Money can’t buy you love, but it may buy you more compatible picks on Tinder

Tinder wants to graduate from its purely physical profiling reputation, and perhaps add a bit more substance to online dating. To that end, the popular online dating app is trialing a new feature called “Tinder Picks,” which is meant to help users find matches who are not only attractive, but also more compatible when it comes to education, job type, hobbies, and other important characteristics.

For the time being, TechCrunch reports, the feature is only available to folks who pay for Tinder (which is to say, Tinder Gold), and will join a number of other members-only features, like Passport (which lets you see folks in other cities), Rewind (which lets you take back your last swipe), Unlimited Likes, and the ability to see who has swiped right on you (which is to say, liked you).

Tinder Gold has apparently been quite a hit for both Tinder and its users. A month after it launched in 2017, subscribers apparently saw an increase of more than 60 percent in their matches. And with the addition of Tinder Picks, the hope is that this proportion will grow even further.

You won’t have to provide any extra information to leverage the latest function. After all, most users already provide their education background, their job type, and their hobbies and interests. Tinder will take this data and place users into certain categories (sounds like the beginnings of love!).

A “foodie” might be so qualified because they are in the service industry, went to a great culinary school, or mentions that they are a foodie in their bio. Of course, I’d like to point out here that those three descriptors don’t necessarily seem like they’d be compatible, but who am I to judge?

Tinder also considers a user’s prior swiping habits in order to figure out who he or she may be most interested in. To see your daily Tinder Picks, you’ll need to tap the diamond found on the top of the Discovery screen. But to actually check them out or swipe on them, you’ll need to upgrade to Tinder Gold. Picks are refreshed every 24 hours, though Gold members can “buy” more at any time (yikes). Otherwise, they’ll be made available in groups of 10, 20, or 30 people. Somehow, it feels like we’re talking about produce instead of people.

Picks is currently live in the U.K., Germany, Brazil, France, Canada, Turkey, Mexico, Sweden, Russia, and the Netherlands. Once the app has a sense of how folks are reacting to the feature, it’ll determine whether or not to introduce it to the rest of the world.

“With Picks, we’re offering users a new way to discover the most interesting people on Tinder,” chief product officer Brian Norgard said in a statement. “Picks delivers a personalized, premium user experience within Tinder Gold that puts a spotlight on unique characteristics that make our users stand out.”

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First Snapdragon 845 Chromebook could be a 2-in-1 with detachable keyboard

The HP Chromebook x2 is an Intel Core M powered 2-in-1.

Early hints of a Chromebook powered by Qualcomm’s powerful Snapdragon 845 mobile system on chip (SoC) have been followed up by far firmer confirmations, including more details about what the device might be like. The Chromebook is said to be a 2-in-1 with a detachable keyboard, which would make it super light when in tablet mode, and it’s even suggested there will be a whole host of options for external display connection.

We first caught wind of a potential Snapdragon-powered Chromebook last December, where XDA Developers discovered mentions of Snapdragon within Chrome OS code. The device was said to be code-named “Cheza,” and that seems to have been proven accurate with the latest look at the Chromium repository. Commits there highlight that Cheza would be “detachable,” thereby suggesting a keyboard that unhitches from the display.

Although the display resolution in the commits points toward a 2560 x 1440 resolution, AboutChromebooks highlights that that could well be just a display used for testing and not a final resolution. In theory, the Snapdragon 845 supports resolutions up to 4K, so there is no way as of yet to nail down what kind of display the new Chromebook could have.

What we do know is that there will be plenty of options for attaching an external display. USB Type-C, USB 3.0, and DisplayPort ports will be available, meaning even if the onboard display is a little weak or small, there will at least be options for improving that when stationary.

Such a device could also have LTE connectivity. The Snapdragon 845, older versions of which have already made their way into a number of laptops, has an onboard Qualcomm X20 modem. That should make it possible for laptops powered by it to offer wireless data connection speeds of up to 1.2Gbps. Although that could well be dependent on the choices made by the eventual manufacturer of Cheza, Google has in the past said it’s keen to improve data connectivity for Chromebooks in the future.

Although Qualcomm processors have typically been used for mobile devices, they are finding their way into more and more traditional computing system like laptops. In the case of Chrome OS, which is already lightweight and snappy, Qualcomm SoCs could offer an efficient hardware choice that helps bring extended battery life to the Chromebook space.

