Invites to play Assassin’s Creed Odyssey arrive for Project Stream users

Testers of Project Stream will be able to play Assassin’s Creed Odyssey on Oct. 5.

Thanks to services like NVIDIA GeForce Now and PlayStation Now, the gaming industry has been experimenting a lot with the act of streaming video games over an internet connection rather than running them locally on a console or PC. Now, the latest company to dip its toes in the streaming games market is Google.

October 7, 2018 — Invites start going out for users to play Assassin’s Creed Odyssey

Project Stream invites are rolling out now! pic.twitter.com/DuSBCiCows

— Justin Duino (@jaduino) October 7, 2018

There’s a lot of people chomping at the bit at the prospect of being about to join in Google’s foray in streaming video games — or at least to play the brand-new Assassin’s Creed Odyssey for free — and while invites for the program were supposed to go out Friday, it appears that invites didn’t start hitting inboxes until today. If you already signed up for Project Stream, head to your email and see if there’s invite waiting! If you haven’t signed up yet, well, what are you waiting for?

Sign up for Project Stream here

October 1, 2018 — Google formally announces Project Stream

Google has announced a new technology from the company that is designed to stream AAA video games to your computer using just an internet connection and web browser, called Project Stream.

Per Google’s announcement post:

The technology and creativity behind these AAA video games is extraordinary—from incredible detail and life-like movement of the characters’ skin, clothing, and hair, to the massive scale of the world in which the game unfolds, down to every last blade of grass. Every pixel is powered by an array of real-time rendering technology, artistry, visual effects, animation, simulation, physics and dynamics. We’re inspired by the game creators who spend years crafting these amazing worlds, adventures and experiences, and we’re building technology that we hope will support and empower that creativity.

To kickstart Project Stream, Google’s looking for people in the U.S. to test drive the service with the opportunity to play Assassin’s Creed Oddysey for free starting October 5 and going through mid-January. All you need is an internet connection of 25Mbs or higher and a desktop or laptop with Google Chrome.

What’s the ultimate goal of Project Stream? While Google’s yet to say one way or another, it’s very possible that this will tie into reports from earlier this year of Google working on its own gaming console called “Yeti.” We already know that Yeti will have a focus on cloud-based streaming, so it only seems logical that Project Stream is our first introduction to that.

Google’s holding an event on October 9 to unveil the Pixel 3 and 3 XL, and should the company take some time to go into further detail about Project Stream and/or Yeti, we’ll be sure to let you know.

Sign up for Project Stream here

Amazon, Apple and government agencies deny Bloomberg’s hacking story

Late last week, Bloomberg released a bombshell report arguing that operatives from China’s People’s Liberation Army had hacked hardware used by Apple and Amazon. But in the days that have followed, numerous reports have emerged which contradict Bloomberg’s claims.

First came the denials by Apple and Amazon. Both tech firms vehemently denied Bloomberg’s reporting. Apple denied that it ever had any contact with the FBI regarding an investigation into this manner, and says that the company has found no evidence of the hacks which Bloomberg has reported.

“On this we can be very clear: Apple has never found malicious chips, ‘hardware manipulations’ or vulnerabilities purposely planted in any server,” the press release reads. “Apple never had any contact with the FBI or any other agency about such an incident. We are not aware of any investigation by the FBI, nor are our contacts in law enforcement.”

Amazon has also publicly denied Bloomberg’s charges claiming that there were so many inaccuracies in Bloomberg’s initial story that it would be difficult to refute all of them in a single post. The company insisted that it takes security very seriously and says that it “never found modified hardware or malicious chips in Elemental servers. Aside from that, we never found modified hardware or malicious chips in servers in any of our data centers.”

In addition to the denials by both companies, agencies of the U.S. and U.K. governments have spoken out against Bloomberg’s story. On October 5, representatives of the U.K.’s National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC) spoke out in defense of Apple and Amazon’s security measures.

“We are aware of the media reports but at this stage have no reason to doubt the detailed assessments made by AWS and Apple,” a representative of the NCSC said.

When news of this story first broke, U.S. intelligence agencies were relatively quiet about the matter. However, on Saturday, the Department of Homeland Security released a statement expressing agreement with the NCSC’s assessment of the situation.

“The Department of Homeland Security is aware of the media reports of a technology supply chain compromise,” the press release reads. “Like our partners in the U.K., the National Cyber Security Centre, at this time we have no reason to doubt the statements from the companies named in the story.”

Editors’ Recommendations

• Apple, government contractors were hacked using tiny Chinese chips, report says
• The most common iOS 11 problems, and how to fix them
• Not on my watch: How to fix the most annoying Apple Watch problems
• SEC sues Tesla CEO Elon Musk for securities fraud, Musk calls suit unjustified
• Ex-Apple engineer pleads not guilty to stealing autonomous car trade secrets

Philips Hue smart lights, internal SSDs, and more are 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 Philips Hue smart lighting to Shark vacuum cleaners, 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!

