima

2017.5-2018 Murano

2018 Rogue

 Porsche

2017-2018 718

2017-2018 911

2017-2018 Cayenne

2017-2018 Macan

2017-2018 Panamera

Ram
2018-2019 1500

2018 2500

2018 3500

2018 4500

 Subaru

2019 Ascent

2018-2019 Crosstrek

2019 Forester

2017-2019 Impreza

2018-2019 Legacy

2018-2019 Outback

Toyota – Volvo

Make

Model

Toyota
2019 Avalon

2019 Corolla Hatchback

2019 RAV4

 Volkswagen

2019 Arteon

2017-2019 Atlas

2016-2018 Beetle

2016-2018 CC

2016-2018 e-Golf

2016-2018 Golf

2016-2018 GTI

2016-2019 Jetta

2016-2018 Passat

2016-2019 Tiguan

 Volvo

2019 S60

2017-2018 S90

2019 V60

2019 V90

2019 XC40

2018 XC60

2016-2019 XC90

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Futuristic chopsticks simulate flavor by zapping your tongue with electrodes

Dr. Nimesha Ranasinghe doesn’t seem content with the way we consume food and drink here in 2018. The brains behind a previous project that lets you send lemonade over the internet, and a programmable cocktail glass able to trick your senses into thinking you’re drinking just about anything you can imagine, Ranasinghe displays the kind of disregard for culinary convention that would make even the most avant-garde chef balk.

Now he’s back with a new project — and this one’s a real doozy. Created at the National University of Singapore, Ranasinghe developed a pair of chopsticks and Miso soup bowl able to add seasoning to your food through the use of tongue-zapping electrodes. OK, so sticking a combination of eating or drinking utensil and low-powered cattle prod in your mouth might not be to everyone’s taste (pun intended), but it could actually make you lead a healthier diet. And not just because you’d be too scared to eat!

“Our technology demonstrates a digital flavor augmenting solution by applying controlled electrical pulses on the user’s tip of the tongue,” Ranasinghe, who recently took a job as director of the Multisensory Interactive Media Lab at the University of Maine, told Digital Trends. “A pair of chopsticks and a soup bowl is developed to stimulate the user’s tongue while eating and drinking. To achieve electric taste augmentation, the utensils utilize electrical stimulation via a microampere current and two silver electrodes applied to the tip of the tongue during eating interactions.”

Using the chopsticks, it’s possible to simulate the taste of saltiness, sourness, and bitterness in food — just so long as the chopsticks come into direct contact with the tongue during eating. In theory, this could mean lowering people’s salt intake, since the chopsticks can simulate the taste without requiring any actual salt to be consumed.

“We have developed several form factors of this technology to explore how people intuitively touch different areas of utensils while consuming food and beverages,” Ranasinghe continued. “Our latest study focused on modulating flavor experiences while eating mashed potato, unsalted and salted, and miso soup, [both] diluted and salted. Our findings show that significant increases in perceived saltiness and sourness can be achieved when consuming unsalted mashed potato, and significantly higher ratings of sourness can be achieved when consuming diluted miso soup.”

Now that Ranasinghe is no longer at the National University of Singapore, this particular project has seemingly come to an end. However, Ranasinghe is continuing to investigate cutting-edge technologies for augmenting flavors in his new role. We can’t wait to see what he’s got up his sleeve (or in his kitchen-lab) next!

A paper describing the work was recently published in the journal Food Research International.

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Samsung Galaxy Tab S4 vs. Galaxy Tab S3: Android Tablet Showdown

Julian Chokkattu/Digital Trends

Hear the word tablet, and you’ll probably think of Apple’s iPad. Android tablets are few and far between these days, and companies like Huawei and Samsung are among the few that consistently release high-end models. This stems largely from Google not encouraging developers to create tablet-friendly apps, so Samsung took things into its own hands with its latest tablet, the Galaxy Tab S4. Samsung has built its DeX interface into the Tab S4, so whenever you connect the tablet to a keyboard, the Android desktop mode will launch. This makes the device much more productivity friendly.

But before we start comparing the Tab S4 to competitors like the iPad Pro, how does it stack up against its predecessor? We pit Galaxy Tab S4 versus Galaxy Tab S3 to find out.

