Here’s how to buy the brand-new Samsung Galaxy S9 and Galaxy S9 Plus

Julian Chokkattu/Digital Trends

The Samsung Galaxy S9 and Galaxy S9 Plus are finally here, boasting the latest and greatest Qualcomm processor — the Snapdragon 845 — plenty of RAM, and a revamped camera that Samsung hopes will make the Galaxy S9 the phone of choice for photography lovers.

Now that the new phone is here, you might be wondering how you can get your hands on it for yourself. There are plenty of ways to buy the phone — and we’ve done the research on them so that you don’t have to. Whether you want to buy the phone through a carrier or directly from Samsung, here’s how to get your hand on the Samsung Galaxy S9 and Galaxy S9 Plus.

Unlocked

According to Samsung, the Galaxy S9 and Galaxy S9 Plus will be available for pre-order starting on March 2, with full sales beginning on March 16. You’ll be able to get the device unlocked for yourself from a range of stores, including Best Buy, Amazon, Costco, Sam’s Club, Target, and Walmart.

Samsung

If you choose to pick up the Galaxy S9 or S9 Plus from Samsung.com or through the Shop Samsung app, then you can pick up an unlocked version of the Samsung Galaxy S9 for $719.99, or $30 a month for 24 months. The larger S9 Plus will set you back a little more — $839.99, or $35 a month, for 24 months.

If you’re upgrading from an older Galaxy device, then Samsung is also offering a trade-in program that could save you up to $350 on a new Galaxy S9 or S9 Plus. The details of this trade in option are available on Samsung’s site, as is the list of models that can be traded in.

Carriers

AT&T

AT&T has already announced its deals for the Samsung Galaxy S9 and Galaxy S9 Plus. According to the company, the new phones will be available for pre-order starting on March 2, with a full sale starting on March 16. AT&T Next customers will be able to get the standard Galaxy S9 for $26.34 per month for 30 months, while the Galaxy S9 Plus will come in at $30.50 per month for 30 months. That comes out to a total of $790.20 for the standard Galaxy S9, or $915 total for the Galaxy S9 Plus.

AT&T has also announced that its MVNO, Cricket Wireless, will be offering the Galaxy S9 and Galaxy S9 Plus in some select stores, starting on March 16.

Sprint

Like other carriers, Sprint will be offering the Galaxy S9 for pre-order starting on March 2, with full sales beginning March 16. The phones will come at $33 per month for the Galaxy S9 or $38 per month for the S9 Plus on Sprint’s Flex lease program. The carrier is also offering trade-in deals of up to $350 — like other carriers on this list. We don’t have many details about the terms of the trade-in deal, but will update this story when we do.

Sprint says the phone will also be coming to Boost Mobile, and it’ll be available starting on March 16.

Sprint will be sharing more details about its pre-order offers soon, and we’ll update this article when we get that information.

T-Mobile

T-Mobile customers will also be able to get their hands on the Galaxy S9 and Galaxy S9 Plus. The company is offering the phones for pre-order starting at 12:01 a.m. ET on March 2, with full sales starting on March 16 in stores around the U.S. and through the T-Mobile website.

T-Mobile is offering some pretty sweet trade-in deals, too. You’ll be able to get up to a hefty $360 if you trade-in some flagship phones, including the Galaxy S8, Galaxy S8 Plus, iPhone 8, and others. Older phones, including the LG G5, Galaxy S5, and others, will still get up to $200 — which is still not bad at all.

If you’re looking to get your S9 or S9 Plus with the Un-Carrier, then you can choose from the following pricing choices:

Galaxy S9

• $30/month and $0 up-front on EIP
• 32/month and $0 up-front on T-Mobile’s JUMP! On Demand service

Galaxy S9 Plus

• $30/month and $120 up-front on EIP
• $31/month and $120 up-front on T-Mobile’s JUMP! On Demand service

U.S. Cellular

U.S. Cellular will start pre-orders for the Galaxy S9 and S9 Plus on March 2, and will offer both phones in Midnight Black, Coral Blue and Lilac Purple.

Customers purchasing an unlimited data plan and turning in an eligible device can receive up to $350 off their purchase, via monthly bill credit — and can also get up to $250 off when purchasing an unlimited data plan, even if they aren’t trading in a device.

Verizon

Verizon is offering the Samsung Galaxy S9 and Galaxy S9 Plus for pre-order starting on March 2, with full sales to begin on March 16. The Galaxy S9 costs$33.33 per month for 24 months — which equates to $799.92 — and the Galaxy S9 Plus is $38.74 per month for 24 months, for a total of $929.76.

The company also has a hefty six promotional offers running. Here’s the run-down of those promotional offers.

