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The hottest game of 2018 has finally arrived on Android.Fortnite has been blowing up lately. Millions of people have become obsessed with the game, both as players and just watching popular Twitch streamers play the game.Interested to learn more about what the heck Fortnite is all about? Just keep reading.What's new with Fortnite?August 16, 2018 — Update v5.21 addresses Fortnite's poor performance on most Android phonesOn the same day that Fornite started rolling out for non-Samsung Galaxy devices, the Fortnite devs took to Twitter to acknowledge stability issues with the app on devices with 4GB of RAM — which describes almost all Android phones that Fortnite is currently available on.We have seen reports that some players on 4GB Android devices are encountering an issue causing poor performance. This is due to multiple background applications running--leaving the device without enough memory for Fortnite. We are investigating and working on a fix!—...

No more weak signals.Follow this link or use the code 20TPLINK to save 20% on a selection of TP-Link tools designed to increase, extend, and enhance your wireless signal at home.With this deal you can get TP-Link's Deco 3-pack mesh networking system for $157.71 total. That's the lowest price we've ever seen on the Deco, which we've shared a few deals on before. It can cover up to 4,500 square feet of your home in a strong, wireless blanket. It's easy to setup and is covered by a two-year warranty.TP-Link's AC1350 MU-MIMO smart wireless gaming router is down to $158.39 with this promotion. It normally sells for around $200. The router can work with some of the fastest speeds around and has technology integrated into it to help with multiple devices on the same network and Internet protection like anti-virus. It even works with Alexa so you can do things like create guest passwords with your voice.Check out the full sale for everything else being discounted today.See on Amazon...

Whether you're looking for new tech gear or household items, we've got you covered.We found plenty of great deals today that include big discounts on a Philips Hue smart lighting kit, a USB-C 5-in-1 adapter, PNY's portable SSDs, and more!View the rest of the dealsIf 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!...

The gear you buy in Fortnite is all a matter of status.To say that Fortnite is a big deal in the gaming industry right now is a bit of an understatement. It's now available across all platforms and, as reported by Forbes, regularly rakes in over $100 million on a monthly basis.That's a ton of money being pumped into a video game which must beg the question: what's the smartest way to spend money in Fortnite?How much is a V-Buck?Before we talk about getting the best value out of your V-Buck, we should first break down the value attached to the currency itself. The smallest amount you can buy is 1,000 V-Bucks for $10, so that sets the base value of a single V-Buck around one cent, although you won't find anything in the Fortnite store for less than 500 V-Bucks. That makes the base in-app purchase around $5. Of course, Canadians and anyone living outside the U.S. will end up paying more based on the currency exchange rate.Here are the pricing levels for buying V-Bucks via in...

This gaming headset from Amazon provides great entry-level audio for cheap.Editor's note: We reviewed this Amazon gaming headset on an Xbox One, but it's also compatible with PlayStation 4. However, PlayStation users' experiences may vary slightly due to the console difference.For gaming accessories, the growing "AmazonBasics" line is among the best when on a budget. Backed by one of the world's largest retailers, the range strips products down to basics, while still maintaining a benchmark for quality and features. Amazon generally delivers on this claim, through its controllers, chargers, and more for the platform.After getting hands-on with Amazon's take on gaming headsets, it provides the familiar blend of strong features at a low price.Audio from AmazonAmazonBasics gaming headset$17.99Bottom line: Great all-around audio, despite some cut corners. ...

Own a Moto X4? These are the cases that deserve your dollars.The Moto X4 is a big departure from past Moto X devices, but that doesn't mean it's a bad phone. In fact, it's one of the best mid-range Android handsets on the market right now.It's the first entry in the Moto X series to feature a glass back, and while it looks downright gorgeous, this also makes the X4 rather fragile and easy to break. To ensure that doesn't happen and your phone continues to look as good as can, these are the cases we recommend checking out.Dretal Full-Body ProtectiveSpigen Liquid CrystalMustaner Dual LayerEncased Slim Fit Holster Shell ComboSwoders Flower CaseAnccer Colorful SeriesKuGi Flexible Soft TPUKwMobile WalletCimo Heavy DutyDretal Full-Body ProtectiveBudget OptionIf you prefer something more traditional, cheaper, and with increased protection, Dretal's Full-Body Protective case is certainly worth a look. The carbon fiber and anti-stretch TPU rubber design encase the Moto ...

DARK. MODE. IS. HERE.Android Messages is one of the best texting apps on the Play Store, and with the new v3.5 update that's rolling out now, it's about to get even better.Similar to Tasks, News, and Contacts, v3.5 refreshes Android Messages UI to match Google's new Material Theme aesthetic. This means that a lot of Android Messages' colorful accent colors have been replaced by even more white and the in-app text now uses the Google Sans font.The new Android Messages v3.5Hold on, hold on. Before you grab your pitchforks and start charging at Google full of rage, there is an upside to this for those that don't like all that white.The old Android MessagesWith Android Messages v3.5, there's now a native dark mode.🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉To enable the dark mode, just tap the three dots at the top right of the app and select "Enable dark mode." To disable it, tap those three dots again but choose "Disable dark mode."And...

