Apple’s Shortcuts Beta App Gains iCloud Syncing, Other New Features

Apple’s Shortcuts app has been in beta testing and available to developers since July, and over the course of the beta testing period, Apple has been slowly adding new features through Shortcuts beta updates.

The latest beta, number four, is a significant update that introduces iCloud syncing for Shortcuts for the first time. Prior to today’s beta, Shortcuts created on one device wouldn’t sync to another, an issue that’s now been solved.

According to the update’s release notes, Apple has also fixed issues that prevented Shortcuts that change system settings, access the clipboard, or use current location from working. Shortcuts that include Health actions are also now able to open the Shortcuts app when run from Siri, something that wasn’t available before.

MacStories has dug into the new beta and says that in addition to these changes, there have been major improvements to dictating text.

Big improvements to the Dictate Text action in Shortcuts beta 4 – dictation can now stop automatically after a pause AND you can dictate from the widget (!!). This is very very good. pic.twitter.com/fFEI6kLW2y

— Federico Viticci (@viticci) August 30, 2018

For those unfamiliar with Shortcuts, it’s a new Siri feature that lets you create multi-step shortcuts using first and third-party apps that can be activated by Siri voice command. So, for example, you can create a shortcut to do something like turn on the thermostat at home using the Nest app, text your roommate that you’re on the way with Messages, and open up the Maps app with directions home all with a single “I’m going home” Siri command.

Shortcuts are deeply customizable, with third-party apps able to expose a series of quick actions to Siri that can be incorporated into your Shortcuts recipes.

Subscribe to the MacRumors YouTube channel for more videos.
Prior to releasing the Shortcuts app to the public, Apple plans to add other features, such as the ability to share shortcut links and a more expansive list of actions.

Shortcuts will be released when iOS 12 sees its official launch. Until then, the Shortcuts app is limited to developers.

Related Roundup: iOS 12
Discuss this article in our forums

BlackBerry Key2 LE hands-on review

Research Center:

BlackBerry Key2 LE

The BlackBerry Key2 shows how the world is coming around to accepting a phone with a physical keyboard again. It has taken just three months for TCL Communications — the company that licences the BlackBerry name for hardware — to release the Key2 worldwide, compared to the nine months it took the KeyOne to launch across the same regions. This shows the level of interest out there, and how keen BlackBerry is to exploit it.

But as much as we really like the Key2, it’s not cheap. BlackBerry now has the answer with the Key2 LE, a budget conscious Key2 that’s billed as a more accessible entry point into the Key2 range.

It’s a modern BlackBerry that harks back to BlackBerry’s of old, but not always in a good way. The Key2 is everything a new smartphone should be — visually enticing, technologically innovative, and engrossing to use with a wide variety of features. It looks, feels, and operates like a premium smartphone worthy of its price. The Key2 LE is cheaper, 350 British pounds or in the U.S. about $200 to $250 less than the $650 Key2. But you’re making some sacrifices.

Design

Let’s talk about the design first. There are three colors, and it’s the red — which BlackBerry calls atomic red — you’ll want to pay attention to. Mostly because you won’t get a choice, as it’s the model BlackBerry will use to push the Key2 LE. Atomic is an appropriate moniker. It pops harder than Pennywise the clown’s red balloon, and we love how it extends to the frets between the keys. The soft-touch rear panel is a muted blue, and really complements the brightness of the polycarbonate body.

That’s right, polycarbonate. This is the first cost saving measure, and although it sounds serious, the body doesn’t feel plasticky. It’s actually a cool, pleasing texture. On the champagne/blue Key2 LE, the sides have a subtle brushed effect to fool onlookers into thinking it’s metal. It also makes the Key2 LE a little lighter than the Key2, which was in turn a lot lighter than the KeyOne. The Key2 LE’s screen and resolution is 4.5-inches and 1,630 x 1,080 pixels, and is the same as the Key2.

Under the screen is the reason why you would buy a BlackBerry phone: A physical keyboard. Well, it’s the reason you should buy a BlackBerry Key2, but we’re not sure if it’s the reason to buy the Key2 LE. BlackBerry has removed the capacitive feature, so there’s no swiping to speed up the typing experience, or to move the cursor around the screen. Is it a big deal? We think so, as it made the Key2’s keyboard more useful. The keyboard has also been reduced in size by 10 percent over the Key2, but the matte finish remains, as does the Speed Key shortcut system.

The Convenience Key comes configured to Google Assistant.

