Is there a new ‘next-generation’ Windows OS just around the corner?

Interface developer Synaptics has announced a new partnership with AMD to help secure many of the operating systems of the future with a new fingerprint sensor. One of those operating systems could well be a new Windows, as during the conference the two companies discussed how biometrics could be the key to securing a “next-generation” Windows operating system. Although few details were shared, it’s possible that the two companies were talking about Windows Polaris.

Although Windows 10 has often been touted by Microsoft as its last OS — with continued plans for large, regular updates to refresh the platform’s capabilities and security — Microsoft has released new versions since its debut. Windows 10 S was considered as a hint at Microsoft’s more closed-garden idea of the future and unique Windows ’10’ platforms built around Windows Core OS are thought likely to be the next step.

“The collaboration brings a new level of security for AMD-based laptops by leveraging Synaptics’ unique FS7600 Match-in-Sensor fingerprint sensor technology with powerful AMD Ryzen Mobile processors, and Microsoft’s forthcoming biometric security OS including Windows Hello,” Synaptics said during the announcement, via WindowsCentral.

The collaboration with AMD and discussion of “Ryzen” CPUs — which are typically desktop and laptop chips — suggests we’re talking about a desktop operating system and not a mobile one. Therefore it’s certainly possible that the two companies were referencing Polaris, or at least Windows Core OS in their mention of a “next-generation” Windows, but the specific citing of a “biometric security OS” is intriguing. That could suggest passwords are dropped as the main login system in Microsoft’s OS plans for the future.

If Synaptics and AMD were indeed talking about Windows Core OS or, more specifically, Windows Polaris in their announcement, then we may have to wait some time to learn much more. Although still very much under wraps, Windows Core OS and its associated operating systems are not expected to see the light of day until 2019 at the earliest and possibly not until 2020. As Neowin suggests though, it’s also possible Microsoft will say more at its upcoming Inspire partner conference that launches on July 15.

Whichever OS the two companies were referring to though, it sounds as if it will support the new Synaptics fingerprint sensor, which adds a new layer of security to biometric login by storing the fingerprint signature on the sensor itself, making it self-contained and less susceptible to hackers and data thieves.

Synaptics and AMD are just two of many companies who want to move us toward a password-free future. But it might not be that easy.

Editors’ Recommendations

• Huawei developing its own OS in case it’s barred from Android?
• First Snapdragon 845 Chromebook could be a 2-in-1 with detachable keyboard
• Would you buy a Pixelbook if it could boot into Windows and Chrome OS?
• Logging in with Facebook may let Javascript trackers steal personal data
• Microsoft leak hints dual-screen Andromeda device targets launch later this year

What to expect at Samsung’s Galaxy Unpacked event in August

We might be more than halfway through 2018, but there’s still a lot for tech fans to look forward to. Samsung’s Unpacked events have traditionally a huge deal, with the Korean giant announcing major new phones like the Galaxy S9 and the Note 8. This August, there’s likely to be a ton of reasons to watch. The reveal of the Galaxy Note 9 is inevitable, but there’s also the possibility that we’ll be seeing some more unexpected reveals from Samsung.

Samsung Unpacked 2018 isn’t until August 9, but we already have a pretty good idea of what to expect and how you can keep an eye on it when it starts.

How to watch Unpacked 2018

Samsung

If you want to see all the action revealed as it happens, then there are a couple of ways to do it. The Unpacked event will be streamed live on Samsung’s website, and it’s likely you’ll be able to find it on Samsung’s YouTube channel too. Just tune in at 11 a.m. ET on August 9 and enjoy the show.

We’ll have people on the ground at Unpacked 2018, so make sure to follow Julian Chokkattu, Brenda Stolyar, Steven Winkelman, and DT Mobile for the latest updates from the event.

Galaxy Note 9

Julian Chokkattu/Digital Trends

There are no prizes for guessing the main attraction at Samsung Unpacked 2018 — one glance at the invitation makes it pretty obvious. The Samsung Galaxy Note 9 will be in full attendance at Unpacked 2018, and you can expect the majority of the show dedicated to the Galaxy Note 8‘s successor.

So what can we expect from one of the biggest phones of the year? Details obviously aren’t confirmed, but most sources are indicating that — like the Galaxy S9 — the Note 9 will not see a major shift from the previous model’s design. Instead, it seems that Samsung is going to focus heavily on the element of the Note range that sets it apart: The S Pen. Noted leaker Ice Universe claims that the Note 9’s S Pen will come with Bluetooth functionality, will be able to function as a camera timer/clicker, and will be able to control music playing on the main device. While such functionality likely means the stylus will need to be charged, it’s likely Samsung will find a way to charge the stylus while docked in the device. That could be bad news for the battery — but since rumors say the Note 9 will be packing a huge 4,000mAh battery, it might not be a problem.