What once was lost is now found!Update: You can save even further by opting to pick up the eight-pack of this product which is currently on sale for $70. That brings the price of each down to just $8.75 apiece.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 ...

3D Printing has never been so easy!XYZPrinting has a new 3D printer called the da Vinci Color mini available on Indiegogo for $999. We have seen several 3D printers from XYZPrinting in the past, but this one is something altogether new. Where most 3D printers require multiple colored filaments or by-hand painting to create 3D objects in different colors, the da Vinci Color Mini will actually use three ink cartridges, similar to what you'd find in a regular printer, to stain the filament as it prints.Originally developed last year, the da Vinci Color was called the "world's first full color 3D printer" by XYZPrinting. The mini version is designed for consumers like you and me. It's compact enough to fit in a small office or right on your desktop, and it can build objects up to 5.1 x 5.1 x 5.1 inches in size. It can work in a classroom, a business, or anywhere else you want to use it. Print gifts, create sculptures, or learn something new altogether.The best part is the price. Whe...

Clementine's final journey may be her most perilous yet. AC Score 4 After following her journey since the beginning, Telltale is closing the chapter on Clementine's story with their final season of The Walking Dead. While we're only a few pages in with Episode One – Done Running, it looks to set up an emotional farewell in her coming of age story. Clementine isn't all grown up by normal standards, but in The Walking Dead's world she needs to be.The GoodSeason One role reversalUnexpected twist Solid performanceGuardian ClemThe BadPacing Doesn't find footing until the endSee at PlayStation StoreFamiliar watersSince his birth in Season Two, AJ has been an integral part of The Walking Dead's identity, even without being a playable character. The history that Clem and AJ share isn't glossed over in ...

You can learn to live happily with a giant phone, but it's still not for everyone.Few phones fill out a spec sheet quite like a Note. Samsung's wildly popular Galaxy Note lineup has always been about packing in all the latest and most powerful specs, and the Galaxy Note 9 is no exception. It comes packing a Snapdragon 845, 6 or 8GB of RAM, and up to 512GB of storage — not to mention water resistance, wireless charging, a headphone jack, and the ever-important S Pen.Those big specs demand a big phone, though. The Note 9 features a gorgeous, massive 6.4-inch display — the biggest to ever grace a Samsung phone. Even with Samsung's minuscule bezels, that's a lot of phone to handle, especially if you like to use your phone in one hand. So is the Note 9 … too big?That sort of depends on how you use your phone. The Galaxy Note line has never been about one-handed usability in the first place, and to use one comfortably, you need to throw that idea out the window. Th...

Bask in the glow of this discounted Philips Hue kit.This Philips Hue two color bulbs starter kit is only $99.99 on Amazon. This is a new kit that released at a $150 price in early July. Last month, it dropped this low for a short time before rising back to $150. Considering individual bulbs cost about $50 right now and this kit comes with the bridge that is essential to the Philips Hue setup, that's a good price.The starter kit comes with two Philips Hue white and color A19 60W equivalent LED smart bulbs, the Philips Hue hub, and a three-year warranty. The A19 bulbs can choose from more than 16 million colors and shades. Once you connect the bulbs to the hub, you can connect the hub to your smart home ecosystem and control it all with just your voice. The hub can support up to 50 bulbs as well, so you can keep adding onto the system. You'll be able to use the free app to control your lights as well. These kits have 4.1 stars based on over 460 reviews.See at Amazon...

Coming next month with some large price tags.Last year, Samsung acquired Harman Internation Industries, the company behind the popular Harman Kardon audio division. Since then, we've been waiting to see what the two could do together, and now we have the first product that comes with co-branding on it. Samsung has announced two new soundbars, the HW-N850 and HW-N950, both of which will become available to purchase later this month. Both options will have Dolby Atmos and DTS:X to bring along the best sound quality, and they will have up and side-firing speakers.As you'd expect from the numbering scheme, the N950 is the more premium option of the two. The key differences here are that it will have four speakers and two wireless surround speakers, while the N850 will have a main speaker and subwoofer. Both will launch on September 1 in the Netherlands and wider availability will follow after that, though specifics were not mentioned. The N850 will have a retail price of €1,000 ...

Edge for Android is keeping pace with its iOS counterpart, adding breaking news alerts, annotations for books, and more.Just a day after rolling out to the Microsoft Edge beta for iOS, Microsoft is shipping a few new features to beta testers on Android as well. The highlights of this release include breaking news alerts, the ability to check out annotations you've made in books, and more.If you're using Edge as your Android browser of choice, you'll now get push alerts when important news events happen. Microsoft already offers this with its own news app, so this is just another way for you to keep up with breaking current events. On top of that, this update will make it easy to check out what's new with Edge and tips from a new option in the settings menu. And, of course, there are plenty of performance improvements tagging along here as well.Here's a look at all of what's new: Know when important news happens with breaking news alerts Quickly get to the What's new and ...

