I wore Levi’s smart jacket for three months, and it changed how I use my phone

When we first saw Google unveil Levi’s new connected jacket, back in 2015, we immediately thought of the Burton Amp. The Amp, announced in 2003, was a winter jacket developed by Burton and Apple that allowed snowboarders or skiers to control their iPods using a control panel on the sleeve. With a wire connecting the control panel and iPod, Apple called it “the world’s first and only wearable electronic jacket with an integrated iPod control system.”

Fifteen years have passed, and while the iPod had an amazing run, the jacket didn’t. There have been other attempts at making “smart clothing,” but the concept never took off with consumers. Was the idea just way too ahead of its time?

There have been other attempts at making “smart clothing,” but the concept never took off with consumers.

Google thinks now is the right moment to revisit the concept, apparently, with the Levi’s Commuter Trucker Jacket with Jacquard by Google, a collaboration between the iconic denim maker and tech giant. The name is a mouthful, but it refers to a research project, Jacquard (named after a fabric made on a loom), that was born out of of Google’s Advanced Technology and Projects division. Unlike what we can now consider a glorified iPod remote that Burton and Apple made, the Levi’s jacket connects wirelessly with an iOS or Android phone and uses gesture-based controls and haptic feedback to perform a variety of smartphone functions, from navigation to, yes, controlling your music.

Is this the connected jacket the world’s been waiting for? Well, we may need to wait a bit longer, as the capabilities may seem a little limited at the moment. But, Jacquard technology and the Levi’s Commuter Trucker Jacket are more of a technical showcase of what’s possible when you weave technology with clothing —  and the result is undeniably exciting.

The tech

The cuff on the left arm is woven with a conductive fiber, as well as a special-grade polyester that allows it to act as a touch sensor; the rest of the jacket is traditional Levi’s cotton-based denim. You can feel a slight difference in material when you touch the denim part of the jacket, and then touch the cuff. It’s not easily noticeable, though, which is important to maintaining a traditional look.

The touch sensor physically connects with the Jacquard tag, which you snap into place. The tag is quite large because it houses a lot of necessary components, such as a haptic motor, the LED, a motion sensor, Bluetooth, as well as the battery to keep it all alive. Once it’s all connected and paired to your smartphone via the Jacquard app — a quick and easy setup process — you can use a handful of touch gestures on the cuff to control actions on your smartphone (more about the gestures below).

The tag has a battery, so yes, that means you technically have to charge your jacket. It’s an easy process, as all you have to do is take the Jacquard Tag off the jacket and plug it into a USB-A port, like the one in your laptop or desktop computer, or most power adapters. Charging it up to full doesn’t take more than an hour, and the jacket is able to stay powered for up to two weeks — more if you don’t wear it daily. The motion sensor detects when it’s not being worn, and it puts the tag in a low-power state to save battery.

A genuinely helpful jacket

The jacket isn’t meant to replace your smartphone, Ivan Poupyrev, director of engineering at Google’s Advanced Technology and Projects (ATAP) division, told Digital Trends. Instead, Poupyrev thinks it’s the “next frontier in connectivity,” which will take place in the physical world with the things we wear.

It’s the ‘next frontier in connectivity’

Think of it like a smartwatch. We wear watches so it’s easy to tell the time, and as a fashion statement. Any additional smarts, such as notification alerts, are largely present to accent our connected experience. With the Jacquard Commuter Jacket, you can do things like control music playback, ask for the next direction (and the ETA) while using a navigation app, find your phone, and more — helpful functions that are seamlessly embedded into our clothing so we don’t need to disrupt our attention by pulling out a smartphone.

These functions are controlled by three gestures using the cuff on the jacket: Brush in (swiping on the tag toward you), double tap, and brush out (swiping on the tag away from you). You can assign one ability to each gesture, which means you’ll have to choose carefully — or you can open the app and change your configurations each time to tailor the experience to your outing.

Having used the jacket for several months, I’ve predominantly used it to control music playback (with earbuds plugged into my smartphone). A double tap on the cuff tells me what song is playing, a brush in pauses the music, and a brush out plays the next track. The gestures work perfectly, and it doesn’t feel awkward or strange to use them. The only downside is that I often have to open the music app (or make sure it’s open in the background) for these gestures to start playing anything. There are also a few times when the jacket’s cuff registered my accidental swipes, but I’ve only noticed this happening when taking off the jacket.

The other abilities are certainly handy, especially the navigation-specific ones when you’re commuting. Use a gesture to find the estimated time of arrival to your destination, or what the next direction is on your route. Imagine driving or biking and not having to at a screen and take your attention away from the road.

The biggest problem is that you can only set three abilities at once, as I wound up losing a desire to change my configurations each time I donned the jacket. Poupyrev said the Jacquard team originally thought of adding “sets” you could cycle through. So for example, you could cycle through to your commuting “set” of gestures on your way back from work, and then maybe swap to your music set to control playback. They ended up not going with this method, as they found people often forgot what set they were currently using. I ended up sticking with my music control configuration all the time, but I’d prefer cycling through sets to access various abilities on the go. I’m crossing my fingers for this feature to come in a future update. Or, Google could embed a tiny display or Indicator LEDs in the next version — if there’s a second version.

