Google confirms it will add Android support for foldable displays

It’s already clear the smartphone trend of 2019 will be foldable devices, and Google is welcoming it with open arms. At this year’s Android Dev Summit, the company announced it’s adding support for what’s known as “foldables,” allowing Android apps to work seamlessly with the new form factor.

Dave Burke, Google’s vice president of engineering for Android, took to the stage to explain how the company plans to go about embracing the new concept. While he didn’t go into extreme detail, he did reveal that resizable flags will be added so that apps can respond to folding and unfolding. The company also said we’ll see more foldable phone features in new Android releases, so it’s highly likely to be included in Android Q.

But what exactly is a “foldable” device? It’s considered a phone and a tablet that comes in two variants — two-screen devices and one-screen devices. For those concerned about everyday portability, a foldable looks like a phone when it’s folded, so it can fit in either your pocket or handbag.

Foldables offer what Google calls screen continuity. “For example, you might start a video on the folded smaller screen while on the go, but later sit down and want a more immersive experience. You can simply unfold the device to get a larger tablet-sized screen. As you unfold, the app seamlessly transfers to the bigger screen without missing a beat,” Burke explained.

The news comes the same day as Samsung’s Developer Conference where the company announced its foldable phone technology. Known as the Infinity Flex Display, users will be able to have a compact smartphone that unfolds to provide a larger, more immersive display for multitasking and viewing content. Supporting Google’s earlier announcement, the app experience is said to “seamlessly transition from the smaller display to the larger display as the device unfolds.” You’ll also be able to use three active apps simultaneously whenever you’re on the larger display.

While Samsung remained tight-lipped on availability for its foldable smartphone, Google mentioned that it worked closely with the company to create a device that is expected to launch early next year.

Common Google Pixel 3 issues and how to fix them

No phone is perfect — here’s how you can address problems plaguing your Pixel.

The Pixel 3 and 3 XL are fantastic phones, but they aren’t without their issues. Several well-reported problems with the phones have cropped up as thousands of devices get out to people and were put to use. Some of the complaints are due to the fact that Pixels are hyper-analyzed by the Android enthusiast crowd, but there are still many legitimate gripes that need to be addressed.

Problems with every phone typically only affect a small percentage of owners, but if your phone is dealing with them, that’s all that matters. We’ve rounded up all of the most common issues with the Pixel 3 and 3 XL, and how you can mitigate or fix them.

Camera doesn’t save photos

You may have experienced a pesky problem where if you take a photo, then quickly exit the app, the photo never actually saves. The photo captures, but a hangup during processing leaves you without a saved image. This is just one of a string of camera-related Pixel 3 problems, and it’s one of the most annoying.

This is manageable, but also something Google really should address.

The only surefire way to address this, at least right now, is to keep the camera app open until it is fully done processing and saving the image. That’s only a few seconds, mind you, but it will feel a lot longer when you’re just sitting there waiting for something you can’t see happening. If the image has been saved, it’ll be viewable from the quick gallery view in the corner of the viewfinder. After that point, you shouldn’t see any data loss if you close the camera.

Going forward, this is another fix Google will need to address with changes to resource allocation for the camera. We’re all hoping it’s going to be fixed alongside the other memory management changes coming in December.

Music app closing while in use

So you’re listening to music with Spotify. Or a podcast in Pocket Casts. You open the camera to take a photo … and the audio stops. The app’s been killed. That’s annoying! And you’re not alone. It’s an issue with resource allocation, where the power-hungry camera takes up so much processor and memory that things start getting killed off … even if they’re also actively in use.

Be it a change to Pie or for the Pixel itself, Google is on the case with memory management problems.

This bug has cropped up most often in relation to music or podcast apps that are playing in the background but isn’t necessarily isolated to those use cases. Other people report background-intensive apps of all sorts being closed in the background unceremoniously as an intense foreground app is used.

Google has said it plans to address memory management issues in the forthcoming December update, which we hope will include dealing with this media app killing problem. It’s great news for everyone who’s experienced this, but for now there’s no real “fix” for the problem. You either preemptively pause your music/podcast before opening the camera, or you’ll run the risk of it happening without your control. Let’s hope Google irons this one out.

