New and Refurbished Apple Watch Series 2 Collections Get Discounts Following Series 3 Launch

Last night, pre-orders opened up for the new Apple Watch Series 3, which has a 70 percent faster dual-core processor, new Apple W2 chip, a barometric altimeter, and LTE capabilities on supported models. The base Apple Watch Series 3 models without LTE are now $329 (38mm) and $359 (42mm), rising from there for Stainless Steel and Ceramic.

If you aren’t interested in the speedier processor or cellular capabilities, B&H Photo has a sale going on right now that offers discounts on select models of last year’s Apple Watch Series 2. In the lists below, Series 2 prices (bold) are compared to current prices of similar Series 3 collections on Apple.com.

Series 2 Aluminum

• 38mm Space Gray Case, Black Sport Band – $289.99, compared to $329.00

• 42mm Space Gray Case, Black Sport Band – $319.99, compared to $359.00

• 42mm Gold Case, Midnight Blue Sport Band – $329.99, compared to $359.99

• 42mm Silver Case, White Sport Band – $319.99, compared to $359.00

Series 2 Stainless Steel

• 38mm Case, Milanese Loop Band – $539.99, compared to $699.00

• 42mm Case, Milanese Loop Band – $589.99, compared to $749.00

• 42mm Space Black Case, Space Black Sport Band – $499.99, compared to $649.00

• 42mm Space Black Case, Space Black Milanese Loop Band – $629.99, compared to $799.00

If you’re willing to buy refurbished, Best Buy has a few Series 2 models sold at a discount. Some of the notable mark downs include $94 off the 38mm Silver Aluminum Case & White Sport Band ($274.99), $99 off the same model in 42mm ($299.99), $129 off the 42mm Space Black Stainless Steel Case & Space Black Sport Band ($469.99), and $144 off the 38mm Stainless Steel Case & Milanese Loop ($504.99).

A few other discounts this week include $10 off any orders from Pad & Quill that exceed $50 with the promo code ThankYou10. Gazelle is automatically marking down all certified pre-owned MacBooks by $50 on its reseller storefront, but the offer only lasts until Sunday, September 17. There are a few Beats on sale at Best Buy, including BeatsX for $109.99, down from $149.99.

If you’re looking for some new gaming apps, there have been a few sales this week on the iOS App Store. Here are the most recent:

• Deus Ex: The Fall – $0.99, down from $4.99

• INKS – Free, down from $2.99

• Lara Croft GO – $0.99, down from $4.99

• Deus Ex GO – $0.99, down from $4.99

• Level 24 – Free, down from $0.99

• Space Harrier II Classic – Free, down from $0.99

• Full Throttle Remastered – $2.99, down from $4.99

Additionally, this week MacRumors has partnered with RAVPower to offer our readers an exclusive 20 percent off discount code on a 22,000mAh Power Bank for charging iPhones, iPads, the Apple Watch, and more. When ordering from Amazon, use promo code MacRumo1 to get it for just over $30.

Our Deals Roundup has even more information on the latest sales currently running for Apple products and accessories, so be sure to check back frequently for more updates. If you’re preparing for the wireless charging features of the iPhone 8, iPhone 8 Plus, or iPhone X, our recent roundup of the best (and cheapest) Qi inductive chargers on the market should help out.

Note: MacRumors is an affiliate partner with these vendors.

Related Roundups: Apple Watch, watchOS 3, watchOS 4, Apple Deals
Buyer’s Guide: Apple Watch (Buy Now)
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LTE in Apple Watch Series 3 Models Only Works in Country of Purchase

With the LTE-enabled Apple Watch Series 3 only available in a handful of countries at the current time, it might be tempting to purchase one in another country, but it won’t work. Series 3 models appear to be limited to connectivity in their original country of purchase.

An Apple support representative who spoke to MacRumors reader Thomas said that an Apple Watch purchased in the U.S. online store will only work with the four carriers in the United States, perhaps due to hardware limitations.

“If you purchased one (an Apple Watch S3 GPS + Cellular) through the US Apple Online Store, it’ll only work for the 4 US carriers. It wouldn’t work internationally unfortunately. I’m not entirely sure what type of error it would show if you took a US Watch to Germany, but it wouldn’t be compatible with Telekom”.

Additionally, Apple Watch Series 3 models do not support roaming outside of a provider’s network coverage area, according to Apple’s fine print, so roaming when traveling to another country is not supported.

