Proposed U.K. law lets authorities snoop on communications, defeat encryption

Why it matters to you

The U.K.’s Investigatory Powers Bill grants law enforcement sweeping surveillance powers.

The United Kingdom’s Investigatory Powers Bill faced a firestorm of criticism this week after a leak of documents detailing the law’s surveillance powers. According to the International Business Times, it would permit U.K. law enforcement agencies to request the content of telephone calls, text messages, and internet browsing activity, and require some telecoms and services to provide a way around encryption.

The leak included a nine-page draft titled “technical capability notice,” which required internet providers and phone companies to “provide and maintain the capability to ensure the interception, in their entirety, of all communications […] in their entirety, of all secondary data authorized by or required by the warrant.” Telecom companies would be expected to hand over data within 24 hours, in some cases, and would be required to store data for 12 months.

The Investigatory Powers Bill also targets end-to-end encryption, the digital method of obfuscation used to secure communications. Telecom companies — including U.S. companies which operate in the U.K., potentially — would be required to “disclose, where practicable, the content of communications […] in an intelligible form and to remove electronic protection applied by or on behalf of the telecommunications operator.”

There are some limits to what U.K. authorities could do. Surveillance requests would have to be approved by either a senior police official or the Secretary of State, and would be overseen by a judge appointed by the Prime Minister. Telecommunications firms which solely provide service to banking, insurance, investment, or other financial services won’t be subject to the law, and warrants won’t be imposed on carriers with fewer than 10,000 customers.

Still, advocacy groups criticized the bill for “disproportionate powers […] straight out of an Orwellian nightmare.” Jim Killock, executive director of the U.K.’s Open Rights Group, told the International Business Times that “[the powers] could be directed at companies like WhatsApp to limit their encryption.”

“The public has a right to know about the government powers that could put their privacy and security at risk,” he said. “There needs to be transparency about how such measures are judged to be reasonable, the risks that are imposed on users […] and how companies can challenge the demands.”

The documents, which were drafted in consultation with the U.K.’s Technical Advisory Board, have yet to be approved by the U.K.’s parliament. But the bill is expected to become law by late May, after a brief “consultation” period.

In March, following the terrorist attack in London which left many people injured and one killed, British Home Secretary Amber Rudd announced the U.K. government’s intention to persuade WhatsApp to provide a way for authorities to read encrypted messages.

“We need to make sure that organizations like WhatsApp, and there are plenty others like that, don’t provide a secret place for terrorists to communicate with each other,” Rudd told The Guardian.

Learn to build cross-platform apps with Xamarin for just $35

App development is the bees’ knees right now. The cat’s pajamas. “Where it’s at”. But do you build apps for iOS or Android? And which software do you use to do it? Of course, you want your apps to be in both the Google Play Store and the App Store, so do you bounce back and forth between coding languages to get them there? No.

Learn to code with Xamarin for only $35! Learn More

There’s a big opportunity for people who use Xamarin to help develop apps for both iOS and Android, simultaneously. People who can use Xamarin to its fullest are much-sought-after in the current app development industry and the current app development industry is thriving. You need to get in there and show ’em what you got. But you need to learn Xamarin and get some real-world app-building experience first.

Enter the Xamarin Cross Platform Development Bundle from Android Central Digital Offers. Through more than 57 hours of content, you’ll learn the absolute basics of Xamarin, right up to the most advanced cross-platform development techniques, and you’ll build fully functional apps for iOS and Android using the C# programming language. That’s lifetime access to almost 60 hours of content, comprising 6 courses, for only $35. Go elsewhere for this kind of education, and you’d end up spending over $1000, but at Android Central Digital Offers, you save 96%!

Understand the most popular development platform now! Learn More

In the first course, you’ll learn the basics of Xamarin and jump in the deep end, creating fully developed apps. From there, you’ll tackle mastering C#, Xamarin Forms, Xamarin and Android, building native cross-platform apps, and finish off with the Ultimate Xamarin Course, where you’ll learn advanced development techniques and strategies.

App development is big business right now and being able to simultaneously create apps for the two biggest mobile platforms is not only efficient but a valuable skill in the industry. Grab the Xamarin Cross Platform Development Bundle from Android Central Digital Offers and learn all there is to know about Xamarin so that you can get a foot in the app development door and start to build your career. Just don’t pay over $1000 elsewhere. Get lifetime access to over 57 hours of content for just $35 at Android Central Digital Offers.