Another small change may be the addition of another button to the device. Don’t worry, it’s not another Bixby key — instead, it could be a dedicated camera button that could help to cement the Note range’s reputation for strong photography. Like the Galaxy S9, expect to see the fingerprint sensor move from the much-maligned position on the Note 8 — pictures of Note 9 cases place the sensor below the horizontally placed camera lens.

Turning to the internals, leaked Geekbench results show a device equipped with the Snapdragon 845 (no surprise there), 6GB of RAM, and Android 8.1 Oreo. While there have been fewer rumors about the rest of the internals, it’s fair to expect that Note 9 to at least match the specs of the Galaxy S9 Plus — so expect a model of the Note 9 with 256GB of storage to be present at launch.

How likely is it? It’s a certainty.

Read more:

Samsung Galaxy Note 9 news

Galaxy Tab S4

@evleaks / Evan Blass

The premium tablet market is a space that belongs to Apple’s iPad for the most part, but that doesn’t mean Samsung’s giving up without a fight. Following up on last year’s Galaxy Tab S3, rumors of the Galaxy Tab S4 have built to a fever pitch, and it seems likely that Samsung will choose to show off its next premium tablet at Unpacked 2018.

The Tab S3’s design didn’t change much from the Tab S2, and so Samsung may mix things up a little with its next tablet. The latest leaks agree, and have shown a device with slimmed-down bezels and no home button. It’s a design that’s sleeker and much more 2018, and while tablet bezels required for grip, the Tab S4 looks to have struck a good balance if the leaked renders are to be believed.

The lack of a home button may mean that the Tab S4 lacks a fingerprint scanner, which is bad news for anyone who used their fingerprint to log into PayPal or other secure sites. It’s possible the device will use the front camera for identification, but that won’t be able to be used for secure logins. Though some rumors of an in-display fingerprint sensor have surfaced, the chances of that are probably close to nil. On the plus side, the Tab S4 is reported to be sporting a 2560 x 1600-pixel resolution, a larger 10.5-inch display, and the same improved S Pen functionality that’s coming to the Note 9.

According to leaked benchmarks, the Tab S4 will come equipped with the Snapdragon 835 processor, 4GB of RAM, and Android 8.1 Oreo installed from launch. There’s been even less word on a price or release date for the Galaxy Tab S4, but if it’s being shown off at Unpacked 2018, then you can expect to see it come out in the months after — the end of August or start of September seems likely, and a price tag of around $600 seems similarly likely.

How likely is it? While previous versions of the Galaxy Tab have been revealed at Mobile World Congress (MWC), with the recent glut of rumors and leaks around the Tab S4, don’t be surprised if you see the Galaxy Tab S4 at Unpacked 2018.

Read more:

Samsung Galaxy Tab S4 news

Galaxy Watch

Julian Chokkattu/Digital Trends

It’s been a long time since Samsung released the Samsung Gear S3 smartwatch, so an updated version is overdue — and Unpacked 2018 would be the perfect place to show it off.

There are a lot of questions about this smartwatch, and one of the most contentious rumors indicates that Samsung won’t be returning to its “Gear” branding — and will instead cash in on the successful “Galaxy” brand by taking what would be the Gear S4, and renaming it the “Galaxy Watch.” Samsung has registered the name as a trademark in both Korea and the United States, so it seems likely that Samsung will be pushing for a branding refresh for this latest smartwatch.

Also in contention is the operating system running on the watch itself. Samsung has traditionally used its own Tizen OS for previous Gear watches, but after Samsung employees were spotted wearing Gear watches with Google’s Wear OS installed, rumors began that Samsung was planning to swap over to Google’s watch operating system. Another tweet from Evan Blass that the watches were specially made by Google for specific Samsung employees did nothing to cease the rumors. Regardless of the OS, it’s now confirmed that Bixby will be a key feature in the Galaxy Watch. It’s also rumored that Samsung will be boosting the battery size of the watch, and might be experimenting with ways to wirelessly charge the watch on the go with a special phone case that transfers power from one device to the other. Interesting ideas, but not something we’re anticipating seeing at Unpacked 2018.

How likely is it? It’s traditional for Samsung to announce its Gear smartwatches at the IFA exhibition, so it’s more likely Samsung will keep a hold of the Galaxy Watch until that exhibition at the end of August. Don’t rule out a reveal at Unpacked 2018, though.

