How to Create and Use Memoji in iOS 12

In iOS 11, Apple introduced animated emoji characters called Animoji, which are designed to mimic your facial expressions. In iOS 12, Animoji have grown to encompass Memoji, which are customizable humanoid Animoji characters that you can design to look just like you.

Memoji can do all of the same things that Animoji can, mimicking your facial expressions to allow for cute videos, photos, and interactions with friends and family. In iOS 12, you can also use Memoji and Animoji in photos through the Messages camera and in live FaceTime chats.

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Making a Memoji

Animoji live in the Messages app, so creating a Memoji is also done in Messages.

Open up the Messages app.
Choose a conversation.
Tap on Animoji Messages app from the Messages app bar, which looks like a little monkey.
Scroll all the way to the right until you see the “+” button and tap it.

Customizing Your Memoji

Memoji start out as a blank face, and it’s up to you to customize it to look like you. The Memoji interface will open up to a display that lets you choose skin tone to begin with. Tapping buttons and sliders will let you customize features and choose options like freckles or no freckles.

To move on from skin tone to other features, tap the labels at the top, cycling through Hairstyle, Head Shape, Eyes, Brows, Nose & Lips, Ears, Facial Hair, Eyewear, and Headwear.

During this entire process, your Memoji is active so you can see what all of the features look like when animated. Sometimes it will pause when changing a feature, but you can resume the animation by tapping on the Memoji.

There are dozens of facial feature options and accessories to choose from when creating a Memoji, allowing for many different looks.

When your Memoji is all finished, just tap “Done” in the upper right hand corner.

You can save as many Memoji as you want, so you can make Memoji for yourself, your friends, family, celebrities, characters, and more.

Editing and Deleting Memoji

You can edit an already-created Memoji or delete a Memoji at any time.

Open up the Messages app.
Choose a conversation.
Tap on the little monkey icon in the Messages app drawer to open up the Animoji Messages app.
With a Memoji in frame, tap on the three little dots in the left hand corner.
Choose “Edit” to make changes to your Memoji, choose “Delete” to remove it, or choose “Duplicate” to use it as a base for a new Memoji.

New Animoji Features in iOS 12

In iOS 12, new facial recognition capabilities have been added that let your Animoji and Memoji mimic both your tongue sticking out and winks. All Animoji and Memoji have tongues, with some special touches like a glitter tongue for the unicorn, a green tongue for the alien, and an articulated tongue for the robot.

Recording a Memoji or Animoji Video in the Messages App

Recording a message, song, or facial expression in a video that can be sent to family and friends is done in the same way that it was done in iOS 11.

With the Animoji app open in Messages and an Animoji or Memoji selected, tap on the red record button to start recording a message. When finished, tap the red stop button, and then tap the blue up arrow to send.

Tapping on the arrow sends the Animoji or Memoji recording automatically to the person you’re conversing with.

Using a Memoji or Animoji as a Sticker

Your Memoji and Animoji can also be used as stickers if you just want to send a quick photo reaction but not a full video. To do this, make the desired face and then tap on the Animoji itself rather than the record button to create a quick little screenshot that can be sent using the blue up arrow.

If you want to use the Animoji or Memoji as a sticker to react to another message or to decorate a photo, press a finger on the Animoji and then drag it upwards into the iMessage conversation.

While the sticker is attached to your finger, you can use gestures to rotate it and resize it to get the perfect position.

Animoji in the Messages Camera and in FaceTime

iOS 12 includes a new Effects camera in both Messages and FaceTime, which includes support for Animoji and Memoji. You can use Animoji and Memoji to create photos in Messages and to entertain friends and family while in FaceTime conversations.

Animoji in the Messages Camera

Open the Messages app.
Choose a conversation.
Tap on the Camera icon that’s next to the iMessage chat bar.
Tap on the star-shaped icon in the bottom left corner.
Select the Animoji icon, which looks like a little monkey.
Choose an Animoji or Memoji and it will pop up over your face.
After applying an Animoji, tap the small “X” in above the Animoji menu to exit out of the Animoji interface. Your Animoji will still be displayed, but you will also be able to add other camera effects.
When all of your desired effects are applied, tap the photo button to snap a photo that can then be edited, marked up further, or shared.
With the Messages camera, you can add Animoji, filters, text, shapes, and stickers to your images.

Animoji in FaceTime

Initiate a FaceTime call.
After the call has started, tap on the star-shaped Effects icon.
Choose an Animoji or Memoji, tap it, and it will be displayed over your face.

As in the Messages Effects camera, tap on the “X” above the Animoji menu and you can also apply other effects while in the FaceTime call.
The person on the other end of the FaceTime call will see the Animoji and any other effects that you have applied, such as filters. You can complement your Animoji FaceTime calls with the aforementioned filters, stickers, text, and all of the other Effects camera options.