Controlling music and navigation with simple gestures may sound unimpressive, but it’s genuinely helpful.

Aside from the limited number of abilities you can set, the other issue is charging the tag. It’s easy to do, but I’ve occasionally run into the problem of realizing the tag is dead right as I’m about to head out. At that point, I just resign to wearing it as a traditional jacket, and charge the tag while I’m away. It’d be nice if we didn’t need to charge the jacket at all — say, if it charged itself through kinetic or solar energy — but that all might be a stretch. A simple solution is to stash a small USB portable battery in one of the pockets.

Controlling music and navigation with simple gestures may sound unimpressive, but it’s genuinely helpful. It allows you to not think as much about menial tasks, and helps you keep going without missing a beat. That’s the goal of wearable technology, at least according to Google. The Jacquard Commuter Jacket succeeds in that regard.

A close to perfect weave

How does the jacket look and fit? The Levi’s Commuter Trucker doesn’t look much different from other commuter jackets from the denim brand. Our review unit (size large) fits well, with ample room for pockets, as well as subtle reflective tags on the back to alert drivers in case you are biking.

The cuff is what gives the jacket away, specifically when the tag is attached. Google said it’s likely this will get miniaturized as the technology gets better, and we can’t wait for the tag to blend in more with future products. Why? Because the tag resembles the theft-prevention security tags that retail stores attach to clothing, people constantly asked me if I stole the jacket (luckily, it has not embarrassingly triggered any security sensors at shops).

Julian Chokkattu/Digital Trends

Fortunately, one comment I seem to always get is, “That looks good on you.” That’s a great compliment because it means it’s stylish, and it won’t make you look like a geek.

You can wash the Commuter Jacket, though Google warns that there’s a chance that the cuff may stop responding to touch after more than 10 washes. It’s a denim jacket, so you hardly ever need to throw it in the laundry — if you do, you only have to remember to take the tag off. I washed the jacket once already and didn’t find any problems with the cuff or fit afterwards. (Of course, denim purists would either never wash it, hand-wash it, or dry clean it once in a blue moon. Our sibling site, The Manual, has a guide on that.)

It’s the perfect lightweight jacket for the spring season. Though we did the bulk of our testing during the winter, and the jacket still managed to work as an extra layer under or over other clothing.

Price and availability

The Levi’s Commuter Jacket with Jacquard technology will set you back $350, and it’s available now for women and men. The dumb version of the jacket — without Jacquard — costs about $150.

It’s pricey, yes, but this is largely an early-adopter product. It’s the first version of the technology available, and we’ll likely see this Jacquard technology expand into other types of clothing at hopefully lower prices. If anything happens to the technology over time, at least you’ll still look fabulous.

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I wore Levi’s smart jacket for three months, and it changed how I use my phone

When we first saw Google unveil Levi’s new connected jacket, back in 2015, we immediately thought of the Burton Amp. The Amp, announced in 2003, was a winter jacket developed by Burton and Apple that allowed snowboarders or skiers to control their iPods using a control panel on the sleeve. With a wire connecting the control panel and iPod, Apple called it “the world’s first and only wearable electronic jacket with an integrated iPod control system.”

Fifteen years have passed, and while the iPod had an amazing run, the jacket didn’t. There have been other attempts at making “smart clothing,” but the concept never took off with consumers. Was the idea just way too ahead of its time?

There have been other attempts at making “smart clothing,” but the concept never took off with consumers.

Google thinks now is the right moment to revisit the concept, apparently, with the Levi’s Commuter Trucker Jacket with Jacquard by Google, a collaboration between the iconic denim maker and tech giant. The name is a mouthful, but it refers to a research project, Jacquard (named after a fabric made on a loom), that was born out of of Google’s Advanced Technology and Projects division. Unlike what we can now consider a glorified iPod remote that Burton and Apple made, the Levi’s jacket connects wirelessly with an iOS or Android phone and uses gesture-based controls and haptic feedback to perform a variety of smartphone functions, from navigation to, yes, controlling your music.

Is this the connected jacket the world’s been waiting for? Well, we may need to wait a bit longer, as the capabilities may seem a little limited at the moment. But, Jacquard technology and the Levi’s Commuter Trucker Jacket are more of a technical showcase of what’s possible when you weave technology with clothing —  and the result is undeniably exciting.

The tech

The cuff on the left arm is woven with a conductive fiber, as well as a special-grade polyester that allows it to act as a touch sensor; the rest of the jacket is traditional Levi’s cotton-based denim. You can feel a slight difference in material when you touch the denim part of the jacket, and then touch the cuff. It’s not easily noticeable, though, which is important to maintaining a traditional look.

