Apple Pulls iOS 12 Beta 7 Over-the-Air Update

If you haven’t updated to the new iOS 12 beta 7 on your iOS device as of yet, you may notice that the over-the-air update option is no longer available, and that’s because Apple has pulled the download.

Apple appears to have removed the beta 7 update because of performance issues.

On the MacRumors forums, there are multiple reports of problems when tapping on an icon, which can result in a very noticeable pause before the Apple launches. As MacRumors reader OldSchoolMacGuy explains:

I’m seeing apps take 10 seconds or more to launch on my X. Restarted and still seeing the same issue.

Some users have said that the pausing issue disappeared for them after five or 10 minutes of using the iPhone, while others appear to be having continual problems.

Prior to when Apple pulled the update, several MacRumors readers had warned other users against installing the update on their iPhones. There have also been reports of other issues, such as apps freezing, Notification Center freezing, Lock screen freezing, and in-app functions refusing to load.

Apple was planning to release a public beta of iOS 12 today, but that may be delayed until these issues have been addressed in an updated release.

iOS 12 beta 7 is a significant update because it removes the Group FaceTime feature that has been present in iOS 12 since launch. Apple now says Group FaceTime will launch in an update coming later this fall.

Related Roundup: iOS 12
Discuss this article in our forums

Motorola Moto Z3 review

The Motorola Z3 is the first phone to officially offer support for Verizon’s forthcoming 5G network. Announced at an event in Chicago in early August, it’s exclusive to Verizon and is compatible with the growing roster of Motorola MotoMods. In fact, it’s a MotoMod that we get to thank for the 5G capabilities.

As the standard bearer in the Z line of Motorola phones, this is what you would expect from the handset maker at the flagship level.

While we’re more than excited for something new out of the OEM, we couldn’t help but feel a little underwhelmed and anxious with the overall package. Not the phone, but the impending 5G stuff.

In short, the Moto Z3 is not all that unlike its predecessors, the Z2 models. Specifications are nearly identical across the board. In fact, if you were to visit Verizon today, you might find it rather difficult to choose between the new model and the current offering of Moto Z2 Force Edition and Moto Z2 Play.

General Details

Powered by Android 8.1 Oreo, the Moto Z3 has a Qualcomm Snapdragon 835 processor with 4GB RAM. And, while this is the same as what came in the last iteration, it’s still enough to get the job done for most users in the middle of 2018.

Yes, we’re seeing phones with 6GB and 8GB RAM now. Yes, we’re seeing more capable and processors. On the flip side, we’re also seeing handsets that push into the $800 realm.

If you want the latest and greatest, this ain’t it. You probably know that, though, if you’re buying a new smartphone. If you’re the type who likes to keep pace with the industry, you already had your eye on another phone.

The Motorola situation is an interesting one to be sure. On one hand we have a phone that’s plenty strong enough for the masses. And, a few years ago, it seemed Motorola would have made this sort of device more readily available. This one is exclusive to Verizon, though, so it plays by a different set of rules.

Where Motorola tends to shine is in the middle of the pack. The company hasn’t sought out the high end of the market in some time and the Droid brand is long gone. It seemingly doesn’t seem to care about competing with the annual flagships. Moreover, its release schedule is scattershot and somewhat random.

Given that Motorola doesn’t really offer its main family of phones through the major carriers, it’s a case of buying direct. That often means a more educated or savvy consumer who looks beyond what their cellular provider sells. At the same time, this type of buyer tends to seek out a more robust phone.

In markets outside of the United States business is excellent for Motorola. It’s seeing tremendous sales for its E and G family of phones. And, though it does sprinkle some of these models across smaller or prepaid carriers.

Unfortunately, we do not get a phone that takes on the likes of Samsung, LG, or Google in the area of “flagship” models. Further, we don’t even get a phone like this that’s offered across the top four wireless providers. You can’t get a Moto Z, or a variant, from the big name carriers. Verizon has that locked down.

Why do we say all of this, or add it to our review of the phone? To illustrate a point. That point being this is not the situation we wanted Motorola to be in for the second half of 2018.

Design

We like the feel of the Z phones and the Moto Z3 is no exception. The phones don’t change all that much from year to year, and we’re okay with that. The handset feels slim and durable, and there’s something refreshing about the harder lines and angles. Curves are great and all, but we are cool with the design choices which call to mind more of a platter or slice..

This design calls to mind the Razr of the early 2000’s and certainly looks like a descendant of the wildly popular flip phone. It’s thin, dense, and has just the right amount of angles.

If you’ve already invested in the ModoMod ecosystem, this is among your only choices for 2018. The only other option is to go with the Z3 Play and pick up the phone though Motorola. To be fair, that might be a better all around option, especially if you may hop carriers in the near future. But, if you’re down with Verizon for the foreseeable future, then consider this one for a selection from the middle of the pack.

It does take some time getting familiar with the physical layout of the Moto Z3 as the fingerprint reader is located on the side. Once you’re accustomed to it the experience is great. Your thumb or finger finds the indentation easily and it’s in a comfortable spot. It just takes time to adapt from a rear reader or front-facing one under the display. Looking ahead, this would be a good, albeit small, way for Motorola to differentiate itself from other phone makers.

The Z3 is fun to look at, especially up close. We’ve always found it enjoyable to catch the light on the camera or inspect the MotoMod conductors. The 2.5D glass has just the right amount of curve along the edge; the polished aluminum feels sturdy and strong.