Animoji and Memoji only work with the front-facing camera in both Messages and FaceTime, because the TrueDepth camera system is required.

Memoji and Animoji Compatibility

You need a device with a TrueDepth camera system to create Memoji and Animoji. Right now, that’s only the iPhone X, but Apple is expected to launch new 2018 iPhones and iPads that include TrueDepth cameras later this year.

While it’s just the iPhone X that can be used to create and display Animoji, others can still see them in FaceTime calls (including Group FaceTime calls) and in photos created with the Messages camera.

Related Roundup: iOS 12Tags: Animoji, Memoji
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Some Third-Party Email Apps Like Edison Let Employees Read User Emails

Some third-party email providers that work with services like Gmail are letting their employees read customer emails to create new and optimized software tools, according to an article warning about third-party email apps and services published today by The Wall Street Journal.

Return Path, a service for email marketers that has 163 app partners, two years ago allowed its employees to read approximately 8,000 full customer emails to train the company’s software.

Similarly, Edison Software, a company that makes the Edison Mail app for iOS, had employees read the emails of hundreds of users to craft a new “smart replies” feature.

According to The Wall Street Journal, neither company asked users for specific permission to read their emails, but have said the practice is covered in their user agreements. Employees who read the emails were governed by “strict protocols,” and in Edison’s case, user information was redacted.

Edison, Return Path, and other third-party email services also use computer scanning to analyze emails, a common practice. For its article, The Wall Street Journal interviewed over two dozen current and former employees from email and data companies.

Google no longer scans the inboxes of Gmail users itself as of last year for privacy reasons, but it continues to allow third-party software developers to do so. Other email services, like Yahoo and Microsoft, are similarly impacted, providing access with user consent.

Return Path, Edison, and other developers of apps that work with Gmail and similar email services don’t appear to have misused customer information, but many customers are likely to be concerned about the fact that employees at some email companies are reading their emails. Many customers are also likely unaware they’re consenting to such practices when signing up for a third-party email app.

In a written statement, Google said that it provides data to outside developers who have been vetted and who have been granted permission by users to access their email. Google says its own employees read emails only in “very specific cases where you ask us to and give consent, or where we need to for security purposes, such as investigating a bug or abuse.”

As The Wall Street Journal points out, customers should be wary of email apps because Google does not have strong consumer protections in place when it comes to email. It’s a simple process to build an app that connects to Gmail accounts, and with permission to access the Gmail inbox granted, a developer can see the entire contents of the inbox. It’s not just large corporations that are able to get to this data – Google also gives permission to one-person startups, and data privacy protections can vary.

Customers concerned with how their emails are handled by third-party apps should stick with first-party apps such as Gmail or Inbox by Gmail for Gmail users and/or take a close look at the app’s privacy policies and ask further questions about data usage.
Discuss this article in our forums

OnePlus 6 review: The best value smartphone of 2018

OnePlus’ creed has always been to deliver smartphones packing the latest technology at an affordable price. When the OnePlus One came out in 2014, it quickly became a wild success.

It was a hard-edged phone with a backside covered in sandpaper. It offered high-end components and the freedom for nerds to tinker around with the phone’s software.

Four years later, the Chinese indie brand has unveiled the OnePlus 6, and it’s the company’s most mature phone to date. Yes, it costs nearly double than what the OnePlus One use to, but the company has evolved a great deal and with this model, I believe it has completed its transition to the big league.

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It’s a stellar piece of technology that looks and feels like a million bucks. And the best part is, it won’t burn through your savings like the iPhone X. Instead, OnePlus has managed to once again keep prices relatively low (compared to the competition), so the OnePlus 6 starts at $529 for the 6GB RAM and 64GB storage model.

So if you’re on the market for a phone right now that doesn’t compromise on specs and features, the OnePlus 6 is one of the best options you have available at this point.

Not 100% sure you want to jump on board yet? Keep reading below for more details on OnePlus’ latest flagship.

Design

Much of the OnePlus 6’s appeal comes from the fact that it now sports a completely new build and design. This year, OnePlus abandoned the aluminum back of its previous phones in favor of glass, Corning Gorilla Glass 5 to be more precise. Which now covers the back and front of the device. Despite the change, the phone does retain the slight palm-curved shape of earlier models.

As far as I’m concerned, the OnePlus 6 looks stunning and feels really premium, but the all-glass design might feel a bit overused to some. After all phones like the LG G7 ThinQ, Galaxy S9 and others also adhere to the same current.

OnePlus has also incorporated other trendy design details into the new flagship. Yes, there’s a notch on the 6.28-inch Optic AMOLED display, but if you’re not a fan of that don’t fret. The company gives you the option to easily hide the notch from settings.