Weak battery life

The smaller Pixel 3, in particular, isn’t known for great battery life. It’s serviceable, but isn’t a “full day” phone for everyone. There are no specific known big battery drainers on the Pixel 3 at a system level, so we’re going to give you a few battery-saving tips that can add up to extra hours of life per day:

• Check your battery usage details: In the battery settings you can check your battery usage, and look for any outliers. If you haven’t used an app much but it’s using double-digit percentage of your battery in a day, you should consider checking in on that app to see if everything is working properly.
• Turn off Ambient display: In the Display settings you’ll find an option to turn off Ambient display. It looks great and is super useful, but keeping the display active uses battery throughout the entire day. You can let the phone turn on Ambient display when you lift your phone or a notification comes in, which is a nice compromise.
• Turn on Adaptive Battery: It’s on by default, but if you turned it off you should turn it back on. This feature lets the system limit infrequently used apps from waking up and draining your battery, which is really helpful.
• Use Battery Saver: If you’ve been using your phone hard and know you won’t find a charger anytime soon, flip on Battery Saver. It restricts performance and background data access for apps, but if the alternative is having a dead phone you’ll prefer to use it under these restrictions.

Doing these simple things isn’t going to take your phone from dying at 6 p.m. to lasting through the night, but it could add that extra 5-10% extra you need to make it through tough days or give you a little peace of mind that your phone isn’t going to die. It’s worth a shot.

Wireless charging isn’t as quick as you expected

This one isn’t so much a “problem” as it is a misunderstanding (created by Google, it should be said). The Pixel 3 is a Qi wireless certified device, meaning you can drop it on just about any wireless charger and have it work. But that doesn’t mean it will charge quickly on any charger — it will charge at about 5W, which is quite slow. To get the fastest possible speeds right now, charging at 10W, you’ll need a Pixel Stand wireless charger from Google.

Qi is supported up to 5W, but you need a Google-certified charger to get 10W.

That’s because Google has to sign off on each charger that wants to charge the Pixel 3 at its maximum of 10W, giving it a “Made for Google” designation — because according to Google that goes above the standard Qi specification. It’s frustrating, but this is a pretty standard limitation that we see across multiple manufacturers — there’s no guarantee with any phone and charger combination that it will charge as fast as the numbers on the box unless it’s a charger the phone company itself makes. For now, if you want faster wireless charging you need to use a Pixel Stand — and in the future, there will be third-party chargers that offer the same charging speeds as well.

Multiple notches appearing on display

The Pixel 3 XL has a really big display notch. We know that. But some people have experienced a bug where the software puts extra software notches on the screen inadvertently. That’s not supposed to happen. This issue comes from the Pixel 3 XL’s software that lets developers toy with having multiple notches on their phone for development purposes … but it unfortunately has a bug (or several) that’s displaying them to regular users in awkward places around the edge of the display.

Google has said that it is releasing a software update to address the extra notches. This one should be a pretty easy fix, and over soon. If you’ve messed with the developer settings on your Pixel 3 XL to hide the notch, it’s worth revisiting those settings to see if you triggered something you shouldn’t have — perhaps just turning that setting off entirely can fix it temporarily.

Google Pixel 3 second opinion review: Quickly becoming my favorite phone ever

Google Pixel 3 and Pixel 3 XL

• Google Pixel 3 and 3 XL review
• Google Pixel 3 and 3 XL: Everything you need to know!
• Google Pixel 3 vs. Pixel 3 XL: Which should you buy?
• Google Pixel 3 and 3 XL specifications
• Join our Pixel 3 forums

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Google Store
Project Fi

How to turn off the Echo Show (2nd Gen) camera

The Amazon Echo Show (2nd gen) is absolutely beautiful, and makes life easier for users while including a camera for video chatting. But what are you going to do if you don’t plan on using the video-chat features and are a bit worried about your security? We’ll take a look at how you can disable the camera on the Amazon Echo Show (2nd Gen).

Products used in this guide

• Amazon: Echo Show (2nd gen) ($230)

How to disable the camera

With the display turned on, swipe down from the top of the screen.
Tap Settings.
Scroll and select Device Options.
Toggle Enable Camera to the off position.

After you have done this, the camera on your new Amazon Echo Show (2nd gen) will now be disabled. This is great for those who don’t want to take advantage of video calling or might have privacy concerns.

Can you turn off the camera with your voice?

While Echo products are primarily powered by Alexa’s voice services, it seems that Amazon is still holding things back a bit. Unfortunately, you can’t ask Alexa to simply disable the camera on your Echo Show (2nd gen). Instead, you’ll have to follow the steps above to get things done.

We are hoping that Amazon will reverse its course on this in the future, but maybe there will be an Alexa Skill you can add which will do the same thing.