Unlike iPhones, Apple Watch Series 3 models also support a limited number of LTE bands, another factor that contributes to no support between countries. In the U.S., Canada, and Puerto Rico, for example, only bands 2, 4, 5, 12, 13, 17, 18, 19, 25, 26, and 41 are supported.

LTE Apple Watch models are currently only available in Australia, Canada, China, France, Germany, Japan, Puerto Rico, Switzerland, the UK, and the United States. Apple says availability will expand to other countries next year.

Related Roundups: Apple Watch, watchOS 3, watchOS 4
Buyer’s Guide: Apple Watch (Buy Now)
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Forgot to Pre-Order Your iPhone 8 or 8 Plus? Apple Store Pickup Remains an Option for Launch Day

iPhone 8 and iPhone 8 Plus pre-orders began at 12:01 a.m. Pacific Time or 3:01 a.m. Eastern Time today, and hours later, shipping estimates for select models have slipped to late September or early October for some models.

Fortunately, if you weren’t willing to wake up at those hours or haven’t yet pre-ordered for another reason, there’s still a chance to get an iPhone 8 or iPhone 8 Plus in your hands when they launch next Friday.

In the United States and other countries where Apple retail stores operate, such as Australia, Canada, and the United Kingdom, many iPhone 8 and iPhone 8 Plus models remain available for in-store pickup on September 22.

Even if a particular iPhone model isn’t estimated to be delivered on launch day, it appears some units will still be reserved for in-store pickup.

An iPhone 8 Plus in Space Gray with 64GB of storage on T-Mobile, for example, is currently estimated to ship in 3-4 weeks on Apple’s online store. Yet, the device is available for pickup on September 22 at multiple Apple retail stores.

Once you proceed to the checkout and click the blue “check out” button, select “pick up” and change the store location if necessary. Then click “continue” and select a 30-minute check-in window for your pickup.

If you will be picking up the iPhone personally, enter your phone number. If someone else will be arranging the pickup, enter his or her contact information. The person making the pickup must be carrying a valid photo ID.

Then, proceed with the checkout process as usual. Once payment has been made, wait until you receive a pickup notification email or text message by September 22 before picking up the iPhone. If you don’t receive one, call the store.

Since the iPhone is paid for ahead of time, the store should presumably hold the device in its back room until you arrive.

Of course, another option is to simply wait until next Friday and walk into an Apple store, preferably right when they open. You may have to wait in line, but the queues have typically been shorter in recent years.

You can use the pickup tool on Apple’s website on launch day to check if stores in your local area have stock, or call the store directly.

All in all, there are more than a few days to ensure you get your new iPhone on launch day, even if you missed the pre-order boat. In fact, select color, storage, and carrier combinations are still available for delivery by September 22.

If you would rather wait for the iPhone X, pre-orders of that device start October 27.

Related Roundup: iPhone 8
Tag: Personal Pickup
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Defense Zone 3 HD: What’s not to love about this game? (Review)

When was the last time you played a tower defense game? Probably some of you have done it recently, but the truth is that this enjoyable and thorough kind of game has taken a seat back in favor of endless games in recent years. There is a huge fanbase around the genre, though, and it is easy to see why. The games are entertaining, add strategy and progression elements, and most of the time look very polished in the audiovisual department. Defense Zone 3 HD is one of the most recent games in the genre, ticking the boxes for everything that a tower defense game should have.

Developer: Artem Kotov
Price: Free

Overview

Defense Zone 3 is, at its core, a tower defense game. You need to protect your base from incoming enemies through the deployment of weapons and special skills along a twisty corridor. It is funny that the game never exactly shows what you are protecting. We can all assume it is a friendly base, but the only way of knowing that you are failing in your tower defense duties is by letting enemies go through the end of the long path you’ve sworn to protect.

Massive giveaway!

Celebrating ten years of Android and AndroidGuys (Giveaway Week 3)

September 14, 2017

There are 15 missions to choose from, and each one provides four levels of difficulty. They range from Easy to Nightmare. Since the premise of the game is pretty simple, the developer decided to omit some kind of tutorial or help for newcomers. Even though this means that you can start gaming right away, the amount of stuff on-screen can be a little bit daunting at first and you still have to figure out some stuff before you can actually enjoy the game to the fullest.

When starting the game, you will have some resources allocated to you. The primary one is money, which is used to buy new weapons to deploy through the war zone. In order to deploy one, you just need to drag them from the bottom of the screen to the designated areas, which are marked by blue squares. These weapons will start to fire automatically as soon as it detects an opponent wandering through their premises.

