Need a good laugh? Try these eight funny apps!

People need to laugh more often these days. With so much going on around us, it’s sometimes tempting to descend into hopelessness.

To avoid that, make laughter a daily priority. Many studies have shown that using your funny bone brings about some serious health benefits. You know that too because laughing makes you feel better and you can actually feel the benefits.

So you need to giggle, chortle, tee-hee or chuckle every day. And to do that you don’t even need to have a funny friend around at all times. Just take out your Android phone and download some apps. Don’t know where to start?

We’ve assembled a list of some of the funniest apps for when you need a good laugh to lighten up your day.

Imgur

What it is:

A simple and fun way to discover and enjoy the magic of the Internet. Browse through thousands of memes, but also learn something new every day about your favorite topics.

Why you should try it:

• Think of Imgur as the Instagram of funny pictures and memes. The app offers quick access to card-based galleries that streamline the site’s gigantic library of images into more accessible categories.
• Users can get involved in the site’s community and interact with the funniest commenters. Who knows, you might even stumble upon love.
• The app is updated constantly with fresh batches of posts that are guaranteed to make you smile at any hour of day or night.

Install Imgur

Cracked Reader Lite

What it is:

Cracked.com is the go-to-place if you want to learn new and intriguing semi-verifiable facts, which are delivered in a satirical but informative way. Cracked Reader Lite brings all the fun to your Android handset.

Why you should try it:

• The app brings you all the mind-blowing “facts” expertly blended with pop culture analysis and fun info-graphics at your fingertips
• It features an easy to navigate interface and a fast loading feed featuring the latest content.
• Quickly find articles that interest you by choosing from the many categories including Music & TV, Tech or Video Games.

Install Cracked Reader Lite

iFunny

What it is:

iFunny is a community of over 10M+ users who love to laugh. The app gives access to the latest memes and videos (which were added by others), but you can also upload your own creations.

Why you should try it:

• Stuck on a long and boring train ride with no one to talk to? Take out your phone and immerse yourself in the iFunny sea of memes and videos. It’s guaranteed to keep you entertained until you reach your destination.
• The app lets users engage with members of the community and make new friends who appreciate your kind of humor.
• Bonus: iFunny users are said to be 146% happier than baby koalas!!!

Install iFunny

Voice Changer

What it is:

The app does what its name suggests: it changes your voice by applying various cool effects. It also allows you to share your creation with friends and have a good laugh.

Why you should try it:

• Voice Changer allows users to change their voice and have a blast hearing the results. Ever wondered what you would sound like if you were a Dragon, Cyborg or even Killer? Now you can find out.
• Users can also create an image accompanied by sound or create voice from text.
• The app lets you save the recording and then set it as ringtone or notification sound.

Install Voice Changer

Androidify

What it is:

If you’re one of the biggest Android fans out there, Androidify is the app for you, as it  allows you to create your Android lookalike.

Why you should try it:

• Because it’s fun to create avatars, and especially Android avatars. Provided you’re an Android fan, of course.
• The app lets you generate and share animated Android characters as emoticons, animated GIFs, and pictures over texts, posts or chats.
• You can submit your creations on Androidify.com, so your avatar can hang with the other cool Android avatars.

Install Androidify

BuzzFeed

What it is:

Amuse yourself by taking a few chill quizzes on BuzzFeed. The app also allows you to discover more about your personality, while also serving up the latest news.

Why you should try it:

• BuzzFeed lightens up your mood by offering a great mix of trending articles, quizzes, news and funny videos you can watch on your Android phone.
• Use the Trending section to be up to date with the posts that are on the verge to go viral.
• Don’t have time to read/watch something now? No worries you can bookmark the post now and come back to it later. You can also sync them to all your devices.

Install BuzzFeed

Comedy Central

What it is:

Comedy Central gives you access to full episodes of your favorite shows from the network on your Android smartphone or tablet.

