Try the new ‘Overwatch’ hero during the game’s free weekend

At Blizzcon earlier this month, the studio behind Overwatch announced a new playable character for the hero shooter: Moira, a healer with evasive and damage-dealing abilities. Last night, she became available to play on PC and consoles — and wouldn’t you know it, Blizzard is making the game free to try out this weekend, starting today.

DON’T FORGET: You can play Overwatch FREE on PC, PlayStation 4, and Xbox One starting tomorrow at 11AM PT!

⏰ https://t.co/Pq264DygsZ pic.twitter.com/bhkIkvDViO

— Overwatch (@PlayOverwatch) November 17, 2017

Blizzard announced Moira with none of its usual teasing build-up, but the hero should be a nice respite for players who’ve been asking for a new healer. While she’s something of a potluck character with abilities recycled from a few other heroes, more variety in support characters has been on the community’s wish list for awhile.

There’s no word on when the new Overwatch map Blizzardworld, also announced at this year’s Blizzcon, will come to the game. For now, new players can try out the hero shooter from 11am PT today until 11:59pm on Monday, November 20th.

Via: Glixel

Source: Overwatch, PlayOverwatch (Twitter)

This week’s tech titan 404s | Engadget Today

If you tend to work in Google Docs, you already know about it being down for hours on Wednesday, but only AT&T users had the pleasure of realizing their phones also didn’t work for a good portion that same day. To fix it, AT&T told users to restart their phones, and that it might take multiple restarts to get it working again. T-Mobile, never one to miss a diss, jumped right into the same Twitter thread to offer frustrated users a chance to switch carriers. Ouch.

But it wasn’t all bad news this week. Google added salaries to search functions in a move that job seekers everywhere will likely appreciate. From now on, the search giant will display estimated salary ranges from sources like Glassdoor, LinkedIn and PayScale whenever folks search for open positions.

Mozilla is out to reclaim former users with a brand new web browser, Firefox Quantum. The company says its twice as fast as its version from just six months ago, due to a new multi-core CSS engine, tab prioritization and bug elimination. Though getting folks to switch might take some doing. NetMarketshare shows web browser usage remains at 13 percent for Firefox and is nearly 60 percent for Chrome.

You might want to keep you eyes up or just keep refreshing SpaceX’s missions page for a potential launch of the Zuma mission. According to Space, SpaceX was commissioned to make a secretive payload mission by defense technology company Northrop Grumman. The space world just found out about the move earlier this week, just a few days before it was to launch. It has since been delayed multiple times, and SpaceX is “preserving its range opportunity” for Friday, November 17, which basically means it might decide to launch after all. But it also takes great pains to say it needs to complete some data review before a likely launch. In sum, we know it’s a secretive mission and if we’re going to be conspiracy theorists, (and why not) uncertainty around when it intends to launch kinda fits.

Google’s latest VR series takes you to the set of ‘Austin City Limits’

While Apple continues to expand its library of exclusive music documentaries, Google is now bringing a little music to its slate of VR series. Austin City Limits: Backstage takes you behind the scenes of the legendary music show and gives you backstage access to the performances, the crew and the artists that take the stage.

Some of Google’s VR show offerings include a Discovery travel series, tours of supermodels’ closets, an MLB series that profiles up-and-coming baseball stars, a look into the lives of NFL players, coaches, executives and fans as well as Google’s Immerse series that explores race, diversity and identity.

Austin City Limits: Backstage will be a 10-part series with each episode featuring a different artist or group. The first three episodes, which are available now, focus on Ed Sheeran, the Zac Brown Band and Unsung Heroes. You can check them out using your Cardboard or Google Daydream View here.

Source: Google

TouchArcade iOS Gaming Roundup: Reigns: Her Majesty, Animal Crossing, Sky, PUBG Knock-Offs, and More

Apologies for missing last week’s iOS gaming roundup, but I’ve got a good reason: I was in Jordan judging Middle Eastern and North African mobile games for the International Mobile Gaming Awards (IMGA). It’s an organization that for fourteen years now has been hosting international competitions looking for the best mobile games.

I’ve been involved for several years now, and it’s awesome actually having game awards specifically for mobile instead of how things usually go — a quick mention on the tail end of other “real” game awards that might vaguely acknowledge mobile. Submissions just started for this year’s IMGA’s, so if you’re an iOS developer and want your game considered, be sure to submit it. Unlike a lot of game awards, submissions are totally free, so go wild.

Kicking things off is the announcement of the release date for the upcoming Reigns sequel, Reigns: Her Majesty. We’ll once again be managing our kingdoms via Tinder-style right and left swiping decisions on December 7th. We got a closer look at the game back at PAX West which digs a lot deeper into what to expect than the above launch trailer.

Reigns is an unbelievably great game, and one that you can hand to both the most hardcore gamer and someone who has never played a game before and they’ll both enjoy it. We’ve got a full review of the original up on TouchArcade, and so far it seems like the sequel is exactly what we wanted: More Reigns.

The Animal Crossing: Pocket Camp Friend Finder is now live! Answer a few q’s for Katrina to see which animal could be your BFF! #PocketCamp pic.twitter.com/B6TsjqBRJQ

— Isabelle (@animalcrossing) November 16, 2017

We’ve been closely following the upcoming global release of Animal Crossing Pocket Camp which, per Nintendo, is due out in “late November.” Well, we’re rapidly approaching the launch window which led us to suspect that Nintendo might be vague-tweeting a potential launch date reveal… But, in actuality, all it was is this promotional web site where Animal Crossing’s Katrina reads your fortune to find your BFF in game. While it isn’t a launch date, these sorts of things ramping up are a great sign that Pocket Camp is almost upon us. For what it’s worth, I’ve got my money on it releasing early next week, so it can spread organically as everyone is playing it over family gatherings on Thanksgiving.

