Amazon Fire TV Stick vs. Fire TV 4K vs. Fire TV Cube

The Amazon Fire TV Stick, Fire TV Cube, and Fire TV 4K. (Ranging from $39 to $119 at Amazon.)

Three Fire TV devices — but which one’s right for you?

Amazon once again has a full Fire TV lineup. Three devices, similar in operation, and in many ways specs. And ranging in retail price from $39 to $119. But there are very different reasons to get each.

The Fire TV Stick remains the most basic of the bunch. And while it’ll get you onboard with streaming video, it’s not going to wow you with performance. The Fire TV 4K pendant is last year’s model and perfectly capable. But it lacks the whiz-bang features of the new Fire TV Cube.

So which one’s right for you? Which one will get you the most bang for your buck — and not load down your wallet with features you’ll never actually use?

Read the full breakdown at CordCutters.com

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Ventev Powercell 6010+ review: The best-designed battery pack I’ve ever used

This brilliantly designed backup battery is all you need to keep your phone charged.

What are the features you look for in a portable battery pack? Do you prioritize battery capacity, or is an ultra-portable design most important? For me, it’s important to find a balance of portability and functionality, with a capacity that’s big enough to easily charge my phone.

The Ventev Powercell 6010+ has proven itself to be reliable with features I simply haven’t seen on other battery packs.

Ventev Powercell 6010+

Price: $47

Bottom line: The Venvev 6010+ gives you everything you need to keep your phone charged with a built-in USB-C cable along with a plug-and-charge design that makes it the easiest battery pack to recharge — and it also functions as a wall charger, too. One of the best mobile accessories I’ve ever tested.

The Good

• Compact enough to fit in a pocket
• Built-in USB-C cable
• 6000mAH capacity
• Great price and value

The Bad

• USB-C cable can be a bit stiff
• Only designed for North American wall outlets

See at Amazon

Everything you need to keep your phone charged

Ventev Powercell 6010+ What I like

Everyone should probably carry a backup battery pack these days, whether you’ve got a big summer trip planned or you just need a pack to carry around on a daily basis. It’s great to have something available for those times when you need to eke out a bit more battery life before you make it home for a full charge. To that end, there’s a ton of options to choose from and it can be a bit overwhelming to pick one when they all typically look the same — a black brick with a couple ports and an LED indicator.

I have been eager to share my thoughts on the Ventev Powercell 6010+ for months now because it really stands out from the crowd thanks to some innovative design choices. It’s become my go-to accessory when I’m heading out the door with a less-than-fully-charged phone in my pocket.

This is the most practical portable battery pack design I’ve ever tested.

With a 6000mAh capacity, the Powercell 6010+ is in the mid-range in terms of capacity but still more than enough to top up a phone battery in the red zone but the saving grace is the design built around the battery itself. Everything you need to charge your phone — and keep the Powercell itself charged, too — is built right into this battery pack. There’s a USB-C cable built into the side of the pack alongside an extra USB port for output along with fold-out outlet prongs that let you plug the pack right into the wall for recharging.

It also works as a wall charger for your phone and will pass through current to your phone for those times you’re waiting in an airport and want to charge your battery pack and phone at the same time. With 12W of total output, you’re able to charge two devices at once. The size is basically perfect for both travel and daily carry, as it’s roughly the same dimensions size of a Google Pixel with everything required to charge right there. Because of the length of the built-in cable, it keeps your phone nicely tethered so you can slip in your pocket or bag without fussing around with the unnecessary length of a standard charging cable.

Not ideal for international travellers

Ventev Powercell 6010+ What I don’t like

It can be frustrating to grab your battery pack and head out the door only to realize that it needed charging itself, but I don’t have that anxiety with Powercell 6010+ because it’s so easy and convenient to use and recharge. As long as I’m not heading out into the wilderness for a camping trip, there will inevitably be a wall outlet that I can use to quickly charge the battery pack, or if I’m in a real bind, I can use the whole thing to charge my phone first.