Now, if you were to hold the OnePlus 6 next to the 5T you’ll immediately notice that screen real estate on the former is bigger. It’s grown from 6-inches to 6.3-inches, leading to a slight increase in thickness (0.4mm) and weight (14g). Though the newcomer has shrunk a bit in width.

Display

The display itself is still excellent, although there are no major upgrades to speak of. The resolution is the same FHD+ or 2,280 x 1,080, and the AMOLED display continues to offer bright, sharp and vivid colors, with great viewing angles.

Like on its predecessor, users can choose between a number of different screen calibrations including default, sRGB, DCI-P3 and Adaptive.

The only area where I found myself wishing the OnePlus 6 would be better sunlight readability. It’s summer here and days are super-sunny. On most occasions I was forced to shield the screen with my palm in order to be able to read something.

The back of the OnePlus 6 looks quite reminiscent of the Galaxy S9+. Both devices have a vertically stacked, centrally arranged dual-rear cameras and a candy bar-shaped fingerprint scanner below. Which is super fast, although I’m not such a big fan about the shape. I prefer circular.

This is quite a departure from the OnePlus 5T that had a horizontally-aligned dual camera located in the top-left corner and a circular fingerprint reader position centrally.

As you would expect, though, from a phone with such a glossy finish, it’s a dust and fingerprint magnet. On the bright side, I found it to be less slippery than the OnePlus 5T.

In any case, you can easily slap a case on the back of the phone. I particularly liked the rugged Bumper case OnePlus provided in the box with the phone. It’s very stylish in nylon and gives your device the soft feel of fabric.

Other details

There’s been a switch-up in other classic OnePlus design elements too. For example, the iconic alert slider has been moved to sit on the top right side. Regrettably, it’s a bit stiff and requires a firm grip on the phone to slide. But that’s just a minor detail.

Beneath it sits the power button. On the left side, you get a volume rocker and the phone’s dual SIM card slot. At the bottom edge resides the USB Type-C connector, 3.5mm audio jack port and a sole speaker.

Like on the 5T, the speaker is pretty basic, albeit it being enhanced by Dirac. You won’t find here a dual speaker setup or anything fancy like special audio chambers. If you’re an audiophile, you will have to look somewhere else. Perhaps in the direction of the LG V30 family.

We should also note at this point that the phone is water resistant for “everyday use”, but does not carry an “official” IP67/IP68 rating.

Performance

The OnePlus 6 is as good as any flagship launched in 2018. It includes Qualcomm’s top-of-the-line Snapdragon 845 in combination with 6GB or 8GB of RAM. For the first time, the company is offering a 256GB storage option, alongside the 64GB and 128GB one.

This means that the phone is really fast and responsive, and games load quickly and reliably with minimal stutter or frame dropping. I’ve been using the device for a few weeks and I can’t say I’ve experienced any odd occurrences or random freezes. Our review variant has the 8GB RAM and 128GB storage configuration.

On top of the pure power radiating from under the hood, the OnePlus 6 also gets the new capability to support two LTE connections simultaneously.

Battery-wise, the OnePlus 6 is a winner. It still retains the same 3,300 mAh juice box of the OnePlus 5T, but it lasts just as long, in some occasions even longer!

For example, I fully charged my phone Sunday morning and on Monday morning I still had 55% left.

Yet, despite having a glass rear, the OnePlus 6 does not support wireless charging. Fortunately, it has Dash Charge which can take you from around 27% to 100% in an hour or so. However, I should note that Dash Charge is proprietary, so it won’t work with another USB-C cable. You must use the one that OnePlus provided.

Camera

The camera performance was one of my main complains when I reviewed the OnePlus 5T. I hoped OnePlus would address the issue with the OnePlus 6 and it did.

Yeah, the camera it’s still not as good as the Pixel 2’s or Huawei’s fancy P20 Pro, but it’s definitely a step up in the right direction.

You might not believe this looking at the bare specs. On paper, the dual-cameras on the back are pretty much identical to the previous model. There’s the same 20-megapixel + 16-megapixel with f/1.7 combination. BUT, and there’s a big but, the main camera now has a 19% larger sensor.

Which means the sensor is capable of capturing more light, which in turn translates into being able to take better low-light pictures. Oh, and we also get optical image stabilization.

When compared to the OnePlus 5T, the OnePlus 6 is able to pick up more of the finer details, even in poorly lit environments. Sure, things aren’t amazingly sharp in low-light, but you will certainly be able to notice the improvements. Even as it falls behind phones with larger sensors and wider aperture like the beastly Huawei P20 Pro, the OnePlus 6 can take a decent bar or concert picture.

Where the OnePlus 6 shines is in daylight photography, with Portraits looking particularly remarkable.

No zoom

With zoom

Sure, there’s still work to be done. For instance, the second camera is only there to add depth data for the phone’s blurred background portrait mode. Which granted, works pretty well. Yet, the sensor doesn’t bring anything extra like optical zoom or the ability to capture monochrome images.

