Acer’s Chromebase for meetings makes setting up video calls a snap

Google has announced a new Chrome OS-based desktop from Acer. The Acer Chromebase for meetings is a new all-in-one PC with a 23.8-inch touchscreen display. The Chromebase for meetings features a built-in 720p camera for video conferencing, along with four microphones and two stereo speakers.

According to Google, ease of use and security are the highlights of the new Chromebase for meetings:

It’s a secure, self updating, easy to manage unit that builds on Chrome and WebRTC innovations for sharper video, audio and screen sharing. Guest account support makes it simple to join a meeting even without a Google account: Just click a meeting link invitation and you’re connected.

Google has also announced new features for its remote fleet management tools for businesses. Administrators can enable alerts for their set of Chrome devices for meetings, and track their health. Problems with audio and video quality can also be remotely diagnosed and fixed.

The new Chromebase for meetings is normally available for $799, but right now, select Google Apps customers can sign up with Acer to trial two of the devices for 30 days at no cost. If you choose to keep the Chromebases, you can get both at a discount of $549 each.

Sign up for the Chromebase for meetings Trial Program

It’s back, grab a 200GB SanDisk microSD storage card for $80

You can now get SanDisk’s 200GB microSD card today on Amazon for $79.99. If you need some extra storage for your phone, tablet, or camera, this is a good deal on this card, which is normally priced at $249.99.

If you don’t need quite that much storage, and are looking to spend a little less, you can always grab the 128GB card for $42.95, or the 64GB card for $17.99. Act fast to make sure you can take advantage of these deals, because they won’t last forever.

See at Amazon

Microsoft’s new Skype bot Project Murphy can merge two things into one

Microsoft launched support for text chat bots in Skype earlier this week and now a new bot made by the company is showing off what these AI creations can do. “Project Murphy” adds a new bot to your Skype contacts and then you can ask it “What if…” questions. The end result is a merging of two images that attempts to answer that question.

Microsoft says that “Project Murphy” was a result of combining several of the company’s services, such as Bing Image Search, Microsoft Bot Framework, Azure Stream Analytics, Azure Data Lake and PowerBI. The idea behind it was to make an AI that could have some imaginative atributes:

Could we tap into this human creativity to build a robot that could use machine learning capabilities and create accurate and imaginative images based on the what-if questions it was being asked? That was it. Project ‘Murphy’ was born. We enlisted the help of a few friends from across Microsoft, and over the last weeks, we built Murphy together. “

The Murphy chatbot is now available for Skype on iOS, Android and Windows desktop users.

Add the Project Murphy chatbot to your Skype contacts

TuneIn to offer live audio of Final Four, MLB Opening Day, and the Masters Tournament

TuneIn has some exciting news for sports fans, with the streaming service announcing that it will provide live streaming audio coverage of upcoming MLB, PGA and NCAA events. It all kicks off on Saturday, April 2, with the final games in the NCAA basketball championship tournament.

Provided by Westwood One, the NCAA championship stream will include the Final Four games, along with the actual championship game itself. You’ll be able to stream the games through TuneIn’s March Madness station.

If you check in with the MLB Radio station on April 3, you can get live Opening Day coverage of your favorite Major League Baseball teams. The coverage is provided by MLB Network International Talk and others, and includes the official MLB podcasts.

Finally, golf fans will be able to listen in on the PGA’s 2016 Masters Tournament. The stream will once again be provided through Westwood One, and will located in the Masters Radio station starting April 7.

All three of these streams will be provided for free through TuneIn’s mobile apps and website. You can grab the app from the Google Play Store now.

It’s time to get caught up on Pokémon Go

It’s almost time to step into your destiny as a Pokémon trainer.

With the Japanese beta of Pokémon Go recently started, we are closer than ever to finally getting to play Pokémon Go. Niantic, the ex-Google company who gave us the glorious gift of Ingress are closer than ever to delivering the dreams of being a real-world Pokémon trainer to gamers everywhere. While there aren’t a ton of details out about the game quite yet, there is still plenty to sift through.

There have been several leaks surrounding the game, but because this game is in beta right now we won’t be focusing on the type of Pokémon in the game, or any other information that is obviously subject to change. Instead, we’ll focus on the highlights that have been made official so far.

The awesome folks over on the Pokémon Go subreddit have put together a list of Verified info which gives you a breakdown of who has said what about the game. We picked out ten nuggets of information about this awesome game. Keep scrolling to check out what’s in store.