Having said that, this battery pack is obviously less ideal if you live or frequently travel to countries that don’t use the North American-style electrical outlets — there are no outlet adapters included in the package so you’re kind of on your own in that regard. The other minor issue I have is that it can be tricky to pop the USB-C cable out of its holder. That’s partially because I keep my fingernails short, but it’s easy enough to pop it out with a key or something similar.

Ventev Powercell 6010+ Buy it

Even if the cable is a bit stiff to use, that’s hardly a setback for my final considerations of how awesome this pack is. It’s the ideal form factor for me with a battery capacity that will reliably double my phone’s battery life for those times I forget to charge my phone before I head out the door.

5
out of 5

You can get this pack with a built-in USB-C cable (or Lightning cable if you’re buying as a gift for an iPhone user) for just $47 on Amazon.

See at Amazon

Xiaomi is confident it can succeed where Huawei has struggled

Chinese technology company Xiaomi, best known for its smartphones, is confident it can launch new devices in the U.S. in 2019, despite other Chinese brands meeting considerable resistance recently when trying to do the same thing. Xiaomi’s Senior Vice President Wang Xiang told Reuters that he, “hopes to do something,” in the U.S next year, and stated the company is in talks with carriers.

Xiaomi wants to achieve what rival Huawei has struggled with over the past months — get its phones on sale in the U.S., potentially with carrier deals in place. Huawei was set to make exactly this type of announcement during CES 2018; but last minute alterations saw the deal fall through. Since then, political machinations have forced it to alter focus, instead concentrating on the European and international markets.

What does Wang believe will make the difference for Xiaomi? “We don’t see any reason for us to get into that political situation,” he claims, and mentions Xiaomi is purely focused on making devices for consumers, unlike ZTE and Huawei, which also produces hardware for network infrastructure. A strong relationship with Qualcomm — Wang is a former Qualcomm China executive — and with Google is also mentioned.

Huawei also has a good relationship with Google, although CEO Sundar Pichai was put under pressure by the government for its work with Huawei recently, in retaliation for Google ending its involvement in an artificial intelligence-related military project. Huawei cannot claim a strong relationship with Qualcomm, as its own Kirin processors are used inside Huawei devices, rather than a Snapdragon chip.

Despite the positive words, things may not be quite as easy as Wang is making out, because the 2019 U.S. launch date is considerably less precise than Xiaomi CEO Lei Jun gave just a few months ago. He stated the intention was to enter the U.S. by the end of 2018, or in early 2019. Negotiations and deal-making may be taking longer than hoped.

Outside of China, Xiaomi has made significant progress in Europe, after launching in Spain at the end of 2017, and then in France and Italy in May 2018. Deals have also been signed to help Xiaomi sell smartphones in the U.K. and other European countries in the near future.

Xiaomi’s talks with carriers in the U.S. have not resulted in any finalized agreements at the time of writing.

Editors’ Recommendations

• Xiaomi’s European tour continues –it will arrive in France and Italy in May
• Xiaomi buddies up with U.K. carrier Three to sell its phones in Europe
• Xiaomi Mi 6X hints at what’s to come for company’s next Android One phone
• You’ll want Xiaomi’s Mi A2 for the software, not the iPhone X looks
• Xiaomi finally heads to the U.S. with a little help from Google Assistant

Best Dual-SIM Android Phones in 2018

• Best overall
• Best runner-up pick
• Best for battery life
• Great $500 option
• Best budget pick

Best overall

OnePlus 6

See at OnePlus

The OnePlus 6 is packed to the gills with features, but it doesn’t have the same hefty price tag as the Galaxy S9+ or a Pixel 2. The goal is to offer the same hardware at several hundred dollars less than the likes of Samsung and Google, and OnePlus has gotten very good at doing so over the years.

The OnePlus 6 comes with an excellent 6.28-inch Super AMOLED display, and the phone is powered by the Snapdragon 845 chipset. You get 6GB of RAM and 64GB of storage as standard, and there’s the option to pick up a variant with 8GB of RAM and 256GB of storage as well.