On the right-hand side of the phone is the Convenience Key, which is now, well, more convenient. BlackBerry allows it to be customized, so profiles can be added or removed depending on your use. Out of the box, the Convenience Key comes configured to Google Assistant. A single press opens Assistant, a long press activates a “walkie talkie” mode where you don’t need to use the OK Google wake-word, and a double press activates Google Lens. Other new software features include a way to clone apps like WhatsApp and include them in the BlackBerry Locker for additional privacy.

We like the design, as it closely resembles the Key2, and we love the new colors. It’s comfortable in the hand, and feels solidly made. The textured rear panel isn’t quite so pleasing as the Key2’s visually, but it provides plenty of grip. Typing on the Key2 LE felt similar to the Key2, and not more cramped despite the slight size reduction. The matte finish is still a winning decision, as your fingers glide nicely across the keys, but at least once I wanted to swipe up on the keyboard to “flick” an auto-suggested word on to the screen.

This, and all the other capacitive features the Key2 LE lacks, has the knock-on effect of slowing things down. Moving a finger from the keyboard to the screen doesn’t sound time-consuming, but it can be. Not introducing potentially frustrating elements to a likely new typing experience is very important, and the capacitive system on the Key2 helped avoid many of them. While newcomers to BlackBerry phones won’t notice, we’re here to tell you the capacitive keyboard is a feature you will want, and should pay out a little more for the Key2 to get it.

Specs and camera

Inside the Key2 LE is a Qualcomm Snapdragon 636 processor and 4GB of RAM, with 32GB of internal storage plus a MicroSD card if you want more space. A 64GB model will be sold in some regions, along with a dual-SIM version too.

Expect slightly lesser performance than the Key2, which is powered by the Snapdragon 660.

Battery life has also been cut a little, as the Key2 LE has a 3,000mAh capacity as opposed to the Key2’s 3,500mAh capacity. BlackBerry quotes 22 hours of moderate use.

We didn’t get much of a chance to try the camera out yet, but it’s a dual-camera setup on the rear with a 13-megapixel paired with a 5-megapixel lens. The front has the same selfie camera as the Key2 — an 8-megapixel shooter. You will undoubtedly get better photos from the more expensive Key2, though we’ll have to do some testing to see the difference.

Software-wise, although Android 8 Oreo is installed at the moment, an update to Android 9 Pie will come in the future.

Where does the Key2 LE stand?

It’s all a little confusing. The Key2 LE isn’t for someone who is also looking at an Honor Play, considering a OnePlus 6, or any other reasonably-priced Android phone. The atomic red version may look like it’s built for fun, but really, this is the equivalent of an accountant putting on a pair of Nike Air Max to walk to the train station after a long day crunching numbers. The slate-colored model is better representative of the Key2 LE’s intentions.

BlackBerry Key2 LE Compared To

Blackberry KeyOne

BlackBerry Priv

Motorola Photon Q 4G LTE

HTC Rezound

HTC Amaze 4G

T-Mobile Sidekick 4G

T-Mobile MyTouch 4G Slide

Samsung Infuse 4G

HTC Inspire 4G

Motorola Atrix 4G

Samsung Epic 4G

Motorola Devour

Samsung Moment

Motorola Cliq

T-Mobile G1

BlackBerry made no secret about how it expects the Key2 LE to appeal to businesses, and we can see how its low price and superb security features will be very attractive to firms wanting a job-lot of decent phones. After all, what says ‘successful business’ like a BlackBerry-wielding executive?

Well, that’s what it once said. The BlackBerry Key2 really did a good job of exorcising those demons, and is a phone we think many people will really like, especially in these always-connected, message-heavy times. It didn’t skimp on tech, and the capacitive keyboard made it cool. The Key2 LE, even with its atomic appeal, doesn’t have that. It’s a BlackBerry Curve, reimagined, which is a bit … boring. To sum up, the lower-spec, cheaper BlackBerry Key2 LE is a very good advertisement for the better, more technically-adept BlackBerry Key2. Even after only a short time with the phone, we’d suggest looking at it instead.

Pricing and availability

The BlackBerry Key2 LE will launch in September with final prices and regions to be announced soon. It’s 350 British Pounds in the U.K. and 400 euros in Europe. The champagne and ‘business-attire slate’ model will be released first, with the atomic red Key2 LE coming later.