Our top equipment picks

The Best

Amazon Echo Show (2nd gen)

$230 at Amazon

Alexa on the big screen

If you are ready to make the dive into a smart home, chances are you will want a hub. These hubs are starting to come with screens for video calling and other purposes, and there’s none better than the new Echo Show (2nd gen). With a 10.1-inch HD display, you can watch TV, view recipe videos, and so much more.

Microsoft Launcher gets big 5.0 update with Windows Timeline support

It’s Time for Timeline.

Microsoft Launcher’s big update to version 5.0 is now rolling out to everyone on Android, coming a little over a month after first launching for beta testers. This update brings several added tweaks and features, but the biggest addition by far is Windows Timeline integration.

Timeline support has been a long time coming, with Microsoft promising its eventual release earlier this year. Now, when you’re signed into the same Microsoft account on your PC and Android phone, your Windows Timeline activity will sync between devices. This allows all of your browsing activity from Microsoft Edge to show up in your Timeline on your phone, and vice-versa. Additionally, documents will appear in Timeline as well, so you can pick up where you left off in any Office documents, should you have the Office apps installed on your phone.

The other major change is related to the Feed layout, which now features dedicated tabs for News, Glance, and the aforementioned Timeline. The news tab is essentially one long feed of the latest headlines, powered by Microsoft News. This replaces the News widget that previously lived in the Feed. Glance, meanwhile, is similar to the previous Feed, albeit with a much cleaner interface that shows you relevant information at a glance with dedicated widgets.

Here’s the official rundown of what’s new in Microsoft Launcher version 5.0:

• Feed – Updated Feed navigation for your Glance, News and Timeline tabs. You can now access your Feed settings from the top of your Feed
• News – Updated News experience powered by Microsoft News
• Timeline on mobile – Activities from your PC and phone now can be seen on your Android phone
• Cortana – Use Cortana to send emails with multi-turn emailing. Cortana is now supported in the DE-DE market
• Family – Parents can now view their kids’ real-time location

See at Google Play

The Galaxy Note 9 is the best big phone you can buy

We use our phones every day, and use them hard. When it comes to getting the most done with your phone, you want a huge screen, and Android has plenty of options that fit the bill. Some are better than others, though, so we narrow down the choices to only the best.

The Samsung Galaxy Note 9 is the biggest and best phone Samsung makes, and that also makes it the best overall big-screened phone. Its 6.4-inch display is the best in the business, and it wraps around a beautiful metal and glass exterior. You can take advantage of the huge screen with top-end specs and the S Pen stylus that’s truly unique in the smartphone world. It’s expensive, but it’s available both unlocked and from just about any carrier or retailer in the world.

Our pick

Samsung Galaxy Note 9

• $930 from Amazon
• $999 from Samsung

A massive screen with every spec and feature needed to back it up.

The Note 9 is the do-it-all smartphone, with every feature and spec you could want. And you get to use those features with an amazing best-in-class 6.4-inch display and top-end internals to back it up. It’s hard not to like the design as well..

Who should buy this phone

When you’re looking for the biggest and best phone, look no further than the Galaxy Note 9. It has a big screen, and better yet it’s also a great screen with excellent colors and brightness even in direct sunlight. It also has the highest-end specs possible, with an optional 512GB of internal storage if you need it. Then you get all of the nice-to-have features like wireless charging, a headphone jack, waterproofing, an SD card slot and more. It’s a “more of everything” approach that works well in the big-screened phone market, and makes the Note 9 a fantastic buy.

Is it a good time to buy this phone?

The Galaxy Note 9 is new, and will be the best phone available from Samsung until the Galaxy S10 is announced in February or March 2019. You can buy the Galaxy Note 9 and be confident that you’re getting the best big-screened phone available for the next several months.

Reasons to buy

• Massive screen is the highest quality in the industry
• Top-end specs across the board
• Has S Pen for writing and drawing
• Great pair of cameras
• Headphone jack and wireless charging

Reasons not to buy

• More expensive than the competition
• Glass is more fragile than metal options
• Samsung’s software, including Bixby, is a bit overbearing

The Samsung Galaxy Note 9 is the best phone with a big screen

When Samsung made the Galaxy S9+, we were impressed. Six months later, we got the Galaxy Note 9 that turned all of the knobs to 11. It’s been a few years since the Note was considerably better, and in no ways worse, than the latest Galaxy S, but we’re glad that’s the case again. You start with the core fundamentals of the Galaxy S9+ in the processor, RAM and hardware features, and that’s a great place to build from — you get all of the latest and greatest specs and hardware features like waterproofing, wireless charging, a headphone jack, stereo speakers and an SD card slot.