Specs

Samsung Galaxy Tab S4
Samsung Galaxy Tab S3

Size
249.3 x 164.3 x 7.1 mm (9.81 x 6.46 x 0.27 inches)
237.3 x 169 x 6 mm (9.34 x 6.65 x 0.24 inches)

Weight
482 grams (17 ounces)
429 grams (15.13 ounces)

Screen size
10.5-inch Super AMOLED display
9.7-inch Super AMOLED display

Screen resolution
2,560 x 1,600 pixels (265 pixels per inch)
2,048 x 1,536 pixels (264 pixels per inch)

Operating system
Android 8.1 Oreo
Android 8.0 Oreo

Storage space
64/256GB

32GB

MicroSD card slot
Yes, up to 512GB
Yes, up to 512GB

Processor
Qualcomm Snapdragon 835
Qualcomm Snapdragon 820

RAM
4GB
4GB

Camera
13MP rear, 8MP front
13MP rear, 5MP front

Video
Up to 4K at 30 frames per second
Up to 4K at 30 frames per second

Bluetooth version
Bluetooth 5.0
Bluetooth 4.2

Ports
3.5mm headphone jack, USB-C
3.5mm headphone jack, USB-C

Fingerprint sensor
None
Yes (front mounted)

Water resistance
No
No

Battery
7,300mAh

Fast charging

6,000mAh

Fast charging

App marketplace
Google Play Store
Google Play Store

Network support
Verizon (Cellular version only), more carrier support to come later this year including Sprint, AT&T, and US Cellular
All major carriers (Cellular version only)

Colors
White, Black
White, Black

Price
$650-plus
$550

Buy from

Samsung, Amazon, Best Buy, Verizon

Samsung, Amazon, Best Buy

Review score
Hands-on review
3 out of 5 stars

Performance, battery life, and charging

Julian Chokkattu/Digital Trends

The Galaxy Tab S3’s performance was one of its stronger points, with the Snapdragon 820 processor easily handling most of the tasks we threw at it. That chip was a generation behind when the Tab S3 launched, and it’s a similar story with the Tab S4, which will launch with the Snapdragon 835 processor. It’s the same processor that ran the last generation of smartphones, like the LG V30 and the Samsung Galaxy S8. It’s still a great chip though, and we naturally expect stronger performance from the Tab S4 over the Tab S3 as a result.

Both devices come with 4GB of RAM and the option to expand storage by MicroSD. The Tab S4 has also seen an upgrade in storage, with 64GB available in the base model, and 256GB of storage available for an extra $100.

The Tab S4 is also packing a larger 7,300mAh battery. The Tab S3’s 6,000mAh battery held up well, lasting over 10 hours in our moderate to high use testing. Expect the extra capacity on the Tab S4 to last even longer, with Samsung touting 16 hours of video playback. Neither tablet supports wireless charging, but both have Samsung’s fast charging built in.

There’s an obvious winner here — the Galaxy Tab S4 is a clear upgrade.

Winner: Samsung Galaxy Tab S4

Design and durability

Julian Chokkattu/Digital Trends

The Tab S3 had a boring, barely-changed design, and a glass back that didn’t win it any durability favors. While the glass is apparently here to stay (Gorilla Glass 3 on the front and back), there are quite a few design changes on the Tab S4. Samsung has shrunk down the bezels on the newer tablet, refreshing the look and giving us something that isn’t just an enlarged Galaxy S5. Despite the larger 10.5-inch display, the Tab S4 is nearly the same size as the Tab S3. Samsung has also removed the home button — there’s just a power button and volume rocker at the top — and that also means there is no fingerprint sensor. The Samsung logo has gone with it too, giving the front of the tablet a cleaner look.

The lack of a fingerprint sensor is a step back, as it will make the user experience a little more frustrating in tablet mode. Both are similar durability-wise, with glass you’ll want to avoid smashing, and zero water resistance.

The Tab S4’s refreshed design wins this round, and while the Tab S3 had a fingerprint sensor, we encountered a few problems with it in our review.

Winner: Samsung Galaxy Tab S4

Display

Julian Chokkattu/Digital Trends

Samsung is known for producing some of the best screens, and both the Tab S3 and Tab S4 uphold Samsung’s strong reputation. The Tab S3 has a 9.7-inch Super AMOLED display running a 2,048 x 1,536 resolution, while the Tab S4 goes in for a larger 10.5-inch Super AMOLED display, with a 2,560 x 1,600 resolution. Both displays are similarly sharp, and the OLED technology means they both show deep blacks and vibrant colors.

