Best app deals of the day! 6 paid iPhone apps for free for a limited time

Everyone likes apps, but sometimes the best ones are a bit expensive. Now and then, developers make paid apps free for a limited time, but you have to snatch them up while you have the chance. Here are the latest and greatest apps on sale in the iOS App Store.

These apps normally cost money, and this sale lasts for a limited time only. If you go to the App Store and it says the app costs money, that means the deal has expired and you will be charged. 

More: 200 Awesome iPhone Apps | The best Android apps for almost any occasion

Videos in Video

Videos in Video is an easy video editor with fast editing features which you can use to place multiples videos, photos, and music within an existing video.

Available on:

iOS

Simpler Pro

Simpler Pro is a completely redesigned contacts app that makes your address book light, smart, and user friendly.

Available on:

iOS

Moodnotes

Capture your mood and improve your thinking habits through an innovative approach to journal writing. Moodnotes empowers you to track your mood over time, avoid common thinking traps, and develop perspectives associated with increased happiness and well-being.

Available on:

iOS

Adrian James Bootcamp

Adrian James Bootcamp has been named the toughest 15-minute bootcamp on the planet. Download the chart-topping app to increase strength, burn fat, and boost your energy levels.

Available on:

iOS

Blink

Apply stunning filters to your photos, more easily than ever. Choose from among a beautiful collection of stunning filters to make your photos achieve the specific look and glow you want.

Available on:

iOS

Sleepy Fan

Millions of people around the world use a fan to fall asleep. Recreate the sound of a real fan with Sleepy Fan and use the powerful noise shape designer to mix in additional masking noise to your liking.

Available on:

iOS

MSI Radeon RX 580 Gaming X+ 8G review

Research Center:
MSI Radeon RX 580 Gaming X+ 8G

AMD’s Radeon RX 580 enters an exceptionally crowded mid-range GPU market. The RX 480 just ten months prior set the record straight with impressive performance at the $200 price point. Then, the GTX 1060 fired back by bumping performance again, while cutting the power.

AMD came back early with the RX 500 Series, and it didn’t go unnoticed. The RX 570 broke the RX 480’s performance by a decent margin, and even traded blows the GTX 1060, leaving the RX 580 to define the next step up the power chart. With the chips stacked against it, does the RX 580 redefine mid-range performance once again?

Under the hood

Not much has changed under the hood between the RX 480 and RX 580, as the new hardware is still based on the Polaris architecture. AMD has bumped the base clock from 1,120MHz to 1,257MHz, and the boost clock from 1,266MHz to 1,340MHz, but there’s still just 2,304 stream processors and 36 compute units. As before, the RX 580 is available in both 4GB and 8GB renditions, both with a 1,750MHz memory clock.

Bill Roberson/Digital Trends

Bill Roberson/Digital Trends

Bill Roberson/Digital Trends

Bill Roberson/Digital Trends

The biggest change actually comes from a boost to the RX 580’s thermal design power, or TDP. The RX 580 pulls a recommended 185-watt TDP, as opposed to the 150-watt suggested TDP for the RX 480. The RX 480 already pulled more power than its competitor, the GTX 1060. Increasing that figure is evidence that AMD’s underlying Polaris architecture is ready to be replaced by its successor, Vega, due later in 2017.

MSI goes big with the Gaming X Plus

With AMD making an even bigger push towards AIB partner cards, it should come as no surprise our review unit was an upgraded MSI Radeon RX 580 Gaming X+ 8G version. It had a surprisingly large PCB and cooler, even for the Gaming X line. MSI pushed the card even further, to a 1,441 MHz maximum clock speed — a healthy 101MHz over the stock clock speed.

The RX 580 grabs a few frames per second on average from the GTX 1060.

That lofty overclock, plus the 8GB of memory, means the MSI Radeon RX 580 Gaming X+ 8G is 140 millimeters wide — just three millimeter narrower than our MSI GTX 1080 Ti. It also takes a full pair of 8-pin PCIe power connectors to support the extra power. The cooler on our model was a bulky black and red affair with two large fans, which helped keep the card quiet.

For connectivity, the card featured two HDMI, two DisplayPort, and a DVI connection. That strays from the three DisplayPort and one HDMI configuration that’s becoming more popular. The MSI route is a better one for two monitor setups that don’t use DisplayPort, or for hooking up a VR headset and television at the same time.

Charged up

With the details sorted out, let’s jump right into the performance.