Kick back and relax!Amazon is running a one-day sale on the popular iRobot Roomba 850 robotic vacuum, dropping the price down to just $289.99. It normally sells for $440 at Amazon and hasn't sold for less than that in quite some time. The multi-surface brushes help it auto-detect which type of floor it's cleaning, and they are tangle-free to prevent hair and other materials from bogging down the vacuum. It has a full suite of sensors to help it navigate under furniture, around corners, and prevent it from falling off edges of the floor, like at stairs.It comes with the robot vacuum, a charging dock, and remote control. You don't get any virtual walls with this kit, though if you want to prevent it from cleaning a certain area you could always pick one up for just $35.57 right now.See at Amazon...

A new version of Android means it's once again time to peer into my crystal ball.Did you hear? Android Pie is a thing now. And we know that everyone will want it and want it as soon as possible. That's how it works and that's how we are wired. We want updates, we want them to be spectacular and we want them right now.The reality of the situation is a bit different. Most phones made in the last 18 months will see Android Pie, but some of them will only get updated when we see the first developer preview for Android Q (Quince Jelly or gtfo, Google!) come along. It's a lot easier for manufacturers to update their phones to a newer version, but it's still not any better. That's another article for another time, though. This one is where I guess which phones will get updated sometime in the next 12 months. Predicting anything Android-related is 10% science and 90% interpretation.It's not as easy as you think and many sudsy cold beverages worth of thought goes into my guesses ea...

What's the best alternative to Philips Hue? Here are our favorites!Philips Hue smart lights are some of the coolest on the market and they're definitely some of the most popular, but they can be quite expensive, especially once you get into colored bulbs. If you're looking for a less expensive alternative or just something other than what's popular, then check out these other awesome options.LIFX A19 Wi-Fi Smart BulbCree A19 LED BulbSylvania Lightify by OsramFlux Bluetooth Smart LED bulbIKEA TradfriEufy LumosNanoleaf Aurora Rhythm Smarter KitYeelight LED bulbC by GE starter kitZ-WaveLIFX A19 Wi-Fi Smart BulbThe $60 LIFX Wi-Fi bulb provides 16 million colors and 1,000 shades of white, connecting over your Wi-Fi network without the need for a hub. Simply download the LIFX app and gain control of lighting effects and custom schedules to suit your needs.See at AmazonEach A19 bulb only consumes 17 watts of energy and has a lumen count of 1017. LIFX bulbs even work ...

Speakers of all shapes and sizes are discounted just for one day only.Today only, you can take up to 30% off the price of a number of TaoTronics Bluetooth speakers and soundbars as part of Amazon UK's Deals of the Day.The popular waterproof shower speaker is included in the deal and drops down to just £10.99. With over 2,000 reviewers giving it an average rating of 4.5 out of 5 stars, it's definitely worth a look at that price.For a little more oomph, check out the TaoTronics 360-degree Bluetooth speaker that is down to an all-time low of £30.99. It has 2 x 10W drivers and 15 hours of play time. It has never been available for less than £40 before so now is the best time to pick one up.And if you're in the market for a new soundbar, there are a couple of affordable options included in this deal too with the 40-inch model reduced to £55.99 and the 34-inch version down to £52.99. Both feature a slim design for slotting into your current TV setup an...

You'll soon be able to send and receive SMS messages on your Android phone via Skype for desktop.Skype is making a bid to be your texting app of choice with its latest preview update. The Skype Preview app for Android has been updated with a new "SMS Connect" feature that will let you send and receive SMS messages from the Skype app on your PC or Mac (via Windows Blog Italia).Unfortunately, while the option to turn on SMS Connect now appears in Skype Preview's settings on Android, it doesn't appear you can enable it just yet. Regardless, Microsoft is promoting the feature with an update to the Skype Preview app on desktop, which offers the option to use Skype SMS or the new SMS Connect. From the description: Use Skype on your PC or Mac to read and reply to your Android phone's SMS messages. To get started, tap the button to install Skype on your Android phone.We aren't yet seeing the preview update on Windows 10, but the folks at OnMSFT have reported it is rolling out a...

Keep your Fortnite account secure with this simple move.Take a break from getting Victory Royales on Fortnite to read this important piece of advice: you can, and should add two-factor authentication to your Epic Games account. It's easy and takes all but a few minutes to get it done, and you'll be glad you did.What's two-factor authentication?Two-factor authentication is a security system that requires two levels of authentication for logging into an account. In most scenarios, the first level will be your typical password, and while a strong password alone is a good start, it's not foolproof. If someone were to find out your password somehow, they'd be escorted right into your account like they own the place.But with two-factor authentication, the person trying to break or hack into your account would need a secondary, separate form of authentication to get going. In most cases, this second factor is some sort of security code sent to your email address or phone but could b...

