What you missed this week on CordCutters.com

A major #CutTheCordDay contest, and we’ve been putting the Amazon Fire TV Cube up against everything we can.

It’s been FIGHT WEEK™️ over at CordCutters.com, with the new Amazon Fire TV going head to head against the best streaming boxes you can buy, on all the major platforms.

But the first question we asked? Should you upgrade to an Amazon Fire TV Cube from one of the other Fire TV options. That’s a good question, and one without a clear-cut answer. It’s very much going to depend on what you’re currently using.

The basics, in case you missed it: Amazon Fire TV Cube is a mash-up of an Amazon Fire TV 4K and an Amazon Echo Dot. So it’s an custom Android-based entertainment system with full access to everything Amazon has to offer on the big screen, including movies and music and shows and apps and games. All that stuff. Plus it’s got all the hardware from an Amazon Echo built in, so you can control all sorts of things, hands-free. … To varying degrees of success.

So how well does it stand up against its competition, well. …

Amazon Fire TV Cube vs. NVIDIA Shield TVAmazon Fire TV Cube vs. Apple TV 4KAmazon Fire TV vs. Roku Ultra

What else did you miss? Quite a bit.

• DirecTV Now is raising its monthly subscription fee. And it announced the change late on a Saturday night. And it comes after parent company AT&T said merging with Time-Warner would save customers money. Go figure, hunh?
• PlayStation Vue is raising its monthly fees, too.
• And none of us should be surprised by any of this.
• We’ve been streaming the World Cup in 4K resolution on FuboTV. It’s brilliant, but still limited to just a couple devices.
• Win one of 103 TV and antenna bundles! July 7 is National Cut the Cord Day, and TCL and Mohu are giving away 103 55-inch TCL Series 4 TVs, along with 103 Mohu Blade antennas. Enter here by July 9!

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Google needs to learn from Amazon on how to build products for kids

We want the best for our kids, and right now that means we buy from Amazon.

It’s easy to think of mobile and its associated gadgetry as a two-way race between Apple and Google. When it comes to all things flashy that tech writers and Twitter pundits like to make words about, iOS and Android (their respective ecosystems actually) rule the roost. But that’s not quite accurate — companies like AT&Timewarner or NBComcast Universal or Verizonhoo! (sorry) are huge corporations with very deep pockets that have all played significant roles in shaping our tech landscape.

And one other company is so important that the rest are actually willing to work with it in order to get its ecosystem into theirs: Amazon.

Amazon quietly releases products for kids while Google tells us about notification dots. Both companies can learn from each other.

Amazon chugs along and does its own thing, which means more than just web retail. Amazon has its own services and builds its own hardware and makes so much cash from its web retail business that it can do both without caring about profit every quarter (which resembles Google’s loss-leading role in Android). The products sold are best used as a conduit to the profitable side of the company, which might be online shopping and semi-instant gratification, or AWS and storage. Both rake in more money than any of us can imagine.

One big difference between Amazon and Google, though, is how each company approaches a giant cash cow an important market segment — kids. Kids have no money, but if you have one or two, you know they don’t need any. Kids are adorable and adults buy them things they want. As a father of three, I have seen this sorcery in action and had these spells cast on me. We want to buy toys and games and other “fun” things for our kids, and when those things can teach the little rascals something we want to buy them even more.

Products like an Amazon Fire Kids tablet. Or a kids Prime Book Box subscription. Or even their own colorful Echo Dot Kids Edition.

Part of the reason is that these products are really good. They’re not just dumbed-down versions of the adult-branded models with have kid-friendly features. As an adult, part of me knows that buying a child their own tablet will help teach them something. Whether that’s reading, math or something more artistic like drawing or music, a kid will end up learning something no matter how hard he or she resists. To put me at ease a bit, Amazon includes ways to manage what kids can do on the device, monitor what they are doing, and shut it all down in case they try to slip one past you, the parent.

Amazon FreeTime is one of the best service ideas to come out of any tech company.

Which brings up the real question once again — why do services like Amazon FreeTime and hardware like a Fire HD Kids Edition best anything Google has to offer? I understand the part where Google is an advertisement company geared towards adult consumers, and Amazon’s retail presence gives it more kid-appeal, but that’s not enough of a justification.

Google has to know that it benefits by letting me pull my child into an ad-free and tracking-free kid-friendly experience through products of its own. The kids will grow up and be familiar with the Google way and remember it when they start to buy products of their own. This is half (or more) the reason Google wants Chromebooks in every school on earth.

I have to think Amazon is just better at it. There’s no shame in that; someone has to be the best at anything. Google offers kid-friendly features and parental software of its own, and while it’s not bad it just isn’t as good as what Amazon offers. Google needs to change that, especially now that Chrome tablets are a thing.

