These are the best free apps for PlayStation VR

There aren’t many out there, but the free apps on Playstation VR are nothing to scoff at.

Sony launched PlayStation VR with a bang, including a ton of amazing games from nearly every genre. If you haven’t spent any time lurking through the PlayStation store since setting up your PlayStation VR, then you might not realize that there are a handful of free apps available for download right now. At the moment, the pickings are a bit slim, but that’s to be expected since we’re only a few short days past launch day. Well, don’t worry about searching through the PlayStation store because we’ve got the details on the best free apps on PlayStation VR.

Read more at VR Heads

Does your PlayStation VR need extra cooling fans to avoid overheating?

Heat is part of the deal when you’re playing PlayStation 4.

PlayStation 4 delivers tons of great content — from VR experiences to Netflix and Hulu, to its massive library of great games for you to dive into. You might be worried about how hot your system gets when it’s in use though, and whether you need to bite the bullet and pick up an additional fan for cooling. While this is a fairly normal reaction, it shouldn’t be necessary! We’ve got the details for you here!

Heat is normal when using PlayStation 4

When you notice heat coming off of your console, it’s easy to get pretty worried. After all, many gamers still remember not being able to play certain consoles for more than two or three hours before they started to heat up and affect gameplay. Here’s the thing though — when it comes to playing your PlayStation 4, a certain amount of heat is pretty normal.

We mean it’s going to be warm, bordering on hot, when you touch it. This is especially true if you’re touching around the back of the console where the main exhaust fan is housed. Don’t panic, though. So long as your system has adequate room to vent, that heat isn’t anything to worry about. Just hot air.

This is a good time to remind that you do want to ensure there’s adequate space around your console. Rather than putting it in a cupboard inside of your entertainment center, we suggest leaving it open to the air so that the exhaust fan can do its job properly. The fan in your system is fairly beefy and was designed to ensure that you wouldn’t need any additional cooling options, so as long as it is working properly adding additional fans ought to be unnecessary.

How to cut down on excess heat

Now if your system is getting some serious heat, there are a few things you might want to take a look at before you start thinking about ordering an aftermarket fan. Namely, you’ll want to consider how long the system has been running, as well as how dusty it’s become.

PlayStation 4 is basically covered in vents on the side and back of the console and if these vents get choked up with dust they aren’t able to do their job properly. To this end, if you notice your console getting particularly hot then a solid call is to ensure that no vents are obscured by dust.

Clearing out dust or debris from your PS4’s vents will help keep things cool.

You can clean them out in about 10 seconds, provided you have a canister of compressed air on hand. All you need to do is use short, controlled bursts with the nozzle pointed towards the vents. This ought to clear out any dust or debris and allow the console to properly vent heat.

If you still notice more heat than usual then you might want to consider how long you’ve been running your console for. While PlayStation 4 is a pretty hardy console, it still has its limits. If you’ve been running the console for more than 6-8 hours then you might want to give it a break for an hour or so to return to a normal temperature.

Have you considered an external fan?

While your PlayStation 4 system is going to heat up after you’ve been playing for a clip, this isn’t something that ought to worry you much. So long as the exhaust fan is running, there is no dust blocking the vents, and you’ve ensured that there is room for the heat to vent off, then you should be in excellent shape. Have you considered picking up an additional fan for your PlayStation 4 console? Let us know about it in the comments below!

Oculus launches Chromecast support for Gear VR, opening new viewing possibilities

The VR fun doesn’t have to be limited to just the person wearing the headset.

Oculus has announced a nice update that brings Google Cast functionality to Gear VR — meaning you can let anyone see what you’re seeing inside your headset on a big screen. All you need is the latest version of the Oculus mobile app and either a Chromecast, Android TV or Cast-ready TV, and you’ll be able to share right away.

Cast support adds a crucial sharing element to the VR experience.

Bringing simple one-touch Cast support to a VR experience helps break down one of the main barriers of showing off VR: it’s really hard to explain what’s going on when you’re in the headset, and tough for you to walk a new user through their own VR experience as well. By adding in Cast support, not only can you share your VR world with others in the room, but you could also help a new user get acquainted with the experience.

Interestingly this comes just a few weeks after Google announced that the same Cast feature was arriving for Daydream VR at Google I/O 2017. At the same time Google and Oculus also managed to announce full Daydream compatibility for the new Galaxy S8 and S8+. When Samsung, Oculus and Google get together, great things like this happen.

Android Pay is finally available in Canada, several banks are on board

Well, it’s about darn time.

Android Pay is finally available up in Canada, coming closely after everyone was informed of its impending launch at Google I/O 2017. Canadians can now install the Android Pay app, add their cards and start paying right away.

Google says over the next few days, banks will be finalizing their support — but all the big names are here, including BMO, Banque Nationale, CIBC, Scotiabank, ATB Financial and more. Interac-branded debit cards will start working next week, and other big players like American Express are slated to arrive “this summer.”

#AndroidPay is now available in #Canada 🇨🇦. An easier way to pay is already in your hand: https://t.co/Y85ULkyHsN pic.twitter.com/kNmasq7bge

— Android (@Android) May 31, 2017

It’s interesting to see that it took this long for Android Pay to arrive in Canada, as theoretically it has a more favorable market to launch a new contactless payment system. Contactless payments via NFC-enabled credit cards have been the norm in Canada for far longer than the U.S. was thinking about the technology, and its banking system is far more consolidated into a handful of key players rather than the diverse set of hundreds of credit unions down South.