The RX 580 beat out both the RX 570 and GTX 1060 in all three 3DMark synthetic benchmarks. No real surprise there, as the early RX 500 series cards are likely a response to the GTX 1060’s value proposition. Unfortunately, it didn’t push much further than that. It’s less than a ten percent difference between the GTX 1060 and RX 580, at the cost of a larger card and more power inputs. How does ten percent look in real-world games?

It’s not exactly an exciting new world for PC gaming. The RX 580 grabbed a few frames per second on average from the GTX 1060, although in some games that are well optimized for AMD, the difference was more pronounced.

That said, all the cards fall within a narrow performance margin, and the difference between them isn’t going to mean moving to a higher refresh rate monitor, or a higher resolution. That means the corresponding monitor technology, power draw, available connections, size, and even aesthetic appeal become more important.

The results at 2,560 x 1,440 tell a similar story. The RX 580 provides a noticeable performance bump over the GTX 1060 and RX 570, but it’s isn’t quite game-changing. The RX 470 falls well behind the pack here in 1440p performance, while the RX 570 beats out even the RX 480 in most tests, making both of AMD’s new cards preferable over their predecessors.

MSI Radeon RX 580 Gaming X+ 8G Compared To

MSI GeForce GTX 1050 2G OC

AMD Radeon RX 480

AMD Radeon R9 380X

NVIDIA GeForce GTX 950

Nvidia GeForce GTX Titan X

Nvidia GeForce GTX 960

Nvidia GeForce GTX 980

AMD Radeon R9 295X2

NVIDIA DualTV MCE

ATI All-In-Wonder X1900

MSI RX800 XT

MSI GeForce FX5700-VT2DR256

ATI Radeon 9800 XT 256MB

ATI All-In-Wonder Radeon 9800 Pro

Matrox Parhelia 128mb

None of these cards are appropriate for full-on 1440p gaming, at least for those seeking 60+ FPS averages at the resolution. Games are far from unplayable, but anyone who likes to crank up the quality should be looking towards Nvidia’s higher-end cards at almost twice the price.

Warranty information

MSI covers the Radeon RX 580 with a standard one year warranty. That’s what we’re used to seeing from most cards, although the occasional high-end offering will bump it to three years, like the Asus Strix RX 570.

Our Take

At $245, the MSI RX 570 8G Gaming X+ sits at the top end of the mid-range GPU spectrum, with a higher thermal design power to match. Its performance beats out everything else in the category, but only by a little bit. In real-world gaming, it’s unlikely anyone could tell the difference, so a lot of it comes down to what each card costs on the day you’re ready to buy.

Is there a better alternative?

Unfortunately for the RX 580, better alternatives significantly hurt its value proposition. The Zotac GTX 1060 AMP! sits at the same price, but it’s a smaller card with a much lower 120-watt TDP. Even the RX 570, at just 150 watts, competes very well, and sits under $200. There’s nothing wrong with the RX 580, but it’s far from a revelation.

The DT Accessory Pack

Das Keyboard 4 Ultimate Clicky MX Blue Mechanical Keyboard

$165.99

Logitech MX Master Wireless Mouse

$69.50

ASUS Designo MX279H 27″ Full HD 1920×1080 IPS HDMI VGA Frameless Monitor

$199.99

EVGA SuperNOVA 750 G2 Power Supply

$99.99

How long will it last?

With a healthy set of output options, plenty of power for overclocking, and solid performance on newer games, there’s nothing stopping the RX 580 from lasting as long as any other card in any gaming rig. Our review unit also had 8GB of memory, which should help as games become more demanding.

Should you buy it?

No. With comparable performance across a small price range, it doesn’t take much to make one card worth recommending over another. The MSI Radeon RX 580 Gaming X+ 8G has the highest thermal design power, the widest physical size, and requires extra internal power connections. That makes the RX 570 or GTX 1060 — whichever is cheaper — a better option for most situations.

Didi Chuxing ready to go global with English app, international credit cards

Why it matters to you

Ever since Uber left China last year, English-speaking tourists have had a tough time getting around the country. But now, Didi Chuxing has an English app to bridge the gap.

Uber may be out of the game in China, but that doesn’t mean that Americans and other English speakers are out of luck. Didi Chuxing, China’s homegrown ridesharing service (which successfully pushed Travis Kalanick’s empire out of the country last year) has now introduced an English language app for riders in Shanghai, Beijing, and Guangzhou. And while the tourist-friendly app is starting in those three cities, Didi plans to unveil the app in other parts of China as well as it pushes toward further expansion and internationalization.

