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 put paid apps on sale for 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. 

HD Retina Wallpaper

This app features more than 20,000 vibrant wallpapers to choose from, which can be found using a powerful search function that returns wallpapers based on query keywords.

Available on:

iOS

Phraseholic

Phraseaholic makes expanding your vocabulary in French, Spanish, and Russian convenient and fun. Every day, a new, interesting phrase will be available for you to learn with phonetics and audio.

Available on:

iOS

Zen Sketch

Zen Sketch is a cross between a note-taking and a painting app. It’s described as an environment with the ability to add serious detail to your work.

Available on:

iOS

Bokeh Lens

Bokeh Lens will turn your iPhone photos into DSLR-quality photos with creamy and pleasing bokeh effects. You can adjust aperture to control how much your photo’s background should be bokeh-blurred.

Available on:

iOS

Pinyin Chart

Join over 500,000 students and perfect your Chinese pronunciation with the most popular Pinyin Chart on the app store. Great new features include all possible combinations of sounds and tones in Chinese.

Available on:

iOS

Change

Change is a beautifully, well-designed and simple app that helps you convert currencies easily. All you need to do is choose your currency and slide right or left to compare other currencies.

Available on:

iOS

These leaked LG V30 renders reveal a slide-out secondary display

The LG V30 is likely still a few months away from being official, but thanks to leaked renders, we know how it might look.

The premium V30 smartphone is expected to debut this autumn, and according to notable leaker Evan Blass, the original concept for the phone featured a slide-out secondary display. Blass published a few leaked renders that show a primary screen with a second one tucked under it, but he warned that they are older mock-ups. In other words, the final version of the phone might ditch the secondary display.

• You can now control LG smart home appliances using Google Home
• LG V30 will be first LG phone in three years with an OLED screen
• LG to make Google Pixel 3 is ‘pure speculation’ at present

The primary screen slides up to reveal a second one, which could be used for a keyboard, browsing search results, or other controls. Its predecessors, the V10 and V20, both had a secondary display at the top that presented various notification icons and information without the need to turn the main display on. We had expected the V30 to offer this too given it’s a distinguishing feature of the series.

Based on previous release patterns and industry sources, the LG V30 is likely to be announced sometime in September. The LG V20 was announced on 7 September 2016, just after consumer electronics show IFA, while the LG V10 was revealed on 1 October 2015.

Check out Pocket-lint’s LG V30 round-up for more leaks, rumours, and details about the upcoming phone.

Weekend bonus: this is an old-ish mockup of Project Joan, a.k.a. the LG V30. Not clear if the project is still headed in this direction. [1] pic.twitter.com/k5jNJ7DyLz

— Evan Blass (@evleaks) May 27, 2017

Here’s how the device was envisioned to look with the secondary display fully extended. [2] pic.twitter.com/HNkZErj7xB

— Evan Blass (@evleaks) May 27, 2017

Finally, several use-case scenarios for the second screen. [3] pic.twitter.com/ZKucMOScam

— Evan Blass (@evleaks) May 27, 2017

Latest Moto Z2 Play leaks show phone in full, might launch 1 June

Lenovo-owned Motorola is working on a follow-up to the Moto Z Play, and now, thanks to leaks, we’re beginning to know more about it.

WinFuture has shared new information on the device as well as a few images. We can see three different colour variants (black, silver, or gold, with the silver and gold variants featuring a white front panel) of the Moto Z2 Play and that it will work with Moto Mods. As for the specs, it will come with a 5.5-inch FHD display (1920 x 1080 resolution), Snapdragon 626 SoC, and 4GB of RAM.

Other features include 64GB of base storage, a microSD card slot, a 5-megapixel selfie sensor with a front-facing flash, and a 12-megapixel rear sensor capable of shooting in 4K. It will also have dual-LED flash sensors placed just below the camera. This latest leak further suggested the phone will get a 3,000mAh battery, which matches most rumors (except a recent TENAA certification).

