Amazon to offer more PlayStation VR Launch Bundle pre-orders on March 24

If you weren’t able to get in on pre-ordering a PlayStation VR Launch Bundle from Amazon U.S. before the retailer ran out of stock, Amazon has now confirmed the bundle will once again be available for purchase starting March 24. The retailer made the announcement via Twitter, noting sales will open back up at 2 p.m. PT:

Good news! We’re getting more #PlayStationVR bundles in. They’ll be available for purchase at 2pm tomorrow. https://t.co/tlbPYnee0J

— Amazon Video Games (@amazongames) March 23, 2016

Of course, Best Buy and Gamestop are also among the retailers in the U.S. offering PlayStation VR Launch Bundle pre-orders, so you you have options. Still, if you consider yourself an Amazon loyal, you’ll be able to place a pre-order starting tomorrow, March 24 from the link below.

See at Amazon

Why is there PlayStation stuff here?

PlayStation on Android Central?!? We use our Android phones to interact with the PlayStation 4 — especially if you have a Sony Xperia phone. We’re also talking a lot more about VR, and PlayStation VR is just as big a part of that conversation. It stretches things outside of Android a little, but it’s also going to be a lot of fun. Enjoy!

• Gaming with Second Screen apps
• Hands-on with PlayStation VR
• Specs comparison: Playstation VR, Oculus Rift, HTC Vive, and Gear VR

Google reportedly building live streaming app dubbed YouTube Connect

Google is reportedly working on its own entry into the live streaming app space with a new app for Android and iPhone dubbed YouTube Connect. Meant as Google’s answer to the popular Periscope and Facebook Live, VentureBeat reports that YouTube Connect would allow users to instantly begin live streaming from anywhere with their smartphone:

YouTube Connect has much of the same functionality that you’d already find with Periscope and Facebook Live, according to a source close to the matter. You can log into the app using your Google or YouTube account and immediately begin streaming from your mobile phone. There are chat and tagging features, and a “news feed” that features the latest clips from your friends or those that you’ve subscribed to on YouTube.

The report goes on to note that videos would be viewable either from the YouTube Connect app or on the YouTube website on the streamer’s channel. Streamers will also reportedly have the option to archive previous broadcasts, allowing viewers to catch up with replays.

It’s worth noting that YouTube has had the ability for creators to live stream video for a while, with its most recent move focusing on live gaming via the YouTube Gaming app. For Android users, Sony and Samsung both offer options for live streaming direct to YouTube through their camera apps as well. YouTube Connect, however, sounds like a fresh take on the spontaneous streaming that has gained popularity with the advent of Periscope.

‘Star Wars: The Force Awakens’ Blu-ray rip leaks to torrents

After grossing over $2 billion in theaters, Star Wars: The Force Awakens has made its long awaited debut… on the piracy scene. The movie is scheduled for release via download until April 1st, and the Blu-ray arrives April 5th, but now that the discs are pressed one has inevitably leaked out. TorrentFreak estimated that in the first 12 hours over 250,000 people had already downloaded a copy, and it’s currently topping trackers like The Pirate Bay and Kickass Torrents.

Despite DRM and takedown notices, there’s little Disney can do to get the movie off of the internet, although one wonders if an earlier digital release may have helped. By comparison, yesterday Fox put The Revenant up for sale through online retailers like iTunes, Google Play and Vudu nearly a month before the Blu-ray and Ultra HD Blu-ray version will be available on April 19th. TFA will probably still do gangbusters at retail, but I wonder how many of those downloaders would pay for a copy if they had a legitimate option available.

Source: TorrentFreak

Chinese man pleads guilty to stealing US aerospace secrets

Some two years after the United States charged Chinese national Su Bin as part of a conspiracy to steal aerospace info, he’s pleaded guilty to the crime. For that he’ll face a maximum sentence of five years behind bars and a $250,000 fine “or twice the gross gain or gross loss resulting from the offense;” whichever is a higher amount, according to the Department of Justice. Part of his deal entailed admitting that the data pilfered (including info from the U.S. Munitions list) was done so expressly for monetary gain.