Google's replacement for paid Drive plans is ready for primetime.This past May, Google announced that it was taking its paid Drive storage plans and rebranding them as "Google One." The service has been accepting new members on a limited basis since then, but starting today, it's opening up to everyone in the United States.In a blog post that was published on August 15, Google noted that: Recently, we introduced Google One, a plan that gives you expanded storage and helps you get more out of Google. Over the past few months, people with Google Drive paid plans have been upgraded to Google One. And starting today, people in the U.S. can choose to upgrade to Google One.Along with the name change, Google One comes with some decent upgrades over the old paid Google Drive storage plans.There's a new 200GB tier that you can get for $2.99/month, the $9.99/month 1TB plan is upgraded to 2TB, and subscribers frequently get various rewards such as Google Play credit, hotel deals,...

Be aware of software bugs.Chromebooks are great because they're simple: there's a lot you can get done with web services without exposing yourself to the troubles and security issues that plague more complex platforms.But if you need to do a bit more with your Chromebook, you have a few options. Most Chromebooks these days allow you to install apps from the Google Play Store, which should fill most productivity gaps. If not, you'll soon have one more option: installing Linux apps. To be clear, you've been able to install Linux apps on Chromebooks for years because Chrome OS is Linux. But, it's about to get much easier.Move to the Developer channelEnable the Crostini flagTurn on Linux appsDownload and install an applicationMove to the Developer channelRight now, the only way to install Linux apps is to move to the Developer software channel of Chrome OS. This isn't Developer Mode, so it won't make your device any less secure and you won't be annoyed by a warning every ti...

Can't decide on physical or digital? Let us help!Digital or physical? It's an age-old question that only started being asked just recently. Once all of our consoles were constantly connected to the Internet, we entered a world where it was no longer necessary to trudge out to your local game store to acquire the newest game. You can now sit in the comfort of your own home and the games come to you. If you have a PlayStation 4 and you're having trouble deciding what format to buy games in, read on and we will go over the benefits of each format in order to help you chooseAll in on DigitalSaving space- If you are a gamer with an unending thirst for new games but a finite amount of space, then digital may be the way to go. You can build a massive library of games which only consumes space on your hard drive but none in meatspace. With hard drives that take up barely any room, your library can continue to grow without needing to make your space do the sameGet games sooner- If you...

Here's your one-stop-shop for all the MoviePass news, controversies, and more.Unless you've been living under a rock lately, there's a good chance you've heard a thing or two about MoviePass. Although the company was founded way back in 2011, it's picked up a lot of steam over the past year or so with its too-good-to-be-true offer of allowing you to see one movie per day for just $9.95/month.That offer's a bit less magical now that subscribers are limited to three movies per month for the same price, and the road to this new strategy has been far from smooth.MoviePass has become one of the most disruptive companies of recent memory, and whether you're looking for the latest controversies or want to learn more about the service before you sign up, you've come to the right place.Without further ado, this is everything you need to know about MoviePass!The latest MoviePass newsAugust 15, 2018 — MoviePass rolls out new 3-movie-per-month plan, includes choosing from "up t...

Best overallBest for watch loversBest lifestyle watchBest valueBest overallMobvoi TicWatch ProIf you're looking for a smartwatch you can use everywhere, this is it.$249 from AmazonA solid, sturdy watch with two displays for great performance indoors and out, with a classy design you can get away with anywhere and still feel great about using it.Why the TicWatch Pro is the bestIt's not easy to find a Wear OS watch that ticks all the boxes. Some are great for fitness and the outdoor life, while others pack NFC payment tech and offer quality microphones for good Google Assistant functionality. TicWatch Pro is, in my opinion, the first Wear OS watch I've wanted to wear everywhere. It looks nice in every environment, comes with a leather strap you can wear while working out due to its textured silicone backing, and its two-stage display means you get phenomenal visibility everywhere.And I'm far from alone. Here's what Ara Wagoner had to say in her review of the wat...

Find out if the refurbished route is right for you!If you're in the market for a pair of wireless noise-canceling headphones, there's a very good chance that the Bose QuietComfort 35 (Series I or II) is at the top of your shopping list.Bose is one of the dominant forces when it comes to consumer audio gadgets, and while the QC35's aren't perfect, they offer a winning combo of great design, excellent sound quality, long-lasting battery life, and some of the best active noise-canceling you can find right now.While all of that's fine and dandy, the $349 price tag that accompanies the QC35s is a bit much. Bose occasionally runs sales to lower the cost of new models, but if you're really trying to stretch your dollar, you may want to consider picking up a pair that's refurbished.Refurbished gadgets are a great way to save a few extra bucks while still getting a quality product, and with the Bose QuietComfort 35, that's no different.There aren't a ton of options out there for bu...