Finding Pokémon

While we don’t know all the details on how you’ll be finding Pokemon, this is what we do know. Using the app on your phone, you’ll have a map which shows Pokémon out in the wild around you. After you know where they are, you just need to get to them and try to catch them. This seems pretty cut and dry, and for any Ingress players, it probably also sounds a bit familiar. There’s no word yet on how detailed the map, or the indicators of Pokémon on it will be just yet, but it’s only a matter of time. The other thing to remember is that different Pokemon will be living in different areas, so you probably won’t be able to fill out your Pokédex just by walking around your town or city.

Capturing Pokémon

Once you’ve found the Pokémon that you’re looking for, the next step is to capture them. We know you’ll be able to do this whether your live camera is on, or not. You’ll need to aim with your touchscreen, and then tap the screen to throw a Pokéball. Looks like capturing Pokémon may end up being just as frustrating as though you were playing on a Nintendo DS, because they can run away when you try to capture them. Down the road, better items like Great Balls will make it easier to catch more difficult Pokémon.

Pokémon Go Plus

Unlike in the games, nobody really has the time to devote their entire life to finding catching every Pokémon available. The Pokémon Go Plus will connect to your phone via bluetooth, and notify you of in-game events like nearby Pokémon by vibrating and flashing an LED. This accessory isn’t going to be necessary to gameplay, though for the hard core players it will probably be super handy. For the time being though, there is still no word on how much the Pokémon Go Plus will cost.

Pokestops

From early on in development, Niantic was telling us that you’d need to go out and wander the world to find all of the Pokemon living within it. One of the new additions they’ve added are Pokestops. These will be located at places like historical markers, art installations, and monuments, and will let you find Pokeballs and other items in the vicinity. You may also find Pokémon eggs, which will hatch after you have walked a certain distance.

Levelling Up

While the details haven’t been released yet, we do know that there will be a system for you to level up as a Trainer during your journey with Pokemon Go. As you level up you’ll get access to better items — like the Great Balls we mentioned earlier —and have the ability to capture more powerful Pokemon. If this game is anything like the handheld versions, you won’t be able to completely fill out your Pokedex until you have levelled up enough to take on the tougher Pokemon hiding out in the world.

Evolution

As anyone who has ever played a Pokémon game will tell you, it’s impossible to actually catch every one. That’s because many Pokémon need to evolve, by levelling up. While we don’t yet know exactly how evolution will work in Pokémon Go, we do know that it isn’t going to work quite the same way. After you have caught several of the same breed of Pokémon you will have the opportunity to evolve one of them. For now we’ll just have to wait for news to see precisely how this feature will work.

Challenges

If you’ve gotten used to the brief thrill from picking up achievements while playing a game, then you’re in luck. There will be a series of challenges within the game that span multiple categories. When you complete a challenge, you’ll unlock achievement awards which will appear in your player profile. It is possible that the challenges will work like Ingress Global events, but at this point that is just speculation. There aren’t a lot of details about the challenges, just that they will involve actions like catching Pokemon, or exploration.

Teams

When it comes to playing with other people, one of the big ways that you’ll be doing that is by joining a Team. There will be three teams that you can choose from, and after you have joined one you get access to some new features. You’ll be able to send one of your Pokémon to a Gym or location owned by your Team to help defend it. Each player can only send one Pokémon, so defending these locations requires teamwork. If, and when you come across a gym or location owned by one of the other two teams, you can attempt to wrest control of it by fighting against them with your personal roster of Pokémon.

Fun no matter where you live

One of the concerns with Pokémon Go was whether it would be fun for those who live in smaller towns, or remote areas. It looks like Niantic put a lot of thought into making sure that your location won’t hinder enjoyment of the game. While you won’t be able to snatch up all the Pokémon in your Pokédex by haunting your backyard, you can trade with other players. They are also hopeful that Pokémon Go events will crop up, similar to the ones we’ve seen for Ingress.

In-App Purchases

With a free-to-play game, one of the big questions that is inevitable, is whether In-app purchases will be a thing. Well, they are going to be a part of Pokémon Go. The model they are hoping to implement will have a lot of players making purchases, without spending much mone unlike models that focus on making a lot of money off of a small group of people. That’s encouraging to hear of course, but it’s another thing we’re all just going to have to wait and see about.

The truth is that it’s only a matter of time before Pokémon Go becomes available for everyone, which is wickedly exciting. The Japanese beta opened on March 29th, 2016 which means that we’re closer than ever. So are you excited for Pokémon Go? Make sure to let us know in the comments!