The OnePlus 5 is confirmed to be coming this summer

Prepare your wallets, a new OnePlus is on the horizon.

Update: Android Central has independently confirmed that the OnePlus 5 will launch in the early summer timeframe, likely early June.

There’s still plenty we don’t know about the next phone from OnePlus, but one thing that has been absolutely settled is when everyone can expect to buy it. According to The Verge, and confirmed by Android Central, OnePlus will be unveiling its next phone at some point in the summer, and it’s not being called OnePlus 4 because that number is considered unlucky. Instead, as rumors suggested, it’ll be called the OnePlus 5.

OnePlus has a history of making hardware for enthusiasts who get excited about raw specs, so rumors of a Snapdragon 835 with 6GB of RAM under a 5.5-inch 1080p display and dual cameras on the back tick a lot of boxes for that crowd. The current OnePlus 3T is still considered more than enough phone for a lot of people, and at nearly half the price of the industry heavyweights. While none of these details have been confirmed, it’s not hard to see OnePlus pulling out all of the stops and making sure this phone feels like a worthy upgrade in every possible way for its loyal userbase.

Are you excited about this OnePlus 5? What is the one killer feature you’d like to see OnePlus nail with this generation? Sound off in the comments!

OnePlus 3T and OnePlus 3

• OnePlus 3T review: Rekindling a love story
• OnePlus 3T vs. OnePlus 3: What’s the difference?
• OnePlus 3T specs
• Latest OnePlus 3 news
• Discuss OnePlus 3T and 3 in the forums

OnePlus
Amazon

Samsung Gear VR: The best mobile VR headset you can buy today

One of the most feature complete VR experiences available today, and all you need to power it is your phone.

Samsung and Oculus have worked closely together since late in 2014 on a way to offer a compelling VR experience using little more than a phone. The Gear VR uses Samsung’s superior display tech and a unique but locked down software experience from Oculus, and since that initial launch there have been four revisions to the hardware. The most recent revision, released alongside the Samsung Galaxy S8 and Galaxy S8+, takes the Gear VR experience to new heights by offering a special motion controller for new depths in interactivity.

Samsung Gear VR with Controller See at Amazon

Like its predecessors, this latest version of the Gear VR is designed to be worn for hours, and can even charge your phone from while it is docked in the headset so extended gaming or movie sessions don’t negatively impact your battery for the rest of the day. Perhaps most important, it’s comfortable enough that you’d actually want to wear it for those extended periods of time.

Why should I care about VR?

Virtual Reality is a new way to explore a lot of amazing things you’d otherwise never get to see in person, by making you feel like you are in an entirely different place. You can stand in the middle of Stonehenge, or sit at the top of the Empire State Building, and everything you see is a massive spherical image of that place. You can even invite other people to experience these things with you, and talk to a virtual version of them as though you are standing right next to each other.

It’s also incredible for entertainment. You can watch the next episode of The Handmaid’s Tale with a friend living on the other side of the world, blast zombies away with futuristic rifles, or pilot the fastest spacecraft in the galaxy. These experiences don’t live on a flat screen in front of you, it’s happening all around you when you’re wearing a VR headset.

You don’t need to be sitting still or standing in place to enjoy VR either. There are amusement parks all around the world using VR headsets to turn roller coasters into amazing new experiences just by switching out the sights and sounds of the theme park with something immersive and new. This form of immersion even had medical uses, from assisting in physical therapy sessions to distracting from pain.

It may seem strange to see VR be called new, especially if you remember back when massive heavy headsets and bulking computers-filled malls with things that made a lot of people nauseous after a few minutes. What we’re talking about here isn’t anywhere near the same thing, even though it does have the same name. It’s new, it’s fun, and if you’ve not tried a new Gear VR it’s time to give one a shot.

How the Gear VR stands out

Basically, this headset is a complete thought. It’s designed to keep light out while offering ventilation to keep the lenses from fogging up after extended use, and can be quickly adjusted for a variety of different eye comfort levels. You can wear the headset with glasses or without, and the headset itself offers additional tracking hardware to guarantee a smooth experience even when quickly turning in an app of game. It’s also very sturdy, so there’s no need to worry if you pack it away in luggage or a backpack that gets knocked around a bit.