Ask any primary school teacher and they will probably tell you it’s best to start a very young child with a tablet as a teaching aid instead of a laptop. They are easier to hold, they are more interactive, and they garner more attention because kids love to touch things to experience the world. I might want a Chrome tablet to read in bed or lay back on the couch without a laptop. Young kids in the first few years of their education need a tablet to get a better learning experience. A Chrome tablet that can be administered to be educational during school and study hours and edutaining during the early evening or weekends must become a viable competitor to Amazon. I don’t think Amazon has plans to tap into the education sector and do it, but I know several kids who would love to have such a thing.

Google is a software company that could make its existing software more kid-friendly.

Google has plenty of the hard stuff figured out. It has a pretty good set of admin tools for things like Chromebooks or Google Apps accounts. When you make a product with access to the internet but design it for a child, these sorts of tools are mandatory. It’s not a stretch to think that some of these ideas and how they work could make for an excellent FreeTime-style competitor where kids could have all the music or books or approved apps they want, but only when the parents say they should have them. Amazon had to do it from the ground up and the company’s first version is pretty darn spectacular.

I’m not saying Google needs to release a blue or pink Nexus 7 tablet refresh, put half-baked parental controls on it and call it a day. I’m saying the company needs to think about how it can integrate kid-friendly services and parental controls into the Android and Chrome ecosystem.

Chromebooks

• The best Chromebooks
• Chromebooks in education: Everything you need to know
• Should you buy a Chromebook?
• Chromebook Buyers Guide
• Google Pixelbook review
• Join our Chromebook forums

Battle of the budget phones: Moto G6 vs. Nokia 6.1 camera shootout

Julian Chokkattu/Digital Trends

Budget phones have come a long way over the past few years. It’s not hard to find an inexpensive phone that’s both gorgeous and admirably kitted out for $300 or less. Two of our favorites for 2018 are the Nokia 6.1 and Moto G6, and they’re both similarly priced. The weakest part of these two phones — and most budget devices — is often the camera, so we put them both to the test in a week-long camera shootout across New York City to find out which one comes out on top.

If you want to see more camera comparisons, check out our smartphone camera shootout series. Comment below to let us know what camera shootouts you want to see next.

Camera specifications

The Moto G6 is Motorola’s first G-series phone to feature a dual camera setup.  The primary lens has 12 megapixels with a f/1.8 aperture, while the secondary sensor is 5 megapixels with a f/2.2 aperture. There’s a dual-LED dual-tone flash as well. In theory, the wider aperture means the G6 should perform better than its predecessor in low-light environments.

HMD Global, the company licensing the Nokia brand, decided to stick with a single lens setup on the Nokia 6.1. There’s a 16-megapixel Zeiss lens with a f/2.0 aperture. It also uses dual-LED dual-tone flash like the Moto G6.

Camera apps and software

The Moto G6 camera software is fairly simple, but it’s packed with a few extra features. There’s a feature called Active Photos that allows you capture short GIF-like images when you take a photo. Spot Color lets you to convert photos to black and white while retaining one specific color, and there’s also a manual mode, portrait mode, time-lapse, slow motion, and face filter options in the camera app. As for the 8-megapixel front facing camera, there’s a beauty filter that can adjust skin tone and remove minor imperfections.

Julian Chokkattu/Digital Trends

Since the Nokia 6.1 is a part of the Android One program, the camera app is similar to stock Android with a few extra perks. There’s a beauty filter that works on both the front and rear-facing cameras, a Pro mode that allows you to mimic settings you’ll find on a DSLR, as well as a portrait mode only for the selfie cam. But the most interesting camera feature on the Nokia 6.1 is Dual-Sight mode, also known as Bothie mode, as it allows you to simultaneously capture images with the front and rear cameras. This can even be used for live-streaming video on YouTube and Facebook.

All of our photos are taken in auto mode, as that’s the method most people will use.

Courtyard at The Cloisters

Left: Nokia 6.1; Right: Moto G6 Steven Winkelman/Digital Trends

We started our camera comparison at The Cloisters museum in upper Manhattan.  First up is a courtyard shot with natural overhead lighting. At first glance, both cameras appear to perform admirably, but if you look closer you’ll notice a few differences. The foliage detail is lost on the Nokia 6.1, and the image seems flat when compared to the Moto G6. The Moto captures the area behind the arches a little better, and the photo is overall a little brighter and sharper too.

Winner: Moto G6

Topiary gardens

Left: Nokia 6.1; Right: Moto G6 Steven Winkelman/Digital Trends

The Nokia 6.1 shines in this photo of the Topiary garden, also at The Cloisters. Foliage detail is sharper and more defined than the Moto G6 photo, which is fuzzy and pixelated when you zoom in. The overall color is also more accurate and vibrant in the Nokia photo, while the G6 just looks flat and washed out in comparison.