The Honor Magic 2 is so tantalizing, it will have you spellbound

Honor’s presentation at IFA 2018 was primarily based around the high-powered gaming phone, the Honor Play. But right at the end of the event, Honor gave us a tantalizing glimpse at the sequel to the Honor Magic: The Honor Magic 2. We weren’t allowed to see much of the futuristic phone, which is in the late stages of development; but it still has us extremely excited.

Release

We’ll start with the bad news. The Honor Magic 2 will only be released in China, just like the original Honor Magic. The reason is likely the same as the first phone, that it’s costly and time consuming to further localize the Magic’s in-depth artificial intelligence features, and forge new partnerships with apps and services outside China.

The release date is unknown, but the original Magic was announced on December 16, 2016, which may give us a hint of when the sequel will arrive.

Design and display

The original Honor Magic was a design triumph at the time, and the Honor Magic 2 also promises to look spectacular. However, the space-age all-screen design with a pop-up camera means it closely resembles the Oppo Find X. It’s not clear which company got to this design first, although Oppo is seemingly first to get its version on sale.

Like the Find X, the Honor Magic 2 will also have at least a front-facing camera that pops up from the frame when required. In a brief onstage demonstration, the camera module appeared to be motorized. Despite seeing the phone in the hand of George Zhao, president of Honor, at IFA 2018, there’s still a lot we don’t know about the Honor Magic 2’s design. We don’t know how large the display is — though it was clearly a large phone — and we don’t know what sort of material the phone is made from. We don’t even know how many lenses the phone has on the back, or whether those lenses are built into the pop-up section that houses the front-facing camera. It seems likely that they will be, but at this point nothing has been confirmed.

Specs

We don’t know much about the Honor Magic 2’s specs, but the fanfare suggests it’ll be a powerful flagship phone. The one thing that we do know is that the Honor Magic 2 will come with Huawei’s new Kirin 980 chip. It has not been officially announced by Huawei at the time of writing, but is likely to be the successor to the exceptionally powerful A.I.-driven Kirin 970 that powers phones like the Honor Play, the Huawei P20 Pro, and the Honor View 10.

Battery

The Honor Magic 2 will come with a new 40W Magic Charge power system. The original Honor Magic came with Magic Power — a charging system that used new materials to charge a battery incredibly fast. Honor claimed the Honor Magic could charge up to 70 percent of its battery in 20 minutes. If Honor has found a way to speed that up, then the Honor Magic 2 could be a very special beast indeed.

Software

While Android is a safe bet, the rest of the Honor Magic 2’s software is less clear cut. Artificial intelligence will be a large feature, just like the first Magic phone. It wowed us at CES 2017 with its amazing range of A.I. powered skills, including smart facial recognition and recommendations based on your usage. Honor usually uses Huawei’s EMUI user interface on its phones, but because the Magic 2 is destined only for China, and is likely going to have a lot of AI features baked in, it may run a unique version made especially for the phone.

But it seems that there may be more to the Magic 2’s A.I. than we’ve seen so far. At the end of the Magic 2’s video presentation, a voice was heard saying “hello Yoyo”. The Magic 2 seemingly replied “I’m here, what’s up?” in a conversational and startlingly lifelike voice. While it’s likely the interaction wasn’t entirely truthful to the phone’s capabilities, it does imply that Honor is seeking to push the boundaries of A.I., and introduce a more conversational A.I. of its own.

We’ll keep you updated on the Honor Magic 2.

Editors’ Recommendations

• Honor Note 10: Everything you need to know
• Huawei Mate 20 and Mate 20 Pro: News, rumors, specs, and more
• Huawei might be making a powerful phone for mobile gamers
• Here’s what we know about the Honor 8X, including its rumored 7.12-inch screen
• Google Pixel 3 and Pixel 3 XL: Everything we know

With an updated clip design, Olloclip X lenses will work on (almost) any phone

Previous

Next

1 of 4

Olloclip

Olloclip

Olloclip

Olloclip

Few smartphone lenses cross boundaries between devices and operating systems without upgrading the case or mount — but Olloclip’s latest accessories are designed to adapt the mobile lenses to nearly any device. On Thursday, August 30, Olloclip announced the Multi-Device Clip, an accessory that allows the company’s new Connect X lenses to work with most smartphones. The company also says the new clip works with “many other devices” — which could mean compatibility with some tablets.