The armament at your disposition varies in price, strenghts, and abilities. For example, the cheapest one is a machine gun that works best when deploying at the beginning of a stage when your resources are limited, but it gets too weak for subsequent waves. There’s a much stronger missile launcher, but it is also more than twice as expensive to deploy and the firing speed is rather slow. You need to find a combination that works best for your situation.

Enemies come at you in waves (insert Trivium meme here). The last wave is normally a huge single boss that takes a lot of effort to destroy. How many waves the game throws at you depends on the level, but these can be rather long. My first game took approximately 30 minutes to complete, which could be too long for you, depending on the situation where you play mobile games. Fortunately, there are some speed settings you can change to suit your needs.

You will quickly realize that the stock weapons are too weak for some enemies, so the game lets you upgrade your turrets to increase their power, range, and firing speed (or amount of ammunition fired at the same time). Since space is limited, this is the only way to effectively stop later waves from invading your base.

Also, some weapons can engage in something called Hellfire, which is a temporary boost of power and firing speed you get from time to time at no additional cost. Finally, there are some additional weapons that you can activate from time to time, such as help from aircrafts or some weird waves that slow enemies.

General Impressions

When starting the game, you could feel a bit lost with all the options at your disposal. For people who are not used to tower defense games (or that haven’t played them in a long time), the first couple of waves could be very confusing.

However, once you get the hang of it, Defense Zone 3 is loads of fun. Enemies get more complicated as you cruise through the different levels, weapons at your disposal get more powerful, and the strategic decisions you have to make on the fly means you are challenged at all times.

The fact that you unlock weapons as you clear levels means that you feel a sense of progression when playing the game. However, I feel like the game could have experimented with some type of in-game currency in order to unlock weapons.

Graphics and Interface

Being powered by the Unity engine, graphics look superb. From trees to weapons to enemies, everything has a great amount of detail and looks outstanding. If your phone is struggling a bit, you can deactivate the drawing of certain elements. I tested this game on a Samsung Galaxy S8 and on a Huawei Honor 7 Lite and neither suffered from performance drops, so it seems like the developer found a great balance between superb graphics and smooth performance.

If there is something to complain about, it is the interface. In an attempt to follow the visual guidelines imposed by the sprites used in the game, the interface uses similar colors to the background. If favors a lot the use of brown and gray colors, which makes it difficult sometimes to clearly distinguish between the interface and the background. Also, font could be rather small in some situations.

Some other interface quirks include the lack of bulk upgrading or activation of Hellfire. If you want to upgrade several weapons, or activate Hellfire on all of them, you have to tap on each one individually and then tap the upgrade button (or Hellfire, depending on the case). Depending on the positioning on the map, tapping a weapon can get a little bit tricky, and sometimes I found myself pausing or speeding the game instead of tapping a weapon.

These are some minor annoyances, though, and they don’t erase the fact that the developer has done a great job in the graphics department. If some small UX could be fixed, then the game would have absolutely no issues in this area.

Sound

I have found out that normally war games have a good sound, since it is their duty to immerse us in the mayhem that is going on. Fortunately, Defense Zone 3 is no different. The weapons all sound great, with everything from explosions to aircrafts being executed in a great way.

However, the real star of the show is the background music. It is composed of epic, dramatic tunes that really add to the experience. Coupled with the audio effects, they converge to create a truly exceptional experience.

Conclusion

Tower defense games experimented a spike in popularity years ago with the likes of Kingdom Rush, Toy Defense, and Plants vs Zombies. However, that doesn’t mean that there aren’t good tower defense games in the current market, and Defense Zone 3 is a good example of that.

While some of the other tower defense games are more focused on flashy, sci-fi elements, Defense Zone 3 tries to adhere more to a real war zone, with some futuristic turrets and special skills sprinked on top. With its 15 stages and four difficulty levels, I assure you that there is something here for everyone.

Download and install Defense Zone 3 HD from the Google Play Store.

The Good2Go app will flush away your anxiety over unsanitary bathrooms

Why it matters to you

Instead of settling for any bathroom we find while traveling, Good2Go helps you find safe and sanitary locations straight through its app.

A San Francisco-based startup has set out on a mission to not only help you locate a bathroom in any major city, but also a sanitary one. Known as Good2Go, the company launched its first app, which locates and grants access to its safe and high-tech restrooms.