Winner: Nokia 6.1

Coffee and croissants

Left: Nokia 6.1; Right: Moto G6 Steven Winkelman/Digital Trends

We took the Moto G6 and Nokia 6.1 along for our morning coffee run in Brooklyn to see if the two could manage Instagram-worthy food shots, starting with coffee and croissants.

The Nokia 6.1 struggles with color accuracy. White balance is off in the photo, the background colors appear muted, and details are a little fuzzy. The Moto G6, on the other hand, seems to handle white balance a little better, and the colors pop out a little more. It’s not too over-saturated, but what we like is the solid, natural blur behind the subject (there’s virtually none in the Nokia 6.1). It’s the more shareable photo.

Winner: Moto G6

Cappucino

Left: Nokia 6.1; Right: Moto G6 Steven Winkelman/Digital Trends

The trend continues in our second indoor shot. The Moto G6 does a great job with color — look at the crema in the espresso cup — the photo from the Nokia 6.1 is muted and dull. The Nokia 6.1 tends to go for blue and cool hues, whereas the Moto opts for warmer tones. If you take a look at the bench and brick wall in the background, both photos have similar blur, but you’ll notice more detail in the G6 photo.

Winner: Moto G6

Street art

Left: Nokia 6.1; Right: Moto G6 Steven Winkelman/Digital Trends

To get a better idea of how the Moto G6 and Nokia 6.1 perform in daylight, we took a midday walk through Williamsburg, Brooklyn.

The Nokia 6.1 edges ahead slightly. Take a close look at the bricks and fire hydrant in both photos, and you’ll notice a loss of detail on the Moto G6 photo. On the Nokia, it’s easy to make out the brick detail everywhere, as well as the sticker on the fire hydrant. While color representation here may be a little subjective, the Nokia 6.1 photo looks more realistic. The colors on the Moto G6 photo pop a little more, but they’re a little washed out.

Winner: Nokia 6.1

Outside a bar

Left: Nokia 6.1; Right: Moto G6 Steven Winkelman/Digital Trends

While it’s been pretty easy to determine the better shot in each scenario so far, things get a little tricky with this photo outside the neighborhood pub. The Nokia 6.1 handles colors a little more accurately here, while the Moto G6 photo is too warm. Zoom in on the flowers in the Nokia photo and you’ll notice a lot more detail. But the Moto G6 takes the cake with dynamic range — look inside the bar and you can see more of what’s happening inside, but this is hardly visible in the Nokia 6.1 photo. We’re split in opinion over this photo. We like the Nokia 6.1’s result for its strong detail and color accuracy, but the fact that you can see a little inside makes the Moto G6 photo a little more inviting.

Winner: Tie

Midnight walk

Left: Nokia 6.1; Right: Moto G6 Steven Winkelman/Digital Trends

Budget phone cameras are certainly capable, but they suffer the most in low-light environments. Our first shot in this comparison is of a a restaurant in Union Square, and it’s easy to see the benefit of a wider aperture on the Moto G6. The photo is much more sharp than the Nokia 6.1’s photo, and it’s brighter so you can pick up more details like windows on the adjacent building. We do like the neon sign on the Nokia 6.1 a little more, but the rest of the photo is so poor that it doesn’t really matter.

Winner: Moto G6

Window shopping

Left: Nokia 6.1; Right: Moto G6 Steven Winkelman/Digital Trends

Our next shot is of a window display from New York’s famous Fishs Eddy at night. The Moto G6 photo is well lit, but it’s the white balance that’s far more impressive. The dish towels look pure white and clean, the rest of the colors are balanced, and the details are easy to make out. The Nokia 6.1’s photo isn’t too shabby, but the whole image has a yellow tinge, and details are fuzzy. The Nokia photo does seem to do a better job at not over-exposing the light bulbs, though.

Winner: Moto G6

William Seward

Left: Nokia 6.1; Right: Moto G6 Steven Winkelman/Digital Trends

Our final shot is of the statue of William E. Seward, former governor of New York, at the entrance of Madison Square Park. In this low-light shot, both cameras performed similarly, though the Moto G6 does a slightly better job overall. If you look closely at the G6 photo you can pick out more detail on the lower half of the statue compared to the Nokia 6.1, which mostly looks blurry. The trees flanking the statue are far more detailed on the Moto G6’s photo, and so is the building in the background. The pedestal is a little too over-exposed, though.

Winner: Moto G6

Conclusion

The wider aperture and second lens help the Moto G6 win this comparison. The camera consistently pulled ahead in low-light scenarios, and it was in general a little more reliable and versatile.

The Nokia 6.1 didn’t perform poorly, though, and it does have the ‘Bothie‘ feature that you won’t find on the Moto G6.