At 6.01-inches there’s a lot of real estate to work with. It makes watching video and looking at pictures a pleasure and who doesn’t appreciate not having to squint at text? The 18:9 aspect ratio is new for the 2018 models and we like its presence.

Does this big screen translate to an unwieldy phone that needs to hands to operate? Happily, no. While we might not get our thumb all the way over to the other side, we can browse the web and social media quite easily with just one hand.

With a 2160 x 1080 pixel resolution the Z3 should also handle your VR without problem. We didn’t use it in our DayDream VR but suspect it looks, and responds, as well as anything else on the market.

WIth no 3.5mm headphone jack present, we instead rely on the USB-C to 3.5mm converter that comes in the box. It’s somewhat awkward, yes, but at least we’re not forced to buy it separately or treated as if Bluetooth is the only way to go.

The volume buttons are found to the right side of the display and sit just above the fingerprint reader. On the opposite side is where you locate the knurled power button. It’s very easy to find it in the dark.

Although the phone doesn’t have full waterproof and dust-proof protection, it’s resistant to water. It won’t withstand being at the bottom of your glass of water for a few minutes but we understand it can handle rain, sweat, and life’s other wet accidents.

Camera

The camera software, and its features, is fairly robust. Employing two sensors on the rear, you have a lot of tools to play around with and explore. It’s a fairly intuitive stuff that doesn’t hide behind too many taps or menus and offers just about all of the modes you might expect to find.

Why two cameras? One captures your standard images while the other, monochrome sensor is what helps add even more detail and clarity. Moreover, it’s what helps to adjust depth-of-field and focus prior to capturing a shot.

Click here for a growing library of images taken with the Moto Z3

As for results, we found the two cameras complement each other well, giving users good control over depth. If you’re looking for nice portrait shots with blurred backgrounds, crisp black and white pictures, or manual control over ISO, shutter speed, and white balance, it’s here.

Results may vary for some of the more unique features like spot color or cutout mode. Our suggestion is to play around with these for some time and feel out the boundaries before you get into a situation where you come away with undesirable shots or finished products.

We found the Z3 takes very sharp pictures with good contrast, exposure, and white balance. Considering the overall price, the majority of images we captured would be considered good or great. The HDR setting deliver excellent levels of contrast and doesn’t have any lag when capturing.

Software

Fortunately, we knew what we were getting into with the Z3. Motorola does a fantastic job of keeping things light and lively, often leaving the operating system almost untouched. The gestures and additions are sparse, but often helpful. This helps to keep updates timely, something we definitely appreciate.

The Z3 is almost exactly the same software experience that we’ve come to know and love. To be clear, there are a couple of apps loaded here as Verizon can’t seem to help itself. Generally speaking, there shouldn’t be anything here that slows the update process. At least on Motorola’s side of things, that is.

As for what you will find installed on the Z3, our review unit came with Facebook, Final Fantasy XV: A New Empire, Hum (Verizon), Message + (Verizon), SlotoMania, SmartNews, Security & Privacy (Verizon), Verizon Caller ID, and Verizon Cloud.

The standard fare of Google titles are here, of course, and there’s just a smidge of Motorola found. Everything else is pretty much the same Google experience that you might get from a Pixel phone.

You can use your digital assistant of choice with the Moto Z3. We tend to prefer Google Assistant because of its overarching presence and increasing smarts; you can add a MotoMod to access Amazon’s Alexa if you like.

Motorola does have its own tool, Moto Voice, loaded onto the phone, but it’s currently in beta. Our time with it was nothing spectacular and we feel like we might need more experience before we can understand its limitations.

It might be fun to play with on the side as you go about learning it, but you’re locking yourself into Motorola’s ecosystem. Not that Samsung doesn’t do the same with its Bixby; also, we just prefer the omnipresent and reliable stuff from Google.

Having used multiple Motorola phones over the last few years we intuitively knew what gestures would work here. A quick double twist of the wrist brings up the camera, for instance. Other options include doing a “chopping” motion with the phone to turn on the flashlight, three fingers on the display to perform a screen capture, and lifting the phone to unlock by glancing at it (Face Unlock).

The Moto app is a great place to go in and customize the user experience. It’s here where you can not only fine tune the gestures and actions, but also set up Moto Voice and how your display works in various conditions. Moreover, there’s also a few tools to help manage storage and power.

But… 5G

The 5G MotoMod isn’t here yet; that’s a different topic altogether. We love that the Moto Z3 is ready to handle Verizon’s network in the coming year(s). We also appreciate the fact it works with all of the other MotoMods.

If you’ve previously purchased a phone equipped with MotoMod support, and really care about the 5G network, this is the best, if only, option available.

Given that you probably won’t see the 5G network in your neck of the woods for some time, it’s hard to really push this phone on someone using that selling point. Were Verizon’s 5G already built out, and you found those speeds and features important, then it’s a no-brainer.

We suspect that more devices will include 5G support internally sometime in the next year. The early 2019 flagship announcements will likely offer 5G radios.

At this stage it’s hard to say what Motorola will command for the 5G MotoMod. That’s a cost in and of itself, and you need to consider that when thinking of the overall package.

Performance

The Moto Z3 performed admirably in our time with it. As of the publication of this article we had roughly ten days with the device. It’s enough to form a pretty good opinion to be sure, but it’s hardly a chance to provide an exhaustive look at it. To be sure, it’s usually a few months before we know how much we love or hate something, especially when it’s got custom touches.