For anyone who travels often, Good2Go helps to eliminate the stress of having to search for a bathroom in an area you’re unfamiliar with. As for businesses, having their location listed as an option on the app helps to increase foot traffic and revenue.

Currently, Good2Go restrooms can be found throughout several locations in San Francisco. Once you download the app, you’ll be able to see a map that tells you where you can find one, how many fellow users of the app are in line, along with directions to the establishment. The app also identifies which locations are closed or offline, as well as further locations where Good2Go will soon be available.

Once you find your preferred location, you can use the app to join a virtual queue and wait without actually having to stand in line. You’ll receive a notification when it’s your turn to go, and you can enter the bathroom via an app-generated QR code. That way, only you will be able to unlock the automatic door. If you don’t have the app but made a purchase at the particular cafe you’re at, you can ask a barista for the code as well.

The main theme with Good2Go bathrooms is they’re all hands-free. The startup installs sinks, lights, hand dryers, and toilets that work by waving your hand across the sensor. While bathrooms have utilized this technology before, it’s rare to see an entire bathroom consist of strictly “touchless” devices. Every Good2Go location is all-gender and includes a baby-changing station.

With so many apps on the market these days, Good2Go isn’t the first of its kind — even though it does have an edge when it comes to cleanliness and modernized facilities. But with locations limited to the San Francisco area, it could be a while until they’re more accessible nationwide. To keep up with its expansion, you can sign up through the company’s website to be notified when the service becomes available in your city.

The Good2Go app is now available on iOS through the App Store with an Android version coming soon. For a limited time, the company is offering a free trial subscription. After that it’s $3 for a day pass, $15 for weekly, $20 for monthly, and $50 for three months.

Check out the 5 best iPhone 8 and iPhone 8 Plus case deals

With Apple’s new announcement of the iPhone 8 and iPhone 8 Plus, the cell phone accessories industry is already releasing products specifically designed for these new devices. The iPhone 8 and iPhone 8 Plus both certainly have some standout features, which we saw, for example, when we saw Apple display the iPhone 8 augmented reality capabilities but before you order, there are some helpful ordering tips to keep in mind. Once you do take the plunge and pre-order a new phone, consider these iPhone 8 and iPhone 8 Plus case deals that will help you get the most life out of your new smartphone investment.

Case-Mate Tough Stand Case ($34)

Make media viewing a hands-free experience with this Case-Mate Tough Stand Case available for both the iPhone 8 and iPhone 8 Plus. The one-piece platform frame can stand on its own but isn’t too bulky. To the contrary, it gives your phone an ultra slim look.

It has an integrated metal alloy kickstand that provides a nearly perfect media viewing experience for both portrait and landscape viewing angles. The case has a reinforced corner design with a soft inner cushion, and flexible sides and a knurled grip. Metallic chrome buttons finish off the polished look of the case.

The case is 10-foot drop tested and comes with a lifetime warranty. It normally retails for $40 but our exclusive coupon code DIGITALTRENDS15OFF you can score an iPhone 8 Case-Mate Tough Stand Case for $34 or an iPhone 8 Plus Case-Mate Tough Stand Case for $34.

iPhone 8 iPhone 8 Plus

Case-Mate Tough ID Case($43)

Leave your wallet behind when you use this Case-Mate Tough ID Case available both for the iPhone 8 and iPhone 8 Plus. The multi purpose case has an embedded wallet panel and has slots that can hold up to four cards, perfect for holding items such as your driver’s license, MetroCard, credit cards, and more.

The case is made of handcrafted genuine leather with a stylish red stitching detail. Metallic buttons and the four card slots complete the trendy look of the case. It’s also equipped with a full shock absorbing layer for extra protection.

The ID case comes with a worry-free lifetime warranty and normally retails for $50 but again with our exclusive coupon code (DIGITALTRENDS15OFF) you can snag an iPhone 8 Case-Mate Tough ID Case for $43 or an iPhone 8 Plus Case-Mate Tough ID Case for $43.

iPhone 8 iPhone 8 Plus

Spigen Ultra Hybrid iPhone 8 Plus Case ($12)

Keep the clarity without losing protection with this Spigen Ultra Hybrid iPhone 8 Plus Case, which is currently 52 percent off on Amazon. The case is a clear and transparent case yet robust and durable.

The case is equipped with a TPU bumper offer that maintains a slim, barely-there profile. Its crystal clear construction flaunts the stunning design of your new iPhone 8 Plus. Raised lips around the screen and camera offer extra protection for those delicate areas. Additionally, air-cushion technology around all corners further ensures your new iPhone stays safe and protected.