But then the Note 9 goes further. You get a base of 128GB of storage, optionally spec’d up to 512GB. You get an even larger display, now 6.4 inches, that’s the brightest and most colorful you’ll find in a phone today. Then Samsung bumped the battery up to 4000mAh, giving you effortless full-day battery life and lasting longer than most phones out there.

The Note 9 does it all, and gives you a huge screen to experience it.

And of course, you get the S Pen stylus. With extreme accuracy and precision you can write or draw all day — and now it works wirelessly to control the phone within Bluetooth range, to trigger the camera or move through a slideshow presentation. It just shows that the Note 9 is designed to do everything you need, which you’re looking for if you want such a large screen.

Samsung’s software isn’t the best in the business, but it’s amazingly customizable and if you’re willing to work with it it can be an amazing tool to complement such wonderful hardware. The original Galaxy Note really defined the “phablet” segment all those years ago, and now the Note 9 is a modern take that’s still the best available.

Alternatives to the Samsung Galaxy Note 9

The Galaxy Note 9 is the absolute pinnacle of modern-day phablets, but it isn’t the only big-screened phone out there. There are solid alternatives that also have large screens but won’t break the bank at nearly $1000. The Galaxy S9+ is a really good alternative for a couple hundred dollars less that simply doesn’t have an S Pen, and the OnePlus 6T is a great choice for a couple hundred dollars less still. Huawei also deserves a shout with the new Mate 20 Pro Pro.

Runner-up

Google Pixel 3 XL

• $899 from Google Store

A big screen with simpler software to use

The Pixel 3 XL focuses on having the fastest, simplest, and most helpful software experience, running on simple and powerful hardware with a big display. It accents everything with an amazing camera and a handful of features that make it stand out from the competition.

Google’s “XL” phones have followed the big phone trend, but the Pixel 3 XL is the first one to actually have a good screen as well. The 6.3-inch OLED panel doesn’t get quite as bright as Samsung’s, but in every other respect is fantastic. The big phone also packs all of the great features you expect in this class of device: loud stereo speakers, water resistance, a full spec sheet and wireless charging.

The only knock on the Pixel 3 XL from the perspective of someone who wants a huge screen is that it doesn’t have any extra software to take advantage of it like the Note 9 does. Android 9 Pie has multi-window support, but it’s clunky and doesn’t feel as versatile or powerful as Samsung’s. You just get a little bit more of everything.

Great value

OnePlus 6T

$549 from OnePlus

Most of the flagship experience for a fraction of the price

OnePlus just keeps doing it: a flagship-level phone with amazing hardware, specs and capabilities for hundreds of dollars less. You get a big screen, top-notch internals, excellent battery life, and actually capable cameras for under $600.

For just $549, you’re getting a lot of phone in the OnePlus 6T: physically, and in terms of specs and features. Solid hardware and a full spec sheet rival the competition, and the 6.41-inch AMOLED screen is solid. The cameras are a step down from the competition, but they’re consistent and capable. And its OxygenOS software is a joy to use.

The OnePlus 6T isn’t perfect, and has many shortcomings when compared head-to-head with the other phones here. But with a price tag that’s about $350 less than the Note 9, it’s hard to complain too much. Given its price, it’s shocking how close the OnePlus 6T gets to the competition, and there’s a good chance you’ll be willing to forego a few nice-to-have extras to save so much money.

Triple-camera fun

LG V40

$750 from Amazon

Matching the flagship competition, but doing it in a fun and appealing way

There isn’t much beyond the triple camera that distinguishes the V40 from the competition. But it matches other phones in every respect, and offers an alternative option for a big phone that isn’t as heavy and cumbersome to hold.

LG’s fighting an uphill battle against Samsung’s dominance, but in the V40 has a legitimate challenger to the Note 9 — and it does so by using some restraint. The V40 is huge, and its screen and spec sheet match the Note 9 straight up. But the V40 is far lighter and easier to handle than its competitors, which is something you can appreciate when you pick it up.

The V40 hits all of the high points of a modern flagship, from the spec sheet to the extra features and all the way down the list. LG’s software has really improved in the last couple generations, and in many ways it’s simpler and easier to use than Samsung’s. LG’s triple camera, with a wide-angle shooter, is a blast to play with as well. This is a great option if you can find it on sale — which is inevitable with LG’s phones.

Feature-packed

Huawei Mate 20 Pro

£880 from Amazon UK

Huge and feature-filled … unless you’re in the U.S.