Bin played an important role in the conspiracy, directing his hacker colleagues on who to attack (be it a person, technology or company) and which individual folders to steal from a firm like Boeing’s computer systems. The files within included data on the C-17 transport aircraft (above) and “certain fighter planes.” He worked as a translator as well, putting the stolen information in the native language of potential Chinese buyers.

The feds cite this as an example that if you’re performing cyber attacks on the US, the government won’t hold back in their pursuit — no matter where you live. In this case that means Canada, but it’s an image the agencies certainly want to project as these attacks become more common, and it’s issuing warrants in places like Syria. The only problem with that, however, is that Su Bin’s two co-conspirators in China remain unindicted.

Source: Department of Justice

Google Maps Updated With Ride Services Tab and Spotlight Search Integration

Google today updated its Google Maps app with a new ride service tab, Spotlight Search integration and the ability to save route options. While Uber has been integrated into Google Maps for the past two years, the new ride service tab allows users to more easily access pickup times and prices. In international destinations, Google has integrated several other ride hailing companies.

If you have a provider’s app installed and tap on the ride service tab, you’ll be able to see fare estimates and pick up times if a car is available near you. Select a service, and we’ll take you directly to their app for you to book your ride with one tap. When it makes sense, we’ll also show ride service availability when viewing the map in walking and transit directions, and multiple ride services options for each provider—where they exist. For example, if you’re using Uber, starting today, we’ll now show uberX, uberXL and UberBLACK for an easy and quick comparison.

While American Google Maps users only get Uber, users in five other countries will receive additional options: 99Taxis in Brazil, Ola Cabs in India, Hailo in the UK and Spain, mytaxi in Germany and Spain, and Gett in the UK.

The update will also allow users to use Spotlight Search to find their favorite saved places as well as places they’ve recently viewed in Google Maps. Driving, walking and biking route options can also be saved for later use.

Google Maps for iOS is available for free in the App Store. [Direct Link]

Tag: Google Maps
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Mohu BeBox review – CNET

The Good The Mohu BeBox offers a big sound from a big box, along with plenty of battery life for tailgating. Features such as the integrated Android console and HDMI output help the product stand out from competitors. The ability to install Wi-Fi streaming apps makes the speaker more flexible than a standard Bluetooth speaker.

The Bad The speaker isn’t controllable over Wi-Fi without clunky third-party apps. Sound quality isn’t as good as other Wi-Fi speakers for the money. Getting music onto the device can be tricky.

The Bottom Line The Mohu BeBox is an idiosyncratic Android-powered boom box that offers a big sound and Pandora’s box full of features.

Android tablets: They’re now so commoditized that they’re freebies — the extras thrown in the box when you buy video and audio equipment. Vizio’s new 2016 P series TVs include a free Android tablet that doubles as a remote control. And the $500 Mohu BeBox, reviewed here, is basically an old-school boombox with an Android tablet (and wireless audio streaming) built in.

You wouldn’t expect Mohu — the company best known for those wafer-thin over-the-air TV antennas you paste on your window — to be a likely suspect for such an offbeat product. And even though the operating system is a lot more robust now than it used to be, Android audio/video gadgets can still feel clunky: the BeBox wireless speaker sometimes feels a little like this. It’s one part Philips Screenio with two parts Sony ZX2 Walkman. And the Mohu doesn’t sound as good as equivalently priced Wi-Fi speakers from the likes of Bose and Sonos.

That said, the BeBox does sound better than some of the more expensive Bluetooth speakers. And while it’s large and somewhat heavy for a “portable,” its built-in rechargeable battery means it can be moved from room to backyard, or wherever you want your tunes — be they app-based sources like Spotify or Pandora or gigabytes worth of your own files. If you value its uniqueness, and can look past some minor connectivity foibles, the Mohu BeBox could be the Jack-of-all-trades you’ve been looking for.

Design and features

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Sarah Tew/CNET

While an Android boombox may seem out of the blue for an antenna company, the company has flirted with Android-based gadgets before: the Mohu Channels box came out in 2014.