Because the bezels have been slimmed down, the bigger screen on the Tab S4 doesn’t mean the tablet is bigger than the Tab S3 — they’re similar in size. That’s a win-win in our book, and the Tab S4 takes the win.

Winner: Samsung Galaxy Tab S4

Camera

Julian Chokkattu/Digital Trends

Camera technology isn’t really worth all that much in tablets, but it’s nice to have the option to take snaps (we recommend not taking photos with your tablet outside). You’ll find similar 13-megapixel lenses around the back of both devices,and both can capture video at 4K resolutions.

The Tab S4 picks up some extra points with improvements to the front-facing camera — upping the lens to 8-megapixels from the meager 5-megapixel lens on the Tab S3. Since you’re more likely to use the front-facing camera on such a device, it wins the Tab S4 the round here.

Winner: Samsung Galaxy Tab S4

Software and updates

Julian Chokkattu/Digital Trends

You’ll find Android 8.0 Oreo on the Tab S3, and Android 8.1 Oreo on the Tab S4 — 8.1 brings a few additional improvements to the operating system.

But the biggest difference between the two tablets in terms of software is that when you connect the Tab S4 to the keyboard cover, Samsung’s DeX mode will launch. It’s basically a desktop Android mode, with support for multiple app windows, Bluetooth mouse support, resizing app windows, right-click functionality, drag-and-drop, and more. It elevates the Tab S4 into a true productivity machine, making it a more viable laptop replacement.

In terms of OS updates, it’s likely the Tab S4 will get upgraded to Android P first, but the Tab S3 should eventually receive the upgrade as well. The Tab S4 will likely be updated for a longer time than the Tab S3 at this point.

The Tab S4 wins this round solely for its DeX interface.

Winner: Samsung Galaxy Tab S4

Special features

Julian Chokkattu/Digital Trends

The Tab S3 had good speakers for a tablet, with audio tuned by Samsung-owned audio company AKG. That same partnership continues on the Tab S4, with Samsung making even bigger improvements to the overall audio quality with Dolby Atmos Sound support. In our brief tests, the keyboard cover muffles the sound, but it sounds solid otherwise.

You’ll also find similar S Pen support on both models, though the Tab S4’s S Pen has some upgrades, including some of the Note 8’s best features. You can create Live Messages, where you can draw on photos and turn them into animated GIFs; hover over text to translate them; and take notes with the screen off.

The Tab S4 simply has more features, so it takes the cake.

Winner: Samsung Galaxy Tab S4

Price

You can grab the Tab S3 right now from Amazon, with prices starting at $550 for the Wi-Fi only model. The LTE model is no longer sold by Samsung, but you can pick it up from Best Buy for $700 — though that model only works on Verizon’s network. To grab a version that works with GSM networks like T-Mobile or AT&T, you’ll have to import an international version from Amazon. At this point, we’re not sure if anyone should spend this much on the Tab S3. At $550, you may as well spend $100 more to nab the improved Tab S4.

The Wi-Fi model of the Galaxy Tab S4 will be launching on August 10, and it costs $650 for the 64GB model, and $750 for the 256GB model. You’ll be able to pick those models up from Amazon, Best Buy, and Samsung. The LTE version of the tablet will also launch August 10, but it will be exclusive to Verizon, with models for other networks arriving in the third quarter of the year.

Overall winner: Samsung Galaxy Tab S4

With improvements being made in almost all areas, it shouldn’t come as a surprise that the Galaxy Tab S4 walks away with the prize here. While we’re waiting to properly put the Tab S4 through its paces, it seems that Samsung has definitely left last year’s blues behind, and might be set to give the Android tablet world the shake up it needs.

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Need some tunes when you’re offline? Here’s how to download songs from Spotify

Spotify is clearly the best music streaming service out there — err, at least according to us. Its premium service is relatively affordable, it offers more than 30 millions songs, and it will allow you to download specific songs and playlists to listen to when you’re offline. Downloading music directly from Spotify is easy, too, and can be done on both your mobile device and desktop machine.