The 16MP + 20MP rear camera has been overhauled, and does a much better job of taking photos in low-light conditions. Elsewhere, you’ll find a 16MP front camera, Wi-Fi ac, Bluetooth 5.0, aptX HD audio codecs, a 3.5mm jack, and a 3300mAh battery with Dash Charge.

The OnePlus 6 also features one of the most refined manufacturer skins available on a device today. OxygenOS doesn’t deviate much from Google’s vision of Android when it comes to the design language, but it does offer a host of customization options that let you make the device your own.

Bottom line: For the amount you’re paying, there isn’t another phone that offers quite as much value.

One more thing: The OnePlus 6 is a GSM-only device, so it won’t work on Verizon or Sprint.

Why the OnePlus 6 is the best

Over the last three years, OnePlus has made a habit of offering phones with top-notch hardware for a few hundred dollars less than the competition. The tactic made the company a fan-favorite, and things haven’t changed much with the OnePlus 6.

The phone features some of the best hardware you’ll find today, and combines that with a new glass design that gives it a more polished look. OnePlus is also rolling out new limited-edition variants that spice things up on the design front.

A key feature on the OnePlus 6 is the 6.28-inch Super AMOLED panel at the front, which now has a notch. The notch withstanding, the display is one of the best you’ll find in this category, with excellent contrast and vibrant colors.

The camera has also been overhauled for 2018, and is now usable in low-light shooting scenarios. That was the biggest problem in years past, but it’s no longer an issue. Sure, it may not be quite as good as the Pixel 2, but for the amount you’re paying, you’re getting incredible value.

The OnePlus 6 dominates the market when it comes to value.

The Snapdragon 845 along with 6GB/64GB or 8GB/256GB of memory and storage make the OnePlus 6 one of the fastest phones in the market, and OxygenOS continues to strike a great balance between efficiency and customizability.

OnePlus isn’t quoting an IP rating for the device, but the OnePlus 6 is resistant to dust and water for “everyday” use cases. So while it isn’t advised to take it to the pool, the phone should weather the occasional splash of water with ease.

The phone comes in a single SKU worldwide, so regardless of where you’re buying your OnePlus device, it will come with two SIM card slots and global LTE bands. As for dual-SIM usage, both SIM card slots in the OnePlus 6 feature 4G connectivity, and dual VoLTE is available as well.

Runner-up pick

Samsung Galaxy S9+

See at Amazon

The Galaxy S9+ shares the same design fundamentals as last years Galaxy S8+, but that’s not necessarily a bad thing. The design is still one of the most evocative around, and the dual curved screen is a standout.

Talking about the display, Samsung leads the industry with its AMOLED panels, and the one on the Galaxy S9+ is brighter and more vivid when seen against last year’s device. Simply put, it is the best display you can get on a phone today.

Then there’s the camera, which has variable aperture — a first in the smartphone segment. The S9+ also gets a secondary camera that offers 2x optical zoom, allowing you to zoom in on objects without losing out on the quality.

The S9+ also comes with 6GB of RAM as standard, and you can pick up a storage option with as much as 256GB of internal storage. Overall, the S9+ offers meaningful upgrades from last year’s flagship — particularly in the camera department.

Bottom line: If you want the most feature-rich phone available today, look no further than the Galaxy S9+.

One more thing: The dual-SIM variant of the Galaxy S9+ is powered by the Exynos 9810.

Best for battery life

Huawei P20 Pro

See at Amazon

At over $800, Huawei’s P20 Pro is one of the costliest phones available today. It is also one of the best you can pick up in 2018. The phone has a unique camera arrangement that sees three lenses — a primary 40MP camera joined by a 20MP monochrome module and an 8MP telephoto sensor.

As you’d imagine from a phone that offers 68MP across three sensors, the camera on the P20 Pro is fantastic. Of particular interest is the phone’s Night Mode, which takes images at several exposures over a four-second window and interlaces them together to create a single photo.