A new version of Android means it's once again time to peer into my crystal ball.Did you hear? Android Pie is a thing now. And we know that everyone will want it and want it as soon as possible. That's how it works and that's how we are wired. We want updates, we want them to be spectacular and we want them right now.The reality of the situation is a bit different. Most phones made in the last 18 months will see Android Pie, but some of them will only get updated when we see the first developer preview for Android Q (Quince Jelly or gtfo, Google!) come along. It's a lot easier for manufacturers to update their phones to a newer version, but it's still not any better. That's another article for another time, though. This one is where I guess which phones will get updated sometime in the next 12 months. Predicting anything Android-related is 10% science and 90% interpretation.It's not as easy as you think and many sudsy cold beverages worth of thought goes into my guesses ea...

Here's what's new with T-Mobile's latest Un-Carrier initiative.T-Mobile took the stage in Charleston, South Carolina on August 15 to host its latest Un-Carrier Next event. There were three big announcements, including Team of Experts, a new partnership with Live Nation, and free Pandora Plus for all customers.Here's a quick breakdown of everything that was announced!Team of ExpertsTeam of Experts is T-Mobile's new initiative for rethinking the way customer service is handled. Gone are the days of constantly being transferred to different representatives, having to wait for hours on hold, repeating yourself over and over, etc.As part of Team of Experts, T-Mobile is dedicating 30-40 employees to customer groups so that you've always got instant access to someone to help you out. You can get in touch with your Experts by phone, email, texting, or through the T-Mobile app 24 hours a day and 7 days a week. You can communicate with one of the Experts instantly to get your issue...

Whether you're rocking a '67 Impala or your mother's old minivan, your only need three things to make your car safer and more phone-friendly at the same time.Android Auto offers a simplified UI in the car with Google Assistant voice commands that let you control the whole thing hands-free. Even better, non-essential notifications are quashed while in Android Auto's Car Mode, so new emails from work or new Snaps from your friends won't tempt you to try turning Android Auto off.And since Android Auto can run right independently of a car stereo, you're already at least a third of the way to a safer driving experience.Dependable, affordable magnetic car mountsBluetooth adapter for car stereoAndroid Auto AutolaunchDependable, affordable car mountsThere are car mounts available for every style and price point, but the easiest car mounts on the market right now are magnetic car mounts. You stick a slightly magnetized metal plate to the back of your phone — or slip one bet...

We know the Shield rocks a solid Android TV experience, but the Shield Pro might just be the better buy.The NVIDIA Android Shield TV does just about everything from streaming 4K movies and TV shows to playing high-end Android games with the included Shield Controller. But when NVIDIA refreshed the line at the start of the year, it kept around the Shield "Pro" model as well — and in this case, it hasn't been physically redesigned like the standard version, though it retains its $299 price tag.That leaves an interesting question about whether you should consider the standard Shield Android TV model or the Pro — let us help you decide.See at AmazonIt's all about the storageOn the face of it, there's one big choice: can you get by with 16GB of internal storage in the base model, or do you need the breathing room of a 500GB hard drive? The Shield Pro's 500GB storage will give you tons of room to install as many games and store as much media as just about anyone wou...

The answer is simple for most people.Samsung pulled out the stops for the power-users with the launch of the Galaxy Note 9. Three of the biggest things spec hounds were looking for all received significant improvements over the last generation: battery, storage, and memory. At the same time, the price went up — and in the case of the 512GB model, it went way up. Most people who were originally excited about the idea of a 512GB storage Galaxy Note 9 quickly tempered their lust after seeing the $1249 price tag.But even still, people will be looking at the upgraded model. As you consider your Note 9 purchase and try to decide which storage is right for you, we have a few things for you to keep in mind.Who should get 128GB128GB is the baseline Note 9 storage and will automatically grab a majority of sales because of it. Most people who had a 32 or 64GB phone previously will be extremely happy with the jump up to 128GB of storage by default. The price jump from the Note 8 up...

From new gestures to extending battery life, here's everything you need to know about Android Pie!Following last year's Oreo release, 2018 is the year of Android 9 Pie.Google's latest flavor of Android is jam-packed with all sorts of new features, including a brand-new gesture navigation system, new UI elements, and a heap of under-the-hood tweaks that aim to make this the best version of Android to date.Without further ado, here's everything you need to know about Pie!The latest Android Pie newsAugust 15, 2018 — A fix is coming for slow-charging speeds on Pixel and Pixel XL running PieGoogle's Pixel and Pixel XL are among the first smartphones to be treated by the Android 9 Pie update, but after getting the new software, users have been complaining about slow charging speeds with both the official charger that's included with the phones and third-party ones. This bug's been reported by both Pixel and Pixel XL owners, so we're glad to hear that a fix is on the way...