OnePlus has also added a new slow-mo video mode which lets you shoot 720p video at 480fps or 1080p at 240fps. You can also shoot video in 4K resolution at 60fps with OIS enabled, which is pretty sweet.

The selfie-camera remains a 16-megapixel sensor, but it seems to be able to take sharper selfies, as least as far as I can tell. A new selfie Portrait mode was also recently added via a software update.

Software

The OnePlus 6 comes running the latest version of Google’s mobile operating system, Android 8.1 Oreo with OxygenOS on top. Like always, you’ll get a smooth and clean experience, with only a handful pre-installed apps. Obviously, OnePlus has included a few software tweaks of its own.

For example, a new gesture control system can replace the familiar Android on-screen nav button triad with an iPhone-X like swipe system. Which, unfortunately, need more perfecting because it’s often times unreliable and frustrating to use.

Other features you’ll find on board the OnePlus 6:

• OnePlus’ home screen Shelf – lets you write a quick memo or view recent contacts and apps.
• Gaming Mode 2.0 – kicks in a do-not-disturb mode while gaming, but also boosts app loading speeds specifically for games. It also has improved app prioritization, so it will know to kill off apps in the background if they are affecting performance
• Reading Mode – creates a monochrome effect that’s conducive to reading.
• Schedule Do Not Disturb Mode – allows you to set up custom rules for Do Not Disturb and configure a preset time so it kicks in automatically. This way you won’t have to toggle the Alert Slider every time you go to bed in the evening.

Finally, the OnePlus 6 is one of the phones on Google’s Android P beta list, so you can give the latest version of Android a try if you buy it.

Final thoughts

With the OnePlus 6, the Chinese company has delivered a suitable successor for the OnePlus 5T. Boasting a beautiful design, top-notch specs and much-improved camera, the new flagship should definitely be on your radar if you’re on the market for a new phone.

Obviously, no phone is perfect and the OnePlus 6 is no different. It does lack a microSD card slot, waterproofing and despite having a glass back, it does not offer wireless charging. Which would have been nice.

But none of these are actually deal breakers, especially at this price. Just think about it, you’d be getting a premium glass phone with a Snapdragon 845, great display and competitive dual-camera for only $529.

If you’re not looking to spend more than $600 on the phone, then the OnePlus 6 is absolutely the best device you can get on this budget. Aside from the minimal issues we’ve outlined in this review, the OnePlus 6 is more than capable to compete head-to-head with the top flagships available on the market today. And in some respects even outdo them.

However, there’s a caveat to be taken into account before buying the OnePlus 6. It does not work on Verizon or Sprint networks. Thankfully, it works just fine with GSM carriers like T-Mobile and AT&T. So if you’re already a subscriber, you should be good to go. If not, you might want to consider switching carriers. Or, you could take a look at the alternatives. The Honor 10 View and ASUS ZenFone 5Z (which is not yet available in the US) are the closest options right now.

The OnePlus 6 is currently available in the following coloring options and configurations:

• Mirror Black with 6GB of RAM + 64GB of storage – $529.00
• Silk White with 8GB of RAM and 128GB of storage – $579.00
• Mirror Black with 8GB of RAM + 128GB of storage – $579.00
• Midnight Black with 8GB of RAM + 128GB of storage – $579.00
• Midnight Black with 8GB of RAM + 256GB of storage – $629.00

Buy the OnePlus 6

Xfinity Mobile will throttle streaming resolution to 480p, hot spots at 3G

Big changes are coming for Xfinity Mobile customers. The wireless carrier announced new data prioritization rules that will affect all of its subscribers. In the coming weeks, Xfinity Mobile customers may see lower streaming resolution when using cellular data and significantly slower hot spot speeds.

First up, Xfinity Mobile will lower its default streaming resolution. The company announced it is “establishing 480p as the default resolution for streaming video over cellular data on Xfinity Mobile, which is consistent with standard unlimited plans across carriers.” The change will only apply when customers are streaming video over cellular data, an important distinction since one of the benefits of Xfinity Mobile is the ability to automatically connect to the company’s huge network of Wi-Fi hot spots.

The second change unlimited users will notice is slower speeds when hotspotting. Currently, customers can stream at 4G speeds until they reach their monthly 20GB threshold. However, Xfinity Mobile announced it is “setting personal hotspotting at 3G speeds for all Unlimited customers, which will allow customers to continue to do many of the things they enjoy doing online.” These 3G speeds should allow you to do basic tasks like check email and surf the web. However, it’s not fast enough of music or video streaming.

While the change in streaming resolution will affect all Xfinity Mobile customers, only unlimited customers will notice slower speeds when using their device as a hotspot: “By the Gig” customers will continue to have the option to use 4G speeds when creating a mobile hotspot.

