Samsung’s free Gear VR offer with Galaxy S7 and S7 edge purchase goes live

As promised a few weeks ago, Samsung has started offering people in the U.S. who purchase a Galaxy S7 or Galaxy S7 edge a free Gear VR headset. (Or, in some instances, the Gear S2 smartwatch.)

The offer is for people who pre-ordered or ordered those phones from between Feb. 23 through March 18. Those folks have under March 31 to submit their Offer Claim Form and valid purchase receipt. along with the phone’s IMEI and Wi-Fi MAC address, at the Gear VR offer site. The offer also includes six free games that are worth about $50 in total, in addition to the $99 Gear VR. The headset will be mailed out in between four to six weeks.

Check out Samsung’s free Gear VR offer

Samsung Galaxy S7

• Galaxy S7 and S7 edge hands-on
• Galaxy S7 and S7 edge specs
• Here are all four Galaxy S7 colors
• Details on the Galaxy S7’s camera
• The SD card is back on the GS7
• Join our Galaxy S7 forums

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Samsung Gear VR

• Gear VR review
• Five Gear VR games that shouldn’t be missed
• Inside Samsung’s Gear VR web browser
• Gear VR vs. Google Cardboard
• Where to buy Gear VR

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Google, Microsoft, Amazon, Facebook and others file joint amicus brief supporting Apple

Google has officially joined other major tech companies like Microsoft, Facebook, Amazon and more in filing an amicus brief, or “friend of the court” statement. It’s supporting Apple in its current legal fight against the FBI over unlocking an iPhone used by one of the San Bernardino shooting suspects.

Apple has refused the FBI’s order, stating that such a move could cause others to gain access to the phone via a “backdoor”. The other companies that are joining the brief are Box, Cisco, Dropbox, Evernote, Mozilla, Nest Labs, Pinterest, Slack, Snapchat, WhatsApp and Yahoo. In a statement, Microsoft’s president Brad Smith says:

“We’ve reached a critical moment in which a new generation of mobile and cloud-based technologies have far outrun the laws that protect our safety and preserve our timeless and fundamental rights. By standing with Apple, we’re standing up for customers who depend on us to keep their most private information safe and secure.”

Google has yet to offer its own statement on joining the amicus brief as of this writing.

Source: Microsoft

Hello Games gives No Man’s Sky an official release date for PS4 and PC

British indie game maker Hello Games has just announced a release date for its upcoming epic, No Man’s Sky.

The title is much-anticipated because of its sheer scale; you are free to explore the game’s virtual open universe of about 18 quintillion planets. Amazingly, a small team of only about 10 or so developers is behind No Man’s Sky. Hence all the excitement. Well, we knew it was due to release in June, but now we’ve been given an official date: 21 June (Engadget says 24 June for the UK).

On those days, it’ll arrive for PlayStation 4 and PC. There’s even a physical Blu-ray edition for PS4. Pre-orders are live now through PlayStation, Amazon, BestBuy, GameStop and Steam. Although it costs $59.99 (£50 on PS4 and £40 on PC), that figure pales in comparison to the whopping $150 Explorer’s Edition (a limited version of the game sold exclusively by iam8bit).

Depicted as another PlayStation first title, No Man’s Sky, the “universe size sandbox”, is one of those mind-bogglingly impressive games that leaves us wanting more each time we see it. And at E3 2015, we saw gameplay involving space combat, research, and discovery.

It’s a game so big that not even the developers know how every planet in every solar system in this giant space exploring epic will look, nor what exactly will be on their surfaces. It’s like the big band theory to video games.

Watch a recent trailer below for a closer look.

Nintendo makes SNES games exclusive to ‘New’ Nintendo 3DS

Want to play classic, Super Nintendo games on the go? Hope you updated to Nintendo’s vaguely named “New” Nintendo 3DS last year, then — the company just announced that the latest additions to its virtual console library are exclusive to the revised handheld. Starting later today, NN3DS owners will be able to download Super Mario World, F-Zero and Pilotwings from the Nintendo E-Shop.
The announcement is a little bittersweet. SNES support has been one of the most requested additions to the virtual console library since the launch of the 3DS, but the general consensus was that the handheld console simply wasn’t powerful enough to emulate the 16-bit hardware. It’s the same reason Nintendo hasn’t released GameBoy Advance games for the 3DS, apart from the few titles it gave to 3DS Ambassadors back in 2011 — and even those didn’t work that well, forcing the handheld to reboot into a mode that disables most of its features. The New Nintendo 3DS upgraded processor, however, apparently gives the device enough oomph to do the job. Having the games on the New Nintendo 3DS is better than nothing, but it’s still a bummer for folks who haven’t upgraded to the new hardware.