Read more:

Samsung Galaxy Watch news

Galaxy J2 Core (Samsung’s Android Go phone)

Android Go is a lighter version of Android made for developing markets, where cheaper and lower-powered phones are common and data is precious. As such, Android Go is easy to run on lower specs, and easy on the mobile data. Samsung has so far avoided this entry-level market, but with sales in developed areas plateauing, it seems the company wants to get a piece of that pie. Rumors that Samsung is developing a lower-powered, entry-level phone with Android Go installed have recently popped up, and it’s possible that it may spend a little time at Unpacked 2018 introducing the Galaxy J2 Core.

In terms of looks, it will likely to be a device that looks fairly “budget”, with a polycarbonate body and chunky bezels surrounding a 5-inch screen. There’s a bright side to that, however, as Samsung seems to have spent that saved money on splashing out on an AMOLED display, which is exceptionally extravagant for an entry-level handset. Specs are, as expected, on the lower side, with the J2 Core rumored to be packing an Exynos 7580, 1GB of RAM, and 16GB of onboard storage. Interestingly, it seems that Samsung has put its own spin on the Android Go experience, with some leaked images showing its Samsung Experience skin running on the phone.

How likely is it? Samsung has never released a phone like this before, so there’s no past performance to grade it by. Rumors are still fairly thin on the ground, and it’s a pretty low-key phone, so while the Galaxy J2 Core may be in attendance, don’t expect it to be given a real spotlight.

Read more:

Samsung Galaxy J2 Core news

Gear IconX 2 earbuds and Gear Fit 3 Pro

Both the Gear IconX earbuds and the Gear Fit 2 Pro are looking a little long in the tooth now, so it’s fair to assume that some sort of update is on the way. Despite that, we’ve heard next to nothing about them. Both of these products have traditionally had the wraps taken off them at the annual IFA conference, making it unlikely that they’ll be making a major appearance at Unpacked August 2018. But don’t discount that Samsung will take the opportunity to show any upgraded versions to a few select individuals.

How likely is it? Unlikely. We’ve heard next to nothing about these possible upgrades, making it far more likely that both of these (if they exist) will be coming to IFA 2018 at the end of August.

Editors’ Recommendations

• Samsung Galaxy Note 9: Everything you need to know
• Samsung Galaxy Tab S4: Everything you need to know
• Samsung Galaxy Watch: Here’s everything we know
• Could this be Samsung’s first entry-level Android Go phone?

Are you using a case or skin on your Galaxy Note 8?

To case or not to case.

Even though we’re less than a month away from Samsung’s Galaxy Note 9 event, the Note 8 is still one heck of a phone. It’s powerful, has a gorgeous display, and features a design that looks just as modern as anything else on the market.

The Note 8’s glass back and curved edges on its screen are undeniably stunning, but they also result in a phone that’s not as durable as some may like. A case or skin can help to keep the Note 8 safe, but then again, going naked lets you take in the fullness of its design.

Some of the AC forum community recently started talking about whether or not they’re using a case/skin for their Note 8, and this is what they had to say.

Relletti
07-08-2018 04:56 PM

“

I’m using a red dragon skin from D Brand. Right now I’m also using a otterbox case on it too when I’m outside. It does feel great without having the extra bulk of the case though.

Reply

NexusGirlX
07-08-2018 05:45 PM

“

I was using mine without a case for a few months. Now I have a Samsung case on it. Got rid of the Otterbox when it no longer fit the phone as it was stretched out from removing it a few times.

Reply

chazglenn3
07-08-2018 10:57 PM

“

I have a Slickwrap on the back, it’s in a Chinese Alcantara case and I have a Whitestone Dome glass on it. The glass was a recent addition due to some scratches that I got on my screen.

Reply

spydersilk
07-09-2018 08:23 AM

“

I just take my case off when I am at home. I like to enjoy the asthetics, feel, and look of the phone now and then.
Considered a Dbrand, but I would still want a case. I would think the Dbrand wouldn’t be compatible with the case, maybe depends on the case.
This is what I have. I like the matte clear back.
SUPCASE Samsung Galaxy Note 8 Case……

Reply

Now, we want to hear from you — Are you rocking a skin/case on your Note 8?

Join the conversation in the forums!

Samsung Galaxy Note 8

• Galaxy Note 8 review
• Galaxy Note 8 vs. Galaxy S8+
• Which Note 8 color is best?
• Complete Galaxy Note 8 specs
• Join our Galaxy Note 8 forums

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Best Buy

Best DualShock 4 Controller Charging Docks for PS4 in 2018

• Best Overall
• Best Third-party
• Best on a budget

Best Overall

PowerA DualShock 4 Controller Charging Station

See at Amazon

The PowerA DualShock 4 Controller Charging Station is the only officially licensed charging dock for your PlayStation 4 controllers. It works off of AC adapters to make it easy to plug your controllers in and get a charge without any additional hassle. With a design that makes it easy to plug in your controllers and doesn’t take up much room, this dock fits easily onto an entertainment system. From the design to the size, this dock makes it easy to keep your controllers charged and ready for you when it’s time to game. Ringing in at only $18, it’s not gonna hurt you too much when you put the cash into this charging station.