• $350 off the Galaxy S9 or S9 Plus with a qualifying trade-in. For the full trade-in value, you’ll need to trade-in a flagship device like the iPhone X, iPhone 8, Galaxy S8, and so on. Other phones will qualify for a trade-in — but you may not get the full $350.
• Those who start a new line with Verizon and get the Galaxy S9 will receive a $150 prepaid MasterCard card.
• Those that purchase the new phone will get $10 off select Samsung accessories.
• Up to 50 percent off of Samsung tablets, as long as you subscribe to a two-year agreement.
• $100 off a Samsung Gear S3 smartwatch, with a two-year agreement.
• Samsung Fast Charge Power Bundle for $99.99.

Xfinity Mobile

Xfinity Mobile is offering a $250 Visa prepaid card to existing customers who pick from the Lilac Purple, Midnight Black, and Coral Blue models of the S9 and S9 Plus that it has on offer. Additionally, if customers trade in an eligible device as a part of its trade-in scheme, they will also receive an additional $200 credit — giving customers a combined $450 off their phone.

Pre-registration for the S9 and S9 Plus on Xfinity Mobile begins February 26, pre-orders begin March 2, and the devices will officially go on sale March 16.

Updated on February 25: Added details about Sprint offering the Galaxy S9.

Editors’ Recommendations

• Samsung Galaxy S9 hands-on review
• The Samsung Galaxy S9 is finally here: Here’s everything you need to know
• Flagship face-off: Samsung’s Galaxy S9 Plus vs. Google’s Pixel 2 XL
• Samsung Galaxy S9 vs. Apple iPhone X: Heavyweight smartphone clash
• Here are five features we’d like to see on the Samsung Galaxy S9

Nokia 8110 4G hands-on review

Research Center:
Nokia 8110 4G

Ring, ring, ring, ring, ring, ring, ring, banana phone! No, I’m not crazy. That song came to mind as soon as I managed to squeeze through a pack of photographers to spend some time with HMD Global’s banana pho — er, I mean feature phone. If you recall the popular Nokia 8110 that was released back in 1996 (the one Keanu Reeves used in The Matrix), well you’re in for a blast from the past because it’s back with an updated design, 4G connectivity, and far more smarts than any other feature phone.

There are 1.3 billion people in the world that use feature phones — dumb phones that don’t do much else than make calls and send texts — and in less than a year, HMD Global has proclaimed itself the No. 1 manufacturer for these types of phones. That’s largely because it’s licensing the Nokia brand name, which clearly still holds a lot of value to quite a number of people. The Nokia 3310 was the first feature phone HMD revived last year, and now the spotlight falls on the Nokia 8110. But this “dumb” phone isn’t a gimmick, because there’s a lot more to it than meets the eye.

Plastic, banana-like body

The black Nokia 8110 4G is subtle and attractive, but there’s no denying the hypnotic lure of the banana yellow color; it’s a bright yellow that’s not afraid to stand out. Compared to last year’s 3310, the 8110 is a lot bigger, especially when you slide out the cover to reveal the keypad. It’s still compact compared to any modern smartphone, and the curved back easily makes the Nokia 8110 one of the most ergonomic phones, as it fits in the palm of your hand perfectly.

Julian Chokkattu/Digital Trends

Julian Chokkattu/Digital Trends

Julian Chokkattu/Digital Trends

Julian Chokkattu/Digital Trends

It’s made of plastic, and so it feels a little like a toy. The buttons are all clicky enough, though you may need to exert a little extra pressure on the power button on the top right. Sliding the cover down is fun, and we’re sure it will be even more exciting to hang up calls by sliding it back up again.

This dumb phone isn’t a gimmick, because there’s a lot more than meets the eye.

It took a few minutes to get used to the buttons — the end call button is the back button, and you can tap the top left, center, and right keys to navigate different menus and the app drawer. The software was responsive, and we didn’t notice any kind of slowdown. It’s powered by Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 205 processor, which we honestly have never used before, but it feels capable enough for the low-power tasks commanded by the 8110.

The 2.4-inch screen isn’t too sharp, but it’s bright and handily did the job in our quick tests. Don’t expect much at all from the 2-megapixel camera on the back, but it’s there in case you need it. There’s also 4GB of internal storage to store some music and files.

The phone has a 1,500mAh battery, which HMD said offers a standby time of 25 days. That’s a big incentive for these feature phones as secondary devices to your smartphone — especially when traveling.

A.I. and modern apps on a feature phone

What’s unique about the Nokia 8110 4G is how, at launch, you’ll be able to download and use Google Maps, Google Search, and Google Assistant, as well as Facebook and Twitter. The phone doesn’t run Android, but HMD worked with these companies to bring these apps to the phone, and there’s even an app store where you’ll be able to download even more apps.