The curious thing about covering mobile games is sometimes you find yourself inadvertently at the center of incredibly odd situations, particularly with how ubiquitous mobile has gotten over the year. For instance, the most popular TouchArcade story of all time was when Apple removed games featuring the Confederate flag. Well, this week it came out that Russia was using mobile game screenshots to show “evidence” of US collusion with ISIS. It’s a pretty unbelievable situation, but I suppose that’s the case with practically everything in the news cycle these days. But, hey, the game they used, AC-130, is pretty fun to fiddle around with if you missed out playing the huge amount of these games on the App Store as they used to be very popular a few years ago.

We’re also super excited for the upcoming release of Sky, the upcoming title by Thatgamecompany which Apple showed off at the last keynote. We got a quick look at the first six minutes of gameplay, which is narrated by Thatgamecompany’s co-founder, Jenova Chen. The video is packed with so many insights it’s hard to focus on just one, but I’m very curious to see how all the social components work out. They’re born of people who played Journey, but found themselves wishing they could play with family and friends. I’ve got a lot of faith in Sky being very good, and I can’t wait to try it out when it launches in a few months.

NetMarble’s Lineage 2: Revolution launched this week. It’s based on the PC MMORPG Lineage 2, and features both realtime 20 vs. 20 and 50 vs. 50 battles. They’ve been pulling out all the stops when it comes to promoting the game — it was featured at TwitchCon, Conan O’Brien has been playing it, and tons more. The game boasted a massive 1.5 million pre-registrations before launch, and I’m supremely curious to see if it maintains that level of excitement in the following days.

While Playerunknown’s Battlegrounds (PUBG) is the biggest thing ever in the PC world right now, the Chinese publisher NetEase has been up to some incredibly curious things when it comes to launching knock-offs on mobile. Last week it launched a game in China with a title that roughly translates to “Wilderness Survival” which was a supremely on the nose PUBG knock-off. It soared to the top of the charts in China, leaving Western gamers curious when they could get a crack at the Battle Royale genre on mobile.

Here’s where things get weird: NetEase then released not one, but two PUBG knock-offs on the App Store. Knives Out and Rules of Survival, which at first glance appear to be the exact same game, by the same developer, with different names. We reached out for clarification to find that NetEase apparently has two internal studios that are competing for who can make the most successful PUBG knock-off? Why you wouldn’t do some sort of internal play test then decide, “OK, this is the one we’re launching” instead of releasing both games is beyond me. But, hey, if you’re into PUBG and want to play it on your iPhone… You have your choice between two incredibly similar games made by the same company. I’m sure this makes sense to someone.

Last, but not least, South Park: Phone Destroyer also hit the App Store recently. It’s a free to play card-based fighting game, which is fairly ironic considering they’ve run entire episodes ruthlessly roasting free to play. But, hey, whatever. For what it’s worth Phone Destroyer seems to be a pretty good card battler, and we put together a guide on how to win in South Park Phone Destroyer without spending money that’s worth a look if you want to avoid spending money in the game.

That’s all from me this week, but there’s loads more things that have happened in the world of iOS gaming the last couple of weeks, so if you’re interested in this scene be sure to swing by TouchArcade where we’re posting this sort of thing day in and day out.

Tag: TouchArcade gaming roundup
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iPhone X Case Review Roundup 5: Pad & Quill, Spigen, OtterBox, LifeProof, Totallee and Sena

The fifth review of my iPhone X Roundup series focuses on Pad & Quill, Spigen, OtterBox, LifeProof, Totallee, and Sena. If you’ve missed my previous posts, I’m taking a close look at iPhone X cases from a range of manufacturers. We don’t often feature case reviews on MacRumors, but with the launch of the iPhone X and its new design, we felt it was worth exploring some of the available case options.

My previous reviews are below:

• iPhone X Case Review Roundup 1
• iPhone X Case Review Roundup 2
• iPhone X Case Review Roundup 3
• iPhone X Case Review Roundup 4

For all of these reviews, I’m looking at the general usability of iPhone X cases. Extreme drop tests and in-depth testing aren’t covered because those factors are less important than how a case works on an average day, and it’s often fairly easy to tell from design how protective a case is going to be.

Factors like bulk, button accessibility, general protection, grip, thickness, and appearance are what I focused on. All of the cases in this review roundup work with wireless chargers unless otherwise mentioned.

OtterBox

OtterBox used to be known primarily for its super bulky, ultra protective cases, but these days, OtterBox makes a lot of other cases that are still just as protective but add less bulk than the traditional Defender series.

Priced at $44.95, the Symmetry series offers OtterBox’s slimmest cases. When I say slim, though, I mean in comparison to other OtterBox cases, not “slim” cases in general. The Symmetry is still a very thick case with a hard shell back and a rubber interior that wraps around all sides of the iPhone X.

Symmetry cases are not unattractive, but they’re much thicker than I prefer for my iPhone. There is a thick lip that comes up over the display, and while a lip this thick protects the screen, it makes it undeniably more irritating to swipe up from the bottom of the display if you’re a person who swipes from the very bottom. The mute switch is difficult to get to because of the thickness of the case, and it may not work with some docks. On the plus side, the volume and power buttons are easy to press. This is definitely a case that feels like it’s going to offer a lot of protection from drops.