The Multi-Device Clip uses a clip design (after all, it is in the Olloclip name) but adapts the design with an expanding clip. The company says the clip adapts for a proper alignment between the lens and the device’s built-in camera, keeping the lens flush over the glass of the existing camera even with different sized smartphones. Along with working with most smartphones, Olloclip says the clip works with thin cases and screen protectors with a combined thickness of up to 12mm.

The new clip is compatible with all the Connect X lenses, Olloclips’ lenses that originally launched for the iPhone X. The lens family includes six options (some of them with multiple lenses in one) from super wide to a 21x macro lens.

“The Multi-Device Clip is unlike any product on the market,” Todd Williams, global sales director at Olloclip, said in a press release. “It remains our goal at Olloclip to continually enhance consumer’s mobile photography experience through the most compact, accurate, and easy-to-use products. We designed the Multi-Device Clip to serve the greatest range of smartphones, including those with a screen protector or thin case, for ultimate versatility.”

The compatible Connect X lenses include a Super-Wide 120-degree lens and an Ultra-Wide 155-degree lens with an action-camera-like view. A 2x telephoto lens is also part of the lens series, along with a fisheye-macro combo lens. Additional macro lenses in the series are available as a 7x and 14x combo lens and a microscopic 21x lens.

Because the clip isn’t designed for a specific device, users have to switch the orientation to move from the back to the front camera, unlike Olloclip’s existing clips that allow for using two lenses at once on the selfie camera and rear-facing camera. The multiple-device compatibility could help make the lenses accessible to less popular smartphone models, as well as opening up the possibility of using the same accessory through multiple smartphone updates. 

Olloclip says the clip fits most smartphones, but doesn’t specify which models may not work with the new clip.

The new clip is slated for arrival in mid-September. The clip will sell with any Connect X lens for $60, with additional lenses available separately beginning at $45. Olloclip says it will also make the clip available without lenses for users that already own Connect X lenses.

Editors’ Recommendations

• Moment is the first to outfit the Galaxy Note 9 with photography lenses
• Here’s everything we know about the 2019 iPhone
• Moto Z3 Play: Everything you need to know about Motorola’s modular phone
• The best iPad cases and covers for 2018
• The best iPad Pro 9.7 cases and covers

Samsung looks to woo gamers with Thunderbolt 3-equipped curved QLED monitor

Samsung is bringing its quantum dot screen technology to gamers. At IFA 2018, the company unveiled the Samsung CJ79, a 34-inch curved monitor with a QLED panel, which should help it display more precise colors in a wider color space than traditional LED screens. Though Samsung is primarily marketing the high-end CJ79 at premium PC users — the company claims compatibility with both Macs and Windows devices — gamers who use AMD’s Radeon graphics card will also benefit from the CJ79’s adoption of FreeSync screen technology.

One of the hallmark features Samsung is trumpeting is that this display is the first to come with Thunderbolt 3 support. Although Thunderbolt 3 provides similar benefits to a standard USB-C connector — a single cable can be used to connect the monitor to a computer for power, data, and video — the Thunderbolt provides more power and faster data throughput than a standard USB-C connection. Older computers lacking a Thunderbolt 3 port can connect to the CJ79 through either HDMI or DisplayPort.

“The CJ79 is our latest endeavor in taking curved monitors to the next level that highlights our commitment to innovation,” said Seog-gi Kim, Samsung Electronics executive vice president of visual display, in a statement. “The addition of Thunderbolt 3 connectivity aligns to that vision and connects customers to infinite possibilities.”

The 34-inch VA (vertical alignment) panel supports an ultrawide QHD resolution of 3,440 x 1,440 pixels and comes with a 21:9 aspect ratio. The ultrawide aspect ratio allows you to multitask — or play immersive games — without having to connect two or more displays together for a multi-monitor setup. Multitaskers will also benefit from the picture-in-picture mode. And because the display is so wide, the 1,500R curvature helps to make sure you can see all your content. Samsung claims that the curvature follows the natural curve of the eyes for a comfortable experience.

The CJ79’s QLED panel supports 125 percent of the sRGB color spectrum and a 3000:1 contrast ratio, and Samsung claims that the screen produces deeper blacks and brighter whites. Gamers will benefit from reduction in screen tearing and stutter thanks to the FreeSync tech.

If the standard 34-inch panel is too small for you, Samsung has an even larger 43-inch super ultrawide curved panel called the CJ89. That one comes with a 3,840 x 1,200 resolution and 32:10 aspect ratio along with an integrated KVM switch to connect multiple computers to the same display. There’s also a built-in USB hub and stereo speakers on the larger CJ89.

