Is it a good idea to buy phone insurance?

To insure or not insure.

When buying a new smartphone, most retailers/carriers will give you the option of adding insurance to your new device. Depending on which plan you get and where you’re buying your phone at, this can include protection against theft, breaking your phone, and sometimes priority tech support.

This added coverage can be nice to have, but with deductibles sometimes going up to $199 or more, the extra cost that comes with this peace of mind might not be worth it for everyone.

One member of the Android Central forums recently asked if she should get insurance for her new Galaxy S9, and these are a few of the top responses.

CKwik240
03-05-2018 08:01 PM

“

There are 2 thinks I would consider. First, what is your comfort level with not having insurance? Second, how well do you generally take care of your phones. In my case, I haven’t broken any phones since my first smartphone. So I’m fine with not having insurance. I figure, the money I’ve saved by not having insurance all this time will easily pay for a replacement.

Reply

edubb256
03-05-2018 10:05 PM

“

I’ve never had insurance. I don’t think it makes good financial sense, but if it gives someone peace of mind, or they drop their phones more than usual, it may be worth it to them.

Reply

Beth Hahn
03-06-2018 08:10 AM

“

This phone has me nervous bc of the curved screen but I’ll usually get insurance at least for the first couple months just in case until I get used to the phone and find the proper protection like screen protector and case or I’ll do insurance for like the first 6 months or until I can get the same phone used for about the cost of what fixing them would be after the deductible and fees…I…

Reply

jerrycau123
03-06-2018 09:26 AM

“

I was using an Otterbox symmetry case on my Samsung Galaxy Note 8 and I dropped my phone face down from 4 feet on the cement and damaged my screen!.
Due to the fact that I did not have insurance on my phone, the cost out of pocket is $250.00, (through tmobile).. the average cost for repairs are $350.00!!!!
this is the first time that I have EVER damaged a phone!…I always use the high end…

Reply

Now, we want to hear from you – Do you buy insurance for your phones?

Join the conversation in the forums!

The Morning After: Nintendo Switch gets ‘Super Smash Bros.’

Hey, good morning! You look fabulous.

Get your Friday off to a good start with our Galaxy S9 review, plus all the highlights from last night’s Nintendo Direct stream and a beautiful penguin selfie.

Excellent, not monumentalSamsung Galaxy S9 and S9 Plus review

It’s that time of the year. Samsung’s new flagship phones have arrived: Is there enough to warrant an upgrade or draw you away from your iPhone? Well, improvements to its latest flagship work as promised, but according to Cherlynn Low, they don’t feel like features that you’d miss by not upgrading. Still, thanks to blazing performance, solid cameras and long battery life, the Galaxy S9+ continues to uphold the S series’ reputation for excellence.

Switch gets gamesComing to Nintendo Switch: ‘Super Smash Bros.’, ‘Crash Bandicoot’, ‘Mario Tennis’ and more!

Nintendo’s newest console has managed to sustain critical praise (and success) despite a shortfall in games — at least compared to the home console competition. Its future catalog got a major shot in the arm last night, with broad release dates for Super Smash Bros., Mario Tennis: Aces, Crash Bandicoot Remastered, Octopath Traveler and Okami HD.
Oh, and more games for the 3DS well into 2019 — Warioware is back.

Hyperloop is edging closer to realityFive years in, things are starting to happen.

Plenty has happened in the five years since Elon Musk first published his white paper on a system he called hyperloop. Since releasing that manifesto to the world, hundreds of people and hundreds of millions of dollars have been put to work, all in the service of bringing to life Musk’s retro-futurist dream of a vacuum tube for people. And despite being less than a fever dream half a decade ago, the pace of innovation is notably increasing. 2018 has already included several big announcements regarding the future of mobility.

Giving the Spot personality required a fresh approach.Inside Amazon’s quest to make a different kind of Echo

Of all the devices Amazon announced last fall, the one that got the most attention was the Echo Spot. A smaller, spherical version of the Echo Show, the Spot exuded an adorable style that was distinct from the rest of the Echo lineup. And judging by the reviews it received, it’s clear that the Spot’s form factor helped make it something of a surprise hit. Here’s the behind-the-scenes story of how it came to be.

How to keep tabs on your binge-watching, game marathons and listening parties.The best ways to track your TV, music and reading habits

The death of physical media! Without bookshelves, CD racks and the rest, how do we remember what media we’ve consumed? There are quite a few apps dedicated to showcasing the media experiences we’ve collected. We’ve gathered some of the better ones so you can easily keep track of — and brag about — what you’re watching, listening to, playing and reading in this digital age.