If you’re unclear on how to go about doing it, however, we’ve put together a simple tutorial on how to download songs from Spotify. The one caveat — if it even is one — is that you can only download 3,333 songs on each device, and can only do so on up to three different devices. You’ll also need Spotify Premium and an internet connection to make it happen.

Desktop

Step 1: When viewing a playlist you’d like to download, click the button marked Follow, which is located directly to the right of the Play button. Otherwise, the download option will not be available.

Step 2: Next, toggle the Download slider in the upper-right corner of any playlist. The playlist will start to download, but keep in mind that it may take a little while depending on how large the playlist is.

Once saved, the playlist will be accessible from within the “Playlists” pane on the left. Sadly, unlike on mobile, you currently cannot download albums or podcasts on your desktop — only playlists.

Setting your desktop to Offline Mode

You can listen to your downloaded music whenever you lose connection to the internet, but if you want to manually set your desktop to Offline Mode, follow the steps below.

MacOS

Launch Spotify.
Click Spotify in the application toolbar.
Select Offline Mode from the drop-down menu.

Windows

Launch Spotify.
Click the three horizontal dots in the upper-left corner.
Scroll over File.
Select Offline Mode.

Mobile

To download an album or playlist

Toggle the the Download slider in the upper-right corner of an album or playlist, directly above the song list. Once downloaded, your music will be accessible from within the Playlists or Albums pane on the left.

Note: You don’t have to be following a playlist or an album in order to download it on your mobile device.

To download a podcast

Step 1: When viewing a podcast like Trends with Benefits, tap the three horizontal dots in the upper-right corner — or the three vertical dots, if using an Android device — to access the info pane.

Step 2: Next, tap Manage Downloads.

Step 3: A download icon will appear beside each episode, allowing you to pick and choose which you’d like to download. You can also tap the three horizontal dots to the right of individual episodes and select Download if you prefer a quicker method.

Setting your mobile device to Offline Mode

You can listen to your downloaded music whenever you lose connection to the internet, but if you want to manually set your smartphone or tablet to Offline Mode, follow the steps below.

Tap Your Library in the bottom-right corner of Spotify.
Tap the Setting cog in the upper-right corner.
Tap Playback.
Toggle the Offline slider at the top.

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Need some tunes when you’re offline? Here’s how to download songs from Spotify

Spotify is clearly the best music streaming service out there — err, at least according to us. Its premium service is relatively affordable, it offers more than 30 millions songs, and it will allow you to download specific songs and playlists to listen to when you’re offline. Downloading music directly from Spotify is easy, too, and can be done on both your mobile device and desktop machine.

If you’re unclear on how to go about doing it, however, we’ve put together a simple tutorial on how to download songs from Spotify. The one caveat — if it even is one — is that you can only download 3,333 songs on each device, and can only do so on up to three different devices. You’ll also need Spotify Premium and an internet connection to make it happen.

Desktop

Step 1: When viewing a playlist you’d like to download, click the button marked Follow, which is located directly to the right of the Play button. Otherwise, the download option will not be available.

Step 2: Next, toggle the Download slider in the upper-right corner of any playlist. The playlist will start to download, but keep in mind that it may take a little while depending on how large the playlist is.

Once saved, the playlist will be accessible from within the “Playlists” pane on the left. Sadly, unlike on mobile, you currently cannot download albums or podcasts on your desktop — only playlists.

Setting your desktop to Offline Mode

You can listen to your downloaded music whenever you lose connection to the internet, but if you want to manually set your desktop to Offline Mode, follow the steps below.

MacOS

Launch Spotify.
Click Spotify in the application toolbar.
Select Offline Mode from the drop-down menu.

Windows

Launch Spotify.
Click the three horizontal dots in the upper-left corner.
Scroll over File.
Select Offline Mode.

Mobile

To download an album or playlist

Toggle the the Download slider in the upper-right corner of an album or playlist, directly above the song list. Once downloaded, your music will be accessible from within the Playlists or Albums pane on the left.

Note: You don’t have to be following a playlist or an album in order to download it on your mobile device.

To download a podcast

Step 1: When viewing a podcast like Trends with Benefits, tap the three horizontal dots in the upper-right corner — or the three vertical dots, if using an Android device — to access the info pane.

Step 2: Next, tap Manage Downloads.

