The trickiest iPhone 8 problems, and advice on how to fix them

Smartphones are complex devices designed to make our lives easier, but sometimes they end up causing frustration instead. We’re impressed by the iPhone 8 and the iPhone 8 Plus, but they’re not perfect. While Apple’s devices are generally well made and smooth-running, things can — and do — go wrong from time to time. We’ve gathered together some notable issues with the latest iPhone 8 Plus and common iPhone 8 problems here, along with advice on how you might deal with them.

Problem: Battery drains quickly

We use our iPhones so much that battery life can be a problem, but in the Apple support forum, some people have been complaining about unusual, rapid battery drain. We found that our iPhone 8 drains quite quickly when playing AR games, but generally the battery life is pretty good. If you’re suffering with an iPhone 8 battery that drains quickly, here’s what to try:

Possible fixes:

• Take a look at our guide on how to save battery life for a host of handy tips.
• If those tips don’t work for you, then it’s probably worth trying a factory reset. Make sure you back up first, but after wiping your iPhone, consider setting it up as new — don’t restore your backup — and test to see if the battery problem returns. If it doesn’t, then it’s possible that something in your old settings or an app you had installed was causing the issue.
• If you do still have battery issues after a factory reset and without restoring your backup, then it could be a hardware fault and you’re going to want to take it in to Apple for further testing.

Issue: Swelling battery

You may have seen some reports about iPhone 8 Plus batteries swelling up and causing the screen to detach from the body of the device. The first report, picked up by TNW seems to have centered on an iPhone 8 Plus in Taiwan, but MacRumors has since reported a few more similar incidents in Japan, Canada, and Greece. It’s not clear how widespread the issue is, but it appears to be a relatively rare occurrence.

Solution:

• Apple is investigating this, but if you encounter a similar problem there’s really only one course of action: Contact Apple and get a replacement handset.

Problem: Crackling earpiece

Several iPhone 8 and 8 Plus owners have been complaining about a crackling earpiece during calls. A repetitive, intermittent static sound or distortion makes it difficult to hear properly during normal calls and FaceTime calls. The problem has popped up on the Apple support forum, on Reddit, and elsewhere.

Potential solutions:

• Wait for a software update. Apple has acknowledged this issue and told The Verge, “We are aware of the issue which is affecting customers in a small number of cases. Our team is at work on a fix, which will be included in an upcoming software release.”
• Reportedly it is fixed in the iOS 11.1 developer beta. If you have a developer account, you can try it out via the Download New Betas tab after signing in at developer.apple.com.
• It’s possible there’s a separate, but similar hardware problem to do with touching the earpiece, according to this Reddit post. If that’s your issue, then you may need to contact Apple about a replacement handset.

Glitch: App Store keeps refreshing

If you load up the App Store and find that it just repeatedly refreshes every few seconds, then you are not alone. We encountered this problem on our iPhone 8 review unit, but it has been reported elsewhere and it doesn’t seem to be confined to Apple’s latest devices.

Potential solutions:

• A simple restart was enough to get our iPhone 8 back on track. Hold down the Sleep/Wake button and slide to power off. Then press the Sleep/Wake button to turn your iPhone back on. We haven’t seen this issue return.
• Some people had success by signing out of their account and back in again. Go to Settings and tap on your name at the top, then iTunes & App Store > Apple ID and choose Sign out. Tap Sign In and enter your details to sign back in and then try the App Store again.

Issue: Screen unresponsive or frozen

There have been a few reports on the Apple forums about the iPhone 8 or iPhone 8 Plus becoming unresponsive and freezing on the lock screen or the home screen. Unusually, in a few of these cases, some of the hardware buttons and certain gestures still work, but everything else is frozen.

Potential solutions:

Hold down the Sleep/Wake button and then slide to power off, assuming it works. Press the Sleep/Wake button to turn it back on again.
The force restart method has changed for the iPhone 8 and iPhone 8 Plus. You must press and quickly release the Volume Up button, then press and quickly release the Volume Down button, then press and hold the Sleep/Wake button until you see the Apple logo.
If the problem returns after a restart, then backup anything precious and try wiping your iPhone, then restoring your backup. Check out how to factory reset an iPhone for full instructions.
If you’ve tried a factory reset and then restored your backup and the problem returns, then it could be something in your backup that’s causing it. Try factory resetting your iPhone 8 and set it up as a new device, then test to see if the problem is gone.
Still no joy? It’s time to contact Apple or head into an Apple Store and ask about a repair or replacement.

Problem: Overheating

If you find that your iPhone 8 or iPhone 8 Plus is getting very warm, or even hot, to the touch, then there’s generally no reason to panic. We found that our iPhone 8 got very hot when playing AR games, but it can also get warm when you’re first setting it up, restoring a backup, or using GPS and a game simultaneously, like with Pokémon Go. If it gets too hot, the iPhone 8 is designed to disable certain features, like the flash, display a temperature warning on screen, and shut itself off.

Potential solutions:

• The obvious thing to do is take a break from using it until it cools down.
• If you can go to a cooler environment, then do so. Leaving your iPhone 8 on the dash in your car on a hot day, for example, could cause a problem.
• If you have an iPhone 8 case or cover, then consider removing it to allow the heat to dissipate faster.
• Try turning off any functions you aren’t using. For example, go to Settings > Privacy and toggle Location Services off.
• If you’re in an area with poor signal, then it may be worth swiping up to open the Control Center and tapping the Cellular Data icon to turn it off. Just remember to turn it on again later.
• Hold down the Sleep/Wake button and then slide to power off. Press the Sleep/Wake button to turn it back on again.
• The most likely culprit for overheating is a specific app or game, so pay attention to what is running when it happens and consider uninstalling anything problematic.

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Asus ROG Phone shrinks your gaming PC and puts it in your pocket

What’s the worst thing about that monster gaming PC rig you’ve got at home? It’s the fact that it stays at home and never leaves because it’s so enormous, you’d practically need a heavy-duty crane just to shift it off the desk. Asus feels your pain, so it has made a smartphone that will satisfy your mobile gaming needs without compromising on power, funky designs, or hardcore gaming credentials. It’s called the Asus ROG Phone, and it’s coming later this year.