Available in black, crystal clear, red, mint, or rose gold designs, the case has a PC back that provides long-lasting clarity so you don’t have to worry about it turning yellow over time. Grab one today for $12 on Amazon after a $13 (52-percent) discount, to show off and protect your new iPhone 8 Plus.

Amazon

Anker KARAPAX Shield+ Case for iPhone 8 ($11)

Get heavy-duty protection for your new iPhone 8 with this Anker KARAPAX Shield+ Case for iPhone 8, which is currently 58 percent off on Amazon. This case defends your iPhone 8 with multiple layers of protection but still manages to maintain a stylish design.

It’s made from an anti-scratch material with shock absorbers on all four corners, along with raised edges that protect the screen and camera from drops and knocks. The protection case features a dual-layer polycarbonate hard shell and soft TPU core with a 3D-texture finish that combine to provide superior drop protection. TotalTouch Technology delivers a custom engineered texture for a comfortable in-hand feeling that also provides a more secure grip.

If you have any lingering concerns about how well this case can protect your phone, you can rest assured because it’s tested under rigorous, military-grade standards and manufactured using premium quality materials for superior defense against bumps and knocks. Snag one today for $11 on Amazon after a $15 (15-percent) discount, and feel assured that your expensive iPhone 8 purchase is protected.

Amazon

Anker KARAPAX Breeze Case for iPhone 8 Plus

Enjoy a case that just feels good to hold with this Anker KARAPAX Breeze Case for iPhone 8 Plus, which is currently 62 percent off on Amazon. It has a unique 3D texture that offers an incredible in-hand feeling and exceptional grip to prevent the phone from slipping out of your hands.

The durable case combines a Polycarbonate metallic frame with a soft TPU cover for enhanced protection. It’s crafted out of premium materials which further provide long-lasting defense against scratches, as does the raised edge detailing around the screen and camera. Conveniently, responsive button covers and precise port cut-outs ensure the functionality of your new iPhone 8 Plus is not compromised.

Once again, this model is tested under military-grade standards for robust protection, yet it maintains a sleek, slimline design. Grab one today $10 on Amazon after a $16 (62-percent) discount and give yourself one more reason to never let your new iPhone 8 Plus leave your hand.

Amazon

Looking for even more great deals on tech and electronics? Check out our deals page to score some extra savings on our favorite gadgets.

We strive to help our readers find the best deals on quality products and services, and choose what we cover carefully and independently. If you find a better price for a product listed here, or want to suggest one of your own, email us at dealsteam@digitaltrends.com. Digital Trends may earn commission on products purchased through our links, which supports the work we do for our readers.

How are you liking the Android Wear 2 update?

Android Wear’s 2.0 update brings a lot to the table, but is it a good meal?

It’s been about 6 months since Android Wear was updated to version 2.0. Along with the ever present promises of better battery life and performance enhancements, we got new features that included goodies like being able to install apps on the phone and use it in standalone mode with its own LTE connection. As far as updates go, it was a pretty darn good one.

Of course, two new watches appeared to kick things off. Both were from LG, but they are distinctly separate models for different kinds of users. The LG Watch Style is smaller and lacks an LTE connection and NFC. This helps keep it slimmer, and a slimmer and smaller smartwatch is something a lot of people want. The flip side is the LG Watch sport, which is not ashamed of its girth because all the bells and whistles are on board.

I’ve been using the LG Watch Sport for a while and here’s my quick take.

The Watch

This isn’t a review of the LG Watch Sport. You can read that here if you want a longer take on the watch and the features of the software. But one thing needs mentioning because it is a result of being able to support Android Wear 2’s new features.

This watch is thick.

Baby’s Got Back.

That’s not necessarily a bad thing. Just like some want a smaller and slimmer watch, there are plenty of people who love big chunky watches. And it has to be thick to fit all the new parts to include NFC and LTE in the watch body. It will take a redesign of how LG builds the familiar round diver-style watch to make it slimmer, and that is surely coming. But for LG in 2017, it had to be thick. In any case, it’s not something to ignore but it’s hard to complain too much because the new hardware does work well and fully supports Android Wear 2.

I thought this would bother me more than it did, even though I don’t necessarily mind a big watch. But I found it wasn’t as bad as I feared and after a week or so I didn’t notice it at all. Whether that’s a credit to LG’s design team or me convincing myself to just deal with it I don’t know. But I’ve been wearing it 20 hours a day for the past six weeks and have no problems with it.