Step 3: A download icon will appear beside each episode, allowing you to pick and choose which you’d like to download. You can also tap the three horizontal dots to the right of individual episodes and select Download if you prefer a quicker method.

Setting your mobile device to Offline Mode

You can listen to your downloaded music whenever you lose connection to the internet, but if you want to manually set your smartphone or tablet to Offline Mode, follow the steps below.

Tap Your Library in the bottom-right corner of Spotify.
Tap the Setting cog in the upper-right corner.
Tap Playback.
Toggle the Offline slider at the top.

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You know that brain-training app you downloaded? It’s probably worthless

The idea of brain-training apps able to improve our cognitive abilities by playing games seemed like the perfect middle finger to everyone who ever told us to stop playing Sega and get on with some homework. Sadly, a new piece of research suggests that maybe we should have listened to our parents after all. According to a recent study from neuroscientists at Canada’s Western University, brain-training apps are great at … making you good at playing that particular brain-training app.

The researchers in the study examined whether playing one brain-training app for a period of several hours would make someone good at another brain-training app, utilizing the same part of the brain. Should this be the case, they theorized it would show that such apps can indeed improve a person’s working memory, which is crucial for countering memory loss and helping us better retain information.

This isn’t what they found, though. Instead, high scores racked up in the first game had no impact whatsoever on performance in the second game. In fact, scores were pretty much identical to those attained by a control group who hadn’t had the benefit of training on the first app.

“We hypothesized that if you get really, really good at one test by training for a very long time, maybe then you’ll get improvement on tests that are quite similar,” Bobby Stojanoski, a research scientist in the Owen Lab at Western’s Brain and Mind Institute and lead author of the paper, said in a statement. “Unfortunately, we found no evidence to support that claim. Despite hours of brain training on that one game, participants were no better at the second game than people who tested on the second game, but hadn’t trained on the first one.”

This doesn’t conclusively prove brain-training apps are useless, of course. It doesn’t act as a qualitative study of all brain-training apps, for one thing. It would also be interesting to see a follow-up which examines whether these apps could play a role in stopping the decline of neural function in older groups of people, similar to how people report doing crosswords or sudokus to keep their mind active.

For most of us, though, it seems that *sigh* we’re better off eating healthier, exercising regularly, and doing our homework on time in order to really train our brains.

A paper describing the work was recently published in the journal Neuropsychologia.

Editors’ Recommendations

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You know that brain-training app you downloaded? It’s probably worthless

The idea of brain-training apps able to improve our cognitive abilities by playing games seemed like the perfect middle finger to everyone who ever told us to stop playing Sega and get on with some homework. Sadly, a new piece of research suggests that maybe we should have listened to our parents after all. According to a recent study from neuroscientists at Canada’s Western University, brain-training apps are great at … making you good at playing that particular brain-training app.

The researchers in the study examined whether playing one brain-training app for a period of several hours would make someone good at another brain-training app, utilizing the same part of the brain. Should this be the case, they theorized it would show that such apps can indeed improve a person’s working memory, which is crucial for countering memory loss and helping us better retain information.

This isn’t what they found, though. Instead, high scores racked up in the first game had no impact whatsoever on performance in the second game. In fact, scores were pretty much identical to those attained by a control group who hadn’t had the benefit of training on the first app.

“We hypothesized that if you get really, really good at one test by training for a very long time, maybe then you’ll get improvement on tests that are quite similar,” Bobby Stojanoski, a research scientist in the Owen Lab at Western’s Brain and Mind Institute and lead author of the paper, said in a statement. “Unfortunately, we found no evidence to support that claim. Despite hours of brain training on that one game, participants were no better at the second game than people who tested on the second game, but hadn’t trained on the first one.”

This doesn’t conclusively prove brain-training apps are useless, of course. It doesn’t act as a qualitative study of all brain-training apps, for one thing. It would also be interesting to see a follow-up which examines whether these apps could play a role in stopping the decline of neural function in older groups of people, similar to how people report doing crosswords or sudokus to keep their mind active.

For most of us, though, it seems that *sigh* we’re better off eating healthier, exercising regularly, and doing our homework on time in order to really train our brains.

A paper describing the work was recently published in the journal Neuropsychologia.