Julian Chokkattu/Digital Trends

This is the most interesting feature about the phone, but sadly none of the demo units at the press conference had these services installed or available. A representative said they will be available when the phone launches. We can’t wait to see how Google Assistant, an artificially intelligent assistant, works on a feature phone. Snake was installed, and the experience is the same as it was on the Nokia 3310.

You’ll also be able to sync your email, contacts, and calendar through Gmail and Outlook. Since it can use 4G networks, you can also turn the 8110 into a hot spot to provide data for other devices.

Price and availability

The Nokia 8110 4G will only cost 79 euros ($97 U.S.), and it will be available in April 2018. It’s unclear whether it will be available in the U.S., but we expect it to eventually arrive stateside sometime later this year.

We’ll have to wait and see how those smart features perform on this phone, but so far the Nokia 8110 4G may just be the ultimate backup phone to your smartphone.

Nokia 8110 4G Compared To

Samsung Rogue SCH-U960

Samsung Reclaim

LG enV3

Samsung Alias 2 (SCH-U750)

Samsung Magnet (SGH-a257)

Samsung Impression

Sanyo SCP-2700

LG Rumor2

LG Versa

LG Lotus

Samsung Propel (SGH-a767)

Pantech Matrix

Palm Centro

Motorola MOTO Q music 9m

Motorola Q

If you’re using iCloud for photos, you’re doing it wrong. Here’s a better way

The storage capacity available in iCloud is underwhelming to say the least. The service provides a mere 5GB of free space, which doesn’t go far if you intend to back up all of your data, photos, documents, and mail to the cloud. You can pay a small fee to increase the amount of storage available to you — $1 a month nets you 50GB of additional space — but there’s a much better alternative for those willing to part ways with Apple’s apt-titled offering.

While cool on the surface — iCloud allows you to back up and access photos you take on your iPhone across multiple devices — the service’s Photo Library facet ends up eating a ton of your iCloud storage space. Google Photos, on the other hand, allows you to back up unlimited numbers of photos at no extra cost. All you need is a Google account, which you can make for free if you don’t already have one.

Not only is Google Photos free to use, but it allows you to access photos across a wide range of devices, not just Apple ones. Moving all your photos from your smartphone to Google Photos will also free up space on your device, letting you reserve iCloud for your contacts and other info. Google Photos can also be used through iMessage, making it nearly identical to the Apple version.

Getting Google Photos

To start using Google Photos on your iPhone or iPad, first download the app from the App Store. Once installed, launch the app and tap the three horizontal lines in the upper-left corner. Afterward, tap the gear icon, select Back up & sync, and toggle the first slider.

Once done, you will be given the option to select the resolution you want to store your photos at. “High quality” will allow you to store an unlimited number of 16-megapixel photos and 1080p videos. “Original,” or “full resolution,” will retain the original resolution and quality of your photos, but you will only be allowed to store up to 15GB of data before you have to pay to expand your storage.

However, if you are only storing photos you’ve taken on your iPhone, it doesn’t make sense to store them at full resolution. While that might seem like the only way to get high-def images, the high-quality option includes anything up to 16 megapixels in size. The cameras on all new iPhones — including both the iPhone X and the iPhone 8 — can only produce 12-megapixel stills. So unless you’ve already expanded your Google storage or want to store photos from other sources, you can store all of your high-quality photos from your iPhone for free with Google Photos.

Backing up your photos

Once you’ve backed up your first round of photos, you can change the settings in the app to determine how often or under what circumstances you want the app to continue backing up your photos. By default, the app is automatically set up to back up your photos over Wi-Fi, but you can change it to use cellular data as well. Once you’ve uploaded your photos, you can access them in your favorite browser or using the app on another device.

If you’re looking to further distance yourself from Apple’s cloud-based service, you can also turn off the iCloud Photo Library completely. To do so, launch the Settings app on your iPhone or iPad and select iCloud. Then, tap Photos and toggle each slider off.

You can also remove your photos by going to Manage Storage > Photos > Disable & Delete. Read the brief disclaimer, click through, and viola! You can now revert to the free version of iCloud, because you have accessible, free cloud storage!

David Cogen — a regular contributor here at Digital Trends — runs TheUnlockr.com, a popular tech blog that focuses on tech news, tips and tricks, and the latest tech. You can also find him over at Twitter discussing the latest tech trends.

iTunes Store drops support for Windows Vista on May 25th

Ah, 2007: the days when Windows Vista was all the rage (or inducing rage), the Apple TV was brand new and music download stores were the hottest way to get the latest albums. Apple certainly remembers that year… and would like you to move on. The company has posted a support page warning that the iTunes Store will no longer work on Windows XP, Windows Vista and first-generation Apple TVs as of May 25th. iTunes itself will function, but new purchases and re-downloads are off limits. “Security changes” necessitate dropping these older platforms, Apple said.