The touch sensor physically connects with the Jacquard tag, which you snap into place. The tag is quite large because it houses a lot of necessary components, such as a haptic motor, the LED, a motion sensor, Bluetooth, as well as the battery to keep it all alive. Once it’s all connected and paired to your smartphone via the Jacquard app — a quick and easy setup process — you can use a handful of touch gestures on the cuff to control actions on your smartphone (more about the gestures below).

The tag has a battery, so yes, that means you technically have to charge your jacket. It’s an easy process, as all you have to do is take the Jacquard Tag off the jacket and plug it into a USB-A port, like the one in your laptop or desktop computer, or most power adapters. Charging it up to full doesn’t take more than an hour, and the jacket is able to stay powered for up to two weeks — more if you don’t wear it daily. The motion sensor detects when it’s not being worn, and it puts the tag in a low-power state to save battery.

A genuinely helpful jacket

The jacket isn’t meant to replace your smartphone, Ivan Poupyrev, director of engineering at Google’s Advanced Technology and Projects (ATAP) division, told Digital Trends. Instead, Poupyrev thinks it’s the “next frontier in connectivity,” which will take place in the physical world with the things we wear.

It’s the ‘next frontier in connectivity’

Think of it like a smartwatch. We wear watches so it’s easy to tell the time, and as a fashion statement. Any additional smarts, such as notification alerts, are largely present to accent our connected experience. With the Jacquard Commuter Jacket, you can do things like control music playback, ask for the next direction (and the ETA) while using a navigation app, find your phone, and more — helpful functions that are seamlessly embedded into our clothing so we don’t need to disrupt our attention by pulling out a smartphone.

These functions are controlled by three gestures using the cuff on the jacket: Brush in (swiping on the tag toward you), double tap, and brush out (swiping on the tag away from you). You can assign one ability to each gesture, which means you’ll have to choose carefully — or you can open the app and change your configurations each time to tailor the experience to your outing.

Having used the jacket for several months, I’ve predominantly used it to control music playback (with earbuds plugged into my smartphone). A double tap on the cuff tells me what song is playing, a brush in pauses the music, and a brush out plays the next track. The gestures work perfectly, and it doesn’t feel awkward or strange to use them. The only downside is that I often have to open the music app (or make sure it’s open in the background) for these gestures to start playing anything. There are also a few times when the jacket’s cuff registered my accidental swipes, but I’ve only noticed this happening when taking off the jacket.

The other abilities are certainly handy, especially the navigation-specific ones when you’re commuting. Use a gesture to find the estimated time of arrival to your destination, or what the next direction is on your route. Imagine driving or biking and not having to at a screen and take your attention away from the road.

The biggest problem is that you can only set three abilities at once, as I wound up losing a desire to change my configurations each time I donned the jacket. Poupyrev said the Jacquard team originally thought of adding “sets” you could cycle through. So for example, you could cycle through to your commuting “set” of gestures on your way back from work, and then maybe swap to your music set to control playback. They ended up not going with this method, as they found people often forgot what set they were currently using. I ended up sticking with my music control configuration all the time, but I’d prefer cycling through sets to access various abilities on the go. I’m crossing my fingers for this feature to come in a future update. Or, Google could embed a tiny display or Indicator LEDs in the next version — if there’s a second version.

Controlling music and navigation with simple gestures may sound unimpressive, but it’s genuinely helpful.

Aside from the limited number of abilities you can set, the other issue is charging the tag. It’s easy to do, but I’ve occasionally run into the problem of realizing the tag is dead right as I’m about to head out. At that point, I just resign to wearing it as a traditional jacket, and charge the tag while I’m away. It’d be nice if we didn’t need to charge the jacket at all — say, if it charged itself through kinetic or solar energy — but that all might be a stretch. A simple solution is to stash a small USB portable battery in one of the pockets.

Controlling music and navigation with simple gestures may sound unimpressive, but it’s genuinely helpful. It allows you to not think as much about menial tasks, and helps you keep going without missing a beat. That’s the goal of wearable technology, at least according to Google. The Jacquard Commuter Jacket succeeds in that regard.

A close to perfect weave

How does the jacket look and fit? The Levi’s Commuter Trucker doesn’t look much different from other commuter jackets from the denim brand. Our review unit (size large) fits well, with ample room for pockets, as well as subtle reflective tags on the back to alert drivers in case you are biking.

The cuff is what gives the jacket away, specifically when the tag is attached. Google said it’s likely this will get miniaturized as the technology gets better, and we can’t wait for the tag to blend in more with future products. Why? Because the tag resembles the theft-prevention security tags that retail stores attach to clothing, people constantly asked me if I stole the jacket (luckily, it has not embarrassingly triggered any security sensors at shops).

Julian Chokkattu/Digital Trends

Fortunately, one comment I seem to always get is, “That looks good on you.” That’s a great compliment because it means it’s stylish, and it won’t make you look like a geek.

