How to watch and what to expect from The Game Awards on December 7

The Geoff Keighley-produced and hosted video game awards show, succinctly titled The Game Awards, has quickly become one of the most recognized and star-studded industry events in its short history. The fourth annual show is set for December 7 at the Microsoft Theater in Los Angeles. Rest assured, though, you don’t have to be in attendance to get in on the action. Here’s how to watch and what to expect from The Game Awards.

How to watch

As we mentioned, The Game Awards have become incredibly popular in a short amount of time, and that’s represented by its streaming options. For the second straight year, Twitter will live-stream the show worldwide. The two-hour awards show kicks off at 5:30 p.m. PT. Alongside the stream, Twitter will have user polls, live comments, and continuous updates. To be a part of the conversation, Twitter will also give users who tweet using the hashtag #TheGameAwards a special event emoji.

Beyond Twitter, the show will also be hosted on other streaming services, including YouTube and Twitch.

What to expect

The Game Awards has 29 different award categories, each with five to six nominees for a grand total of 102 games and people up for awards. Naturally, many will care to see which game takes home “game of the year” honors. In what has easily been one of the best years for games in quite some time, this award is perhaps surprisingly easy to predict. Persona 5, PlayerUnknown’s Battlegrounds, and Horizon Zero Dawn have all proved to critical and commercial hits, but it’s hard to see any of those games besting The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild or Super Mario Odyssey.

You have the power to prove us wrong though, as you can vote for your favorites in each of the award categories via The Game Awards site, through Facebook messenger, and Twitter DMs.

Please, though, vote for Cuphead for “best art direction” and “best score/music.”

In addition to celebrating the best games of the year, also expect some new information for upcoming games. At the 2016 show, legendary game developer Hideo Kojima showed off a new trailer for his mysterious and fascinating upcoming title Death Stranding.

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The $180 Nokia Steel HR hybrid smartwatch is back, but numbers are limited

Remember Withings? The French health and fitness technology company was acquired by Nokia in 2016, and at the beginning of this year the decision was made to get rid of the Withings name in favor of a complete Nokia rebrand. The reason, Nokia said, is that its name is better known around the world. On the list of products it would rebrand was the Withings Steel HR hybrid smartwatch, but the device itself was held back from release after a number failed quality control checks.

Nokia has apparently cured the problems, and the Steel HR with Nokia branding is available for pre-order through Nokia’s own website. It costs $180, or 170 British pounds, but if you want one this year, we suggest you don’t think too long about buying one. Nokia warns the pre-order supplies are limited, without going into detail about how long they’re expected to last, or if any particular models are more plentiful than others.

The Steel HR is the more technically capable sister watch to the Nokia Steel, a rebranded version of the Withings Activité Steel. The primary difference is the inclusion of a heart rate monitor, and an accompanying digital display on the watch face. The heart rate tracker provides continuous monitoring while exercising, and at-a-glance data is shown on the small display. It also shows other fitness-related data, including calories burned and distance traveled, plus certain notifications sent from the Bluetooth-linked smartphone.

All these metrics were previously only visible in the Nokia Health Mate app, which has also been upgraded for use with the Steel HR watch, showing more comprehensive workout data based on your heart rate. In addition to fitness, the Steel HR will track your sleep if you wear it at night, and has a smart alarm to wake you up during a light sleep stage. The internal battery returns 25 days of use before needing a recharge, and the device has water resistance to 50 meters, making it suitable for swimming.

Nokia offers a choice of white and black body colors, and in either 36mm or 40mm watch sizes, plus you can choose between leather, silicone, or woven straps in several colors. If you pre-order now, and are lucky to get one of the first models, it should arrive in December.

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Razer updates its killer BlackWidow keyboard with dust and splash resistance

Razer said on Tuesday, November 14 that it updated its BlackWidow Ultimate mechanical keyboard with resistance to water and dust. Slated to be available worldwide in the fourth quarter of 2017, the new model will join a long line of BlackWidow-branded mechanical keyboards released since 2010. Just in 2016 alone, Razer introduced five versions of its popular keyboard for gamers spanning from a BlackWidow Ultimate update to the BlackWidow X Chroma edition.

“We’ve never stopped making improvements to our gaming keyboards,” says Min-Liang Tan, Razer co-founder and CEO. “The Razer BlackWidow Ultimate is now more durable than ever and our first mechanical keyboard to incorporate water- and dust-resistant features.”

The version slated to arrive this quarter is IP54 rated. The “5” means the keyboard is protected against dust, which in turn indicates that it’s not completely sealed. Simply put, harmful dust particles won’t collect within the device to a point that normal operation is disrupted. Meanwhile, the “4” means the keyboard’s enclosure is protected against splashing water from any direction, but there’s no saving this keyboard if it’s thrown into the toilet or a pool.