Xfinity Mobile plans to offer a new tier of service with streaming at 720p later in the year, details about the plan are not yet available. In the meantime, a spokesperson for Xfinity Mobile told Digital Trends that customers who wish to continue streaming at 720p can contact the carrier directly to have service re-established until the new plan is announced later in the year.

Xfinity Mobile is a regional carrier that is currently available to customers who subscribe to Xfinity Wireless service. The service combines Verizon’s cellular network along with its own robust network of Wi-Fi hot spots around the country to provide low cost service to its customers. The company currently offers a plan with unlimited talk, text, and data for $45

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HTC to cut a quarter of jobs after huge plunge in 2018 sales

Julian Chokkattu/Digital Trends

Taiwanese smartphone manufacturer HTC is set to cut a massive 1,500 jobs from its manufacturing units in Taiwan, following an enormous drop in sales for the company.

The job losses would amount to almost a quarter of HTC’s 6,450-strong workforce currently employed, and comes after Google bought a select team of 2,000 engineers from HTC for a staggering $1.1 billion back in January. Despite the large cash injection into the company, it seems that HTC’s losses simply still aren’t sustainable, and HTC reported a decline of 46.7 percent in March sales, and a 55.5 percent drop in sales for April 2018, compared year-on-year.

We contacted HTC to confirm this news, and an HTC spokesperson confirmed the following: “Today’s reduction in manufacturing workforce announced by HTC is a decisive step in the realignment of resources across the organization, and will allow more flexible operations management. The Company will offer full assistance to those employees affected by the plan, which will be completed by the end of September. HTC continues to review its operations to ensure production resources align with key strategic initiatives, so that the Company can more effectively compete in its target markets while maintaining its innovative edge.”

This unfortunate news doesn’t exist in a financial vacuum either. It was recently rumored that Sony Mobile would be pulling out of specific regions in order to focus on core markets, while LG — another previously ascendant smartphone creator — announced in February that it would be pulling out of the Chinese market. In the wider market, the mobile industry is becoming an exceptionally difficult place to make it as a mobile brand. The IDC’s report on the first quarter of 2018 showed that the top three manufacturers — Samsung, Apple, and Huawei — comprised over 50 percent of the entire market. Even worse, each of those companies has it’s own very specific niche within that market, making it tough for any other company to exist in the same space. For someone like HTC, which once sold one in every 10 smartphones sold globally, this must be an exceptionally bitter pill to swallow.

As if that wasn’t enough, it’s also become clear that the global smartphone market is starting to plateau, with further growth only really now possible in areas that haven’t previously bought as many smartphones. With smartphone saturation pretty much reached in the west, smaller manufacturers are having to convince phone owners to abandon their existing brand and move to a new one — something neatly encapsulated by LG’s recent advertising campaign.

Updated on July 2: We’ve added HTC’s official comment to our story.

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Despite promising to stop sharing your data, Facebook continues to do so

As part of its response to inquiries made by the congressional House Energy and Commerce Committee, Facebook revealed that despite saying it stopped the practice of data sharing with other companies in 2015, it continued to share the personal information of its users with major technology companies. Facebook delivered its response in the form of a 747-page document to Congress on June 29, revealing that it continued to share data from its users with 61 technology firms despite previous claims to the contrary.

The technology companies that Facebook continued to share data with include software and hardware companies like AOL, which is now part of Verizon, dating app Hinge, and even the United Parcel Service (UPS). The problem is that the data sharing occurred without the knowledge or consent of social media users on Facebook’s network, and the information shared between the companies include the names, genders, and birth dates of the users’ friends.

Facebook claimed that it has stopped sharing information with 38 companies and sharing will stop with seven more companies by the end of this month, according to CNET. There may be up to five additional companies that could have had access to the data of users’ friends through a beta test on the network, Facebook said. Facebook also stated that it had given some of these companies a special six-month data sharing extension so that they could become compliant with Facebook’s new privacy policy.

Facebook’s response comes after it was discovered in June that the social network may have improperly shared the information from its users with large technology companies like Apple, Huawei, Lenovo, Microsoft, Samsung, and ZTE. Given that the U.S. government continues to maintain national security concerns over Huawei and ZTE over their alleged ties to the Chinese government, the scandal also drew attention from lawmakers and the public.

Facebook’s 747-page document submitted to Congress was compiled as a result of CEO Mark Zuckerberg’s initial testimony in front of legislators in April after news broke of the Cambridge Analytica data scandal. Privacy became a hot topic as lawmakers became concerned after learning that the now-defunct political consultancy firm Cambridge Analytica, which had worked on the campaign of President Donald Trump, may have accessed the information of up 87 million users on Facebook’s network. During his testimony, Zuckerberg promised legislators that his company will deliver answers to questions that he was unable to provide answers at the time.