The Pursuit, priced at $69.95, is thicker and more protective than the Symmetry. It has a hard plastic body with a thick rubber that wraps around the side of the case. It snaps apart into two pieces so you can get your iPhone X inside, and snapping it back together can take a few minutes of attempting to align it.

This is a case that’s designed to cover the ports of the iPhone X to protect it from the elements (dust, mud, dirt, and snow), so the Lightning port, mute switch, and speaker holes are all covered up, and there’s a seal around the camera. Buttons are easy to press, and there’s a new switch on the case for muting, but to charge, you’ll need to remove a small rubber cover over the Lightning port. Most people are not going to need this level of protection, so this is something of a niche case. Ultimately, the Pursuit is a lot like a thinner Defender case, and it’s one of the more protective cases you can get.

OtterBox’s Strada Folio, priced at $49.95, combines OtterBox-style protection with a folio design. A rubber-lined hard plastic shell protects the iPhone, and at the exterior, it’s covered in leather for those who like a leather look. There’s a wraparound front cover, also made of leather, with a slot for holding cards or cash.

The Strada Folio is similar in overall size to the Symmetry, so while it’s not as bulky as other OtterBox offerings, it’s still bulky in comparison to slimmer cases from other companies. OtterBox does a good job with buttons and ports, so everything is accessible and can be easily pressed, with the exception of the power button, which I found difficult to use. The Strada Folio offers total device protection with the front cover and like all OtterBox cases, it feels like it could survive some serious damage.

The OtterBox Defender (Screenless Edition) is a traditional ultra protective OtterBox case. It is the thickest iPhone X case OtterBox offers, and it feels like it’s thicker than two iPhone X models stacked on top of each other. There’s some serious bulk here. It offers full protection for the iPhone X and covers all of the ports, plus it seals the area around the camera. It comes apart in three pieces (two halves of a plastic shell and then the rubber skin), so you can put it on the iPhone, and there’s also a removable belt clip.

The Defender is incredibly rigid with a plastic interior and a rubber exterior, plus padding inside for the iPhone X. I would be absolutely shocked if an iPhone X didn’t survive a serious fall in this case. Needless to say, the lip around the case comes up a significant amount over the display and somewhat restricts swiping up from the bottom of the iPhone X. Again, this is a level of protection most people won’t need, but for those who do, it’s nice to have the option.

Spigen

Spigen makes a lot of cases, and I took a look at most of the collection because Spigen appears to be a favorite on the MacRumors forum. Many of you told me you use Spigen cases and recommended them for review. Bear with me, because this is going to be a long section.

Ultra Hybrid S ($24.99) – This is a clear case with a hard plastic shell and rubber sides that come up to protect the display. It features a built-in kickstand that works in landscape mode, which is neat if you watch a lot of videos, but I don’t love the look of the kickstand. The case isn’t super thin, nor is it super thick, and it’s grippy because of flexible sides. It’s clear and does leave the edges of the iPhone X largely visible. Buttons are easy to press, and while it’s not the most protective case I’ve looked at, it should offer decent protection from drops.

Ultra Hybrid ($24.99) – If you don’t like the kickstand of the Ultra Hybrid S, the Ultra Hybrid is for you. It’s identical, but it does away with the kickstand. All of the Ultra Hybrid cases are clear, but offer different color border options. Like Ultra Hybrid S, this is a hard plastic shell with rubber sides that offer good grip. Ultra Hybrid and Ultra Hybrid S are middle-of-the-road cases that are bulkier than some slim fit cases, but not too bulky that it ruins the design of the iPhone X.

Thin Fit ($14.99) – I like minimal cases, so this was one of my overall favorites. The Thin Fit is a thin shell that’s made from a hard, smooth, grippy material that’s easy to hold onto. It leaves the top and the bottom of the iPhone X open, and it doesn’t interfere at all with swiping, so this is a good choice for those of you who are bothered by that bottom lip. All buttons are also exposed so there’s no interference with button usage, and there’s a very slim lip that protects the sides of the display when the iPhone is facedown. At the back, there’s also a slight protective lip around the camera. This case is going to offer protection from rear scratches and may protect from small drops, but it’s definitely super light protection. This case adds little bulk to the iPhone X since it’s 0.5mm thick, so it’s almost unnoticeable.

Neo Hybrid and Neo Hybrid Crystal ($29.99) – The Neo Hybrid is your average semi-protective case that’s of a medium thickness. It’s not as thin as something like the Thin Fit, but also not as thick as, say, the Symmetry from OtterBox. The Neo Hybrid case is made from a flexible rubber with plastic edging, while the Neo Hybrid Crystal is made from a clear hard plastic with some rubber accenting at the edges that obscures the iPhone X edges. Both cases offer good grip and have display protection in the form of a lip, but that lip does wrap all the way around the iPhone X, including the bottom of the display. Buttons are covered but remain easy to press, and given the thicker borders, both cases feel like they offer decent drop protection.

Tough Armor ($34.99) – Tough Armor is another Spigen case that comes with a kickstand that works when the iPhone X is in landscape mode. It’s made from a soft, flexible rubber material that’s reinforced at the back and the lower sides with a hard plastic. Generally, anything with “armor” in the name is a little bulkier than the average case, and that’s true of this case. Buttons are covered, but easy to press, but it’s less grippy than other Spigen cases. It’s fairly thick, with thick bezels around the display. Those bezels don’t come up too high though, so while it does interfere with bottom swiping a little bit, it’s easy to get used to. This case wraps around the camera notch and has a cutout for the Apple logo. I’m not a huge fan of its design, but it definitely feels protective.