Compared to most other $500 wireless speakers, the Mohu BeBox can only be described as “large” at 19 inches across and over a foot tall. It’s shaped a little like the pole-mounted dust pan that a janitor might use: a rounded box and an angled console (where the dust goes, maybe in both instances). In addition to the touchscreen display, the console features capacitive buttons to turn the display on and off, adjust volume, or toggle inputs. The physical power button on the rear is a welcome feature.

If you’re toting this thing about, it weighs a not-too-uncomfortable 14.5 pounds, and it comes with a convenient carrying handle on the back.

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Sarah Tew/CNET

The display is, effectively, a 7-inch (non-removable) tablet that features a 1,024×600-pixel LCD. The tablet is based on Android KitKat (version 4.4) and comes preloaded with a music app called “Apollo”. The device also includes the Google Play store so that you can load more apps via Wi-Fi. Of the streaming apps I tried I found that some , like Spotify, worked better than others. Tidal, for instance, displayed strangely on the screen.

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Sarah Tew/CNET

The player enables you to play from the built-in 16GB of storage, via a plug-in USB key (up to 64GB), or by using a 32GB Micro SD card. Mohu recommends using the last method, as getting music onto the speaker is otherwise convoluted. For example, while the Apollo app suggests you can load music from a PC via a USB cable, this simply won’t work (as Mohu confirmed). While you can choose to hold down tracks in the Apollo interface to download them from a USB drive, I found it’s easier loading up an SD card instead.

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Sarah Tew/CNET

The BeBox is a stereo speaker with two sets of 3-inch midrange drivers and soft dome tweeters, underpinned with a single 6.5-inch long-throw woofer.

The company says the speaker is capable of up to eight hours of battery life using the onboard battery. I tested the speaker sporadically without charging over several months, and it still managed to retain 50 per cent of its charge.

Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ300 review – CNET

The Good The Panasonic Lumix FZ300 has a best-in-class 24x f2.8 25-600mm lens; excellent photo and video quality for a small-sensor compact; extensive shooting mode and setting options; comfortable body and control layout; its body is weather resistant; and it records great-looking 4K video that can also be used for grabbing 8-megapixel stills.

The Bad The controls and setting navigation may be overwhelming if you’re used to “leaving it in Auto.” Because of the lens, it is bigger — and more expensive — than other small-sensor cameras with comparable zoom ranges. No headphone jack.

The Bottom Line The Panasonic Lumix FZ300 might not be a huge update from its predecessor, the FZ200, but it’s still one of the best in its class and a fantastic option for a single camera for photos and video — even in the rain.

When friends or family ask me if they should get a point-and-shoot or if their smartphone is good enough, my answer basically comes down to whether they need a camera with a superzoom lens or need one that is rugged. (Picture quality isn’t really an issue anymore since the newest smartphones are on par with the average point-and-shoot. If you want better pictures, step up to a large-sensor advanced compact or a dSLR or mirrorless interchangeable lens camera.)

The Panasonic Lumix FZ300 is one of the only cameras available that can turn that “or” into an “and.” Typically, if you want a rugged camera, one that can really handle drops and is waterproof, it won’t have a very long zoom lens. The opposite is also true: If you want a lot of zoom, you’re not going to find one that’s extremely rugged. The FZ300, however, has a superb 24x f2.8 25-600mm lens and is also splashproof and dustproof.

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Sarah Tew/CNET

The camera, which sells for about $500 in the US, AU$680 in Australia and £440 in the UK (where it’s called the FZ330), also has such a full feature set that it’s perfect if you want something in between a point-and-shoot and a digital SLR-like experience. Because it uses a 1/2.3-inch type sensor, though, (a size typically found in point-and-shoots and premium smartphones) its photo quality doesn’t compare to a digital SLR or a large-sensor advanced compact, including Panasonic’s own FZ1000. Losing some image quality is part of the price you pay to get the 35mm equivalent of an f2.8 600mm lens in a relatively compact and affordable package. A dSLR lens with those specs would be huge and cost thousands.