Power for everything you own!The Anker PowerPort Cube 3-outlet 3 USB port ultra compact power strip is down to $19.54. This is a brand new product from Anker and doesn't really have much of a pricing history to speak of. It sells for $26 normally and has dropped down to just over $21 with a coupon code recently.This is about as small a power strip you can expect to find, especially considering it manages to fit six plugs (3 AC outlets, 3 USB ports) in a compact fashion. The USB ports have a max output of 18W and the outlets have a max of 1250W, which is plenty of power for whatever you're plugging. At less than 2.5 cubic inches, it won't take up any space wherever you choose to put it. Anker also backs it up with an 18-month warranty.See at Amazon...

Let this be your extended user manual for all things PlayStation VR!It wasn't all that long ago VR was considered either something simple you added to a phone for a quick distraction or something amazingly complex for those who could afford the lengthy requirements of ownership. Sony created a compelling middle ground by doing what they do best — making something you actually want to have in your living room. PlayStation VR is a companion for your PlayStation 4 that elevates your current games and helps you explore an entirely new way to feel like you are the character you're playing.Being able to fully enjoy this experience requires more than just taking one out of the box. Here's our complete user manual for all things PSVR! Don't forget to stay updated with our PlayStation VR Newsfeed!Try before you buy!Which PlayStation 4 should I use for my VR system?There's more than one box named PlayStation 4, but don't panic! They all work with PlayStation VR, but one may o...

Now, where's that Oreo update for the U.S.?In mid-July, BlackBerry announced it was running an invite-only Android Oreo beta for the KEYone to trial the software update before rolling it out to all users. Starting today, August 15, that update is finally being released to all KEyone owners in Canada.The Oreo update will start rolling out around 9:00 AM ET, and if you don't get a notification for it, you can always manually check for the update by going to Settings -> System -> System Updates.All of the features we've come to know and love from Oreo are here, including picture-in-picture, Google's Autofill API for easier password entry, adaptive icons, and more.Oreo's taste might seem a bit stale at this point considering that Android Pie is already rolling out to certain handsets, but even so, a software update is still a software update.BlackBerry KEY2 review: Just my typeBlackBerry KEYoneBlackBerry KEYone reviewKEYone vs. Priv: Battle of the BlackBerry ...

The Amazon Basics 2.1 Sound Bar. ($99 at Amazon)An integrated subwoofer and three EQ options produce better sound than your TV, for less than $100.The Amazon Basics 2.1 Sound Bar is a basic sound bar. From Amazon. Blessed be the tech product whose name actually describes what it is.Here's what else it is: A 31-inch sound bar that does what it does pretty well, and does it for $99. It's also a "2.1" sound bar, meaning it's got two channels of speakers (left and right), plus a subwoofer. Not a separate, external subwoofer, mind you. Instead, it's built into the sound bar.Plus this one has a few features you won't find in other similarly priced sound bars.All in all? Not a bad product for just under a hundred bucks. Still need more before buying? Read on.See at AmazonMore basics on this basic Amazon Basics sound bar: It's got a 2.7-inch downward-firing subwoofer. It spits out the bottom of the sound bar itself, and that explains the rather large feet that lift the body of...

Samsung's new wearable starts at $329.The Galaxy Note 9 was definitely the star of the show at Samsung's big Unpacked event last week, but even so, we're still plenty excited about the company's latest smartwatch — the Galaxy Watch.The Galaxy Watch doesn't offer anything we haven't seen before from a Samsung wearable, but features like the circular design, rotating bezel, NFC for Samsung Pay, and robust fitness-tracking with Samsung Health still have us excited to see how the Galaxy Watch performs in day-to-day use.Looking through the AC forums, it would appear that most people are also pretty keen on checking out the new gadget. bhatech 08-13-2018 11:58 PM “ Just placed the order for the 46mm Galaxy watch from Samsung direct. Should be delivered around the same time my Note 9 delivers from Amazon. Reply JoePa2624 08-14-2018 10:47 PM ...

Build your squad and compete on your Android phone.With the NFL preseason well underway, the NFL's premier mobile football game is showing life today. Madden Mobile has been updated for the 2018 season, but don't panic if you can't find it in your phone — it's now called Madden Overdrive.What it is, what's changed, and what you can expect when you fire it up. We've got everything you need to know about Madden Overdrive.What is Madden Overdrive?Madden Overdrive is the annual NFL game made by EA designed specifically for smartphones and tablets. The series used to be called Madden Mobile, but EA is touting its biggest leaps forward yet for the series this year, so much so that there's an edgy new name to go along with it.While previous Madden games have tried to emulate an accurate NFL gameday experience, such as tasking you with playing a full four-quarter football game by controlling offense, defense, and special teams, Madden Overdrive aims to make a more mobile-...