Editors’ Recommendations

• Samsung CF791 ultrawide curved gaming monitor review
• The best monitors of IFA 2018
• Samsung’s speedier Chromebook Plus V2 now comes with a second camera
• Samsung Galaxy S10: Here’s everything we know
• Samsung’s external X5 SSD blazes like the stick-shaped drive in your desktop

BlackBerry KEY2 LE specs: Strategic corner cutting

Everything you get for $399.

The BlackBerry KEY2 LE brings a great hardware keyboard down to a more manageable price, shaving $250 off the cost of the regular KEY2. But the plastic body isn’t the only thing that was lost in order to hit the price — you’ll find shaved specs in various places to try and balance cost with capabilities. Here’s the full spec sheet for the KEY2 LE.

BlackBerry KEY2

• BlackBerry KEY2 review
• BlackBerry KEY2: Everything you need to know!
• BlackBerry KEY2 specs
• BlackBerry KEYone review: Coming home
• Join our BlackBerry KEY2 forums!

Buy the BlackBerry KEY2

The best cases for the Moto G6

Protect that shiny new investment!

Motorola’s budget beauty, the Moto G6, is covered with glass front and back, so it definitely needs a case. I love the Spigen Rugged Armor because it’s incredibly durable and lets the phone take a bit of abuse, but if you’re looking for something less in-your-face, Anccer’s ultra-thin case is pretty great.

Now that the phone is widely available around the world, case makers have plenty of options for the tall-and-narrow phone. Here are your best bets.

• MoKo Slim Fit Case
• MAIKEZI Slim Folio Wallet Case
• Cimo Slim Grip Clear Case
• Cimo Armor Case
• Spigen Rugged Armor Case
• Poetic Karbon Shield Case
• Anccer Ultra-Thin Case
• Cimo Slim Case

Moko Slim Fit Case

This one-piece case from Moko is sleek and affordable, made from flexible TPU that features a simple design that protects the Moto G6 and offers a nice soft touch finish without adding unnecessary bulk. This case also features a web-like structure on the interior of the case that’s designed to help dissipate heat as you use your phone.

$6 at Amazon

It is available in both black and indigo starting at just $6, so this is a good option if you’re a thrifty accessory shopper.

MAIKEZI Slim Folio Wallet Case

The MAIKEZI Slim is a classic folio design that features a single card slot on the inside along with a pocket for storing cash and receipts. The front flap is made of a leather exterior, a thin plate of steel for extreme protection, and a microfiber finish on the interior to protect the display. And, of course, you can fold the case over to create a kickstand for hands-free media viewing.

$8 at Amazon

It’s available in both black and brown leather finishes, you can get this case for about $8.

Cimo Slim Grip Clear Case

For those who prefer a case that still lets you show off the design of your brand new phone, consider this clear case from Cimo.

It’s a grippy case made of flexible TPU that’s designed to keep your phone protected with raised bezels around the screen and around the camera bump on the back.

$8 at Amazon

We’ve highlighted the clear case option here, but you can also get this case style in opaque black, or semi-transparent purple — your choice for just $8.

Cimo Armor Case

If you know you’re the type who needs a more rugged case, Cimo has you covered with this Armor case.

This dual-layer case features a silicone body and a polycarbonate bumper that offers heavy duty protection for the Moto G6. The backside also features a pattern of raised bumps to help with grip — because the best way to avoid drop damage is to avoid dropping your phone in the first place.

$8 at Amazon

You can get this awesome Cimo case for just $8 with three color styles available.

Spigen Rugged Armor Case

Spigen’s Rugged Armor case is my go-to case style for any new phone, so we’ll definitely recommend it here for the Moto G6.

It’s got that carbon fiber look at the top and bottom with a matte finish elsewhere, along with Spigen’s air cushion technology in the corners to help absorb impacts.

$11 at Amazon

You can check this one-piece case out for a low $11!

Poetic Karbon Shield Case

Another great rugged option for the Moto G6 comes from Poetic. The Karbon Shield case is lightweight and slim with a carbon fiber-style finish on the back that’s both stylish and functional.

$10 at Amazon

You can grab your Poetic Karbon for just $10 — definitely one of the best deals around.

Anccer Ultra-Thin Case

Anccer makes low-profile cases for many phones, including the G6. This particular model sits flush with the G6 and mainly protects the corners and back while leaving much of the button area, and bottom of the phone, clear. This is certainly not the case you want for heavy-duty activity, but it doesn’t add much bulk, and the grippy, textured back makes the G6 much easier to handle.