If you’re not a gamer, ROG stands for Republic of Gamers and is a division of Asus that focuses on gaming, esports, and modding PCs for the highest levels of performance. Hardware wearing the ROG branding is always impressive specs-wise, and the ROG Phone is no exception. It also introduces a new phrase to phone fans unfamiliar with the gaming world: Speed binning. This refers to Asus cherry-picking the best-performing processors from a production run, in this case, Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 845 chip, which hits 2.96GHz inside the ROG Phone, well above the normal 2.8GHz clock speed.

This is exclusive to the Asus phone and instantly singles the ROG Phone out as one designed for people who take mobile gaming very seriously. The chip comes with 8GB of RAM, and either 128GB or a whopping 512GB of internal storage. To make sure you have the power when you need it most, a squeeze of the phone’s body — something like on the Pixel 2 and HTC phones — activates X Mode, where processing tasks are handled by the chip’s four fastest cores, and maxes out the clock speed. To avoid overheating, Asus has built a copper heat spreader into the body, and even sells a separate clip-on fan to speed up heat dispersal.

Made of glass and metal, the ROG Phone weighs a hefty 200 grams — in part due to the 4,000mAh battery — and the body is covered in slashes, angular lines, and design elements that will be familiar to Republic of Gamers fans. It looks great, especially the offset fingerprint sensor and glowing — yes, it really does light up — ROG logo on the back. The dual-lens camera is made up of a 12-megapixel lens and an 8-megapixel wide-angle lens. Around the front is a 6-inch AMOLED screen with a 90Hz refresh rate and a 2160 x 1080 pixel resolution. On the audio side, you get dual stereo speakers, DTS Headphone X enhancements, AptX HD Bluetooth, and a 3.5mm headphone jack.

To go with the ROG Phone, Asus has made a series of accessories including a second display that’s identical to the one on the phone, an external 4K monitor, a 6,000mAh battery pack, and a dock for livestreaming use when you’re at your PC. Several different game controllers are also available to increase speed and accuracy over using the touchscreen, while the phone itself has two touch-sensitive AirTriggers built into the left-hand side of the device for use in landscape orientation.

When can you get a ROG Phone, and how much will it cost? Asus hasn’t announced availability or price yet but says the device should be on sale before the end of the year. The price is sure to be high, given the technology inside and the presence of that speed-binned processor. The bigger question is just how much demand there is for a specialized gaming phone, a segment most recently explored by Razer with its Razer Phone. It’ll be fascinating to compare the two when the time comes. We’ll keep you updated with ROG Phone news right here.

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The best robot kits for kids

You say you’re a parent or teacher investigating robot kits for children? And you don’t want a simple solution with a single purpose: you want the child to experience science, technology, engineering, and math? We get it. You want a kit that teaches all four categories, from piecing together the foundation to wiring the appendages to programming the “brain” using software. That’s where our list of robot kits for kids comes in.

Most of the robot kits listed below are tied to terms such as STEM, Arduino, and Blockly. Here are a few explanations of those and other terms before we get started:

Arduino: An open-source hardware and software platform. It consists of boards that read inputs and convert data into outputs. This data is managed through the Arduino programming language and Arduino-based software. Arduino was built for beginners but is sophisticated enough for advanced users, making it a widely used platform in the educational system. Even Intel is on the Arduino bandwagon.

Scratch: A programming language designed for kids ages 8 to 16. It’s separate from Arduino but still widely used in schools for creating games, programming robots, designing animations, and more. Instead of writing code from scratch, kids piece together blocks of commands ranging from motions to events to sensing. Scratch can be downloaded and installed directly to a PC, or used online via Flash.

Blockly: Another programming language for kids, Blockly relies on blocks of code that can be strung together to create a program. It now resides under Google’s umbrella and is typically web-based, although dedicated apps have appeared for Android and iOS. Of the two, Blockly is a simpler programming language; Scratch provides additional features.

STEM: This is short for Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics. It’s a “movement” set forth by the U.S. Department of Education to help teachers and parents prepare students for the jobs of tomorrow. It’s designed for student interaction with real-world programs, providing experimental learning activities that push students to investigate, understand, and create solutions. Check out our list of the best STEM-based toys here.

Now on to the robots!

Lego Boost ($160)

For the better part of a century, Lego has offered a simple vision: If you give a child a toy, they’ll have fun; if you give them the means to build their own toy, they’ll have fun and grow a little in the process. Lego Boost is one of the company’s many forays into entry-level robotics, designed to be easy for anyone at pretty much any age to work with. The Boost kit serves up 847 pieces, which can be used to build five different designs, including a guitar and a traditional, humanoid robot.

Building is only half the challenge, however. Next up is programming, which Boost makes surprisingly straightforward. Using an app — one that is currently available for both Android and iOS — kids are guided through a series of levels, each of which requires them to place and move blocks in order to create instructions for their robot. By structuring the programming like a game, Boost makes it fun for kids to complete. Best of all, the system requires no reading, meaning even younger audiences can puzzle it out.

Nintendo Labo ($70+)

Mike Epstein/Digital Trends

Nintendo’s cardboard playset may not be the fanciest or most intricate kit around, but Labo does offer a series of easy — if time-devouring — exercises in construction and programming that kids will love, even if the games Nintendo includes aren’t amazing. Labo currently offers two sets. The variety kit features five projects, allowing your kids to make use of RC cars, a fishing rod, a house, a motorbike, and a piano. The robot kit gives users the means to build a mechanical backpack that tracks the movement of various limbs, which you can then use to maneuver a robot in an accompanying minigame.

Building a Toy-Con is easy, too; users merely need to follow instructions on their Nintendo Switch, which will highlight the most important parts. Once you’ve finished building a Toy-Con, you can play the associated minigame on your Switch. The real magic happens, however, when you experiment with new ways to use them. Labo isn’t particularly deep, but it’s a great way to get kids into the basic concepts of engineering.