The writing has been on the wall for a while. iTunes 12 already requires at least Windows 7, and a first-run Apple TV is very limited in what it can do (you aren’t about to watch YouTube or stream Apple Music). However, this is the surest sign yet that Apple wants those with older devices to get with the times. While you’re probably using something considerably newer if you’re reading this, the cutoff might help you nudge a friend who’s still clinging to an ancient PC.

Via: MacRumors

Source: Apple

Apple may launch over-ear headphones without Beats branding

AirPods may be far from the pinnacle of audio quality, but they’re definitely popular — so much so that Apple may be expanding the variety of audio gear it releases under its own brand. KGI analyst Ming-Chi Kuo (who has a generally good track record forecasting Apple gear) claims that Apple is making over-ear headphones under its own name, rather than Beats. Most details aren’t clear, but Apple would reportedly focus on higher-end audio — hopefully, that means balanced sound rather than Beats’ signature tendency to drown you in bass.

While not stated, there’s a good chance these would be wireless (possibly using the AirPods’ rumored wireless chip upgrade) and would rely heavily on Siri voice integration. Kuo doesn’t expect these headphones to ship sooner than the fourth quarter of 2018, but is already naming suppliers (Primax and SZS).

As always, this isn’t a surefire thing — certainly not when a launch is likely several months away. It would make sense for a few reasons, mind you. Besides helping Apple capitalize on the popularity of AirPods, it would make the most out of the firm’s burgeoning audio team. If the HomePod can sound good for the size, why not try that with over-ears? If there’s a complication, it’s that Apple might have to shift Beats’ strategy to give it a clearer reason for existing.

Source: AppleInsider

Huawei MateBook X Pro hands-on review

Research Center:
Huawei MateBook X Pro

Huawei knows smartphones — please see the Huawei Mate 10 Pro for proof — but does it know notebook computers? The MateBook X was a strong showing last year, and now Huawei has announced a successor, the MateBook X Pro — not bad for a company that has only been making PCs for two years. Huawei takes inspiration for the design from its smartphones (and, if we’re all honest, from Apple’s MacBook line as well) by fitting what it’s calling the world’s first FullView screen on the MateBook X Pro.

FullView is Huawei’s term for the almost bezel-less screen technology. The MateBook X Pro’s 13.9-inch screen has 4.4mm bezels around it, giving a 91 percent screen-to-footprint ratio. That’s a significant increase over the 84 percent screen-to-footprint ratio of the MateBook X.

The LPTS display has a 3000 x 2000 pixel resolution, and a wide 178-degree viewing angle. It looked fantastic in our brief test, with video shining through realistically and the Windows 10 operating system appearing pin-sharp. It’s also a touchscreen, a feature missing from the MateBook X.

Andy Boxall/Digital Trends

Andy Boxall/Digital Trends

Andy Boxall/Digital Trends

Andy Boxall/Digital Trends

The lack of screen bezels presented Huawei with a problem: Where should it put the camera? Stop reading for a moment and look at a picture of the MateBook X Pro in thand see if you can spot the lens.

The camera is actually underneath a key in the middle of the function key row. Press the right one and up pops the little camera; a second press hides it again. No more tape over the lens for the paranoid. The placement is unusual, and it does give a slightly strange viewing angle, like when you hold your phone a little too low during a video call.

See if you can spot where Huawei put
the MateBook X
Pro’s camera.

Tapping away on the keyboard was a comfortable experience, as it has a good motion, and we doubt typing for any length of time would become fatiguing. A welcome feature is that the backlit keyboard is spill-proof, so little accidents won’t become expensive accidents. Below the keyboard is a massive, super-precise touchpad, apparently the largest you’ll find on any notebook in the 14-inch category.

The MateBook X Pro in general was comfortable to use, even after just a short while adjusting to it, due to the combination of beautiful screen, large touchpad, and pleasing keyboard.

On either side of the keyboard are four speakers — two at the top for treble, and two below for bass. We listened to a demo video showing off the surround sound capabilities of the notebook — enhanced by Dolby Atmos — and it was very impressive. While the bass response wasn’t that strong, the surround effect was instantly noticeable, and the setup is very loud. Watching movies on the MateBook X Pro will be a pleasure.

Andy Boxall/Digital Trends

Inside the notebook is a 57.4Wh battery ready to deliver an entire day of use, and the USB C charger is pocket-sized for easy use when traveling. It has variable watt and voltage support, so it’ll charge up your phone, tablet, and smartwatch, too.

The combined power button and fingerprint sensor is back on the MateBook X Pro, and it’s faster than the version fitted to the MateBook X, going from cold start to login in 7.8 seconds, or from standby in six seconds. Huawei offers an Intel 8th-generation Core i7 processor with up to 16GB of RAM and a 512GB SSD, combined with a Nvidia GeForce MX150 graphics card with 2GB of RAM. The Thunderbolt 3 port also supports external graphics cards, and will handle anything up to a Nvidia GTX1080 card.