Bottom line: The PowerA DualShock 4 Controller Charging Station is the officially licensed charge dock, which means it’s the dock that you can trust with the solemn duty of charging your controllers. Additionally, it’s a small dock that is easy to fit into even a crowded entertainment system.

One more thing: This charging dock can charge up to two DualShock 4 controllers at the same time.

Why the PowerA DualShock 4 Controller Charging Station is the best

PowerA DualShock 4 Controller Charging Station makes it easy to keep your controllers stored and charged for when you need them.

There are plenty of great reasons that this controller dock is the best, and they all combine to deliver a stellar product. The design means that you can slot your controllers directly down and into the cradle, which means that properly plugging your DualShock 4 controller in is a breeze. You’ll hear an audible click when you plug your controllers in, as well as seeing your controller light up orange while charging. That same design also takes up as little room as possible.

Since you may well already have an overcrowded entertainment center, this means that it won’t be taking up too much room. It’s designed so that you don’t have to think about what you’re doing; just drop your controller in and go about your day. When you plug in your controller, you’ll hear an audible click and see the lightbar on the back of controller glow yellow to indicate a good connection While many other docks have a few more features, they don’t combine to form the excellent product that PowerA has delivered.

Best for PS VR

Asterion’s PS VR Charging Stand

See at Amazon

This is a pretty interesting option from the folks at Asterion Products. This is a full-on PS VR charging stand, with as many as five active ports and docks for your various PlayStation 4 accessories. You can rapidly charge two move controllers, two DualShock 4 controllers, the PS VR headset, and even the PlayStation Gold Stereo Headset all at the same time. And there are protective measures in there preventing your gear from getting damaged from all that fast charging.

Each device hooked up to it will have its own LED indicator to let you know when it’s ready. It’ll also look pretty cool in your entertainment setup with its LED illumination, though this can be turned off if you aren’t ready to add more lights to your setup. It’s pricey at $42.99, but reviews suggest it’s well worth the cost.

Bottom line: Asterion’s charging dock sets itself apart by being the one-stop solution for those who are enjoying everything PlayStation 4 has to offer, including VR.

One more thing: This dock smartly integrates a cradle specifically to store your PS VR headset’s cable, so it won’t be dangling from the edge of your entertainment stand.

Best on a budget

BEBONCOOL Charging Station for PlayStation 4

See at Amazon

When it comes to finding great accessories that fit into your budget, things can be a bit difficult. Thankfully, this controller dock is both easy to use and affordable, even when you don’t have much money to spare. The BEBONCOOL Charging dock for PlayStation 4 can easily handle two controllers at once and lets you easily remove and insert them into the charging dock. Indicator lights will let you know that your controller is charging and when it’s done charging, it will turn green. This charging station isn’t quite as sturdy as some of its competitors, but for just $13, it’s a solid purchase.

Bottom line: The BEBONCOOL Charging dock delivers a great product without a steep price tag. It can charge two controllers at once, has convenient LED indicators, and is easy to fit in your crowded entertainment center.

One more thing: The indicator lights will shine red when charging and then switch to green when your controller is fully charged.

Conclusion

There are plenty of charging docks that are available for your DualShock 4 controllers, and, thankfully, many of them are fantastic at their jobs. While they often have similar features and functions, there are definitely some docks that work better than others. That’s why we recommend the PowerA DualShock 4 Controller Charging Station. It offers all of the features that you might want, as well as a design that makes it easy to pop your controllers in and out of without any frustration. It’s affordable, easy to use, and the officially licensed PlayStation 4 charging dock for DualShock 4 Controllers. All of these things combine to deliver a stellar dock that can get the job done without any issues in the process.

Best Overall

PowerA DualShock 4 Controller Charging Station

See at Amazon

The PowerA DualShock 4 Controller Charging Station is the only officially licensed charging dock for your PlayStation 4 controllers. It works off of AC adapters to make it easy to plug your controllers in and get a charge without any additional hassle. With a design that makes it easy to plug in your controllers and one that doesn’t take up much room, this dock fits easily onto an entertainment system. From the design to the size, this dock makes it easy to keep your controllers charged and ready for you when it’s time to game.

Bottom line: The PowerA DualShock 4 Controller Charging Station is the officially licensed charge dock, which means it’s the dock that you can trust with the solemn duty of charging your controllers. Additionally, it’s a small dock that is easy to fit into even a crowded entertainment system.

One more thing: This charging dock can charge up to two DualShock 4 controllers at the same time.

Updated July 2018: We’ve removed the Nyko charging dock to make room for the Asterion dock.