Google to drop support for physical Google Wallet card on June 30

Google has now confirmed that it will be ending support for the physical Google Wallet card on June 30. While you can still make purchases with the card through June 30, Google says it will stop allowing users to add money to their Wallet Balance on May 1. From Google:

• You can only make purchases with your Wallet Card until June 30.
• You won’t be able to add money to your Wallet Balance from a debit card or bank account after May 1, but money you receive from others will still be added to your balance.
• If you have money in your Wallet Balance after May 1, you can keep it there, send it to others, or cash out anytime for free.

To ease the blow for users, Google says it has teamed up with American Express and Simple to offer an added sign up bonus to Google Wallet Card users who want to try out similar cards from either company.

For those unfamiliar, the Google Wallet Card was a physical card launched in 2014 that users could link with their Google Wallet account balance. The decision to end support for the card comes as Google has largely shifted its focus to Android Pay. If you’re a Google Wallet Card user, you can check out Google’s blog post on the shut down for more.

Mobile Nations Community Update, March 2016

It’s that time again. Time for the Mobile Nations Community Update. A monthly recap of the best stuff happening around Android Central, Connectedly, CrackBerry, iMore, and Windows Central.

Verizon enlists a pack of adorable puppies to unbox the LG G5

Let’s face the facts: unboxing videos are always a fun watch, and nothing in this world is cuter than a pack of rambunctious puppies. So, why not combine the two? That’s apparently the line of thinking Verizon’s marketing team took with its LG G5 unboxing video, which features a whole load of puppies, well, unboxing the G5.

Okay, the term “unboxing” may be a bit strong. It’s more like chewing and sniffing. Still, if you haven’t yet received your daily dose of adorable, be sure to check out the video above. And for more unboxing fun, take a look at our slightly less adorable G5 unboxing, too.

LG G5

• LG G5 hands-on
• LG G5 complete specs
• LG G5 CAM Plus module
• LG G5 B&O Hi-Fi audio module
• The G5 has an always-on display
• LG G5 keeps the SD card, shuns adoptable storage
• Join the LG G5 discussion

Classic SNES controller returns with an upgrade: the Bluetooth SNES30 and smartphone holder

In our insatiable quest for the latest and greatest in tech gadgets, we often forget the golden era of gaming (Donkey Kong, Pac-Man, and Super Mario, anyone?).

But 8Bitdo hasn’t forgotten, and they’re dedicated to reviving the perfection of one of the greatest gaming controllers ever made: the Super Nintendo classic grey controller. They’ve brought it back with the SNES30, a 1:1 original design that supports both Bluetooth and USB connections, and added one exciting component: an expandable clipping phone mount to hold your phone.

For a limited time, they’re available at just ‎‎£24.48 ($34.95) on Pocket-lint Deals.

8Bitdo is bringing back the legendary controller, with Bluetooth and USB connections to enjoy on your PC, Mac, consoles and beyond. Every single detail about the controller, from the build itself, to the feel of the plastic, to the colors used, resembles that classic SNES controller from back in the day. The dimensions are identical to the millimeter, and the D-pad and buttons are fantastically responsive.

Slim, portable size and a dual-keyboard code system for iOS keeps your playing versatile, with Wiimote emulation support allowing up to four players at once. Save serious money while your gaming-nostalgia indulgence will have you feeling like a little kid again.

Take 22 per cent off the SNES30 Bluetooth Game Controller on Pocket-lint Deals.

Take flight with Pocket-lint’s DJI Phantom 4 video drone giveaway

As the popularity of lightweight remote control aircraft skyrockets, we’re helping you get in on the drone rush by offering one of the best quadcopters ever built–for free.

Check out our DJI Phantom 4 Drone Giveaway and enter to win! The winner will take home a brand-new camera-equipped drone, courtesy of Pocket-lint Deals.

Among the best consumer drones on the market, the DJI Phantom 4 flies smoothly and simply. Just double tap the controller, and you’re up in the air while the new Obstacle Sensing System keeps your Phantom clear of objects in the way. With another tap, Smart Return Home brings it back.

Fly for 28 minutes, an increase in effective flight time of 25 per cent from the Phantom 3 Professional. Enjoy 3.1mi (5km) of range, with complete control and a live 720p HD view of everything the camera sees.

The Phantom 4’s magnesium skeleton reduces weight while keeping stiffness at a maximum to minimize vibration. The new core design lifts the center of gravity closer to the Phantom 4’s heart, improving balance, making it more agile and impressively precise to pilot.

To enter Pocket-lint’s Phantom 4 Drone Giveaway, just submit your email address on the offer page. Stack the odds in your favor by sharing on Twitter for additional entries – and when your friends and followers enter via your custom referral link, you receive even more entries!