The camera juts out from the back of the phone in a rather pronounced manner. Without a MotoMod or case on it the phone feels, to us, like it’s asking to have the camera scratched. It’s only been around ten days but we’ve yet to actually scratch it, though. Something in us tells us we will want to protect the back sooner rather than later.

The 3,000mAh gives us solid day or so of usage out of it; admittedly, we don’t have our full daily driver set of apps and games loaded. Moreover, we’ve developed a habit over the last decade which sees us charging our phones a couple of times throughout the day. Our philosophy has always been “charge when you can, not when you need.”

The TurboCharger tops the battery off really fast, giving us more than enough to power through the rest of a day in just 15-30 minutes. Throw it on the charger on your drive home and you’ll find the Moto Z3 will stay awake longer than you at night.

Conclusion

Fortunately, the Z3 doesn’t command a hefty price tag. There’s just enough new here to qualify as an update to an existing phone, and the cost is commensurate.

This is a great “every man” phone. Period. It will definitely fit the needs of most of the people you know. Sure, you might know a few guys who want more, but this largely handles the duties for all.

This isn’t much of a step forward from last year’s model so it’s hard to really recommend it as a direct annual upgrade. But, if you have the first generation of Moto Z, this is a decent leap.

The problem we have with this package is that it‘s offered at a specific carrier, with a selling point that’s for a specific user living in specific markets. In other words, that’s a very niche buyer. If we’re speaking to that person, then we have zero reservations about buying the Moto Z3.

It’s really easy to fall in love with this phone. The problem, though, is it’s like dating someone with baggage. In this case, it’s the Verizon influence we can’t get beyond. Consider this one without the MotoMod if you can. In other words, buy the phone but don’t buy the 5G gimmick. Not this year or next.

On its own, the phone is excellent and worthy of the price tag. Look deeper at what Motorola and Verizon are asking of you and it becomes a gamble. We don’t know how much the MotoMod will cost. We don’t know what sort of rates Verizon will charge for the 5G. And, most of all, there’s likely going to be another year or longer before it is available across the country.

In that time we suspect Motorola introduces a Z4 or something along those lines with 5G baked into the phone. We’re willing to bet that all the big phones of 2019 come equipped with it and that’s no longer a “selling point” for consumers. At that point, all of the promise and next-gen network hype is for naught.

Availability

You can pre-reigster for the Moto Z3 from Motorola today with more information to follow.When released it will carry a price tag of $480 through Verizon. Spread out over two years, the cost shakes out to $20 per month. The phone reaches general availability through on August 16.

Don’t Miss

Google Home is awesome; here’s how to make it even better!

Check it out!

Apple preps production of updated MacBook Air for a 2018 launch

A new rumor may give more support to Apple’s rumored plans of launching a low-cost notebook before the year’s over. Whether the Mac laptop will replace Apple’s aging MacBook Air or slot in as a new member of Apple’s MacBook or MacBook Pro lines isn’t entirely clear at this point, but a new report from DigiTimes suggests that Quanta will be manufacturing the least-expensive notebook in Apple’s laptop lineup. Manufacturing should commence in the fourth quarter, and the laptop could launch in September or October, according to MacRumors.

The timeline matches an earlier Apple product road map provided by analyst Ming-Chi Kuo, a reliable source of Apple news and rumors in the past. Apple’s inexpensive laptop is expected to slot in at under $1,000, similar to what Apple charges for the MacBook Air today. Rumored features such as an update to Intel’s 8th-Gen processors and a Retina display mean that this would be the most significant upgrade to the platform in many years if this laptop gets branded as a MacBook Air. The current MacBook Air relies on Intel’s fifth-generation Broadwell chip architecture, so an update to an eighth-gen processor would give the new Air a major power boost.

Along with the MacBook Air, Apple is also rumored to update the rest of its Mac lineup. Apple is expected to update its MacBook, iMac, and Mac Mini this year. The company had quietly updated its MacBook Pro to Intel’s eighth-generation processor earlier this year, and it announced that a newly designed Mac Pro would not be ready until next year. The MacBook Pro refresh also introduced a new third-generation keyboard using Apple’s butterfly key switch. In addition to a quieter typing experience, the new keyboard also brought some under-the-hood design changes to help prevent some of the widely reported keyboard problems experienced by owners of previous generation laptop models.

Earlier reports indicate that Apple could launch its new smartphone models in September and reserve its computing products for an October event. Apple could also choose to quietly launch its refreshed Mac lineup without a media event, similar to how it debuted the new MacBook Pro laptops.

Editors’ Recommendations

• Apple’s new MacBook Air with Intel’s 8th-gen processors expected this year
• Don’t like the Touch Bar? Too bad. Apple’s new Macbooks make it almost mandatory
• A cheaper MacBook Air could still arrive in late 2018
• Intel’s 9th-generation processor could launch next month with 8 cores
• Mac Mini could make a comeback this year with a rumored refresh

White-hat Chinese hackers turn Alexa into a spy, briefly

This won’t come as any surprise to those of you who put tape over your laptop’s cameras, but Alexa might not be 100 percent secure. This week at the Def Con Hacking Conference in Las Vegas, researchers from the Chinese conglomerate Tencent Holdings disclosed that they were able to use a modified Amazon Echo to hack into another Echo running on the same network. The researchers were not only able to take full control over the secondary device but also silently record and transmit audio to a third party, essentially turning the smart speaker into great big bugging devices, as reported by Wired.

If you’re feeling the slightest bit paranoid right now, cool your jets. These white-hat hackers have already informed Amazon of the exploit and the company rolled out security fixes last month.