Is the Nest Protect certified where I live?

Best answer: Different governing bodies have differing regulations for smoke and carbon monoxide protectors, and the Nest Protect is certified for the United States, Canada and Europe.

Amazon: Nest Protect Smoke & Carbon Monoxide Alarm, Battery ($129)

What does it mean for Nest Protect to be certified?

At its most basic level, being certified means the Nest Protect will actually work as a smoke detector. Different regions use different laboratories for testing: Underwriters Laboratories Inc. is the major testing body for the United States; the UL logo you see on most of your electronics comes from their testing, standards, and certifications. UL 2034 — one of the standards that Nest Protect complies with — is the Underwriters Laboratories Inc. standard that regulates how carbon monoxide alarms are built and how they operate.

The advantage to making sure a product has been certified by these governing bodies is that it lets the consumer (that’s you!) know that the device is safe to put in your home, and that it will do its job should the need arise. A smoke detector that doesn’t detect smoke is bad news, and you don’t want to find out the hard way that is doesn’t work.

Is Nest Protect certified for my state or province?

According to Nest, the Nest Protect complies with safety standards set by the following organizations:

• Underwriters Laboratories Inc.
• California State Fire Marshal
• Canadian Standards Association
• UL International (UK)

What that means is it’s been proven to be safe to put in your home. It’ll work properly as a smoke and carbon monoxide detector, meaning you can have peace of mind that your home is safe.

How many Nest Protects do you need, and where should they go?

A smoke and carbon monoxide detector only has so much range, so it’s important to have enough for your home. Generally, one per floor (including the basement) should suffice, unless sleeping areas are separated by a living room or other common area. There’s no such thing as having too many smoke detectors, but you don’t want to spend extra money if you don’t have to.

Nest Protects and other smoke and carbon monoxide detectors should be placed in hallways or common areas, such as living rooms, kitchens and dining rooms.

Our pick

Nest Protect Smoke & Carbon Monoxide Alarm, Battery

$129 at Amazon

Keep your home safe.

The Nest Protect is certified to work in the United States, Canada and Europe. This battery-powered smoke and carbon monoxide detector will last about five years before you need new batteries, so you don’t need to mess with your home’s electrical system.

Popular Camera App ‘Halide’ Gains Smart RAW Feature for iPhone XS, Apple Watch App Update, and More

Popular photo taking app Halide Camera was today updated to version 1.10, introducing a number of new features including Smart RAW for iPhone XS and iPhone XR, and a tweaked watch app for Apple Watch Series 4 models.

The Smart RAW feature works using a new automatic logic built for getting the best RAW shots out of the iPhone XS and XR, enabling photographers to get even more detail out of their iPhone camera.

According to developer Sebastiaan de With, the Halide auto-exposure on iPhone X already optimizes for the lowest possible ISO and the highest amount of detail, making Smart RAW unnecessary on the iPhone 8 and X. However the iPhone XS and XR benefit from Smart RAW because of the new sensors in the phones.

The Smart RAW feature is on by default and promises to bring noticeably lower noise and better highlight recovery in RAW shots taken with auto-exposure. Interested users are encouraged to search Instagram using the #SmartRAW hashtag for some early examples of the enhanced shooting mode.

This update also adds an option to compare JPEG images with RAW equivalents, while the Halide watch component has been optimized to make better use of the larger screen on Apple Watch Series 4. Lastly, the developer has done some cleaning up and have managed to cut down the app size to half of what it was in the previous version.

Earlier in the week, Sebastiaan de With published an in-depth look at the front and rear-facing cameras in the iPhone XS and XS Max, providing some insight into complaints about a possible skin smoothing “beauty mode” that results in less realistic selfies than prior iPhone models.

Halide costs $5.99 and is available on the App Store for iPhone and iPad. [Direct Link]

Tags: photography, Halide
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Apple Tells Congress ‘Nothing Was Ever Found’ to Suggest Alleged Supply Chain-Based Hack

Apple’s top security chief told the U.S. Congress on Sunday that it had found no indication of suspicious transmissions or other evidence that its China supply chain was ever compromised (via Reuters).

In a letter to the Senate and House commerce committees, Apple Vice President for Information Security George Stathakopoulos wrote that the company had repeatedly investigated and found no evidence to support Bloomberg Businessweek’s bombshell report that alleged tiny chips were discovered inside Apple servers which allowed for backdoor transmissions to Chinese spies.

“Apple’s proprietary security tools are continuously scanning for precisely this kind of outbound traffic, as it indicates the existence of malware or other malicious activity. Nothing was ever found,” he wrote in the letter provided to Reuters.