Just to clarify why this lens is so good, the problem with most superzoom cameras is that in order to keep the price and size of the camera small, the lenses have small apertures. Without getting too bogged down in specifics, a small aperture lets in less light, and less light can lead to motion blur and/or soft and noisy photos and movies. And when you zoom, the available maximum aperture gets even smaller letting in even less light.

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The Olympus Stylus SH-2 (left) might have the same size sensor and zoom range as the FZ300, but its maximum aperture of f3.0 at 25mm and f6.9 at 600mm means it lets in significantly less light than the FZ300’s constant f2.8 aperture.

Joshua Goldman/CNET

With the FZ300’s capability to stay at f2.8 throughout its zoom range, you don’t need to be shooting in full sun or using its higher ISO settings to get a good shot. In fact, during shooting in mixed daylight conditions, the camera rarely went above ISO 400.

That’s a good thing, too, because the JPEGs straight from the camera are a little on the soft side, especially if you head above ISO 400. My recommendation would be shoot in raw or raw plus JPEG. Panasonic is a little heavy on the noise reduction at higher ISO settings and by shooting in raw you can control the balance between detail and noise.

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On the left is a 100 percent crop from a JPEG straight from the camera captured at ISO 320. The picture on the right is the processed raw version.

Joshua Goldman/CNET

The picture above is a good example of what I’m talking about. The JPEG’s fine details have been smeared out of existence while the raw image I processed in about a minute with Adobe Camera Raw has much better detail if a little more noise. (You can see and download full-size versions of these photos and more in the gallery below.)

Samsung Galaxy S7 Edge vs Galaxy S6 Edge

As we all know, Samsung introduced a major design and build quality overhaul to their Galaxy S series last year, and we also got our first look at the all new Edge variant of the Galaxy S6. While largely similar to its flagship counterpart, what made the Galaxy S6 Edge stand out from its sibling and the competition was the unique dual curved edges of the screen, which proved to be very popular. Granted, the functionality on offer was admittedly limited, but the device itself was aesthetically pleasing.

• Samsung Galaxy S7 Edge review
• Samsung Galaxy S6 Edge review

Given the popularity of the Edge variant, it’s no surprise that Samsung has continued to offer this version alongside its more traditional flagship smartphones, including the Galaxy S6 Edge+, and more recently, the Samsung Galaxy S7 Edge, which was introduced at MWC last month and is now making its way to consumers worldwide. As is the case with any current generation smartphone, it is natural to wonder whether the latest offering proves to be a worthy successor, and worth the upgrade. That’s what we find out, as we take an in-depth look at the Samsung Galaxy S7 Edge vs Galaxy S6 Edge!

Buy the Galaxy S7 Edge
Buy the Galaxy S6 Edge

Design

Both smartphones feature the same metal and glass unibody construction that Samsung introduced last year, and the presence of glass means that both devices are slippery and prone to fingerprints. While the Galaxy S6 Edge and its flagship namesake featured the same display size, that isn’t the case with the Galaxy S7 Edge, which comes with a larger 5.5-inch screen, when compared to the 5.1-inch display of its predecessor and the Galaxy S7.

Both devices do look very similar, with even the buttons and ports found in positions atypical of any Samsung smartphone. The power button and volume rocker are on the right and left sides respectively, and the microUSB port, headphone jack, and single speaker unit are placed at the bottom. However, Samsung has made some subtle improvements to the design with the Galaxy S7 Edge, which may not be noticeable right off the bat, but allow for a far better handling experience compared to the Galaxy S6 Edge, despite the former being the larger of the two.

The Galaxy S6 Edge, with its smaller size, allows for better one handed use, but with its prominent chamfers on the sides, the phone does feel sharp in the hand compared to the rounded corners and sides on the Galaxy S7 Edge. Borrowing a design element from the Galaxy Note 5, the back of the Galaxy S7 Edge also comes with curved sides, which lets the larger device nestle nicely in the palm of the hand. The Galaxy S7 Edge is also a touch thicker than its predecessor, but that results in the camera protruding far less than on the Galaxy S6 Edge.