	8.18 in207.8mm
3.89 in98.9mm
12.17oz345g

• Lens
  • 101˚ FOV
  • 62mm IPD (fixed)
  • 10mm Eye Relief
• Ports
  • USB-C, OTG
  • MicroUSB
• Sensors
  • Gyroscope
  • Accelerometer
  • Proximity (Headset only)
  • Magnetometer (Controller only)

There’s an important detail in that specs sheet which helps explain why this headset stands out in the crowd. The Samsung Gear VR is more than plastic and glass, it has extra sensors baked in to help the phone process motion tracking. This additional information means things like turning your head quickly in a Gear VR feels more natural, which can make a big difference for people easily unsettled by the almost out of body feeling so frequently associated with virtual reality.

While there are other VR experiences that use a phone to deliver other-worldly visuals and exciting games, Samsung has ensure there is no competition for the Gear VR if you’ve already purchased a phone. If you are already happy with your phone and would like to explore VR, the decision has largely been made for you thanks to exclusivity agreements.

The good news is a lot of the most popular experiences in VR are made by companies happy to make sure every VR users has the same experience. The bad news is if you enjoy your Gear VR experiences but want a phone made by another manufacturer in the future, you will be leaving things like game saves and friends lists behind. This isn’t a huge deal if you’re only using your Gear VR occasionally, but once you find something unique that hooks you into diving into VR daily it’s clear you’ll likely be sticking with Samsung for a while.

Embracing the Gear VR Controller

While the Gear VR has many games which support or require the addition of a Bluetooth gamepad, many games rely on the touch pad mounted on the side of the headset for input. That works well for quick apps and games, but if you want someone to do something in VR for an extended period of time you can’t expect them to keep their hand mounted on the side of the headset.

Enter the Gear VR Controller.

This small Bluetooth wand lets you do everything you would normally do on the side of the headset, but in the palm of your hand. It’s not only significantly more comfortable, but it also adds buttons for developers to add features to. Where everything in the past was “swipe up to jump” you can now have a button for things like this, which is way more fun.

Samsung and Oculus very much see this Controller as the future.

The Gear VR Controller does way more. When you look down at your hand while wearing the Gear VR, you can actually see the controller. As you move it around in your hand, those movements are seen in the Gear VR. The Controller has something called Three Degrees of Freedom (3Dof) which means you can move it around and those movements will be added to VR. For VR games, this means a pistol you can actually point and shoot. For education or browsing, this means a laser pointer in your hand for precise pointing and even typing.

You get a Gear VR Controller with the latest Gear VR, but if you already own a Gear VR it’s super easy to add the Controller to your existing experience since you can buy it separately. Samsung and Oculus very much see this Controller as the future, and have worked with over 40 developers to quickly build unique new experiences which rely heavily on this unique new controller.

Read more: Where to buy a Gear VR Controller

Create the ultimate Gear VR kit with these accessories!

• Best Gamepad — Steelseries Stratus XL
• Best Headphones — Sennheiser HD 598 Cs
• Best Memory add-on — Samsung 128GB MicroSD
• Best Carrying case — Caseling Hard Case

Gaming in your Gear VR

Yep, you can play a lot of incredible games on the Gear VR. In fact, there are more great games on the Gear VR than any other mobile VR platform. You can play epic puzzle games, shooters, racing, even tabletop fantasy card games. There’s a lot to love about the options you have available, and new experiences are hitting the Oculus Store daily.

Check out the best free games for the Gear VR

You need to stand up to play these amazing Gear VR games

These are our favorite Gear VR games

Best of all, the Oculus store makes it easy to see which games are the most intense right in the description. You can set your comfort level, or you can push your own limits to see what you can handle. It’s entirely up to you, which makes it a ton of fun.

What about overheating?

Virtual Reality is incredibly demanding on these tiny pocket computers we’re so fond of. These experiences require more from the processor, graphics, and display than just about anything else you can do with your phone. As a result, a lot of early Gear VR experiences were limited to a few minutes to keep the phone from staying warmer than usual for too long. Samsung has worked hard to address this over the last few generations, with the Galaxy S8 representing the most significant change in performance.

Samsung Gear VR thermal test: Galaxy S7 (left) vs Galaxy S8 (right)

In many ways, mobile processors have caught up to the expectations set by virtual reality experiences. With a Galaxy S8 in a Gear VR, you can play for multiple hours without ever seeing a heat warning. This is a big deal when compared to the first generation Samsung and Oculus first created, and overcoming this hurdle means VR developers can push the envelope ever further and create more intense and realistic experiences to delight the senses.