We’ll need to wait for an official announcement to find out anything concrete about Cheza, but as the leaks add up, a portrait of the laptop is starting to take shape.

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Tinder’s parent company Match Group swipes right on Hinge

Hinge has joined the Tinder family. Technically, actually, Hinge has joined the Match Group, the parent company of a large number of apps meant to help you find love (or at least, a lusty evening or two). Already under the Match Group are Tinder, OkCupid, and of course, Match, and now that the company has acquired a 51 percent stake in Hinge, it’s added to its portfolio once again. Under the terms of the deal, Match Group retains the right to acquire the rest of Hinge’s shares within a 12-month period, so sometime during this year or 2019, we could see Hinge fully folded into Match Group.

The company says that it first became interested in the mutual connections-based dating app in 2017. Hinge no longer allows users to swipe right (or left), and instead provides detailed profiles of the men and women seeking companionship on its platform. According to Hinge, ever since it did away with swiping, it has seen a user base growth of 400 percent. This, the app claims, is because it makes Hinge seem more like a place to find relationships and truly get to know people, rather than a hookup scene dominated by instantaneous aesthetic judgments.

If this sounds like it’s the opposite of Tinder, that is because in many ways, it is. But Match Group apparently sees this tension as advantageous.

“Dating isn’t a one-size-fits-all approach,” a Match Group spokesperson told TechCrunch. “We operate a variety of products because people gravitate to different apps for different reasons.”

And it seems as though Hinge is fully onboard with joining the Match Group, too. The company’s CEO Justin McLeod noted that the merger could help the company grow even more than it might have been able to on its own.

“At a certain point, having the scaling capability of a well-funded and experienced partner [like Match Group] makes sense,” McLeod told TechCrunch. “We want to bring a more thoughtful dating experience to the most people.”

Not all dating apps have been quite so eager to join the family, however. In November, Match Group tried to take over the female-focused app Bumble. This ended disastrously, as Match Group ultimately sued Bumble for patent infringement, accusing the app of copying “Tinder’s world-changing, card-swipe-based, mutual opt-in premise.” Bumble countersued for $400 million, claiming that Match Group attained trade secrets illegally during the course of acquisition discussions. Both lawsuit settlements are still pending.

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Amazon employees call on Jeff Bezos to end controversial tech contracts

In the wake of protests from Google and Microsoft workers, who objected to their employers’ contracts with the Pentagon and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), employees at Amazon are circulating a letter to CEO Jeff Bezos, urging the billionaire to stop selling facial recognition software to law enforcement and remove the big data firm Palantir from its cloud.

In a letter published by Gizmodo, the Amazon workers voice their concern that these surveillance technologies will be misused, particularly to target marginalized groups. They reference an investigation from May, in which the American Civil Liberties Union showed that Amazon had marketed its facial recognition software, Rekognition, which can identify and track faces in real time, to police departments around the country.

“We don’t have to wait to find out how these technologies will be used,” they write. “We already know that in the midst of historic militarization of police, renewed targeting of Black activists, and the growth of a federal deportation force currently engaged in human rights abuses — this will be another powerful tool for the surveillance state, and ultimately serve to harm the most marginalized. We are not alone in this view: More than 40 civil rights organizations signed an open letter in opposition to the governmental use of facial recognition, while over 150,000 individuals signed another petition delivered by the ACLU.”

The letter follows demands by Google and Microsoft workers, who put pressure on their employers to cut ties with the Pentagon and ICE, respectively. In April, more than 4,000 Google employees signed an open letter to CEO Sundar Pichai, calling for the company to end its affiliation with Project Maven, a controversial program that seeks to automatically classify images of people from drone footage to speed up the rate of analysis. In May, about a dozen employees resigned. The protests resulted in Google announcing plans to end its involvement. Microsoft faced similar pressure this week over contracts that provide its Azure cloud platform to ICE.

Beyond revoking the sale of facial recognition software to law enforcement, the Amazon workers have urged Bezos to remove Palantir, a predictive policing company founded by Peter Thiel, from Amazon Web Services (AWS). Palantir enjoys a large contract with ICE.