Elegoo UNO Project Smart Robot Car Kit ($70)

As the name implies, the final product is a “smart” robot car based on the Arduino platform. The kit includes 24 different modules, such as an infrared receiver for using a remote control, Bluetooth for connecting via a smartphone or tablet, line tracking, and obstacle avoidance. With kids in mind, it boasts a minimal design for a faster build and less errors.

According to Elegoo, the kit includes instructions and software, showing kids how to load the programs and command the robot to perform a handful of standard modes. But the kit is expandable, enabling you to add sensors not included for a customized robot. These third-party sensors must include a 3-pin XH2.54 interface to be compatible with this kit.

Meccano-Erector MeccaSpider Robot Kit ($65)

This kit is designed for kids ages 10 and older, packing 291 parts that can be pieced together in one to three hours to create a cool robotic spider. The kit also includes two “smart” motor modules, one “brain” module, and an infrared sensor module that detects movement. There’s even a built-in reservoir for holding water so it can shoot “venom” to fend off its enemies.

On the programming side, there are built-in physical buttons for activating pre-set modes, including five basic modes, two guard modes, and one game mode. Kids can customize these through the on-board buttons, or by using apps provided on Android and iOS devices. This kit falls under the STEM umbrella with an intermediate complexity level.

Tenergy Odev Tomo ($85)

Here’s another kit that falls under the STEM umbrella: a 2-in-1 transformable, programmable robot from battery maker Tenergy. Designed for kids ages eight and older, it includes an ultrasonic sensor, a tracking sensor, the main control box, and more that are color-coded and labeled clearly. The kit creates a two or three-wheeled robot that can roam freely or track specific lines you create, or you can control it through Tenergy’s free ODEV Explorer mobile app.

To manually program the robot, you’ll need the free Odev Blockly app for Android or iOS. Anything you create for the robot can be uploaded and shared with other owners in the cloud. Moreover, Tomo’s “brain” has enough ports for extending its capabilities through third-party modules.

Robolink Rokit Smart ($120)

Here’s a STEM-focused kit for Arduino learners to build a programmable robot in 11 different forms: as a crab, a clapping monkey, a pirate ship, a gorilla, and more. It’s backed by an online tutorial with instructions on how to build the robot using each design, the programming basics using Arduino software, and even how to use the kit to build a robot for “sumo” one vs one competition.

According to Robolink, each design has a specific purpose: One can shoot rubber bands, one can detect edges, one follows lines, and so on. Batteries aren’t included in the kit, but you’ll find all the circuit boards, motors, and frames you need to build a cool, working robot. Robolink actually uses this kit at its Robotics Learning Center for kids in San Diego.

UBTECH Jimu Robot DIY Buzzbot & Muttbot Robotics Kit ($130)

By default, you can use this kit to create BuzzBot, or his faithful companion, MuttBot (but not both). But there are enough pieces in the kit to build whatever you want, as it includes 271 parts, one “brain,” six servos, and a battery. You can purchase two additional servos if needed as a two-piece kit for $40, or a non-robotic animal companion for $50.

Once kids build the robot, they can record different poses and play them all in a string via the PRP system using the Jimu app for Android and iOS. But that’s boring, right? Using the app, kids can string blocks of commands together using Blockly-based coding as well. The app even provides step-by-step instruction on how to piece both robots together.

HEXBUG VEX IQ Robotics Construction Kit ($265)

From the makers of the popular mechanical bug family is a STEM-approved robot you can build. This high-dollar kit contains more than 750 pieces you can snap together, along with motors with built-in rotational sensors, the main “brain” with 12 self-configuring input/output ports, and more. The company provides instructions for eight basic designs here, including Clawbot IQ, V-Rex, Slick, and Stretch. There are instructions for designing larger robots too using additional parts.

Included with this kit is the online version of the Modkit for VEX programming software (typically $50), a tool designed for kids that relies on drag-and-drop programming. Also thrown into the mix is the ROBOTC VEX IQ curriculum packed with step-by-step instructions, videos, and animations. Once you learn the basics, you can move on to build and program anything you want with this kit. You’ll need six AA batteries to power your robot (sold separately), but the included game-style remote control comes with a rechargeable battery.

Makeblock DIY Ultimate Robot Kit ($350)

This is Makeblock’s flagship robot kit, packing anodized 6061 aluminum mechanical parts with threaded-slot designs. The kit includes instructions for ten different designs, such as the robotic arm tank, the robotic bartender, and the self-balancing robot. These designs are backed by the Arduino-based MegaPi mainboard that’s capable of handling 10 servos or eight DC motors simultaneously. The kit is also compatible with the Raspberry Pi board.

On the programming front, kids use the company’s Scratch 2.0-based mBlock software for PCs and mobile devices. This tool provides a drag-and-drop environment where kids string together blocks of code. Advanced users can use Python via the Raspberry Pi board, Node JS, or Arduino IDE. The parts list includes a Bluetooth module, so you can program and control your creation from any Bluetooth-based PC or mobile device.

Lego Mindstorms EV3 31313 ($342)

This kit consists of LEGO-based bricks, a programmable EV3 “brick” that serves as the brain, four sensors, a handful of motors, and loads more pieces. The EV3 brick includes a built-in display showing the wireless connection, battery level, what the robot is currently doing, and more. Overall, you can build 17 different robotic designs, such as a slithering snake (R3ptar), a walking dinosaur (Dinor3x), a shooting scorpion (Spik3r), and a humanoid robot (Ev3rstorm).

By default, each design comes with its own unique features and programmed behaviors. They can also be steered using the included remote control. But users can program their creation using the LEGO Mindstorms Ev3 software for PC, and download their commands to the robot using a USB cable, Bluetooth, or Wi-Fi. The software provides five programming “missions” to get kids started using icon-based programming blocks that are strung together. LEGO provides a programming app for mobile devices too.

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Here’s everything we know about the Google Pixel 3

Julian Chokkattu/Digital Trends

The shine may not have worn off the Google Pixel 2 and Pixel 2 XL yet, but you can bet that Google is working hard on the Pixel 3 and Pixel 3 XL. Details are scarce, but rumors are starting to circulate. Here’s everything we know about the Google Pixel 3 so far.

Three Pixel 3s?