The P20 Pro also relies heavily on AI for the camera, with the feature automatically picking the ideal shooting mode for a particular scene. The AI feature is facilitated by a Neural Processing Unit in the Kirin 970 chipset, which is on par with the best that Qualcomm has to offer when it comes to performance.

Other specs include 6GB of RAM, 128GB of storage as standard, a 6.1-inch AMOLED FHD+ display, Wi-Fi ac, 24MP front shooter, and a 4000mAh battery that delivers two days’ worth of usage. On the software front, the P20 Pro comes with EMUI 8.1 based on Android 8.1 Oreo.

Bottom line: The Huawei P20 Pro is a stunning phone that offers one of the best camera experiences you’ll find on a phone today.

One more thing: The P20 Pro isn’t officially available in the U.S., so you’ll have to pick up the international version from Amazon.

A great alternative

Xiaomi Mi Mix 2S

See at Gearbest

The Mi Mix 2S is a particularly great phone as it comes with global LTE bands. It isn’t the first Xiaomi phone to do so, but it has a gorgeous design backed by a 5.99-inch screen with minimal bezels on three sides.

The phone is just as evocative from the back, thanks to the ceramic finish. Under the hood, you’ll find a Snapdragon 845, along with 6GB of RAM and 128GB of storage.

The dual 12MP + 12 MP camera configuration is the best you’ll find on any Xiaomi phone today, and it’s safe to say that it holds its own against other $500 devices.

The Oreo-based MIUI 9.5 feels much more polished from previous years, and you get one of the best gesture-based navigation available on Android today.

Bottom line: The Mi Mix 2S is still one of the best phones in the $500 segment.

One more thing: Xiaomi isn’t selling phones in the U.S. (yet), so you’ll have to pick this up from a reseller.

Best budget option

Nokia 6.1 2018

See at Amazon

HMD Global has done a magnificent job reviving the Nokia brand, and its commitment to industrial design paired with the promise of quick updates make its phones highly desirable. The Nokia 6.1 2018 is made out of series 6000 aluminum, and is one of the most durable phones available today.

It comes with a 5.5-inch Full HD panel, and is powered by the Snapdragon 630. You also get 3GB of RAM and 32GB of storage, 16MP rear camera, 8MP front shooter, 3000mAh battery with USB-C, and fast charging that lets you get a 50% charge in just 30 minutes.

The Nokia 6.1 2018 is a part of the Android One program, and will be the first in line to receive platform and security updates.

Bottom line: The Nokia 6.1 2018 is durable, fast, and receives updates on time.

One more thing: The phone is sold unlocked from Amazon, and is eligible for use on AT&T and T-Mobile.

Conclusion

OnePlus continues to undercut the market by several hundred dollars while not compromising on quality. The OnePlus 6’s glass design gives it a more upmarket feel, and like its predecessors, the phone is one of the fastest you’ll find in this category. The AMOLED display is fantastic, the camera has picked up much-needed improvements, and the headphone jack is thankfully intact. At this price point, you won’t find many phones that offer the same amount of value.

Best overall

OnePlus 6

See at OnePlus

The OnePlus 6 is packed to the gills with features, but it doesn’t have the same hefty price tag as the Galaxy S9+ or a Pixel 2. The goal is to offer the same hardware at several hundred dollars less than the likes of Samsung and Google, and OnePlus has gotten very good at doing so over the years.

The OnePlus 6 comes with an excellent 6.28-inch Super AMOLED display, and the phone is powered by the Snapdragon 845 chipset. You get 6GB of RAM and 64GB of storage as standard, and there’s the option to pick up a variant with 8GB of RAM and 256GB of storage as well.

The 16MP + 20MP rear camera has been overhauled, and does a much better job of taking photos in low-light conditions. Elsewhere, you’ll find a 16MP front camera, Wi-Fi ac, Bluetooth 5.0, aptX HD audio codecs, a 3.5mm jack, and a 3300mAh battery with Dash Charge.