Why you should try it:

• Provides relief from the stress of the modern world by allowing you watch a funny show or two. Full episodes from Comedy Central TV shows are available for you to take advantage of.
• Various categories available for you to browse through including Drunk History, Unsend, Nine-to-Five Comedians or Hart of the City.
• Sign with your cable provider and you’ll be allowed to unlock even more episodes, all for your pleasure.

Install Comedy Central

Fu** Weather

What it is:

This funny weather app puts a smile regardless of the weather conditions outside, while delivering legit information.

Why you should try it:

• It’s winter here in the Northern Hemisphere, so most people are quite reluctant to leave their warm house behind in the morning. This app delivers the most hilariously obscene weather report on your Android device, so you can get a boost of positive energy before going out into the (frozen) world.
• Despite its amusing component, the app actually offers accurate weather information. It delivers hourly and weekly reports.
• The app also includes weather maps (radar, satellite, temperature, humidity, wind), as well as home screen widgets and optional weather notifications.

Install Fu** Weather

Have you tried any of these apps? If you haven’t so far, which one would you download first? Let us know in the comment section below.

PureVPN review

PureVPN is another well known VPN service that often finds itself on many best lists due to decent long-term pricing packages and plenty of useful features. How does it perform in the real world, though? Does it stack up well against the competition? Let’s find out!

See also:

• Best VPN apps
• Best VPNs for China

Getting started

Creating an account

To get started with PureVPN, you will need to create an account by providing your name and email address. The email address isn’t required to log in to the PureVPN apps, and you don’t have to set a password.

Unlike other VPN services, what PureVPN does is send you an email with a username and password that you then use to sign in. This can be a little confusing if you wanted to use your email address or setting up your own username and password to sign in to a service. I also couldn’t find an option to change to username or password, so you’ll have to make sure the information is easily available to you.

Payment and pricing

PureVPN pricing plans start at $10.95 per month with a monthly billing cycle, which is certainly at the higher end of the price spectrum for paid VPN services. Long term plans  are heavily discounted, though, so that is definitely the way to go.

The annual plan is priced at $59 billed yearly ($4.91 per month), while the 2-year plan is priced at just $69 ($2.87 per month). When considering the long term plans, PureVPN actually becomes one of the cheaper VPN options around.

There is no trial period available, but PureVPN provides a 7-day money back guarantee in case you are unhappy with the service. However, there is an odd catch here worth noting. You are only eligible to get a refund if you’ve used less than 3 GB of data or fewer than 100 sessions. This is buried in the terms of service and you’ll have to dig to find it, which isn’t a great look.

You don’t have the option to directly pay with a debit or credit card and need to use Paypal instead. A slew of other payment options are available as well, including multiple cryptocurrencies, PaymentWalls, and regional wallets. PureVPN also lets you pay using gift cards from a variety of stores like Best Buy, Starbucks, Sears, Walmart, JC Penney, and more. This is definitely an odd option, but if you were wondering what else you can use that Lowe’s gift card for, this is it.

Sign up for PureVPN now!

Installation

Easy to download and install applications are available for Windows, iOS, Mac, and Android, and browser extensions are also available for Chrome and Firefox. PureVPN is also compatible with streaming devices like Android TVs, the Amazon Firestick, and Kodi boxes, and useful installation guides are available to set up PureVPN directly on your Wi-Fi router.

You can find the full list of compatible devices and available installation guides here. The device list isn’t as comprehensive as the other VPNs I’ve tested, but the mainstream devices and OS’ are covered. In this review, we will be taking a detailed look at the Windows and Android applications.

Setup and settings

Windows

Unlike the other VPN services where you are greeted with a world map, server lists, or a large “Connect now” button when you log in, PureVPN does things quite differently.

You will first have to select a “mode” to get started. These modes include Stream, Internet Freedom, Security/Privacy, File Sharing, and Dedicated IP (which requires an add-on service). You select the mode you want based on how you want to use the VPN. The mode can always be changed in the Settings menu later on.

Every mode brings up a slightly different dashboard and options, so here’s a quick breakdown.