When we saw the
computer, the
company wasn’t
ready to talk
about the cost,
but described the
final prices as,
“disruptive.”

At just 1.33kg in weight, the MateBook X Pro was easy to pick up and carry around, and the body tapers down from 14mm at its thickest point to just 4.9mm. It’s a really slick, minimalist design, and the metal unibody with its sandblasted finish looks good in an all-business way.

We preferred the look of the mystic silver model, as it added a little visual sparkle to the overly stealthy space gray version. Whichever model you choose, the Core i7 or the cheaper Core i5, the port layout is the same, with two USB Cs, a USB A, and a 3.5mm headphone jack.

Huawei’s MateBook X notebook had the power to attract people away from Apple, and the MateBook X Pro is technically even more compelling, but success will come down to price. When we saw the computer, the company wasn’t ready to talk about the cost, but described the final prices as, “disruptive.”

Huawei MateBook X Pro Compared To

Toshiba Satellite P855

Toshiba Satellite P755

Sony Vaio C Series (15.5-inch)

HP Pavilion g6

Lenovo IdeaPad V460

Lenovo IdeaPad U550

Sony Vaio CW Series

Toshiba Satellite M305

Fujitsu LifeBook S6510

Sony VAIO VGN-S480

Panasonic Y2

Gigabyte N512

Compaq Presario R3000

Gateway 200XL

Sony VAIO PCG-Z1AP1

It has all the right specifications, cute little design highlights, and more than enough power for everyone, up to and including gamers. The right boxes have been ticked, and now it’s down to the price to deliver the MateBook X’s strong knockout punch to the competition.

The best ergonomic mouse you can buy

Logitech

Although desktop PCs have a number of advantages over modern, portable computing solution like laptops, tablets, and smartphones, using a mouse for hours every day can have a detrimental effect on your wrist. One of the best ways to alleviate that is to use a mouse that guides it into a more neutral position and offers better support. You need an ergonomic mouse.

But with so many designs out there, all with different features and looks, how do you know which is the best ergonomic mouse for you? Although there will always be personal preference involved with choosing a mouse, if you pick one of our favorites below you’re unlikely to go wrong.

The best

Logitech MX Master 2 ($100)

The true purpose of an ergonomic mouse is to provide comfortable, full-hand support for the user and encourage good forearm posture while providing a solid input option for traditional computing tasks. The MX Master 2 is our favorite of not only all Logitech devices for this purpose but any mouse in general. With an expansive thumb rest and design that cushions and molds to the palm, it’s a supremely comfortable and functional mouse.

The MX Master 2 sports a sensitivity of 4,000 DPI and its wireless battery life of 70 days means you don’t need to continually worry about recharging the battery. With a great blend of features and comfort, it’s a fully-featured ergonomic mousing solution.

Exclusively available for right-hand users, the hand-sculpted design of the MX Master 2 is especially made to keep your wrist in as neutral position as possible in the horizontal orientation. It uses a laser sensor (rather than optical) so can track on any surface, recharges quickly (three minutes gives you a day of juice) and it can be paired over Bluetooth with up to three different devices.

All in all, the Master MX 2 is a well-made wireless mouse, with great support that doesn’t sacrifice traditional mousing functions.

Buy one now from:

Logitech Amazon

The rest

Evoluent VerticalMouse ($85+)

Not every ergonomic mouse actually looks like a mouse. The Evoluent VerticalMouse comes from a line of thinking that the horizontal wrist position is the antithesis of a neutral forearm and wrist position, so it rectifies that by giving you a “VerticalMouse” instead.

Designed to be held with four fingers on one side and the thumb on the other, the VerticalMouse is effectively a traditional mouse mounted on its side. But along with the scroll wheel, left and right-click mouse buttons, there’s an additional center button — or far-right, depending on your perspective.

There is a significant learning curve with the VerticalMouse as it is very unlike most mice you will find elsewhere, but once you get used to it we found it very comfortable and supportive. It’s no good for gaming and with a price tag for the wired version as high as $85, it’s quite pricey for a niche-use mouse. Its DPI of 3,000 is adequate however, and if you’re at all concerned about giving it a try, Evoluent offers a 30-day trial period for new users.

Buy one now from:

Amazon

Microsoft Sculpt ($60)

Taking a much more minimalist approach to ergonomic mouse design, Microsoft’s Sculpt mouse is a rounded blob of a mouse that’s designed to offer solid palm support without any extraneous features. It has a thumb rest to cushion your thumb into the side of the mouse, but it’s bulbous design, as we called it, is intended to teach you to lift your wrist off of your mat or desk when using it — encouraging the use of forearm muscles, rather than wrist tendons, to support your hand.