Editors’ Recommendations

• Moto G6 Play review
• Nokia 6.1 review
• Here’s everything you need to know about the Moto G6 and G6 Play
• Moto E5 Plus review
• Moto G6 Plus review

Donald Glover gets pixelated in a ‘This is America’ animation on a 1987 Mac

A video now appears on Instagram showcasing an animation of Donald Glover performing his dance pulled from the recent This is America music video (aka Childish Gambino). What makes this animation unique is that creator Pinot Ichwandardi used Apple’s old Macintosh SE all-in-one PC along with the discontinued (and decrepit) MacPaint and MacroMind Director tools. The animation itself consists of 375 frames putting Glover in blocky retro motion.

To get the full scope of this animation, Apple sold the Macintosh SE between 1987 and 1990 packing two floppy drives for $2,900 or with a 20MB hard drive for $3,900. It sported a built-in 9-inch monochrome display with a 512 x 342 resolution powered by a 7.8MHz Motorola CPU and up to 4MB of system memory. It served as the successor to Apple’s Macintosh Plus.

This model was the first compact Macintosh to include an internal storage device, an expansion slot, and support the Apple Desktop Bus. Overall, the device weighed 17 pounds and shipped with System 4.0 and Finder 5.4 that were released specifically for this all-in-one PC. Eventually, Apple renamed the operating system to Macintosh System Software.

MacPaint made its first appearance on the original Macintosh in 1984. It’s a raster graphics editor similar to Paint on Windows designed by two members of Apple’s original Macintosh developer team: One coded the software and one designed the interface. The menu was originally labeled as “Aids” prior to its official release but was renamed to “Goodies” due to the outbreak of AIDS during the summer of 1983. The latest version of MacPaint appeared in 1988.

Meanwhile, MacroMind was an Apple Macintosh software developer that eventually changed its name to the more familiar Macromedia who was purchased by rival company Adobe at the end of 2005. The company introduced multimedia animation software called VideoWorks in 1985 that saw its successor, VideoWorks II, launched in 1987. This second version was renamed to Director, which you see in the video, that’s now listed as Adobe Director.

That said, there is a lot of hardware and software history behind the Glover animation. The video shows Ichwandardi editing the monochrome bitmaps of each frame rendered in a timeline like-fashion within MacPaint on the Macintosh SE. After that, you see what appears to be every bitmap in a folder that will be imported into MacroMind Director and put into motion. The animation picks up as Glover fires a gun at a seated man’s head.

According to Pinot, the animation is a work in progress. So far, the Instagram video racks up 1,565,400 views on Instagram although how long its shelf life will last depends on Glover and his record label RCA Records given the included copyrighted content. Still, the project is interesting in that someone is using a working 31-year-old computer from 1987 to create animation stemming from a 2018 music video.

Editors’ Recommendations

• The best video-editing software
• Panasonic Lumix GH5S review
• Here are the best movies on Amazon Prime right now (June 2018)
• How to record a Skype call
• What to expect from Nintendo’s E3 2018 presentation

Looking for a new game to play? Check out these new Indie game highlights

Looking for the latest mobile gaming addiction? Have you considered trying out an indie game? Independent game studios develop some of the most unique and fun games you can hope to find out there. So we’ve put together a list of new indie games that are worth checking out when you have the time.

From casual puzzlers to startlingly deep storytelling games, you’ll surely be able to find something to munch on.

Shatterbrain

What it is:

Orbital Nine Games has come up with one of the most challenging puzzle games for Android. Called Shatterbrain, it invites players to draw shapes to solve complicated physics puzzles.

Why we like it:

• Extremely challenging, but also very fun and addicting, Shatterbrain allows you to come up with numerous approaches to tackle each confound.
• Each level brings a mixture of shapes you have to shatter to make them disappear, as well as others you need to avoid.
• The game lets you compete with leaderboards for the fastest time or best solution.

Install Shatterbrain

Spider Ball

What it is:

A game developed by TTGame Studio, set on a minimalistic stage filled with obstacles, in which you need to swing past the numerous obstacles.

Why we like it:

• Easy gameplay. Simply touch & drag to aim in the direction you want to fire your web and release to fire.
• In the beginning, the controls feel a bit tricky, but as you continue to play you’ll get used to them and be able to control the ball as smoothly as you want.
• Features different game modes including “Endless Mode” and “Arcade Mode”. In total, you get 45 levels of gameplay and around 40 funny balls to unlock.

Install Spider Ball

Returner 77

What it is:

Created by Fantastic, yes Returner 77 is a puzzle adventure set in a haunting alien world.

Why we like it:

• Stellar puzzle design and storyline. You play the 77th Returner and your mission is to save humanity by exploring a mysterious alien spacecraft that could quite possibly be the key to the mystery.
• Collect items and use them to solve challenging and beautiful puzzles.
• The game also benefits from an immersive, ambient soundtrack, so it’s recommended you play it with headphones on.

Sidenote: This is a paid app. It will cost you $4.99 to download it.

Install Returner 77

Still Here…A cute Adventure

What it is:

Designed by StillHere, this 2D platformer game will have you search for the answer to a very interesting question: Why did mankind leave earth?