Slim Armor CS ($34.99) – Slim Armor CS is similar in design to Tough Armor and seems to offer about the same level of protection, but does not have the Apple logo cutout on the back. Instead, there’s a hard plastic piece that slides over to allow you to store cards underneath. The slide mechanism is a little fragile and I did break the entire case apart once during this review, so that’s something worth keeping in mind. I don’t know how it’ll hold up over time.

Rugged Armor ($19.99) – I’m not sure why this case is called rugged, because it doesn’t feel rugged to me. It’s made of a soft, flexible rubber material that’s a little bit too smooth, and it’s thinner than Spigen’s other “armor” cases because it doesn’t have additional hard plastic accenting. It does offer a lip over the display (which isn’t too raised) and it protects the camera, plus it covers all of the buttons. It doesn’t feel as protective as the Tough Armor, but it’s thicker than something like the Slim Fit without being too bulky, so it’s a decent compromise between protection and slimness. It does have a cutout at the back for the Apple logo.

Hybrid Armor ($29.99) – Hybrid Armor is a similar to the Slim Armor CS and the Tough Armor. It’s a flexible rubber case that has a hard plastic shell on the back. With all of these armor cases that also have plastic, the plastic piece pops off. On this one, it tends to come off randomly and doesn’t stick down well, something that would definitely be an irritation in every day use. This feels about as thick and as protective as the Tough Armor, so it seems like it’ll hold up well to drops. With this case, the power button is easy to press, but the volume buttons offer a little bit of resistance. It protects the camera, has an Apple logo cutout, and does offer all-around protection with a lip to keep the display safe when facedown.

Wallet S ($29.99) – As the name suggests, this is a case that’s designed to replace a wallet. It’s a folio-style case, with a hard plastic shell that holds the iPhone in place and a front cover that can hold multiple cards in card slots and some cash in the larger side pocket. For a folio case, the Wallet S is fairly slim, and there’s a little magnetic strap that keeps it closed. Most folio cases don’t have something to keep them closed so I always worry about how they’ll land in a drop, but this particular case should keep the front and back of the iPhone X case safe. The inner shell of this seems to be the Thin Fit case, which has a bit of a lip at the sides of the iPhone but leaves the top and bottom bare.

The front flap folds back when the iPhone X is in use, so it’s not much different from a non-folio case. Design wise, it’s rather plain, and is made of a fake leather material, but the cover does fold back to serve as a stand for watching videos in landscape mode.

Liquid Crystal ($19.99) – The Liquid Crystal is another Spigen favorite of mine. It’s clear, but instead of hard plastic, it’s made from a soft TPU material. It’s super grippy and easy to hold on to, and it lets the design of the iPhone X shine through. There’s a lot of Spigen branding on the edges, though, which does obscure the shiny stainless steel. There’s a little bit of a lip to protect the iPhone’s display, which does wrap all the way around, but I didn’t find it to be an irritation when swiping because it’s not super raised. Buttons are accessible and easy to press, and this case is slim while managing to feel like it still offers decent protection.

These must be prone to staining, because Spigen includes cleaning instructions and a cleaning wipe. There are actually several variations of the Liquid Crystal, including the standard clear model, a Matte black version, the Liquid Crystal Blossom with a flower petal design, the Liquid Crystal Glitter (my favorite), and the Liquid Crystal Shine with a mandala pattern.

Liquid Air ($14.99) – Liquid Air is similar to Liquid Crystal because it’s also made from a flexible rubber material. It’s relatively slim, though not as slim as Thin Fit, and offers an attractive diamond pattern. The material it’s made from is fairly slippery, so I didn’t think this one offered great grip, but I did like that it was slim while still appearing to offer solid protection. It covers the buttons but leaves them easy to press, and there is a wraparound lip to protect the display. This case doesn’t add a lot of bulk and was one of my favorites from Spigen thanks to its attractive design and thin profile.

Rugged Crystal ($24.99) – I’d describe the Rugged Crystal case as a Liquid Crystal that’s well, more rugged. It’s made from the same flexible clear TPU material that is incredibly grippy, but there’s extra reinforcement at the corners. The extra reinforcement offers additional protection from drops, but it also looks a little goofy. Other than the reinforced corners, it’s basically identical to the Liquid Crystal.

Totallee

Totallee offers ultra thin plastic cases that are basically identical to cases from other companies like Peel. A bunch of companies make cases like this, but Totallee’s cases are reasonably priced at $19 and come in a nice range of colors. These cases are 0.02″ thick, so somewhere around 3mm, which means they’re not really going to offer much drop protection for the iPhone X.

They’ll protect well from scratches, but there is no lip around the display so if your iPhone X falls face first, it’s like having a naked device. If you only need scratch protection, Totallee cases are perfect because they add next to no bulk.

There are different finish options, and some are more expensive than others. The metallic finishes, which look great, are $25, for example.

Pad & Quill

Pad & Quill makes higher-end cases that are more expensive than what you might get from companies like Spigen or OtterBox. All of P&Q’s products are carefully crafted and well-made, so you know you’re getting your money’s worth.