Effectively, the Sculpt aims to have you do the hard work of supporting your wrist and mousing hand yourself, rather than acting as an overall supportive tool for you.

The Sculpt has the usual pair of left/right-click buttons and a central scroll wheel that can move in four directions. It also has a side-mounted “Windows” button which gives Windows users quick access to the Start menu, and a secretive “back” button hidden near the rear of the mouse for faster browser navigation.

This wireless mouse is powered by just two AA batteries and connects up to your PC using an included 2.4GHz USB dongle.

Buy one now from:

Microsoft Store Amazon

Razer DeathAdder Elite ($70)

Bill Roberson/Digital Trends

Many gaming mice use ambidextrous designs that are more catered to claw or finger-grip mouse styles, but there are a number that also offer good ergonomic support and the Razer DeathAdder Elite is one of them. One of the best mice we have ever reviewed, it offers amazing features for gamers, while still providing decent support for your wrist and hand, no matter you grip style.

With the classic DeathAdder look and feel, this mouse features a subtly shaped body to offer decent wrist support during long gaming sessions. Although it doesn’t have a rest for your thumb, it does have an indentation for you to grip with and there is plenty of shelf space for your fingers on the other side.

By virtue of being a gaming mouse first, this rodent has arguably the best specifications of all of the mice on this list. It sports a true 16,000 DPI optical sensor, with mechanical switches for long-life and support for Razer’s Chroma RGB lighting system. It also supports Razer’s powerful back-end software for key remapping and color customization.

Unlike many of the best ergonomic mice, Razer also produces a left-handed version of its DeathAdder Elite too.

Buy one now from:

Razer Store Amazon

Logitech M570 ($50)

Trackballs aren’t for everyone, but those who like them, really like them. Logitech’s wireless M570 trackball is one of the best, with fantastic wrist and hand support — the fact that it’s a trackball means you won’t be swinging it about across your desk either. Even if you did, you wouldn’t have to worry about wires, as this mouse is entirely untethered from your PC, connecting wirelessly over a miniature 2.4GHz USB adaptor.

With the ball located under your thumb, the M570 keeps your fingers free for use on the traditional left/right-click mouse buttons, as well as two additional back and forward buttons to the left of them, and a traditional scroll wheel. There’s also a battery life indicator for you to keep an eye on, but with as much as 18-months use from a single AA battery, you won’t need to pay much attention to it.

The laser sensor used to track the ball’s movements is adjustable, so you can customize its speed to your liking and if you should need to clean it, the ball pops out easily.

Buy one now from:

Logitech StoreAmazon

Editors’ Recommendations

• The best ergonomic keyboards you can buy
• Best gaming mouse
• The best gaming keyboards you can buy
• Keep your tablet stylish and secure with one of the best iPad Pro 10.5 cases
• 100 awesome Android apps that will transform your tired tablet

What is Thunderbolt? Here’s everything you need to know

Computer peripheral cables are hard enough to keep track of without people throwing around words like “Thunderbolt” and “Type C.” Thunderbolt may be particularly confusing, since this connection technology has gone through several different phases, and is making the jump from Apple to laptops and PCs in general.

But knowing the difference between these different ports is important, especially when you’re thinking about which computer is right for you. These days, don’t be surprised if you look at a new laptop and see nothing but “USB-C” and “Thunderbolt.”

So, what exactly is it? Let’s take a look.

The Thunderbolt 3 of today

Bill Roberson/Digital Trends

Thunderbolt technology has been around for since the late 2000s, but by the time Thunderbolt 3 had shown up in 2016, the times had changed. Specifically, USB-C had emerged as the latest USB standard, an updated and powerful USB cable that could provide up to 15 watts of power for devices (far more than older standards) and up to 100 watts for charging compatible laptops or similar devices. It was a sea change for USB, and clearly the future of many common computer connections.

In response, Thunderbolt’s developers made a very smart decision: Rather than try to face off against USB-C, they joined it. Thunderbolt 3 ditched the old DisplayPort connection base, and switched to a USB-C connection, basically combining the two technologies into one particularly powerful hybrid.

The move to USB-C allowed the Thunderbolt 3 to make the leap from Apple devices to other PCs and laptops, a process that is ongoing but finally possible. The only downside was the issue of compatibility — the new USB connection isn’t compatible with Thunderbolt or Thunderbolt 2 without a pricey adapter.

Here are some things you can do with a USB-C Thunderbolt 3 port today:

• transmit data at a rate of 40 Gbps
• output video to two 4K monitors at 60 Hz
• charge smartphones and most laptops with up to 100 watts of power
• connect to an external GPU (unless it’s been blocked by the manufacturer)

If you’re wondering whether or not your USB-C port is actually Thunderbolt 3, look for that little Thunderbolt symbol nearby, which often differentiates it from a standard USB-C port.