“We also know that Palantir runs on AWS,” the letter reads. “And we know that ICE relies on Palantir to power its detention and deportation programs. Along with much of the world we watched in horror recently as U.S. authorities tore children away from their parents. Since April 19, 2018 the Department of Homeland Security has sent nearly 2,000 children to mass detention centers. This treatment goes against U.N. Refugee Agency guidelines that say children have the right to remain united with their parents, and that asylum-seekers have a legal right to claim asylum. In the face of this immoral U.S. policy, and the U.S.’s increasingly inhumane treatment of refugees and immigrants beyond this specific policy, we are deeply concerned that Amazon is implicated, providing infrastructure and services that enable ICE and DHS.”

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Amazon employees call on Jeff Bezos to end controversial tech contracts

In the wake of protests from Google and Microsoft workers, who objected to their employers’ contracts with the Pentagon and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), employees at Amazon are circulating a letter to CEO Jeff Bezos, urging the billionaire to stop selling facial recognition software to law enforcement and remove the big data firm Palantir from its cloud.

In a letter published by Gizmodo, the Amazon workers voice their concern that these surveillance technologies will be misused, particularly to target marginalized groups. They reference an investigation from May, in which the American Civil Liberties Union showed that Amazon had marketed its facial recognition software, Rekognition, which can identify and track faces in real time, to police departments around the country.

“We don’t have to wait to find out how these technologies will be used,” they write. “We already know that in the midst of historic militarization of police, renewed targeting of Black activists, and the growth of a federal deportation force currently engaged in human rights abuses — this will be another powerful tool for the surveillance state, and ultimately serve to harm the most marginalized. We are not alone in this view: More than 40 civil rights organizations signed an open letter in opposition to the governmental use of facial recognition, while over 150,000 individuals signed another petition delivered by the ACLU.”

The letter follows demands by Google and Microsoft workers, who put pressure on their employers to cut ties with the Pentagon and ICE, respectively. In April, more than 4,000 Google employees signed an open letter to CEO Sundar Pichai, calling for the company to end its affiliation with Project Maven, a controversial program that seeks to automatically classify images of people from drone footage to speed up the rate of analysis. In May, about a dozen employees resigned. The protests resulted in Google announcing plans to end its involvement. Microsoft faced similar pressure this week over contracts that provide its Azure cloud platform to ICE.

Beyond revoking the sale of facial recognition software to law enforcement, the Amazon workers have urged Bezos to remove Palantir, a predictive policing company founded by Peter Thiel, from Amazon Web Services (AWS). Palantir enjoys a large contract with ICE.

“We also know that Palantir runs on AWS,” the letter reads. “And we know that ICE relies on Palantir to power its detention and deportation programs. Along with much of the world we watched in horror recently as U.S. authorities tore children away from their parents. Since April 19, 2018 the Department of Homeland Security has sent nearly 2,000 children to mass detention centers. This treatment goes against U.N. Refugee Agency guidelines that say children have the right to remain united with their parents, and that asylum-seekers have a legal right to claim asylum. In the face of this immoral U.S. policy, and the U.S.’s increasingly inhumane treatment of refugees and immigrants beyond this specific policy, we are deeply concerned that Amazon is implicated, providing infrastructure and services that enable ICE and DHS.”

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How to buy a Wi-Fi router

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Bill Roberson/Digital Trends

Wireless routers are everywhere. Nearly every house, apartment, business, and sketchy van parked down by the river has one. A functional wireless router allows you to easily connect your computer to a broadband Internet service so you share data files and stream media between mobile/Wi-Fi devices.

Although you could opt for a wired router, we suggest a wireless model so you can avoid stringing Ethernet cable around your home. Besides, a wireless router is the best way to access the Internet using your smartphone or tablet. And if you ever discover you absolutely must have a wired connection, the router will have a built-in switch to handle it. While you’re at it, check out the best 802.11ac routers on the market, along with our guide on how to secure your wireless network.

Choosing the right Wi-Fi standard

Just like smartphones, router manufacturers are constantly implementing new and more powerful wireless standards (IEEE protocols) as technology becomes more advanced. That’s why we have standards like 802.11g, 802.11n, and 802.11ac – these aren’t just random numbers, they are a description of router capabilities. The traditional single-home user will likely need a different kind of router from the heavy gamer or media enthusiast.