Rumors persist that Google may be considering more than two models in the Pixel 3 range. The latest report to add fuel to that fire is a tweet from Roland Quandt, who claims that “Google is working on a ‘mobile’ device based on the Snapdragon 710 currently scheduled for launch in the 1st half of 2019.” This, the self-purported “master of cheap scoops” says, could be one of the upcoming midrange Pixels. No further specifics are known about this device at this time, though Quandt claims that hardware development began about a month ago.

Off to Taiwan for @computex_taipei today, but here's a tidbit for ya: Google is working on a "mobile" device based on the Snapdragon 710 currently scheduled for launch in the 1st half of 2019. Sounds like this might be the (or one of them) upcoming mid-range Pixel phone.

— Roland Quandt (@rquandt) June 2, 2018

Previous rumors point at Google creating a low-end, entry-level Pixel device running the low-spec Android OS Android Go. While it may seem odd to change the expensive Pixel branding to include a much lower spec (and likely much cheaper) model code-named the “Desire. This makes a lot of sense with Google’s current drive to access the developing phone markets, which usually thrive on low-cost low-power phones.

The first leaks for the Pixel 3 were code names, and there were three of them: “Crosshatch,” “Albacore,” and “Blueline,” If accurate, all it means is that Google is considering three Pixel models, and like last year it’s entirely possible that only two will end up being launched. According to the Droid-Life report, two of the phones are considered “premium,” while one of them is “high-end.” We don’t yet know what that means.

Design

While we don’t expect Google to veer too far from what makes the Pixel range great, we do expect to see some design changes with the Pixel 3.

The latest rumor, coming from mobile leaker @OnLeaks states that both upcoming Pixel 3 models will feature a larger display than their predecessors. According to the leak the Pixel 3 will feature a 5.3-inch display while the Pixel 3 XL will ship with a monstrous 6.2-inch display.

As for the Pixel 3 XL, it looks like we may be in for some huge design changes. Bloomberg states the Pixel 3 XL will sport a bezel-less display with a top notch and dual front-facing camera. This seems to be in line with images of purported glass screen protectors for the devices first found on Slashleaks.

Credit | SlashLeaks

How much stock should we place in these rumors? It’s hard to tell, to be honest. Accessory makers experiment with a variety of styles before the launch of a new major phone, and the reveal of one of these prototypes isn’t exactly definitive proof of anything — except how the wind is blowing in regard to rumors. However, the Bloomberg report leads us to believe there may be something to the rumors.

These rumors also seem to resemble two illustrations found in the Android P beta settings.  The illustration shows a handset that is all display with no bezels, a huge departure from earlier Pixel models.

While it may seem a little far-fetched that Google would place an illustration of the upcoming Pixel 3 XL in Android P, it’s certainly not unthinkable. Last year, the tech giant showed off an illustration of the yet-to-be-released Pixel 2 in its Data Transfer Tool. Granted, these placeholder illustrations are certainly ambitious in terms of hardware capability: With the exception of patent renders, we’ve yet to see a phone where the camera is embedded within the display.

Earlier, it looked like the ever popular top notch was all but confirmed. Android P will bring support for notched screens, and while we may still be undecided on the current trend for notches, the most recent digging into the Android P beta suggests that Google may be preparing for a physical notch at the top of the display. As featured on Forbes, Android P can display a maximum of four notification icons at the top of the screen, with anything past that four being represented by three dots. It seems reasonable to assume that gap represents a placeholder for a physical notch. After all, the Pixel range usually runs a slightly tweaked version of Android, and if this is shipping in the beta then it must be for a reason.

Gordon Kelly | Forbes

Name

While we’ve seen nothing to doubt that the next generation of the Pixel will be called the Pixel 3, it’s always nice to have confirmation. That seems to have come via a section of the Android source code for Project Treble. A section of that code specifically mentions “Pixel 3,” and while that could just be a working title ahead of a bigger name change, we’ve seen no evidence of that. We’re likely going to see a range of Pixel 3 devices when it eventually releases.

Who is building the Google Pixel 3?

In addition to a radical redesign for at least one upcoming Pixel, it looks like Google may be working with a new manufacturing partner on the upcoming phones. According to Bloomberg, it looks like Google may be partnering with Foxconn to manufacture the upcoming flagships. If that name sounds familiar, it may be because it’s the same company that manufactures iPhones.

Earlier it seemed all but certain that HTC was once again in the running, along with current Blackberry producer TCL, and Coolpad, according to Chinese publication Commercial Times, by way of DigiTimes. Google’s existing contract with HTC will expire after the release of the Pixel 2, the report says, opening up an opportunity for other hardware companies.

Previously, it was thought that LG was in the race for the Pixel 3, though Commercial Times does not elaborate as to why. Now, it looks more like LG isn’t involved. The company refuted claims that it was building the Pixel 3 in a statement to Android Authority.

“We have reached out to LG for further comment, and Ken Hong, the company’s global communications director, has firmly denied the report,” the company said in a statement.

Since September, HTC has reportedly shipped more than 2.1 million Pixel devices, but Google may be looking to ramp up output to 5 million in time for the Pixel 3.

Remember, too, that HTC may not have been Google’s first choice to build the Pixel, but rather Huawei, according to the accounts of multiple executives from the Chinese tech firm last fall. Keeping this in mind along with the supply-side constraints, it’s possible Google is more confident in LG’s manufacturing capabilities, given that the companies have worked together on multiple Nexus phones in the past.

Still, we would assume that HTC will be involved in some way given Google’s $1.1 billion acquisition of much of HTC’s smartphone division.

Updated on June 4: added display size rumor.

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Common Galaxy Note 8 problems, and how to fix them

Julian Chokkattu / Digital Trends

It’s expensive, but Samsung’s heavyweight in the smartphone division boasts a wide range of tempting features. We were particularly impressed with the dual cameras, slick performance, and S Pen functionality in our Samsung Galaxy Note 8 review. As great as it is, Samsung’s biggest and best is not flawless. We’ve been digging around forums and comments to find the Galaxy Note 8 problems you need to know about and unearth advice on how to work around them or fix them.