If you have bought in to Nintendo’s upgraded handheld, however, the new VC games seem pretty nice. Virtual Console SNES games will include a “perfect pixel” mode to retain the original hardware’s aspect ratio, and Nintendo is promising a solid line-up of classics for the next few weeks — including Donkey Kong Country (and Donkey Kong Country 2), Super Mario Kart, Earthbound, The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past and Super Metroid. Not bad! Unfortunately Nintendo hasn’t said how much each title will cost or if it will offer discounts to users who already purchased the games on their Wii U. Here’s hoping.

Update: That price? $7.99 a pop, sadly without any discount for folks who already purchased the title on the Nintendo Wii U. Bummer.

‘Monster Hunter Generations’ hits 3DS in the summer

Monster Hunter Generations, known as Monster Hunter X in Japan, hits 3DS in the summer across the western world, Nintendo announced today. Monster Hunter is a popular action role-playing series that has players find, battle and capture fantastical creatures, and Generations will be no different.

Dedicated series fans can transfer their save data from Monster Hunter 4 to Generations to unlock bonus content. To sweeten that deal, Monster Hunter 4 is on sale for $20 in the Nintendo eShop for 48 hours starting at 3PM PT today. Start hunting those monsters, people.

Monster Hunter X is coming to the #3DS in the west as #MonsterHunter Generations! #NintendoDirectNA pic.twitter.com/4O03unN9xk

— Nintendo of America (@NintendoAmerica) March 3, 2016

‘Kirby’ returns to your hands in June with ‘Planet Robobot’

Everyone’s favorite spherical pink vacuum cleaner is back in Kirby: Planet Robobot for 3DS. It uses a 2.5D perspective where you can jump between different depth planes in the sidescroller. What’s more, when you suck up an enemy you’ll gain access to a version of their specific abilities, including one that has you donning a robot suit. Amiibo support is planned as well, with each of Nintendo’s plastic figurines granting Kirby with a different ability. Tapping Mario onto your 3DS will grant Kirby a fire ability, while Link unlocks a sword, for example. Nintendo’s Bill Trinen says that each amiibo will unlock something different of some sort.

A special line of new Kirby amiibo are en route for June as well, including Kirby itself, King Dedede, Meta Knight and Waddle Dee. Tapping the new Kirby to the handheld will unlock a UFO-like ability where you can fly around stages.

There’s also a multiplayer mode, dubbed “Team Kirby Clash.” You and three buddies (or computer controlled partners) will face off against bosses in arena battles. And there’s an RPG element to this as well, with victories unlocking experience points (a series first) that allow you to upgrade your character to take on bigger and more powerful enemies. If your friends don’t own the game but you do, it offers Download Play so they can join in without shelling out any cash of their own.

When can you bring this adorable puffball and its line of amiibo out of your browser window and into your life? June 10th.

New #amiibo figures for Kirby, King Dedede, Meta Knight & Waddle Dee will launch alongside Kirby: Planet Robobot. pic.twitter.com/9eTsKD5cEa

— Nintendo of America (@NintendoAmerica) March 3, 2016

The Wirecutter’s best deals: TCL’s 50-inch Roku TV and more!

This post was done in partnership with The Wirecutter, a buyer’s guide to the best technology. Read their continuously updated list of deals at TheWirecutter.com.

You may have already seen Engadget posting reviews from our friends at The Wirecutter. Now, from time to time, we’ll also be publishing their recommended deals on some of their top picks. Read on, and strike while the iron is hot — some of these sales could expire mighty soon.

TCL 50FS3800 50-Inch TV

Street price: $420; MSRP: $600; deal price: $350

This TV has seen a gradual decline for some time now. It dropped to $420 in January, and we thought it was worth posting when it finally hit $400. Since then it has actually dropped down to $350, its lowest price ever. And since you already have streaming video built into this one, you save money due to not requiring a separate streaming device.