The app has actually been in testing mode since February of this year, and boasts a suite of features that will make getting around China a breeze, even with the language barrier. The app has a message-translating service that will let riders communicate directly with drivers, even if they don’t speak the same language. The real-time translation function will doubtless help Didi compete against traditional taxi services, at least insofar as foreign business is concerned.

Moreover, Didi has also made it possible for users to register with a Hong Kong, Taiwan, Thailand, South Korea, Japan, United Kingdom, France, Australia, Canada, United States, or Brazil phone number. This marks a departure from its long-held previous stance of requiring a Chinese mobile number in order to set up an account. And finally, the company will also begin accepting “major international credit cards,” so you don’t have to get a WeChat Wallet or Alipay just to take a ride.

“The internationalization of local services is an important part of Didi’s global strategy,” the company said in a statement. Indeed, Didi hopes that it will soon be in countries beyond China, as the South China Morning Post reported that the firm had established an international division to look into exploring new markets. Part of the motivation to go abroad has to do with bureaucratic pressures in China, Shaun Rein, managing director of China Market Research Group, told the Financial Times. He noted, “[Didi has] to expand abroad because they’re being hit by the regulators at home.”

Already, Didi has moved into South America by way of a partnership with Brazilian ridesharing service 99. So look out, Uber and Lyft. Didi may be coming for you on your home turf, too.

Play musical trivia while scarfing down a Big Mac at a Swedish McDonald’s

Why it matters to you

If you’ve ever wanted to complete a musical quiz while waiting in line at McDonald’s, now’s your chance.

Lingering in a McDonald’s isn’t the most appealing way to spend an afternoon (unless you’re small enough to fit through PlayPlace tubes, maybe). But you have to hand it to Mickie D’s for doing all it can to keep customers around. Select spots offer free Wi-Fi, and others host exclusive digital content like Pokémon Go collectibles. And on Tuesday, McDonald’s app users in Sweden get auto-generated music quizzes.

McDonald’s latest enticement comes in the form of BeatQuiz, a new feature of the restaurant chain’s mobile app for Android and iOS. It’s a multiple-choice game about popular tunes — using the location-tracking hardware of any smartphone, BeatQuiz automatically generates questions related to the restaurant’s soundtrack.

“A never-ending digital pop quiz, BeatQuiz is packed with incredible entertainment that McDonald’s guests are going to love,” Ulf Persson, head of digital customers experiences at McDonald’s Sweden, said in a statement. “We can’t wait for people to start challenging pals and impressing others with their music trivia knowledge. Personally, I can’t stop playing it. And you won’t be able to either.”

There’s more to BeatQuiz than tricky questions. A daily leaderboard lets you see how your musical knowledge compares to your McDonald’s peers, and a local multiplayer enables one-on-one battles with friends — presumably over a Big Mac and fries.

Soundtrack Your Brand, the streaming service behind BeatQuiz, said it’s been more than a year in the making. The company teamed up with global advertising firm DDB and Soundtrack Labs to build an open API, which it’ll make broadly available down the line.

“Games like Nintendo’s Pokémon Go have showed us that the best playground out there is the world we live in, Joel Brosjö, SoundTrack Your Brand’s co-founder and chief experience officer, said in a statement. “With BeatQuiz, we’re applying the same logic to bring McDonald’s restaurant environment to life.”

It’s not the first of the The Golden Arches’ mobile efforts. In November, McDonald’s announced smartphone-based ordering that lets customers reserve and pay for food ahead of time. The chain expects that by 2018, it’ll be available in 20,000 to 25,000 restaurants worldwide.

And McDonald’s is harnessing the power of mobile in another way: Recruitment. In April, McDonald’s in Australia (where it’s known as Macca) is using Snapchat as part of its job application process. The global fast-food purveyor has its own filter — “Snaplications” — that lets prospective employees don digital uniforms and submit a 10-second video application.

How to pick the best case to protect your device from life’s daily hazards

You splash out hundreds of dollars on a new smartphone or tablet, so why not to spend just a little more in order to ensure it doesn’t get scratched or broken? Our electronic friends serve us faithfully — that is, until we drop them in the toilet, leave them at the mercy of inquisitive toddlers, or allow them to slip from our grasp and tumble down the stairs.