Why we like it:

• It’s a very relaxing tap-to fly game.
• You control curious little creatures called “Pip” as you explore the environment and try to find out why there are no longer any humans around.
• 15 beautiful locations to explore and 3 playable characters for you to try out.
• Customize the look of your Pip and upgrade its qualities (speed, agility, weight).

Sidenote: This is a paid app. It will cost you $3.99 to download it.

Install Still Here…a cute Adventure

Losts.io

What it is:

Developed Replay Entertainment, Losts.io invites you to step into the shoes of a primitive man whose goal is to conquer land and become a powerful landowner.

Why we like it:

• The game challenge is to seize as much territory as you can by drawing hexagonal shapes with your weapon on the sand. Once you have conquered a piece of land you will need to guard it, because other players can easily take control over it.
• Use the prize money you get at the end of each round to buy new weapons, badges and even tattoos.
• 11 different characters to choose from including Poseidon, Dark Lord, Elf or Knight.

Install Losts.io

Beast Brawlers

What it is:

Created by PiiK Games, Beast Brawlers is a game that lets you join real-time PvP battles, and create your own collection of cool, unique beasts.

Why we like it:

• 3D top-down view game with colorful graphics and eye-catching character design and graphics.
• The game boasts a diverse system of beasts including Dire Hog, Emerald Dragon or Moten Phoenix. The characters are sorted in different rarities, and of course, each has its own set of abilities.
• 3 main game modes including Emerald Pit (gain points and protect beasts), Dark Forest (explore and pick up Orbs) and Ice Cove (cooperative mode for clan members).

Install Beast Brawlers

Dandara

What it is:

A superb platformer in which you play Dandara, the heroine who is needed to save the Salt world from the forces evil.

Why we like it:

• The game’s lack of traditional gravity is unique. As the heroine, you get to jump across floors, walls and ceilings. Dandara’s leaps have limited range and you can only latch on to certain places, so navigation becomes a small puzzle in itself.
• Dandara is a metroidvania, the world is open, but you need to unlock new skills in order to unlock some parts of it. It offers a lot of room for exploration
• Lovely handcrafted pixel art graphics and original soundtrack compositions make sure you’ll never forget the experience of playing Dandara.

Sidenote: This is a paid app. It will cost you $14.99 to download it.

Install Dandara

How to take better pictures with your camera’s automatic mode

Photography experts are always imploring people not to rely on a camera’s full-automatic mode – you know, that magic green icon that makes our lives easier by not asking us to fuss with the settings. After all, having control over how the camera shoots lets you produce better-looking photos. But what if your point-and-shoot camera offers only an auto mode? Can you still take great photos with a digital camera that lacks any advanced features?

Absolutely.

When you shoot in full-auto mode, you are telling the camera to pick what it thinks are the best settings. That means your camera decides everything concerning light sensitivity (ISO), aperture and shutter speed, focus, white balance, and even when to fire the flash. Auto mode is easy to use and convenient, but it isn’t foolproof, and a few simple tips can help you make the most of it. Here’s how to shoot great-looking photographs, even when the camera is doing all the work.

Hold steady

Camera shake causes blurry images. The slightest vibration to the camera as it’s capturing an image can affect how sharp the photo looks. Keeping still is even more important in low-light situations, because the camera keeps the shutter open longer to take in as much light as it can. Some new cameras offer image stabilization to help compensate for shaky hands, but it isn’t perfect. Here are some things you can do to prevent blurry photos:

Use a tripod

A tripod keeps a camera steady, but it’s not always a convenient accessory to lug around (mini desktop tripods like Joby’s GorillaPod, however, are great tools to keep in a camera bag). As an alternative, find a level, non-moving surface to stabilize the camera, like a kitchen counter, a ledge, or a stack of books.

Don’t move

Keeping your body still before, during, and after pressing the shutter button will help minimize image blur. Because a digital camera continues to process the image after clicking the button – especially if it’s gathering light in dark environments – you want to remain motionless for a few seconds afterward, depending on your camera’s lag time between shots. Of course, no person can stay completely stiff, so look for extra support (like keeping your back against a wall or leaning against a pole) to stabilize yourself.

Use the camera’s self-timer

By using the self-timer, you give yourself a few seconds to position yourself and avoid any movement from having to press the shutter button. You can also use this feature when using a tripod or any stable surface, as it would eliminate nearly any vibration caused by your body.

Bring the camera closer to your body

If you’re using the camera’s LCD screen to frame a picture, hold it with two hands and bring it as close to your eyes as possible (without affecting your vision), tucking your elbows and arms all the way in. You can minimize body movement this way, as opposed to having your arms stretched out.

Focus on the subject

Before you press the shutter button, you need to focus on the prize: your subject. Nearly every digital camera utilizes autofocusing, but here’s how to use it properly.