Sex, Drugs, and Gear VR

I’m sure some of you have questions about using a Gear VR that maybe aren’t “family friendly” because I get those questions in my email all the time. Don’t worry, we’ve got the answers you need.

Yes, you can watch porn on a Gear VR

You can use a Gear VR while high, but be careful

Be safe, and have a good time!

Where to go for even more information

We’ve only scratched the surface of what is possible with your Gear VR, and how to make sure you’re getting the most out of these hardware. And really, that’s what makes the Gear VR so uniquely deserving of being called the best mobile VR headset you can buy right now. The sheer volume of amazing things you can do is exciting, and seriously grows every day.

Samsung Gear VR with Controller See at Amazon

If you’re on the fence about a Gear VR, or you have one now and want to know more about having a great time with this experience, here are some great resources for you to check out.

The Ultimate Troubleshooting Guide for your Samsung Gear VR

Check out our Gear VR forums to chat with fellow VR fans

Top Tips and Tricks for CATS: Crash Arena Turbo Stars

Blast your opponents away with these tips and tricks for CATS!

CATS is an explosive new game for Android developed by ZeptoLab. It’s a game that challenges you to build the best battling war machine using parts you unlock from timed crates as you work your way up the rankings.

It’s easy enough to learn the base mechanics at play here, but harder to actually unlock and determine the best strategies to win. You’ll need to invest some time —and probably some money, if we’re being honest here — if you want to progress quickly. But some smart tips and tricks will help you get the edge on your opponents without spending for in-app purchases.

Here’s the best strategies we’ve found so far.

Things you need to know to get started

Your death machines are comprised of three things: the body, the wheels, and the weapons/accessories.

The most important component is the body. When determining which body to start building your machine around, you’ll want to consider the style, weapon placement, and power rating. As we’ll discuss in the next section, anything with a wedge shape is automatically best suited to win most fights, but the location of the fixed weapon sockets and the power levels are equally important. The body power level determines how many weapons you can add, while the weapon sockets show where they can be placed.

After time you’re going to collect some pretty garbage parts that will never win you any fights. but are still valuable for upgrading. You’re able to fuse parts together to upgrade them by dragging the part you want to fuse to the stats page for the part you want to upgrade. This is not the time to be hoarding parts — if you’ve got the credits needed to fuse and upgrade a part you should do it.

Selecting the right wheels is also important. Go too small and you may lack the traction needed to push against the opponent. Go too big and you’re susceptible to being flipped. This is where you’re going to have to do some independent testing to find the right wheel combinations that serve your needs. I’ve seen some pretty interesting designs that only use one set of wheels, too, so don’t feel limited by traditional design tropes.

Get low

If you’ve ever participated in a robotic sumo match (or sumo matches in general, I guess), you know there are two keys to victory — get low and maintain your footing. The same theory comes into play in CATS, where you’ll often be able to get the upper hand on your opponent right quick by getting underneath them at first contact. By that logic, wedges with a low center of gravity are your best build types.

The “classic” body type is a great option to use, especially if you unlock one with advantageous weapon positioning near the front for a drill or a chainsaw. Otherwise, you may want to equip a forklift to give you an artificial lift when you get in tight with your opponent.

When you’re first starting out, you’re going to be somewhat limited by the parts available to you, and then limited based on the configuration of the body — where the weapon posts are positioned and its overall power capacity. If you come across anything with a power capacity of 10 or more you’re going to want to keep it, since it should allow you to mix and match multiple weapons.

Pick up design tips from your opponents

One of the benefits of battles being played out automatically is that the results are purely based on a combination of physics and the design of the machines battling. As you play through the Championship or Quick Fight modes, take note of any and all design choices that prove to be really successful. Granted sometimes machines simply have While maybe you don’t have the parts to copy it exactly just yet, you’ll want to remember which combinations were especially effective.

Being able to recognize superior designs will also help you extend your Quick Fight win streaks, as you should be able to cherrypick opponents with whom you have an upper hand over.

Take advantage of bonuses to your advantage

Certain parts were just made to be together, which you’ll discover from the the bonuses linked to special parts them. These can have an effect on your machine’s total health, or boost the strength of a specific weapon type.