But wait, there’s more…

• It’s Friday, so here’s a beautiful penguin selfie
• All the wild cars and concepts from the Geneva Motor Show
• Snap lays off over 100 employees from its engineering team
• China’s first space station will hit the Earth’s atmosphere soon
• Every PS4 Pro game now supports supersampling for 1080p gamers
• Trump spurns experts for his video game meeting
• ‘Fortnite Battle Royal’ is coming to iOS and Android

The Morning After is a new daily newsletter from Engadget designed to help you fight off FOMO. Who knows what you’ll miss if you don’t Subscribe.

Craving even more? Like us on Facebook or Follow us on Twitter.

Have a suggestion on how we can improve The Morning After? Send us a note.

‘Proton’ battery uses cheap carbon instead of lithium

A big challenge for the EV and renewable energy revolution is that the much-needed batteries are made from lithium, a relatively rare and pricey metal. Rather than focusing on other metals like magnesium, a team of scientists from RMIT University in Melbourne have figured it out to build rechargeable “proton” batteries from abundant carbon and water. If commercialized, the technology could allow for cheaper Powerwall-type home or grid storage to back up solar panels or windmills.

The batteries are a hybrid between a chemical battery and a hydrogen fuel cell. During charging, water is split to produce protons, which then pass through a cell membrane and bond to the carbon electrodes, without producing hydrogen gas. To tap the stored energy, the hydrogen ions are released and lose an electron to re-form the protons. The electrons supply power, while the hydrogen protons combine with oxygen and other electrons to re-form into water.

The big advantage with proton batteries compared to fuel cells is efficiency. The latter must produce hydrogen gas then split it back into protons, which creates losses. But a proton battery never produces hydrogen gas, so the energy efficiency is comparable to lithium-ion batteries. And even though the system is far from optimized, energy density is also comparable to lithium ion, the team said.

The researchers built a small, 1.2 volt battery, so the next step is to scale it up and improve efficiency. “Future work will now focus on further improving performance and energy density through use of atomically-thin layered carbon-based materials such as graphene, with the target of a proton battery that is truly competitive with lithium ion batteries firmly in sight,” said lead researcher Professor John Andrews.

Yes, we know you’ve heard that before, but with enough of these promising battery research projects, we’re bound to find one that actually works, right?

Via: The Guardian

Source: RMIT University

Fortnite Battle Royale for iPhone and iPad Coming Soon

Epic Games has announced that it plans to bring hugely popular multiplayer game Fortnite Battle Royale to iOS devices in the near future.

The acclaimed free-to-play title is coming to both iPhones and iPads and will be the “same 100-player game you know from PlayStation 4, Xbox One, PC, and Mac,” with identical content and regular updates that match the console and PC versions.

In partnership with our friends at Sony, Fortnite Battle Royale will support Cross Play and Cross Progression between PlayStation 4, PC, Mac, iOS and eventually Android. This means players across devices can squad up with friends and play together.

We believe this is the future of games. The same game on all platforms. Console quality graphics and action. Play when you want, where you want.

Starting Monday, March 12, interested gamers can sign up for an iOS Invite Event at the official Fortnite website. Email invites will be sent out to all signees, who will receive an email with a link to download the game from the App Store. People who receive invites from Epic will also get friend invite codes to share with others.

Participation requirements include an internet connection, iOS 11, and at least an iPhone 6S/SE, iPad mini 4, iPad Pro, iPad Air 2, or iPad 2017. Invites operate on a first come, first serve basis, but Epic says it will be adding more players over the coming months.

Tags: Epic Games, Fortnite
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Apple Reportedly Interested in Obama Series if Netflix Fails to Clinch Content Deal With Former President

Netflix is said to be in advanced negotiations with former President Barack Obama and his wife Michelle to produce a series of high-profile shows for the streaming service, with Apple said to be waiting in line if a deal between the two parties falls through.

The New York Times reports that Netflix is offering to pay the Obamas to produce the exclusive content, according to people familiar with the discussions, although it’s unclear how much is on the table given the couple’s lack of experience in the media business.

Image via Getty Images
However, rather than use the shows to respond to President Trump or conservative critics, Obama is reportedly interested in treating them as a platform for topics that dominated his presidency, such as health care, voting rights, immigration, foreign policy, and climate change.

Another program could feature Mrs. Obama on topics, like nutrition, that she championed in the White House. The former president and first lady could also lend their brand — and their endorsement — to documentaries or fictional programming on Netflix that align with their beliefs and values.