You can wash the Commuter Jacket, though Google warns that there’s a chance that the cuff may stop responding to touch after more than 10 washes. It’s a denim jacket, so you hardly ever need to throw it in the laundry — if you do, you only have to remember to take the tag off. I washed the jacket once already and didn’t find any problems with the cuff or fit afterwards. (Of course, denim purists would either never wash it, hand-wash it, or dry clean it once in a blue moon. Our sibling site, The Manual, has a guide on that.)

It’s the perfect lightweight jacket for the spring season. Though we did the bulk of our testing during the winter, and the jacket still managed to work as an extra layer under or over other clothing.

Price and availability

The Levi’s Commuter Jacket with Jacquard technology will set you back $350, and it’s available now for women and men. The dumb version of the jacket — without Jacquard — costs about $150.

It’s pricey, yes, but this is largely an early-adopter product. It’s the first version of the technology available, and we’ll likely see this Jacquard technology expand into other types of clothing at hopefully lower prices. If anything happens to the technology over time, at least you’ll still look fabulous.

Editors’ Recommendations

• I had a one-night stand with a sleep robot
• Audiophiles belong on Android. Here’s what I learned from switching over
• Brave any downpour in one of the best rain jackets
• I ditched Spotify for YouTube Red with Google Play Music and never looked back
• That’s a Jag? How the electric I-Pace broke the brand out of its own box

Watch NASA’s crash-test dummies take a beating to make aviation safer

NASA’s Langley Research Center in Hampton, Virginia recently offered a fascinating peek at its work to make aviation safer for us all, from passengers in airplanes to astronauts in space capsules.

A video posted on YouTube explains how the team’s work “ranges from next-generation aircraft to water-impact tests that evaluate the splashdown of Orion astronaut crew capsules returning from space.”

Many of the experiments involve the use of crash-test dummies, similar to the ones used by car safety designers working on ways to improve the protection of a vehicle’s occupants in the event of a collision.

NASA’s dummies are packed with sensors that provide engineers with a slew of data from each impact test.

With crash scenarios aplenty, the video clips may not offer the best viewing experience for nervous fliers, but for those interested in the team’s work, the brief insight is sure to prove fascinating.

“Everything that you want to know about injury occurs anywhere from one-tenth to four-tenths of a second [during impact],” explains Martin Annett, a structural impact dynamics engineer at the Langley Research Center. “We have to be able to capture a lot of data within that time frame.”

Annett says that developments in technology mean the instrumentation that records the data “has gotten a lot smaller — you can now put a suite of sensors just in the back of the head and then the data will be stored on a laptop. We can then take a look at that data, evaluate that against injury criteria, [and] compute different injury criteria.”

The engineer says that when it comes to, say, astronauts, the team can use the data to improve the design of suits and helmets. The latter, for example, places extra weight on the neck and upper body, so keeping helmets light and properly balanced is essential to reducing the chances of injury if an impact occurs at any stage during a mission, particularly when the astronauts return to Earth.

One of the clips shows the cross-section of a plane fuselage — complete with the sensor-laden dummy passengers — hitting the ground with great force following a vertical drop. Annett describes the importance of energy-absorbing seats in such a scenario, with tests allowing the team to learn about the likely effect of such an impact on humans.

The dummies get battered every which way, but the ongoing research is leading to better designs across the aviation industry, for which anyone who ever leaves the ground in a flying machine (or space capsule) will surely be grateful.

Coincidental to NASA’s crash test dummies video release, Qy Research announced The Global Automotive Crash Test Dummies Industry 2018 Market Research Report, according to Technological Critic. This study is an in-depth look at the current state of the automotive crash test dummy sector.

Updated on April 9 with information about the automotive crash test dummy report.

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HP’s premium detachable Chromebook x2 doesn’t demand a premium price

On Monday, April 9, HP introduced its latest Chromebook for 2018: The Chromebook x2. It’s classified as a detachable, enabling owners to remove the screen from the base keyboard with just one hand. The two components are married by a rolling, magnetic hinge that still supports 2-in-1 modes such as clamshell, tent, stand, and tablet. The new Chromebook measures just 0.60 inches thick when closed with the keyboard attached, and a mere 0.32 inches thin just in the tablet portion alone. 

Key Specs

Screen size: 12.3 inches

Resolution: 2,400 x 1,600

CPU: Intel Core m3-7Y30 

Memory: 4GB or 8GB

Storage: 32GB

Front camera: 5MP

Rear camera: 13MP

Connectivity: Wi-Fi, Bluetooth

Ports: 2x USB-C, Micro SD

Battery: 48WHr

Size: 11.49 x 8.30 x 0.60 inches

Weight: 3.17 pounds

Price: $599 

Availability: April 2018

As the specifications show, you only get 32GB of local storage on HP’s new Chromebook. That limited capacity isn’t anything new for Chrome OS given the platform’s cloud-dependent nature. Yet HP’s new Chromebook x2 supports Google Play, thus you will need to take advantage of the Micro SD card slot’s supported 256GB capacity to store media while your downloaded Android apps consume the primary storage.