Combining these special parts together might seem like the perfect strategy, but you also need to avoid forcing the issue and creating a machine that’s supercharged with bonuses but still lacking in the fundamentals of good design. Then again, if you manage to muster up a supercharged weapon, you don’t technically even need wheels to win. Maximizing your rockets and then operating as a motionless turret might not feel in the spirit of the game, but it sure can be effective!

Download: CATS: Crash Arena Turbo Stars (Free w/IAPs)

Android Gaming

• Best Android games
• Best free Android games
• Best games with no in-app purchases
• Best action games for Android
• Best RPGs for Android
• All the Android gaming news!

It’s a breeze to manage your notifications on Gear VR

We’ve got the details on how to manage those pesky notifications when you’re in VR.

Whether it’s making sure that you know when a text message from your mom comes in, or letting you know that the email you’ve been waiting on has arrived, notifications on your phone serve an important purpose. However, what do you do when you’re trying to gun down the enemy and a notification that you don’t care about pops up on your screen? Well, have no fear; we’ve got all the details on how to manage your notifications within Gear VR.

Read more at VRHeads.com

T-Mobile gets into the insurance game with Premium Device Protection Plus

“That’s a real nice phone you got there. It’d be a shame if anything happened to it.”

Let’s face it: it’s a dangerous world out there for a nerd and their Android phone. Our lives are on these pocketable computers and they’re up against a big bad world of malware, phishing, identity theft, device theft, bugs, breakdowns, and screen-shattering drops. If you feel the need for some more security for your phone — and your peace of mind — T-Mobile has a new service to sell starting May 7.

Behold, T-Mobile’s Premium Device Protection Plus or PDP Plus for short. The service bundles a whole heck of a lot of security and support-based services and shoves them under that mouthful of a name for a monthly fee. McAfee Security for T-Mobile and VIP tech support are a few of the headliners in this security smorgasbord.

Seriously, though, look at this laundry list of services being shoved under this $15/month service:

• Identity theft protection tools with 24/7/365 dedicated agents to provide Lost Wallet and ID Restoration services backed by $1 million insurance for qualifying recovery expenses.
  Data Protection against viruses and online threats and including privacy protection for up to 10 compatible devices, including phones, tablets and even your PCs and Macs. Also includes a password manager and anti-theft features like a capture cam capability that takes a photo of whoever is trying to unlock your phone (after 3 failed attempts) and emails you their location!
• Device Protection provides coverage for accidental damage and hardware service—for any mechanical breakdown—as well as lost and stolen devices.
• AppleCare Services for a newly purchased or financed iPhone or iPad provides 24/7 priority access to AppleCare technical support (via chat or phone); low service fees—like just $29 for iPhone screen damage and free battery service; Apple-certified repair or replacement at Apple Stores and Apple Authorized Service Providers; hardware service with genuine Apple parts; software support for iOS, iCloud, and Apple-branded iOS apps; and hardware repairs and service backed by Apple, the people who know iPhone and iPad best.
• Tech PHD (Personal Help Desk) provides VIP-level access to immediate, personal technical and diagnostic support via online chat, phone and self-serve resources for devices that connect to your T-Mobile phones, tablets and Hotspots – like printers, routers, TVs and game consoles.

If you want this cyber cornucopia, it’s available to T-Mobile customers buying a new phone and adding a new line of service. If you just bought yourself a T-Mobile Samsung Galaxy S8 — or any other new T-Mobile smartphone in the last 60 days — you can upgrade to JUMP! Plus, the new level of the JUMP! device upgrading program that comes with PDP Plus.

Which unlimited plan should you buy?

How to clean and disinfect your Android smartphone

Regardless of the Android phone you’re carrying, make sure it’s clean enough for you — and your loved ones, too.

You’ve seen the statistics, but have you seen the evidence? Awhile back, Buzzfeed kept a lively bunch of Petri dishes colonized with the same bacteria found on the smartphones of several colleagues. The unfortunate discovery was that there were actual pathogens found on the phones; essentially, potentially disease-causing strains of bacteria.

Whether you’re a germaphobe, or someone who doesn’t mind a bit of rolling around in the dirt, surely we can all agree that anything that can potentially cause disease is bad news. There are some quick things you can do to keep your Android devices clean and disinfected, however, and free of what could be harmful to your health.

Make a cleaning kit

The necessities for cleaning your Android smartphone are actually quite basic.