WinFuture

• Motorola Moto Z and Moto Z Force: Everything you need to know
• Motorola Moto Z review: A modular muddle

Motorola introduced the Moto Z Play, an Android modular smartphone, last August. It’s a mid-range version of the Moto Z, which debuted a couple months before the Moto Z Play. It’s mostly known for having a large battery and a headphone jack. For months now, the Moto Z2 Play has been rumoured, with a few leaks indicating it’ll be thinner and have a smaller battery compared to its predecessor.

We don’t yet know anything official about the phone’s pricing or even a release date, though a leaked advert said the smartphone will be unveiled on 1 June 2017. We’ll keep you posted as we learn more.

• Motorola Moto Z vs Moto Z Force: What’s the difference?

PlayStation’s E3 press conference is coming to a theater near you

E3 might be officially open to the public this year, but what if you don’t want to book a flight to Los Angeles just to get a taste of what it’s like to be there? Sony, at least, has you covered: it’s bringing back its PlayStation E3 Experience for the third year in a row. Score tickets (thankfully, they’re free) and you can watch a broadcast of Sony’s June 12th press conference in 85 theaters across the Americas, including in Los Angeles itself.

As before, there are a few incentives to show up instead of watching the live stream at home. You’ll get a special poster, a collectible card and a mysterious “digital gift basket” from the PlayStation Store.

You’ll want to act quickly if you’re determined to attend. Tickets are available starting at 1PM Eastern on May 30th, and it’s reasonable to presume that they’ll go quickly. Also, you’ll probably want to show up early on the day in question — you aren’t guaranteed a spot. That’s something of a hassle just to watch live video, but look at it this way: this is much, much easier than attending in person, and you’ll get most of the effect.

Source: PlayStation Blog, PlayStation E3 Experience

Grace Digital BTTV 100 Bluetooth TV speaker review: Awesome concept, but needs some work

I don’t know about you, but I never seem to be satisfied with the current audio solutions that I have. Right now, I have a decent receiver running the show, but it’s nothing special and it comes with its own challenges. Since I have a smart TV, I’ve been keeping my eye on Bluetooth products out there that might replicate or replace my receiver. Enter the Grace Digital BTTV 100.

Grace Digital, if you didn’t know them already, is known for really high-quality stuff. It’s Mondo+ is an example of a cool device packed with a ton features. The BTTV 100 seems like one of those devices too, high-quality with lots of features packed in. The whole idea behind the BTTV is to hook the Bluetooth receiver then place the BTTV 100 anywhere you want it. It still needs to be powered by a wall outlet, but if your TV is across the room and you want a speaker closer to where you’re sitting, this is supposed to solve this.

And yeah, I can see the utility there. If you have an older family member who may be a bit hard of hearing, putting one of these next to them instead of jacking the TV volume all the way up is an awesome solution. No-one wants to hear grandpa watching Jeopardy, right?

Setup

Setup, for the most part, was really easy. Plug the receiver into your TV, plug the speaker into power and pair them. After that, you can find your desired volume with the big knob up front or using the included remote. The remote, while not the biggest or sturdiest thing in the world, does let you control the volume, but also lets your play with the EQ of the device to fine tune.

After plugging the device in, I turned my TV speakers off and that was it. I was all set up. The setup was incredibly simple and I would feel comfortable with letting an older family member try it out with just the instruction manual.

Sound

Proper expectations are going to be important here. You shouldn’t walk into this thinking that the BTTV 100 is going to replicate the sound you’re getting from your Bose speakers or anything.

That being said, I think the BTTV sounds pretty good. Voices were definitely clear, and that’s something Grace Digital hangs its hat on. Big, over the top sounds like explosions, screeching tires, and breaking glass came through but seemed a bit muted. I don’t know if Grace is somehow limiting the loud noises to keep them closer to voices, but it definitely felt different than both my home theater setup and just using the TV speakers.