Most of Pad & Quill’s cases are leather folio-style cases, but the Timberline, priced at $39.95, is one of the more unique cases I’ve taken a look at during these reviews. The Timberline is quite slim, with a hard polycarbonate shell that features a back that’s made from real wood. You can get American Walnut or Rosewood, and the Rosewood case I have on hand offers an interesting contrast to the steel and glass body of the iPhone X.

This case leaves the top and bottom of the iPhone uncovered, as well as the buttons, so it’s a good option for those who like more minimal cases that don’t interfere with the iPhone’s functionality. The wood and polycarbonate combo is smooth and doesn’t offer the best grip, and while there’s a little bit of a lip at the sides of the iPhone to protect the display when it’s facedown, it’s very slight. If your iPhone falls back down, this case is going to offer good protection, but less so if it falls on the display.

Pad & Quill’s Bella Fino Wallet Case, priced at $89.95, is a folio-style case that doubles as a wallet. Like most folio cases, this is designed for people who want extra functionality from their case, not those looking for something slim. This case, which is leather, adds a good bit of bulk to the iPhone, but it’s definitely one of the highest quality folio-style case I’ve reviewed in my roundups.

There are three card slots inside, along with a clear card slot that can hold a driver’s license or ID card. The iPhone sits inside of a simple plastic case that attaches to the Bella Fino using an adhesive strip. The adhesive that holds the case in place is strong and did not budge even when shaken vigorously upside down. It also allows the inner case to be removed, if you so desire, and with the adhesive, it can be used case-free.

The inner case is minimal and does not cover the top, bottom, or buttons of the iPhone X, so it does not interfere with swiping or button uses. The Bella Fino is essentially the same size as something like a pocket journal, and it will likely protect the iPhone X from most drops unless it falls face down flat.

Pad & Quill also makes a second version of the Bella Fino, the Bella Fino Heritage ($99.99), that is a two-color option. It is identical to the Bella Fino case in design, but is available in a lighter shade of leather with a chocolate leather spine.

Both the Bella Fino and the Bella Fino Heritage are rather stiff when they first arrive, but over time, the leather loosens up, wears in, and becomes more supple. The two cases will also take on unique patinas with usage, and the Bella Fino Heritage in particular will get much darker.

Sena

Sena makes high-quality leather cases that feel nice and look elegant. I was a fan of a lot of the designs the Sena cases offered, and those of you who prefer leather cases will definitely want to take a look at this brand.

Isa Crossbody Snap On Leather Wallet Case ($79.95) – The Isa Wallet Case comes with a giant strap so you can wear it crossbody, which seems entirely ridiculous to me. I would absolutely not want my iPhone X dangling around at my hip like this, and while the strap is removable, if you use this case without it, there are two rather large loops at the bottom.

It’s a great color, though, and it does serve as a wallet replacement. It has space for a driver’s license and several credit cards in an extra little wallet add-on at the back of the case. Because of its thickness, this case does not work with wireless charging.

I do like the quilted design of the case and the slim fit, and Sena did a good job with the button covers. All Sena cases have these nice metal buttons that are super easy to press. There is a lip that wraps all the way around the phone and does interfere a bit with upwards swiping.

Racer Leather Snap On Case ($54.95) – While I thought the Isa case was totally impractical, the Racer case from Sena is a different story. It’s made from blue and black leather with a racer stripe design that’s attractive in person. The leather is grippy and the back is padded, so it’s easy to hold on to, and quite pleasant in the hand.

Though there’s a padded back, this case is actually fairly slim and has a nice small lip that protects the display of the iPhone X. The bottom of the case is open so it doesn’t interfere with swiping upwards or charging on a dock.

Bence Lanyard Snap On Case ($54.95) – The Bence case is similar to the Racer case, but without the extra strip in the middle. It’s made from the same soft, padded leather, which I like a lot because it’s easy and comfortable to grip.

It has the same easy-to-press buttons, an open bottom for easy swiping upwards, and slim front lip. Like the Racer, it seems to offer a decent amount of protection without being overly bulky, and because of the slightly padded back, it should have more rear protection than your average case. This is an all black case and it looks nice in person. I like the idea of a wrist strap because it offers a little bit of extra protection when doing things like taking one-handed photos.

Arri Wristlet Leather Snap On Case ($54.95) – This case is identical to the Lanyard case, but it has a two-tone design that’s more feminine. There are a few colors to choose from, but the one I have in hand is pink and black.

It’s got the same soft, padded leather, open bottom for swiping, easy-to-press metal buttons, and slim lip to protect the display.

LifeProof

LifeProof is a brand that’s owned by OtterBox, and its cases offer higher levels of drop protection than you get with the average iPhone X case. With drop protection comes bulk, though, and these LifeProof cases are not cheap.

LifeProof Next ($79.99) – LifeProof’s Next case for the iPhone X is similar to cases from OtterBox. It’s a two-piece snap-on case that includes a clear hardshell back and a rubber-covered frame for extra drop protection. This is not a waterproof case, but it is resistant to dust and snow because it covers all ports and the speakers at the bottom of the iPhone X.

Since this is a snap together case, it’s a bit difficult to get on and off, so this isn’t something you want to get if you like to swap cases often. It’s clear, so you can see the iPhone X’s design, and it’s thick enough that it feels very protective. This level of protection adds a lot of bulk, so this is also not the case for people who like slim designs.

Unfortunately, the buttons are very hard to press in this case, which is a major downside given how important button use is in the iPhone X. It has a large lip around the display that’s going to protect it when facedown or from drops, and thanks to a sort of tapered design for this lip, it doesn’t interfere too much with swiping. At $80, this case is expensive, and it’s not one I’d recommend (mostly because of the buttons) unless you need a higher level of protection than the average case can provide.