Stathakopoulos repeated Apple’s statements to the press that it had never found any such planted chips or been contacted by the FBI over the alleged matter. The letter follows a statement issued on Saturday by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security saying it had no reason to doubt the companies who denied that they had ever discovered the tiny chips.

Apple, Amazon, and Supermicro all strongly rebutted the report, which alleged that Chinese intelligence planted microchips in Supermicro servers, which Apple and Amazon previously used in their data centers.

Despite the denials, which are also backed the UK’s national cyber security agency, retired Apple general counsel Bruce Sewell, and other unnamed Apple senior executives, Bloomberg said it stood by its report as of Friday, but didn’t immeditately respond to requests for comment on Sunday.

Note: Due to the political nature of the discussion regarding this topic, the discussion thread is located in our Politics, Religion, Social Issues forum. All forum members and site visitors are welcome to read and follow the thread, but posting is limited to forum members with at least 100 posts.

Tag: China
Discuss this article in our forums

The best business smartphones

Julian Chokkattu/Digital Trends

Whether you’re at work or play, your smartphone is an integral part of your life. A great phone can make your life easier just as much as a bad phone can slow you down. If you’re looking for a phone that’s the perfect fit for your business life, then you might be confused as to where to start. If you’re a high-powered executive who travels a lot and doesn’t have a permanent desk, your needs are very different from an artist who needs to be able to show off their work to prospective clients — so the phone you need is likely to be just as different.

We’ve looked at some of the best smartphones around, and taken note of the smartphones that come with business-assisting special features, provide excellent value for money, or simply excel in small ways. If you’re looking for your phone to work as hard as you do, and provide some extra features to boot, here are the best business smartphones for every price range.

Samsung Galaxy Note 9

Julian Chokkattu/Digital Trends

The best business phone

Why you should buy this: You want a fantastic phone with features for a variety of businesses.

Who it’s for: Seriously busy people on the go who need a pocket productivity powerhouse.

How much it will cost: $1,000

Why we picked the Galaxy Note 9:

Like the Galaxy S9 range before it, the Note 9 isn’t a redesign of its predecessor, but a refinement. As a result, the Galaxy Note 9 is one of the best flagship smartphones in the world, with the super-powerful Snapdragon 845 processor, a truly phenomenal dual-lens camera, and the Note’s signature S Pen. It’s almost everything you’d want in a modern flagship smartphone, and although there are some missteps — Bixby unfortunately still among them — the Galaxy Note 9 is simply one of the best phones in the world right now.

But that’s not why we’re here. What makes the Galaxy Note 9 our pick for the best business smartphone? As well as being an extremely powerful and polished smartphone, the Note 9 is packed to the brim with features that make it an excellent business partner for a wide range of people. The huge 6.4-inch AMOLED display can show a huge amount of information, and you can use the S Pen to write notes on that screen — even when the screen’s off. The S Pen isn’t just a stylus either — it can also be used to pull up a variety of useful features at a moment’s notice.

But that’s all stuff you could do with the Note 8 — what’s new? Well, the Note 9’s S Pen has seen some hardware upgrades, and it now comes with a low power Bluetooth connection that means it can be used to trigger the phone’s camera, or be used as a clicker during presentations. App developers are able to add new functions to the S Pen too, so expect more and more functionality to arrive with new apps. While Bixby still isn’t the best, Samsung’s A.I. has had some upgrades, including the ability to recognize and scan documents in Bixby Vision with Adobe Scan support. There’s also support for dual-SIM, which is ideal for globe-hoppers and anyone with a business number.

Also check out the Huawei P20 Pro ($1,000) for a flagship phone with awesome features, with a two-day battery life.

If you’re not a Samsung fan, check out the Huawei P20 Pro as a similarly powerful, large, flagship phone with great features. It’s equipped with perhaps the best camera on a phone, has a powerful processor with A.I. assistance, and comparable good looks to the Note 9. It has a similarly sized 6.1-inch OLED display, and while it doesn’t have a stylus, it still has a desktop-emulating mode that’s triggered by plugging in just one cable. It has a stunning battery too, with the possibility of two days of use, as well as dual-SIM support. The downsides? It’s not currently available in the U.S., so you’ll need to import it from elsewhere. It also won’t work with CDMA networks like Verizon and Sprint — but otherwise, this is a great alternative.

Huawei P20 Pro review

Looking to work away from home? The Note 9 comes with Samsung’s DeX desktop system, so your phone can plug into a monitor and function as an impromptu desktop computer. Pair it with a Bluetooth keyboard and mouse and you’ve got an instant hotel workstation that you can cart around in a small bag. The Note 9’s DeX functionality has been upgraded too, so you no longer need the DeX Station or DeX Pad accessories to get it to work — just plug in a cable and you’re off.