PlayStation 4

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

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Bose QC35 II review: The best noise-canceling headphones money can buy

Despite the high price, Bose’s QC35 II justifies its cost in every way imaginable.

Active noise canceling headphones seem to be everywhere you look these days. Everyone and their cousin is trying to take their own stab at them, resulting in an overload of various models across a number of different price ranges.

Bose is one of the biggest names when it comes to audio products, so it shouldn’t be any surprise that it too wants a slice of the noise canceling headphone market. This is a niche the company’s excelled at for years, and with the QuietComfort 35 Series II, we’ve got one of the best options money can buy.

Without further ado, here’s the AC review of the Bose QC35 II.

Bose QuietComfort 35 (Series II) Wireless Headphones

Price: $349

Bottom line: The QC35 II are truly premium headphones in regards to sound quality, comfort, and price.

The Good

• The best active noise canceling around
• Fantastic sound quality
• Lightweight and comfortable to wear
• Excellent battery life
• Google Assistant integration is great
• Comes w/ a sturdy carrying case

The Bad

• Micro-USB 🤢
• Expensive as h*ck

See at Amazon

It’s like being transported to another world

Bose QC35 II Wireless Headphones What I like

What do I like about the QC35 II? To be perfectly honest, just about everything.

First off, the design is excellent. The earcups are easily adjustable to get the perfect fit, and once you find it, you’ll never want to take the headphones off. The soft leather cushioning surrounding each cup grips onto your ear without being too tight and the padding for the headband is a very welcome touch.

Add that together with easily accessible buttons and a lightweight build, and you can wear the QC35 II for hours on end without ever becoming uncomfortable.

Speaking of listening for hours on end, that’s something you can do quite often thanks to the 20 hours of estimated playback time on a single charge. Depending on how heavy I use the QC35 II, I can usually get 1-2 weeks of use before having to look for the charger.

As great as the design and battery life are, the areas where the QC35 II stick out the most go to sound quality and noise cancelation.

Starting first with sound quality, the best way I can describe it is that everything sounds full. Bass is powerful without being too muddy, higher notes are crystal clear, and no matter what song I put on, I always end up hearing more elements than what’s detectable when listening through a cheaper medium.

These are the best-sounding headphones I’ve ever tried. Hands-down.

I’m not an audiophile by any stretch of the imagination and listen to all of my music through Spotify, but at least in my experience with the gadgets I’ve tried, the QC35 II is my absolute favorite way for experiencing new songs and re-listening to old ones.

The speaker quality on its own is fantastic, but this immersive listening experience wouldn’t be the same without Bose’s phenomenal active noise canceling.

Whether I’m working at a noisy Starbucks or going for a walk around town, the QC35 II constantly manage to block out all of the unwanted sounds happening around me. The background whir of the AC unit in my apartment fades away, the chatter of people working around me at coffee shops disappear from thin air, and even the roaring of an airplane engine during a flight to New York earlier this year proved to be no match for the QC35 II.

The noise canceling here really is that good.

Rounding out the things I like about these headphones:

• There’s a dedicated button for talking to the Google Assistant. I don’t use it all the time, but I’m glad it’s there.
• When connected to your phone, the Assistant will alert you of any notifications you receive through the headphones. If you get a text, you can respond by holding down the Action Button and talking.
• The included carrying case is sturdy and compact.
• You can share your music with another pair of Bose headphones using Music Share.

Does Bose know that USB-C is a thing?

Bose QC35 II Wireless Headphones What I don’t like

Even though the Bose QC35 II are easily my favorite pair of headphones I’ve ever owned, I’ll be the first to admit that they aren’t perfect.

Without a doubt, my biggest gripe is that Bose decided to use Micro-USB as the port for charging even though the QC35 II were released in late-2017. USB Type-C is quickly becoming the norm for most all gadgets, and if you purchased a smartphone or laptop within the last couple years, chances are it uses USB-C.

This might seem like a silly thing to complain about, but when the QC35 II is the only thing I have that still uses Micro-USB, it means I’ve got to carry around another cable that none of my other gadgets use anymore.

Perhaps even more infuriating is that this outdated port is used on a pair of headphones that cost as much as the QC35 II do. At $349, these aren’t cheap no matter how you look at it.

Even if the QC35 II are in a league of their own, it can be hard to justify spending that much money when $70 alternatives offer 80% of the same experience for a great deal less.

Bose QC35 II Wireless Headphones

If $349 is more than you’re looking to spend on a pair of headphones right now, pick up something that’s cheaper. This is the most I’ve ever spent on any audio product before, and my wallet was feeling the sting of that purchase for quite a while after it.

However, if you do have the cash to spare, the Bose QC35 II are well, well worth it.