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Best Cases for Moto Z3 Play

Third time is the charm for Motorola’s Moto Z Play series.

The Moto Z3 Play is the latest flagship from Motorola that offers impressive specs and support for the growing selection of Moto Mods, making it an especially appealing upgrade for Motorola fans who already own a couple Moto Mod add-ons.

It’s early in the product launch so there’s not a ton of variety just yet, and it’s important to note that most of these will not work with Moto Mods that need to rest flush against the phone. But if you know you need a case to keep your new phone safe, these are your best bets.

• Dretal Slim Fit Bumper Case
• Poetic Karbon Shield Case
• TUDIA Slim-Fit Heavy Duty Case
• LK Ultra Slim Thin Clear Case
• Motorola Style Shell

Dretal Slim Fit Bumper Case

We’ll start off with a minimalist case that combines a flexible TPU bumper with a rigid and clear PC back panel. Available with either a black or clear bumper, this case offers clean lines and reinforcement where you need it and a flush cutout around the fingerprint sensor on the side of the phone.

This is a great case for anyone looking for a minimalist clear case that’s lightweight and stylish. Get yours for just $8 on Amazon.

See at Amazon

Poetic Karbon Shield Case

There’s a lot to love about the Poetic Karbon Shield case, which offers heavy-duty protection with a sleek, carbon fiber texture.

This case adds a touch of class to the phone, covering the volume and power buttons with an ample cutout around the fingerprint scanner. It’s quite easy to apply this one-piece case to your phone and once it’s on there, you’ll barely notice it’s there due to its ultra slim and lightweight design.

Get this sleek case for just $10 on Amazon.

See at Amazon

TUDIA Slim-Fit Heavy Duty Case

If you’d feel better with a dual-layer case that’s extra rugged, check out this snap-on case from TUDIA.

It combines a shock absorbing TPU skin with a rigid PC shell that comes together for a minimalist case that offers serious protection, especially for the screen and cameras. The buttons, ports, and fingerprint sensors are all perfectly accessible, and you got to check out the different color styles that are available.

Get this case for just $9 on Amazon.

See at Amazon

LK Ultra Slim Thin Clear Case

So you want a thin, clear case for your new Moto Z3 Play, huh? This case from LK is just what you need.

Designed to hug the phone while adding barely any bulk, this case is about as sleek and minimalist as it gets. Because it’s made of TPU this case is shock absorbent, scratch resistant, and also provides some anti-slip protection when you place your phone down on a surface.

Get this case in clear OR black, for just $8.

See at Amazon

Moto Mod Style Shells

Motorola’s own Style Shells use the same magnetic pins that give Moto Mods their magic, but these ones just operate as lightweight and low-key cases. Style Shells don’t provide side protection for the Moto Z3 Play, but it does prevent the phone’s back glass from being scratched up. We’re particularly partial to the Crimson Ballistic Nylon version, pictured.

Get Motorola’s Style Shells in a variety of colors and styles starting at $15.

See at Motorola

What’s your case?

Do you use cases with your Moto Z phones? Will you buy one for the Moto Z3 Play? Let us know!

Dell’s Black Friday in July sale takes up to 40% off laptops, desktops, speakers, and more

Dell does deals.

Celebrate Black Friday and Cyber Week a little early this year with Dell’s July deal-stravaganza featuring big discounts on tons of items sold by Dell, including XPS desktops, Alienware laptops, headphones, and more. The Black Friday deals will run from July 2 to July 16 with doorbusters from July 9 to the 13th. Cyber Week will run from July 16 to July 23 with doorbusters from the 16th to the 20th. All of the deals will be separated into categories at Dell.com including Black Friday, Business Deals, and Televisions, Electronics, and Accessories.

If you are a member of Dell Financial Services, Dell Advantage Loyalty Rewards, or the Dell Member Purchase Program, you get early access to the doorbuster sales from July 2 to July 8. The doorbusters will be available at 11 a.m. Eastern and 5 p.m. Eastern each day. The items will vary each day but include deals like the Inspiron 11 3000 laptop available for $129.99 at 11 a.m. on July 10 or a Dell G5 15-inch gaming laptop for $150 off at 5 p.m. on July 13.

Here’s a few examples of deals that are live right now:

• Dell G3 15-inch gaming laptop for $679.99 (from $750)
• Inspiron 14 notebook for $179.99 (from $230)
• XPS Tower with Core i7-8700 processor and GTX 1050 graphics card for $999.99 (from $1,100)
• SE2717H 27-inch 1080p Monitor for $169.99 (from $190)

The Cyber Week deals are not live yet, so you’ll want to come back to check out those deals when they are on July 16. Right now there are plenty of other sales going on, so keep an eye on the Black Friday page for everything going on sale this month.