When you crank the bass, it can boom a bit. Again, this isn’t going to compete with standalone Bluetooth speakers that sit in the price range, but if you have one of these for your TV and decide to play some music through it, it’ll be a good experience.

Issues

So, there’s one huge issue that I knew would cause me to box up the Grace Digital BTTV 100 after my review period. The sync is off. When watching TV, you take for granted that you’re getting audio at the same time as the video. When you see someone’s mouth move, you expect to hear the audio at the exact same time. From my time working in television, I can tell you that even a frame or two (there are 30 frames per second in television) can make a noticeable difference. Unfortunately, I could never figure out how to get this thing synced up with my TV.

I’ve gone over the reviews on Amazon for the device and while only a few mention this type of issue, it is something you should look out for. One of the reviews mentioned a reboot fixed the issue, but I had the issue from the moment I turned it on until I turned it off, with multiple reboots in between.

I also had an issue with the speaker just refusing to work after a while. It only happened twice in the 20 hours or so that I used the speaker, but each time I would have to get up and pull the power and reboot the speaker.

Conclusion

I’d love to sit here and recommend the Grace Digital BTTV 100. I’m a big fan of the company and I love it’s outside the box thinking, but this one just doesn’t cut the mustard for me. The speaker is a fine speaker, but nothing exceptional and the issues I had with the it really kill any kind of enthusiasm I had for it. It feels like a first-gen product that I hope Grace Digital keeps refining until it gets it right.

App Highlight: Evie Launcher

The App

Developed by Evie Labs Inc, Evie Launcher is an established app with over 1,000,000 installs. Having been updated on May 23, 2017, the developer is constantly fixing various bugs with the latest update bringing new folder styles. Evie Launcher is one of the best Android replacement launchers there is.

What it does

One of the best features of Android is its customization options and that includes being able to replace the stock launcher with third-party software. There are a ton of options that are available but Evie Launcher keeps it simple. With universal search and quick navigation, the design is simplistic and most important fast. Supporting custom shortcuts and app drawer reorganization, Evie Launcher features everything you’d expect a launcher to have but cuts back on the unnecessary to provide a pure experience.

Some of the features include:

• Faster and better-designed app drawer, supporting both grid and list sorting
• Live Wallpapers
• Home screen management
• Dock with custom grid
• Unread badges
• Folder redesign – faster, unique, and adaptable to your home screen grid
• Widgets redesign – visual previews and organized by app
• Backup and Restore – save your home screen and restore it on any device
• Double Tap To Lock with more complete custom gesture support coming soon
• Removable icon labels

Why we like it

As fans of customizing our devices here at AndroidGuys, we’re always looking for that launcher that does something different and Evie Launcher is certainly that. With tablet optimization and and backup/restore feature, I can have a consistent layout across devices in sync. With the essential customization options I can make it feel my own but I’m not overwhelmed with hundreds of options and can simply install it and go.

How to get it

Evie Launcher is available for free from the Google Play Store. You can download it right here.

Computex 2017: All the announcements that matter

Computex 2017 is officially underway.

Companies use the annual Taipei, Taiwan-based technology trade show to show off their latest PC products and components. Last year, everything seemed to be related to virtual reality, with several brands unveiling high-end GPUs or budget ones capable of running VR. But don’t expect it to be as busy this year, considering Microsoft has held already held a couple events this month to introduce new hardware.

Still, Asus has picking up the slack. It kicked off the show with a bunch of new laptops, and based on some recent leaks and launches, some other companies will likely have a few announcements up there sleeves too. Pocket-lint is of course at the show and will bring you all the latest as it happens. Here’s everything you need to know about this year’s Computex, including when it is and what was announced.

What is Computex 2017?

Computex is an international computer expo held annually in Taipei, Taiwan. This year’s show, which has the theme “From Mobility to Intelligence”, will feature keynotes on the topics of artificial intelligence, internet of things, and other future technologies.