Press halfway and hold it

To tell the camera where to focus, lock in on the subject by pressing the shutter button halfway without letting go (you can feel when the button is physically at the halfway point). The camera will signal when something is focused with an audible beep or green indicators on the LCD display, for example. When you are ready to shoot, press the shutter button all the way. The key is to never let go of the shutter button from the halfway point, unless you want to refocus or reframe your shot.

Point the camera at what you want to be in focus

A digital camera doesn’t always know what to focus on in the frame. If you want to focus on a subject in the side of a frame, for example, your camera might focus on something dead center in the background instead. The easy way to fix this is to center your subject in the frame and then focus. Without letting go of the shutter button, you can pan around until you are happy with the shot, keeping your intended subjects focused wherever they end up in the frame.

Look ahead of moving objects

Most of the aforementioned tips require the subject to remain stationary, but what if you are trying to capture your kid playing ball or some sort of action scene? Most digital cameras that lack user controls, especially entry-level models with slow autofocusing, have a hard time capturing these types of scenes. To achieve this, autofocus on a point where the object in motion will end up, then snap the photo when the object reaches that point. With some luck, you’ll get that shot.

To zoom or not to zoom

Through software enhancement, fixed-lens cameras use digital zoom as a way to get closer to a far-away object. Cameras with an optical lens also use digital zoom to go beyond the physical max zoom. When should you use it? Never, because the resulting image taken with a digital zoom will always be pixelated. If you can, you should physically get up-close to a subject instead of zooming in digitally.

Use scene mode

In addition to a full-auto mode, some cameras include a selection of scene modes. Although scene modes aren’t manual controls, they offer the user a way to tell the camera what type of shooting environment it’s in, such as low light, under direct sunlight, portrait, and landscape. The camera then adjusts its settings for these conditions.

Some cameras may also let you adjust the exposure compensation. If available, use this option to play with the lighting conditions.

Master the flash

Digital cameras tend to always fire the built-in flash when in auto mode, whether it’s necessary or not. But camera flash is not always a bad thing. The best way to know your camera’s ability is to experiment by taking photos in various conditions with the flash on and off.

In dark scenes, the camera may activate the flash to compensate for weak low-light performance, but this could cause your subjects to look way too intense when lit. Without a flash, your photos could look fuzzy due to the lack of light. You can achieve better results by deactivating the flash and using all available light in the room. Hold the camera as still as possible until it has finished taking the photo (see earlier).

Believe it or not, the flash works well for bright conditions. For example, shadows on a subject’s face that’s caused by strong sunlight can be compensated with the use of the flash in “forced flash” mode.

Editors’ Recommendations

• How to photograph fireworks and capture the color of Independence Day
• Photography 101: exposure, aperture, shutter speed, and ISO
• How to photograph kids
• Samsung Galaxy S8 camera tips that will make you a better photographer
• Galaxy S9 Plus camera guide: Master the Galaxy with these tips and tricks

How to download songs from SoundCloud

Music discovery is a hot term these days, and while platforms like Spotify and Apple Music offer ways to find you new music to fall in love with, they tend to lean toward established artists. SoundCloud, on the other hand, is home to a ton of up-and-coming artists who use the platform to distribute their work. If you’re a fan of electronic music or are looking to dive deeper into a given subgenre, this is the way to do it.

But what do you do once you have found a new favorite artist and want to add their music to your collection? SoundCloud offers apps on various platforms, but it isn’t always convenient to hop from app to app depending on what you want to hear. That is why you’ll probably find yourself wanting to download tracks, and we’re here to help you do just that.

The official way to download songs from SoundCloud

If you’re looking at this guide, chances are good that you’re already aware that there is an official way to download tracks from SoundCloud, albeit with some limitations. On the off chance that you weren’t aware, downloading tracks using the official, SoundCloud-sanctioned method is incredibly easy.

Simply look below the track you’re playing, in the same area that you would go to comment on the track. On some tracks, you will see a button here marked “Download.” Just click that and you’re good to go.

This is the only way SoundCloud intends for users to download tracks, but you’ll notice that not all tracks can be downloaded. This is by design, as artists have the option to allow or disallow downloading of their tracks. You’ll also notice that you can only download one track at a time — downloading entire playlists isn’t an option.

The unofficial way to download songs from SoundCloud

If the tracks you’re looking to download aren’t available for download directly from the SoundCloud website, you’ll need to turn to alternative methods. This isn’t endorsed by SoundCloud and is actually forbidden in the company’s terms of use. To date, it doesn’t seem that the company has banned users for downloading via third-party means but do be aware that it isn’t officially supported.

Download via a browser extension

The simplest way to download from SoundCloud is to use a browser extension. There are a few out there, but we like SoundCloud Downloader Free for Chrome or SCDL SoundCloud Downloader for Firefox. The instructions here will be for Chrome since it’s so popular, but the steps are very similar for Firefox.