• Stream – As the name suggests, this is the mode you use if you are looking to stream content online. The dashboard includes a list of countries and cities you can connect to, sorted by ping. This option is ideal for circumventing geolocation restrictions on various streaming apps, and PureVPN makes it very easy. All you have to do is switch over to the “Purpose” tab, and here you will see a list of choices like Netflix US, BBC iPlayer, Hulu, HBO Now, CW TV, ABC TV, and a whole lot more. Select a streaming service and the app automatically chooses the best server for you.
• Internet Freedom – The Internet Freedom dashboard is largely similar to the Stream section. However, the purpose tab has additional options like VoIP, online gaming, Social Media, and more.
• Security/Privacy – This brings up the standard list of countries and cities to which you can connect, with the server locations sorted based on ping. There is no purpose tab available. You get additional security features available to you here by tapping on “Ozone,” where you will see options like anti-virus, intruder detection and protection, as well as URL, app, and content filtering.
• File sharing – No purpose tab is available here either, but the list of server locations is filtered to show only those best suited for P2P file sharing. Additional settings are available under “P2P protection,” that include virus and malware protection and content filtering.

Despite the various available user-friendly modes, the server list is actually pretty standard — unless you are using this VPN for something specific like P2P or streaming. You will quickly figure out which servers are best for you, and can then save them as your favorites.

Clicking on the gear icon at the top right corner opens the Preferences page. You can change the mode here, set up app and protocol settings, select advanced security features like the Internet Kill Switch, VPN Hotspot, and Split Tunneling (more on these later). You can also send a support ticket from the Preferences menu.

Android

The PureVPN Android app can be downloaded from the Google Play Store here. The Android app is basically an easier to use version of the Windows app. It starts with the same “modes” page. Once you select one, you can tap the large “Connect” button and the app will automatically choose the best server for you.

If you are looking for a specific location, you can switch over to the Countries or Cities tabs. Like the Windows app, modes like Stream and Internet Freedom have an additional purposes tab as well. The Preferences menu — called settings in the Android app — is also similar, offering the same advanced security features and options.

Ease of use

PureVPN completely takes the guesswork out of server selection and finding the best options for you, which is great for the first-time user. All you need to do is select the mode you want, and you can either connect to the servers closest to you or find something specific via the purposes tab.

The Settings or Preferences menu is simple, and the various features come with small descriptions to make them easier to understand. Both the Windows and Android apps offer the same settings, features, and connectivity options, so there isn’t a learning curve when switching between them.

Security and privacy

PureVPN is based in Hong Kong which has no data retention laws. However, Hong Kong’s close proximity and affiliation with China may prove problematic, given China’s massive crackdown on VPN services and their use.

On paper, PureVPN checks all the right boxes for security and privacy features. It’s got advanced features like antivirus, malware protection, intruder detection and protection, Internet Kill Switch (that turns off internet connectivity of the VPN drops), VPN Hotspot (to provide a safe and secure connection to multiple devices), and more.

PureVPN came under fire after it provided the FBI with connection logs linked to a cyberstalking case in Boston in October last year. Admittedly it was for a good cause and in keeping in with their Privacy Policy, but the apparent lack of transparency may be worrying for some. This recent controversy led PureVPN to change the language from the promised “zero logging policy” to “no browsing logs.”

I tested for IP leaks, WebRTC detection, and DNS leaks using ipleak.net and found no issues. I ran the test multiple times while working on this review because there have been some reports from other users about IP and DNS leaks. I can’t say whether PureVPN fixed this issue since the reports surfaced last year or I was just lucky. Still, considering VPNs are supposed to be about providing privacy… PureVPN is a service we’d think very carefully about using, especially if your use case might fall into gray areas in your region. 

Speed

To test the speed, I used the Ookla Speed Test. As PureVPN does things somewhat differently, I didn’t use my standard list of servers around the world like the U.S., Australia, U.K., Germany, and Singapore. Instead, I tested the best servers for each available mode and specific purposes.

