Best iOS 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 iOS app deals available from 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. 

WikiLinks

WikiLinks is the most fun and powerful way to discover everything Wikipedia has to offer, in a multilingual and multimedia experience including an exclusive mind-map of your navigation, suggested YouTube videos, and more.

Available on:

iOS

Splittr

Splittr helps you to divide costs between you and your friends. It is perfect for vacations, weekend trips, nights out with friends, and even for household expenses. Simply add expenses as you go and Splittr will let you know who is next to pay.

Available on:

iOS

Luxy Pro

Luxy caters to the world’s elite 1 percent — members include CEOs, entrepreneurs, investors, beauty queens, supermodels, celebrities, pro athletes, doctors, lawyers and other elites — because Luxy is a luxury dating club.

Available on:

iOS

PhotoWidget and Viewer

Put your favorite photos into this widget and you can create a GIF that plays right from your notification center.

Available on:

iOS

Simpler Pro

Simpler Pro is a completely redesigned contacts app that makes your address book light, smart, and user friendly. Back up everyone in your phone with just one tap.

Available on:

iOS

Hands-free Browser

Getting your hands dirty? With this app you can surf the web without touching the screen. It’s fantastic for reading recipes while you cook, following repair instructions with greasy hands, working out, and more.

Available on:

iOS

Don’t go to a carrier just to get smartphone financing — there are better ways

There are better ways to buy a phone affordably than running to the nearest carrier stores.

Ever since traditional two-year phone contracts fell out of vogue, carriers have come up with new and inventive ways of locking you in. One of the best examples of this is a monthly installment payment plan for a new device. It’s so simple to walk into a carrier store and walk out with a phone for $0 down, paying that total over the course of the next 12, 18, or 24 months. It just gets baked right into your monthly phone bill — super easy.

But it’s also super restrictive, because just like a two-year contract, your phone’s cost is once again tied to the carrier. What if you want to take your phone elsewhere? You have to pay it off at the carrier, cancel your service, and move. And if you’re financing a $700+ phone (or four), that could be tough — so now you’re staying with a carrier you don’t want to be with, just because you need longer to pay off the phone.

At the same time, people keep going to their carrier because they often think that’s the only way they can get long-term, interest-free financing on what are increasingly expensive phones. But actually, you can get financing with identical terms from all of the major phone companies today, as well as from many retailers that sell phones — even phones that are exclusive to your carrier.

Financing from the phone companies themselves

Phones are expensive, and the top-end models are seemingly increasing in price over time. More and more companies are also offering unlocked models that don’t have the option of carrier financing. To help keep the phones accessible, they’re offering no-interest financing for these phones.

HTC offers financing through PayPal Credit, which offers 18-month no-interest financing for purchases over $540. That means a new HTC U11 at $649 will set you back $36.05 per month. Pay it off in full on time and you won’t pay a penny over that price.

Samsung‘s financing offers a no-interest term for everything it sells over $250. It typically reserves 24-month financing for $1499+ purchases but also offers it for its top-end phones; that would price out a new $725 Galaxy S8 at $30.21 per month over two years, again with no extra financing charges. The nice thing here is you can buy carrier-branded versions of the Galaxy S8 and S8+ with Samsung’s financing, meaning you can get the exact model you want, without having its financing tied to the carrier.

Motorola will let you finance its phones using the third-party service Affirm, and its terms are very similar to the others. 6-, 12-, or 18-month financing terms are available depending on the purchase price, and there’s no interest or additional fees. The financing offers are available through Motorola’s website, whether you’re buying an unlocked phone or carrier-exclusive model.

Google has 24-month no-interest financing on phone purchases from the Google Store. So you can pick up that Google Pixel XL directly from Google for $32.04 per month, rather than going to Verizon just to pay over time.

OnePlus has one of the weakest financing options, but then again, it also has some of the cheapest top-end phone models. When shopping on the OnePlus store, all purchases over $99 are able to be financed with PayPal Credit over 6 months with no interest if paid in full in that term.

Financing from retailers

If the phone you’re looking at doesn’t have manufacturer-backed financing, there’s a chance you could finance it with similar terms from a third-party retailer instead.

Amazon, where we all buy so many small things, offers convenient financing for larger purchases, like phones. The financing is no-interest like the others, and the length of financing offered depends on the purchase price. A $149+ phone can be paid off over 6 months, but a $599+ purchase gives you 12 months to pay it off.

Best Buy will let you buy anything in its store with monthly payments if you sign up for its own-branded credit card. Purchases over $199 can get 6-month no-interest financing, and purchases over $399 get 12-month no-interest financing. This goes for unlocked phones but also carrier-branded phones, which is a great piece of flexibility — just be sure not to confuse it with the carrier-backed financing Best Buy also offers.