Smartphones are getting tougher all the time, and there are quite a few waterproof smartphones now, but the vast majority will not survive an accident unscathed. If you want to find out what might happen should your phone meet with disaster, you can check out the numerous damage tests posted online. Now that you’re convinced that you need a case or cover for your device, let’s discuss how to pick one.

A word on price

You will rarely find the best price for a case on the case manufacturer’s website, the device manufacturer’s website, or a carrier website. The Recommended Retail Prices (RRP) are frequently discounted. When you identify the case you want, do a comparison search and shop around.

Amazon and eBay are often the cheapest places to make a purchase, but it pays to cast a wide net. You also have to watch out for knock-offs, particularly on eBay.

It’s worth mentioning that some case manufacturers will offer a lifetime warranty, but only if you buy directly from the manufacturer, so that’s a possible incentive to pay the full retail price.

Do your homework

Read reviews of the cases you are interested in. Even if you can’t find a review for your specific phone model, other reviews for the same manufacturer will give you a general sense of the quality. You can also find people discussing cases and posting photos of them in various forums around the web.

It’s also important to confirm that the case has precise cut-outs. Sometimes cases are rushed out the door and they miss a port, button covers are stiff, or there are problems with camera flash reflections. If something like wireless charging is important to you, or you want to be able to dock your smartphone with the case on, then check with the manufacturer before you buy.

Choose your features

Think about additional features you might want in a case. For tablet cases, a landscape stand could be vital. Some cases also offer multiple positions, as well as 360-degree hinges. For phones, you’ll generally find kickstands that pop out the back, but make sure they’re secure, because it can be annoying if they pop out uninvited. Write down what you feel is essential and keep it as a checklist while you shop.

How much protection do you need?

How clumsy are you? The first thing to work out is how tough you need your case to be. If you want to be able to drop it on concrete with impunity, or have it survive a dip, then you’ll need some serious protection. If you’re careful and you just want basic protection, then you don’t need to spend so much. There is a clear trade-off between the level of protection provided and the bulk and weight added.

Rugged cases

Rugged cases are another option to look into, but keep in mind that they are going to be bulky and heavy. The inclusion of air pockets and reinforced corners dramatically reduces the risk of damage to your device, but it inevitably adds bulk. They should also be easy to grip, even with wet hands, but you might find that makes it harder to slide them in and out of your pocket. That said, you may need to buy a belt clip or holster to accommodate the larger build.

Rugged cases should cover every angle, including the buttons and the touchscreen, which can make buttons harder to press and reduce touchscreen sensitivity. Ultimately, rugged cases can make it a little harder to actually use your phone.

The IP (Ingress Protection) rating will give you the lowdown on the case’s ability to withstand water and dust. Some case manufacturers have gone further and put their wares through U.S. military standards. MIL-STD-810 certification covers everything from pressure and temperature, to vibration and impact.

Our favorite rugged cases: We recommend checking out the toughest offerings from Tech21, Pelican, Griffin, Trident, and OtterBox. You should be prepared to pay around $50.

Tough cases

If you want a case that will definitely survive a drop, but you don’t want to add too much bulk or completely forfeit style, then you’ll probably want to opt for one of the many tough cases currently on the market. A standard combination that works well is a layer of hard polycarbonate with an inner layer of something softer, like silicone, to absorb shock. Also, keep an eye out for the military drop test certification.

You can expect these cases to add a bit of bulk and weight, but they come in an array of styles and they shouldn’t stop you from accessing everything your phone has to offer. Make sure that there’s a lip or some protection on the front in case your phone lands face down. You should also expect added grip to reduce the chances that you’ll drop it in the first place.

Our favorite tough cases: We recommend Incipio, Urban Armor Gear, Speck, and Body Glove. You should expect to pay anywhere from $15 to $40.

Slim or basic cases

Sometimes it feels like a shame to cover your phone’s gorgeous design, or maybe you just don’t want something too bulky in your pocket. If style outweighs protection for you, then you can opt for a slim case. It will safeguard against scratches on the areas it actually covers, and it will certainly boost your phone’s chances of surviving a fall (you just can’t count on it). We’re seeing more and more translucent cases making their way to the market, meaning it’s easier than ever to get something that allows your phone’s design to shine through. You shouldn’t need to spend big on a slim case, and they can be great if you feel a basic level of protection is enough.