Original speed – Bangalore, India

For the Stream mode, I connected to the best servers for accessing the US Netflix catalog, BBC iPlayer (U.K. server), and Hulu (Singapore server). The speed was definitely good enough for me to comfortably stream shows and movies on these services. However, none were as fast as what I got from some of the other VPN services I’ve reviewed, like ExpressVPN.

The Internet Freedom and Security/Privacy modes have the same list of servers. Internet Freedom lets you pick a specific purpose, like VoIP or Internet gaming, but the fastest servers in both cases were identical. So in this section, I also tested some servers far away from me like in Australia and Brazil to see how the speed holds up. Finally, I tested the File Sharing mode by connecting to the top P2P friendly server on the list based on ping.

The speed test results are above average. These aren’t the fastest speeds or lowest ping times I’ve seen, but they’re definitely not bad. The modes and purposes are really helpful when you want to do something specific. They’re definitely big positives for first-time users.

Key features

• Allows up to five concurrent connections, which is more than most.
• Zero activity logging, but connections are logged.
• Over 750 server locations around the world.
• Torrenting works fine and it is easy to find the right server to use for this purpose. Remember to respect your country’s copyright laws. We do not condone or encourage any illegal activities. 
• You can unblock or circumvent geolocation restrictions for various streaming websites.
• Lots of security features like Internet Kill Switch, VPN Hotspot, Split Tunneling, and more.
• 24/7 customer service available.
• Comparatively expensive, unless you opt for long-term annual or two-year plans.

PureVPN – should you get it?

Honestly, that’s a hard question. And for many, no might be the best response. 

PureVPN is a fantastic VPN service on paper. The long term subscription plans make it cheaper than most. It’s got a a host of basic and advanced security features.  The apps are very easy to use and ideal for a first time VPN user. The speeds are just average, but it is definitely fast enough to do whatever you need.

However, the company’s previous lack of transparency is a significant concern. The connection logging may be a problem for some. The odd caveats of the money-back guarantee, which are hard to find in the first place, will raise some eyebrows. I didn’t find any issues with IP leaks during my testing, but there have too many reports to entirely ignore.

PureVPN does a lot of things right. More transparency would go a long way in making it one of the best options out there. Until then, this isn’t the easiest VPN service to recommend. There are other options out there with which consumers will definitely be more comfortable.

Like what you see and aren’t put off by some of the concerns highlighted above? You can sign up for PureVPN here. Not impressed? By sure to check out ExpressVPN, NordVPN, or IPVanish. We’ll also be bringing you even more quick review looks at some of the best VPNs in the weeks and months to come.

Skagen’s new smartwatch is made of titanium, and it’s lighter than air

Skagen, the popular Danish brand known for its minimalist watch designs, will launch a new hybrid watch later this year made from titanium, and we’ve tried it on. Trust us, it’s lighter than air, and one of the most comfortable watches we’ve worn in a while. It’s called the Holst, and while it’s based on an existing mechanical timepiece from Skagen, it’s the first time the Fossil Group has used titanium to make a connected watch.

There are two models, and we were instantly drawn to the version with a titanium strap, over the titanium bodied Holst with a leather strap. The titanium link strap matches the brushed metal finish of this $195 watch, and comes in a subtle muted grey. The moment you pick it up, its incredible lightness feels almost unreal. How light? It feels like its made of paper. Really. Titanium is a strong material, so despite its lightweight nature, the Holst should be very durable.

Skagen has worked hard to get the titanium link strap right too. Anyone with hairs on their arm will know the pain a metal link bracelet can cause; but using a special design, Skagen said it has lessened the chances of hair clipping happening here. When we put the watch on, we didn’t experience any pain or discomfort; it felt smooth and supple. The links are also quite widely spaced, with rounded edges, which adds to the comfort. It’s attached to curved lugs that spill over the case itself, rather than blend into it. It’s an unusual, eye-catching look.

The $175 Holst watch with the leather strap is slightly heavier, but it’s still noticeably lighter than any other hybrid smartwatch we’ve worn. We also love the blue and brown color combination. The face has the same minimalist design, and both watches share the same functionality too. This means notifications from your phone, activity and sleep tracking, buttons to quickly activate set features on your device including a remote shutter release, and music controls.