LifeProof Slam ($49.99) – The LifeProof Slam is similar to the LifeProof next in thickness and design, but it is more affordable because it doesn’t have the same port protection. The Lightning port and speakers are left open, and there’s no cover for the mute switch.

I like the bright color combinations for the Slam, which again consists of a clear hard plastic shell that leaves the iPhone X’s design visible and a rubber bumper for better drop protection. Slam uses the same snap-on two-piece design, and it also has buttons that are hard to press. It has the same tapered front lip as the Next, too.

Bottom Line

This time around, Spigen has some of the thinnest and most affordable cases. I was a fan of several of the Spigen options on the thinner side, including the Thin Fit, Liquid Crystal, and Liquid Air, which were the slimmest of the bunch. Many other Spigen options offer a little more protection in exchange for a bit more bulk, and those are worth checking out if you’d like something that’s a nice compromise between thickness and protectiveness.

For even more protection, OtterBox’s case line is worth taking a look at, and if you want less protection, ie, just scratch protection, Totallee is what you’ll want to take a look at. Totallee’s cases are about 0.3mm thick, so they’re adding next to no bulk to the iPhone X.

For higher-end cases that are both stylish and protective, Pad & Quill and Sena are good choices. Pad & Quill’s Timberline case is particularly unique, while its folio-style cases look great and can replace your wallet. LifeProof has nice designs that seem to offer a lot of protection, but the case makes the iPhone X buttons hard to press, and that’s a dealbreaker for me.

As always, since this was a brief look at the cases available from several different companies, I’m happy to provide additional photos and answer questions about any of the cases listed down in the forums.

Related Roundup: iPhone XBuyer’s Guide: iPhone X (Buy Now)
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Apple extends replacement program for MacBook Pros affected by ‘Staingate’

In October, Apple confirmed that MacBook Pro laptops from 2012 that were affected by “Staingate” were no longer eligible for a free replacement. Now, it’s being reported that the company plans to extend the program for hardware purchased in subsequent years.

Staingate saw the anti-reflective coating on certain MacBook Pro computers begin to peel away from the display or otherwise degrade over time. Customers complained in droves and, eventually, Apple was forced to implement a large-scale replacement program in order to appease the masses.

All kinds of factors can contribute to the damage, ranging from pressure applied on the screen by the touchpad and keyboard while the laptop is closed, to the effect of users cleaning the display without adhering to Apple’s guidelines. Since it’s a manufacturing issue, rather than pure user error, MacBook Pro owners have a window where they’re entitled to a hardware replacement.

The company has now informed authorized service providers that coverage will be offered for four years after the initial purchase of the laptop, according to a report from Mac Rumors. This puts the 2012 models out of warranty, as both the 13-inch and 15-inch models were discontinued by October 2013.

The 13-inch and 15-inch MacBook Pro laptops that launched in 2013 will be eligible until July 2018. The 13-inch model from 2014 will be eligible until March 2019, while its 15-inch cousin is entitled to a replacement until May 2019. The 13-inch laptop released in 2015 is good through October 2020, and the 15-inch version is still being sold, so there’s no cut-off date at this time.

The program has already been extended twice since it first got underway in October 2015. However, it’s never actually been officially announced and it’s not well-publicized by Apple, but it is possible to procure a replacement laptop if you’re willing to have your MacBook Pro inspected in-store, or if you send it to the company via mail.

That said, time is running own for owners who have been in possession of their hardware for a few years. If your display is starting to show some signs of damage, it is perhaps time to address the situation.

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The best accidental inventions prove sometimes it’s better not to try

You don’t have to follow Nihilist Arby’s to realize that nothing matters and life on this planet is the result of a series of accidents. Somewhere in the midst of all of the Big Bang-ing and cosmic caroming, we hit the Goldilocks sweet spot and the primordial soup goop was just right. As a species, we’ve commonly used biomimicry to essentially “borrow” from Mother Nature and this vast test bed of evolutionary trial and error. So it should come as no surprise that some of the most invaluable technological discoveries can also be chalked up to mere happenstance. After all, an uncovered petri dish next to an open window may have given us the most significant medical discovery of the 20th century — penicillin.

Some people may be familiar with the story behind the first ink jet printer or perhaps even the first inadvertent LSD trip, but even fewer may know the story behind seemingly omnipresent items like plastics or even the microwave oven. As the saying goes, necessity may be the mother of invention, but wonderful systematic hitches and all-out glitches have certainly played a part in many a eureka moment. The word “accident” entered the English language from the Latin verb “cadere,” meaning “to fall.” With that in mind, here are the best accidental inventions to seemingly fall right into our laps.

Ryan Neely

Insider build doesn’t want you to freak out about Windows Timeline privacy

Microsoft introduced some of the base elements of its delayed Windows Timeline tool in the latest Windows Insider build, 17040. Most notably, it included options for what data is collected. The feature, which is designed to continue working with applications across multiple devices and platforms, isn’t quite ready for use yet but Microsoft is laying the groundwork for its introduction in the near future.

Windows Timeline was originally slated to debut alongside the recent Fall Creators Update release of Windows 10. While that didn’t end up happening, we’re starting to see the first elements appearing for Fast Ring Windows Insiders. ITProToday spotted a number of references to the feature in the Microsoft Account Privacy Dashboard of the build, offering customization options for how data is handled by the Timeline feature.