The Galaxy Note 9 isn’t equipped with Android 9.0 Pie yet, but it’s likely on the horizon, and you can bet that it will be among the first of Samsung’s phones to get the update when it arrives. The Note 9 is also equipped with a massive 4,000mAh battery that should see you through most days with power to spare at the end. It’s equipped with some good charging abilities too, with wireless charging and QuickCharge 2.0 that should mean it’ll juice back up quickly.

It’s not perfect. Bixby is still of questionable value, and the phone is expensive at $1,000 — but if the price is no barrier and you want one of the best flagship smartphones around that also comes with great business features, look no further than the Galaxy Note 9.

Galaxy Note 9 Review

iPhone XS Max

Julian Chokkattu/Digital Trends

The best business iPhone

Why you should buy this: It’s an incredibly slick, big-screen phone.

Who it’s for: Someone who works with other Apple products and needs their work easily available on their phone.

How much it will cost: $1,100

Why we picked the iPhone XS Max:

If you’re looking for a phone to complement your other Apple work products, or you’re simply a fan of Apple’s phones, the iPhone XS Max stands at the pinnacle. The XS Max’s massive 6.5-inch screen offers a huge amount of space to read documents, check pictures, or catch up on some work (with a Bluetooth keyboard, potentially) — but Apple’s newest large iPhone isn’t just a huge screen. It’s powerful too.

The iPhone XS Max’s A12 Bionic processor is without a doubt the most powerful processor the mobile world has seen to date, showcasing benchmark results that leave the Snapdragon 845 in the dust. It’s powerful in real use too, giving super-smooth performance in daily tasks and handling high-end mobile games with equal ease. 4GB of RAM means there’s plenty of scope for multitasking, while the option of 512GB of storage gives most users more than enough room. While mobile gaming may be low on your list in a business phone, reliable power that won’t let you down will be important.

Don’t mind a smaller screen, but want the same features? The iPhone XS is for you

The XS Max isn’t the only option for an Apple-head. The iPhone XS comes with the same processor, the same great looks, and the same links to other Apple products, but comes with a much smaller and easier-to-handle 5.8-inch screen. The XS has a smaller battery, but it’ll still last the day, and provide much the same experience as its bigger brother — and it’s a bit cheaper too.

iPhone XS review

It’s an attractive phone, with a stainless steel and glass build that won’t look out of place anywhere, from executive meetings to portfolio discussions. The OLED screen itself is a beauty, with deep blacks and rich vibrant colors. However, be aware that it’s a huge phone, and most will struggle to use it with a single hand — and those with smaller hands will struggle significantly more.

The XS Max runs Apple’s latest iOS 12, and it’s a breeze to use, with smooth performance and some genuinely useful additional features like Siri Shortcuts. iOS’s new gesture navigation controls may throw some people off for a moment, but they’re fast once you get used to them.

One of the major advantages of the iPhone XS Max is the close relationship iOS has with other Apple products. You’ll be able to access documents from your iMac or MacBook from your iPhone, thanks to iCloud synchronization, pulling them up at a moment’s notice. While it might not be as big an issue if you’re constantly traveling with your MacBook, it does take the pressure off if you suddenly realize you’ve left your laptop behind. The iPhone XS Max also comes with dual-SIM capabilities.

The battery will last a day, and you can top it up through wireless charging, or with the included charger. If you want fast charging though, you’ll need to pick up a specialized charger for that — Apple doesn’t include a fast charger in the box. The biggest point against the iPhone XS Max is undoubtedly cost. Prices start at $1,099 for the 64GB model and rise to a staggering $1,449 for 512GB of storage — and there’s no MicroSD card slot, so that’s going to be all the storage you get outside of iCloud.

Still, if those downsides are no problem for you, the iPhone XS Max is an exceptional phone for business.

iPhone XS Max Review

Samsung Galaxy S9

Galaxy S9 Julian Chokkattu/Digital Trends

The best small flagship business phone

Why you should buy this: Because you want a manageable, affordable phone with great features.

Who it’s for: Someone who wants a smaller, full-featured Android flagship.

How much it will cost: $720

Why we picked the Galaxy S9:

It’s not all about the big screens — even smaller screens can be plenty big nowadays, and the Galaxy S9’s 5.8-inch screen is likely to be big enough for most. Like the Note 9, the Galaxy S9 is a beautiful phone with a style that’s not out of place anywhere, with softly curving glass and a truly stunning AMOLED display. It’s not all beauty and no brains either — the S9 is equipped with the same powerful Snapdragon 845 as the Note 9, LG G7 ThinQ, and other powerful flagship phones, and 4GB of RAM makes sure that performance stays smooth.