Continuing this commitment to enhance comfort, we also saw a new version of the Signatur T-Bar hybrid watch with a new strap, which Skagen referred to as silver silk mesh. Perhaps you’ve worn a mesh strap before, like Apple’s Milanese Loop strap. This has a similar design, but it really has earned the silk name, because it’s incredibly soft and smooth. You can see the beautiful sheen glinting in our photos, and it feels exactly like it looks. Skagen will match the silver silk mesh strap with a gold body, and has set the price at $195.

The Holst and Signatur T-Bar hybrid watches are part of Skagen’s spring and summer line-up, and will be available in the near future.

Editors’ Recommendations

• The best, most stylish smartwatch to buy for him this Valentine’s Day
• Need a Valentine’s Day gift for her? Here are the best, most stylish smartwatches
• Skagen’s first touchscreen smartwatch is now available for purchase
• Skagen Falster hands-on review
• The Misfit Path is Misfit’s smallest hybrid smartwatch yet

Pay and get paid instantly with Google Assistant’s new command

Ever had to go through the rigmarole of exchanging bank details to send or receive a payment to your friends? That could soon be a thing of the past, as Google just introduced a new command to Google Assistant on Android and iOS devices that allows users to send or request money from friends or family.

The system works in tandem with the recently renamed Google Pay app, and is completely free to use. To send someone money, make sure your Google Assistant is set up and ready to go, and say “OK Google, send Simon $20 for the tickets,” or “OK Google, request $15 from Andy for lunch today” to request money. If you haven’t set up your Google Pay account, then you’ll be walked through the setup process the first time you use the command.

Your recipient will receive the request via text message, email, or Google Pay app notification, and they won’t need a Google Pay account to complete the transaction. The funds will be transferred to the target account instantly, just what you need when you need to pay a friend quickly for cinema tickets, or those cocktails you splashed out on together last night.

The update should be available from now for most U.S. users of Google Assistant on iOS and Android — so make sure that your app is fully updated before attempting to use it. Google has promised that an update will be rolling out over the coming months for voice-activated speakers.

This is the latest in a long line of updates for Google’s Assistant app as Google attempts to make the Assistant your first stop for information, and the easiest way to complete simple tasks. We recently saw the Assistant come to iOS tablets, and Google is working hard to bind the Assistant’s software even closer to manufacturer’s hardware. It’s also brought the Assistant to hundreds of different languages, with plans to introduce it to 30 more by the end of this year — with Google hoping to cover 95 percent of all Android users.

While voice-activated payment will surely ruffle some feathers in terms of security, having the ability to quickly and easily pay friends and family for the little payments in life should be a tempting ability for many people — and will hopefully save a few personal relationships along the way.

Editors’ Recommendations

• Sending money? Here are the best apps for that
• Google merges Android Pay and Google Wallet into Google Pay
• Google Pay: Everything you need to know
• How to use Apple Pay Cash to send and receive money
• Your life on one drive? Samsung debuts 30TB solid state hard drive

Amazon dreams up a drone that will understand your hand signals

Amazon was just issued a patent for a UAV that can interpret gesture and vocal commands, a device that could in theory be used to deliver packages. First spotted by GeekWire, the patent describes a drone-like device outfitted with various sensors, cameras and other equipment that could recognize gestures such as a person waving it towards them or someone shooing it away. In some very entertaining illustrations, the patent shows the UAV approaching a human who’s waving at it wildly.

This isn’t the only device that incorporates human gesture as a control mechanism. DJI’s Spark drone can be directed with arm movement and a recent Samsung patent shows a drone that can track users’ eyes, heads and hands and can be controlled through gesture.

Amazon’s patent says the UAV could be loaded up with light sensors and cameras, auditory sensors and output devices like speakers or a laser projector. Of course, as is always the case with these things, there’s no guarantee this device will ever see the light of day. There are plenty of patent designs that have never come to fruition. Some other recent Amazon patents include a mirror that can virtually dress you and a wristband that tracks warehouse workers’ hand movements.