Several people familiar with the Netflix discussions said that executives from Apple and Amazon, which have their own streaming services, have also expressed interest in talking with Mr. Obama about content deals.

The New York Times notes that Obama retains close ties to Ted Sarandos, Netflix’s chief content officer. Sarandos is married to Nicole A. Avant, an activist who served as Obama’s ambassador to the Bahamas. Reed Hastings, the chief executive of Netflix, was also close to Obama while he was president and an attendee at state dinners, according to the report.

Apple has been comparatively slow at securing original content for its television offering, but the company now has at least 10 television shows in the early stages of development, including an untitled morning show drama starring Jennifer Aniston and Reese Witherspoon and an “Amazing Stories” reboot from Steven Spielberg.

Other shows on the tech giant’s books include an untitled space drama from Battlestar Galactica creator Ronald D. Moore, a series written by “La La Land” creator Damien Chazelle, a Kristen Wiig comedy series, See, an epic world-building drama, Home, a docuseries focusing on incredible homes, and “Little America,” an anthology series from “The Big Sick” creators Kumail Nanjiani and Emily V. Gordon.

Note: Due to the political nature of the discussion regarding this topic, the discussion thread is located in our Politics, Religion, Social Issues forum. All forum members and site visitors are welcome to read and follow the thread, but posting is limited to forum members with at least 100 posts.

Related Roundup: Apple TVTag: NetflixBuyer’s Guide: Apple TV (Buy Now)
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KGI: Samsung to Cancel Under-Display Fingerprint Sensor Plans for This Year’s Galaxy Note 9

Samsung is unlikely to introduce an under-display fingerprint recognition feature in its 2018 flagship smartphone line-up, according to KGI Securities research analyst Ming-Chi Kuo. Kuo had earlier predicted that the South Korean firm was planning to debut an under-screen fingerprint sensor in its Galaxy Note 9, due for release in the third quarter of this year, but Kuo now believes Samsung will cancel the feature because of technical issues. The following quote is taken from a KGI research note obtained by MacRumors and has been edited for clarity.

While we previously predicted that Samsung’s new flagship Galaxy Note 9, due out in 3Q18, will come equipped with an under-display fingerprint recognition function, we now believe Samsung will cancel this feature on Note 9 because both ultrasonic (provided by Qualcomm) and optical (provided by Samsung LSI, Goodix, Egis, and Synaptics) solutions cannot meet Samsung’s technical requirements.

According to Kuo’s understanding of the technologies involved, under-display fingerprint solutions continue to have many technical issues surrounding the use of screen protectors as well as different environments affecting recognition rates and power consumption.

Previous reports suggested Samsung decided not to include a fingerprint scanner under the display of the recently launched Galaxy S9 and Galaxy S9+ smartphones due to similar technical difficulties. The fingerprint scanner remains positioned on the back of each device, just like the previous Galaxy S8 and Galaxy S8+ models. However, despite the ongoing problems, KGI remains “positive” on the outlook for under-display recognition in OLED panels and sees Samsung leading the way in this regard, although he doesn’t expect mass-market adoption of the technology until the first quarter of 2019 at the earliest.

We recognize that under-display fingerprint recognition is key for full-screen designs, and we don’t think that facial recognition can fully replace fingerprint recognition. For these reasons, we remain positive on this technology over the long term. Also, as under-display fingerprint recognition module has a unit price 4-6 times that of capacitive fingerprint recognition module (or higher), we think that once the former module goes into mass production, the contribution to suppliers’ sales and profits will be significant.

Apple was widely rumored to be attempting to integrate Touch ID under the display on the iPhone X, or even on the side or back of the device, but Apple hardware engineering chief Dan Riccio has suggested it ditched any form of fingerprint scanning after hitting “early line of sight” with the company’s Face ID depth-sensing facial recognition. Indeed, Apple is said to be so confident in Face ID that it is expected to abandon Touch ID in favor of the TrueDepth system on all of its new iPhone and iPad models released in 2018.

Notwithstanding Samsung’s longer-term aims, Kuo believes the launch of iPhone X late last year has tilted general interest in the mobile industry away from under-display fingerprint recognition, and towards camera-based 3D sensing technologies as the ideal user authentication solution. Inquiries by Android smartphone vendors into 3D-sensing technologies are said to have at least tripled since Apple unveiled its TrueDepth camera and Face ID technology.

Kuo went on to say he believes the next two to three years will see shipments of 3D sensor-equipped Android devices to exceed those with under-display fingerprint recognition by a factor of two or three or more. This will be mainly due to 3D-sensing’s wider compatibility with LCD screens than under-display optical fingerprint recognition, which is exclusive to OLED panels.