The Galaxy S9 has no S Pen, so it’s lacking the features the Note 9 excels in. However, there’s still access to Samsung’s DeX mode — though you’ll need the DeX Station or a DeX Pad to get it to work. Still, DeX will allow you to quickly and easily set up a hotel TV as a monitor, without having to lug a laptop around. The S9 is also equipped with an excellent camera for quick pictures of business cards — and Bixby Vision can pull the information off them into a contact card, just like on the Note 9.

Unfortunately, the battery isn’t as large, and if you’re a heavy user, the Galaxy S9 may struggle to last the day without a top-up. However, a fast charger is included so you can top up quickly, and wireless charging is also supported. Samsung remains a heavyweight in personal security though, with Samsung’s secure Knox security preloaded.

While the Galaxy S9 has a few issues that make it slightly weaker than the Note 9, this is still a fantastic choice as a working phone.

Galaxy S9 Review

OnePlus 6

Andy Boxall/Digital Trends

The best midrange business phone

Why you should buy this: It matches the performance and functionality of the top flagships.

Who it’s for: Someone with a limited budget, but still in need of plenty of power.

How much it will it cost: $530

Why we picked the OnePlus 6:

Line the OnePlus 6 up next to a bunch of this year’s flagships and you’d be hard-pressed to tell the OnePlus 6 costs around half the price of many of them. Despite being firmly in the midrange bracket with a $530 price tag, the OnePlus 6 is one of the most gorgeous phones of the year. You’ll find the usual flagship specifications here, including a glass and metal body, a notched display, and an exceptional dual-lens camera.

Peer inside and there’s some power too. It’s powered by the same Snapdragon 845 you’ll find in the Note 9, Galaxy S9, and other high-end flagships — and it’s not just there for show either, since it provides incredible and smooth performance. You get the choice between 6GB of RAM and 64GB of storage or 8GB of RAM and 128GB of storage — but either option will provide excellent performance, so pick according to your storage needs. There’s no MicroSD card slot though, so outside of cloud storage, your initial storage is all you’ll get.

One of OnePlus’ major holdouts has been the mute switch, which gives you a hardware option to mute your phone. It’s super easy to reach into a pocket and flick a switch to mute your phone, so you don’t have to take your phone out during a meeting when you suddenly realize it’s not muted. Since it’s an Android phone, you also have access to the Google Assistant, which can remind you of your day, and Google Lens, which can be used to pull information from business cards, and place it into a contact.

The 3,300mAh should make it through a day pretty easily, and the OnePlus 6 comes equipped with the Dash Charge method of fast charging, which is among the fastest methods available. There’s no wireless charging available, unfortunately.

The OnePlus 6 might not have some of the useful features you’ll find in a more expensive phone, but if your work requires the power of a flagship phone for less, then the OnePlus 6 is for you.

OnePlus 6 Review

BlackBerry Key2

Julian Chokkattu/Digital Trends

The best business phone with a keyboard

Why you should buy this: Nothing replaces a physical keyboard for productivity, and BlackBerry has a security focus.

Who it’s for: Someone who loves a physical keyboard, wants great security, and doesn’t mind a few compromises

How much it will cost: $450

Why we picked the BlackBerry Key2:

What sort of business phone round-up would this be without a Blackberry phone? The Key2 is Blackberry’s latest phone, and it’s only the second in recent years to come with a physical keyboard. It’s certainly different looking to every other phone on this list, with a shorter display to accommodate the keyboard underneath — but don’t take that to mean that it’s lacking in style. The Key2 looks great, with an elegant, minimalist style, and it will fit any executive surroundings.

It’s a bit underpowered compared to the phones above, with a Snapdragon 660 and 6GB of RAM. It’ll handle most tasks fairly well, but we did notice some performance hits when juggling several tasks at once — but that was fairly rare. You’ll have the choice between 64GB and 128GB, but there’s the option for MicroSD storage expansion, so there’s no need to worry about storage.

Where the Blackberry Key2 really shines is — surprise surprise — in its productivity tools. You can bind a key to open a particular app — like tapping M to open Google Maps, and holding M to launch a messaging app — and you can use the new Speed Key to quickly jump to one app while in another with this functionality. It seems overwhelming, but it’s something we got used to quickly — and it really sped up our usage.

Blackberry’s even added to the OS to make your life easier. The BlackBerry Productivity Tab gives even more ways to quickly access apps, while you can store certain apps or files in the secure Locker, which requires a passcode or fingerprint to open. The Privacy Shade keeps your screen hidden from prying eyes, and the DTEK app will let you know if an app starts accessing information — and lets you shut it down. The battery life is also incredible, with the phone managing to reach the end of the day and then some.