Via: The Verge

Source: USPTO

Google’s Change the Game wants to empower young women to design games

Google’s Change the Game initiative wants to empower teenage girls to design games of their own. If they do, that could end up being one of the five finalists to get an all-expense paid trip to Los Angeles, where they will get a tour of Google’s L.A. campus, a scholarship to attend the Girls Make Games Summer Camp, and more. Not only that, but the winner could also share their vision for the future of gaming for a chance to win a $10,000 college scholarship and a $15,000 scholarship for their school’s technology program.

The new competition was launched in partnership with Girls Make Games, which is aimed at empowering female developers for all platforms, and the Entertainment Software Association Foundation, which support’s the STEM program and encourages kids and young adults to use apply STEM concept to real-life scenarios.

Change the Game was first launched last year in an effort to shine a light on the underrepresentation of women in mobile gaming. According to the company, 43 percent of women in the U.S. play mobile games on their phones — while only 38 percent of men do. Despite that, only around 23 percent of game developers are women, and as a result, only around 30 percent of female gamers feel like games are made for them.

“Our mission is to make mobile gaming truly for everyone by celebrating and empowering women as players and creators. To do this, we’re committed to improving gender diversity in three areas of the mobile gaming world,” says the company on the Change the Game website.

The competition comes only a few weeks after Google’s Change the Game initiative highlighted female developers in celebration of International Women’s Day. In particular, the company highlighted games like 80 Days, Race for the Galaxy, and more. It also pushed other apps that were developed by women, including the likes of Canva, a graphic design app, and CastBox, which is a podcast curation app.

Hopefully, Google’s new competition will help not only empower female developers but specifically empower young female developers — which could go on to help contribute to a more inclusive gaming industry that represents all different kinds of people.

Editors’ Recommendations

• Google is celebrating female developers by highlighting their apps
• Best gaming mouse
• Get your gaming on the go with the 25 best Android games
• Shadow is a cloud gaming service that wants to make your gaming PC obsolete
• Get your game on with the 8 best controllers for Android games

Google’s Files Go app finally gets a search bar, Google Photos integration

Google has been releasing all kinds of Go-branded apps aimed at running easily on low-power devices or devices with limited internet connectivity — and now it seems like the company is starting to update some of those apps with more features. First on the list? Files Go, Google’s file-management app that supports cool features like peer-to-peer transfers.

Among the new features in the latest update are things like Google Photos integration and on-device search, two features that were surprisingly missing from the original app.

Most surprising, given Google’s background, is the fact that the app initially lacked decent search functionality. Thankfully, that’s now changed — the updated app will allow users to search for files via a prominently placed search bar at the top of the app’s main screen. The search bar offers pretty comprehensive functionality — you’ll get search history, autocomplete, and so on. You’ll also be able to filter different files.

Also handy is the fact that the app will now work with Google Photos, and it will be able to determine which photos have already been backed up to the cloud and help you delete those photos from your device — freeing up space that could be used for something else.

Files Go’s notifications will also now be “more relevant,” and will show where your duplicate files are before removing them.

Files Go is unique among Go-branded apps because its one of the few apps that’s available to everyone — regardless of whether their phone runs the Android Go lightweight operating system or not. Most of the Go apps are limited to Android Go phones, and there are only a few Android Go phones currently out there. Available apps include Gmail Go, YouTube Go, Maps Go, and Google Assistant Go, among others. The apps all run on Android Go, a lightweight version of Android built specifically for phones that have 1GB or less of RAM and/or cheaper processors.

The new version of Files Go is rolling out to users now. If you don’t already have the app on your phone, you can head to the Google Play Store to download it for yourself.

Editors’ Recommendations

• Google merges Android Pay and Google Wallet into Google Pay
• The Nest Cam IQ will soon transform into a Google Assistant
• Google introduces Chinese, Korean, and 20 other languages to Gboard
• Google rolls out new update for its Phone app, introduces chat heads feature
• Become a master caster with these Google Chromecast tips and tricks

Grab yourself a new Amazon Fire Tablet for up to $30 off right now

Amazon says thanks. You save. It’s a good day.