The Galaxy S6 Edge is a great looking device, but whatever issues were prevalent with its handling have been addressed with the Galaxy S7 Edge, and these subtle but important refinements make the latter one of the best feeling smartphones I’ve held so far.

Display

Both smartphones come with Super AMOLED displays with a Quad HD resolution, with the difference in size – 5.5-inches for the Galaxy S7 Edge and 5.1-inches for its predecessor – resulting in pixel densities of 534 ppi and 577 ppi respectively. Samsung’s display prowess shines through once again, with both displays offering what you’d expect from any high-end Samsung device, including deep, inky blacks, vibrant and saturated colors, and wide viewing angles.

Other than the size, there isn’t much of a difference between these displays, and it comes down to whether you prefer the additional screen real estate available with the Galaxy S7 Edge that allows for a better media consumption and gaming experience, or the better one-handed usability you get with the Galaxy S6 Edge.

Performance

Under the hood, the Galaxy S7 Edge comes with the latest and greatest available right now, with this particular version sporting a quad-core Qualcomm Snapdragon 820 processor, clocked at 2.1 GHz, and backed by the Adreno 530 GPU and 4 GB of RAM. Depending on the market, there are versions of the device that come with the Exynos 8890 Octa processing package as well. As expected, the performance is extremely fast, and everything – including opening, closing, and switching apps, multi-tasking, and gaming – is smooth and snappy.

Some “Samsung lag” is seen on occasion, particularly when swiping between the homescreens, but things remain fast for the most part. The aggressive management that plagued previous Samsung flagships is thankfully not as prevalent anymore. Apps remain open much longer, and you can go back much further back in the Recent Apps screen than you ever could before.

On the other hand, the Galaxy S6 Edge featured the best processing package available at the time, coming with an octa-core Exynos 7420 processor, clocked at 2.1 GHz, and backed by the Mali-T760MP8 GPU and 3 GB of RAM. The Exynos 7420 is a beast of a processor, and despite the device being a year old, the phone is still very fast and responsive, including when it comes to multi-tasking and gaming. However, general navigation isn’t as fluid as is seen with the Galaxy S7 Edge, and of course, the RAM management remains an issue here. All said and done, the Galaxy S6 Edge may not match up to current generation flagships, but it continues to be quite a powerful device.

Hardware

Both smartphones come with a fingerprint scanner, once again integrated into the phyiscal home button up front. Both scanners work very well, but the one of the Galaxy S7 Edge is noticeably faster when it comes to unlocking the phone, and ultimately proves to be more accurate. Both devices also come with heart rate monitors, found on the back next to the camera unit.

One of the most controversial aspects of the new design and build quality that was introduced last year was the removal of key hardware features, particularly expandable storage. 32 GB, 64 GB, and 128 GB versions of the Galaxy S6 Edge are available, with users required to pay the premium associated with picking up one of the larger storage options.  However, expandable storage returns in all its glory with the Galaxy S7 Edge, which is fantastic news for those who were especially vocal about its absence with its predecessor. 32 GB and 64GB are the only internal storage options available – although the latter is not as widely stocked as the former – but up to 200GB additional storage can be now be added via a microSD card.

The Galaxy S7 Edge also comes with IP68 rating for dust and water resistance, which isn’t available with the Galaxy S6 Edge. This means that the device can be submerged in up to 1.5 meters of water for as long as 30 minutes, without any negative consequences. While that doesn’t mean you should be throwing the phone into pools and lakes on purpose, it will certainly survive the accidental spill into water, or when you get caught in the rain.

One of the biggest problems with the Galaxy S6 Edge was battery life, with its 2,600 mAh battery not really up to the task. This issue was further accentuated by the fact that the battery was no longer removable, so users no longer had the option of carrying around a spare. The great news is that battery life is no longer a concern with the Galaxy S7 Edge, with its 3,600 mAh unit comfortably allowing for a full day of use, even with moderately heavy usage. Both devices come with fast charging capabilities and wireless charging, but you’ll be using it more frequently with the Galaxy S6 Edge than the Galaxy S7 Edge.