Editors’ Recommendations

• Zapping your brain while you sleep could actually improve your memory
• The best tablets you can buy
• Awesome Tech You Can’t Buy Yet: Hologram generators, growing shoes, and more
• The Best Minivans You Can Buy
• The best SUVs you can buy

Best Cheap Android Phones in 2018

We’re a virtual company made up of tech experts from across the globe. We live and breathe Android phones, and use nearly every one to find the best budget picks for you.

The Motorola Moto G6 currently offers the best combination of performance, features and value. It overshadows the competition with its wide availability, fast performance, and support for nearly every network in the world, beating out a number of rivals from Nokia and Honor.

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Our Pick

Moto G6

Amazon — $235

• $235 from Amazon
• $249 from Motorola

The best budget Android phone for most people.

A winner in every respect, from the modern design to the dual camera setup and excellent performance, the Moto G6 represents the pinnacle of Motorola’s dominance in the budget phone space.

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Who should buy this phone

Not everyone needs a big, expensive Android phone — especially if they’re looking to buy it outright. At $249 (or less from Amazon’s Prime Exclusive program), the Moto G6 provides 90% of what flagship devices offer at a third of the price. This phone is for anyone coming from an older budget phone, or just looking to simplify and downsize, without losing the core Android experience.

Read our full Moto G6 review to learn more about the phone!

Is it a good time to buy this phone?

Yes. As of July 2018, the Moto G6 is brand new and will continue to be supported and updated by Motorola for two years or more. And because it’s a budget phone already, the price is unlikely to drop dramatically over the course of its life, so anyone looking for an inexpensive Android phone, now is a great time to pick up the Moto G6.

7 reasons to buy

• Great build quality and design for the price
• Excellent main rear camera
• Good battery life
• Compatible with all major U.S. and international carriers
• Moto Display adds tremendous value
• USB-C fast charging
• Available as Amazon Prime exclusive

2 reasons not to buy

• Moto G line isn’t known for swift software updates
• Lacks NFC

Most people don’t need to spend a lot on a phone anymore

Flagship phones like the Pixel 2 and Galaxy S9 series can be up into the $700 or $800 range, and many of the features that come with them, like wireless charging or waterproofing, aren’t fundamental to a device’s enjoyment. They’re bonus features.

The best Android phones you can buy

Increasingly, you’re paying so much more for those bonus features that the Law of Diminishing Returns comes into play. At its core, the Moto G6 offers 90% of phones double and triple its cost. A few years ago, that delta would have been a lot more, but the prices of budget components have dropped so much, and retained so much of their more expensive counterparts’ characteristics, that it’s often not worth recommending those expensive flagships anymore.

The Moto G6 and its other budget counterparts on this list have awesome, high-resolution touchscreens, reliable software, and great cameras. Some features, like NFC, drive up manufacturing costs, so you have to weigh whether you need NFC-enabled features like mobile payments. And the Moto G6 also lacks the same graphical power as its more expensive competitors, but most games play without issue, even at medium or high settings, because Android games are designed to function on hardware of all sizes and prices.

The Moto G6 has all the major features you need from a modern smartphone, and the ones it lacks you can easily live without.

Motorola has had five years of practice making the Moto G line into a budget powerhouse; when it designed the first Moto G back in 2013, it eschewed expensive materials like metal and glass and focused instead on the core experience. Starting in 2016, Motorola began finding ways to add important features like fingerprint sensors, and last year, in 2017, the company transitioned the Moto G line to metal. With the sixth-gen lineup, that includes the cheaper Moto G6 Play and more expensive Moto G6 Plus, it’s back to a combination of plastic and glass, it’s a nice visual improvement over previous models.

At the same time, Motorola understands its audience, which is why it added a dual camera setup to the Moto G6. The second camera adds depth effects like portrait mode without sacrificing the excellent pedigree of the main 12MP sensor.

Finally, if you’re in the U.S., the Moto G6 is one of the few sub-$300 phones to work on all four U.S. carriers, and it’s even sold at directly at a couple of carriers, another advantage of Motorola’s long-standing relationship with companies like Verizon.

Alternatives to the Moto G6

Motorola isn’t the only player in town when it comes to cheap phones. In recent years, Honor, a subsidiary of Huawei, and HMD Global, which has reinvigorated the Nokia brand, have kept Motorola on its toes in the budget space. Then there’s Alcatel, which continues to bring down the cost of phone ownership with its new Android Go-powered devices.