There are some compromises — the camera is solid, but nothing special, and the display’s weird shape won’t be the best for watching movies or looking at pictures — but if you want a security-focused productivity machine, then you need look no further.

BlackBerry Key2 Review

Nokia 6.1

Julian Chokkattu/Digital Trends

The best budget business phone

Why you should buy this: You need a solid phone that won’t break the bank.

Who it’s for: Someone who doesn’t need all the toys — they just need a great phone for a great price.

How much it will cost: $250

Why we picked the Nokia 6.1:

Sometimes you just need a phone that works, doesn’t cost too much money, and you don’t need all the fancy stuff. Enter the Nokia 6.1. HMD Global’s phone is an absolute bargain, with great performance, excellent build quality, and prompt updates — for under $300.

Of course, you’re not going to get such a price point without a compromise or two, and the design is one of those. It’s attractive enough, with copper accents and a metal body, but it’s not up to 2018’s standards, and the 16:9 aspect ratio on the 5.5-inch display is evidence of that. But fire it up and you won’t care. It’s smooth enough, and while it’s going to be as quick as flagship phones, it outpaced its competitors in the same price bracket. 3GB of RAM keeps it ticking, and while 32GB of storage is a little low, there’s the option for MicroSD expansion here too.

Part of the secret to the Nokia 6.1’s performance is Android One. It’s a pure version of Android with no bloatware and no skin laid over the top, and it gets updates directly from Google. This phone is guaranteed to get two years of software updates, and three years of security updates. That means it’ll definitely get Android 9.0 Pie and Android Q when that releases.

The camera is good enough for the price, and the battery is capable of handling more than a day with ease. You won’t find much in the way of special features outside of Google Assistant, Google Lens, and other Google services, but the Nokia 6.1 does come with Bluetooth 5, and NFC support for easy mobile payments. It might not have all the bells and whistles, but this is an extremely solid phone that will perform well as your business phone.

Nokia 6.1 Review

Moto E5 Plus

Julian Chokkattu/Digital Trends

The best budget business phone with long battery life

Why you should you buy this: You need a budget phone that can last days between charges.

Who it’s for: Anyone who can’t guarantee they’ll be able to charge their phone often.

How much it will cost: $225

Why we picked the Moto E5 Plus:

Most modern smartphones struggle to go past a single workday on one charge, and it can be frustrating to see your phone’s battery dwindle when you need it most. The Moto E5 Plus is a good budget phone with a modern design, large 6-inch display, and great performance — but the headline feature is the astonishing multi-day battery life.

During normal usage, we saw the Moto E5 Plus’s battery drop by just 35 percent in the course of a 12 hour day — which means that Motorola’s claim of 36 hours of battery life probably isn’t far off the money. The secret of this amazing battery life is the enormous 5,000mAh battery sealed into the E5 Plus, and if you’re not using the phone much, expect to see it last for a few days on a single charge. It’s not the fastest charger around, but Motorola’s TurboPower charger is faster than most other Micro USB chargers.

It’s not just long-lived — the E5 Plus’s Snapdragon 435 provides great performance for this price range, and 3GB of RAM helps that. There’s 32GB of storage, but you can expand that by up to 128GB with a MicroSD card. It’s not perfect by any means. It comes with close to stock Android, but you might find lots of carrier bloatware, depending on where you buy it. The camera is decent, but it really struggles in low light — but that’s a common gripe with lower cost phones, and it’s easily overlooked if camera performance isn’t a draw for you.

It might be on the expensive side for $225, but if you can pick it up for a price below $200 then this phone is an absolute steal if you’re looking for a phone with great battery life. As a lower-powered, budget phone it doesn’t come with many business-centric special features, but it will keep you connected on long trips.

Moto E5 Plus Review

Editors’ Recommendations

• Apple iPhone XS vs. Samsung Galaxy S9: 2018’s biggest flagships clash
• Samsung Galaxy Note 9 vs. BlackBerry Key2: Productivity powerhouse punch-out
• Save up to $1,000 with the best smartphone deals for October 2018
• Samsung Galaxy Note 9 vs. OnePlus 6: Does more expensive mean better?
• The best cheap phones of 2018

The best wireless charging pads for the Galaxy S8

If you’re using a Samsung Galaxy S8 and haven’t taken advantage of its wireless charging capabilities, what have you been waiting for? Wireless charging allows you to forgo dealing with cables and elegantly have your phone charging on your desk at work or nightstand at home and simply grab it when it’s time to get up and go. There’s a good variety of styles compatible with the Galaxy S8, from the latest stylish design from Samsung to quality third-party products such as the iOttie iON Wireless Mini. Here are your best available options for the Samsung Galaxy S8.