The latest standard is 802.11ac, which you see on all the newest routers. That means that the router can support up to Gigabit speeds, much faster than the previous 600Mbps limit. Like previous standards, “ac” is backwards compatible with devices made for older standards. The vast majority of routers and devices are 802.11ac compatible now, so it’s a good time to upgrade if you have older, incompatible devices.

Capable routers touting the “ac” capability include ASUS Dual-Band AC1750 Wireless Gigabit Router and Netgear Nighthawk AC 1900 Dual-Band Wifi Gigabit Router, each of which offers considerably quicker speeds at the expense of compatibility.

Also: There is indeed another standard on its way, known as 802.11ax. It will be a few years before it becomes fully adopted at the consumer level, but it’s worth keeping in mind.

Interpreting Wi-Fi network speeds

Remember, you should always take manufacturers’ speed declarations with a grain of salt. For example, many manufactures list “theoretical” maximum bandwidth on their boxes. You’ll see anything from 350Mb/sec to 3,500Mb/sec (megabits per second), but you’ll rarely see throughput that high in realistic environments in which walls, doors, appliances, and other barriers separate your router from its client devices.

All wireless routers feature built-in Ethernet for hard-wired network connections, but cheaper routers will have switches rated at only 100Mb/sec. You won’t regret spending a few extra dollars to buy a model with a Gigabit switch (that’s 1,000Mb/sec).

Deciding how many bands you need

Manufacturers have sold dual-band routers for years, but now many are starting to roll out tri-band routers as well.

Dual-band typically means the router is equipped with two radios, one that operates on the 2.4GHz frequency band, and one that runs on the 5GHz frequency band. This enables you to set up two separate wireless networks, so you can improve speeds in a crowded wireless network by bumping some devices over to the alternate frequency.

Make sure you read the fine print, though. Some dual-band routers in fact have one radio that can operate on either the 2.4GHz or 5GHz bands, but not both at the same time. Tri-band routers include a second 5GHz band. This is helpful if you have a lot of mobile devices on one network and need to spread them around three bands for greater efficiency and data management. Tri-band routers remain rare, because very few people need them. They can be useful in a dorm or office, but aren’t necessary for the average house.

Managing Wi-Fi security

Wireless networks are as insecure as they are convenient — if you don’t take steps to secure your network, just about any troublemaker within range can eavesdrop on your online activities, leech off your Internet connection, access any of the files stored on your computers, infect your systems with viruses, and cause all sorts of other problems.

Any router you buy should support at least WPA2 (the second implementation of the Wi-Fi Protected Access protocol), but every device you add to your network must also support WPA2 for this to work. Your network is only as secure as the least-secure device that’s connected to it. WPA is acceptable, though not ideal. It’s not a good idea to rely on WEP, which is easily cracked by tools that anyone can download for free.

Also keep in mind that some routers are designed with enterprise or advanced family security in mind. These devices come with many extra features, including the ability add extra encryption, monitor devices, block unwanted users from the network, and even see what people are browsing.

Smart Wireless Management

Bill Roberson/Digital Trends
Bill Roberson/Digital Trends

One of the worst problems to plague the average router is interference. A router isn’t much good if it can’t give you acceptable wireless signals everywhere you want it. Fortunately, most modern routers have a couple other tricks to deal with this problem.

The solution is using “smart” processes that identify devices or dead zones and target them with Wi-Fi signals so they they always get service. The monstrous D-Link AC3200 Ultra, for example, has SmartBeam technology to do just this. Products like Luma, on the other, encourage people to buy several routers and link them together to create a Wi-Fi web around your home that eliminates dead zones. These solutions are something to keep in mind if you’ve had bad experiences with routers in the past.

Google Wi-Fi goes a step further, baking extensive Wi-Fi functionality into an easily understood smartphone app. Other manufacturers are also taking this route, though Google’s remains a high point among the competition.

USB connections

Jessica Lee Star/Digital Trends
Jessica Lee Star/Digital Trends

You’ll find USB ports on many routers, but it’s important to find out what that port is used for. On some routers, it’s merely a means of transferring setup information (network ID and password, for example) from the router to a client via a USB memory key. Better routers will allow you to plug in a USB mass-storage device to add NAS (network-attached storage) functionality. Plug a large USB hard drive into your router and every device on your network will have access to that storage resource — it’s like having a cheap server.