The Chromebook’s port complement consists of the Micro SD card reader, two USB-C 3.1 Gen1 ports, and a headphone / microphone combo jack. The connectivity aspect spans your typical Wireless AC component supporting up to 867Mbps, and Bluetooth 4.2. The 48WHr battery resides in the tablet portion along with five sensors: an accelerometer, gyroscope, ambient light, hall, and compass.

Powering this detachable Chromebook is Intel’s seventh-generation Core m3-7Y30 dual-core processor. This fanless chip sports a base speed of 1.00GHz and a maximum speed of 2.60GHz and consumes only 4.5 watts of power. HP said in a conference call that the company chose an Intel chip over the typical ARM-based processor used in mobile devices because Intel’s solution delivers the right balance of performance, thermals, and battery life. 

HP set out to create a premium product that doesn’t require a premium price. The cover includes a protective and decorative coating, creating a white, ceramic-like finish. The 13-megapixel camera resides in the upper right-hand corner on the back of the tablet while the 5MP camera resides on the tablet’s face, protected by Corning Gorilla Glass. 

Given the specifications show two system memory amounts, we assume $599 is the starting price. Memory seems to be the only variation, thus you should see two listed models sporting 4GB or 8GB of system memory. HP did not provide pricing for the 8GB version at the time of this publication. 

With the Chromebook x2, HP is targeting Apple’s 12.9-inch iPad Pro selling at a higher $799 price. Although HP’s Chromebook has a slightly smaller screen and storage capacity, customers aren’t required to purchase the keyboard and pen separately. Ultimately, Apple customers pay $1,067 for the iPad Pro whereas the complete Chromebook x2 package costs $599. 

Along with the launch of its new Chromebook x2, HP is also now supplying supporting accessories including USB-C adapters, a 65-watt power adapter for traveling, colorful wireless mice, and more. 

Editors’ Recommendations

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Pride of a nation: LG V30S ThinQ vs. Samsung Galaxy S9 Plus camera shootout

Andy Boxall/Digital Trends

The Samsung Galaxy S9 Plus is being lauded as one of the best camera phones ever made, winning accolades not just from reviewers and owners, but from notable industry sources that test cameras professionally. Launched in mid March, it was joined by a new LG smartphone called the V30S ThinQ, a revised version of the 2017 LG V30 with some artificial intelligence (AI) enhancing an already capable camera. While in Basel, Switzerland for the annual Baselworld watch show, we took both phones with us to put the cameras up against each other, using the beautiful location as a source of inspiration.

If you want to see more camera comparisons, check out our smartphone camera shootout series. Comment below to let us know what camera shootouts you want to see next!

Camera specifications

The Galaxy S9 Plus has two camera lenses on the back. The top sensor has 12 megapixels and a 1.4nm pixel size, with a clever variable aperture mode that switches between f/1.5 and f/2.4. This helps it take great pictures in low-light, and also in bright conditions. The sensor below it also has 12 megapixels and acts as a telephoto lens, with a smaller 1.0nm pixel size and a fixed f/2.4 aperture. The camera can zoom in to 2x without quality loss, and both cameras have optical image stabilization. The second camera also helps with Live Focus, which creates a bokeh blurred background effect in certain photos.

The LG V30S ThinQ also has two camera lenses on the back, but they do something different. First is a 16-megapixel standard lens with an f/1.6 aperture that takes regular shots, and it’s joined by a second wide-angle 13-megapixel sensor taking 120-degree angle shots at f/1.9. The main lens has optical image stabilization and a 1.0nm pixel size, plus phase detection and laser autofocus.

Camera apps and software

The LG V30S ThinQ uses artificial intelligence to enhance its pictures, provided you select the AI Cam mode. It’s unusual, in that words flash across the screen while the image recognition assesses the scene. There’s no need for the words, and we imagine LG has left them in place to compensate for the amount of time the AI scene recognition takes to work out what it’s seeing. When it does, it adjusts the camera settings to produce what it considers the best picture possible.

Bright Mode is the other new feature on the V30S ThinQ, which automatically switches on when shooting in low-light, when it lowers the megapixel count but increases the pixel size and consequently, the brightness of the scene. If you don’t like the look of the photo, Bright Mode can be turned off. It’s easy to switch between standard and wide-angle lenses using one button, a swipe swaps between front and rear cameras, and the various modes are all easily found under the Mode menu. We also like how the shutter button can be swiped to zoom in, actively switching between the two lenses.

The S9 Plus’s camera has many features, but Samsung’s camera app isn’t very intuitive, and has many little buttons and fiddly menus to navigate. However, there are more toys to play with, including the Live Focus mode, the super slow motion video mode, and the chance to quickly stretch the viewfinder to take up the entire screen. Samsung has not implemented any AI in the camera that enhances the photos — there’s Bixby Vision that offers you different tools such as makeup filters and more — but the larger aperture helps take better low-light pictures. It’s a unique system we’ve never seen before on a phone.