Seriously, consider financing outside of the carrier

As you can see, there are several different ways to buy the latest devices on a monthly installment plan while keeping that bill separate from your commitment to the phone carrier itself. It also gives you the ability to shop around and potentially find better deals at the manufacturer or retailer of your choice without giving up monthly financing. While it’s a slightly bigger hassle to deal with two bills instead of one, the freedom of having your long-term phone financing separated from the carrier is worth it. Get the phone you want, the way you want.

The absolute best Prime Day deals you can buy right now

Prime Day is here! The Thrifter team has been hard at work since 7 p.m. last night when the Prime-only deals began to go live. Not only have we been updating our site and Twitter feed with the best deals, but we’ve also been live blogging the entire thing. At this point, we want to make it a bit easier for you to find the overall best deals of Prime Day.

The following list compiles our favorite deals of Prime Day 2017 that are still live and will be updated throughout the remainder of the day.

Tech

• Amazon Fire Tablet – $30 (previously $50)
• Echo Dot – $35 (previously $50)
• Echo – $90 (previously $180)
• Seagate Backup Plus Slim 2TB Portable External Hard Drive – $60 (previously $77)
• SanDisk Ultra II 500 GB SSD – $137 (previously $175)
• Philips Hue Smart Bulb – $40 (previously $50)
• Sandisk Ultra 256 GB MicroSDXC – $105 (previously ~$150)
• Ring Video Doorbell Pro – $177 (previously $250)
• Blue Yeti USB Microphone: Blackout Edition – $90 (previously $130)

Lifestyle

• FitBit Blaze – $139 (previously $199)
• Backpack for SLR/DSLR Cameras by AmazonBasics – $20 (previously $27)
• Bright Multipurpose Copy Paper (3 reams / 1,500 sheets) – $10 (previously $14)
• AmazonBasics Commercial Patio Heater – $99 (previously ~$120)
• High-back Executive Desk Chair – $80 (previously $110)
• Bose SoundLink Mini Bluetooth Speaker – $129 (previously ~$190)

Entertainment

• Xbox One S bundle – $240 (previously $370)
• Game of Thrones: The Complete Seasons 1 – 6 (Blu-Ray) – $75 (previously $130)
• Sony PS4 Dualshock 4 Controller – $40 (previously $48)

Be sure to keep refreshing this page and tune into the Thrifter live blog to stay up-to-date with all the best Prime Day deals!

The HTC Vive is a life-changing product for people with mobility issues

The HTC Vive lets you see the world when you’re unable to go out and be there.

When I first heard about products like the HTC Vive becoming real things you could actually buy, some of my first thoughts were about using one to virtually visit the places and see the sights I’d otherwise be unable to. Mobility issues and white water rafting through the Grand Canyon don’t mix very well, for example.

Fast forward a few years, and while I’ve been unable to find that virtual trip down the Colorado River, I have seen enough to say that good VR does bring the world to people who aren’t able to enjoy all of it, and think everyone who has a bit of trouble getting around would love the HTC Vive as much as I do.

Read more at VRHeads

Best Cases for the HTC U11

Keep your HTC U11’s lustrous chassis in perfect condition with these cases.

With a beautiful mirrored glass finish, the HTC U11 is one of the most striking Android flagships available today. But exposed glass isn’t the most sturdy of materials, and if you use the U11 for long enough, it’s inevitable that you’ll start to pick up a few scrapes and scratches.

That’s why we’ve rounded up the top few U11 cases for your perusal. Read on to find out more.

• HTC Clear Shield case
• Spigen Liquid Crystal HTC U11 case
• Incipio Octane UTC U11 case
• Olixar Genuine Leather HTC U11 wallet case
• Official HTC U11 leather-style flip case

HTC Clear Shield case

This is the same case that comes with the HTC U11 in many markets, protecting the back and corners of the phone, while keeping the side walls exposed for easy squeezability.

Plastic inner corners keep the U11 securely in place, while the clear plastic design lets you show off the phone from its most impressive angle.

At $19.99, it’s not super cheap, but it’s a pretty small price to pay to guarantee the back of your phone will stay free from wear and tear.

See at HTC

Spigen Liquid Crystal HTC U11 case

If TPU is your thing, this Spigen case gives you all-around protection, including cover for the buttons and side walls.

Meanwhile, a raised lip around the camera cutout and front bezel keeps the lens protected when the phone is laying flat, and the screen out of contact with surfaces when it’s face-down.

Being a flexible TPU case, it’s also fully compatible with HTC’s squeezy Edge Sense features. And there’s even a glittery version if you want to add a bit of extra glamor to the HTC U11’s already shiny derrière. Check it out for around $11.