Researchers Wu Huiyu and Qian Wenxiang also explained that their technique involved far more than a straight-up remote hack, fortunately. First, they had to drastically modify a standard Echo by removing a flash memory chip, modify its firmware to get root access, and solder the chip back to the circuit board. Sure, this involves little more than a little engineering knowledge and some things from RadioShack but it’s still not something your average spy is likely to have on hand.

However, once they placed their rogue device on the same network as other Echo devices, they could use Amazon’s proprietary communication protocols plus some undiscovered Alexa interface flaws (address redirection, cross-site scripting, and web encryption downgrades) to gain full access over the device. They could, for a more banal example, play any sound they wanted to. Or, they could silently record and transmit every single sound in the room, including conversations in adjacent rooms.

When we extend the logic, that means that an espionage outfit could simply replace a single Amazon smart speaker in a hotel’s network and take complete command over every smart speaker on the network. Sleep tight.

“After several months of research, we successfully break the Amazon Echo by using multiple vulnerabilities in the Amazon Echo system, and [achieve] remote eavesdropping,” the hackers said in a statement to Wired. “When the attack [succeeds], we can control Amazon Echo for eavesdropping and send the voice data through the network to the attacker.”

In addition to noting that the Alexa interface flaws have been patched, Amazon stressed that this particular hack requires a malicious actor to take physical access over at least one device.

This is just the latest in a series of attempts to crack the smart speaker’s security platform. Last year, British hacker Mark Barnes was able to install malware on an Echo via metal contacts accessible under the speaker’s rubber base. The security firm Checkmarx also revealed a potentially dangerous security flaw earlier this year when it hacked Alexa’s recording function via malware on a seemingly innocuous calculator app.

Editors’ Recommendations

• Amazon Echo Dot vs. Echo Dot Kids Edition
• Is a new Amazon Echo Dot resembling the Google Home Mini on its way?
• A California chipmaker is working to free Alexa from the power cord
• Amazon Echo Spot review
• Alexa reportedly says, ‘Every time I close my eyes, all I see is people dying’

The 4 best smart plugs for Alexa and Google Home

Save on your summer energy costs with the right smart plugs that work with both Google Home and Alexa.

Amazon Echo and Google Home speakers are so popular these days that we’ve crossed over from the early adopters to each finding a place within the mainstream culture. Both are functional if you’re like me you might not be convinced which assistant is right for you — that’s why I’ve got both Alexa and Google Home speakers set up in my home.

If you’re also figuring out which is right for you, be sure to buy smart home accessories that are compatible with both AI assistants. One of the best places to start is with smart plugs that let you control the stuff already in your house, such as lamps, TVs, and air purifiers. We’ve rounded up the best options for smart plugs that work with both Alexa and Google Assistant.

• Samsung SmartThings
• TP-Link Smart Home Outlet
• D-Link Smart Plug
• AWAIR Air Filtration Smart Plug

Samsung SmartThings

See at Amazon

Samsung’s SmartThings is a very capable and customizable home automation system that’s a great place to start for both Alexa and Google Assistant users. The starter kit includes a Hub for connecting different smart sensors for monitoring your home, which is a reasonable $160.

The SmartThings Home Monitoring Kit comes with a Hub, two Multipurpose Sensors, a Motion Sensor, and an Outlet. You can configure them however you like in your home, then get instant notifications if anything is out of the normal. You can also buy additional sensors, including an Arrival Sensor and a Water Leak Sensor, along with more smart plugs for controlling different lamps and devices around your home.

Since SmartThings works well with both Google Assistant and Alexa, it’s a great starting point for building out your wireless smart home system. The Hub starter kit is a good place to start, as many other smart devices are compatible with the SmartThings Hub, plus you’ll get some smart sensors to play around with, too. Samsung has also begun consolidating all of its smart home products under the SmartThings umbrella, so just another great reason to start with SmartThings when setting up your smart home. The whole kit is $160.

TP-Link Smart Home

See at Amazon

The Kasa Smart Wi-Fi Plug offers two separate outlets that let you set up and control two separate devices while leaving the second outlet free. The outlets work with either Alexa or Google Assistant and thanks to the built-in Wi-Fi technology, no hub is required to get things connected. Grab it for a reasonable $35.

TP-Link offers a line of smart plugs and switches that allow you to convert the lamps and appliances you already own into smart devices you can automate to power on or control with your voice. Alternatively, there’s the Kasa Smart Wi-Fi Plug Mini for just $26 that’s a bit more compact and still leaves that second outlet open.

D-Link Smart Plug

See at Amazon

You’re able to control devices plugged into the D-Link Smart Plug via the D-Link app on your phone from anywhere, but more importantly, you’ll be able to use and control things with your voice with your Amazon Echo or Google Home While not as compact as the TP-Link mini plug, the D-Link is still a great option for any room in your house and starts at $30 on Amazon.

D-Link is another brand that offers a smart plug that doesn’t require a hub to connect to either Alexa or Google Assistant.

AWAIR Air Filtration Smart Plug

See at Amazon

AWAIR has combined a smart plug with its own air filtration technology to create an uber-functional smart plug. The AWAIR Glow is the coolest device AWAIR sells — it plugs right into an outlet and can be set up to turn on an appliance such as a dehumidifier or air filtration system at a specific time or when levels get a bit high. Once connected to Google Home or Alexa, you’re also able to use the AWAIR Glow to control whichever device you have plugged in using just your voice. The Glow is currently available for just $99.