See also: Galaxy S6 Edge review follow-up: three months later56

Camera

The Galaxy S7 Edge features a 12 MP rear camera with a f/1.7 lens, compared to the 16 MP primary camera of the Galaxy S6 Edge, with an f/1.8 lens. While it may seem like a downgrade as far as megapixel count is concerned, if there’s one thing we’ve learnt, it is that megapixels isn’t everything when it comes to determining image quality. The actual sensor and image processing is also very important, and Samsung chose to go with fewer megapixels with the Galaxy S7 Edge in favor of a larger pixel size, which allows for better low light performance.

The Galaxy S7 Edge is also utilizing dual pixel technology that allows for much faster autofocus in all lighting conditions. This applies for both photo and video, and you can really see how much faster the Galaxy S7 Edge focuses over the Galaxy S6 Edge. While the former is practically instantaneous, the Galaxy S6 Edge is much slower, and drifts in focus before finally locking onto a subject.

Galaxy S7 Edge Camera Samples

As far as image quality goes, if you’re just looking at these photos at face value, you won’t really notice too much of a difference. They both take great looking photos with vibrant colors and plenty of detail, but the photos taken with the Galaxy S7 Edge are ever so slightly warmer. If you zoom in, you will also the Galaxy S7 Edge being a bit more aggressive with the sharpening as well.

Galaxy S6 Edge Camera Samples

In some cases, like low light for example, where details tend to get muddy or soft, this extra sharpening actually helps a lot in preserving some of the detail. The Galaxy S7 Edge also does a slightly better job at handling highlights, and when taking macro shots you can see how much of a difference the f/1.7 aperture of the Galaxy S7 Edge makes over the f/1.8 aperture of its predecessor, in terms of a brighter photo and a creamier bokeh.

Software

On the software side of things, the Galaxy S7 is running the latest version of TouchWiz on top of Android 6.0 Marshmallow, while its predecessor runs Android 5.1.1 Lollipop, though some markets have begun to receive the Marshmallow update.

Related: Marshmallow on the Galaxy S6 is a welcome improvement93

There are some aesthetic changes when comparing the two iterations of the TouchWiz UI, including a cleaner blue and white color scheme in the notification shade, and new animations and transition effects that make the user interface feel a lot more polished with the Galaxy S7 Edge.

However, any aesthetic changes don’t make much of an impact on the overall experience, because if you were unhappy with the way things look, you always have the option to customize the look and feel of the UI via the robust Theme store that is available. The big difference comes in the extra features the Galaxy S7 Edge packs, starting with the Always On display.

This feature takes advantage of the capabilities of the AMOLED screen by lighting up only the necessary pixels, to show you information like the clock, calendar, or an image. Notifications can be seen as well, but the functionality is currently limited only to Samsung applications. The Always On display doesn’t make much of an impact on battery life either, and may evolve to be more useful that it currently is, with future updates.

Secondly, the Edge features that were first introduced with the Galaxy S6 Edge are revamped, and much more useful now. It’s wider, to allow for twice as many applications to be stored, and for more information to be shown such as stocks, sport scores, and weather, through what Samsung calls the Edge panels. There’s also a new Tasks Edge that lets you create shortcuts to common tasks, such as creating a calendar event, setting an alarm, or even taking a selfie. The Galaxy S6 Edge is currently missing a lot of these features, but it is possible that Samsung will bring all of this functionality to the Galaxy S6 Edge via a software update down the road.