See at Dell

FuboTV begins streaming some content in 4K with HDR10

FuboTV is now streaming World Cup games in 4K resolution and HDR10 over Chromecast and Amazon Fire TV. (Though you might still need to tweak your TV settings to get it.)

It’s also offering a free month of service if you buy a Roku by July 8.

Upstart streaming service FuboTV today announced that it’s streaming the main broadcasts of the 2018 FIFA World Cup (as in the games that are on Fox and FS1) in 4K resolution, with HDR10 support.

There are caveats, of course. (There are always caveats.) The increased resolution is initially available through Chromecast, and on Amazon Fire TV 4K devices. (That includes the new Fire TV Cube, of course.) Support for Apple TV and Roku devices will land in coming weeks.

Of course, you’ll also need a 4K television, and HDMI 2.0/2.2 ports, and enough bandwidth to handle the extra data (FuboTV says at least 30 Mbps is recommended) — you know, all the things that make the 4K magic work in the first place. And your TV will need to support HD10 if you want those sweet colors. (And you also might have to mess around in the settings — because the future may be bright, but it’s not always easy.)

Additionally, FuboTV is offering a free month of service if you buy a Roku device by July 8. More details on that here.

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FUBOTV IS FIRST VIRTUAL MVPD TO LAUNCH 4K HDR BETA

NEW YORK – JULY 2, 2018 – fuboTV (fubo.tv), the leading sports-first live streaming TV service in the U.S., has launched 4K HDR10 support in Beta, becoming the first virtual multichannel video programming distributor (vMVPD) to offer content in ultra-high definition and high dynamic range.

Starting today, main broadcasts* of Russia 2018 matches on FOX and FS1 are available in 4K HDR10 with fuboTV on all Chromecast and Fire TV devices that support the format. fuboTV will also launch 4K HDR10 on Roku and Apple TV in the coming weeks.

First to launch 4K HDR, ahead of vMVPDs owned by AT&T, Alphabet, DISH Network and Sony, today’s news is the latest example of the independent live streaming start-up competing head-to-head with the world’s biggest satellite and technology companies. fuboTV was among the first live streaming services to launch Cloud DVR, 60FPS picture quality and in-app billing, and was the first to fully implement SCTE 224 blackout technology standards. Also, after several months of testing, fuboTV officially launched dynamic ad insertion in January – ahead of Hulu with Live TV and YouTube TV.

“Launching 4K HDR is a testament to our dedication and relentless pursuit to developing for consumers the world’s premier live video streaming service for live sports and entertainment,” said David Gandler, co-founder and CEO, fuboTV.

To view ultra-high definition and high dynamic range content, subscribers must have a 4K HDR-enabled television, HDMI 2.0/HDCP 2.2 compatible cable and run the fuboTV app on a streaming device that supports the formats. Bandwidth speeds of 30Mbps-40Mbps or higher are recommended. 4K HDR-capable TVs may also need calibration to present the content correctly. More information on how to watch 4K HDR with fuboTV is here. For subscribers without 4K HDR hardware, all Russia 2018 matches are available in 60FPS.

ATEME, the emerging leader of video delivery infrastructure, provided the software to enable the 4K HDR encoding platform for fuboTV.

fuboTV is offering one free month for new subscribers who buy a new Roku device by July 8 (https://www.roku.com/offers/streamtv). Separately, the company’s subscription packages are also currently available at promotional rates: fubo (base package) for $34.99 for the first month after a free seven-day trial and fubo Extra for $39.99 for the first month after the free seven-day trial (discounted from $44.99 and $49.99, respectively). New subscribers can also get a free upgrade to the Family Share plan, including a third simultaneous stream (normally $5.99/month).

*Includes main broadcasts on FOX or FS1, but not FOX Sports bonus feeds.

Best Cases for Moto X4 in 2018

Own a Moto X4? These are the cases that deserve your dollars.

The Moto X4 is a big departure from past Moto X devices, but that doesn’t mean it’s a bad phone. In fact, it’s one of the best mid-range Android handsets on the market right now.

It’s the first entry in the Moto X series to feature a glass back, and while it looks downright gorgeous, this also makes the X4 rather fragile and easy to break. To ensure that doesn’t happen and your phone continues to look as good as can, these are the cases we recommend checking out.

• Dretal Full-Body Protective
• Spigen Liquid Crystal
• Mustaner Dual Layer
• Encased Slim Fit Holster Shell Combo
• Swoders Flower Case
• Anccer Colorful Series
• KuGi Flexible Soft TPU
• KwMobile Wallet
• Cimo Heavy Duty

Dretal Full-Body Protective

If you prefer something more traditional, cheaper, and with increased protection, Dretal’s Full-Body Protective case is certainly worth a look. The carbon fiber and anti-stretch TPU rubber design encase the Moto X4 is a durable shell, and the multi-texture design on the back adds a nice bit of flair.