The OnePlus 6 also features one of the most refined manufacturer skins available on a device today. OxygenOS doesn’t deviate much from Google’s vision of Android when it comes to the design language, but it does offer a host of customization options that let you make the device your own.

Bottom line: For the amount you’re paying, there isn’t another phone that offers quite as much value.

One more thing: The OnePlus 6 is a GSM-only device, so it won’t work on Verizon or Sprint.

Updated July 2018 with the OnePlus 6 as the best overall option, the Galaxy S9+ as the runner-up pick, the Mi Mix 2S as the best $500 alternative, and the Nokia 6.1 2018 as the best budget option.

How to set up and customize Google Assistant

Make it yours, and you’ll get a lot more out of the experience.

While Google Assistant made its official debut with Allo, it wasn’t until the release of the Pixel that we’ve seen more of what Google has in store for their personal AI assistant. Now, Google Assistant has rolled out to all Android phones running on Marshmallow or later.

There are so many ways to use the Assistant throughout the day, from getting a daily briefing first thing in the morning to conveniently setting an alarm for the next day and nearly everything in between. To get the most out of Google Assistant, you’ll want to know about all the settings and features, and we’re here to help.

• How to set up Google Assistant on your Pixel
• How to change your account with Google Assistant
• How to customize your “Good morning” briefing
• How to customize Google Assistant’s news sources
• How to customize your Google Assistant nickname
• How to unblock offensive words
• How to view your activity history

How to set up Google Assistant

Google Assistant is baked right into any phone running Marshmallow and above, and can be accessed by long pressing the Home button or by saying “OK Google” if you’ve got voice activation enabled. If you’re logged into your Google Account, but have yet to set up Google Assistant, you can start the process by launching it from the home screen for the first time.

Launch Google Assistant by long pressing the Home Button.
Tap Next on the “Meet your personal Google Assistant” screen.
Tap Continue on the next screen to allow permissions.

And that’s that. You might also be prompted to configure voice activation, which just involves you repeating “OK Google” three times. Pretty simple!

How to change your account with Google Assistant

If you have more than one Google account active on your phone, it’s important to make sure Google Assistant is connected with the one you want. Google Assistant is able to pull details from Gmail, Google Photos, and other Google services including your calendar events as well as your Chrome browsing habits, so you’ll want to make sure you’re using your primary account.

If you accidentally set things up with the wrong account or simply want to switch over to a different account, it’s really easy.

Launch Google Assistant by long pressing the Home Button.
Press the blue button in the top-right corner of the Google Assistant window.
Tap the menu icon in the top-right corner of the Google Assistant window.
Tap Accounts.
Tap the account you want to use.

Switching between accounts is easy to do, though you’ll need to go through the quick setup process and allow the required access permissions.

How to customize your “Good morning” bulletin

You can use Google Assistant to give you a briefing on everything you need to know to start your day, from weather forecasts, calendar reminders, and a preview of your work commute. If you don’t need all that, you can customize it to suit your needs.

Launch Google Assistant by long pressing the Home Button.
Press the blue button in the top-right corner of the Google Assistant window.
Tap the menu icon in the top-right corner of the Google Assistant window.

Tap Settings

Tap Routines
Tap Good morning
Tap the checkboxes to toggle what’s included in your morning summary.
You can also toggle whether to end your summary with narrated news reports, music playlists, radio stations, audiobooks, podcasts or no audio at all.

Once you’ve set everything up, all you need to do is say “Good morning” to Google Assistant.

Read more about Google Assistant’s new ‘Routines’ feature

How to customize Google Assistant’s news sources

Google Assistant can help you keep up to date on what’s going on in the world with its narrated news service. It pulls radio news reports from reliable news sources which you can listen to after your daily briefing or by saying “OK Google, listen to news”. If this seems like a valuable feature to you, you’ll definitely want to customize your news sources.