4.5
out of 5

I’ve always enjoyed listening to music, but with these headphones, I find myself wanting to just sit on the couch, throw them on, and close my eyes while listening to some of my favorite tunes.

That’s something I’ve never felt with any other pair of headphones I’ve owned, and when you combine that with the design, noise canceling, and everything else I talked about, you end up with something special. I’ve been using these headphones on a daily basis since I got them in October of last year, and I don’t plan on giving them up anytime soon.

See at Amazon

TicWatch Pro review: A best-of-both-worlds hybrid

Mobvoi isn’t the first smartwatch to put out a hybrid smartwatch, but this one works out almost too well.

Many have questioned the future — and the present — of smartwatches in the Android ecosystem. Wear OS as a category has felt dead for months now, and if there’s any watch I’d trust to help give it a shot in the arm while we wait for the long-rumored/dreamed-of Pixel Watch, it’s going to be the newest smartwatch in the TicWatch line.

The TicWatch Pro is launching as an Amazon Prime exclusive ahead of Prime Day, and it’s got a dual-layer screen that goes old-school in just the right way while allowing the watch to sip its battery for day and weeks rather than the hours or two days most current watches struggle to survive.

TicWatch Pro

Price: $249.99 (Amazon Prime Day launch exclusive)

Bottom line: A smartwatch that ticks all the boxes from NFC-based Google Pay to multi-week battery life in Essential mode. It’s a large watch, but one with a large feature set to match.

The Good

• Good response time and handoff between the LCD and OLED display modes
• Large display makes navigation a breeze, even without a rotating bezel
• User-programmable button gives easy access to a favorite app

The Bad

• It’s huge, especially on slimmer wrists
• No SIM option, so it can do everything except make calls on its own
• Going from Essential Mode back to Wear OS takes a long time

See at Amazon

Double the display, double the functionality

TicWatch Pro What I like

The TicWatch Pro sets itself apart from other smartwatches the second you see its face. Because of its dual-layer screen, the watch isn’t an abyss of black when the screen is off. Instead, it’s the familiar graphite of the see-through LCD display. These two displays allow users to overcome two of the greater pitfalls of Wear OS’s screen and battery woes: the LCD display is far easier to read in harsh summer sunlight or at awkward angles, and the LCD watch face sips battery compared to even the most minimal of always-on watch faces.

You can glance down at your watch as you type, cook, drive, or go about your day and instantly, easily read the LCD display, and with tilt-to-wake, you can still see your flashy, fabulous custom watch face and notifications when you pull your wrist up to engage it. The handoff between the two modes is just as quick as the normal tilt-to-wake on any other watch, but it saves so much more battery. In short, I freaking love it.

The TicWatch has all the goodies for us to play with inside its sizable smartwatch frame: NFC is here for Google Pay on your wrist, we have GPS, activity monitors, and a heart rate sensor for long workouts or short sprints from the studio to the newsroom, and we have Bluetooth 4.2 and Wi-Fi if you need to connect the watch to headphones or your gym’s Wi-Fi while your phone sits safely in your locker.

A quick note about battery: I’ve only had the TicWatch Pro for a few days, but it took two days of pretty heavy usage to run the battery down, including hours of always-on display and lots of downloading and configuring apps. I’ll update this review in a few weeks once I’ve actually had time to challenge Mobvoi’s 30-day claim, but 5 days between Essential Mode at night and light-to-average daily usage sounds easily attainable.

A tic too big

TicWatch Pro What I’m not sold on

There’s no escaping just how big the TicWatch Pro is, but it’s hardly the first bulky smartwatch to grace the market; the ZTE Quartz in my closet is still thicker and fatter than the 45mm TicWatch Pro, but not by much. Even most of the men in my life think the Pro is a bit big for their wrists, and it feels more manacle than modern timepiece on my limp, lanky wrist. I’m small, and I knew this was going to be a big watch for me well before it arrived, but it’s still a bit of a turn-off.

The only other issue relates to the battery-saving Essential Mode. Essential Mode is a great feature, and allowing me to keep track of my steps, heart rate and time without burning through my battery is a godsend. However, since Essential Mode shuts off the Wear OS side of the watch completely, if you turn it on, be prepared to wait a full minute when you long-press the power button to re-engage it. The watch also shuts off Bluetooth while in Essential Mode, meaning that even though your TicWatch Pro is technically on, it’s not going to buzz with notifications or keep your phone unlocked via Smart Lock.

TicWatch Pro Should you buy it?

This is one of the first Wear OS watches to come so close to ‘tic’ing all the boxes in a long time. It’s the first Wear OS watch I’ve had since the original Huawei Watch that I can walk out of the house and have absolutely zero worries about the battery dying on me, and using Google Pay on your wrist is worlds easier than digging it out on your phone.