Around the city

LG v30

Galaxy S9 Plus

Let’s get to the pictures. Starting with the church and its snowy roof, both cameras take great photos, and it’s hard to say which one is better than the other. However, there are differences some may prefer. The Galaxy S9 Plus took a brighter image which while showing more detail on the spire, does lose some of the depth and shadowing that makes the LG V30S’ picture more atmospheric. The differences are even fewer when comparing the building on the corner junction. The V30S took the brighter picture this time, with arguably more realistic colors and shading.

LG v30

Galaxy S9 Plus

The theme continues when we threw the cameras a real challenge, photographing another church with the sun right behind it. The brighter S9 Plus picture shows more detail in the building’s facade, while the sky is more blue in the LG’s photo. Zoom in on the central window and it’s mean and moody from the LG, and brighter and happier from the S9 Plus.

LG v30

Galaxy S9 Plus

It’s role reversal when we get around the side of the church, and the blue sky shines in the S9 Plus’s picture, while the V30S’ is washed out and lacking detail. The closer you get, the worse it looks. A halo appears around the spires in the top left, but are clear and sharp on the Galaxy S9 Plus. This is the first time a clear winner out of the two pictures emerged. But this was an opportunity to show off the V30S ThinQ’s wide-angle camera mode, capturing a great picture that was impossible on the S9 Plus, without using panorama mode.

Bridges, buildings, and locks

LG v30

Galaxy S9 Plus

Moving deeper into Basel, the ornate building viewed from the front is a great-looking photo from both smartphones, with only differences in coloring splitting the two. Zoom in on the roof of the tower and you can see the floral designs clearly in both pictures, and the subtle brickwork is also exposed in both. The shot over the bridge is also strong, with detail shown in the shadows, colorful glints on the water, and a beautiful blue sky. We love both pictures from both phones here.

LG v30

Galaxy S9 Plus

We used the Samsung Galaxy S9 Plus’ Live Focus mode for the image of the locks, emphasizing the center of the image. The LG V30S doesn’t have a similar mode, so we focused on the closest padlocks, and it neatly blurred out the background. The effect is more dramatic in the S9 Plus’s picture, and the software does an amazing job of picking out the edges and individual locks. However, the V30S’s picture provides more scale and less artificial depth to the image. We like both, but it’s an interesting illustration of how a fake bokeh mode isn’t always needed to create a striking image in these situations.

LG v30

Galaxy S9 Plus

When the sun began to set, we took a photo of a mirrored building with the beginnings of a sunset in the distance. The sky is more fiery on the S9 Plus’s photo, and the gold of the building itself is far deeper in color. The V30S took a brighter image, at the expense of the sunset washing out and obscuring the cloud formation.

Sunsets and night

LG v30

Galaxy S9 Plus

Walking along the riverbank at sunset, the LG V30S’ AI Cam understood it was taking a photo of a sunset and adjusted its picture accordingly. This is the end result you see here. The orange sky is intense and hyper-real, and the reflections in the water are the same. It’s evocative, but not entirely accurate. The Galaxy S9 Plus shows a subtler, more realistic view of the scene, but it’s much less dramatic. We’d be tempted to add a filter before sharing it, which effectively is what the V30S does for us.

LG v30 standard

LG v30 AI Cam

Here are two photos from the LG V30S, and it should be obvious which one was taken with the AI Cam. The intense orange sky and even more orange water makes it a giveaway. Put alongside the standard V30S picture taken without artificial intelligence changing the settings is still attractive, and the water has real shape and depth to it. We like both, but we’d share the AI Cam’s picture. An important point to understand.

LG v30

Galaxy S9 Plus

Arriving at another bridge, the Galaxy S9 Plus pulls out another winning shot, looking over the water at the dying sunset. Check out the stunning glassy water, compared to the muddier less inviting water pictured by the V30S. We also used the Galaxy S9 Plus’s 2x zoom feature here, which enhances the shot even further.

LG v30

Galaxy S9 Plus

How about LG’s Bright Mode? It only activated a few times when we were out testing the camera. Looking down the river to a distant bridge was the most effective demonstration of both it, and the Galaxy S9 Plus’s night time ability. These are hard pictures to take. It was dark, and the S9 Plus switched to f/1.5 aperture, giving a very pretty picture with plenty of depth and emotion. It’s far from perfect in terms of detail, but it’s still a great picture for the conditions.

Using Bright Mode, the V30S also creates an excellent picture. There is less detail — look at the almost individual lights on the shore in the S9 Plus picture, compared to the V30S, for example — but they are very close, and both are pictures other phone cameras would struggle to take at all.

Clocks, watches, and food

LG v30

Galaxy S9 Plus

When Bright Mode doesn’t activate, the V30S can struggle a little in low-light environments. Inside Basel station, the picture of the famed clock’s dial is orange, and the red second hand is less noticeable, unlike in the Galaxy S9 Plus’ photo, where the dial is white, the hand red, and the clock case is metallic. More detail in the station’s roof is visible in the S9 Plus’s picture too.