Glitch: Touchscreen unresponsive and phantom touches

We’ve seen a handful of reports at the Samsung forum and at the XDA developers forum about unresponsive screens and phantom touches. People are finding that they can’t swipe down the notification shade sometimes and at other times touches are registering without people touching the screen.

Workaround:

• Using the S Pen seems to work for most people, even when finger taps and swipes don’t.

Potential solutions:

• Make sure your fingers and the Note 8 screen are clean and dry.
• If you have a case or a Note 8 screen protector, it could be interfering with the touchscreen.
• Try restarting your Note 8 by holding down the power button and tapping Restart. If the touchscreen is unresponsive, then hold down the Volume down and Power keys together for a few seconds until the Note 8 reboots.
• It’s possible an app is causing your problem. You can test this by turning the Note 8 off. Hold down the Power key and tap Power off. Once it’s off, press and hold the Power key until you see the Samsung logo. Let go of Power and press and hold the Volume down key. You can let go when you see Safe Mode on screen. If the problem is gone in safe mode, then you know an app is the cause and you just have to track it down. Either uninstall one by one and test, or factory reset and install selectively. You just hold down Power and tap Restart to get out of safe mode.
• We think it’s worth trying a cache partition wipe for this problem. Hold down the Power key and tap Power off. Press and hold the Volume up and Bixby keys, then press and hold the Power key as well. Let go when you see the Android logo. Use Volume down to highlight wipe cache partition and Power to select it. Highlight yes with Volume down and then select with Power. When it’s done tap Power to Reboot system now.
• Your penultimate option is to try a factory reset, but make sure you back up everything first. You’ll find the option in Settings > Backup and reset > Factory data reset. If your screen is unresponsive you can press and hold the Volume up and Bixby keys, then press and hold the Power key as well. Let go when you see the Android logo. Use Volume down to highlight wipe data/factory reset, then use Volume down to highlight yes and Power to select it. You’ll have to set your phone up as new.
• If nothing has worked, then you may have a hardware fault. It’s time to contact your carrier, retailer, or Samsung and ask about a replacement.

Issue: Poor battery life

This is a common complaint with smartphones and there are a lot of possible causes. We found the Note 8 battery life to be good in our review, lasting us a full day between charges even with medium to heavy use, but not everyone has had the same experience. There are threads on XDA Developers forums and Android Central forums bemoaning the battery life.

Workarounds:

• There are a lot of different ways to make your cell phone battery last longer, but they tend to involve turning things off. Your screen is the biggest drain on your battery, so decreasing your screen timeout and lowering your brightness can help.
• The Note 8 does also have a Power saving mode. Go to Settings > Device maintenance > Battery and you can configure it and toggle it on. We recommend tapping Mid for medium power saving mode because it doesn’t impair your Note 8 too much. You can also customize precisely what it does to ensure it isn’t annoying.
• If you scroll down further in Settings > Device maintenance > Battery you’ll see the App power monitor and the Save power button, which can be used to limit how much battery life apps are chewing through when they’re not open. If you see any really greedy apps in here consuming a large percentage of your battery, then consider uninstalling them.
• The always on display is inevitably going to be an extra battery drain, so you could turn it off via Settings > Display > Always On Display. We like it, but we’ve gotten into the habit of turning our Note 8 face down when we don’t need it, so the display doesn’t come on.
• Snag yourself one of the best portable battery chargers.

Potential solutions:

• Uninstall any apps you aren’t using and make sure the rest are up-to-date. Some apps that can’t be uninstalled can be disabled. Open the Play Store, tap the three horizontal lines at the top left, and tap My apps & games, then Update all. You should also look under Settings via the three horizontal lines at the top left in the Play Store and decide whether you want Auto-update apps to be on. Generally, we think it’s a good idea, but if you have a lot of apps, then the auto-updates can be a definite drain on your battery.
• When we’ve experienced major battery drain problems with Android phones in the past, it has often been down to something in the backup we restored. If you choose to automatically restore settings and apps from a previous phone, it can lead to mysterious battery drain issues that are hard to track down. A factory reset and then a fresh install of your apps can drastically improve battery life.
• Another thing that can cause mysterious issues is using a MicroSD card from an old phone in your new Note 8. We recommend sticking it in a computer or laptop, backing up the content, reformatting the card afresh, and then only loading on the files you really need, before putting it into your Note 8.

Problem: Screen burn-in

There’s a slight risk with OLED smartphone displays that you’ll end up with permanent image outlines or patches on your screen, most commonly a faint ghost of the navigation buttons. The risk is increased if you have the same static icons on the screen for a long time and you crank your brightness up high. A few forum posts have popped up complaining about this issue on the Note 8. Don’t waste your time with apps that claim to fix screen burn-in, you need to contact Samsung about this one.

Solution:

• A hardware service can fix this issue. You can take your Note 8 into a Samsung service center or call Samsung support to arrange it.

Glitch: Wireless charging stopped working

The Note 8 should charge wirelessly on any Qi wireless charging pad, and it will charge a bit faster on supported fast charging pads. For some people, however, it seems to be refusing to work. There are posts at the Samsung forum, the XDA Developers forum, and the Android Central forum.

Potential solutions:

• It’s always worth turning your Note 8 off and on again when you encounter a problem. Hold down the power button and tap Restart, then test again. That may at least temporarily get it working again.
• While Galaxy Note 8 cases are a smart idea to protect your phone, they can sometimes interfere with wireless charging. If you’re using a case, then remove it and test again.
• Some wireless charging pads are fussy about your placement. Try moving the Note 8 around. If you’re using a vertical stand, try turning the Note 8 from portrait to landscape.
• Make sure you’re using the cable and adapter that came with the wireless charging pad or with your Note 8.
• Test on another wireless charging pad if you’re able to, just to make sure the pad itself isn’t faulty.
• If your wireless charging is working, but you can’t get it to charge faster, then look in Settings > Advanced features > Accessories and make sure Fast wireless charging is toggled on.