Razer didn’t mention any other revisions outside the keyboard’s new IP54 certification. The BlackWidow Ultimate is based on the company’s proprietary mechanical “green” switches designed for gaming, promising up to 80 million key presses versus the 50 million presses seen with competing switches. They’re also designed to provide a tactile “clicky” feedback so you know your key command reached its destination. Each switch consists of a high-quality spring requiring 50G of force to actuate.

For this IP54-rated model, each key is lit with a green LED that is customizable through the company’s Synapse desktop software. Here users can set visual effects for the green backlighting including Wave, Ripple, Reactive, Starlight, and others. If you’re looking for RGB illumination, the BlackWidow X Chroma is Razer’s latest RGB-based keyboard effort, and will likely be followed by an updated IP54-based model sometime in 2018.

In addition to the visual effects, owners can use Razer’s software to record macros on the fly. By hitting the FN and F9 buttons together, you can immediately type the keys you want to record, and then press the FN and F9 buttons together again to stop. After that, press the desired key where the macro will be saved and accessed later.

Here are the full specifications of the BlackWidow Ultimate mechanical keyboard:

Switches:
Razer Green
Switch actuation force:
50g
Switch life:
80 million keystrokes
Backlighting:
Green LED
Ports:
1x Microphone jack
1x Headphone jack
1x USB pass-through
USB polling rate:
1,000Hz
Max simultaneous input support:
10 keys
Connection:
USB braided fiber cable
Dimensions:
7.98 (L) x 6.02 x 2.36 (H) inches
Weight:
0.77 pounds

You can purchase the updated BlackWidow Ultimate mechanical keyboard now through Razer for $110. It will be made available worldwide within the fourth quarter of 2017.

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Spend for both commodities and causes with social impact app Beam

Spending for a commodity doesn’t mean you can’t also spend for a cause. And now, it’s easier than ever to spend for both simultaneously thanks to social impact app Beam. On Wednesday, November 15, the app officially moved out of its beta phase and into the public domain, making its debut as the “first social impact app to turn everyday retail experiences into opportunities for social good.”

Beam seeks to empower users to donate not only their own money, but that of corporations as well. The app shows users partnered retailers in the area (like Dig Inn, Think Coffee, and Pinkberry in New York) supporting relevant causes from education to sustainability to public policy. Every time you visit one of these retailers, you can select an associated nonprofit, and have the company donate directly to that cause.

“We’re living in a very uncertain time, and there’s a huge demand, especially among young people, for more accessible ways to make a tangible difference, and create positive social change,” Beam co-founder Viveka Hulyalkar said​. “By turning routine purchases into a free way for users to impact issues they care about, Beam makes every day more meaningful and rewards brands that give back.”

By leveraging Foursquare’s Pilgrim SDK, Beam sends its users push notifications whenever they pay a visit to a partner brand’s store. Once this notification is opened, users will see four retailer-supported nonprofits, and have the opportunity to select the one that most resonates with them. The partner brand will then make a small donation (somewhere between 5 and 25 cents) to the selected nonprofit. And of course, the more you visit a store, the more of an impact you’ll be able to make.

Supported charities currently include Days for Girls, Hudson Guild, Chef’s Collaborative, Family Farm Disaster Fund (supporting farmers displaced by Hurricane Harvey), and International Rescue Committee (providing resources for refugees), though this list is expected to grow (as are partner retailers). While Beam is only available for iOS for the time being, we imagine that you’ll soon be able to find the social impact app on Android as well. You can download Beam for free from the App Store today.

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Have you disabled Bixby on your Samsung phone?

Bixby’s been out for a few months at this point, and this is how some of our forum users choose to deal with Samsung’s virtual assistant.

If you’re the owner of a Galaxy S8/S8+ or Note 8, you’ve run into Bixby at least once or twice. Between the left-most home screen and dedicated hardware button, Samsung’s want for users to interact with its AI is quite apparent.

Bixby has proven itself to be surprisingly great for certain tasks, but to no one’s surprise, it still falls behind Google Assistant in other areas. Now that Bixby’s been out in the wild for a few months, we wanted to check back in with some of our forum users to see whether or not you’re still using Bixby.