Amazon’s most affordable tablet, the Fire 7, is down to $39.99 from its usual $49.99 price. If 7 inches isn’t quite enough for you, you can step up to the 8-inch version for $59.99, which is $20 lower than its regular price. The largest Fire tablet, the HD 10 is $119.99, saving you $30 on the purchase.

This deal is part of a huge 20% off “Thank You” sale Amazon is currently running. There are tons of other products on sale, too, so check them all out.

If you want to get one for your children, the 7-inch Kids tablet is $20 off and the 8-inch Kids tablet is $20 off, making them $79.99 and $99.99 respectively.

You can’t go wrong with any of these models, but keep in mind that the internal storage in them fills rather quickly. You’ll definitely want to take some of the money you save to invest in a microSD card for it so you can store more files, media, and apps.

See on Amazon

Best Sprint Deals of March 2018

If you’re a Sprint customer, these are the hottest deals that you need to jump on right now!

Although it’s the least popular of the four main carriers in the United States, Sprint has a large selection of deals for its loyal and potential customers to keep its yellow flag flying high. Whether you’re already with Sprint or have been eyeing the carrier and thinking about dropping your current service provider, these are some of the best deals to keep an eye on.

Buy one Galaxy S9 and get another for free

The Galaxy S9 isn’t a cheap phone, and that’s especially true when Sprint ups its price from $719 to $792. However, even with that increased cost, you can still get a solid deal on Samsung’s new phone with Big Yellow.

When you lease a Galaxy S9 or S9+ through Sprint Flex, you can get another Galaxy S9 for free. You’ll need to either activate two new lines or add a new one and upgrade another to be eligible for the promotion, but even so, this is absolutely worth checking out.

Depending on if you choose the Galaxy S9 or S9+ as your paid phone, you’ll be out just $33 or $38/month for two new Samsung flagships.

See at Sprint

Lease the LG V30+ for only $20/month

If the Galaxy S9 isn’t your cup of tea, the LG V30+ may be the perfect phone for you. The phone typically costs $38/month with Sprint Flex, but after an $18/month bill credit, it can be yours for just $20/month with $0 down.

For that $18 each month, you’re getting the best phone LG’s ever made. The V30+ has a 6-inch Quad HD+ OLED display, Snapdragon 835 processor, 16MP + 13 MP dual rear cameras, IP68 dust/water resistance, and a ton more. Also, since this is the “+” variant, the phone comes with a massive 128GB of internal storage.

See at Sprint

Moto Z2 Force for $11/month

The Moto Z2 Force isn’t the best phone that we saw in 2017, and while its retail price of $720 is a bit tough to swallow, Sprint makes the phone much more appealing for just $11/month with Sprint Flex. For that $11/month you’re getting a phone with dual 12MP cameras, 5.5-inch 1440p Super AMOLED display that’s shatter-proof, slim 7000 series aluminum unibody, and quite a lot more.

See at Sprint

Bring your own phone, get a free year of unlimited service

If you’ve been thinking about switching to Sprint but are concerned about the network’s coverage, data performance, or anything else, you can actually get a full year of unlimited service without paying a penny. You’ll need to bring your own phone and buy a SIM card for about $13, but once you get the SIM and activate it with your device, you can start using Sprint Unlimited for 365 days completely free.

This means you’ll get unlimited talk, text, and data, HD video streaming up to 1080p, and 10GB of LTE hotspot usage. You’ll begin to actually pay the regular monthly fee once your first year is up, but then you’ll just pay $60/month for one line.

See at Sprint

Get a phone with Sprint Flex and score up to four Moto E4s for free

The Moto E4 is one of the best budget phones around, and Sprint’s currently giving it away like candy.

Right now, leasing any smartphone with Sprint Flex and adding a new line of service will let you get a brand-new Moto E4 for absolutely nothing. This offer is good for up to four Moto E4s, and believe it or not, the deal gets even better.