Launch Google Assistant by long pressing the Home Button.
Press the blue button in the top-right corner of the Google Assistant window.
Tap the menu icon in the top-right corner of the Google Assistant window.
Tap Settings

Tap News.

Tap Add news sources
Swipe up to scroll through the list of news sources.

Check the box next to your desired news sources.

Tap the back arrow.
Tap Change Order
Tap and drag the news sources in the order you want to listen to them.

How to customize your Google Assistant nickname

Google Assistant will call you by your first name by default, but you can teach it to call you any nickname you want.

Launch Google Assistant by long pressing the Home Button.
Press the blue button in the top-right corner of the Google Assistant window.
Tap the menu icon in the top-right corner of the Google Assistant window.

Tap Settings

Tap Personal info.

Tap Nickname.

Tap the edit icon next to your name.

Type in whatever you want you nickname to be.
Tap OK.

If you don’t like how the Google Assistant is pronouncing your nickname, you can opt to spell it out phonetically by tapping the “Spell it out” radio button under Pronunciation, or you can record yourself saying your name.

How to unblock offensive words

By default, Google Assistant will censor all offensive words. If you’re alright with salty language, you can turn it off quick and easy.

Launch Google Assistant by long pressing the Home Button.
Press the blue button in the top-right corner of the Google Assistant window.
Tap the menu icon in the top-right corner of the Google Assistant window.
Tap Settings

Under Devices, click on Phone.

Swipe up to scroll through the options.
Tap on other voice settings.
Tap the toggle switch next to “Block offensive words”.

Google Assistant will never swear, but now words deemed as offensive won’t be censored in the transcriptions of what you say.

How to view your activity history

Your Google Assistant will keep track of not only all your search activity, but also where you were when you made your request. Google assures this data is kept secure and private. If you’d like to review your activity history and see the details, you can access it straight from the Google Assistant settings.

Launch Google Assistant by long pressing the Home Button.
Press the blue button in the top-right corner of the Google Assistant window.
Tap the menu icon in the top-right corner of the Google Assistant window.
Tap My Activity

Chrome will launch and you’ll be taken to Google’s log of all your logged activity with Google Assistant. From there, you can tap “details” to see more information, including roughly where you were when the activity occurred. If this sort of creeps you out, you can tap “Activity Controls” to toggle some of the settings, but this is basically what you signed up for to use Google Assistant.

How to change the voice of your Google Assistant

Google Assistant now comes with eight voice options, and they’re easy to switch between! The feature works on your phone and Home, and it’s a great way to add some diversity to your Assistant experience.

How to change the voice on your Google Assistant

Update, July 2018: This article was updated with new photos.

Google Pixel 2 and Pixel 2 XL

• Pixel 2 FAQ: Everything you need to know!
• Google Pixel 2 and 2 XL review: The new standard
• Google Pixel 2 specs
• Google Pixel 2 vs. Pixel 2 XL: What’s the difference?
• Join our Pixel 2 forums

Best Buy
Verizon
Google Store
Project Fi

PlayStation 4 games releasing in July 2018

What are the PlayStation 4 games coming out in July?

There are some pretty amazing titles for the PlayStation 4, and we’re here to keep you updated on all the new ones! Be sure to check in with us every week to see what new titles you should be expecting, or excited for!

Notable release this month

Here’s what we’ve found so far!

The Banner Saga 3

Coming July 24th, 2018.

This is a visual game that is full of rich story with a grid-based ability system. Choices that you make effect the story and the world around you. Immerse yourself in this gorgeous game and get down to the hard decisions that will determine the survival of your people. How will you face the end of the world and still go on?

You pre-order this title for $39.99 on the Amazon.

See on Amazon

More PlayStation 4 releases

We’ve collected a list of upcoming PlayStation 4 games below. No worries, if any surprise titles pop up we’ll be sure to add it to the list!