See at Amazon

Incipio Octane UTC U11 case

For more heavy duty protection, you might want to consider this Incipio offering, featuring a textured bumper and hard shell back. Despite the added heft of this case, it still works with Edge Sense, and the textured side walls provide a much more secure grip than the U11’s metal trim.

Sure, you’ll need to cover up much of the U11’s eye-catching design if you go for this model, but you can rest assured the entire body of the phone will be protected from drops, knocks and scrapes.

For less than $25, that’s not a bad deal at all.

See at Amazon

Olixar Genuine Leather HTC U11 wallet case

For many people, nothing beats the convenience of a wallet case, and Olixar has an affordable leather option that provides space for credit cards, while also folding out into a stand.

Olixar’s “Executive Wallet Case” keeps the vulnerable areas of the U11 protected and the plastic side walls mean it’s still possible to use Edge Sense without too much hassle.

This leather offering, complete with stand, adds a bit more bulk to the body of the phone, but you can’t argue with the extra functionality it brings — particularly for $26.

See at MobileFun

Official HTC U11 leather-style flip case

HTC’s official U11 flip case for the U11 is clad in a soft-touch exterior, with space for a single credit card, and the option to fold it out into a stand — though unlike Olixar’s offering, this one’s not magnetic.

The U11’s shiny back panel is secured in place with plastic corners, keeping these areas protected from drops, and the exposed side walls allow you to use Edge Sense with ease.

This model is also a good deal slimmer than most wallet cases, though it’ll set you back a bit more too, with prices starting at $46.

See at MobileFun

Your favorite?

Let us know in the comments below.

HTC U11

• HTC U11 review
• HTC U11 specs
• Manufacturing the U11: Behind the scenes
• Join our U11 forums
• HTC U11 vs Galaxy S8
• HTC U11 vs LG G6

Amazon
Sprint
HTC

Waymo teaches its autonomous cars to detect emergency vehicles

Before self-driving cars can truly take over our roads, they have to be able to give way to ambulances and other emergency vehicles. That’s why Waymo has begun training its autonomous Chrysler minivans to be able to recognize what they look and sound like in real life situations. Alphabet’s autonomous vehicle spinoff has teamed up with Chandler Police and Fire in Arizona to set up an “emergency vehicle testing day.” The authorities had ambulances, police cars, motorcycles and firetrucks pass by, trail and lead the Chryslers all day and night while the minivans’ sensors collected as much data as possible from all speeds, distances and angles.

Waymo was able to compile a library of sights and sounds from the event thanks to its minivans’ upgraded sensors. The new suite of sensors include an audio detection system designed in-house and an upgraded LiDAR and vision system, which are capable of seeing emergency vehicles and their flashing lights. They also allow the technology to recognize other types of emergency vehicles it hasn’t seen yet.

Waymo is already using the data it collected to teach its self-driving system how to detect where sirens are coming from. By being able to point out the direction where emergency vehicles are located, its autonomous cars can move to the side if they’re passing from behind or yield at an intersection to let them pass first.

“This training is key to reliably detecting and responding to emergency vehicles in Arizona and beyond,” the company said on its blog. “By teaching our cars this advanced capability, we’re moving closer to bringing truly self-driving technology into the world.”

Source: Waymo

HTC’s Vive Prime Day deal makes the Oculus Rift even better value

As tech brands go to war on Amazon Prime Day, Oculus has emerged triumphant over HTC in terms of value. The Vive, usually on sale for $800 has been reduced by a meager $100 to $700. Meanwhile, the Rift and Touch bundle — already on a limited-time offer for $400/£400 — now comes with a Prime Day perk of a $100 Amazon gift card (which makes it such a good deal it’s currently out of stock). If you regularly drop a lot of dollar at Amazon, this essentially brings the price of the bundle down to $300, which is more than half the price of HTC’s offering.

HTC’s Prime Day deal (which appears to be US-only) isn’t nearly as good as Oculus’ — likely because it doesn’t have the bank of Facebook behind it to absorb losses. This will certainly make choosing easier for consumers entering the VR field for the first time. But for those who have already bought into HTC, and against a backdrop of poor customer service from Vive, this deal may have them regretting their choice.

Source: Amazon (1), Amazon (2)

Senators warn the FCC to be ready for net neutrality comments

Two pro-net neutrality Democrat Senators have told the FCC that it had damn well better be ready for public comments on tomorrow’s net neutrality Day of Action. “It is critical to the rulemaking and regulatory process that the public be able to take part without unnecessary technical or administrative burden,” they stated in a letter to FCC Chairman Ajit Pai.

The Day of Action was organized by non-profit Battle for the Net, and is backed by Google, Facebook, Amazon, the ACLU, Etsy, Kickstarter, the Electric Frontier Foundation, Mozilla, Vimeo, Greenpeace, Reddit and Netflix, among many others. All day tomorrow, websites, online communities and others will use banners and GIFs to show how the internet could change without strong neutrality rules. They’ll also direct users to send comments urging net neutrality protection to Congress and the FCC via its electronic communication filing system (ECFS).