Runner-up

Nokia 6.1

See at Amazon

Nokia’s lineup of inexpensive Android phones has received an impressive refresh for 2018, and the $250-ish Nokia 6.1 is the best of the lot. It’s made of a single piece of Series 6 aluminum, which should hold up better than the Moto G6’s glass back, and its Snapdragon 630 processor is quite a bit more powerful. It also runs Android One, which means the updates come directly from Google, so they’ll be more timely, and the Nokia 6.1 will receive Android P before the Moto G6.

Everyone knows the Nokia brand, so we were cautiously optimistic when HMD Global, which is made up of a bunch of former Nokia engineers and executives, debuted a full line-up of Android-powered phones. With its second-generation lineup, which includes the inexpensive Nokia 2.1 and beautifully-designed Nokia 7 Plus, the company has hit it out of the park.

We love the Nokia 6.1 because it hits the right sweet spot between performance and value. On the other hand, the phone only works on T-Mobile and AT&T in the U.S., and doesn’t have the same caliber of camera as the Moto G6. And given that it’s running Android One, it lacks some of the value-added software features like Moto Display that we love on the Moto G6.

The top carrier option

Moto E5 Plus

A larger, more battery-focused version of the Moto G6 is the Moto E5 Plus, which has a massive 5,000mAh battery inside. This phone is sold at carriers in the U.S., including T-Mobile, Sprint, Cricket, and Boost Mobile, so you can’t buy it outright, but it’s also one of the best values in smartphones today. Featuring a 6-inch HD screen and a 12MP camera, the Moto E5 Plus is a fantastic option if you’re going the carrier route.

See at T-Mobile

If you’re locked into the carrier ecosystem, or want to get your phone with a low-cost financing option, getting the Moto E5 Plus from T-Mobile is likely your best bet. At just $9/month for 24 months, the $225 phone is huge and powerful, and retains the same excellent software and camera experience of the Moto G6. Its rear fingerprint sensor is built into the phone’s logo, too, for some extra style.

A battery that keeps going

Honor 7X

Another great option in the budget space is the Honor 7X, which features a beautiful, tall 5.93-inch 18:9 screen, a really powerful Kirin processor and, best of all, a 3,340mAh battery, all for $199. Honor, which is owned by Huawei, is able to keep its costs low because it sells more phones than Motorola and Nokia combined. The Honor 7X lacks the nuanced software of either of the above recommendations, but its metal frame covers some really powerful internals.

See at Amazon

Honor is one of those companies that, because of Huawei’s problems in the U.S., hasn’t really received its fair share of coverage, and that’s a shame. The Honor 7X is a tremendous phone, especially for its $199 price, and there’s very little it does badly. In other markets, the more expensive Honor 10, takes everything we love about the Honor 7X and improves upon it, while U.S. customers can also enjoy the confusingly-named Honor View10, which shares a lot of the Honor 10’s best traits.

Value pick

Alcatel 1X

No one thought it was possible, but you can now buy a great Android phone for just under $100. The Alcatel 1X is the latest in the company’s budget lineup, and it’s the first to run Android Oreo Go Edition, Google’s suite of apps and software optimizations to make Android run well on inexpensive hardware.

See at Amazon

With the 1X, you lack a lot of the amenities of even the $250 Moto G6 — it’s all plastic, for starters, and only has 1GB of RAM — but if all you need is a basic smartphone to make calls, browse Instagram, and take a few photos, the Alcatel 1X is a fantastic option.

Bottom line

There’s no shortage of awesome Android phones these days, whether you want to spend more than $700, less than $300, or even $100. The above phones represent the best of a set limitation — that of not wanting to overspend on a product that, inevitably, will need to be replaced in a couple of years.

But that’s the beauty of a device that costs a third of what you’d spend on a Galaxy S9 or Pixel 2. It offers 90% of what those phones cost and can be replaced more easily. While you may miss out on some of the more advanced features like waterproofing and wireless charging, and you may not receive as many updates, or for as long, these phones represent a new breed of budget devices you can feel confident in buying. The Moto G6 is the best of the bunch but they are all great in different ways.

Updated July 2018: This guide was updated to add the Moto E5 Plus, which is a great option if you want to buy through a carrier.