Here’s what you had to say.

tuckertje01
11-13-2017 01:23 PM

“

I have been using Bixby Remapper for a while now, and I love it. I have remapped the button to open gallery instead, but I’m still using Bixby voice commands occasionally.
I also use Button Mapper to have more uses for double click and long press volume up/down buttons. The reason why I chose these apps instead of others like BxActions is that the others require installing using a computer and…

Reply

strikeIII
11-13-2017 03:20 PM

“

Well, I actually never setup Bixby to begin with so it doesn’t even launch at all when I remap it with BxActions. I even have my Bixby home disabled as well.

Reply

Methos1979
11-13-2017 04:40 PM

“

I did it.
It works reliably for me.
I use BK Disabler.
I mapped Google Maps to the button.

Note that I also still have Bixby voice activated and use it for just a couple programmed Voice Commands. Not a big fan of Bixby but there are a couple things it can do that I want it for.

Reply

jeetu4444
11-13-2017 07:01 PM

“

i used bixby button to activate Google assistant

Reply

With all that said, what about you – Are you still using Bixby on your phone?

Join the conversation in the forums!

Deal: HTC Bolt available for just $200 with coupon code (60% off)

HTC’s running a heavy discount on its Bolt handset from last year, and while the savings might be large, you may want to still hold back.

We’re currently in the best time of year for buying new tech thanks to the numerous savings and promotions that are being run in preparation for the holiday season, and one of the latest companies to follow suit with this is HTC. However, the savings being offered are on a phone you might have forgotten about.

The HTC Bolt was released just about a year ago, and it was one of the most peculiar phones of 2016. It featured a great, metal build, respectable cameras, and shipped with Android Nougat. On the other hand, it also came equipped with a heap of Sprint bloatware, lacked a headphone jack, and used a processor from 2015 (the Snapdragon 810 to be exact).

Of all the issues with the HTC Bolt, one of the biggest was with its price of $600. HTC has since lowered that to $500, but if you buy the phone right now and use the coupon code BOLT200 at checkout, you’ll be able to pick it up for just $200.

$200 is a lot more reasonable than $600 or $500, but even so, make sure to shop around a bit before hopping right on this deal. Devices like the Moto G5S Plus can be purchased for as little as $240 right now, and for $40 extra you’re getting a newer processor, dual-cameras, better chance of being updated to Oreo, and compatibility on all major carriers in the U.S.

With that said, if you’re an HTC fanatic and the Bolt sounds like the phone for you, you can check it out at the link below.

See at HTC

Amazon brings Alexa, and Echo speakers, to Canada

The Echo speakers, and Alexa, are coming to Canada at awesome introductory prices.

After what seems like years smuggling grey market Echoes north of the border and using them with U.S. Amazon accounts (what, I never did that!), Canadians can now safely, and properly, use Amazon’s Echo products with an Alexa assistant that’s optimized for our “w-eh” of talking. Sorry.

Starting December 5, but available for pre-order now, Canadians can order the second-generation Echo, Echo Dot, and Echo Plus. While the prices are slightly higher than their U.S. counterparts, due to exchange rates, introductory prices bring them down to a much more enticing level, and should help spur sales.

• Echo: $129.99 ($99.99 right now)
• Echo Plus: $199.99 ($169.99 right now)
• Echo Dot: $69.99 ($49.99 right now)

Canadian developers and media companies have already commmitted to adding Alexa Skills in the coming days, including CBC, TELUS, theScore, TD Bank and more. Existing smart home services like Logitech Harmony and Philips Hue should also work with the Canadian versions of the Echo out of the box.

Amazon also announced that its Prime Music service is now available in Canada. While it’s not the Music Unlimited offering that aims to rival Spotify and Google Play Music, it offers access to 1 million song at no additional cost as long as you’re a Prime member.

Amazon Echo and Echo Plus review (2017)

See at Amazon

Philo live TV streaming service gets you 37 channels for $16/month

As long as you don’t care about sports, Philo just might be the live TV service you’ve been looking for.

Ever since Sling TV was first announced in January of 2015, Internet-based television streaming services have been steadily increasing in popularity. While Sling’s been expanding its features and content library, we’ve also seen competitors in the form of YouTube TV, Hulu Live TV, PlayStation Vue, and DirecTV Now.

To go along with all of the current options out there, we now have a new contender in the form of Philo. Philo was founded by Facebook co-founder Andrew McCollum, and based on your TV-watching habits, it might be the best deal in this industry that we’ve seen yet.

Sports fans need not apply.

If you’re someone that’s a big sports fan, Philo isn’t going to be for you. Unlike all of the other streaming options out there, you won’t find channels for watching any of the games – big or small. Instead, Philo’s main focus is on just about everything else.