Problem: Freezing up

Experiencing a frozen Samsung Galaxy Note 8? You’re not alone. Galaxy Note 8 users around the world are complaining of phones freezing up on Samsung’s community forums. These reports first appeared shortly after the release of the Note 8, but have been growing in numbers over the past few weeks. The problem does not appear to be tied to a specific model of the Samsung Galaxy Note 8, though Android Police reports that SM-N950U units on U.S. carriers, unlocked European (SM-N950F), and dual-SIM (SM-N950D) models have been listed in the forums.

An exact cause is not known, users have noticed the phones tend to freeze when using the Contacts app or other apps that pull information from the Contacts app, such as the dialer, messaging apps, and more. Several people suggest the issue stems from downloading the Google Contacts app, which may be conflicting with Samsung’s Contacts app, though this has not been confirmed.

Samsung has issued a statement and potential fix for the issue:

“We are aware of a limited number of reports about Note 8 devices experiencing an issue with some of their applications. Any consumer who experiences this issue should update their apps in the Samsung Galaxy Store and the Google Play Store. Any consumers with questions should contact us directly at 1-800-SAMSUNG so that we can help them.”

Potential solutions:

There is currently no solution to the problem, but the following two inconvenient workarounds can restore functionality, at least temporarily, to your phone:

• A hard reset is the primary workaround for a frozen Galaxy Note 8. A hard reset will take several minutes and will completely erase all information on your phone. To perform a hard reset on your phone, press the Volume up, Bixby and Power buttons at the same time. In 30-45 seconds you should see the Android Recovery Menu. Use the Volume down button to select the Wipe data/Factory reset option and press the Power button to select it.
• An alternative option (albeit more time-consuming) is to allow your battery to die and then recharge. While this will take a lot longer, you will likely not lose any data if you regularly backup your phone.

For people who are experiencing frequent freeze-ups, Android Authority is reporting that you can contact Samsung support to arrange an “evaluation and repair.” Samsung’s U.S. support number is 800-726-7864. Users outside the United States can check out Samsung’s country-specific site to find relevant support options.

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Live updates: How to watch Apple’s WWDC 2018 keynote

Apple’s Worldwide Developer Conference (WWDC) has kicked off, coming to you from the lovely San Jose Convention Center. WWDC is that magical time of year when Apple shows off all its latest software, and maybe there will be some new hardware if we’re lucky.

We’ve included details about how to watch the keynote below, but we will also be updating this page with new developments as Apple announces them. Hit the refresh button to see what’s new after the keynote kicks off. You can also follow us on Twitter (@DigitalTrends), and our editor-in-chief Jeremy Kaplan (@Smashdawg), who’s at WWDC. Check out our full WWDC coverage here.

What time does WWDC start?

WWDC takes place at the San Jose McEnery Convention Center on June 4, and it starts at 10 a.m. PT or 1 p.m. ET. For more details about the show’s complete schedule, check out the official WWDC app, which has the event schedule, latest news, access to the livestream sessions, and more.

How to stream on a Mac, Apple TV, iPhone, or iPad

While some use browsers other than Safari on a Mac as their default, it’s the only one you can stream the keynote from. Make sure your Mac’s operating system is up to date, running macOS Sierra 10.12 or later. All you’ll need to do to watch the keynote is open up Safari and click on Apple’s livestream link.

For those using Apple TV — the second-generation model or later — you can stream the keynote via AirPlay with the latest version of tvOS. Open the Apple Events app, and you should be good to go. For certain Apple TV devices, the Events app will automatically show up on your screen. With newer models, you may need to download the app or make sure it’s updated to the latest version.

To stream on an iPad or iPhone, make sure your device is running iOS 10 or higher. Download the WWDC app via the App Store. You can also access the livestream through Safari the same way you would on a Mac.

How to stream on a Windows PC

For those who don’t own Apple products to watch the keynote on, there’s still an option for you. As long as you’re on a PC running Windows 10, you can stream the keynote using Microsoft Edge. Simply open the browser on your desktop and click on Apple’s WWDC 2018 livestream link.

Apple also says other platforms may be able to access the stream using recent versions of Chrome or Firefox (MSE, H.264, and AAC required).

Live updates:

The keynote has started, and we’re adding major announcements here. Refresh the page to see new information.