You should also pay attention to the generation of the USB port. Many routers have a combination of both USB 2.0 and USB 3.0 ports. Some only have one or the other. At least one USB 3.0 port is a smart feature to purchase if you plan on attaching any accessories.

Routers with MU-MIMO

MU-MIMO is a new router technology that means Multiple User Multiple Input, Multiple Output. Basically, MU-MIMO routers can connect directly to multiple mobile devices at the same time (currently, up to four devices). So, instead of shuffling data packets very fast between one device at a time, the network can maintain direct connections with devices, without switching focus. This makes internet connections faster and more reliable.

MU-MIMO is like to become a dominant technology in the future, but it’s not quite there yet. If you are buying a router today and don’t expect much to change, you probably don’t need MU-MIMO. Relatively few mobile devices are compatible with the technology yet. But in the next couple years you can expect a slow, sure transition over to MU-MIMO features, which is something to think about for the future.

Do you need a mesh network?

A mesh network is made of several router devices that are designed to work together, overlap their signals, and create a single dependable network. Mesh networks have grown in popularity over the past few years, as seen with models like Google Wi-Fi.

Mesh networks tend to have all the same features as regular routers, although they may have lower speeds than others in their price range (this matters less when you have three different routers working together, but is still worth noting). They are particularly useful in two cases. First, if you live in a smaller space like an apartment, you may be able to buy just one mesh router at a low price and use it like a traditional router. Second, if you have a large home (say, 3,000 square feet or over) and you have struggled with wireless connectivity in the past, a mesh network is the ideal solution for your large space, and is likely to work better than a single traditional router.

What to spend: Price vs. performance

Router prices vary greatly based on their features, antennas, ports, and much more. Generally, the best routers available today vary from $100 to $250 or more. You can find smaller routers below this range, and large enterprise routers above it, but most fall somewhere along the line. If you’re on a tight budget, you can find some decent routers for $50 or less, but they won’t offer all the latest and greatest features.

A cheap router that delivers sub-par performance is no bargain. Product reviews will give you a hint as to what you can expect, but setting one up in your own home is the only sure way to know how the router will perform in your unique environment. When you buy yours, make sure the retailer you do business with offers a liberal return policy if you’re not satisfied.

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4 Galaxy S9 and S9+ Cases If You Need a Belt or Holster Case

These cases keep your phone safe and accessible at all times.

The Galaxy S9 is a fantastic phone that lets you get more stuff done when you’re on the go. Whether you’re an outdoorsman who wants something rugged and accessible with a pocket-free carry or your work involves you having quick access to answer phone calls or emails out in the field, a belt clip holster can be a great way to keep your phone stylishly secure and accessible at all times.

These are the best cases with a belt clip holster for the Galaxy S9 and S9+.

Zizo Bolt Series Case

Zizo specializes in creating rugged smartphone cases, and among those, few are as rugged as the Bolt case. The case itself features ridges and texture for grip and includes a screen protector, but most importantly for our purposes, it also includes a belt clip holster for wearing your phone at your hip.

The clip can be rotated with a firm twist that locks it into a new orientation, so you can always have your phone at the ready when you need it. Choose from 10 different color styles and get yourself a holstered phone case that matches your style for just $18. Also available for the Galaxy S9+ for $19.

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Encased Nova Series Slim Grip Case

Often times phone holsters are paired with heavy duty cases which can be bulky and awkward to use. That doesn’t have to be the case with your Galaxy S9, so if that’s held you back from buying a hip holster case in the past I present to you Encased’s Nova series case.

The case itself is rugged yet slim, with a textured and rubberized backplate that helps with grip and cuts down on fingerprints. It’s thin enough to support wireless charging but comes with a removable metal backplate if you’d prefer to magnetically mount your phone in your car.

The holster holds your S9 in place with support in the bottom corners while the quick-release clip up top gives you instant access to your phone when you need it.

Get yours for the Galaxy S9 or the Galaxy S9+ for just $16.

See at Amazon

Trianium Duranium Case

If a minimalist look is what you’re after, consider the Trianium Duranium case. Available in Gunmetal or Black, this is an understated design that focuses on protection and usability.