Step one: Install the SoundCloud Downloader Free extension for Chrome (or SCDL SoundCloud Downloader for Firefox).

Step two: Find a track you want to download from SoundCloud.

Step three: Click the download button that now appears below every track, or hit the download button at the top to download a playlist.

A word of caution

While these extensions may be handy if you’re downloading a lot of files from SoundCloud, they do run the same risk of infecting your computer with a virus that any browser extension does. Be careful about what you click and what you install.

Download via a third-party website

If you’re only downloading infrequently, there is an easy way of downloading from SoundCloud that doesn’t require installing anything. Instead, you just copy the URL of a given song from the top of your browser and head to a website that handles the rest for you. There are a ton of sites that promise to do this, but the one we’ll use for this example is KlickAud, which is a fairly common one. As with browser extensions, you’ll want to be careful about which sites you trust.

Step one: Find a track you want to download from SoundCloud and copy the URL from the address bar at the top of your browser.

Step two: Head to the KlickAud website.

Step three: Paste the URL and hit the Download button.

Next steps

It’s worth mentioning that the reason a number of artists don’t want their tracks available for download is that they’re trying to sell them somewhere else. If you fall in love with an artist, consider looking to see if they have a Bandcamp page. Not only does buying tracks this way help to support the artist, but you’ll often end up with higher fidelity. In the case of Bandcamp, you’ll be able to download FLAC versions of the song, which don’t suffer from the same compression artifacts you’ll find from sites that convert SoundCloud songs to MP3.

Once you have yourself a fair amount of tracks to listen to, you will want to make sure you’re listening in style, so be sure to take a look at our headphone buying guide and our list of the best headphones you can buy.

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8 months after its release, the iPhone 8 outsells the new Galaxy S9

It looks like Apple’s back on top. The company may have had a few down months thanks other companies’ upgrade cycle, but it has again locked in the top-selling smartphone spot for May — though Samsung’s Galaxy S9 Plus wasn’t too far away from beating it, according to Counterpoint Research.

It makes sense that Samsung came so close — the company released the Galaxy S9 in March, and the Galaxy S9 Plus held the top spot for April as a result. Both of the two devices ended up with 2.4 percent of the smartphone market share, but in the end, the iPhone inched ahead. Of course, the iPhone 8 wasn’t the only phone to show up on the list — the iPhone X also appears, coming in third place. In fourth was the Xiaomi Redmi 5A, and the iPhone 8 Plus came in fifth. Other phones in the top 10, in order, include the likes of the standard Samsung Galaxy S9, Huawei P20 Lite, Vivo X21, Xiaomi Redmi 5 Plus, and Oppo A83.

It’s a pretty big deal for Apple to grab three of the top five spots on the list and it comes after a series of big advertising campaigns for the company. For example, a new ad campaign was launched for the FIFA World Cup highlighting “How to shoot on an iPhone,” which has reportedly helped generate a lot of interest for the device, especially in Europe.

Even more notable about the fact that the iPhone 8 and iPhone X are so successful is that we’ll be getting a slew of new iPhones in a matter of a few months. Apple normally refreshes the iPhone in September, and that’s when we’re expecting to see a follow-up to the iPhone 8 and iPhone X. Apple is rumored to be moving to a lineup of three phones with the iPhone X design this time around, which could help generate even more sales. It’s likely the gap between the top-tier iPhone and the Galaxy S9 won’t be so close in a few months, when the new set of iPhones launch and Apple is expected to absolutely dominate the market — as it usually does.

It’s interesting that Samsung was able to get so close to Apple in May — new reports indicate that the company has missed profit estimates and suffered a 0.7 percent decline in sales year over year.

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How to choose the right Chromebook

Knowing what to look for before you buy will make you happier and can save you money — which also makes you happier.

Whether you’re buying your first Chromebook or upgrading from an older model, you need to know what to look for before you part with your cash. Really, most purchases are this way — especially electronics of any sort. We can help you figure out which Chromebook features are right for you so you can be an informed buyer.

If you’re not yet sure that Chrome OS will work for you, go cheap.

Before you begin, you should set your budget. Thankfully, a fully capable and future ready (if not future-proof) model can be had for well under $300 if you don’t want to go for the top-shelf. And realistically, you don’t. Chrome OS runs well on hardware that might not have enough “oomph” for another operating system. In fact, there’s a good chance your phone will have more cores, be clocked higher and have more memory than a Chromebook that can do everything it’s intended to do. That’s not to say you won’t benefit from having a more premium model with better specs, but it’s certainly not necessary.

And that makes the first thing on our buyer’s checklist easy: if you’re not yet sure that Chrome OS will work for you, go cheap.