$12 at Amazon

This Anccer case comes in seven colors, and can be purchased for $12.

Cimo Slim Matte Moto G6 Case

$8 at Amazon

Cimo’s take on the slim, low-profile case doesn’t add much bulk to the Moto G6. It does add more protection, though, wrapping fully around the phone and encasing all of the buttons and ports. As with all Cimo cases, it’s extremely well made, especially for the $8 price, and there’s really nothing to dislike about it.

There’s a small lip around the screen to protect it from falls, and the camera bump is minimized thanks to a similar lip around back. This one can be had in three colors: black, purple, and silver, and each cost a low $8.

What’s your preferred case style?

Are you a clear case connoisseur or a fan of folio cases? Require rugged protection or something slim? Let us know in the comments!

Updated August 2018: This post was completely refreshed with new picks, including the Cimo Slim and Anccer Ultra-Thin, along with new prices. Enjoy your Moto G6!

BlackBerry KEY2 LE hands-on: A $399 ticket to the hardware keyboard party

Some strategic component cuts lower the entry point for getting a great hardware keyboard.

BlackBerry has made it clear that the KEY2 launch has been a success. Rolling out the phone globally over the course of just a couple months, sales have been strong and the reception is positive — but it was a common refrain that people weren’t always willing or able to spend $650 on the KEY2.

In an attempt to capture the section of the market that want a BlackBerry — and that hardware keyboard — but are unable to spend the near-flagship money on the KEY2, BlackBerry has a solution: the KEY2 LE.

This is a darn good plastic representation of the KEY2 — and a more attractive one in these flashy colors.

As the name would suggest, the KEY2 LE offers a familiar size, shape and design. But at $399 (€399 / £349 / $519 CAD) it’s a full $250 less than the KEY2, and hitting that price necessitated changes that are evident as soon as you pick it up. The entire body of the KEY2 LE is plastic, not metal, though it has a brushed finish that would convince you otherwise from a distance. It’s solid and comfortable regardless, with the soft dimpled back still in tow, but you can’t ignore the 12 gram weight difference — this just doesn’t feel like the substantial device the KEY2 is, though it helps with one-handed usability in the end.

BlackBerry is moving out of the stark and businesslike color schemes of the KEY2 as well, with three different two-tone looks: a “slate” color with hints of blue and green, a soft gold “champagne” with black accents, and the eye-popping “atomic” red with slate-colored accents. The colors appeal to a younger (and young at heart) audience, and all three are beautiful in their own way — though the atomic is particularly striking. And importantly, all three are launching at once when the phone goes on sale in late September.

The next point of cost trimming is in the keyboard — but don’t worry, right off the top I’ll tell you it’s still a great set of keys to type on if you’re into that sort of thing. This is the KEY2’s keyboard layout, including the Speed Key, and the same keycaps as well; but the keyboard footprint is smaller, just 10% larger than the KEYone. The keyboard is also just a keyboard — you don’t get the capacitive touch function that would enable scrolling, text correction and a whole host of other advanced features. All you get on the KEY2 LE is the spacebar-mounted fingerprint sensor.

BlackBerry KEY2 LE specs

BlackBerry made some strategic cuts to hit a palatable price point, and it mostly works out.

As you’d expect, the KEY2 LE also cuts back on the internal specs. There’s a Snapdragon 636 running the show, supported by 4GB of RAM and 32 or 64GB of storage. The battery has also dropped to 3000mAh (from 3500), though it still charges over USB-C with Quick Charge 3.0. BlackBerry is still talking a “full day no matter what” game on battery life, and I’m inclined to believe it given how good the KEY2 is. The rear camera changes to a 13MP main sensor with a 5MP sensor in support purely for portrait mode, which is a strategy we’ve seen on countless mid-range phones of the last year.

The rest of the phone is, well, a KEY2. The display is the same 4.5-inch 3:2 1080p panel. The software is identical between the two, including all of the advanced battery saving features, DTEK, BlackBerry Hub and all of its pre-installed apps. There’s also the Convenience Key, which can now be mapped to use Google Assistant — with a single press to launch, or a press-and-hold to speak to it in a “walkie talkie” sort of mode like the LG G7. That software will be coming to the KEY2 also, which just underscores how much these phones share — and it’s good to see these core experience features carry over to the KEY2 LE.