This case combines three layers of protection that combine GXD impact gel and premium TPU for ultimate shock absorption with a hard polycarbonate shell offering support along the length of the phone. The holster clip itself is also a simple design, seemingly designed for horizontal carry with a swiveling at the clip so you can orientate the phone however you like.

Get yours for just $15 for the Galaxy S9, and $18 for the larger S9+.

See at Amazon

OtterBox Defender Series Case

OtterBox is a trusted premium accessory maker that charges big money for their products but backs it up with outstanding warranty policies and customer support. For the Galaxy S9, the OtterBox Defender Series is a great option — if you’re wont to drop a ton of money on a quality phone case when there are other worthy options available for under $20.

With OtterBox, you’ll be getting a tried and tested smartphone case design that’s designed to keep your phones protected for all these years. While older Otterbox cases offered a front-plate protection for the display, the Galaxy S9 case is screenless up front to accommodate the curved edges of the display. Everywhere else is well-crafted protection for your device, reinforced in the places where phones typically land first.

Get yours in your choice of six color combinations for as low as $29. Also available for the Galaxy S9+ for $54.

See at Amazon

Do you rock your phone in a holster?

Is a phone holster a necessity in your line of work? Let us know why you love this style of the case in the comments!

Samsung Galaxy S9 and S9+

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Supreme Court rules that police need warrants to get phone location info

The decision was ruled in favor with a 5-4 vote.

The United States Supreme Court issued a ruling on June 22 stating that police must first get an official warrant before they can use cell tower data to track someone’s location.

This ruling comes from the Carpenter v. United States case that dates back six years to 2011. Timothy Carpenter was arrested for a robbery in Detroit during that year, but only after police tracked down 12,898 locations of Carpenter over the course of 127 days. However, the police obtained all this data without any sort of warrant.

With the June 22 decision from the Supreme Court, Chief Justice John Roberts says:

Given the unique nature of cell phone location records, the fact that the information is held by a third party does not by itself overcome the user’s claim to Fourth Amendment protection.

Furthermore, as noted by Democratic Senator Ron Wyden:

The court’s recognition that digital devices can generate ‘near-perfect surveillance’ of a person’s private life is a validation of the vital protections against unreasonable search and seizure provided by our Constitution

The Supreme Court voted 5-4 in favor of this decision and noted that this will not affect other “conventional” surveillance methods such as security cameras.

Prior to this ruling, U.S. carriers also came under fire for the way they were handling user location info. Shortly after it was discovered that location data was being shared and sold to third parties, Verizon, AT&T, and T-Mobile all announced that they were stopping this practice.

Of course Facebook ‘shared’ data with phone makers — but only because you let it happen

Moto G6 vs. Moto G6 Play: Which should you buy?

The better phone isn’t always the better deal.

If you’re shopping in the sub-$300 space, there are few better companies to turn to than Motorola. The Moto G series consistently impresses us with the level of performance and overall value of each of its phones, and the new Moto G6 trio is no exception — though if you live in North America, you’ll only be able to pick up two of the three phones: the Moto G6 and Moto G6 Play.

The $50 price difference between models doesn’t sound like much at first, but that’s 25% of the Moto G6 Play’s total cost. If you can live without the Moto G6’s additional features, that extra money could be put towards a protective case or even a month of service on a prepaid network. So what are those additional features, and how does the Moto G6 Play still stand strong?

Where the Moto G6 pulls ahead

At first glance, the Moto G6 and Moto G6 Play are hard to tell apart. They’re roughly the same physical dimensions and even share the same 5.7-inch screen size — though the Moto G6 has a denser 1080p panel compared to the G6 Play’s 720p. The G6 also pulls ahead in storage and RAM, starting off with 32GB and 3GB respectively, while the baseline Moto G6 Play features 16GB and 2GB.

Physically, the biggest difference between devices is the placement of the fingerprint sensors. The Moto G6 displays it front and center below the display, which makes it ideal for gesture navigation, allowing you to replace the software-based navigation bar and take back the bottom of your display. I actually prefer the G6 Play’s fingerprint sensor placement around back, integrated into the Motorola logo, but it’s hard to argue against the added functionality on the G6’s sensor.

Around the back, you’ll notice that only the Moto G6 features a second rear camera — a 5MP RGB sensor that measures depth and aids in portrait mode shots. It’s also the only phone of the two to feature a USB-C port for charging, along with Motorola’s 15W TurboPower charging for quick top-ups.