Credits — The team that worked on this guide

Andrew Martonik is the Executive Editor, U.S. at Android Central. He has been a mobile enthusiast since the Windows Mobile days, and covering all things Android-related with a unique perspective at AC since 2012. For suggestions and updates, you can reach him at andrew.martonik@androidcentral.com or on Twitter at @andrewmartonik.

Jerry Hildenbrand is Mobile Nation’s Senior Editor and works from a Chromebook full time. Currently he is using Google’s Pixelbook but is always looking at new products and may have any Chromebook in his hands at any time. You’ll find him across the Mobile Nations network and you can hit him up on Twitter if you want to say hey.

Daniel Bader is the Managing Editor of Android Central. As he’s writing this, a mountain of old Android phones is about to fall on his head, but his Great Dane will protect him. He drinks way too much coffee and sleeps too little. He wonders if there’s a correlation.

These New Smart Displays include Google Assistant

Smart Displays are coming first from JBL, Lenovo, LG, and Sony.

One of the big trends from CES 2018 was Google’s response to the Amazon Echo Show. In 2017, Google matched the Amazon’s Echo Dot with the Google Home Mini, and this year it took aim at the Show with its new smart displays with Google Assistant built in.

Smart Displays are Google Assistant-powered speakers that also feature screens, and while we likely won’t see a Google Home-branded one until later in the fall, there are already four companies that have announced Smart Displays of their own. Let’s take a look at what we know so far.

• Lenovo Smart Display
• JBL Link View
• LG ThinQ View WK9
• Sony’s yet-to-be-announced Smart Display

Lenovo Smart Display

The first of these gadgets announced was the Lenovo Smart Display. You’ll be able to get Lenovo’s Smart Display with either an 8-inch or 10-inch display, and while the 8-inch model opts for a traditional plastic back, the 10-inch unit has a gorgeous bamboo one.

Both models have an odd wedge on the back, and this allows you to position the Lenovo Smart Display either vertically or horizontally. There are buttons for adjusting speaker volume, and there’s even a switch that places a physical lens cover over the front-facing camera that’s used for video calls.

Lenovo will sell the 8-inch Smart Display for $199, and upgrading to the larger 10-inch one will cost you $249. It’s on sale starting July 27.

See at Lenovo

JBL Link View

JBL’s Smart Display goes by the name of the Link View, and while it serves the same general purpose as the Lenovo Smart Display, its design is quite a bit different. JBL has only announced one version of the Link View and it comes with an 8-inch screen. There’s a 5MP camera above it, a JBL logo at the bottom, and both the left and right side are flanked by two 10W stereo speakers that are paired with a passive radiator on the back to enable “rich, deep bass.”

The body as a whole favors an oval shape versus the rectangular nature of the Lenovo Smart Display, and while you won’t find any bamboo back here, it’s arguably the sleeker of the two thanks to the all-black paint job. Along with this, there’s also support for Bluetooth, Google Cast, and IPX4 splash resistance.

Pre-orders for the JBL Link View are live right now for $249.95 and shipments are currently set to go out on September 3.

See at JBL

LG ThingQ View WK9

LG’s first foray into the world of Smart Displays comes in the form of the LG ThinQ View WK9, and while we’ll have to get hands-on time with the device before we can make any final judgments, it currently looks like the most underwhelming of the Smart Displays we’ve seen so far.

The large, boxy design looks boring and not all that aesthetically pleasing, and while the 8-inch touchscreen display itself should be fine, the fact that there’s no tilt to it like there is on Lenovo and JBL’s options could make for some difficult viewing angles.

Speaker tuning from Meridian Audio still has us interested, however, and this paired with the two front-facing stereo speakers will likely create a solid audio experience. Similar to the other Smart Displays on this list, you’ll also find Chromecast support.

LG simply says that the WK9 is “coming soon” with a hefty price of $299.99.

Sony’s yet-to-be-announced Smart Display

Google confirmed that Sony will be releasing a Smart Display, but a month on from CES and we still know literally nothing about it. Neither specs or renders for the speaker have been released, and as such, there’s not a whole lot we can say about it right now.

As soon as details are released, we’ll be sure to share them with you!

Might Google Assistant and the Lenovo Smart Display be the whole-home hub the Echo Show isn’t?

Updated July 2018: Added the latest information available.