According to AWAIR, the air inside your home can be up to five times more polluted than outside, and that can end up aggravating allergies or asthma, affecting your concentration or sleep quality, and much more.

To combat this, AWAIR has developed a line of smart products that monitor the air quality in your home. Each device monitors five aspects that determine air quality — temperature, humidity, CO2, airborne chemicals, and dust. AWAIR monitors all these factors and churns out a quick guide that gives you a good idea of how clean the air is in your home at a glance and will also send tips to your smartphone offering tips and suggestions.

Did we miss any?

Got a favorite smart plug that didn’t make our list? Let us know in the comments and we’ll check it out!

Updated August 2018: This month, the SmartThings kit and we’ve updated the TP-Link entry with their latest two-outlet product.

9 Android apps that power my work, my wonder, and my will to live

I can’t live without my phone, but I especially can’t live without these apps.

Few items have become as essentially to our everyday lives as our smartphones, but what makes our smartphones so vital isn’t the hardware itself, it’s the software it runs. The apps and the services our smartphones serve up to use turn these slabs of glass and metal into tools of productivity, procrastination, and mass communication. Everyone has a different set of apps that they put first in their phone and in their life, and these are mine. Some help me work. Some help me play. Some help me do nothing at all except kill time.

And they all have become apps I can’t live without.

• YouTube Music
• Google Keep
• Google Photos
• Smart Launcher 5
• Reddit
• KWGT
• DeviantArt
• Disney Emoji Blitz
• Google Assistant

For energy & throwbacks

YouTube Music

I’ve included it in my bio for years: if you see me without headphones, run. Music amps me up, tears me down, calms me, hurts me, moves me, come what may. Having music that’s easy to get going, doesn’t need a lot of pulling playlists together, and won’t throw off my groove with algorithmic misses is a wonderful thing, and it’s a bit alarming how quickly I’ve grown to love YouTube Music’s Your Mixtape.

Read more: YouTube Music, a mixtape full of promise

Don’t get me wrong, I’m still very much a Google Play Music user, especially since a lot of the uploaded collection music that I’ve curated over the years isn’t on YouTube Music (yet), but YouTube Music has already become my go-to music app for just about all on Wi-Fi listening. Yeah, offline mixtape gets me by when I’m running errands, but until YouTube Music gets Android Auto support, Play Music will still get my vote when I’m driving any real distance.

Download: YouTube Music (free, subscription)

For notes, outlines, and reminders

Google Keep

Google Keep is one of those apps that’s still something of a hidden gem among the vast suite of Google apps. Keep is a totally free note-taking, checklist-keeping, inspiration-organizing app that’s part Evernote, part Pinterest, and all awesome. Keep’s checklists and do-tos are way better than Google Tasks. The technicolor notes are easier on the eyes for typing out article outlines and new character ideas at 3am than Google Drive. Google Keep’s notes also allow recurring location- and time-based reminders, which is amazing for things like:

• Effortlessly pulling up an over-lunch meeting itinerary when you reach the restaurant
• Having your shopping list pop up as you walk into H-E-B after a double-shift
• Checking your post-shift list every night before you leave
• Gathering notes as you arrive at your weekly book club or D&D night

Reminders are especially important to me because I use Google Keep a lot, so reminders help important items avoid getting lost in a sea of article ideas and theme element links — oh, did I forget to mention that you can save images, voice memos and rich hyperlinks in Keep notes? Silly me. This is why I need Google Keep reminders!

Download: Google Keep (free)

For syncing article photos, timelines, and sharing work photos

Google Photos

Google Photos is a lifesaver. No more waiting for screenshots to send through Google Drive, no more hassling with cables every time I need to edit a photo, and everything is indexed and searchable. If I want to know when I took delivery of my car, I type in the car and look for the photos I took when I drove it home. I can also check my shots on my Chromebook as I’m in the middle of a photography session to make sure the images I’m taking with my phone are turning out the way I want them to.

Google Photos’ keyboard shortcuts are fairly simple, but they’ve been an excellent help in keeping photos organized, getting things downloaded and archived quickly, and letting me get on with my life. And it’s free, too!

Download: Google Photos (free, in-app purchases)

For a simple, consistent home screen

Smart Launcher 5

I’m always hopping launchers for theme building or trying out new beta features, but sometimes at the end of the day, it’s nice to come home to a home screen where everything’s just like you let it and everything works. I’ve been a Nova Launcher die-hard for years and year — and it’s still the best theming and customization launcher on the market, especially once the new 6.0 features make their way out of beta — but somewhere between Icon Pack Studio, gridless widgets, and the categorized app drawer, I fell in love.

Smart Launcher 5 review: balancing customization and simplicity

Smart Launcher 5’s layout borders on painfully basic for a themer like me, but when I’m not banging out a new theme, Smart Launcher’s dock and widget page layout works just fine for me, especially after I hide a second app or folder behind each and every app on my dock. Then there’s the categorical app drawer, which does by default what I’ve done manually on Nova for years: a tabbed app drawer organized by activity and/or type. All my theming and customization apps get a tab. Refreshing best keyboards? Throw them all in a new tab so I can keep them together as I review and re-evaluate them. It’s easy, easy to theme, and it’s nice to come home to at the end of a long day.