These one-piece cases are typically made of TPU, which is durable and slightly malleable, so they’re easy to fit and offers some shock protection. Hard, slim cases can be tough to fit on your device and they won’t provide much protection from drop damage. You’ll find the biggest range of styles and colors in this category, but make sure you check the cut-outs and remember that a lack of protection at the corners or a lip on the front means weak protection from falls. Some of the cases in this category also offer decent drop protection by combining a thin, hard back with a thicker, malleable bumper.

Our favorite slim cases: We recommend Case Mate, Incipio, Spigen, Griffin, and Cruzerlite. You should expect to pay anywhere from $5 to $20.

Folio cases

Flip-open folio or wallet cases can be stylish and pocket-friendly. They’re a really good alternative to traditional cases if you intend to sling your phone in a bag, namely because they offer all-around protection. They vary when it comes to drop protection, however, as some include a shell-type case inside while others offer virtually no coverage on the sides or corners.

If you’re willing to pay a premium, then there’s no substitute for genuine leather. The vast majority of folio cases are made from PU (polyurethane), which is sometimes spun as “vegan leather.” PU is good, but it can smell strong, especially at first, and it is prone to cracking over time.

Folio cases will typically support the sleep-wake function, so your device should come to life automatically when you open the cover and go to sleep when you close it. The type of closure is important if you don’t want to run the risk of the case opening in your bag. Magnetic closures enable more stylish designs, but they don’t tend to be as strong as elastic, tab, or stud closures.

Many folio cases advertise credit card slots, but few can really serve as wallet replacements. They’ll typically only hold a couple of cards, and overstuffing increases the chances of the case popping open unexpectedly.

Our favorite folio cases: We recommend Nodus, Nomad, Piel Frama, Noreve, Knomo, and Incipio. You can also get wood and leather cases from Grovemade, and Dodocase uses old book-binding techniques. For folio cases, you can pay anywhere between $15 and $100, depending on the material.

Battery cases

As far as complaints about mobile technology go, poor battery life is still at the tops of the charts. For smartphones, you can always look into getting a battery case. These typically have a built-in battery that’s capable of juicing your smartphone for another few hours.

Battery cases are always bulky and heavy, though. If they’re slim, then it’s because the battery inside isn’t very big and it won’t boost your battery life by much. You’ll want to take a look at the mAh rating, but it doesn’t always tell the full story, so make sure you look for a real world test.

A lot of battery cases are not really designed to offer much in the way of protection, so you’ll have to check with the manufacturer on that score. What they should always provide is the ability to charge your phone. Ideally, your phone will drain the case first, that way you can take it off when it’s empty. There are also some clever designs out there that combine a lightweight case or bumper with a removable battery component. You should also expect to be able to check the battery status at a glance — pass-through capabilities for your headphone port and charging or data is also a plus.

Our favorite battery cases: We recommend Mophie, Incipio, and Trianium. You should expect to pay anywhere between $50 and more than $100, depending on the battery capacity.

Screen protectors

Many devices ship with screen protectors, and there are plenty of places that sell them for every device on the market. These can help reduce the chance of scratches or cracks appearing on your touchscreen, but they inevitably impact the aesthetic and sometimes usability as well.

If you’re going to buy a screen protector, then make sure it’s made for your device and buy it right away, because any imperfection on your screen is going to increase the chances that you’ll end up with bubbles. Follow the installation instructions carefully and apply the screen protector slowly, as patience makes for the best results.

You generally get multiple screen protectors with your purchase, so you can discard the current one if damaged. You can also get screen protectors that cut viewing angles for additional privacy, as well as some that are designed to reduce glare.

These can be combined with slim or tough cases, which leave the screen exposed. The downside is that they can be maddening to apply and often can reduce touchscreen sensitivity. Some of the more expensive screen protectors tend to impact sensitivity less, but it’s a trade-off.

Our favorite screen protectors: We recommend Spigen, Moshi, Tech Armor, YooTech, amFilm, TechMatte, and Zagg. You should expect to pay anywhere between $10 and $40 for a pack of three or four.

The final word

If you have the opportunity to check out some cases before you buy, then we recommend doing so. After all, it’s always better to get a hands-on feel. It can also be a good idea to buy a couple of cases for different occasions. Getting a slim case for your 9-to-5 gig and a rugged case for your weekend hiking excursions, for example, could be the way to go.

This article was updated on 05-09-2017 by Simon Hill to include new recommendations, images, and links.