Should you choose at least two Moto E4s as your primary phones, Sprint will waive the lease fees entirely. You’re getting free phones either way, and in our book, that’s always a good thing.

See at Sprint

Carriers

• Which unlimited plan should you buy?
• Verizon’s Unlimited plans: Everything you need to know
• Everything you need to know about the T-Mobile ONE unlimited plan
• Everything you need to know about the AT&T Unlimited plan
• Everything you need to know about Sprint’s Unlimited Freedom plan
• Join the Discussion

Updated March 22, 2018: Added all new deals for March!

How to set up your Samsung Gear VR

You got a free VR headset with your new phone! Here’s how you use it.

Jumping into VR with your new headset is super easy, but there are a few quick things you need to do before having fun in another world. This guide will show you everything you need to do before putting on the headset, so you’re guaranteed to have a good time!

How to assemble your Gear VR

Your Gear VR comes in a few pieces. You should have:

• One plastic visor
• One long strap
• One short strap with a plastic hook
• One elastic tag with SAMSUNG across the bottom
• Two AAA batteries
• One motion controller
• One wrist strap for a motion controller
• One micro USB adapter
• One USB-C adapter (attached when shipped)

Here’s the best way to assemble the head straps.

Take the short strap with the plastic hook, and attach the plastic end to the small metal bar on the plastic visor with the open side of the hook facing the front of the headset
Slide the elastic tag onto the long strap so the Samsung logo is right-side up
Insert the two sides of the long strap into the slots on the sides of the plastic visor so the velcro parts face outward
Attach the velcro side of the short strap to the middle of the long strap
Place batteries in the motion controller
Attach wrist strap to the motion controller by threading it through the hole under the battery cover then reattach the battery cover
Insert the Gear VR Controller into the elastic tag on your side strap

Congrats, your head strap has been assembled! This will need to be adjusted a little when you put the headset on so it fits you perfectly.

Here’s how to get the perfect fit with your Gear VR!

How to install Gear VR software on your Galaxy S8 or S9

Your phone doesn’t come with the Gear VR software already installed, so you need to download it. To do that, you need to:

Insert your phone into the Gear VR
Wait for a voice instructing you to remove the phone
Remove your phone from the Gear VR
Read the Agreement on the screen and tap Agree, then Next
Tap Install to download the Gear VR software

Important note: If your phone uses micro USB rather than USB-C you can swap the adapter on the headset by switching the adapter to unlock, removing it, and replacing it with the micro USB version.

You did it! Once the software is ready to be used, you’ll see the Oculus App in your app launcher.

How to set up your Gear VR software and pair your Gear VR Controller

Now that you’ve set up the hardware and installed the software, it’s time to create an account and have some fun!

Open the Oculus App on your phone
Sign in with your Facebook account
Tap Update Now to get the latest Gear VR software
Tap Pair and hold down the Home button on your Gear VR Controller to connect
Calibrate your Gear VR controller using the on-screen video guide
Tap Left Handed or Right Handed to set Gear VR Controller preference

And you’re finished! Your Gear VR is now fully ready to be used.

Important Note: The Oculus App requires your Gear VR use the highest resolution setting in order to show you things in VR. You will see a prompt asking you to enable “WQHD+” on your phone, which is a display mode that consumes more power while it is in use. When you are not using the Gear VR, you may want to return your resolution to the default “FHD+” that you phone uses when you take it out of the box. To make this change:

Pull down your notification drawer and tap the Settings gear
Tap Display
Tap Screen resolution
Slide the green dot from WQHD+ to FHD+

Now what do I do?

Your Gear VR comes with a free app, Oculus Prologue, that shows you how to use the new Gear VR controller to have some fun. When you’re finished with that, here are a few other things you can try!

The best Gear VR games that use the new Controller

How to use the Gear VR Browser

The best game for the Samsung Gear VR

How to watch porn on your Gear VR

Samsung Gear VR

• Gear VR review
• The Best games for Samsung Gear VR
• Inside Samsung’s Gear VR web browser
• Gear VR vs. Google Cardboard

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