Specs comparison

Display	5.5-inch Super AMOLED display Quad HD resolution, 534 ppi	5.1-inch Super AMOLED display Quad HD resolution 577 ppi
Processor	2.1 GHz quad-core Qualcomm Snapdragon 820 Adreno 530 GPU	2.1 GHz octa-core Exynos 7420 Mali-T760MP8 GPU
RAM	4 GB	3 GB
Storage	32 GB expandable via microSD card up to 200 GB	32/64/128 GB not expandable
Camera	12 MP rear camera, f/1.7, 1.4 µm pixel size, OIS 5 MP front-facing wide angle camera	16 MP rear camera, f/1.9, 1.12 µm pixel size, OIS 5 MP front-facing wide angle camera
Connectivity	Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac Bluetooth 4.2 GPS+GLONASS NFC microUSB 2.0	Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac Bluetooth 4.2 GPS+GLONASS NFC microUSB 2.0
Battery	3,600 mAh	2,600 mAh
Software	Android 6.0 Marshmallow	Android 5.1 Lollipop
Dimensions	150.9 x 72.6 x 7.7 mm 157 grams	142.1 x 70.1 x 7 mm 132 grams

Gallery

Final thoughts

So there you have it for this comprehensive look at the Galaxy S7 Edge vs Galaxy S6 Edge! While it is rare to see a huge jump in between iterations, this is certainly the case here. With a larger display, refined designed, mandatory upgrade in power, the return of key features like expandable storage and dust and water resistance, an improved camera, and most importantly, far better battery life, the Galaxy S7 Edge brings a lot more to the table, and is definitely a worthy upgrade.

Buy the Galaxy S7 Edge
Buy the Galaxy S6 Edge

Use folders to better organize your Apple TV apps – CNET

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Jason Cipriani/CNET

On Monday Apple released a significant software update to the fourth-generation Apple TV, released last fall. With the release of tvOS 9.2, users gain the ability to use Siri Dictation when entering usernames and passwords, using Siri to search the App Store and create folders to help with app organization.

Before you can start using folders on the Apple TV, you’ll need to update to tvOS 9.2. It should take just a few minutes to update; you can follow our guide here if you’re unsure how to do so.

With the update installed, you can now create folders. The process is nearly identical to creating an app folder on iOS, only instead of using your finger you need to use Apple’s Siri Remote.

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Screenshot by Jason Cipriani/CNET

There are two methods to create the folder. The first method requires you to press and hold trackpad on the Siri Remote until the app’s icon begins to wiggle. Swiping in any direction on the trackpad will move the app. Drag the icon and place it on top of another app you want to store in the same folder. Apple TV will create a folder, placing both apps inside, complete with a generic name.

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Screenshot by Jason Cipriani/CNET

The second method starts the same way, by pressing and holding the trackpad in with an app icon highlighted. Once the icon begins to wiggle, press the play/pause button on the remote. A lost of options will show up: Delete, New Folder, Cancel. Select “New Folder.”

Moving apps to a folder is just as simple, you can either drag and drop the app (after holding in the trackpad for a split second), or press the play/pause button and select Move To [Folder name].

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Screenshot by Jason Cipriani/CNET

Renaming a folder is done by opening a folder, then swiping up the remote’s trackpad. You can then use Siri’s new Dictation feature to enter the name, or tap it out using the onscreen keyboard.

Lastly, if you want to remove an app from a folder you can open the folder, highlight the app, hold in on the trackpad until it wiggles, and then move the app outside of the folder, back to the home screen.

How to quickly switch between, close apps on the new Apple TV – CNET

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New Apple TV interface for multitasking, first introduced with tvOS 9.2.

Jason Cipriani/CNET

Multitasking on the fourth-generation Apple TV is simple: Double-click the home button on the Siri remote (it’s the one that looks like a TV), and then swipe to the right. Now, may see a different layout if you haven’t updated to tvOS 9.2 yet — that multitasking layout put apps side by side similar to how iOS 8 used to. With the latest update, Apple TV now reflects iOS 9’s multitasking stack of apps. You can learn more about updating your Apple TV here.

If an app isn’t running right, maybe freezing up on you, you can force close apps on the Apple TV by double-pressing the home button to bring up the multitasking view. Swipe to the app you want to close using the trackpad on the Siri remote, then swipe up; just as you would on an iPhone or iPad.

Multitasking makes it incredibly simple and quick to jump between two apps or games without having to go back to the home screen, then scroll through the app grid or folders to find an app.

Editors’ note: This post was originally published on November 1, 2015. It has since been updated to reflect changes to the Apple TV interface.