Download: Smart Launcher 5 (free, in-app purchases)

For passion projects and all the feels

Reddit

Reddit is somewhere I’ve lurked for a long time, but over the last year or so I’ve graduated from lurker to occasional contributor to semi-regular redditor, at least in a few niche subreddits. As I’ve delved deeper and deeper into YouTube Music, I’ve found myself answering more and more questions I encounter on /r/YoutubeMusic. Likewise, as I shift from relying on pre-built widget packs to building my own Kustom widget, I’ve drawn inspiration and given back to users seeking help in equal measure, and I’ve found fellow nerds to debate strategy, events, and future emoji in /r/DisneyEmojiBlitz. Other reddits I’m still strictly a lurker on, like /r/WritingPrompts.

While there are lots of great Reddit apps out there, I’ve found myself coming back to the official Reddit app recently, especially whenever I have replies and messages to the reply to. The only time I really find myself reaching for a third-party client is when I need to upload images in a reply quickly, especially on subbreddits that ban link shorteners (and thus Google Photos links).

Download: Reddit (free)

For scratching my theming itches and even more reminders

KWGT

I am a themer, and KWGT is a linchpin for most if not all of the themes I build today, both for readers like you and just for me. Widgets on Android have always left something to be desired, but KWGT is like the Photoshop of widget-makers: if you can dream it, you can do it. Just as people can build brush packs and share PSD templates for Photoshop, Kustom users can build komponents, fonticon packs, and presets to enrich their own projects and to share with others.

This collaboration means that KWGT has a robust community built up around on it, so newcomers can come ask questions and get help when they stumble with early projects — I go ask questions myself about the limits of KWGT’s widgets from time to time — and since Kustom presets can be packaged and sold in Google Play, newcomers can get their feet wet playing with pre-made widgets before they dive into building their own from scratch. In addition to being completely customizable, third-party music widgets work with multiple music apps, which is great when I’m switching back and forth between YouTube Music and Google Play Music.

Download: KWGT (free, in-app purchases)

For wallpapers, comics, and stress relief

DeviantArt

I’m a themer, and I’m a comic lover, and I’m an art lover. DeviantArt is the best place online to come look for art of all kinds, and whether I’m looking for a new wallpaper for a theme, a new comic series to fall in love with, or some truly magical artwork to get lost in, this is the app I turn to. While I’ve used DeviantArt for years, I didn’t get an account until about two years ago, because while using it on desktop is fairly straightforward whether you have an account or not, the app is ten times easier to use once you log in, regardless of if you’re ever going to comment or post art of your own.

Logging in and favoriting pieces will allow you DeviantArt to better tune search results to your tastes, and watching artists will give you a Watch feed full of new art every time you log in. At the very least, get logged in and get your filters set the way you want them — it’s not called Deviant for nothing.

Download: DeviantArt (free, in-app purchases)

For a daily Disney fix in match-three magic

Disney Emoji Blitz

Everyone needs some stress relief and I get mine in adorable Disney packaging. Disney Emoji Blitz is a match-three game like Candy Crush or Bejeweled, with two simple twists: all the characters and items are Disney emoji or Disney-related, and everything you unlock in the game is accessible through the Disney Emoji Blitz keyboard. Now, the keyboard itself sucks, and like all custom emoji keyboard, the number of apps that can use them is still fairly small, but the game is fun enough to play on its own, especially now that they’ve taken to having one or two events per week for users new and old to replenish their power-ups and coins through while unlocking new emoji or powering up ones they already had.

I’m finishing most events within 48 hours of them starting — though finishing them within 24 is nice when it happens — and I unlocked Fairy Godmother at Level 200 last week. I’ve played this game for two years, and I don’t see myself putting it down anytime soon.

Download: Disney Emoji Blitz (free, in-app purchases)

For home control, web searches, and even more reminders

Google Assistant

Google Assistant was once limited, in both devices and in features, but now the helpful AI is available just about everywhere, and I use it just about everywhere. I use Google Assistant in the car to control my music, pull up directions, and read/dictate replies to text messages. I use it in the kitchen to set timers, control my music, and listen to the latest BBC Minute. I use Google Assistant in the shower to hear how much time is left until my meeting, what the weather will be like today, and control my music. I use it at work to look up scores while I update baseball graphics, to make sure supers are spelled correctly, control my music, and fact-check seemingly infallible producers.

I use Google Assistant in bed to fall asleep to nature sounds, to wake up using the new time-trigger function in Google Assistant Rountines, and — you guessed it — control my music.

Google Assistant’s music controls are what I’ve dreamed of for years

If there’s any big trick to Google Assistant, it’s the simple adage that the more you use Google Assistant, the better it gets. The voice match and speech recognition improve the more you use it; the Google Home in my bedroom even understands me with my nightguard in. Oh, and my other suggestion is to change the voice away from the standard “Red” voice; it helps Assistant feel more personal and comfortable to use. I’m using Green, but I mix things up with Pink or Blue every now and again.

Download: Google Assistant (free)

What apps power your life?

So, these are the methods to my madness, but everyone’s Android experience is different — be different, not the same — so which apps are must-haves on your phone? Which services get your money, your data, and your devotion? Share with us in the comments; which apps do you use the most, and which apps would you like to see us cover more here on Android Central?

This $13 TrackR Pixel can help prevent you from misplacing your gadgets

What once was lost is now found!

Right now you can pick up the TrackR Pixel for just $12.55 at Amazon, which is the lowest that it has ever sold for. Normally, this Bluetooth tracker sells for between $20 and $25, and has never dropped below $14 in the past. The device itself is on the smaller side, which means that you can easily attach it to just about anything that you find yourself misplacing.