I do like the crown and buttons on the Sport, and they make navigating the new UI changes easy. Being able to feel all three buttons is almost necessary to use the new software, especially in the dark with your watch lit up brightly.

Connectivity

I’ve been using my Sport on Project Fi with a data-only SIM card or with a standard T-Mobile SIM card on a legacy unlimited plan. It’s worth mentioning that a Project Fi SIM gives you a great data connection and there are no restrictions on how you use that data, but you can’t natively send text messages or make calls. Some have been able to use various workarounds, but don’t expect it to work. Likewise, your T-Mobile plan might not apply for use with a wearable, so check with them if you have any questions.

The LTE connection can be very useful if you need to leave your phone at home but it’s not a necessary feature for me.

Having said that, I don’t have a need for a standalone LTE connection. I see why some folks do, but if you have your phone in your pocket all the time, it’s just not something you’ll be using very often. It does work well. You can look at your email or messages of social media, stream music, download apps from Google Play, or surf the web even. But if you have your phone on you and they’re connected, you can do the same without an LTE connection.

Calling someone using your watch only feels like a really cool James Bond thing the first time. It’s convenient but it’s also very public. Rather than step away for a bit or privacy, I would reach for my phone; at least that way only one side of the conversation was loud enough to hear. If Google Assistant worked a little better, it would be great while I was driving. I’m sure Google sees the need for some improvement there.

In any case, having a data connection or making calls from a watch isn’t exactly new, nor is it new to LG. It is new for Android Wear, though. And while I don’t find either particularly useful, things work better than I expected for a first try. People who do find the new connectivity options a useful addition are probably more happy about that than those of us who don’t, but as a tech writer, it’s nice to see Google get it right the first time.

Standalone apps

I like the idea of standalone apps on the watch. I also think it was smart to forgo them in version one and wait for some more specialized internal hardware that wouldn’t choke on them. If I have to worry about managing apps on my watch to keep it from lagging, I’m just not interested.

Standalone apps and the Play Store are something Google got right on the first try.

I haven’t seen any serious issues with apps installed and running on the watch. Battery life takes a hit because you’re doing more, but it’s comparable to using apps that ran on your phone in version one of the software. If you do it a lot, that means the screen is on a lot and you put it on the charger a lot.

When you install an app on your phone that has a counterpart for your watch, you get notified that you can download and install it. You can also browse a curated and mostly text-based version of the Play Store through your watch and install apps that way. It’s very simple and easy to understand, which is always a plus.

The selection isn’t as robust as anyone would have hoped six months later, but there’s not much you aren’t able to do with your watch even if you can’t use the same app you’re used to using.

NFC and Android Pay

Paying for something with your phone is easy, and using your watch is even easier. Except, not really.

That’s mostly because of security needs. I know the idea of walking by with a six-pack of socks or whatever you needed that day and holding up your wrist as you pass by a payment terminal sounds cool, but in reality, you don’t want things to automatically pay for themselves when they are using your money. It’s not difficult to use Android Pay, but it’s certainly not automagic. That’s a good thing.

Android Pay isn’t automatic. You need to manually open the app, and that’s how it should be.

For starters, you’ll need to set up a PIN and unlock your watch anytime you have taken it off. It stays unlocked as long as it stays on your wrist, though. When you want to use Android Pay you’ll need to open the app, let it load and hold the top of the watch near the payment terminal to pay with your default card. If you want to use a different card, you’ll need to choose which one from the Android Pay app. The rest is what you’re already used to if you use Android Pay, as is the hit-or-miss availability at the places you shop.

Again, Google did a good job with things and the times I’ve used Android Pay through my watch have all went off with nary a hitch. It is worth noting that while you can use Android Pay without having a connection to your phone, the initial setup only works when connected to a phone that supports Android Pay itself. Since this is also a security feature it’s not something I’m complaining about, but some people surely feel differently.

Odds and ends

• The “app drawer” puts recently used apps at the top of the list, which is awesome. Scrolling through the list isn’t hard but seeing the handful of apps you use most on the screen together is a great touch.
• Typing on a tiny watch screen is awkward. There is no sugar coating that.
• Having Google Assistant on your watch would be a lot better if Google Home and your phone didn’t fight with it. Google needs to fix this.
• Using more than one Google account is surprisingly easy.
• Android Wear 2 probably won’t appeal to someone who didn’t like Android Wear version one. You either want or need smart features on your watch or you don’t.