Senators Ron Wyden from Oregon and Hawaii’s Brian Schatz wrote that the FCC’s excuses about about a DDOS incident in May that stopped users from making comments were suspicious and, in any case, irrelevant. The “attack,” they said, just happened to occur after a “television host’s call to action.” That’s referring to John Oliver’s net neutrality screed in May that pushed tens of thousands to Oliver’s “GoFCCYourself.com,” which redirects to the FCC’s comment site.

Due to the timing of the May 7-8 attack, which took place after a television host’s call to action, we are concerned that a similar attack may be planned to disrupt the Day of Action.

Ajit Pai claimed that the DDOS attack had nothing to do with the comments, but some observers were skeptical. “It’s an odd coincidence,” a former FCC staffer told The Hill. “I’m skeptical that this is a DDoS attack. The ECFS was always inadequate.” That person is also “dubious” the system has been fixed since then, as the FCC had promised.

The letter adds that the FCC’s comment system should employ methods that allow for “flexible scalability and alternative methods of filing.” Furthermore, it recommends the commission allow for an alternative method of filing, should the ECFS be knocked down again by a surge of comments or DDOS.

The letter is a canny idea, as it gives more publicity to the net neutrality Day of Action and will make the FCC look extra bad if the public can’t log on to comment. Either way, Ajit Pai is on the record saying that he doesn’t care if a majority of commenters oppose his rules to suppress net-neutrality and prevent carriers from fibbing or abusing the public and smaller rivals. That’s assuming, of course, that it’s humans and not bots making the comments.

Via: TechCrunch

Source: Ron Wyden

Fitbit faces ill-timed lawsuits over haptic feedback

Fitbit is facing hard times between slowing fitness tracker sales and a reportedly floundering smartwatch project. Unfortunately, there’s more bad news to add to the pile. Immersion is suing Fitbit in China and the US for allegedly violating multiple patents (three in each country) for haptic feedback. Supposedly, devices ranging from the original Flex to the Blaze all borrow Immersion’s approach to vibrating a device in response to commands and for alerts. Fitbit rebuffed “numerous attempts” to strike a licensing deal, Immersion claims, so this is considered a last resort.

Immersion isn’t specific about the damages it wants, but they could easily be far-reaching when vibration feedback is at the heart of much of Fitbit’s current lineup.

We’ve asked Fitbit for its response to the lawsuit and will let you know what it says. With that said, it’s likely that Fitbit will fight the cases tooth-and-nail, or at least try for a low out-of-court settlement. This is business as usual for Immersion, which has a tendency to sue virtually anyone who makes a device that shakes, but Fitbit can’t really afford a major defeat. The company only made about $299 million in revenue in its latest quarter, and turned a $34 million loss — a significant payout to Immersion would be painful enough that it could hurt Fitbit’s chances of bouncing back.

Source: Immersion, RPX

Louis Vuitton made a $3,000 Android Wear smartwatch

The flirtations between technology and high fashion have never been very comfortable, the former’s mass-market ethos clashing with the latter’s exclusivity. That fact hasn’t deterred Louis Vuitton from launching its own premium Android Wear device, the Tambour Horizon, produced with help from Qualcomm and Google.

Speaking of mass-market, the Horizon uses the same Snapdragon Wear 2100 gear you’ll find in watches from LG, Gameband, Armani, Guess and Montblanc. The hardware is reasonably familiar, too, with a 42mm case standing 12.5mm off your wrist and packing a 1.2-inch AMOLED, 390 x 390 touchscreen.

Rounding out the spec list is a 300mAh battery that’s expected to launch a day, paired with 521MB RAM and 4GB storage. One notable admission is the lack of an optical heart rate monitor from the underside of the case, but perhaps exertion, or caring about one’s health, is not something the bourgeoise do.

The Horizon runs Android Wear 2.0, albeit with Louis Vuitton’s gloss to make it better suited to the contemporary traveller. In addition to the LV-branded faces, there are exclusive apps, like My Flight, that helps you get around airports and planes, while City Guide points you to cool hotspots when you land.

Of course, this wouldn’t be a high fashion watch without customization, and owners can choose between three case styles, gray, black and brown. From there, there are 60 sets of easily-detachable straps for you to choose from, 30 intended for women, 30 for men.

Should you wish to buy this, the most Veblen of Veblen goods, then you’ll need to pay up $2,450 for the gray and brown, or $2,900 for the black version. Plus, Louis Vuitton is hoping to make more of its goods and services connected in the future, so warn your bank manager that this could be the first of many purchases.