• Red Faction: Guerrilla Re-Mars-tered – July 3
• Warhammer 40,000: Inquisitor – July 5
• 20XX – July 10
• Hotel Transylvania 3: Monsters Overboard – July 10
• Insane Robots – July 10
• MXGP Pro – July 10
• Shining Resonance Re:frain – July 10
• Earthfall – July 14
• Chicken Assassin: Reloaded – July 14
• Adventure Time: Pirates of the Enchiridion – July 17
• Sonic Mania Plus – July 17
• Tempest 4000 – July 17
• Touhou Genso Wanderer Reloaded – July 17
• Mega Man X Legacy Collection 1 + 2 – July 24
• Runbow – July 24
• Train Sim World – July 24
• Hello Neighbor – July 24
• Sonic Mania: Encore Pack – July 18

Upcoming PlayStation Vita Releases

There is no content releasing for the PlayStation Vita this month

Upcoming Downloadable Content

• GTA Online: Nightclubs – July

Q2 games you might be seeing soon

• Torn
• Rainbow Skies

What are you playing?

Which PlayStation 4 game are you looking forward to most? Let us know in the comments section!

Updated July 2017: We will continue to refresh this list at the beginning of a new month to ensure you’re in the know when it comes to the PlayStation games being released soon!

PlayStation 4

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

Amazon

OnePlus 6 Red hands-on: This is the one to get

This hot new color goes on sale July 10.

The OnePlus 6 is easily the best-looking phone OnePlus has released to-date, and while Mirror Black, Midnight Black, and Silk White are all fantastic colors, there’s one that’s been noticeably absent so far — the striking Lava Red from the OnePlus 5T.

Thankfully, that’s now changing as OnePlus has officially unveiled the OnePlus 6 Red.

As soon as you take it out of its box, the OnePlus 6 Red assaults all of your senses in the best way possible with its incredibly bright and vibrant paint job. The same six-layer glass design used on other OnePlus 6 variants is present, in addition to an extra “anti-reflective layer” that OnePlus says allows for more light to reach the bottom sections of glass before any light is reflected off the phone.

To concoct the red that’s present here, OnePlus mixed a translucent orange glass panel with a red base layer. The end result is one of the deepest, brightest, and most pleasing reds I’ve ever seen on a phone (even surpassing the red iPhone 8).

Along with the back of the phone, the red also makes its way to the frame, buttons, and alert slider. To complement all of this red, OnePlus also added a sleek gold accent to the OnePlus Logo, “Design by OnePlus” branding, and around the rear camera lens and fingerprint sensor.

If you want to pick up a OnePlus 6 Red for yourself, it goes on sale at OnePlus’s website on July 10 for $579 with 8GB RAM and 128GB storage.

Which color OnePlus 6 should you buy?

OnePlus 6

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

New Evidence in iOS 12 of Apple’s Upcoming iPad With Face ID

Steven Troughton-Smith today shared new evidence in iOS 12 that Apple is close to launching an iPad with Face ID.

The well-known developer discovered an iPad-ready implementation of AvatarKit, the software framework that Apple’s Animoji feature relies on.

New in iOS 12: AvatarKit comes to iPad. Still requires a TrueDepth camera to do face tracking, though, i.e. an iPad with Face ID pic.twitter.com/9TvP2vsP6X

— Steve Troughton-Smith (@stroughtonsmith) July 3, 2018

Previously, only the iPhone X firmware has included the AvatarKit framework, which requires a TrueDepth camera to perform real-time face tracking, so the fact that Apple has included it in the iOS 12 beta offers another indication that an iPad with similar hardware is just around the corner.

The first hints in iOS 12 that Apple is readying a new-look tablet came in the form of tweaked iPad gestures that are similar to gestures on the iPhone X. These point to next-generation tablets with a notch-style layout with a TrueDepth Camera System and no Home button.

Indeed, rumors suggest Apple is working on a new high-end iPad Pro for release this year that will adopt many of the design elements that the company introduced with the iPhone X.