T-Mobile is doing away with its Free Data for Life for tablets program

Why it matters to you

The program was a casualty of the pricing wars currently being waged between the four major carriers.

All good things must come to an end, and in the case of T-Mobile, that good thing is its “Free Data for Life” program. We know — it was just too decent to last forever, and so now, the Un-carrier has quietly ended the promotion. For those of you who did take advantage of the deal when it made its debut way back in 2013, you’ll remember that T-Mobile offered customers 200MB of cellular data every month if they activated an iPad on the network. And while you’ll still be able to keep that pricing if you purchased (and activated) your device sometime in the last four years, those of us who missed the boat will now have to watch it sail away.

In a statement to T-Mo News, T-Mobile explained, “When we launched Free Data For Life in 2013, 200MB of high-speed data was a lot. Today, customers want unlimited and we’re all in with T-Mobile ONE. Customers who have T-Mobile ONE can add unlimited LTE data on a tablet for just $20 a month with autopay. Nothing changes for current customers with Free Data For Life on a Tablet. They can keep it as long as they like.”

We can’t say we’re particularly surprised that T-Mobile is bidding adieu to the program. What with fierce pricing wars going on among the Big Four carriers, it comes as little surprise that these service providers are looking to make strategic cuts when they can. Besides, T-Mobile stopped promoting Free Data for Life a while ago, even as it continued to push more recent iPad upgrades.

So if you’re looking to get service for your tablet and your tablet alone, alas, T-Mobile may no longer be the best bet for you. But hey, you can always add on unlimited data for $20 a month if you’re already a T-Mobile customer.

Garmin Quatix 5 marine watch is designed for open waters

Why it matters to you

If you’re the seafaring type, the Garmin Quatix 5 might just be the smartwatch for you.

If you’re the type who prefers the open water to the open road, Garmin wants your business. The wearable company’s Quatix 5, the newest in its line of “marine” watches, packs compatibility with onboard boat systems, high-precision navigation tech, and more activity-tracking features than most sea captains can shake a compass at.

True to the Quatix 5’s seafaring nature, it works with boat systems. If you happen to have one of Garmin’s electronic chartplotters aboard your schooner, it’ll offer features like remote autopilot control, racing assistance, and waypoint marking. Alternatively, it will stream stats like speed, depth, temperature, and wind to your wrist, and automatically track pre-programmed activities like swimming, rowing, and paddle boarding. And when it’s time to let loose on the water, it will pair with Garmin’s Fusion Link Lite app to control onboard StereoActive entertainment systems.

The Quatix 5 is a capable navigator, too — and a fishing aid. It will feed you a stream of up-to-date tide data downloaded for your region, and will save the data for seven days. It’s equipped with useful tools like an anchor calculator that knows the proper length of line to put out. And when you cast a net for sea creatures, the Quatix 5 will keep track of the fish you’ve caught and the time remaining before getting back to weigh-in.

Unsurprisingly, the Quatix is a rugged smartwatch. Its 47mm stainless steel bezel, buttons, and rear case are “more compact” than previous models, Garmin said. In addition, it’s rated at 100 meters, and boasts a bright, “sunlight-readable” color display with an LED backlight. An omnidirectional stainless steel antenna and high-sensitivity GPS (and GLONASS) delivers high-precision location tracking in the remotest waters. And perhaps most impressive of all, the Quatix 5 doesn’t sacrifice great battery to deliver all that — it lasts up to 24 hours in GPS mode, 60 hours in activity-tracking UltraTrac mode, and up to two weeks in smartwatch mode.

The Quatix 5 isn’t just for sea legs. Landlubbers can use it on shore, too, and can record calories from jogs, cycling routes, hikes, and more. Garmin’s proprietary Elevate heart-tracking technology measures your exertion, and smart notifications from a paired smartphone keep you abreast of text messages, phone calls, emails, and social media updates.

All that data can be piped to Garmin Connect, which enables automatic backups via Wi-Fi without the need for a nearby smartphone. And Connect IQ, Garmin’s open third-party development platform, lets you create and download apps, widgets, data fields, and watchfaces.

“From fishermen chasing billfish or bass to canoeists, kayakers, and big sail and power boaters, the Quatix 5 was designed for life on the water,” said Dan Bartel, Garmin vice president of global consumer sales. “It combines feature and design qualities from our popular Fenix 5 multisport watch series with boating, fishing, cruising, and sailing capabilities to deliver the most sophisticated and connected general-purpose marine smartwatch on the market today.”