It uses Bluetooth to find items at close ranges, and the free iOS and Android app can be used to ring your device and flash the light to help you find it even faster. There is a battery inside the TrackR, and the app will let you know when it’s running low. You’ll be able to order a replacement for free, directly from the app, meaning you don’t have to replace the whole unit like you do with a Tile tracker. You can see where you last had your device on a map, and if you have the device but lost your phone you can simply press the button on it to ping your phone.

These are extremely useful, and at this price, you may want to pick up a few of them!

See at Amazon

The Bose QuietComfort 35 Series II is a no-brainer purchase at just $299

At $50 off the MSRP, you’d be silly to skip out on this deal.

As someone that’s never been an audiophile, I was a bit hesitant to pick up the Bose QuietComfort 35 (Series II) last year for their staggering retail price of $349. That’s easily the most I’ve ever spent on a pair of headphones by a large margin, and while my wallet certainly felt the sting of that purchase for a couple weeks afterward, I don’t know how I got by for so long without the things.

I called the QC35 II my favorite pair of wireless noise-canceling headphones when I reviewed them earlier this year, saying:

I’ve always enjoyed listening to music, but with these headphones, I find myself wanting to just sit on the couch, throw them on, and close my eyes while listening to some of my favorite tunes.

That’s something I’ve never felt with any other pair of headphones I’ve owned, and when you combine that with the design, noise canceling, and everything else I talked about, you end up with something special. I’ve been using these headphones on a daily basis since I got them in October of last year, and I don’t plan on giving them up anytime soon.

Bose’s combination of excellent sound quality, fantastic design, and the industry’s best noise-canceling make the QC35 II a force to be reckoned with, but like I mentioned above and in my review, $349 is a lot of money to spend on a pair of headphones.

Thankfully, if you’ve been holding out on buying the QC35 II and have been waiting for the perfect moment to do so, now’s your chance. Amazon’s currently selling them for just $299, saving you a cool $50.

This deal started over the weekend, as reported by our pals at Thrifter, and we aren’t sure how long this deal will be around. You’ll want to be sure to hop on it before it disappears. $299 is still a good chunk of change, but for headphones of this caliber, it’s one of the best deals you’ll find.

See at Amazon

Samsung DeX review, 2018 edition: More productive, but still problematic

DeX has come a long way, but there’s still some work to be done.

When Samsung DeX debuted in early 2017 it was… not great. The idea had been tried by Microsoft and Motorola before them, and it sounds good on paper: you already own a phone, so why not expand it into a desktop to be more productive?

Again, that sounds great on paper, but it’s a wildly different experience when the rubber meets the road. Or in this case, when the phone meets the dock. I’ve been playing with DeX for the last few weeks in the ramp up to the Galaxy Note 9’s announcement, so it’s time to see how DeX has grown in the last year and a half.

• What hasn’t changed
• What’s better
• What still needs work
• Compared to other platforms
• Is DeX good enough to replace a standalone computer?

What hasn’t changed

The interface looks mostly the same as it did in Spring 2017, and that’s perfectly fine. The DeX desktop interface takes a few design cues from Windows 10 and Chrome OS: there’s an app list button in the lower left, a taskbar with icons for your active apps along the bottom center, and status icons and quick toggles in the lower right. You also get a proper desktop where you can place app icons, or you can pin them to the taskbar. It’s not a carbon copy of Windows or Chrome, but DeX follows the same design conventions close enough to make it so anyone can start using DeX without trouble.

The interaction with apps hasn’t really changed either. Apps can either be in portrait or landscape, and are the same size and layout as they would be on your phone in those orientations. It’s still not a replacement for a laptop, but then again Samsung isn’t selling a laptop-like dock for this.

What’s better

DeX’s biggest strength now comes from the hardware it ships on. The Note 9 and Galaxy S9+ come with 6GB of RAM, 2GB more than came on the Galaxy S8 that DeX launched alongside. The extra RAM is crucial to keeping the interface smooth, and keeping more apps up at once. Using DeX on my Galaxy S8 still leads to some apps force closing as I try to open more apps up, and extra RAM and newer processors make for a much better experience.

You also need a smaller monetary investment to use DeX. You still need a Galaxy flagship from the last two years, but the S8 are cheaper than ever while still being great phones. With the Note 9, you can use DeX from almost any USB-C hub — you can unofficially do this with other phones too — if you don’t want to spend extra money on a DeX dock. If you do want the dock, it goes on sale regularly. As for other accessories, you still need a separate monitor, but you can use the Note 9’s software keyboard or touchscreen if you don’t want to pony up for desktop accessories.

Galaxy Tab S4 users have it even easier: DeX is built right into the tablet’s software. You can change between the two modes at any time, even when the tablet isn’t docked into its Book Cover keyboard case, but it’s better with a keyboard and mouse.

What still needs work

The biggest limitation from DeX’s launch is still around: the apps. These are still mobile apps, and while companies like Adobe and Microsoft have put effort into making their services great on DeX, that’s definitely not true of all apps. There are other limitations too: you can only have one Google Doc, Slide or Sheet open at once, since that’s what’s expected of those applications on a smartphone. Chrome works well enough, including common shortcuts like Ctrl + Shift + N to open an incognito window. But there aren’t any Chrome plugins or apps, so your favorite ad blocker isn’t available.

This situation isn’t in Samsung’s control since it requires effort from app developers, but it’s definitely to the detriment of the DeX experience. Samsung makes the most popular phones that run Android, so hopefully they keep investing in DeX and application developers put the work in for their apps.