Huawei aims straight for the highest end of the market with the Mate 20 Pro, going all-out in size, specs and capabilities. This 6.39-inch monster has a complete spec sheet, plus a downright massive battery, great triple camera setup and gorgeous color options.

Huawei is doing its best Samsung impression, going after the Note 9 in every way (except the stylus). The Mate 20 Pro is filled with plenty of features, every spec, a battery even larger than the Note 9’s, and one of the best camera setups available. But like Samsung’s latest phones, it comes with a software experience that’s a bit grating, if not entirely frustrating, to people who haven’t used a Huawei phone before.

But the real issue is that you can’t get the Mate 20 Pro in the U.S. unless you buy one from an importer or reseller. It’s a real shame, because the Mate 20 Pro is a compelling do-it-all option for people who want to break the mold of just defaulting to the Galaxy Note 9 when they look for a big phone.

Bottom line

For big-screen lovers, the Samsung Galaxy Note 9 offers everything you want (and more). It’s undeniably powerful no matter what you need to accomplish, and its industry-leading display combines with the S Pen to give you a power-user experience unlike any other.

From top to bottom the spec sheet has everything you need, and more. It actually offers a headphone jack, which isn’t necessarily a given even on these big phones. The cameras are really good as well. You’ll have to pay dearly to get this whole package, nearly $1000, but when money isn’t the ultimate deciding factor the Note 9 is absolutely worth it.

There are other options out there for less money that offer a big screen and various other desirable aspects, from the Pixel 3 XL down to the OnePlus 6T. They’re all worth considering, depending on where your feelings land on Samsung’s software and the price tag.

Credits — The team that worked on this guide

Andrew Martonik is the Executive Editor, U.S. at Android Central. He has been a mobile enthusiast since the Windows Mobile days, and covering all things Android-related with a unique perspective at AC since 2012. For suggestions and updates, you can reach him at andrew.martonik@androidcentral.com or on Twitter at @andrewmartonik.

Daniel Bader is the Managing Editor of Android Central. As he’s writing this, a mountain of old Android phones is about to fall on his head, but his Great Dane will protect him. He drinks way too much coffee and sleeps too little. He wonders if there’s a correlation.

Bixby is now open to developers through the Bixby Developer Studio

Alexa-like skills will be offered through the Bixby Marketplace.

As expected, Bixby was a big focus for the 2018 Samsung Developer Conference. Kicking off the company’s keynote, Samsung announced that it’s officially making Bixby open to developers so they can create custom commands for the AI.

These “Bixby experiences” will be offered through the Bixby Marketplace, so just like Skills on Alexa, you’ll be able to browse through custom Bixby interactions that developers create so you can then add them to your devices. On the developer side of things, Samsung says it’s giving devs the same full access to Bixby that it does through its new Bixby Developer Studio — claiming it’s treating creators like “first-class citizens” compared to competing services.

In addition to opening up Bixby to developers, Samsung also announced that it’s expanding Bixby to more languages “in the coming months”, including German, French, Italian, and Spanish. Focusing specifically on Bixby’s integration with smart TVs, the new Media Control API will allow Bixby to control content from Netflix, Hulu, HBO Now, and Spotify on Samsung televisions.

Developing…

The $210 Piper Minecraft Raspberry Pi kit will teach kids valuable skills

What, did your dad make this game?

Amazon has the Piper Minecraft Raspberry Pi Computer Kit on sale for $209.96, which is the lowest this has been since June. It typically would run you $270.

With this kit, your child can solve puzzles in the Raspberry Pi edition of Minecraft by building their very own computer from start to finish. Once that’s done, they can keep building power-ups within the game by using physical controls, switches, buttons, and lights. It’s perfect for kids ages 7 to 13.

This kit rocks because it combines the technology and fun that children love with hands-on learning, which is not something that can often be said when it comes to hours of watching YouTube Kids or Spongebob. It introduces them to coding, programming, and building in a way that keeps their attention and focus. One reviewer said, “My son hates school and says he hates to learn. But he LOVES his PIPER and doesn’t realize how much he is learning.”

Remember when you used to tear the remote apart, and then put it back together, just to see how it worked? This kit is kind of like that, but your kids will be guided through the whole process with step-by-step instructions. It comes with a handcrafted wooden computer case with HD LCD display, a functioning computer running on a Raspberry Pi 3 project board, a ton of electronic gadgets like buzzers and lights, cables, a laminated blueprint with assembly instructions, a USB mouse, an 8GB SD card, and a custom Raspberry Pi Edition of Minecraft. It’s Wi-Fi enabled and has free automatic level updates as well.