As you might expect for a watch of the Quatix 5’s caliber, it isn’t cheap. The scratch-resistant Sapphire variant, which packs a crystal lens and includes a stainless steel band and a blue silicone QuickFit band, will retail for $850 when it goes on sale in June. The cheaper, non-sapphire Quatix 5 will sell for $600.

Amazon unveils the Echo Show, a $230 smart home speaker with a touchscreen

Why it matters to you

By expanding its capabilities with a touchscreen and camera, the Echo Show is pointing the way toward what digital assistants, and their speakers, can do.

Amazon’s long-rumored Echo speaker with a touchscreen is finally here, and it’s called the Echo Show. The touchscreen-based, Alexa-powered speaker sits vertically, like a desk clock, and does everything Amazon’s existing Echo speakers can do — and much more.

The Echo Show boasts upgrades aplenty. It’s equipped with eight ever-vigilant microphones — up from seven in Amazon’s Echo Dot, Echo Tap, and original Echo speaker — and an improved speaker array with Dolby-powered bass and stereo sound.

But the Echo Show’s highlight is its 7-inch color touchscreen — an Echo speaker first. It enhances existing Echo skills with a number of visual flourishes. When you play a song from Amazon’s Prime Music service, for example, you’ll see music lyrics, and when you start a timer, you’ll see it count down onscreen.

Amazon says it can display security camera footage from Ring and Arlo cameras, photos from your smartphone, weather forecasts, to-do lists, shopping lists, reminders, products from Amazon.com, YouTube videos, and flash video briefings from CNN.

The Echo Show is also the first Echo capable of placing and receiving video calls, thanks to a built-in 5-megapixel camera. You can start a hands-free conference with a family member or friend with an Echo from the Echo app, and a new feature, Drop In, lets a loved one connect to an Echo Show to let you know it’s time for dinner, or let you see a baby’s nursery, or check in with a close relative.

Additional hands-free calling features come in the form of Alex Calling, Amazon’s new messaging platform. In the coming weeks, the Echo Show and existing devices will be able to make and receive calls — they’ll glow green — and you’ll be able to ask Alexa to answer or ignore the call. Alternatively, you can dictate a message with your voice and send it — the recipient will be notified with a chime, and will see the message in the Alexa app for smartphones.

The Echo Show supports older apps as well, albeit without onscreen controls. Music offerings from Pandora, Spotify, TuneIn, iHeartRadio, and more are in tow, plus apps from CNN, Uber, and Allrecipes. Existing smart home integrations will work just fine, too, including those from Philips Hue, Ecobee, and others.

And perhaps most importantly, the Echo Show plays nicely with other Echo speakers. In homes, offices, and rooms with more than one speaker, the Echo closest to you will respond automatically.

In terms of hardware, the Echo Show is the most capable Echo speaker yet. It’s powered by Intel’s powerful z5x-Z8350 processor, and the first Echo to support dual-band Wi-Fi 802.11n Wi-Fi. Like other speakers in Amazon’s lineup, it’s fully compatible with Bluetooth accessories including speakers, PCs, and smart home devices.

The Echo Show is available for pre-order starting from May 9, in black and white color configurations, priced from $230. It begins shipping on June 28.

The Echo Show might be seen as Amazon’s effort to shore up its voice-assistant dominance. Earlier this year, the internet retailer brought its AI voice platform to a new form factor in the Echo Look, an AI-equipped security camera, and slashed the price of its Echo speaker by $50.

Amazon has nothing to worry about yet — according to a report from Consumer Intelligence Research Partners, the Amazon commands 70 percent of the smart speaker market. But rumors persist that iPhone maker Apple is prepping a Siri-equipped speaker ahead of a June launch. The Echo Show, it could be argued, is a preemptive strike.

What the world needs now are more progressive web apps

I’m embarrassed by all the apps I have installed. Do I really need a majority of them if there’s a web app for that?

Have you had a second to check out the latest Android Central roundtable? A few of us shared how many apps we each have installed on our daily drivers. Frankly, I was embarrassed by my number. I take such pride in the curation of the apps that I have installed. But there are 127 apps installed on my 32GB Pixel XL, and only about 20 of those are apps that I use regularly.