Best overall

Samsung Fast Charge Convertible Wireless Charging Pad

Made by Samsung, this convertible charging pad/stand hides all the charging tech in a stylishly designed casing that has a leather-like look and feel. The charger also comes with its own Samsung Fast Charge wall charger and let’s be honest, you can never have too many Samsung wall chargers.

$45 at Amazon

Budget Samsung accessory

Samsung Fast Charge Wireless Charger pad

Samsung’s original wireless charging pad design is timeless and reliable. For the same fast charging speeds in a less-expensive (and smaller) package, look for Samsung’s last-generation flat wireless charging pad.

$25 at Amazon

Most Stylish

TYLT Qi Wireless Charging Stand

TYLT has been in the wireless charging game for years, proving itself to be one on of the most trusted third-party manufacturers. This angled wireless charging stand comes in vibrant colors lets you keep your phone accessible while it charges at your desk.

$28 at Amazon

Most Refined

iOttie iON Wireless Mini Fast Charger Qi Charging Pad

This is a wireless charging pad that doesn’t look like a cheap disc of plastic, so you’ll be happy to have this prominently placed in your office or living room. The kit comes with a wall charger brick and charging cable that you’ll want to use with it for best results. Available in four stylish colors.

$29 at Amazon

Budget Pick

Anker 10W Wireless Charger

Anker is a trusted brand for charging accessories, and it’s charging pad is slim, fast, and priced to move. With cool LED indicators around the edge and safeguards to protect your phone from overheating, this is your best budget pick.

$22 at Amazon

Charging Stand

Spigen Wireless Charger Fast Qi Certified Charging pad

Spigen’s charging stand is compatible with most phone cases and claims to be able to charge a phone from 0% to 100% in just over three hours. You’ll need to buy a 10W wall adapter to get the most out of this wireless charging stand, as one is not included here.

$32 at Amazon

As you can see you’ve got some solid options no matter your budget. If the price is no object for you, the Samsung Fast Charge Convertible Wireless Charging Pad is the best option made by Samsung itself. For a sleek and cheap option, check out the Anker 10W Wireless Charger for just $22.

Learn the fundamentals of drawing for just $39!

Did you use to draw and doodle for fun back in your school days? Have you been told you’re very artistic but never had the time or funds to fully pursue art school? Maybe drawing is a skill you’ve always admired but never thought it was something you could too, or maybe you know someone who has the natural talent that just needs some extra guidance to take their art to the next level. Stop second guessing and doubting yourself and just put pencil to paper!

Need some inspiration? Android Central Digital Offers has a great deal on The Fundamentals of Drawing Bundle, a seven-course bundle that includes 214 lessons that you can go back to over and over again to practice your drawing skills. There are over 40 hours of content here for you to dive into and it’s all yours to access for life for just one payment of $39.

Drawing is a great creative pastime that requires you to slow down and focus on the little details. Even if you’re only comfortable drawing stick figures right now, if you take your time working through these courses you will definitely see yourself improve as these courses are curated and taught by professional artists and teachers who have years of experience in the field.

The bundle includes courses that cover the following topics:

• How to Draw Dynamic Comic Book Superheroes Start to Finish
• How to Improve Your Figure Drawing Step by Step
• How to Draw Heads Step-by-Step From Any Angle
• The Art And Science of Drawing And Shading: Beyond the Basics
• The Art And Science of Drawing: Basic Skills
• Drawing Animals Using Pastel Pencils
• Portrait Drawing Fundamentals Made Simple

Typically, to seek out these courses individually would cost you well over $600, but for a limited time only you can snag all seven coursed for just $39! That’s a savings of 94% off the regular price, so what are you waiting for? Pick up your pencil and start drawing!

See at Android Central Digital Offers

Samsung gets simple mesh networking right with the SmartThings Wifi Hub

A good mesh network shouldn’t be hard to set up. Samsung’s SmartThings Wifi meets that challenge, and then some.

A good Wifi network needs to do three things:

It needs to work well. It needs to carry all my bits and bytes to all my devices as quickly as it can, over as large an area as I need it to.

And it needs to be easy to set up, and easy to maintain. Website-based setup screens should be on the way out, replaced by easy-to-use phone apps. And if the router doesn’t update itself automatically, in the background, I’ll probably think twice.

And it needs to mostly be invisible. It’s 2018 — the router shouldn’t be the focal point of a living room.

And the updated Samsung SmartThings Wifi mesh system — which the company sent me to check out — ticks all three of those boxes for me. And it throws in a smart home hub for good measure.

Smart home and smart Wifi

Samsung SmartThings Wifi Mesh Router

Samsung combines a mesh wireless system with a ZigBee and Z-Wave-capable smart home hub — with very good results.