Where you buy matters more than ever, especially when it comes to how your phone performs over time.There are a lot of important questions when it comes to choosing a Galaxy Note 9. You need to be sure you're ready to drop $1,000 (or $1250 if you decide to really go all out on the 512GB model) on a phone in the first place. You need to make sure you're choosing the right color to show off your new phone to your friends. You need to find a case you're comfortable using for a while. But it's also important to think about where you're going to be buying your phone, which is something that doesn't always get as much thought as it maybe should.Carrier controlled or unlocked, that's the big question you should ask before dropping cash on a Note 9. And unfortunately, the answer isn't quite as clear as it should be.Financing a Note 9The obvious first reason to buy a locked phone from a carrier is not needing to pay for the whole phone up front. U.S. carriers have largely moved away...

Never worry about running out of space again.You can save on some additional storage for your phone, tablet, action camera and more today as the 128GB SanDisk Extreme Pro microSDXC card is reduced in price at Amazon UK. It's down to just £37.49, after having sold for over £50 most recently.The card supports 4K UHD video and can read data at 100MB/sec — making it ideal for phones with higher-end camera capabilities or for your digital camera/action cam itself. Importantly, the Extreme Pro series is rated A1, meaning the cards are optimised for providing a faster smartphone experience and enable apps to be loaded quickly, making this the perfect card to expand the storage of your phone or tablet.The 64GB version of this card is also discounted, on sale for £28.30 — down from around £33 — as part of SanDisk's sale on additional storage that includes SD cards, microSD cards, USB Flash Drives and more.For more UK deals coverage, be sure to...

Take a look at a huge fundamental change to Android navigationAndroid 9 Pie's consumer launch is exciting for a whole bunch of reasons, not the least of which being a brand new gesture navigation system that eschews the standard "back, home, recents" buttons we've all grown accustomed to. The replacement is a gesture-based interface that hides the recents button, and even the back button sometimes, to hopefully let you move more fluidly and intuitively through the interface.But when you install Android Pie on your phone, you won't actually see this new gesture navigation system by default — you have to enable it to experience this significant change to the way Android works. Follow these steps:Open up your phone's Settings.Scroll down and tap on System.Find Gestures and tap on it.Tap on Swipe up on home button.Toggle the switch to on — you'll notice the navigation buttons change immediately.Aside from the oddly named and placed settings, that's a pretty simpl...

Entry-level phones from the cheap to the... very cheap.Android Go is Google's latest effort to make the experience of owning an entry-level Android phone less frustrating. The $100 price point is overrun by phones that come with outdated versions of Android and underpowered hardware, and Android Go is designed to fix these shortcomings. Aimed primarily at markets like India and Africa — where hundreds of millions of users are projected to make their way online for the first time in the coming years — Android Go aims to offer an uncluttered software experience.Android Go is a barebones take on Android that is designed specially to run on low-powered hardware — devices with 4GB of storage and 512MB of RAM. Google created lightweight versions of its apps that work better on entry-level hardware, and the OS takes up a mere fraction of the space as a full-fledged Android install. Sure, the hardware isn't the fastest around, but you're getting the promise of quick upd...

The Mi A2 goes up against the best-selling phone in India.Xiaomi's Redmi Note series has turned into a juggernaut: over the last two years, phones in this series have defined the budget segment in India. To put things into context, the Redmi Note 5 series managed to rake in sales of over 5 million units in just under four months, and one out of every ten phones sold in India over the last three months was either a Redmi Note 5 or a Note 5 Pro.Then there's the Mi A2, Xiaomi's 2018 Android One device. The Mi A2 shares a lot of similarities on the hardware front with the Redmi Note 5 Pro — both share a design aesthetic, same display, and a lot of the internal components are also identical.There's no question that the Redmi Note 5 Pro continues to be one of the best-selling phones in India. Let's see how Xiaomi's other budget phone fares next to it.Xiaomi Mi A2 vs. Xiaomi Redmi Note 5 Pro: SpecsCategory Xiaomi Mi A2 Xiaomi Redmi Note 5 ProOperating System Android...

They aren't even trying to hide it.Remember the Motorola One Power that leaked a few months back with an iPhone X-like notch and a vertical dual camera array? It turns out that phone might be going by a different name, the Motorola P30.According to leaked press renders from AndroidPure, the Motorola P30 looks almost indistinguishable from the iPhone X in most angles. It has a metal and glass design with rounded corners and a wide notch at the top of the display. There's a vertical dual camera array around back with an LED flash between the sensors, and one feature the iPhone X lacks — a rear-mounted fingerprint sensor integrated into the Motorola logo.Speaking of Motorola logos … like always, there's one at the bottom of the display, because Motorola just couldn't help itself. From the looks of the leaked images, the P30 could practically fit in an iPhone X case, though the volume buttons sit above the power button along the right side of the frame, leaving the lef...