This entire experience has made me yearn for more progressive web apps — not to mention the full launch of Instant Apps, which could negate the need for installing any app at all. I don’t like having an app installed for the different airlines, transit systems, and minor little services that I use from time to time. And how wonderful would it be if I could easily log into the Lyft app with my account credentials through the Chrome browser to hail a car? Or for the VSCO app to offer its hipster photo filters online? Progressive web apps are not only (pardon the cliché) the apps of the future, but they’re going to make for an interesting app market, where only the worthy will merit an install.

Progressive apps I use now to get through life

Progressive web apps are, essentially, apps that contain all the functionality you need within their base code on the web so that when you visit the website through a mobile browser, everything is there! Probably one of the most popular progressive web apps is Facebook, which you can access through m.facbook.com to log in. There’s even a trick if you need Facebook Messenger: tap on the option while the link is open in Chrome, and then ask the browser to request the desktop mode.

Here’s another “hack”: If you’d rather not have Twitter installed — a great idea for those of you constantly distracted by its content — you can simply head to mobile.twitter.com and log in through Twitter Lite. You’ll have access to all the same abilities as the full-sized mobile application, and you’ll save roughly 141 MB on storage space versus the 1MB used to pump the web stuff.

A few shining examples of progressive web apps.

I also appreciate the fact that Duolingo works fully through Chrome. I’ve been freshening up on the Romanian language myself and not only can I quickly access my lesson with just a bookmark, but Duolingo also notifies me through Chrome if I miss a day. It’s wild to think that you can now learn an entirely new language with just the browser on your phone — what a boon for those looking to learn another language in countries where low-end, low-capacity phones rule the market.

There are still plenty of outdated web apps out there that aren’t actually friendly to use and thus require that you have an app to do a simple little thing. For instance, I don’t ride the San Francisco Bay Area’s BART transit system as often as I used to, but I’m still required to have the BART Runner app installed for when I’m rushing over to the nearest station. It would also be nice to have some heavy duty photo apps run solely off the web, like Snapseed, since I only ever really use something like that for editing and filtering when I’m on a trip.

Instant Apps are coming, too, and they’ll be even better and more functional than progressive web apps.

Instant Apps, which are currently undergoing a limited testing phase, will also play a major role in negating the need for full apps. You’ll be able to find them through Google search results. They don’t rely on web optimization or HTML5, like web apps do. Instead, instant apps install a tiny bit of data locally, and it’s only the most necessary functionality. We’re hoping to hear about more compatibility at Google I/O 2017.

Save the best stuff for the install

I simply appreciate PWAs as a way to cut down on all the bloat.

I think I seriously need to take a step back from my phone and reassess what it is that I have installed. I prefer to save what little storage space I have (I’m not the only one who skimps out this way!) for photos, videos, and Allo sticker packs. I need to take some time to look at which apps have similar progressive web app counterparts and whether or not there are any other tricks I can utilize to become less dependent on the full-size version of other apps like Facebook.

One thing’s for certain: the world of apps is going to change the more that people catch on to PWAs. The original idea for progressive web apps was for Google to help establish its unified vision for apps and services. But I simply appreciate them as a way to cut down on all the bloat.

Do you use progressive web apps?

Do you save storage space on your phone by using progressive web apps? Which are your favorites? Would you like to see more of them? Let us know in the comments below!

You can now order an unlocked Galaxy S8 in the U.S.

Get an unlocked Galaxy S8… for a lot of money.

Samsung has opened pre-orders for the unlocked versions of the Galaxy S8 and S8+, just days after the unlocked GS7 received its much-anticipated Nougat update.

Samsung had previously confirmed around the time of the S8’s launch in April that it would eventually offer an unlocked model in the U.S., and now we have specific details.

• It will cost $724.99 and $824.99 for the S8 and S8+, respectively.
• They’re available with 0% financing, with similar terms to what you’d get at a carrier.
• They’re only available in Midnight Black, which is a bit unfortunate.
• Each order from Samsung.com comes with a Samsung Entertainment Package, which includes a Clear View standing case, a 64GB microSD card, and a 6-month Netflix subscription.
• Devices ship by May 30.
• They’re also available at Best Buy.

While Samsung doesn’t have a great track record for keeping its unlocked phones up-to-date, the company has said that it will do better this time around. It’s unlikely the carrier and unlocked versions will receive updates at the same time, or the latter with as much frequency, but at least there’s hope. And buying the unlocked model does ensure there’s no carrier bloatware, which is nice.

Are you planning to pick up an unlocked Galaxy S8? Let us know in the comments below!

See at Samsung