Related Roundups: iPhone X, 2018 iPhonesTags: Samsung, KGI Securities, Ming-Chi KuoBuyer’s Guide: iPhone X (Buy Now)
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‘Captain Toad: Treasure Tracker’ heads to Nintendo Switch and 3DS

Nintendo is giving you another chance to play Captain Toad: Treasure Tracker if you completely missed it on the Wii U. The gaming giant is releasing the puzzle game for the Switch and the 3DS — it’s even adding new levels and mechanics to amp it up for the new consoles. In the game, you play as Captain Toad in a platformer environment, but instead of being able to jump over and slide under obstacles, you’ll have to create paths for the Captain.

The Switch version has a two-player mode, where you can control the Captain with one Joy-Con while a friend can play assist against enemies with another controller. On the 3DS, the game will have touchscreen controls and 3D visuals. Both will have extra miniature courses based Super Mario Odyssey, where Captain Toad had a cameo, so you’re not missing any content whichever you choose. The game will come out for the Switch and the 3DS on July 13th, the same release date for Square Enix’s new RPG Octopath Traveler.

Source: Nintendo

‘Undertale’ marks the arrival of GameMaker Studio 2 for Switch

During the Nintendo Direct stream we also learned that Undertale (“the friendly RPG where nobody has to die” and one of our favorites from 2015) will come to the Switch “eventually.” While that’s great for fans of the game, it’s also good news for developers and fans of other games built using the same GameMaker Studio 2 platform. If you’re not familiar with the software, it’s similar to other widely-used middleware like Unity, however this one is built for use by people who might not have programming or game creation experience. Other games built using versions of the tool include popular titles like Hyper Light Drifter, Hotline Miami and Spelunky.

Its creator Yoyo Games announced a new deal with Nintendo that will let creators directly export their games to Switch, just like it already does on Windows, Mac OS X, Ubuntu, Android, iOS, FireTV, Android TV, Microsoft UWP, HTML5, PlayStation 4, and Xbox One. GameMaker Studio 2 Nintendo Switch edition is supposed to launch this summer, while Yoyo Games GM James Cox said in a statement “Nintendo has been hugely supportive of bringing independent releases to the Nintendo Switch console, and this partnership will mean even more wonderful games are released on the platform.”

Source: Nintendo (YouTube)

Our ‘Fortnite: Battle Royale’ building tips and tricks will help you survive

If you want to survive until the very end in Fortnite: Battle Royale, you have to make use of buildings. The ability to quickly cobble together walls, floors, rooftops, stairs, and traps differentiate Fortnite from its chief competitor, PlayerUnknown’s Battlegrounds. Making great use of this vital mechanic sets the good Fortnite players apart from those who go down before the storm comes. You would be surprised how many players don’t seem to build at all. Here are some essential tips for building your way to success in the free-to-play Fortnite: Battle Royale on PlayStation 4, Xbox One, and PC.

Swing that pickaxe

Almost everything you see on the battle island is destructible. Trees, rocks, abandoned cars, and even pre-made buildings are fair game. Basically, everything besides the ground can be hacked to bits with your pickaxe. And to build, you must use it. Anytime you are on the move, you should chop the stuff that is around you. When you break something down, it becomes one of three resources that you can use to build with.

• Wood: Trees, boxes, lots of buildings — wood is all around you, the easiest resource to find.
• Stone: Rocks, mainly — you can find rocks near some trees and in less dense parts of the map.
• Metal: Cars, machinery, — shiny metal is easy to spot as it mostly comes from big objects like cars.

Each of the three materials can be used to craft walls, stairs, bridges, etc. While you can make the same structures with each, they don’t come together at identical rates. Wooden structures build the quickest, followed by stone, then metal.

Be careful, though: Swinging your pickaxe makes a lot of noise. Don’t get so caught up in the gathering of resources that you forget to look around for other players.

Creating cover on the fly

Gathering building materials pays off when you need some quick cover while moving about the map. Usually, building on the fly is needed when someone is shooting at you, but you can also use building to your advantage when you’re the aggressor. There are two types of useful covers that you can throw up in a pinch.

First, you can build a simple wall for cover. You will want to use wood since it builds the quickest. From there, you can peek around the corners to try and see where the fire is coming from. You can also add a window to the wall with the edit function (“O” on PS4, “B” on Xbox One, “G” on PC). The wall will be broken into nine blue-lit panels. Press the firing trigger (or key) on any one of the panels (the center panel works best for cover), then press the edit button again to confirm your selection. Alternatively, you can build a door by also highlighting the bottom-center panel.