Keeping the KEY2 brand and creating a device with a similar design identity is a purposeful decision on BlackBerry’s part. You can expect to see the KEY2 LE in most of the same markets where the KEY2 is available, and many carriers and retailers will be carrying both phones. At $399 the KEY2 LE provides an interesting option for people who want something a little different in the mid-range segment, and also works as a good way to get people in the door to then up-sell them to the full KEY2 experience. BlackBerry knows the KEY2 LE will be an enticing option for companies that plan to deploy hundreds (or thousands) of phones and want to have a BlackBerry but can’t afford the KEY2 at that volume.

It’s the only phone at this price with a hardware keyboard, and BlackBerry feels it can charge extra for that.

With so many great phones available in the sub-$400 price range, though, the KEY2 LE is fighting a tough battle in the open market. Much like the regular KEY2, the LE feels a little overpriced for what it offers in specs and hardware — because, well, it’s the only phone at either price point with a hardware keyboard, and BlackBerry feels it can charge for that feature.

The KEY2 LE is going to be a good entry point into modern BlackBerrys, particularly for holdouts who have been using an old device and don’t have the cash to go all the way to the KEY2. At $399 (€399 / £349 / $519 CAD), or $449 in the U.S. with 64GB of storage, and perhaps with an enticing 24-month financing plan, we’ll see a good number of these sold — and BlackBerry is hoping it’ll hook them to the idea of a keyboard so their next phone will be a KEY3.

BlackBerry KEY2

• BlackBerry KEY2 review
• BlackBerry KEY2: Everything you need to know!
• BlackBerry KEY2 specs
• BlackBerry KEYone review: Coming home
• Join our BlackBerry KEY2 forums!

Buy the BlackBerry KEY2

Honor Magic 2 announced with a sliding design and virtually no bezels

There’s currently no word on pricing or availability.

During its press event at IFA, Honor unveiled its next flagship smartphone — the Honor Magic 2.

This “announcement” was really more of a tease than anything else, but even so, it would appear that Honor’s got something exciting up its sleeves.

Following up on the first Honor Magic that was released in 2016, the Magic 2 features a nearly bezel-less display with no notch in sight. Similar to the Oppo Find X from earlier this year, the Honor Magic 2 has a slide-up design that houses its cameras and allows for its “nearly 100% screen-to-body ratio.”

Honor’s calling this its “intelligent Magic Slide system”, and once it’s activated, you’ll have access to some sort of AI features — a big theme that was present with the first Magic.

It’s been confirmed that the Honor Magic 2 supports 40W charging and is the first Honor phone to be powered by the Kirin 980 processor, but aside from those two tidbits, everything else about the phone is still up in the air — including pricing and availability info.

The first Honor Magic was focused on the Chinese market and never came to the U.S., so don’t get your hopes up just yet about owning the phone yourself.

BlackBerry KEY2 LE hands-on: A $399 ticket to the hardware keyboard party

Marshall rolls out Kilburn II with Bluetooth 5.0, AptX and 360-degree sound

Marshall’s portable Bluetooth speaker gets a host of upgrades for 2018.

Marshall is introducing an updated variant of its portable Kilburn Bluetooth speaker with a new design and a host of hardware upgrades. The major change is the addition of a speaker at the back, facilitating multi-directional sound.

Another update for 2018 is water resistance with an IPX2 certification that lets the speaker withstand splashes of water. Then there’s Bluetooth 5.0 and AptX, with the speaker allowing two phones to connect to it simultaneously. AptX is a key addition as it lets you listen to high-fidelity tunes.

The design is getting subtle tweaks as well. Whereas previous models in the Marshall lineup featured a design similar to that of the company’s amps, the Kilburn II has a metal grille that is styled after microphones, and also has corner caps that sit flush with the body that give it added protection.

The top panel houses analog controls for bass, treble, and volume, and there’s also a visual battery indicator next to the volume knob that gives you an easy estimate of the speaker’s battery life. Marshall is touting a 20-hour playback from a full charge.

And when you do need to top up, the Kilburn II has quick charge that delivers up to three hours’ worth of music playback from a 20-minute charge, with the speaker taking two and a half hours to fully charge.

Although the Kilburn II offers considerable hardware upgrades from its predecessor, it is slotting in at the same $299 price point as the first-gen model. The Kilburn II is now up for sale at Marshall in the U.S. and global markets.

See at Marshall