You have a kit for all your various USB charging cables and gadgets that plug into your Android device, so why not make a kit for cleaning your smartphone? At home, stock up on 70 percent or higher rubbing alcohol, finely pointed cotton swabs, and a barrel of toothpicks. You should also consider stocking up on a pack of microfiber cloths, as well as a few cans of compressed air. Most of them come in packs of two or three anyway.

Why not make a kit for cleaning your smartphone?

You’ll also want some sort of cleaning solution that will disinfect the phone. I’ve built my only little collection of pre-mixed spritzers based on whatever I’d find on sale at Amazon, though the Whoosh! brand cleaner was suggested by one of our iMore brethren, and it’s a good deal since it comes with a travel spritzer and microfiber cleaning cloth.

You could also make your own cleaning solution with 8 ounces of rubbing alcohol and 8 ounces of distilled water inside a spray bottle. A 50-50 mixture of white vinegar and distilled water also works if you’re into keeping things relatively organic and don’t mind the intense smell of the vinegar.

How to clean your Android phone

Every Android phone is different — a special, individual flower, if you will. But cleaning it is generally the same as cleaning any other mobile phone. There are ports, buttons, a screen, and an entire chassis that could all use a bit of a rubdown with some grime-cleaning solution.

Be careful not to puncture any speakers or wriggle any ports.

Grab a large, clean microfiber cloth or soft towel and lay it out. Or, you can quickly wipe over a substantial bit of table area with a winged out soapy sponge or towel. Just making sure the “operating” area is clean. Then, lay the phone down. Grab the can of compressed air and start blowing out the charging port, ensuring that whatever little particles are in there are flying up and out. (If you have trouble seeing, use the aid of a desk lamp and take off the shade for more light.) You can pump air into the rear speakers to clear them out, as dirt and gross particles also collect there.

If you see that there’s too much grossness to clear out with just the compressed air, grab a fine toothpick and carefully dig out the grime that’s causing you stress. Be careful not to puncture any speakers or wriggle any ports. If you see debris collecting elsewhere on the phone — like in the cracks around the frame, and in the top speaker grill — you can clear those out with a toothpick, too.

Cotton swabs can be helpful on the edges, but don’t use them inside ports or speaker grilles.

Spray your phone with cleaning solution and wipe it down — as often as you possibly can.

Now that you’ve primed the device for disinfecting, grab your alcohol- or vinegar-based cleaner. Spray it on the microfiber cloth and wipe it down. Then, take a cotton swab and dip it inside the bottle of rubbing alcohol. Trace it around the edges, the buttons, and any other crevices of the chassis that require cleaning, but take heed not to use them inside ports or speaker grilles. Wipe it all off with the microfiber cloth when you’re finished.

Cleaning on the go

For a quicker cleaning experience, a pre-moistened cleaning cloth is just as apt at cleaning your smartphone as the multi-tool cleaning process. Grab a brand like these Wireless Wipes, which smell nice and clean your device. Sephora also offers a batch of stylishly-packed screen cleansing towelettes for those who like a little flair with their cleaning supplies. Or, just get into the habit of cleaning your phone once a week at home — maybe even designate a night of the week as phone cleaning night. Make it excited by adding music.

A pre-moistened cleaning cloth is just as apt at cleaning your smartphone.

Also, consider using hand sanitizer between meals and before touching your phone. A little can go a long way, and I’ve often found that something as simple as a travel bottle of Purell hand sanitizer can work miracles at removing dirt from the fingers.

Your methods

What are your methods for keeping your phone and other gadgets clean and germ-free? Let us know!

Nintendo 2DS XL preview: Lighter, no 3D but still at top of its game

Nintendo has been milking its 3DS range of handheld consoles for a considerable while – after all, the first 3DS came out in 2011. The DS, on which it is based, came to the UK considerably earlier, in 2005.

It’s no exaggeration therefore to say it’s the most endearing console concept we’ve seen. And we’re not about to see the back of it anytime soon.

Even though the Switch brings a new era of portable games consoles to the fray, the Nintendo 2DS XL proves there’s still a valid reason to have a dedicated handheld.

Pocket-lint

It is fast, well supported and, most importantly, light and easy to shove in a bag. It is smaller than the existing “new” 3DS XL, less weighty too, yet as powerful and will screens of an equivalent size. It also dispenses with the 3D option which, to be honest, many we’ve spoken to prefer, even when offered the option.