In this situation, the person firing at you may also give up their position by shooting at the wall itself to try and break it. Since bullets leave tracers in the air, you can identify the origin of the gunfire if you don’t already know it.

If you want a more versatile — albeit risky — cover, build a set of stairs. Defensively, you should really only do this if you know where the fire is coming from, i.e. you can see the player and they are relatively close to you and on the same level. While crouched, you can inch up the ramp, using the stairs for cover. The slightly higher vantage point will give you a bit of an edge. Stairs can be useful for attacking in the open, too. You can set down two or three sets of stairs to catch an unwitting player off guard by spraying bullets from above.

Building to avoid the storm

Building structures can also help you cover crucial ground across Fortnite‘s sprawling, undulating map. When the storm is coming and you have to get into the safe circle, it may feel natural to just hoof it by foot, following the green grass toward safety. But as you find out quickly, the path toward the circle often includes huge changes in elevation that can thwart your progress. Instead of running away from elevation changes to gradually work your way up or down, you can significantly reduce your trip by building. You can build bridges to cross gaps or stairs to scale up and down mountains.

Building to find loot

Inside of attics, on top of seemingly unreachable hills, in the back of garbage trucks — there is loot and treasure to be found that can only be reached by building. If you hear the treasure chest sound and see the glint of a bright light, but not the box, chances are you either have to break down a wall with your pickaxe or build a set of stairs to reach it.

Wait, not yet

In Fortnite, you cannot simply find an inconspicuous hiding spot and stay put throughout the match. The next instance of the storm should always be on your mind when making decisions, including about building. While building quick cover and creating new paths to reach your destination are good uses of your materials, fortresses, meanwhile, are not — at least not at first. It’s a waste of resources to build an elaborate structure when dozens of players still have their lives and there is ground you have to cover. You only end up having to leave your building behind. And excessive building with tons of players still posing a threat can often lead to an unseen attack. Resist the urge to build a cozy fort and keep breaking down materials because you’re going to need them if you make it to the end.

Hunkering down (up)

When the player count is low and the Storm Shield has become teeny tiny, now’s the time to start really using the wealth of materials you have gathered throughout the match. You can use any material to build a simple four-wall structure, but if you have metal or stone, each is more durable than wood. Ideally, you should use stone and metal to build walls.

Here is the thing though: You have to work fast, so you want to build compact structures, preferably ones with some elevation. Use a mix of walls, stairs, and floor pieces to build upward. We found that building a spiraling tower often works well, as it gives you height while maintaining a compact footprint and saving resources. Keep in mind, it’s a risk to go more than a few stories off the ground. If your fort is destroyed, you may not survive the fall. Make sure to build walls in any openings so that you can move freely about your fortress without exposure.

If your fort takes fire, you can repair any piece by highlighting it and pressing down on the right thumbstick on the console or the “F” key on PC.

Knowing when not to build

As mentioned, a surprising number of players never seem to build at all. Perhaps it’s because you have to switch between your weapons and build schematics, and it leaves you momentarily vulnerable. In some situations, though, the non-builders are smart. Any structure built by a player sticks out like a sore thumb next to a pre-made building. If you’re near cover already, such as a building, thick tree, or a group of concealing bushes, you should think twice about building. Even in the endgame, if you can hole up in an already-made fortress, it’s usually a better play than fiddling with your supplies. This way you can keep all your attention on your surroundings, scope out players, and maybe even destroy a feverishly built fortress belonging to someone else.

For more Fortnite: Battle Royale tips, check out our beginner’s guide.

Editors’ Recommendations

• Outlive the other 99 players with our ‘Fortnite’ Battle Royale beginner’s guide
• ’Fortnite’ review
• You can build this industrial clothes rack in a weekend. We’ll show you how
• ‘Darwin Project’ joins the battle royale skirmish on March 9
• Wage war on a budget with 10 fun and free first-person shooters for PC and Mac

NYT: President Obama could be Netflix’s next big signing

Given Netflix’s recent list of talent deals, it’s hard to imagine who they could reach an arrangement with next. According to a report by the New York Times, the streaming service is in “advanced negotiations” with former President Barack Obama and former First Lady Michelle Obama. The exclusive content they’d produce for Netflix could include documentaries or fictional series that “align with their beliefs and values,” or something where Barack would moderate discussions on hot-button topics, or Michelle could focus on something like nutrition. There’s no word on how much the deal would be worth if finalized, but with $8 billion to spend this year there could be plenty of room.

Source: New York Times