LG v30

Galaxy S9 Plus

How about getting up close to a watch? While learning all about the amazing Longines Conquest V.H.P. GMT, we took some pictures of its non-GMT sister watch. Light and reflection caused both cameras problems here, but the V30S’s picture is more accurate, has less blur around the crown, and the 5 Bar rating text is far more readable. It was difficult to get exactly the same angle and lighting here; but of the two pictures, the V30S’s is superior.

LG v30

Galaxy S9 Plus

Finally, after a long day, a shot of an evening meal should have been a chance for the V30S to shine with AI Cam, but it never established it was looking at food. Therefore, the Galaxy S9 Plus’s f/1.5 aperture came into play and stole the show with its perfectly focused meat, and crisp white plate.

Conclusion

The LG V30S came into this test as the underdog, after the Galaxy S9 Plus managed to win so many accolades and praise for its camera following release. The truth is, the V30S ThinQ does a superb job at keeping up with the S9 Plus in almost all situations, and at times surpasses its ability to deliver a picture we would want to share. However, because the AI Cam didn’t always work, and Bright Mode didn’t always deliver, they feel gimmicky. AI Cam in particular needs plenty of work, as the effect it gave the sunset photo could be replicated with a filter.

The Galaxy S9 Plus does come away as the phone we’d rather have in our pocket during a trip, but the V30S ThinQ is a close second.

Editors’ Recommendations

• Samsung Galaxy S9 review
• LG V30S ThinQ hands-on review
• Samsung Galaxy S9 Plus review
• Galactic battle: How the Galaxy S9 Plus camera compares to Samsung predecessors
• What is variable aperture? A feature as old as film finally comes to smartphones

Child advocate groups file YouTube FTC complaint Monday

Following soon after reports that YouTube will start using humans rather than algorithms to screen videos for YouTube Kids, 20 child advocacy groups filed a complaint against YouTube with the FTC today.

The complaint asks the Federal Trade Commission to investigate whether YouTube violates the Child Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA). COPPA limits the ways companies can collect data about children under 13.

The law states any company that intends to collect data about sub-13-year-olds must first notify and receive consent from the children’s parents.

The complaint, which CNN reported is led by the Center for Digital Democracy and the Campaign for a Commercial-Free Childhood, charges, “Google has made substantial profits from the collection and use of personal data from children on YouTube. Its illegal collection has been going on for many years and involves tens of millions of US children,”

Google restricts advertisers from targeting age groups under 18. The video website’s Terms of Service state that only people older than 13 can obtain a Google account, which is necessary to sign in to YouTube.

As anyone can test by clicking on a graphic YouTube video link, however, no one needs a Google account to watch YouTube videos. Also, some parents don’t restrict their children from using the parent’s Google accounts. All a child needs to do to obtain her or his own account is to lie about their age when signing up.

CNN cited The Trendera Files, a report issued in 2017, which states that “45% of kids between 8- and 12-years-old have a YouTube Account.”

A spokesperson for Google, YouTube’s parent company, told CNN YouTube Kids does not collect data used in targeting ads and that the standalone mobile app is in compliance with all COPPA rules.

“Protecting kids and families has always been a top priority for us. We will read the complaint thoroughly and evaluate if there are things we can do to improve,” the Google spokesperson continued. “Because YouTube is not for children, we’ve invested significantly in the creation of the YouTube Kids app to offer an alternative specifically designed for children.”

According to the complaint, YouTube collected data illegally on an estimated 23 million children during a “period of years.” The complaint requests that the FTC assess a fine of as much as $41,484 per violation. Billions of dollars could be at stake.

Wired reported that the group’s complaint to the FTC states most kids ignore YouTube Kids in favor of YouTube. Wired quoted Josh Grolin, Center for a Commerical Free Childhood executive director saying that while humans may start screening videos for YouTube Kids, “changes to the YouTube Kids app do not absolve Google of its responsibilities to the millions of children that use the main YouTube site.”

Editors’ Recommendations

• Here’s how to track your kid’s digital footprint with Google Family Link
• Facebook’s Messenger Kids app is now available for Android devices
• 9 things to know about Facebook privacy and Cambridge Analytica
• How to set up parental controls on your PlayStation 4
• Social Feed: Embeds might be iIllegal, Vimeo adds simultaneous live-streams

Samsung Galaxy S9 and S9+: Everything you need to know!

Samsung once again has a fantastic pair of flagships.

Samsung’s new Galaxy S9 and S9+ are definitely iterative updates over last year’s dramatically redesigned Galaxy S8 series, but that’s not a problem. Instead of going back to the drawing board altogether, Samsung focused on fixing a lot of the issues while making drastic improvements to the camera experience and retaining everything that made the last generation so great.

Whether you’re looking to buy or make the most of your new Galaxy S9, we have all of the information you need right here.

What are the big changes over the Galaxy S8 series?

In a word, the camera. Samsung has kept the primary sensor at 12 megapixels, but that’s where the similarities end. The S9 and S9+ have adjustable apertures, switching seamlessly between f/1.5 and f/2.4, sitting in front of an all-new sensor that is great in low light. The Galaxy S9+ also gets a second 12MP sensor with a “telephoto” lens that provides 2X zoom and facilitates Live Focus, Samsung’s version of portrait mode that debuted with the Galaxy Note 8.