The history of Thunderbolt technology

Thunderbolt technology originally began in the late 2000s as an Intel project called Light Peak, which was intended to add optical data transfer to traditional data transfer used with computer peripherals (essentially, combining wire and fiber optics). However, they soon found that their prototypes with good old copper wiring were already achieving the results Intel wanted, at a much a lower cost.

This new product was then released as Thunderbolt in the early 2010s, at first available only on Apple devices: It was designed to be a particularly powerful and flexible connection. Compared to the (often brand-specific) cables floating around in those days, this was an impressive creation suitable for many purposes. It was particularly promising for designers or engineers who were using laptops but still needed high-powered connections to external storage, high-resolution displays, and similar accessories.

However, technology continued to march on, and before long there was a Thunderbolt 2, and a Thunderbolt 3.

Because the first Thunderbolt release made it out the door with some help from Apple, it was only available for Macs for the first year or so. Intel wanted to bring the connection to PCs, but for now it decided to stick with Apple exclusivity. In addition to limited availability, the other downside to this new tech was the unique Thunderbolt cables were required, and they tended to be expensive — around $50 or so.

Thunderbolt 2 made several major changes to Thunderbolt technology around 2014. Namely, time had provided a more accurate look at how Thunderbolt was being used — and where it should head in the future.

The result was a new type of cable that combined the two 10 GBps bi-directional channels of the first cable, and created a single 20 GBps bi-directional channel that could provide more oomph to peripherals when necessary. These cables quickly showed higher speeds than any other popular peripheral cable of the day. Compatibility with the latest DisplayPort standards came with Thunderbolt 2 as well, since the two technologies still needed to work together.

One of the most important changes, however, was 4K compatibility. While still a little ahead of its time, 4K resolution was on the horizon, and users who depended on Thunderbolt connections were glad to know that the highest resolutions would be supported when necessary. Also important for users, Thunderbolt 2 devices were backwards compatible with the original Thunderbolt-compatible devices, even if you wanted to mix and match different generations. Again, the Thunderbolt would stay exclusive to Apple computers until the move to USB-C with Thunderbolt 3.

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What is FaceTime? Learn all about Apple’s video-calling app

Although the term “face time” can refer to any time spent interacting with a person face-to-face, FaceTime is a video-calling application designed by Apple for use on the iPhone, iPad, and Mac.

Unlike similar services such as Skype or Facebook Messenger, FaceTime exclusively supports one-on-one calling (i.e., no group calling) and can only be used to call someone with a compatible Apple device — it will not work on Windows or Android phones. Despite this, FaceTime is still one of the most popular videotelephony products out there, likely due to the inherent popularity of Apple products.

A brief history of FaceTime

FaceTime was originally introduced by the late Steve Jobs in 2010 at the Apple Worldwide Developers Conference. It was initially only supported on the iPhone 4 (the newest phone at the time), but is now available across a wide range of Apple products. Support for the iPod Touch was announced in September 2010 and for the iPad in March 2011.

Since 2011, FaceTime has officially been out of beta. Due to a provision of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act (2002) which prevents companies from providing an unadvertised new feature of an already-sold product, the beta version of the app can still be found in the App Store. But don’t buy it, because FaceTime is included for free in OS X and iOS.

In 2013, Apple announced a new feature, FaceTime Audio, which allows eligible users to make audio-only calls between Apple devices without using their phone plan’s allotted minutes (it instead requires a Wi-Fi or a data plan).

Due to carrier concern that the app would use too much bandwidth and produce high data bills, FaceTime only worked over Wi-Fi for a time, but as of iOS 6, this restriction was removed. It turns out, using FaceTime over your data network doesn’t actually eat up as much data as you might expect. Depending on the age of your device, a 10-minute FaceTime call will only use about 25-30MB of data. To see how much data a call has cost you, press the i button next to a person’s name in the FaceTime app and it will show you the duration and cost of recent calls.

For a short time, AT&T also restricted the use of FaceTime for customers with unlimited data plans. They were later brought before the FCC on net neutrality violations and the block was withdrawn. FaceTime and FaceTime Audio can now be used over any 3G or 4G networks (assuming you have the data plan to support it).

How to use the app

To use the app, first make sure that it’s installed on your device. While the app comes predownloaded on all new Apple devices, it is not available in Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates, or Pakistan due to restrictions these countries have placed on IP-based communications. As of iOS 10, it is also possible to delete the app from your tablet or phone. However, even if you have deleted the app, you can redownload it for no charge or use FaceTime through the Phone or Contacts apps.

For more information on how to navigate the video-calling app, and what devices are eligible to use it, check out our FaceTime guide.

So, should you use FaceTime?