• The App Store will turn 10 years old next month. The money developers have made through the App Store is around $100 billion.
• iOS 12 has officially been announced, and it will be coming to all devices that iOS 11 supported. It will focus on performance.
• There’s a new file format for AR made in collaboration with Pixar called USDZ.
• A new app called Measure helps you measure distances, surfaces, and more. Just tap and drag a line on surfaces to get exact measurements.
• ARKit 2 adds improved face-tracking, realistic rendering, 3D object detection, persistent experiences, and shared experiences. Shared experiences lets two people see the same environment at the same time. A demo with Lego showed two people interacting with a single Lego creation.
• The Apple Photos app is getting a new feature called Search Suggestions. There’s also a For You tab that shows memories, On This Day photos from the past, and more.
• Siri is getting Shortcuts, you can set custom phrases to trigger third-party actions. Siri Suggestions can also suggest things for you to do after learning your habits. If you’re going to a movie, for example, it will suggest to turn on Do Not Disturb. A new Shortcuts app lets you create your own custom shortcuts to enact actions faster.
• Apple News gets a new sidebar on the iPad. The Stocks app gets a small redesign, but Apple News is now built into the Stocks app.  The Stocks app is also now available on the iPad.
• The Voice Memo app is now easier to use, and looks a little different. It’s now also available on the iPad. iCloud support also means your recordings are saved on the cloud.
• The iBooks app is now called Apple Books, and it’s getting a redesign. It makes it easier to pick up where you left off. There’s also a new Book Store in the app that makes it easier to purchase books.
• The CarPlay app now supports third-party navigation apps, so you can use Google Maps.
• Do Not Disturb during bedtime doesn’t show all your notifications in the middle of the night. You can expand it in the Control Center, and you can set an ending time.
• Instant tuning to notifications now gives you more control over notifications. There’s also now Grouped Notifications,  which means notifications from the same app are bundled together, similar to how Android handles notifications.
• Screen Time lets you manage how much time you spend in apps. App Limits let you set a time limit for apps, and you’ll get an alert telling you when you’ve run out of time. Parents can create Allowances for kids, to give them extra time with certain apps.
• Tongue Detection, that’s right, is coming in iOS 12. Animoji can detect tongues. There are also a handful of new Animojis, like T-rex, ghost, and koala.
• Memoji lets you create your own personalized Animoji in the iMessage app. It still only works with the iPhone X.
• There are new camera effects in iMessage, such as shapes, effects, stickers, and even your own Memojis.
• Facetime is finally getting Group Facetime, so you can video chat with more than one person at a single time. Up to 32 people simultaneously, actually. You can also directly jump to Facetimes from the iMessage app, and there are stickers, effects, Memoji, and Animojis as well.
• You can read everything Apple announced in iOS 12 here.
• Apple announces WatchOS 5, bringing a new workout type for Yoga, Hiking, and Outdoor Run. There’s now automatic workout detection along with End Alerts, and improved Competitions.
• WatchOS 5 includes a Walkie-Talkie app that lets you talk to other Apple Watch owners just like a walkie-talkie.
• The Siri watch face gets sports, maps, and heart rate details. It also will have the Siri Shortcuts that’s available in iOS 12. You can also now see third-party apps on the Siri watch face. You also don’t need to say Hey Siri — just raise your wrist to your face and just ask it a command.
• Interactive notifications in WatchOS 5 also lets you perform some actions in notifications directly.
• You can also see web content in WatchOS 5, like when you want to see the menu for a restaurant.
• Apple Podcasts are now available in WatchOS 5.
• You can add student ID cards into Wallet in WatchOS 5.
• There’s a new band and watch face supporting Pride Month, available today.
• You can read everything Apple announced in WatchOS 5 here.
• Apple TV 4K now gets support for Dolby Atmos. Apple is also working with cable companies to include support.
• Zero Sign-on lets you securely and quickly sign into all your TV services, no sign in required. Charter Spectrum will be the first to support this.
• Apple TV users will have the Apple TV icon directly accessible in the Control Center on their iPhone.
• The next version of macOS is called macOS Mojave, and it includes a dark mode.
• MacOS also has a new feature called Dynamic Desktop. It visually changes from morning, evening to night.
• Stacks in the Desktop let you hide cluttered files into one neat place.
• The Finder app looks a little different. There’s a new view option called Gallery view. It has a big preview for images and video.
• The Apple News app is coming to macOS.
• Voice Memo is also coming to macOS.
• The Stocks and Home app are also coming to macOS.
• Cookies are no longer tracked by default on websites, and it will be more difficult for data companies to track your browsing habits.
• UIKit from iOS will work with macOS. It helps make porting apps from iOS to macOS much easier for developers. It will be available next year.
• And that’s a wrap!

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Smart wearables see big spike as ‘basic’ devices drag down overall market growth

Wearables’ market growth is slowing down, according to the International Data Corporation (IDC). Worldwide shipments of wearable devices grew 1.2 percent overall during the first quarter of 2018, with shipments reaching 25.1 million units. Even with slow growth,  the report shows consumers are leaning more toward smarter wearables while leaving the basic devices behind.

But what’s the difference between “basic” and “smart” wearables? IDC defines smart wearables as devices that are capable of running third-party apps. Devices that can’t run those apps are known as basic wearables. Basic wearables, specifically, saw a decline of 9.2 percent in shipments while higher-priced smart wearables — such as those from Apple and Fitbit — grew by 28.4 percent.

Aside from watches and wristbands — which accounted for 95 percent of shipments during the first quarter — clothing that includes sensors grew 58.6 percent year-over-year. While this mainly includes step-counting shoes, brands that offer “smart” shirts, shorts, and other clothing with fitness trackers also continues to grow.

Of the top five wearable companies in the first quarter, Apple took the top spot. The company’s shipments grew 13.5 percent over the previous year, following the release of its Apple Watch Series 3, which features a built-in eSIM for a cellular connection. In comparison to this time last year, Apple managed to increase its share from 14.3 percent to 16.1 percent.

In second place is smartphone brand Xiaomi with a 14.8 percent share of unit shipments. The brand has the lowest average selling price of the five companies and is far more popular in the Chinese market.

Even though Fitbit saw a decline of 28.1 percent, the company still managed to rank third for the quarter. Since the launch of the Fitbit Versa in April, the company has shipped more than 1 million devices. In addition to being a wearable that’s more stylish and affordable than competitors, the Versa also offers more female health tracking, which has already attracted more than 2 million users following its release in May.

Huawei took the fourth spot, posting an increase in market share since last year — the brand went from 2.1 percent during the first quarter of 2017 to 5.2 percent for the same period this year. Even though the company is primarily popular in Asia, its wide variety of products — ranging from smartwatches to fitness trackers, kids’ watches and more — have allowed the company to more than double its share.

To round out the list is Garmin, which didn’t see a huge increase since last year, coming in at 5 percent, compared to a 4.6 percent share a year ago. While the company hasn’t been quick to add new features to its wearables, its latest Garmin Forerunner 645  includes contactless payments (Garmin Pay) and its first-ever native music compatibility.

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Best iOS app deals of the day! 6 paid iPhone apps are free for a limited time

Everyone likes Apple’s apps, but sometimes the best ones are a bit expensive. Now and then, developers put paid apps on sale for free for a limited time, but you have to snatch them up while you have the chance. Here are the latest and greatest iOS app deals available from the iOS App Store.

These apps normally cost money and this sale lasts for a limited time. If you go to the App Store and it says the app costs money, that means the deal has expired and you will be charged. 

Wordscanner

Wordscanner scans everything into clear and sharp images or PDFs. With this scanner app, you can rapidly scan documents, and convert them into PDF format for easy printing, sharing, or saving to the cloud.

Available on:

iOS

Thankful

The thankful app is the most beautifully designed and personal way to privately, quickly, and easily record and share things (if you wish) that you are thankful for in your everyday life. Quickly save your thankful thoughts, inspirational words of wisdom, thankful inspirations, or #thankful thoughts from around the world via Twitter, Tumblr, and Flickr.