• Nintendo 2DS XL vs 2DS vs 3DS vs 3DS XL: What’s the difference?

There are two colour schemes that will be available from launch – a white unit with orange trim and buttons, and a black version with blue trim. Both are identical save for the colour and both have a few refinements, even over their 3D stablemates.

Pocket-lint

The cartridge slot is on the bottom left corner, as on the latest 3DS XL, but it’s now secured by a flap to stop the game popping out when in a bag. Better still, the microSD card slot is under the same flap, so you can swap it out easily.

Having to unscrew the rear of the 3DS XL just to change over a microSD card was a real pain.

Cameras have been moved. The front-facing cam is now on the hinge, while the rear 3D cameras (yep, they can still take 3D images even considering the 2DS XL’s 2D screen) are centrally located on the back these days.

The hinge also gets notifications lights, to tell you when you have StreetPass or SpotPass data to check out.

Other than those tweaks, everything is similar to the 3D model. The bezel around the screens are a tad smaller, making the whole unit smaller too, but you don’t really notice unless both consoles are side-by-side.

Pocket-lint

The upper screen is, obviously, 2D rather than autostereoscopic 3D like the other family members, but it’s still 4.88-inches in size. It has a 400 x 240 pixel resolution, which is half the vertical resolution of the 3DS XL, but those extra pixels in that case are used to send light to different eyes, so in practical terms you do not notice the difference at all. The display looks very similar to a 3DS XL screen with the 3D switched off.

The lower touchscreen is identical: 4.18-inches with a pixel resolution of 320 x 240.

Behind the lower screen is an NFC reader for Amiibo interactivity, and the main thumbstick, mini thumbstick and extra shoulder buttons (ZL and ZR) are all present. The home button has been moved from the bottom of the lower screen to the left-hand side, but it makes little difference.

We’re pleased that Nintendo is seeing sense this time around and including a power adapter in the box (it didn’t with the 3DS model upgrades). Perhaps it feels the 2DS XL will be a jumping on point for many – after all, would you downscale your new 3DS XL to a 2DS XL version?

Naturally, this new handheld will work with all 3DS and DS games released over the years and those yet to come. It also has access to the Nintendo eShop for digital purchases and downloads.

Pocket-lint

First Impressions

When we played on a new 2DS XL for the first time, our immediate impression was that it was light, much lighter than a 3DS XL. Holding one in each hand provided confirmation. It is much lighter, slightly sexier too, with the coloured trim and slightly mottled exterior.

It does feel slightly flimsier however, and definitely more so than the existing, unibody 2DS. That was designed to appeal to younger children, with a simpler shape to hold for smaller hands and robust build quality in case of spills.

The Nintendo 2DS XL doesn’t feel like it’s made for kids. We’re not sure it’d last too many bounces off the floor, that’s for sure.

Instead, we feel it is aimed at those attracted to the 3DS in recent times, through games like Pokemon Sun/Moon or Fire Emblem, but put off by the price of the 3DS XL.

We don’t have a UK price for the new version yet, but it’ll be $149.99 in the States (around £116 at the current exchange rate) so cheaper than the $240-plus heavier sibling. And who needs the 3D anyway?

The Nintendo 2DS XL will be available in numerous territories from 28 July. We’ll be reviewing it in more depth closer to then.

Fitbit GPS smartwatch rumours: Everything we know so far about Project Higgs

Fitbit is well known in the activity tracking field but it has yet to fully take the leap into the smartwatch world. The Fitbit Blaze was an attempt at bridging the gap between fitness tracker and smartwatch but it isn’t an Apple Watch or Android Wear competitor.

Since the launch of the Blaze however, Fitbit has bought smartwatch companies Pebble and Vector, as well as mobile payment company Coin and now there are rumours of a new GPS Fitbit smartwatch in the works.

Here is everything we know so far about the new Fitbit smartwatch, which is reportedly codenamed Project Higgs.

Fitbit GPS smartwatch rumours: Design

• Expect to see same interchangeable mechanism as Charge 2 and Alta HR
• Waterproofing also expected 
• Square, coloured display rumoured like Blaze

Fitbit’s next smartwatch could follow in the design footsteps of the Fitbit Blaze, if a leak from Yahoo Finance is to be believed. The leaked image show a very similar device to the Blaze but with a few changes.