You need Wi-Fi for most smart home devices to work, but you also need a smart hub to organize and control them, too. Samsung kills two birds with one stone with the Samsung SmartThings Wifi Mesh Router, which gives you an easy-to-install, easy-to-manage mesh network and SmartThings Hub in one discreet, white package.

$280 at Amazon

The Good

• Small, inconspicuous footprint
• Easy setup, upgrading via Android or iOS
• Combines a router and smart hub in one
• Includes Plume intelligence

The Bad

• Advanced Plume features requires a separate app
• If you need Ethernet ports, you’ll need a separate switch

The Samsung SmartThings Wifi and Plume apps on Android.

It’s mostly easy

SmartThings Wifi What I Like

Here’s the thing about most of the off-the-shelf mesh Wifi systems I’ve used — they’re designed for folks who mostly just need great Wifi and don’t want to really have anything to do with their home router. That’s not a knock. That’s a feature. While there are countless TV shows about being a better homeowner, you won’t find any that really get into how to run your home network. (For that, there’s YouTube, I guess.) Network nerds love networks. Nobody else does. Or should, probably.

Open up the Samsung SmartThings Wifi box and you’ll find three (or one, if you bought a single) small boxes, roughly the size of a couple decks of cards. These aren’t routers that look like they were designed by H.R. Geiger. These are decidedly Samsung products. Smooth, matte, small. The sort of thing you could leave on a bookshelf in a living room and not attract attention.

The Samsung SmartThings Wifi Hub.

So that’s the first hurdle covered. They don’t stand out. They don’t have garish antennas. Just a box, a plug, and a cable for running from your modem, and maybe run for running out into a switch, if you know what you’re doing and need more hardwired options.

Setup also was pretty good. You sign in with your Samsung log-in — which isn’t bad unto itself as it’s a perfectly normal internet login, but it still just isn’t as integrated on Android as a native Google login. Of course, not everybody uses Google for everything.

You’ll use an Android or iOS device to set things up. It worked the first time for me, which isn’t always the case when it comes to using a mobile device to set up a smart home device. So kudos to Samsung there.

The Samsung SmartThings Wifi Hub isn’t really made for someone who wants a lot of built-in ports.

The apps do a good job walking you through available features, and they’ll point you toward the advanced options, which are now powered by Plume. You can go as far into the rabbit hole as you’d like, but most folks will probably stop at “Does my internet work? Cool.” You can control which devices get priority, if you’re into that.

Most important? Automatic firmware updates. That’s a big deal for security purposes, and it’s something that any router you buy should have.

I somewhat question the decision to combine a smart home hub into a mesh system like this, but only because I presume that most folks who even know what ZigBee and Z-Wave are won’t mind a router with more discrete controls — to say nothing of additional Ethernet ports. On the other hand, Samsung already had a SmartThings hub, and it makes complete sense to combine things here.

If you’re a ZigBee or Z-Wave user, great. You’ve got support here. If you’re not (and I’m not), it also doesn’t get in the way.

The mesh components are going to very a good bit depending on your home setup. I’ve got a million devices in my house, but my home’s floor plan isn’t all that large, or that complicated. I don’t actually make great use of a mesh network. If you’re in the same situation, I’d recommend just starting with a single puck and see if it’s got enough signal for your home.

And in that respect, Samsung’s offering performed admirably. My Wifi speeds were as fast as with my Netgear Nighthawk R8000. Signal strength wasn’t quite as strong at the edges, but that’s not surprising given that they’re two very different devices for different reasons. Mesh routers overlap the signal and create one network.

The Samsung SmartThings Wifi and Plume apps on iOS.

Not for hard-cord nerds

SmartThings Wifi What I Don’t Like

There’s really not much here to not like. That’s a good thing. I could bemoan the lack of Ethernet ports, but that’s like saying I’m disappointed the car I just bought isn’t a truck. Again, this is really meant for someone who just wants good wireless capability.

The one true annoyance here comes when you dive deeper into the settings. Plume has been fully integrated into the Hub itself, but a lot of the advanced features still require you to use a separate Plume app if you want to do anything with them.

That’s hardly the end of the world — it just seems like a silly annoyance.

Otherwise, there’s not a whole lot else that stands out in a bad way.

One of these routers probably will look better in your living room.

A good buy for simple use

SmartThings Wifi The Bottom Line

Samsung has a fine mesh system on its hands here. Whether you need one SmartThings Wifi hub, or three (or more!) depends on the size and layout of your home. Maybe you only need two. Maybe you need three or more.

4.5
out of 5

And it’s a reasonable system for a reasonable person. That is, someone who doesn’t care what DNS is or worry about port forwarding and just wants a good system that works well and is easy to manage. Samsung’s got that in its SmartThings app, for sure.

Me? I need a little more out of a router, and I don’t mind a little extra manual management.

$280 at Amazon