See at Amazon

Best Car Mounts for Google Pixel and Pixel 2

The Google Pixel and Pixel 2 series are beautiful, dependable phones that get updates years longer than the majority of Android devices. If you want to keep your Pixel safe, secure, and easy to use with Google Assistant or Android Auto’s standalone mode, you need a car mount you can trust to keep it from coming crashing down when you hit a pothole. Car mounts come in a wide variety of styles and types, and we have some favorites to share with you!

Our pick

Spigen Kuel A201 Premium Magnetic Air Vent Mount

Car mounts don’t get much easier than this: hide the included magnetic plate in your phone case — or stick it to the back of your phone — then hold your phone against the mount. Magnets will hold it in place while you drive, then you can just grab and go; no hassling with clamps or cradles! It even comes in three colors.

$12 at Amazon

Compact for car-swappers

WizGear Universal Air Vent Magnetic Phone Car Mount

This compact mount keeps your phone highly visible without obstructing the road and has over 14,000 5-star reviews. The WizGear is ideal for people who swap vehicles in a multi-car household or frequent fliers who need a rental car mount. It also doubles as a kickstand!

$7 at Amazon

Magnets with a curve

Nite Ize Original Steelie Dash Mount Kit

Making sharp turns and hitting potholes? Nite Ize’s magnet is super strong and the concave magnetic dot moves around the mount’s ball mount to prevent it from falling off. This magnetic mount boasts a bold look, and it gets the job done.

$14 at Amazon

Upgrade your CD player

Koomus Pro CD Slot Car Mount

Koomus’s low-profile mount is easy to slip into the long-forgotten CD slot, allowing you to mount your phone in an easily visible location without damaging the old disc player. The slide-out clamp holds your phone easily and can rotate 360 degrees for any angle you need.

$17 at Amazon

Easy as 1, 2, 3, 4

iOttie Easy One Touch 4

iOttie has been a leading brand for car mounts for years, and its latest dashboard/windshield mount, the Easy One Touch 4, is the best mount it’s ever made. It’s easy to use, can be positioned at just about any angle you’d ever want and can accommodate the Pixel XL or Pixel 2 XL with or without a case.

$25 at Amazon

Go pro

ProClip

For a completely customized car mount, direct your attention to ProClip. Eliminate the guessing by customizing every aspect of your car mount and know that it’s going to fit your Pixel — and your car’s dashboard — just the way you want it to.

$35 at ProClip

I’ve always been partial to Spigen’s Kuel magnetic mounts, as they’re easy to use with multiple phones or multiple cars. Since the Pixel and Pixel 2 lack wireless charging, you don’t have to worry about the magnetic plates interfering with anything, either, but if you don’t want a magnetic mount, the iOttie Easy One Touch 4 is adaptable, dependable, and will grip your Pixel tight as you head down that backroad “shortcut” with all the potholes.

Samsung’s new Android 9 Pie interface is called One UI, beta opens November

One UI will be available for the Galaxy S9 and Note 9 in January.

At the 2018 Samsung Developer Conference, one of the big announcements was a big refresh for Samsung’s custom Android interface. The Samsung Experience is gone, and in its place, we have One UI.

One of the biggest goals with One UI is to help users “focus on the task at hand.” To achieve this, One UI removes a lot of clutter from the Samsung Experience and makes things much cleaner. For example, the settings page is being simplified even more and regrouping certain settings together so that they’re easier to get to. The phone app also has a new look to only show essential information.

Samsung’s also marketing One UI as being more natural, saying that it’s “restructured the way we interact with our devices.” Buttons that are traditional towards the top of the screen have been moved closer to the bottom, and in many of Samsung’s apps (such as Messages and Clock), the top area is reserved exclusively for viewing content you don’t have to interact with.

Third, One UI aims to “be visibly comfortable.” Colors have been tweaked to provide better clarity, and based on the color of the phone you have, elements of the UI will be tweaked to match it.

If you’re interested in being among the first to test One UI, an open beta will be available this November in the U.S., Germany, and Korea. One UI will then rollout officially to the Galaxy S9 and Note 9 in January 2019.

NVIDIA Shield TV, Pikmi pops, and more are all discounted today

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

There’s never a shortage of deals available, but sorting through all of them can be difficult at times. We’ve handpicked all the best tech, and everyday essentials discounts that you can take advantage of right now and brought them to one central location. From laptops to toys, these are today’s best deals.

Tech Deals

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