There appears to be a square coloured display like the Blaze, but there is no gap between the screen and what looks like the company’s signature textured elastomer band. The Blaze has a screen module that slots into a frame, while the new smartwatch appears to take design tips from the more recent Fitbit Charge 2 and Fitbit Alta HR devices.

Yahoo Finance

We would assume the smartwatch will feature the interchangeable strap mechanism on the latest activity trackers, rather than requiring a full frame change for a new strap like the Blaze. If this is the case, the strap will be able to be unclipped from the underside of the device and replaced easily.

Based on the leak, there will be two function buttons on the right of the screen and a buckle fastening mechanism on the strap itself. We would also assume there will be a PurePulse heart rate monitor on the underside of the display, as well charging pins for attaching what will likely be another bulldog-style charging cable.

The Verge has claimed this is the first time Fitbit is designing its own device rather than contracting the design out to another company, but if the leaked image is legitimate, it suggests the new smartwatch will still continue in the same path as the company’s new trackers.

The only waterproof Fitbit device currently available is the Flex 2, but reports suggest the new Fitbit GPS smartwatch has been delayed due to waterproofing and GPS antenna challenges so we would hope to see waterproofing on this new device.

• Fitbit Blaze review

Fitbit GPS smartwatch rumours: Features

• Built-in GPS expected and NFC
• Heart-rate monitor rumoured, as well as four-day battery
• Fitbit thought to be introducing own app store, likely to use Pebble acquisition to help

Rumours suggest the new Fitbit smartwatch will feature GPS, like the Fitbit Surge, rather than just Connected GPS like the Charge 2. It is also thought it will come with NFC for mobile payments, a heart rate monitor and a four-day battery life, the latter of which would be a day less than the Blaze if accurate.

It is likely that the new smartwatch will offer everything the Blaze already offers though, including smartphone notifications, Multi-Sport tracking, On-Screen workouts, Cardio Fitness Level, Guided Breathing Sessions and music control, as well as a few additional extras. Those extras are likely to lean on the Pebble platform, perhaps opening the door for wider compatibility with services and apps.

We’d also expect to see the new sleep tracking functionality that launched on the Alta HR present on the new device, allowing users to see light sleep, deep sleep and REM sleep durations.

As we mentioned previously, it looks like the new Fitbit smartwatch will have a coloured touchscreen and reports have suggested the company is planning on launching its own app store at some point in 2017 so it is likely we can expect to see a different interface too, or compatibility with more third party apps.

This will hopefully also transfer into smartphone notifications for the likes of Facebook, Twitter and WhatsApp rather than just texts, calls and calendar alerts as the Charge 2, Alta HR and Blaze currently offer. Notifications was something that Pebble tackled well, so we’d expect to see a lot of control running into the hew Fitbit.

Naturally, as you would expect from any smartwatch or activity tracker these days, the new Fitbit will almost certainly track steps, distance, elevation and calories burned, in addition to the other features mentioned above.

• Fitbit tips and tricks

Fitbit GPS smartwatch rumours: Release date and price

• Educated guess would suggest IFA 2017
• Likely to cost around £200

Fitbit doesn’t tend to follow a specific release pattern for its devices, though it does tend to launch new products either at or around the big trade shows.

The Blaze was revealed at CES 2016, the Charge 2 and Flex 2 both arrived just before consumer electronics trade show IFA in 2016, while the Alta HR was announced around Mobile World Congress 2017.

An educated guess would suggest the new Fitbit smartwatch will appear around IFA 2017, which takes place at the end of August. Fitbit might surprise us all and announce early, but given there have been reported delays, we’d say IFA is the most likely launch platform.

In terms of price, the Blaze currently starts at £159.99, while the Surge costs £199.99. We’d therefore expect the new smartwatch to be more expensive than the Blaze but hopefully around the same as the Surge.

• Fitbit Charge 2 review

Fitbit GPS smartwatch rumours: Conclusion

Fitbit has yet to confirm details of the new smartwatch but its CEO has previously confirmed the company will be expanding into the category so we can expect one at some point.

Based on the leaks, we’re expecting a device similar to the Blaze but with the new design ethos like the Charge 2 and Alta HR. We’re also expecting all the same features as the current Blaze, along with built-in GPS, hopefully waterproofing and a few extra functions.

We will keep you updated on any further leaks and rumours we hear.

• Which Fitbit is right for you?