The TCL 50FS3800 is our streaming content pick for the best TV around $500. Chris Heinonen said, “The 50-inch TCL 50FS3800 offers an image that is worse than the other models we tested but does include complete Roku functionality. This gives it access to far more streaming apps and services than any other TV and an interface that’s clean and easy to use. Setup is simple and easier than any other TV, and the remote is sparse but functional. For the person that places ease-of-use and streaming above picture quality, the TCL can be compelling.”

Netgear EX6200 Wi-Fi Extender

Street price: $105; MSRP: $150; deal price: $90

This is the first good sale we’ve seen on this Wi-Fi extender and a new low by $10. This extender tends to bounce between $100 and $110, so while this isn’t a huge savings, it’s a nice discount.

The Netgear EX6200 is our pick for the best Wi-Fi extender<. David Murphy said, “The Netgear EX6200 is the best wireless extender for most people. It was the only extender we tested that hit speeds above 30 Mbps from 63 feet away—faster than most home Internet plans in the US—and delivered a flawless 4K YouTube stream at that distance. It’s expensive, but the extender’s great speed and range, multiple operating modes, and Gigabit Ethernet ports make it the best choice for people who need a good signal for all of their faraway Wi-Fi (and wired) devices.”

Refurbished Nikon COOLPIX S6900 Camera

Street price: $170 (new); MSRP: $190 (new); deal price: $100

This refurbished deal is a huge discount off of the best price we’ve ever seen on this camera. We previously featured a deal on a new model at $170, and that has since become the street price. This particular deal drops a whopping $70 below that, has been refurbished by Nikon, and comes with a 90 day warranty. It’s also available on eBay through BuyDig.

The Nikon COOLPIX S6900 Camera is our runner-up pick for the best cheap compact camera. Amadou Diallo said, “It has a tilting and touch-sensitive rear screen for both easier use in direct sunlight and a faster method of setting the autofocus point. A fast full-resolution burst mode of 9 fps means you’re more likely to capture the perfect moment when shooting moving subjects.It also comes with a neat built-in stand that lets you prop the camera up in a stable portrait-shooting position. There’s a screen that tilts up to face forward and a shutter button on the front of the camera, all perfect for taking selfies.”

Motorola Moto G 16GB Smartphone

Street price: $220; MSRP: $220; deal price: $200

Here’s a solid deal on this budget Motorola smartphone. This is the first official price drop on the 2015 model of this product. If Amazon runs out of stock, the deal is also available from Motorola until March 7.

The Motorola Moto G is our pick for the best budget Android phone. Ryan Whitwam said, “The Moto G offers the perfect mix of price and features for a budget smartphone, with a clean, feature-rich version of Android that’s better than what you’ll find on most flagship phones, above-average battery life, and best-in-class build quality with IPX7 water resistance.”

Deals change all the time, and some of these may have expired. To see an updated list of current deals, please go to The Wirecutter.com.

The SkyWall 100 is a net-launching anti-drone bazooka

A group of English engineers have developed a new device for downing quadcopters that stray into restricted airspace: the SkyWall 100. This shoulder-mounted net launcher weighs 22 pounds and runs on compressed gas but does reportedly offer a 100-meter range with an 8-second reload time. What’s more, the system uses a “smart scope” that automatically calculates the drone’s distance and vector, informing the operator exactly where to aim. The netting will also deploy a small parachute once it wraps up the UAV — certainly a more gentle alternative to using radio waves or 50mm Bushmasters. There’s no word on price or availability yet, beyond assurances by the group that the first models will be available by the end of the year.

Via: Business Insider

Source: Open Works (YouTube)

Nintendo Direct roundup: ‘Mario Maker,’ ‘Splatoon’ and more

Today’s Nintendo Direct featured a light feast of sci-fi adventures and fantasy tales, including a new Star Fox game, the return of classic Super Nintendo games (exclusive to the New 3DS handheld), a new Kirby game and the announcement of Monster Hunter Generations for Western audiences. Phew. But that wasn’t everything — we’ve collected the best trailers and tweets from today’s Nintendo Direct below. Feast on this:

Splatoon

Prepare your paint guns for two free Splatoon updates. The first, which drops on March 8th, balances some of the game’s gear and improves the matchmaking system. The second update adds new weapon combinations. That one doesn’t have a release date just yet.