When is Computex 2017?

Computex 2017 will be held from 30 May to 3 June 2017, though some companies, such as Asus, technically hold keynotes the weekend before in order to get a jump start, as there will undoubtedly be a flood of announcements on the first day of the show.

Where to watch Computex 2017

There is no official live stream for Computex 2017, but some companies might post live streams of their own keynotes. When they become available, we will share them below. Meanwhile, visit Computex’s website for more videos and photos from the show.

What was announced at Computex 2017?

Asus

Asus held its Computex Taipei 2017 press conference on 29 May, a full day before the show officially begins, and it mainly used the time to introduce new laptops. A bunch of them, actually. And here they are:

The ZenBook Flip S, touted as the “world’s thinnest convertible”, is 10.9mm thick and 20-per cent slimmer than the MacBook. The convertible weighs 1.1kg (2.42 pounds) and offers 11.5 hours of battery life, Intel’s Core i7 processor, a single USB-C port, and a 13.3-inch 4K screen. Product launch is set for the back-to-school September window and lowest-specced models will start at $1,099 (around £850).

Next there’s the new ZenBook Pro, which has a Nvidia GTX 1050Ti GPU, a 15.6-inch 4K display, and an H-series Core i7 CPU, and 14 hours of battery life – all within a 18.9mm-thick chassis. It will start at $1,299. Asus also unveiled the ZenBook 3 Deluxe. It’s a 14-inch laptop that’s just 12.9mm thick and starts at $1,199. It has two Thunderbolt 3 ports, Intel’s Core i7 processor, and a 1080p display.

Asus also brought out a $499 laptop in a 17.9mm-thick aluminium chassis. Features include a Core i7 processor, an Nvidia GTX 940MX GPU inside, and a 15-inch screen. And finally, Asus introduced the VivoBook Pro, a mid-range offering with a 15.6-inch 4K display, a Core i7 processor, and a GTX 1050 GPU. It’ll be available from summer for $799 (just over £600).

• Asus Zenbook Flip S preview: A thin convertible jam packed with top kit
• Asus Vivo Book Pro S15 preview: The world’s first laptop with Intel Optane
• Asus Zenbook Pro UX550 preview: Next-level machine with a 4K touchscreen

What else can you expect?

We could hear from Acer and MediaTek, AMD, Intel, and Nvidia. That’s all we’ve got so far, but stay tuned over the next few days.

Designer virus carries cancer genes, tells immune system to attack tumor

Why it matters to you

The immune system is not great at kicking out cancer but this new technique could encourage it to target tumors.

Artificial viruses have been created by scientists to eliminate cancer cells. Developed by Swiss virologists from the University of Basel and the University of Geneva (UNIGE), these designer viruses stimulate the immune system, causing it to target tumors with killer cells.

“It has been known for almost a century that infection with lymphocytic choriomeningitis virus (LCMV) induces killer T cell responses of virtually unmatched potency,” Daniel Pinschewer, a University of Basel researcher and one of the senior authors of the study, told Digital Trends. “We thus set out to leverage this feature of LCMV infection for the purpose of cancer immunotherapy, where killer T cells represent a key mechanism of protection.”

Along with UNIGE’s Doron Merkler, Pinschewer and their team developed artificial viruses that mimicked natural LCMV, which infect rodents and humans alike. The artificial virus did not actually harm the lab rats but carried markers — such as genes and proteins — derived from the tumor, and managed to set off the body’s alarm. When the immune system detected the virus and began, it also detected bits of cancer cells and began its attack on both. The researchers described their work in a paper recently published in the journal Nature Communications.

“The immune system gets to see a component of the cancer cell it should fight, and alongside with this structure the viral infection rings molecular ‘alarm bells,’ which give it that the immune system responds as vigorously as it possibly can,” Pinschewer explained.

In response to the artificial virus — and accompanying cancer genes — the immune system mobilizes killer T cells (cytotoxic T-lymphocytes), to attack both the virus and the tumor.