Available on:

iOS

Nutrition GPA

Answer 10 simple questions about what you ate today and get a grade on the nutrition quality of your diet. Then, track your Nutrition GPA over time for feedback, motivation, and accountability in just two minutes a day. It’s not what you eat on your best day or your worst day; it’s what you eat most days that has the biggest impact on your long-term health.

Available on:

iOS

Moment Mix

Moment Mix is a powerful and fast collage maker with a lot of customization and editing tools, that also gives you the option to import and share photos. This app saves your current progress, and you can continue your editing process at any time. It also boasts an undo and redo feature, as well as adjustable templates.

Available on:

iOS

Power Runner

Select music from your iTunes library, set a targeted pace to be your goal, and hit the start button to get running. Once you start moving, your pace will control your music, and you will know if you are moving at your targeted pace if your music is playing. If your music is paused, then you are running slower than your targeted pace and you’ll need to pick it up in order to get the music playing again.

Available on:

iOS

Easy Spending

The Easy Spending money tracker is the most powerful and convenient daily money management app for iPhone. It promises to neatly track all your cash flow between different accounts that you can budget. It is now all the more secure, with the addition of Automatic Backup Service along with the free email backup.

Available on:

iOS

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It’s not Terminator time yet, but robots with living muscle tissue are on the way

We’re more than two decades removed from August 29, 1997,  the date that Terminator 2: Judgment Day predicted the fictional Skynet artificial intelligence system would become self-aware. Now, thanks to researchers at the University of Tokyo, the dream (or nightmare?) of robots with living tissue covering a robotic skeleton is no longer exclusively the stuff of science fiction.

While their work is still at a relatively early stage, they have discovered a method for growing living muscles over a robotic frame. Specifically, they have found a way to turn individual muscle precursor cells, called myoblasts, into muscle cell-filled hydrogel sheets that can be used to give robots functioning muscles with an impressive amount of flexibility. In a demo, electric currents are used to contact the lab-grown muscles on one side of a robotic finger, thereby allowing it to pick up and move a ring. Stimulating the muscle on the other side of the finger then prompts the biohybrid robot to put the ring down again.

“Many researchers have proposed biohybrid robots composed of a skeletal muscle tissue cultured on a flexible substrate, and succeeded in deformation of the substrate by contractions of the skeletal muscle tissues,” Shoji Takeuchi, a researcher on the project, told Digital Trends. “However, the contractions of the skeletal muscle tissues do not last for [the] long term due to spontaneous shrinkage of the tissues caused by their tension. The spontaneous shrinkage increases with the course of culture, inducing bending of the flexible substrate without the contractions. The skeletal muscle tissues [also] becomes much shorter than their initial length and impossible to contract.”

In contrast, the antagonistic pair of skeletal muscles the team has created can balance the shrinkage and contraction required very effectively. As a result, they can achieve not only longevity but also a full 90-degree range of movement — similar to what you would find in a real muscle.

Despite the obvious pop culture reference point, we’re still a ways off from real-life Terminator robots. Instead, the likely immediate application of these robots will be more accurate “pick-and-place” robots. This refers to the ultra-precise robots arms used for tasks like assembly, inspection, bin-picking and packaging. In other words, if real Terminator-style cyborgs really do get off the ground, expect them to find a job in locations like Amazon’s fulfillment centers. But that may not be their only potential application.

“Although this is just a preliminary result, our approach might be a great step toward the construction of more complex systems,” Takeuchi said. “If we can combine more of these muscles into a single device, we should be able to reproduce the complex muscular interplay that allow hands, arms, and other parts of the body to function.”

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WatchOS 5 brings Walkie-Talkie, Podcast features, and much more

Apple officially announced its newest version of WatchOS at its annual World Wide Developer’s Conference. The newest version of WatchOS brings some huge changes and additions to the Apple Watch including more watch faces as well as improved health tracking features. Here are all the new features you’ll see when WatchOS 5 hits your Apple Watch later this year.

New watch band and faces for Pride month

Apple introduced a Pride edition watch band. Both the band and faces are currently available. You can purchase the band online and add the watch face is available in WatchOS 4.

Health and fitness tracking improvements

Apple is putting a huge emphasis on ensuring fitness tracking data is accurate in WatchOS 5. The company studied more than seven terabytes of fitness data from more than 12,000 participants to make sure its tracking measurements are on point.

You’ll also find a new competition mode on WatchOS 5. The mode allows you to enter a seven-day competition with a friend. You can track both you and your friends’ progress during the competition and the winner will win an Apple Watch award.

WatchOS 5 also features new fitness modes. The Yoga mode will track your activity via the heart rate monitor while the Hiking mode will use your pace and elevation to better determine the number of calories burned.

Runners will see improvements as well. The Running mode now offers a custom pace alert, tracks your cadence and will even provide time data on the previous mile run.

Finally, you’ll see new start and end workout alerts. WatchOS 5 will use your heart rate data to determine when you’ve begun a workout. When you reach a heart rate or time goal, it will offer an end alert on the home screen.

Communication

WatchOS 5 also brings several awesome communications improvements. First off is the new Walkie-Talkie mode. With Walkie-Talkie, you can add friends to your Apple Watch and communicate with them directly by tapping the Talk button within the Walkie-Talkie app.

Your Siri watch face will also get a huge update as well. The new Siri watch face will provide more information on your favorite sports teams, offer commute and traffic information, as well as heart rate.

Siri Shortcuts have also been added in WatchOS 5. With Siri Shortcuts, you can do things like check into your flight, extend a restaurant reservation, or even order coffee.

WatchOS 5 is finally adding a Podcast app. This app will automatically download your favorite podcasts directly to your Apple Watch, meaning you no longer need your phone to listen to your favorite podcast.

Another addition that has been long awaited is WebKit. With WebKit, you willbe able to view webpages from Messages or emails.

Finally, there is no need to say “Hey Siri” anymore in WatchOS 5. Now you can simply raise your wrist to your mouth and Siri will automatically be listening.

While Apple has official unveiled WatchOS 5, it’s only available via developer beta. If you’re not a developer, hold tight. We expect to see the final version of WatchOS 5 released when Apple announces its newest hardware later in the year.

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