A later #Splatoon update will add new weapon combos under the name “Sheldon’s Picks.” #NintendoDirectNA pic.twitter.com/ro1sl2xVRB

— Nintendo of America (@NintendoAmerica) March 3, 2016

Super Mario Maker

Super Mario Maker gets an update on March 9th that adds new items to mess around with, including a key and a locked door. It also throws in a Super Expert mode in the 100-Mario Challenge.

More than 6.2 million #SuperMarioMaker courses have been uploaded. #NintendoDirectNA pic.twitter.com/yAnoHfyFKS

— Nintendo of America (@NintendoAmerica) March 3, 2016

Tokyo Mirage Sessions #FE

This one is a new RPG from the studio behind the Persona and Megami Tensei series. It’s due to hit the Wii U on June 24th.

#TokyoMirageSessions #FE launches exclusively for #WiiU on 6/24. #NintendoDirectNA pic.twitter.com/gurn7mLVgY

— Nintendo of America (@NintendoAmerica) March 3, 2016

Lost Reavers

Lost Reavers is an online multiplayer zombie-fighting and puzzle-solving adventure game from Bandai Namco. The open beta starts on April 14th and the game lands on April 28th.

Paper Mario Color Splash

Wii U players can add a little color to their lives later this year, Nintendo promises.

Paper Mario must bring color back to Prism Island with his new paint hammer! #NintendoDirectNA pic.twitter.com/RVjrPSWazl

— Nintendo of America (@NintendoAmerica) March 3, 2016

Pocket Card Jockey

Pokémon studio Game Freak has a new title called Pocket Card Jockey, and it’s precisely what it sounds like — solitaire mixed with horse racing. The faster you solve the solitaire puzzles, the quicker your horse. This one drops for the 3DS in May.

The wild and unique Pocket Card Jockey launches exclusively in the #eShop on #3DS in May. #NintendoDirectNA pic.twitter.com/k8TWhx1CsA

— Nintendo of America (@NintendoAmerica) March 3, 2016

Azure Striker Gunvolt 2

Azure Striker Gunvolt 2 hits the 3DS eShop in the summer, and the original game is on sale through June 1st.

Hyrule Warriors Legends

This lovely little 3DS game drops on March 25th, complete with four DLC packs. Nintendo will sell a Season Pass that nets customers all of the add-on content (plus a bonus costume for Ganondorf).

A new character is heading to #HyruleWarriorsLegends as DLC: Medli from #Zelda The Wind Waker! #NintendoDirectNA pic.twitter.com/2eMVeNACaJ

— Nintendo of America (@NintendoAmerica) March 3, 2016

Bravely Second: End Layer

End Layer launched in Japan last year and it’s finally coming stateside on April 15th. It’s an RPG and the sequel to Bravely Default, which happens to be a thoroughly enjoyable game if you’re into Japanese levels of grinding and difficulty. A demo for End Layer hits the 3DS on March 10th.

Dragon Quest 7

We’ll let Nintendo break this one down for you:

Dragon Quest VII: Fragments of the Forgotten Past launches for #3DS later in 2016. #NintendoDirectNA pic.twitter.com/VH9z1UvnB2

— Nintendo of America (@NintendoAmerica) March 3, 2016

Metroid Prime: Federation Force

Federation Force is the next official installment in the Metroid series, and it’s an online, multiplayer, quasi-RPG. It has a singleplayer option, as well. Players can customize their characters, focusing on traits like healing or weapons, for example.

Metroid Prime: Federation Force, the next chapter in the Metroid Prime saga, launches in late spring 2016. pic.twitter.com/cxHwQBakAp

— Nintendo of America (@NintendoAmerica) March 3, 2016

Rhythm Heaven Megamix

And finally:

Tap! Tap! TAP! #RhythmHeaven Megamix launches for #3DS later this year. #NintendoDirectNA pic.twitter.com/qO1liHsssc

— Nintendo of America (@NintendoAmerica) March 3, 2016

Speck MightyPack review

As someone who is able to work from practically any laptop or computer, I am fortunate in that I can call just about any room my “office”. While I do have