See at Amazon

Where the Moto G6 Play stands its ground

If you’ve been following Motorola’s lineup for a while now, you’re probably already aware that the Play moniker denotes long battery life over all else. As such, the Moto G6 Play features a massive 4000mAh battery — a 33% increase over the Moto G6. Combined with a more power-efficient 720p display, it’s hard to imagine the Moto G6 Play will have anything less than stellar battery life. Without TurboPower, the Moto G6 Play will take a bit longer to charge than the G6, but it still features 10W rapid charging over Micro-USB.

SoC differences aside, the Moto G6 Play benefits from nearly all of the same features as the Moto G6. It runs the same clean build of Android 8.0 Oreo, its internal storage is still expandable via microSD, it features the same 8MP front-facing camera (though only the Moto G6 can use this camera for face unlock), and it’s protected with the same water-repellant nano-coating. As mentioned before, you might even prefer the rear-mounted fingerprint sensor, and the Moto G6 Play’s cleaner look beneath the display as a result.

Likewise, you’ll still benefit on the software side from Motorola’s excellent suite of Moto Actions and the Moto Display. Launching the camera with a double-twist in your hand works as well as ever on the Moto G6 Play, as does the double-chop to launch the flashlight. Moto Display is still one of the best takes on an ambient display, with actionable notifications. Rest assured, the Moto G6 Play is every bit a Motorola phone as the Moto G6.

As it stands, both phones are available through Amazon’s Prime Exclusive program, too, which discounts each one by $10 to $15.

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Which would you buy?

While the Moto G6 is clearly the better phone of the two, its advantages are largely unimportant to the Moto G series’ core audience. Those shopping on a budget likely won’t be bothered by missing out on a secondary camera or a slightly faster processor — they just want a reliable phone that lasts them through the day. To that extent, the Moto G6 Play with its larger battery is arguably a better purchase.

If you happen to run across a good deal on the Moto G6, you should buy all means buy it, but the Moto G6 Play is still plenty phone for most people, and the $50 price difference could be better spent elsewhere. If you’re thinking about picking up one of these phones, let us know in the comments below!

Moto G6, G6 Plus and G6 Play

• Moto G6 Plus review: Mastering the art of the mid-range phone
• Moto G6 review: Finding success in compromise
• Moto G6, G6 Play, and G6 Plus specs
• Join our Moto G6 forums

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Amazon Cloud Cam vs. Nest Cam: Which is the better connected camera?

These two cameras each offer a turn-key video surveillance solution, but which is better for you?

Nest and Amazon are both very recognizable names when it comes to gadgetry we have in and around our homes. Both companies also offer easy to use security cameras that allow you to place them and walk away — there’s no integration into any sort of hub or controller needed. That, along with other consumer-friendly features make both the Nest Cam and the Amazon Cloud Cam a compelling option for many of us.

But which of these two companies deserves your hard-earned dollars? Both Amazon and Google (Nest’s parent company) make great products, but both have also made a dud or two along the way. Here’s a comparison that might help you make the right decision and get the most for your money.

The Hardware

Both the Amazon Cloud Can and the Nest Cam (both Indoor and Outdoor models) can capture high-quality 1080p video with sound, have a night mode where a small IR illuminator is used for a grainy but usable video, and have built-in microphones and speakers.

Both cameras capture fairly clear and smooth video. It’s not what you would expect to see in a Hollywood film, but it’s more than suitable for their intended purpose, which is monitoring a section of your home. Both cameras also can use the microphone and speaker to let you interact with a person who may be in front of them like an intercom. It’s fair to say that everything is equal as far as the capabilities of the two.

The biggest difference is how the cameras store what they capture. And depending on your needs, this can be the biggest differentiator between the two.

• The Nest Cam stores the last three hours of video and three days of still images in the free tier. Paid tiers store the last five days of video.
• The Amazon Cloud Cam saves video clips of the past 24 hour’s activity in the free tier. These are also generated whenever the camera detects motion, but are actual short clips of highlighted activity with audio. Paid tiers store the last seven days of video.