The device is said to feature slimmer edges, a faster processor, a custom Apple-built GPU, and the all-important TrueDepth camera with support for Face ID facial authentication.

iPad Pro concept by Álvaro Pabesio
Taiwanese site Economic Daily News has suggested Apple will introduce an iPad Pro with a display that measures in at approximately 11 inches, which is in line with reports suggesting the device could have slimmer bezels.

The thinking behind this is that a new iPad Pro could include the larger screen size without increasing the physical dimensions of the tablet.

According to Bloomberg, Apple is said to be aiming to introduce the new iPad “a little more than a year” after the last iPad Pro update, suggesting it will see a launch sometime around September of 2018.

TF International Securities analyst Ming-Chi Kuo claims the iPad Pro will be released sometime in the third quarter of 2018, which also indicates a September launch.

Related Roundup: iPad ProBuyer’s Guide: 10.5″ iPad Pro (Don’t Buy), 12.9″ iPad Pro (Caution)
Discuss this article in our forums

NHS Unveils Mobile App to Let Patients Book GP Visits Online

The British government has announced plans to launch a new NHS mobile app that will let patients in England make appointments with their doctor.

The app will also allow users to order repeat prescriptions, manage their long-term healthcare, see their medical records, and quickly access 111 for urgent queries.

In addition, users will have access to patient preferences related to data sharing, organ donation, and end-of-life care.

Health Secretary Jeremy Hunt described the app as a “birthday present from the NHS to the British people”, 70 years after the service was founded.

The NHS app is a world-first which will put patients firmly in the driving seat and revolutionize the way we access health services.

I want this innovation to mark the death-knell of the 8am scramble for GP appointments that infuriates so many patients.

Technology has transformed everyday life when it comes to banking, travel and shopping. Health matters much more to all of us, and the prize of that same digital revolution in healthcare isn’t just convenience but lives improved, extended and saved.

As the NHS turns 70 and we draw up a long-term plan for the NHS on the back of our £394 million a week funding boost, it’s time to catch up and unleash the power of technology to transform everyday life for patients.

“The new app will put the NHS into the pocket of everyone in England but it is just one step on the journey,” said Matthew Swindells, NHS England National Director of Operations and Information. “We are also developing an NHS Apps Library and putting free NHS Wi-Fi in GP surgeries and hospitals.”

Today we have unveiled the new NHS App where you can book a raft of routine requests, including GP appointments and repeat prescriptions pic.twitter.com/CtX0UzZSIy

— DHSC Media Centre (@DHSCmedia) July 2, 2018

Developed by NHS Digital and NHS England, the app will enter its testing phase in September and then roll out officially in December. It will be available on iOS devices through the App Store, as well as on Android phones via Google Play.

Tags: United Kingdom, health
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Facebook Shuts Down ‘Moves’ Fitness Tracker and Two Other Apps Due to Low Usage

Facebook has announced it is shutting down three apps that the company either launched itself or acquired from other companies over the last four years.

“Moves”, “tbh”, and the Android-only “Hello” all face the chop as part of the company’s latest app cull. Facebook says the apps are being shuttered because of low usage.

Activity tracking app Moves was popular at the time of its acquisition
Fitness tracking app Moves was bought in 2014 from Helsinki-based company ProtoGeo Oy for an undisclosed amount. The app records daily activity, including walking, cycling, and running. Moves will shut down on July 31.

British-based Midnight Labs sold its anonymous teen social media app tbh to the social network in 2017 for an undisclosed sum, although TechCrunch reported that the price paid was likely less than $100 million.

Facebook says all user data associated with the apps will be deleted within 90 days following shutdown.

We regularly review our apps to assess which ones people value most. Sometimes this means closing an app and its accompanying APIs. We know some people are still using these apps and will be disappointed — and we’d like to take this opportunity to thank them for their support. But we need to prioritize our work so we don’t spread ourselves too thin. And it’s only by trial and error that we’ll create great social experiences for people.

Facebook’s last app cull came in August 2017, when it removed two standalone apps from the iOS App Store: the high school chat app “Lifestage” and community-focused gathering place “Groups”.

Tag: Facebook
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