The TicWatch Pro is a big watch at a relatively small price, especially for how adaptable it is. As an Amazon Prime Day Launch exclusive, you’ll need Amazon Prime to buy the watch, which may be the biggest drawback for some penny-pinching users to this hybrid smartwatch.

4.5
out of 5

This is the most complete Wear OS experience I’ve seen yet, and if there was a more size-appropriate version for us slim-wristed ladies, I’d be rocking a TicWatch Pro for the foreseeable future. As is it, I’m willing to put up with the bulk for a smartwatch that I know will last a full weekend and then some and gives me the best of Wear OS that I’ve been missing on my LG Watch Style.

See at Amazon

CARROT Weather is finally available for Android

The app’s free and comes with an optional paid subscription.

There are already plenty of weather apps on Google Play, but today marks the launch of one we’ve been anticipating for some time — CARROT Weather.

CARROT Weather first debuted on iOS back in 2015, and since then, has become one of the most popular weather apps in the App Store. As such, we’re excited to see it finally come over to team Android.

You’ll find all the typical weather info you’ve come to expect from competing apps such as a week-long forecast, the expected highs and lows, humidity percentages, etc.

However, CARROT Weather presents all of this info with a dark, twisted sense of humor. The app’s bot will read aloud a quick overview of what’s going on in your area, and you can customize both its personality and political stance to fine-tune the humor just the way you want it. By default, CARROT’s bot is set to Homicidal for the personality and Centrist for its political view, but you can change these to your heart’s content.

In addition to the humor that’s injected into CARROT Weather, you’ll also find more powerful features such as weather data from Dark Sky, a time machine that lets you view the weather up to 70 years in the past, and a highly customizable widget.

CARROT Weather is free to download, but you can join the optional Premium Club for $3.99/year or $0.99/month to remove ads and access some exclusive features.

Download: CARROT Weather (free + optional $3.99/year or $0.99/month subscription)

NVIDIA Shield TV vs. Roku Ultra

NVIDIA Shield TV has been around since 2015. Roku Ultra was born in 2017. Sometimes, age ain’t nothing but a number.

How Android TV’s best goes up against a newer (and more expensive) streaming favorite.

There’s no denying the popularity of Roku. Its low cost and simplicity has made it a favorite of cord cutters and casual streamers alike. And so it’s almost a little unfair to put it up against the likes of NVIDIA Shield TV. Because we’re talking greater hardware on just about every level, never mind the fact that Shield TV is a good two years older.

Still, though, we have to make a choice when it comes to spending our money. So we Shield TV up against Roku Ultra.

The verdict? Roku Ultra still surprises in some places, while definitely lacking in others. The real decision, though, may reside in your wallet.

Read: NVIDIA Shield TV vs. Roku Ultra

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Best Amazon Prime Day Deals 2018

The celebrations have already begun!

Amazon Prime Day doesn’t officially begin until July 16 at 3pm ET, but that hasn’t stopped the company from beginning the deals a little bit early. Alongside the announcement, Amazon stated that a few deals would be available instantly for Prime members, and there are a few that you definitely won’t want to miss. In the coming days, we expect to see more deals leak, and our continuously updated tracker will highlight all the best Amazon Prime Day deals.

Be sure to check back often, as this page will be constantly adding fresh new deals. If you’re looking for deals on Amazon’s Echo hardware, Kindle Unlimited, Prime Pantry and more, we’ve got you covered.

Prime Exclusive Deals of the Day

In the lead-up to Prime Day, Amazon has switched over its Gold Box deals of the day to be all Prime member exclusive deals. Unlike some of the offers below, these prices expire at the end of the day, so you won’t have much time to think about them.

Today’s deals include:

• GrowlerWerks uKeg & Tumblers – Starting at $16
• Nectar Sleep’s Gel Memory Foam Mattress – Starting at $329
• RAVPower Wireless Chargers – Starting at $27
• Avantree Bluetooth Over Ear Headphones – Starting at $15
• Air Mattresses – Starting at $11
• Audio Equipment, Studio Equipment and more – Up to 30% off

Echo Hardware

To kick things off, the company slashed $100 on the price of the Echo Show, dropping it down to just $129.99. This is the lowest we’ve ever seen it go and makes it the same price as the smaller screened Echo Spot. We’ve seen Amazon offer Voice Shopping exclusive deals in the past during Prime Day, so if you don’t have an Alexa device, or want another, this is a no-brainer purchase.

The Echo Dot is also down to $34.99, which is the lowest we’ve seen it hit this year.