The Price

There’s a substantial difference in the prices of what appears to be very similar hardware here. As of this writing:

• Nest Cam (indoor) – $186 at Amazon

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• Nest Cam (outdoor) – $171 at Amazon

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• Amazon Cloud Cam – $120 at Amazon

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We understand the price difference for the outdoor version of the Nest Cam, though we would expect it to be priced higher because of its moisture-resistant housing. Amazon’s definitely selling its camera at a discount to get people invested in the ecosystem, which is smart.

The Software

Interaction with something like a security camera is done through another device with a display, like your phone. Both cameras have an Android and iOS app and both are pretty good. You can watch live video, interact with someone in front of the camera, review saved clips on the device or through a storage plan, and even get a notification whenever the camera sees motion.

• Amazon’s app is very basic. You’ll see the live view from the camera with recent clips below it, each with an individual time stamp. Tapping on one will display it. There isn’t much more here because nothing more is needed. It’s simple in a good way.
• Nest’s app is more feature rich. You also have a live view on the top portion of your screen, but below you’ll find a scrolling timeline. Each clip in the timeline is highlighted with a different color so you can sort them and you can manually scroll both forward and backward as needed.

Nest’s app becomes a much better choice if you have subscribed to one of the Nest Aware packages and have a handful of video clips saved in the cloud. A scrolling timeline is easier to navigate than choosing a clip based on its timestamp. If you don’t want to use a Nest Aware package this benefit disappears and there isn’t much difference between the two other than how you view a saved capture.

Cloud storage options

Google and Amazon are both cloud-first companies so it makes sense that you’ll have plenty of options when it comes to saving video from your cameras online. Both companies offer several tiers of storage options as well as a free tier.

Nest Cam’s Nest Aware service

• Free Tier: Three hours of video storage.
• Paid Tiers:
  • Five days of 24-hour footage for $5 monthly (or $50 yearly).
  • 10 days if 24-hour footage for $10 monthly ($100 a year).
  • 30 days of 24-hour footage for $30 monthly ($300 a year).

These prices are for one camera. Adding a camera to any plan increases the price by 50% — Two Nest Cams on the 30-day plan would be $45 per month or $450 per year. You will have a 30-day Nest Aware trial when you purchase a Nest Cam to see how well the service works for you.

Amazon Cloud Cam

• Free Tier: Clips captured through motion detection over the past 24 hours.
• Paid Tiers:
  • Seven days of video clips for $6.99 monthly ($69.99 yearly).
  • 14 days of video clips for $9.99 monthly ($99.99 yearly).
  • 30 days of video clips for $19.99 monthly ($199.99 yearly).

These prices are for up to three cameras. You also have a free 30-day trial of the service when you purchase a new Amazon Cloud Cam.

Amazon’s prices are lower. A lot lower if you use multiple cameras and want the 30-day plan. But you need to be aware of what you’re paying for: Amazon stores clips it captures when the camera detects motion. Nest stores 24 hours of video capture that you can scroll through using the timeline feature. That’s a pretty drastic difference.

Other important features

While we don’t expect something like a security camera to have a long list of features, there are several worth mentioning.

Both cameras integrate well into their respective “smart” ecosystems. Amazon’s Cloud Cam works well with the company’s Alexa service and you can stream the live video feed from a camera to an Echo Show or an Echo Spot. The Nest Cam works with Google Assistant and Amazon Alexa, and can also send the live video feed to any Chromecast-enabled device.

The Nest App also lets you create hot zones in the camera’s field of view, which can be useful if you only want to be alerted when it detects motion in a specific area.

Which is best? Nest Cam

Which is best depends (mostly) on whether you want to purchase any cloud storage or not.

Most of us want a security camera to put into our house or garage to watch the area. We want to be able to see what’s happening when we get alerted that something is moving as well as keep an archive of the entire event, or at least the important bits. Nest’s free tier of Nest Aware is only going to keep the past three hours of time and that’s just not a great option compared to Amazon’s 24-hour history of video clips.

This gets reversed when you purchase cloud storage, though. Nest’s full 24/7 capture can provide more details about what has happened as well as what led up to an event instead of a handful of clips that might not have the information you or the police need. The price is a lot higher for Nest Aware, but the service is more worthwhile if you ever need to use it.

We never omit price as a deciding factor when we look at products, but sometimes paying more is justified. This is one of those times.