Verizon workers install 5G radios in Indianapolis — the company's fourth city announced to receive residential 5G service.Details are scarce, other than Verizon 5G is coming to Indianapolis.Verizon today announced that Indianapolis will be its fourth city to receive residential 5G service. And to sweeten the deal, it's pairing up with Google and Apple for some sort of deal for YouTube TV and Apple TV 4K for subscribers.Houston, Los Angeles and Sacramento previously were announced and will also partake in the YouTube TV and Apple TV 4K fun.Verizon said more details on the YouTube TV deal would be announced when its residential 5G service actually goes on sale. Currently, YouTube TV has a flat rate of $40 for its service, with additional add-on channels available. It's not clear if Verizon will foot the bill for YouTube TV in its entirety, or subsidize it for a fixed amount of time. It's also not clear if it's throwing in an Apple TV 4K for free — it merely...

Get rid of the Galaxy's most disappointing feature.The Galaxy Note 9 is coming August 24, and it also integrates Bixby. While we're still evaluating the software, we believe that these steps will be the same on the Galaxy Note 9.Ever since Samsung announced the Galaxy S8 with its onboard assistant, Bixby, people have been asking for ways to disable it and forget the button ever existed in the first place. With the Galaxy S9, that chorus is even louder.While the hardware's not going anywhere, we can definitely do something about the software. Here's how to get rid of Bixby Voice and, if you're using Samsung's launcher, Bixby Home.Why do you want to disable Bixby?One of the biggest frustrations with the Bixby button is its placement; the button is right under the volume keys and nearly directly opposite the power buttons. On larger phones like the Galaxy S9+ and Note 8, this often leads to accidental presses and unintended Bixby launches, especially when double-pressing the p...

There's a lot going on with the Google Assistant — let's break down the important stuff.In May 2016, we got our very first taste of the Google Assistant with the debut of Allo. The Assistant was a big draw to Allo at the time, with Google marketing it as a helpful bot that could make restaurant reservations, search the web, and more within your conversations.Since then, the Assistant has gained heaps of new features and expanded to smartphones, tablets, speakers, and more. Google's shown no interest in slowing down development for the Assistant, meaning that it's likely here for the long-haul.Whether this is your first encounter with it or you just need a quick refresher, here's everything you need to know about the Google Assistant.The latest Google Assistant newsAugust 14, 2018 — Pandora Premium now supported by Google Home and Smart DisplaysUsers have been able to stream Pandora through Google Home speakers for quite some time now, but starting today, you'l...

Fallout 76 has the potential to bring the franchise to new heights with these five opportunities.Fallout 76's massively-multiplayer online focus (MMO), as well as the fact that it's set before the rest of the Fallout games, leaves plenty of room for Bethesda to go wild with what it offers to the player. Here are five things that would make Fallout 76 awesome.Read: New Fallout 76 trailer details perk cardsSee at AmazonSettlement blueprint sharingFallout 76 is going to overhaul Fallout 4's settlement system, allowing you to create blueprints for entire towns so you can pack up your settlement at a moment's notice and move it to a different location. This is similar to how Halo 5 lets people group objects together in the Forge mode and save them as prefabrications.However, there is one key difference: with Halo 5, you can download prefabs and use them in your own maps. Currently, that doesn't appear to be the case with the settlement blueprints you can create in Fallout ...

To love the Moto Z3 is to embrace every phone that Motorola's made over the past five years, to accept the company's decisions around modular telephony and gesture-friendly software. It's to understand that Motorola doesn't have the influence in the U.S. it once did, and to rationalize the deals it makes with carriers to get its phones on shelves and into people's pockets.To love the Moto Z3 is to love the best parts of the Moto Z2 Force and the Moto Z3 Play, and to pretend that this phone isn't just a messy mashup of those two devices.To buy the Moto Z3, however, is a different story.Moto Z3 Price: $480Bottom line: The Moto Z3 is a capable phone that, even without its impending 5G bona fides, fits into a strong mid-range lineup at Verizon.See at AmazonPros:Awesome battery lifeExcellent, fluid softwareMoto Display makes an...

5G is coming sooner than you think.Motorola may have already shown off a 5G Moto Mod for its new Moto Z3, but that accessory isn't due to be released until early 2019 — and even then, it's just an add-on that attaches to the back of your phone. Another device to purchase, another device to keep charged, and another device to carry with you at all times.For 5G to really start taking off, we're going to need to start seeing phones with integrated 5G radios built directly in, and LG is teaming up with Sprint to make that happen.Unfortunately, neither company has given much info on the phone; we don't know whether to expect the LG G8 to be 5G-capable or if this is a different phone entirely, but either way the companies are looking to ship this 5G phone in the first half of 2019.Sprint says its 5G-capable Massive MIMO cell sites can deliver up to 10 times the capacity of its existing LTE systems — at first, it'll roll out in Atlanta, Chicago, Dallas, Houston, Kan...