Under the heading “Activity History,” it’s explained as allowing you to “jump back into what you were doing with apps, docs or other activities, either on your PC or your phone.” That’s the core functionality of Windows Timeline, so it appears Microsoft is keen to clear up any potential hiccups with privacy implications with the feature before pushing it live to Insiders.

“To resume your activities, Windows needs to collect your PC activity,” the text warns. However, it does highlight that you “can turn this off at any time.” In the new 17040 build, there is the option to do so with a simple on/off toggle. There is also an option to clear all activity history so that nothing you’ve done previously remains recorded.

ItProToday

In terms of what Timeline will note during your interaction with Windows, certain tabs found in the “Manage my activity info” part of the dashboard break it down for you. There, you can find cards listing any voice searches you made, what web searches, and browsing activity you took part in. It will also record your location when you interacted with your Microsoft account, regardless of which device you used.

If that seems a little too big brother-like, the permissions tab gives you the ability to customize what the feature is recording, which should help assuage some fears over privacy implications. There are also options to delete everything if you don’t want it to remain attached to your account, we’re told.

Although we don’t have any kind of timeline for when this feature will eventually be implemented, it appears to be progressing. The groundwork for privacy concerns has been laid and no doubt will be built upon as we move toward this feature’s eventual introduction. As it stands though, it’s all quite barebones.

If you want to be on the frontline to test some of these new features as they are introduced, you can sign up for the Windows Insider program here.

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New brainwave-reading technique may unlock ‘locked-in’ patients

There are few more horrifying propositions than the idea of being trapped in your own body, with your mind fully active but unable to move, speak, or physically communicate in any way. Called “locked-in syndrome,” this condition has no cure, no standard treatment, and few patients ever see the return of any significant motor function. If technology could help these patients, it would genuinely be one of the best — and most transformative — use cases we can think of.

Fortunately, an Austrian company is stepping up to the challenge, with the creation of an innovative brain-computer interface system called MindBeagle. The technology allows locked-in patients to communicate answers to “yes” or “no” questions using nothing more than their thoughts.

“The MindBeagle system uses brain waves from patients as an input signal,” Christoph Guger, CEO of g.tec, the company behind the technology, told Digital Trends.

Guger explained that this brain activity is detected using electroencephalography (EEG) technology, in which electrodes are attached to the scalp of a subject. Machine-learning algorithms then analyze these brain waves to work out “yes” and “no” patterns, based on a test the subjects are given. This involves a hand-vibration motor, which is worn on the patient’s hands. By responding to whether a vibration takes place on their left or right, users can establish separate measures for affirmative or negative answers.

Using the system, patients with locked-in syndrome are able to communicate with around 80 percent accuracy.

In addition to people with locked-in syndrome, the technology can also be used to help people in other unresponsive states, so long as there is cognitive activity.

“Imagine that somebody had a car accident and you want to see if he or she understands you,” Guger continued. “In that situation, you can use MindBeagle for testing. Recently the ALS Clinic in Palermo, Italy, had a patient who had gone for several months without showing any response. Using MindBeagle, the patient answered most of the questions they were asked correctly. The family was very happy to have a proof that their mother is still following all their conversations. The test results also make a difference for the doctors because they can optimize medication or therapy.”

While researchers one day hope to achieve a cure for conditions such as locked-in syndrome, cutting-edge technology like this is helping in ways that would have been impossible just a few years ago.

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Huawei Mate 10 Pro tips and tricks to turn you into a professional

Huawei’s flagship smartphone, the Mate 10 Pro, is here, and it’s an impressive workhorse. The Chinese company dropped the bulky metal chassis on the Mate 9 for for the beautifully refined all-glass design that features a nearly bezel-less design and a 6-inch screen.

But it’s more than good looks that make this phone great, as we spell out in our Mate 10 Pro review. The phone boasts a speedy Kirin 970 with an AI processor, a huge 4,000mAh battery, and an option of 4 or 6GB of RAM. The Mate 10 Pro zips through just about any task you can imagine. You’ll also find the latest version of Android 8.0 Oreo on board, over Huawei’s own EMUI 8.0 Android “skin.”

You can check out our Android 8.0 Oreo tips and tricks guide for new features in the latest operating system version, but here are our Mate 10 Pro tips and tricks to get the most out of your new phone.

How to use the camera app

Steven Winkelman / Digital Trends

The camera on the Huawei Mate 10 Pro offers a number of options to get a really great shot. Even though the Leica dual camera setup is impressive in and of itself, the Neural Processing Unit on the Kirin processor can help perfect your shot with real-time object recognition technology. If it detects food, for example, you’ll see a food icon on the bottom of the camera app and the camera will tweak the photo to make it look great. But there are a lot of different camera modes you can try out, like monochrome, which captures everything in black and white. To get there, simply open the camera app and swipe right. Tap on one of the modes, including Night Shot, Light Painting, and Slow-mo, and that’s all you need to do to use it.

In addition to all of the modes in the camera app, there are a few useful features that are hidden in the camera settings. You can set up a grid on the viewfinder screen, or save images with the RAW format. To access the settings, just swipe left in the camera app.

The camera also has Wide aperture and Portrait shooting modes. Both modes are similar, capturing photos with a reduced depth of field, resulting in a bokeh effect The difference is Portrait mode has a beauty filter that allows you correct small blemishes. Both Portrait mode and Wide aperture are located in the top menu bar to the right of the flash icon

If you want to take the reins of your camera completely, you can use Pro mode. Mimicking the functions of a DSLR, Pro mode allows you to adjust ISO, aperture, light balance, and shutter speed.  To access the Pro mode, just click on the arrow menu bar located directly above the shutter button.