Honestly, that depends. If you don’t have an Apple device, you won’t be able to use the service — and FaceTime is not a good enough reason to buy an iPhone. Even if you do have an iPhone or iPad, if you want to call people who don’t have Apple products, then FaceTime is no use to you.

That being said, FaceTime is a free app that involves no investment to use other than signing in with your Apple ID. While there are plenty of other options out there, FaceTime is a easy-to-use app that lets you stay in touch with your iPhone and iPad owning friends and family. It could also help limit the strain on your phone plan — and chances are, it’s already on your phone.

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These Merge Cube games work best with a VR headset

Sometimes using two hands is a huge advantage and with some Merge Cube games, it’s essential.

In case you hadn’t heard, the Merge Cube is awesome. The soft foam cube allows for some of the best AR fun you could have for just $15, but there are a couple of stumbling blocks. Several of the apps are problematic when you don’t have A Merge VR headset. If you are trying to hold the Merge Cube and your phone then moving the Cube with any speed or accuracy is almost impossible, it’s big enough to make moving it in one hand a chore and even using the stand is problematic.

Merge was good enough to supply a stand on the edge of the plastic case that the Merge Cube comes with but the issue with any stand is having it in the middle of your arms and having it lower in your eye line making it uncomfortable to use over long periods. We want to be able to use these apps for long enough to actually enjoy them and it seems that using the Merge VR headset is the best way to do that.

What’s so special about Merge VR?

Essentially the Merge VR is a Google Cardboard based VR headset. What sets it aside from most others is the material it’s made of and it’s ability to be used for Augmented Reality as well as normal Virtual Reality. Made from the same soft rubber as the Merge Cube, the Merge VR fits your phone very tightly in the slot and makes it the most secure headset I have seen.

Parents letting children use this headset can feel safe knowing that even if it falls, your phone will most likely survive. The Merge VR also comes with a helpful removable tab that allows you to use your phone camera to play AR games, specifically for the Merge Cube apps.

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So what Cube apps work best with the Merge VR?

Here is some of our favorite apps and games that work best with the Merge VR headset. Please note, they can still be played without the headset but they work much better with one.

Tiltball

Tiltball was one of the first games released from Merge and immediately shows the need for two-handed play. The game is simple, like the old 2D version that came with every HTC phone in days of yore, Tiltball is a maze game designed with a steady hand in mind. You must navigate your little ball through a maze over all 6 sides of your Cube, making sure not to let it fall off the edge to fast or through one of the gaps in the wall.

The Merge VR headset is almost essential to play Tiltball at the harder levels. Having two hands to manipulate the Cube means you can use fine motor cntrol to guide the ball in way thats just possible one handed, or even with a stand stuck between your arms. You can also use the Merge VR for a much more natual feeling movement around the cube and even close up if you need to, it really does make a difference.

CyberCube

CyberCube is a “Simon Says” style memory game where you have to match the sides of the Merge Cube with three sides displayed at the top of the screen. The added difficulty comes from the “virus” that is spreading over the screen making you time short and you vision narrow. You need to find all three sides before the virus covers your view but each level the virus gets quicker!

Using the Merge VR headset makes this far easier, and allows you to complete more levels. Having two hands ito spin the cube makes things much easier while having the symbols you need easily visible makes checking you are doing it right a breeze. Most of the games that require the Merge VR are in this similar vein, when trying to puzzles two hands always seems to be better than one!

Snake Attack

Cashing in on our need for nostalgia, Snake Attack is a suped up version of the game we loved to hate on the Nokias of old. Using the Merge Cube to create a massive, 6 sided Snake maze, this game is exponentially more difficult than the original, especially when you get to the later parts of the game and the snake is taking up entire sides of the Cube!

It stands to reason that not having to worry about holding the phone and trying to chase the snake would be better for this game. The Merge VR allows you to twist, turn and jump in frustration without fear of your snake eating itself.

57° North

57° North is a thing of beauty. It isn’t even a game really, more an interactive story designed to be used on the Merge cube. The beautiful narrative and the fantastic artwork make it well worth buying. It is currently one of my favorite apps on the Merge Cube and you can find my full review here.

What makes this so much nicer in the Merge headset is freedom. With the headset on you are free to bring the cube close to you to see the visuals and, by attaching a set of headphones, you can fill your ears with the voice of soundtrack to this beautiful app. did I mention how much I like 57° North? because I really do.

Is the Merge VR worth it?

It really is. The Merge VR and the Merge Cube go so well together that a lot of the game designers clearly had their combination in mind. While some of the apps for the Merge Cube use a screen tap to generate interactions this actually reduces the helpfulness of the headset, having to lift your hand to press the button, thereby taking it away from the cube, does make things a little less helpful.

Have you seen any great games? What do you think of the Merge Cube and the Merge VR? Let us know in the comments!