One of the top-selling Chromebooks on Amazon (and a pick for “Amazon’s Choice”) is the Acer Chromebook CB-3. It sells new for $178 (as of December 2017). And while it’s not the nicest laptop you’ll ever see, it has a great IPS screen and runs the very latest version of Chrome OS. And runs it pretty well. You will see things get bogged down a little if you’re trying to do too much at one time, but a browser session with a handful of tabs open or a few Chrome apps or documents open won’t be a problem at all. It’s a perfect way to see how Chrome will handle doing the things you want it to do.

More: Best Chromebooks

Amazon is also a great place to look for refurbished models that still carry a full warranty. I have seen Chromebooks for as little as $99 for Amazon Prime accounts, and any of them would be a good way to try a taste of Chrome OS, so you know if you’re ready to spend a little more.

See at Amazon

If you’re already sure you want a little better hardware or are looking forward to Android apps, you still don’t have to spend a lot of money. But you do need to know what to look for.

Android apps will change how we use a Chromebook.

Android apps have changed how we use Chromebooks. Adding almost 2,000,000 apps to one of the fastest and safest operating systems available also makes it one of the most capable for many of us. Don’t expect to run specialty programs like Adobe Photoshop or a CAD program, but for things like light video editing or 3D drawing, you’ll find a handful of apps that can handle the task.

Chromebooks weren’t designed for folks who need to use a high-end desktop or laptop. But most of us don’t need a high-end desktop or laptop and will be served well with a Chromebook. If Android apps are going to be important to you, here are a few things you need to look for.

• Make sure it’s on the list. You’ll find a list of Chromebooks that will be able to run apps from Google Play. Existing models will be listed if they’re going to support them. All new models support Android apps. If you’re not sure, you can ask us — if we don’t know, we’ll find out.
• More storage is better. This goes without saying, but we are saying it anyway. Chromebooks were designed as a cloud-centric device. Because of this, many don’t come with a lot of storage space. Android apps can change how much you’ll need. Consider some games for Android (which will play just fine on your Chromebook) are up to 2GB or more in size, and you’ll see why. You can store a lot of data or documents or photos on the SD card, but apps will go to the actual device storage. Ideally, you’ll want 64GB or more, but 32 can work if you’re not interested in any games.
• Know how you plan to use it. Some of us want a convertible model that we can use as a tablet. Others want a traditional clamshell-style. Spending a little more to get something you’ll find more useful is worth it. Screen size comes into play here, too. If you’re on the go a lot, you might want an 11-inch model. Or the 14-incher would be better for your desk. Think about how you’ll be using your Chromebook before you buy one.
• Get a model with a touchscreen. Using a touchscreen for “normal” computing kinda sucks. Editing something in Google Docs or writing a long email just isn’t designed for touch input no matter the platform. That’s why the people who make tablets also make keyboard covers. But that changes when you add in apps originally designed for a phone. They are built for a great experience when poking and swiping with your finger, and that translates well from a 5-inch screen to a 13-inch screen. While you can use the trackpad for most any of it, it’s just not as good.
• How much memory do you need? That’s determined by what you plan to do. A model with 2GB will be enough to have a few tabs open in the browser as well as an app or two running, but if you’re the power-user type you’ll want to go with 4GB. The video experience benefits from more memory, too. A 1080p video on YouTube or Google Play Movies can get a little stuttery with 2GB, but 720p runs great.
• How premium do you want to go? Every other item on this list can be had in a sub-300 dollar Chromebook. You can also spend $1,000 on a Pixelbook. The $300 model will handle most anything you throw at it, but the Pixelbook just feels better. I won’t toss a silly car analogy in here, but only you know how much a nicer look and feel is worth. Of course, more expensive models tend to have nicer displays and smoother trackpads, too.

More: Best Chromebook for students

You’ll have to decide which Chromebook is best for you, but we can toss a couple recommendations out. The Lenovo 500e is a great buy. $300 gets you a Chromebook that not only does everything a pricier one will, but is built for the education market, which means it’s ultra-rugged and has a spill-resistant keyboard.

See at Lenovo

If you’re ready to go all-in with Chrome and don’t mind spending a little more, The ASUS Chromebook Flip C302 is one of the best Chromebooks for the money available today. A fast processor and plenty of storage mean you’ll have it for years, too.

See at Amazon

Of course, new Chromebooks are coming out all the time and something coming up may be even better. You can keep up to date on our Best Chromebooks page, and keep an eye out for our reviews. And as always, the forums are a great place to learn more about anything Chrome.

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Portable speakers, messenger bags, robotic vacuums, and more are all discounted today

Whether you’re looking for new tech gear or household items, we’ve got you covered.

We found plenty of great deals today that include big discounts on a portable speaker for the Echo Dot, a Eufy robotic vacuum cleaner, a Timbuk2 messenger bag, and more! Time’s running out to take advantage of these prices, so hurry!

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If you want to know about the deals as soon as they are happening, you’ll want to follow Thrifter on Twitter, and sign up for the newsletter, because missing out on a great deal stinks!