How to create two copies of an app

If you have multiple Twitter or Facebook accounts, the Huawei Mate 10 Pro has a pretty awesome feature. App Twin allows you to create multiple instances of the same app on your phone. App Twin, like a lot of the Mate 10 Pro’s best features, is hidden pretty deep in the settings. To enable it, go to Settings > Apps & Notifications > App Twin. It’s especially helpful if you want to keep your work and personal accounts separate.

How to see more of your email

Like most Android phones, the Huawei Mate 10 Pro has two mail apps: Gmail and Huawei’s Mail app. While most people just add accounts to the Gmail app, it may be worth giving Huawei’s mail app a look because it takes advantage of the Mate 10 Pro’s 18:9 aspect ratio. When you rotate the phone horizontally, the Mail app shows multiple columns, including your inbox and a preview of your messages. To take advantage of this feature, simply make sure you have screen rotation lock turned off by swiping down the Quick Settings and clicking on the screen rotation icon.

How to use Desktop Mode

Desktop Mode allows you to use the Huawei Mate 10 Pro as a pseudo computer replacement. While the Galaxy S8 offered a similar feature, the Mate 10 Pro doesn’t require a special dock. To use Desktop mode, simply connect your phone to an external display with a HDMI to USB-C cable. Once you’re connected, you’ll see a desktop screen that looks a lot like Windows. When you connect your Mate 10 Pro to an external monitor, your phone’s display will become a makeshift mouse, or you can continue to use the Mate 10 Pro as a smartphone and still work separately on the desktop.

How to lock your apps

Worried about people sifting through your messages or social media accounts? The Huawei Mate 10 Pro has a feature called App Lock that allows you to lock down just about any app on your phone. To set up App Lock, go to Settings > Security & privacy > App lock. When you enable the feature you’ll need to create a PIN or security pattern. Once you have the PIN or pattern setup, you can then enable fingerprint access.

How to use knuckle gestures

Sometimes it’s nice to have two apps open at the same time. While a lot of Android phones offer split screen mode, you can set up a gesture on your Huawei Mate Pro 10 to turn it on quickly. To set up the split screen gesture, go to Settings > Smart assistance > Motion control > Split screen and toggle the feature on. Once the gesture is set up, you’ll just need to drag your knuckle across the screen to enable split screen mode.

With gestures, taking screenshots on you phone is equally simple. With Smart Screenshot enabled, you can capture scrolling screenshots, record the screen, or even capture a section of the screen. To enable Smart screenshot open Settings > Smart assistance > Motion control > Smart screenshot. You can tap the screen with your knuckle twice to capture a screenshot quickly; if you want to capture just part of the screen, draw around the area with your knuckle.  For scrolling screenshots, draw an S with your knuckle.  A double knock with two knuckles will record your screen.

Want to open a specific app with a gesture? You can easily open four apps on the phone by using your knuckle to draw the specific letters. To set up this feature you just need to go to Settings > Smart assistance > Motion control > Draw. Tap to select an available letter and select that app you want to associate with the gesture.

How to reduce eye fatigue

Eye Comfort allows you to filter out some of the blue light on your phone that can contribute to eye fatigue. When you turn on Eye Comfort, you’ll notice the screen takes on more of a yellowish tone. This feature is great to use when your eyes are tired from looking at your screen too long, or when you’re using your phone in bed. Enabling Eye Comfort is simple. Go to Settings > Display > Eye comfort. You can then toggle the feature on or schedule the feature to come on at night.

How to change your home screen

The Huawei Mate 10 Pro runs Android 8.0 Oreo, but it features Huawei’s own EMUI Android “skin” or theme. The theme defaults to a standard home screen setting where you swipe left or right to see installed apps. If you’d rather have an app drawer setup, like the Google Pixel 2, you can change the home screen style in the settings. You’ll need to open Settings > Display > Home screen style. Select Drawer style.

How to use your voice to answer calls

Google Assistant isn’t the only thing you can activate with your voice on the Mate Pro 10. You can also set up voice commands on your phone to answer or reject calls. To enable voice commands, you’ll need to go to Settings > Smart assistance > Voice control. Use the toggle to turn on the Answer with voice control feature.

How to set up PrivateSpace

While many phones offer an option to set up a separate user or guest account, the Mate 10 Pro has a feature called PrivateSpace that allows you to set up an entirely private account. It can even be opened by using a different fingerprint. It’s a great way to set up different spaces for your work and home life, or if you share the phone with more than one person. PrivateSpace is hidden pretty deep in the settings menu. To set it up, go to Settings > Security and privacy > PrivateSpace. Press the login button and set up a new fingerprint for your PrivateSpace screen.

How to save your battery

Even though the Mate 10 Pro has a huge 4,000mAh battery that can last two days, we still recommend charging it every night. If you forget to charge or find yourself running low, the Mate 10 Pro has two battery saving options located in the same place. Power saving mode will extend your battery by limiting the background activity of apps, disables auto-syncing, system sounds, and reduces visual effects to conserve energy.  Ultra power saving mode is much more aggressive, limiting the number of apps you can use, turning off location services and darkening the interface. To turn on these features, open Settings > Battery. You can then select Power saving mode or Ultra power saving mode. 

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