Final thoughts

There are going to be some people who think NFC and watch payments or standalone connectivity finally makes having a smartwatch worth it. But I’m betting that most people who didn’t find Android Wear useful last year aren’t going to be won over. I find myself in the middle all around on this front. When I need to do something on my wrist or see messages without pulling out my phone, Android Wear is a great way to do just that. When I don’t, I’d just as soon wear a regular “old fashioned” watch or none at all. I just don’t find it any more cumbersome to pull out my phone to make a call, send a message or pay for something.

I’m not Wear’s biggest fan, but I would spend money on this.

The new features all work surprisingly well. Some, like the LTE connection, are because of the hardware in part, but the software itself is well put together and the user experience may not be the most beautiful but is simple and functional. Sometimes less is more and I don’t need to see high-resolution UI accents when I want information at a glance. As a part-time Android Wear user at best, I like the direction Google is moving towards with Wear and how LG has implemented them.

While it’s not a necessity in my life, this is something that I can see myself spending some mad money on and wouldn’t hesitate to recommend an Android watch to anyone who thinks they need it or would find it useful.

Your turn

Have you been using Android Wear 2 for a while? If so, join the discussion and tell everyone what you love, what you hate, and how well you’re liking it!

Android Wear

• Everything you need to know about Android Wear 2.0
• LG Watch Sport review
• LG Watch Style review
• These watches will get Android Wear 2.0
• Discuss Android Wear in the forums!

Get the Ultimate CompTIA+ Certification Bundle for only $49!

It’s tough to find work these days that doesn’t require some pretty impressive computer skills. We’re not just talking about proficiency with some basic office software or keyboarding skills, either; some of the most in-demand IT jobs require you to be an expert in security, Cloud software, Linux, networking, and more. How on Earth do you get these under your belt? When do you have the time to study or the money for tuition?

The online education experts at iCollege have the solution you’ve been hoping for with the Ultimate CompTIA+ Certification Bundle. By studying online, at your own pace, and at a much lower cost than you’d expect, you’ll get all the training you’ll need to pass the professional certification IT exams that will finally get you the job you’ve been wanting, or move your IT career to the next level.

The Ultimate CompTIA+ Certification Bundle is available right now through Android Central Digital Offers for only $49.99, a 98% savings on an eight-course bundle that would normally cost you over $2300! Over a 12 month period, you’ll learn from the very best and cover all of the essential IT topics, including:

• PC Hardware, Motherboards, and Processors
• Storage, Peripherals, and Configurations
• Operating Systems and Control Panels
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Grab an unlocked 128GB Google Pixel for $610, or the Pixel XL for $650

Newegg Flash is offering major discounts on 128GB Google Pixel devices, with the standard Pixel available for just $609.99 while the XL version is available for $649.99. This saves you $139 off the regular price of the standard Pixel and $219 off the XL edition. Good luck finding this much phone for that price anywhere else. This deal is only available in the ‘quite black’ color.

Pixel brings the power of Google to your fingertips, with quick access to helpful tools like Google Assistant and Google Duo. The Pixel not only has a 2,770mAh battery, but it can be charged super fast as well giving you seven hours of usage time after being plugged in for just 15 minutes. Meanwhile, the Pixel XL has a 3,450 mAh battery, allowing it a standby time of up to 552 hours… or 23 days.

Specs of the Pixel are as follows:

• Operating System: Android 7.1 Nougat
• Cameras: Rear: 12.3 MP • Front: 8 MP
• Processors: Qualcomm® Snapdragon™ 821 processor
• Memory & Storage: RAM: 4GB • Storage: 128GB

These phones are factory unlocked and work on all major carrier networks (In the US, all GSM-based networks and two CDMA-based networks: Verizon and Sprint.)

If you’d like to save a bit more money, you can currently purchase a refurbished 32GB Google Pixel for as low as $330.

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More from Thrifter:

• What does Amazon’s takeover of Whole Foods mean for you?
• 8 Weird Things You Probably Have in Your House that Sell On Ebay

For more great deals be sure to check out our friends at Thrifter now!

Essential Phone 360 camera impressions: Solid accessory in need of some polish

It’s a relatively niche space, but Essential is innovating a bit.

The Essential Phone’s first proper accessory attachment, its 360-degree camera, is finally slowly shipping to early buyers and is available to add to new Essential Phone orders. At $199, the 360-degree camera isn’t exactly an impulse purchase and is in the same price range as other 360-degree offerings, like the Samsung Gear 360.