Philo has two main plans that you can choose from, with the $16/month option granting you access to 37 channels and the $20/month one bumping the count up to 46. You can check out the full lineup below, but some of the highlights here include AMC, Animal Planet, BBC America, Comedy Central, Discovery, Food Network, HGTV, Nick, Sundance TV, History, TCL, and plenty more. If you upgrade to the 46 channel package, you’ll get access to the likes of Cooking Channel, Discovery Family, Logo, and a few others.

No matter which plan you choose, you can stream in HD quality on up to three different devices at once and have access to a cloud DVR and on-demand titles. There’s currently support for Roku, iOS, Android via the Chrome browser, and streaming on your desktop. A proper Android app will be coming soon, as will additional channels.

I’ve been using Philo for a few hours now, and I’m already impressed. For someone that doesn’t care about sports, only paying $16/month for this variety of channels with support for DVR and on-demand shows is fantastic. Sling TV was previously the cheapest option out there, but trying to match Philo’s offerings with it would cost you around $30 to $35/month.

Philo’s still in its early days and is going up against a lot of stiff competition, but at least in my eyes, the service is already positioned to do exceedingly well.

See at Philo

The Jaybird X2 Bluetooth headphones are down to $45 refurbished

These headphones are great for working out because they’re designed to be sweat-proof and fit securely.

The Jaybird X2 Bluetooth headphones are down to $44.99 with code THRFTR5 at Daily Steals. These headphones are refurbished, but the next best prices on refurbished sets are $55 at TechRabbit and $77 at Amazon.

New versions sell up to $179 in most places.

If you want new you should go with the newer model Jaybird X3, which are down to $100 from a street price of $130.

Features of the X2 include:

• Secure Fit offers hours of no-slip comfort
• Super-Capacity Battery HD Technology for 8 hours of music
• SignalPlus technology keeps your music skip-free
• Full in-line remote control for call management
• Compatible with all Bluetooth enabled devices
• Compact and sweat-proof design

These headphones are covered by a one-year warranty from Jaybird, and Daily Steals has a 30-day return policy.

See at Daily Steals

Design sublime subway lines in Mini Metro [Retro review]

Mini Metro is a sublime subway simulator that you’ll fall in love with!

I’ve only ever ridden the metro a handful of times in my life, and each time in a new city I’m visiting for the first time. This means I’ve spent a considerable time staring at colorful subway maps with subway intersecting at stations across the city. My hometown doesn’t have a public metro so I’ve always appreciated the simplicity and order of a well-designed subway and all the careful planning that must have occurred to design such crucial infrastructure in a sprawling metropolis.

Play Mini Metro for FreeGAMESTASH

Overly sentimental? Perhaps. But those warm fuzzies have only grown stronger after spending time with Mini Metro, a brilliant mobile game that’s part subway simulator and part puzzle game that tasks you with designing and operating your own metro system by draw lines between stations and managing trains.

Just like the maps the game is based on, the design of Mini Metro is clean and simple. You have the option of playing an endless game with a randomly generated map or play with a map based on a real-world city. Whichever you choose, you start out with three stations represented by shapes and three available subway lines. You connect two stations by drawing a line between them. Once the connections are made passengers start queuing up at each station, represented by smaller shapes showing which station they’re trying to get to.

As time progresses in the game, new stations will pop up or change their symbol, forcing you to draw them into an existing subway line or start a new line. Just when you think you’ve got everything running smoothly, a new station may pop up that requires you to completely overhaul a section of your system.

Each phase of the game is played over the course of a week, which is tracked in the top-right corner. At the end of each week, you’re given a new train along with your choice of upgrades which can include more tunnels for crossing waterways, an additional carriage for a train, a new metro line, or expanding the capacity and transfer speed of a station. Which upgrade you choose will depend on your strategy for expansion and your immediate needs for servicing your lines.

The trick is to make sure that your system is efficient enough to get everyone where they need to go. There’s no limit to the number of lines that can intersect at a single station, however, if a station becomes overcrowded for too long it’s game over.

This is one of those games that you can easily fall into a trance while playing, partially due to the subtle soundtrack which is created in-game as your trains travel and new passengers pop up. It’s a really nice touch that rounds out the experience.

There’s a surprising amount of depth to the game, and once you start playing it can be quite hard to stop. It’s a real shame that Mini Metro was largely overlooked by the Android masses. Originally released for iOS, it was nominated for a number of awards, yet one year on from its release for Android and Mini Metro has yet to crack one million downloads. Part of that could be its pricy entry point, but if there was ever a mobile game worth spending $5 on it’s Mini Metro.

It’s a game perfectly designed to play on your daily commute or anytime you need to take a relaxing break from work.

Play: Mini Metro (free) with GameStash

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