There are a multitude of colors to choose from, including navy, black, gray, red, and mint, and all of Dretal’s products come with a generous 30-day warranty. For under $8, it’s hard to complain about this one.

See at Amazon

Spigen Liquid Crystal

While the colors of Dretal’s case look great, you might be inclined to show off the reflective glass back of the Moto X4. We certainly don’t blame you, and if that’s the case (get it 😂), Spigen’s got your back.

The Spigen Liquid Crystal is a clear case for the Moto X4, and it does an excellent job of showing the sleek look of the X4’s back. The case is made out of a durable and anti-slip TPU material, and in addition to keeping your phone nice and safe, it still manages to remain light as a feather.

Spigen uses a dot pattern for its case, and unlike a lot of cheaper clear options, this helps to drastically cut down on the smudges it picks up. For just under $13, this isn’t a bad choice at all.

See at Amazon

Mustaner Dual Layer

For users that are rough on their phones and treat them like they would any other tool in their toolbox, Mustaner’s case is the one we’d recommend getting. This isn’t as slim or fashion-forward as some of the other options on this list, but what it lacks in aesthetics, it makes up for with awesome protection.

Mustaner’s case features a two-layer design – including a soft TPU base layer and hard shell frame that goes on top of it. This combo allows for maximum safety no matter what happens to your Moto X4, and the built-in kickstand on the back is a really nice touch.

You’ve got six different colors to choose from, and all of this comes in at under $8 before using a free 5% off coupon.

See at Amazon

Encased Slim Fit Holster Shell Combo

There’s a lot of functionality packed into the Mustaner case, but if you want your case to do even more for just a couple extra dollars, look no further than what Encased has to offer.

This case is made out of a reinforced polycarbonate frame, and as expected, offers ample protection against any accidental spills. You’ll find a subtle texture on the back for increased grip, and along with a kickstand that can prop up your phone vertically or horizontally, Encased also includes a holster that your Moto X4 can slide into so you can easily attach it to your belt. For less than $12, that’s a steal.

See at Amazon

Swoders Flower Case

Having ample protection and a bit of flair at the same time can be tricky to come by with a phone case, but that’s exactly what Swoders pulls off with its flower case.

A rubberized polycarbonate back combined with TPU bumper shields allows for maximum protection against any accidental drops, and the slim design makes it easy to carry with you no matter where you go.

Better yet, Swoders has four patterns to choose from (three of which are currently available) of varying flower designs. This helps the Moto X4 stick out from the rest of glass-backed phones on the market, and the end result is actually quite nice.

See at Amazon

Anccer Colorful Series

The above two cases are great for buyers that prefer function over form, but if you like things the other way around, one of your best bets lies with the Anccer Colorful Series. This is the thinnest case on the list, measuring in at just 0.3mm, but even with the thin design, Anccer’s case still manages to protect against drops, bumps, and shocks.

Available colors include black, blue, red, rose gold, gold, and silver, and these are available in either gravel or smooth finishes. This is a great case for adding some color to the Moto X4 while protecting it at the same time, and you can do so for about $11.

See at Amazon

KuGi Flexible Soft TPU

What’s a person to do if they want a case that looks awesome while still offering as much protection as possible? What you do is pick up the KuGi Flexible Soft TPU case. The TPU material that’s present here does a fantastic job at housing your X4 in a secure home from just about any element imaginable.

Non-slip sides allow you to always have a confident hold on your device, bumper guards protect against unwanted shock during a drop, and the faux-leather material on the back looks and feels like a million bucks.

KuGi sells its case in navy, black, and gray, and you’ll pay just under $8 before applying an extra 8% off.

See at Amazon

KwMobile Wallet

There’s no denying the usefulness of a wallet case, and one of the best ones you can get for the Moto X4 is KwMobile’s option.

Available in black, black/brown, and grey/black, the fabric design of the case is great for both looking and touching, and the plastic shell the X4 sits in offers ample protection against any mishaps. The front of the case is held together by magnets, and you have access to a three-card compartment for carrying around your most important plastic.

See at Amazon

Cimo Heavy Duty

Last but not least, the Cimo Heavy Duty case is another great choice for customers that want great protection and looks at the same time.

Cimo uses a lightweight design here, and this allows your Moto X4 to stay safe and secure without adding much bulk. The two-layer design offers more than enough protection against most all drops, raised bezels help to protect the X4’s screen, and the grippy back is something we always love to see.

You’ll pay just under $8 for this case, and it comes in armor black, gray, purple, and red color options.

See at Amazon

What one do you choose?

Which of the above cases meets your fancy? Let us know down in the comments below and if there’s another awesome pick we may have missed.

Moto X4 review: A mid-range phone done right

Updated June 29, 2018: Updated with the best cases available right now!