Compared to other platforms

Windows and macOS have been around since dinosaurs roamed the earth, and every piece of software you may need is likely to be on either of these operating systems. Chrome OS is newer, but with a full desktop browser and Android applications that know they’re on a larger screen you can do almost anything.

DeX is much more limited than any of these other platforms. Apps look and behave just they would on any other smartphone, but the app window can’t be used across your entire monitor. Chrome and other browsers have their mobile interfaces, which are much more constrained than the desktop equivalents. You’ll be more limited using DeX than you would another operating system.

Is DeX good enough to replace a standalone computer?

One constant since Spring 2017 is a complex question: who is DeX actually for? Laptops and desktops are common enough to be a commodity, and it makes little sense to replace a perfectly good machine with a DeX dock that will leave you less productive. For heavy mobile users, a macOS, Windows or Chrome laptop is going to worlds better than trying to find a monitor for your DeX dock.

But let’s say you already do 95% of what you need to on your phone. You may already have an old desktop, monitor, keyboard and mouse that have been in your house for years. You don’t really need the desktop anymore, it’s just there because it’s always been there. You may consider DeX because you don’t use that desktop enough for your productivity to suffer from moving to DeX. The limitations listed above don’t apply to you because of the way you use your computer, and that’s okay.

3.5
out of 5

Or, you could be a corporation that issues Galaxy phones to your workforce. Again, a vast majority of their work is done on the go. But again, you likely have a stock of monitors, keyboards and mice. It’s not that much more of an investment to set up a few DeX stations for those workers to type up longer emails and documents. If you just want a bigger screen for the things you do on your phone, DeX makes a lot of sense.

What say you?

Do you still use DeX in 2018? What’s better, and what still frustrates you? Let us know down below!

Samsung Galaxy Note 9

• Samsung Galaxy Note 9 hands-on preview
• Galaxy Note 9 vs. Note 8
• Where to buy the Galaxy Note 9
• Galaxy Note 9 specifications
• Is the Note 8 still a good buy?
• Join our Galaxy Note 9 forums

AT&T
Verizon
T-Mobile
Samsung

Get all the benefits of Alexa with better sound quality than an Echo

Get what Alexa has to offer without having to put up with an Echo’s subpar sound.

If you want everything that Amazon Alexa has to offer, but don’t actually want to put up with the Amazon Echo’s mediocre sound, you can get other speakers with Alexa built in!

Here are our top picks.

• Sonos One
• Sugr Cube Minimalis
• Eufy Genie
• Libratone Zipp
• VAUX Cordless

Sonos One

Sonos is the number one name in wireless home audio, with great sound and ridiculously easy setup, and the Sonos One is the first of its speakers to have Alexa built in. Six mics mean it can hear you from far away, but at its core, it has the Sonos signature — which means it sounds incredible. Get it for $200.

See at Sonos

The Sonos One is the best Alexa-powered speaker you can buy. It sounds amazing, with awesome deep bass, smooth highs and blissful mids. Sonos has added AirPlay 2 to the Sonos One, too, and Google Assistant support is coming soon, too, but it works best with Alexa. Pair it with a second Sonos One for a true stereo pair.

Sugr Cube Minimalist

Get this one mainly for the looks, because at $230 it’s expensive and doesn’t sound all that great. But it’s beautiful in either cherry or maple wood, and that is more than enough for most people. There’s also a massive battery, making it portable.

See at Amazon

Despite the mediocre reviews, Sugr Cube Minimalist is exactly as its name suggests: minimal. It looks great, and operates as an Alexa-powered Wi-Fi or DLNA speaker that can take with you throughout the house.

Eufy Genie

While it looks a lot like the Echo Dot, this tiny speaker has better sound and a lower price tag. Eufy is an upcoming name in smart speakers, and the Genie is a great option.

See at Amazon

If you want something that’s more like an Amazon Echo Dot but comes in even less expensive, then you need to check out the Eufy Genie. It’s currently listed at a mere $35 — or about half the cost of an actual Echo Dot. And you get a pretty good experience from it. I still think I looks better than the Dot, and it performs reasonably well despite having fewer microphones with which to listen for you.

It’s a really inexpensive way to get into the whole Alexa thing, and it’s worth checking out.

Libratone Zipp

Libratone’s Zipp sounds incredible, and while it came to market as a Bluetooth or AirPlay speaker, it has since been gifted Alexa support. You’ll need to pair it with an Echo speaker, but it’s worth it — just look at it! Grab it for $299.

See at Amazon

Libratone is a brand that focuses as much on design as it does on performance, the Zipp speaker has both in spades. While its main function is a Wi-Fi or Bluetooth speaker — it has DLNA and Spotify Connect support, as well as AirPlay compatibility — it pairs with an Echo or Echo Dot for Alexa.

VAUX cordless home speaker

This thing is genius. It uses an existing Echo Dot’s AUX port to improve its sound quality by a lot. Essentially it swallows the Dot and its Alexa integration and makes it into a better-sounding Echo. Grab it for just $40.

See at Amazon

VAUX is a name you’ll see associated with innovative solutions to improve existing products. Why buy a separate speaker with Alexa installed when you can spend just $40 to add a great speaker and a 6-hour battery to your existing Echo Dot? Win-win!

Amazon Echo

• Tap, Echo or Dot: The ultimate Alexa question
• All about Alexa Skills
• Amazon Echo review
• Echo Dot review
• Echo Spot review
• Top Echo Tips & Tricks
• Amazon Echo vs. Google Home
• Get the latest Alexa news

See at Amazon