“In principle, one could imagine targeting all sorts of cancers,” Pinschewer said, “provided one has a tailor-made a virus for each tumor type. This does not, however, mean that all types of tumors will respond to treatment with a tailor-made virus of the type we have described.”

Pinschewer was quick to note that this research has so far only been conducted on rodents, so the therapy’s success in humans is yet to be confirmed. He expects human trials to begin in the next two years.

Cryorig’s innovative PC case, the Taku, seeks crowdfunding on Kickstarter

Why it matters to you

Anyone looking for a different kind of case for their next PC build might find Cryorig’s Taku worthy of a Kickstarter pledge.

PC cooling specialist Cryorig has taken to Kickstarter to crowdfund its Taku ITX chassis. The product has been shown publicly before, notably at last year’s Computex event, but it wasn’t previously known that the company intended to bankroll the project in this unusual manner.

The Cryorig Taku is a PC case with an atypical design that allows it to double as a monitor stand. Its minimalist design is a sharp contrast to the bells and whistles of many cases aimed at gamers, and its more utilitarian qualities will recommend the chassis to users who like to tinker with their setup on a regular basis.

The front face of the chassis pulls out like a drawer, revealing the ITX motherboard and whatever other components have been installed by the user. While the focus on ITX motherboards might suggest that this product is intended for compact, low-spec systems, Cryorig maintains that it is fully capable of housing a gaming rig.

Inside the drawer, there is space for a dual-slot (40mm) GPU up to 280mm long, CPU fans that are as tall as 48mm, two 2.5-inch SSDs, one 3.5-inch HDD, memory modules up to a height of 52mm, and an SFX power supply, according to a report from Hexus. A 92mm system fan comes installed as standard.

Cryorig has apparently been developing the Taku for two years, with Lian Li — the Taiwanese company that will manufacture the finished product — which came on board for the last six months to collaborate on its design.

The crowdfunding campaign is looking to raise $100,000 to cover the costs of manufacturing, and the standard Taku chassis costs $299, with a limited number of units available at the early bird rate of $250. If more than 1,000 units are sold, Cryorig plans to reward every backer with a free C7 ITX PC cooler, which retails for $30.

Intels overclock-friendly Core i3-7350K hits $150, giving boost to budget PCs

Why it matters to you

If you act fast, you can get Intel’s best entry-level CPU for a cool $150, and make your new gaming PC even more affordable.

Building a PC gaming system involves a host of decisions that impact the price and performance of the resulting machine. One of the most important is the CPU, which can both crank up the performance and empty your bank account.

Intel has a relatively low-cost option for gamers, the Core i3-7350K, that lets you squeeze out every ounce of lower-end performance via overclocking, without bankrupting you. And now, it seems like Intel might be cutting the chip’s price to an even more reasonable $150, as Hexus.net reports.

It would make some sense for Intel to get more aggressive on its CPU pricing, given the price-performance provided by AMD’s latest Ryzen CPUs based on its new Zen processor architecture. Ryzen chips provide very competitive performance compared to Intel’s Core processors, and often come in at lower prices. Intel needs to respond to Ryzen or face losing some of its market dominance.

Right now, the Intel Core i3-7350K can be had from retailers like Newegg and Amazon for $150, an almost 20 percent reduction from the standard price of around $180. With a stock base frequency of 4.2GHz but with no Turbo Boost, the CPU is best for boosting entry-level gaming systems with a stable overclocking speed of up to 4.9GHz.

At a price of $150, therefore, the low-end chip is a real bargain for anyone whose gaming, or other computing needs, don’t require massive thread counts.

The current pricing might just be promotional, however, and so if you are looking for good performance at a lower price, then you will want to get your order in sooner rather than later. Intel is likely to keep putting the pressure on AMD through discounts and faster CPUs, however, and so this latest development just complicates the already challenging process of choosing the right brains for your new PC.