Kindle Unlimited and Amazon Music Unlimited

If you’ve yet to try out Amazon’s Music Unlimited service, you can get a four-month membership for just $0.99. That’s right, all four months of unlimited access to all the music in the company’s library (which is rather extensive) for just one dollar. Prefer to read books instead of listening to music? No worries, Amazon has three months of Kindle Unlimited available for $0.99 as well. This gets you access to over a million book titles, and you can read as many of them as your heart desires during that time frame.

You can also go all-in on a Kindle Unlimited subscription and save 40% when you checkout with the coupon code PDKU18. This drops the one-year subscription down to $80.32 and the two-year subscription to $143.86. If you want to just buy a few books, you can get $10 towards any Kindle, print, or Audible book purchase when you buy any Kindle book for $5 or more before July 15.

Audible

Through the end of July, Amazon is offering Audible subscriptions at just $5 per month to new and returning members. The deal will remain active for three months, after which the service will begin billing you at its regular monthly price of $14.95. You can also choose to cancel the service at any time if you decide it’s not for you.

Amazon’s In-house brands

Amazon has a bunch of its own brands, and right now it’s offering 20% off home, kitchen, and other AmazonBasics gear, 30% off Amazon Elements multivitamins, and up to 25% off Stone & Beam furniture. There are a bunch of other Amazon brands from AmazonFresh to Mama Bear and Goodthreads that will also have discounted items available.

Twitch Prime Games and Gear

For the gamers out there, Amazon is offering a free PC game each day through July 18 via Twitch Prime. There are popular titles like Pillars of Eternity, Q.U.B.E, Hue, and more. You’ll also get exclusive in-game look for Warframe and PlayerUnknown’s Battlegrounds, and if you’re looking to load up on Twitch apparel, the merch is 50% off right now.

Prime Credit Cardholder Offers

Normally, the Amazon Prime Store Card and Amazon Prime Rewards Visa Card extend shoppers 5% cash back on all Amazon.com orders. You can put the cash back rewards towards your monthly statements or a future Amazon purchase.

Last year during Prime Day, Amazon upped its cash back offer from the standard 5% to 20% on thousands of items exclusively for cardholders. That means smart deal hunters with an Amazon Prime Store Card or Amazon Prime Rewards Visa Card were essentially saving an additional 15% on Prime Day. Eligible items included GoPro action cameras and Garmin fitness trackers. In fact, Amazon’s already running some bonus cash back offers for cardholders including 10% back on LG 4K OLED TVs and 20% back on the GoPro Hero action camera.

What’s more, Amazon is sweetening the pot by throwing in a free gift card upon approval. New Prime Store cardholders will receive a $20 gift card, while Prime Rewards Visa cardholders will get a $70 gift card. Both the credit card and gift card are automatically loaded into your Amazon account following the approval process, meaning if you apply now both will be ready to use during the big event.

America Express Rewards points

We already know that we will see millions of deals across the world on Prime Day, but did you know that you could drop the prices even lower by just shopping with your American Express points? Amazon frequently offers an additional percentage off select purchases when you checkout and pay for part of the transaction using your Rewards points, and come Prime Day, the company is offering 20% off on a variety of items.

When it comes to saving money, this may be one of the easiest ways you’ll be able to do it on Prime Day. The first step is to head to this page and click to activate the offer. Once the offer is activated, you’ll want to make sure that your American Express card is one of the payment methods in your account, and that you have linked your accounts successfully. The last, and easiest part, is to find an eligible item, add it to your cart, and pay using at least one American Express Reward point.

This discount can be redeemed on any item physical goods that are sold and shipped by Amazon. You won’t be able to redeem it on items sold by third parties, digital goods, or Amazon gift cards. It can only be redeemed once and has a maximum benefit of $100. The offer is currently live, so if there is something you want to buy now, you can save 20%. The promotion can end at any time, so be sure to activate the offer now and link your accounts to avoid missing out.

Of course, to take advantage of any of these offers you need to be an Amazon Prime member. If you aren’t already, you can sign up for a free 30-day trial so you can access all these deals and save during the big event.

The Thrifter team is going to be covering ALL things Prime Day, and you won’t want to miss out. Sign up now to have tips, tricks, deals, and more delivered right to your inbox.

Grab 12 eneloop AAA rechargeable batteries for less than $18

No more battery shopping!

This 12-pack of Panasonic eneloop AAA rechargeable batteries is only $17.45 on Amazon. This is a daily deal that is exclusive to Prime members. These batteries normally sell for around $25 or more and have gone as high as $30. The lowest they have gone in the last year is $22, so this is the best drop we’ve ever seen.

Each battery has 800mAh and a 2100 cycle, which means they can be recharged up to 2100 times. They will maintain their charge for a long time (up to 10 years) when not in use. Users give these batteries 4.7 stars based on 2,883 reviews.

If you don’t already have one, you might want to add this $23 battery charger since it will help keep your batteries fully powered.

See on Amazon