Given the way the market is set up, now that the app is here and the banks are on board, Canadians should be able to pick up Android Pay at a much faster pace considering how many of its stores support NFC already.

But delays aside, Android Pay is now available. Getting Canada on board with the same great phone-based payment technology that has been available in the U.S. is excellent for adoption. If you’re in Canada, give the Android Pay app a try!

Best Car Chargers for Google Pixel

Keep your Pixel charged while out on the road. Here are our favorite USB-C car chargers.

Updated May 2017: Added the Belkin USB-C car charger as an option.

We’ve all been there (some of us more than others): You hop in your car ready to rev on the road and then you check your phone — it’s dying at a rapid pace! You’ve barely enough battery life to get to your destination. Well, that’s what car chargers are for, and if you’ve a Google Pixel, this next list should be particularly resonant for you. Here are some of the best car chargers you can buy for your Pixel or Pixel XL.

• Belkin
• Tronsmart
• Pleson 3-port
• Maxboost
• Nekteck
• Vinsic

Belkin

The Belkin car charger with removable 4-foot USB-C cable is consistently suggested as one of the better car chargers for USB-C compatible devices. Make sure that you purchase the 27-watt version, however, which is capable of delivering enough power to rapidly charge your Pixel or Pixel XL. It can power your tablet and Chromebook in the car, too.

See at Amazon

Tronsmart

Tronsmart’s car charger with a built-in USB-C cable is easily your best option for keeping your Pixel juiced on the road.

The attached USB-C cable means no need to remember one every time you drive, and the USB Type A port is handy for charging another device at the same time via Quick Charge 2.0 or 3.0. Your Pixel will charge quickly and efficiently, thanks to USB 3.1 and its delivery of 5V at 3A.

If you want a car charger that has exactly what you need to keep your Pixel going, check out the Benson-approved Tronsmart 33W dual USB charger.

See at Amazon

Pleson 3-port

Pleson’s charger features two USB Type A ports and a USB-C, so you can charge up to three devices at the same time! The USB-C port is USB 3.1, so your Pixel will charge quickly, giving you a significant charge in about a half-hour.

This charger has built-in safeguards so that your Pixel doesn’t fry, with automatic shut-off in case of a power surge, overheating, or an overcurrent.

If you want to charge up your Pixel, as well as a couple other devices while you’re on the go, then check out Pleson’s 3-port charger.

See at Amazon

Maxboost

Maxboost’s 35W charger is another to feature a built-in USB-C cable, so you never have to worry about forgetting yours at home. The other USB port is great for any of your Quick Charge 2.0 devices and charges with up to 18W (12V/1.5A, 9V/2A, 5V/2A).

The handiest part of this charger is its muted light-up ring that shines when plugged in. It’s dimmed so as not to distract you while you drive.

This charger comes in black or white, each with a blue LED ring, so you can match it to any color Pixel you have!

See at Amazon

Nekteck

Nekteck is yet another charger that features a built-in USB-C charger, so you need only bring your Pixel when you hit the road — no extra cables needed!

The USB-C cable comes in a straight or curled version, which is handy if you happen to tangle your cables pretty often.

Your Pixel will be charged as quickly as possible, thanks to USB 3.1 and your other devices can be charged through the USB Type A port at up to 2.4A.

See at Amazon

Vinsic

Vinsic’s charger features both a USB-C port and a USB Type A port, so you can charge your Pixel and another device at the same time. You’ll need to bring cables along, since this charger doesn’t have anything built-in.

Your Pixel won’t be cooked, thanks to overcurrent, overcharge, and overvoltage protection, and the LED indicator lets you know when the charger is ready to juice up your devices.

See at Amazon

Your picks?

Are you using an awesome USB-C charger that we didn’t mention? Let us know in the comments below!

Google Pixel + Pixel XL

• Google Pixel and Pixel XL review
• Google Pixel XL review: A U.S. perspective
• Google Pixel FAQ: Should you upgrade?
• Pixel + Pixel XL specs
• Understanding Android 7.1 Nougat
• Join the discussion in the forums!

Google Store
Verizon

Gear VR streams to your TV thanks to Google Cast

For as much fun as you can have donning a VR rig and slipping into a virtual environment these days, it’s still pretty awkward to watch as an outside observer. Now that Google has partially solved the VR spectator problem by building Cast into the next version of Daydream, Oculus and Gear VR are joining the party and adding support their own support for Google’s streaming solution.

In a blog post announcement, the Oculus team notes that all you need to stream from your Gear VR headset to your TV in real-time is the latest versions of Android and the Oculus mobile app, plus a compatible TV or streaming box. Users only need to hit the Cast button to select a nearby screen and pop on the headset. While spectators obviously won’t get the 3D stereoscopic effect, they will get a look at everything that’s going on inside the headset. That should greatly simplify things the next time you feel like throwing a VR gaming party, showing off the hardware to your grandparents or just bringing your friends along to the next VR heavy metal concert.

Source: Oculus