But just look at it: it’s so small, and it’s an interesting example of the types of things that are possible with the Essential Phone’s pogo pins and fast wireless data transfer system. Even though the Essential 360-degree camera doesn’t have any interoperability with other devices, it sure is a cool piece of technology and worth seeing how it works — and importantly, how that measures up to Essential’s claims and expectations.

How it works

As you’d expect, the Essential Phone’s 360-degree camera is dead simple … almost to a fault. Just snap the camera onto the back, where it attaches with a satisfying clunk of strong magnets, and the camera app will load up in a few seconds directly to the 360 capture mode. You can switch the camera between 4K and 2K resolution, tap a button to re-center the image, and then take a photo or capture video. Yup, that’s it.

Unlike the Moto 360 Camera Mod, you can’t actively switch between the 360 and standard cameras. In fact, the only way to get the 360 camera to launch is to remove the camera from the phone and reattach it. (Surely something that could be added with an update to the camera app.)

360-degree photos and videos are saved automatically into the photo gallery, right alongside all of your other photos and videos, where you can share them out — so no dealing with other storage media or transferring files. You can share the 360-degree photos and videos to all of the usual places like Facebook, YouTube, Google Photos, Flickr, etc. and they have all of the proper metadata to show up just perfectly.

Photos

Here are a few good photo samples that give you a feel for what the Essential 360-degree camera can do. One in harsh, one-sided lighting outside, one in consistent lighting outside, and one inside during the day.

The photos look pretty good and have plenty of resolution to be competitive — even though it may not seem too impressive when you compare it with 13MP stills from the main camera. Colors are accurate and no part of the scene is really blown out or blurry, which is about what the average person is going to expect. The stitch between the two lenses is noticeable still, but is pretty well smoothed — it’s only really pronounced in the first photo, which has very strong lighting only hitting one of the lenses. Each 360-degree photo is just 1-2MB.

Though it isn’t necessarily surprising, it’s disappointing to see that the Essential Phone’s camera app doesn’t seem really ready for the 360-degree camera. There’s no option to shoot with just one lens or the other for great one-shot panoramas, nor can you actively switch between standard and 360 shots on the fly. The camera app itself is still quite slow, as you’d expect if you’ve read any of our previous Essential Phone coverage.

Video

In the above video clip, you’ll get a good taste for a few different aspects of the Essential 360-degree camera. First, you get a feeling for how sensitive the microphones are — or at least, how they’re primarily tuned to hear what’s very near to the camera. You can in some cases hear me breathing at an arm’s length away, and at the same time barely hear cars driving by at 20 mph.

A few small issues aside, this is really solid 4K 360-degree video out of a tiny camera.

Next, you see how much walking and movement affects the video quality. It’s not too bad, actually, and there isn’t too much of a jelly effect with the processing applied to it. Then you get to see what things look like when the camera is still (toward the end of the video) — things look really good here once you take the shaking and movement out of the equation. And remember, this is just handheld.

Across the whole video, you notice a couple of small downsides. There’s some odd artifacting in a few places, and there seem to be unnecessary stitching lines where you wouldn’t expect — like directly down the middle of one of the lenses, which is odd. Both of those things, and the sensitive microphones, can indeed be fixed in software. Those small quibbles aside, the core experience here when it comes to video is quite good. That’s solid 4K resolution video out of what is a really small camera setup.

Bottom line

Essential got a whole lot right with its 360-degree camera. It’s extremely compact by 360-degree camera standards, and is relatively inexpensive at $199 — and at the same time, it shows off the great capabilities of the phone’s pogo pins and wireless data transfer. The quality of its photos and videos are quite good, too, which isn’t always easy to do on the “first” try for a product like this.

As is the case with the rest of the experience, the 360-degree camera is hamstrung by software.

As is the case with the rest of the camera experience on the phone, though, the 360-degree camera is somewhat hamstrung by its software. Being able to quickly take and share 360-degree photos and videos just like any other photo is really awesome, but the camera app lacks many features that would be very useful — like simply being able to switch between 360 and standard photos on the fly, or stream 360 videos to Facebook and YouTube.

The Essential 360-degree camera itself isn’t going to sell anyone on the Essential Phone, but as proof of what its technology can do and yet another piece of the ecosystem, it definitely serves its goal. It’s a really solid and not-too-expensive 360-degree camera option.

Essential Phone

• Essential Phone review: First impressions
• Essential Phone specs
• The latest Essential Phone news
• Join our Essential Phone forums!

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