Samsung Galaxy S9 and S9+ specs

In terms of specs, the Galaxy S9+ (but only the S9+) has two more gigabytes of RAM than last year’s models. And let’s not downplay the importance of the fingerprint sensor being relocated to a much more sensible place on the back of the phone — below the now-vertical camera module.

Samsung Galaxy S9 review: A fantastic phone for the masses

Samsung Galaxy S9 India review: As good as it gets

Should you upgrade to the Galaxy S9?

This is the big question — and as always, it depends. If you’re running a Galaxy S6 or S7, and want to move to something new in the Samsung world, the answer is absolutely. If you’re rocking a still-new Galaxy S8 or Note 8, the answer is no. While there are substantial differences that clearly make the Galaxy S9 a better phone, the S8 is just a year old at this point, and has most of the Galaxy S9’s features thanks to its Android 8.0 Oreo update.

Samsung Galaxy S9 vs. Galaxy S8: Should you upgrade?

Samsung Galaxy S9+ vs. Galaxy Note 8: Which should you buy?

Is the Galaxy S9 better than the competition?

There are so many great phones on the market right now — how do you decide which one to buy? Here are our looks at the new phones compared to some of the best devices on the market.

The Galaxy S9 is the smaller of the flagships, and here’s how it compares to some of the other major phones on the market.

Samsung Galaxy S9 vs. iPhone X: The best of metal and glass

Samsung Galaxy S9 vs. Google Pixel 2: Which should you buy?

Samsung Galaxy S9 vs. Honor View 10

And how about the larger Galaxy S9+?

Samsung Galaxy S9+ vs. Google Pixel 2 XL: The true flagships

Samsung Galaxy S9+ vs. OnePlus 5T: Here’s what the extra $300 gets you

Should you buy the Galaxy S9 or larger S9+?

OK, so you’ve made up your mind to buy the Galaxy S9 — but wait, should you get the S9 or the larger S9+?

Unlike last year, the Galaxy S9+ feels like more of the “default” choice of the two. It has extra RAM and a secondary rear camera in addition to its overall larger screen and bigger battery — yet the price delta between the two hasn’t changed. If you can handle the size difference and would like the extra battery life, go for the Galaxy S9+.

Here’s why the Galaxy S9+ is worth the extra money over the GS9

What colors are available?

Like last year, there are multiple colors of the Galaxy S9 series to purchase: Midnight Black, Lilac Purple, Coral Blue and Titanium Gray. U.S. buyers only get access to three of the four — silver is only available internationally — and both blue and purple are slight updates over last year.

What color Galaxy S9 should I buy: Black, blue, purple, or silver?

Where can I get the best deal on a Galaxy S9?

The Galaxy S9 is now available worldwide, both from carriers and also unlocked.

In the U.S., the Galaxy S9 costs between $720 and $800, while the Galaxy S9+ goes for between $870 and $915. For all the details, take a look at our roundup of the best Galaxy S9 deals.

Where to buy the Galaxy S9: Best deals for your new phone

Getting started with the Galaxy S9

Once you pick up your new phone, there are a few things you should do immediately. Here’s how to make your GS9 experience great!

The first 9 things to do with your Galaxy S9

The first 5 things to turn off in the Galaxy S9’s software

What’s this about bad battery life with the Exynos processor?

Samsung has regularly used both its own processors and Qualcomm’s latest chips in different markets, and it’s regularly been a point of discussion between enthusiasts as to which one is “better” overall.

In the Galaxy S9 and S9+, there’s a clear differentiation in that the Exynos versions of the phone have been getting much shorter battery life. To make things worse, the Qualcomm models are also outperforming Exynos in many synthetic benchmark tests.

So what can you do? Well, not much — Samsung doesn’t sell both versions of the phones in the same markets, so you can’t exactly cross-shop the two processors. The hope is that Samsung could update the firmware on the Exynos models to improve processor efficiency a bit.

Samsung Galaxy S9 battery problems, explained: Exynos vs. Snapdragon

Help me get started with accessories!

Once you have your Galaxy S9 or S9+, you’ll want to look into accessories like cases and screen protectors that make the phone even better. We’ve rounded up our favorites for you.

The best Galaxy S9 accessories

The best cases for the Galaxy S9

Update, April 9: This guide has been completely revamped to provide everything you need to know about the Galaxy S9 and S9+!

Samsung Galaxy S9 and S9+

• Galaxy S9 review: A great phone for the masses
• Galaxy S9 and S9+: Everything you need to know!
• Complete Galaxy S9 and S9+ specs
• Galaxy S9 vs. Google Pixel 2: Which should you buy?
• Galaxy S9 vs. Galaxy S8: Should you upgrade?
• Join our Galaxy S9 forums

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AT&T
T-Mobile
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I’d rather have excellent software over flashy hardware

When it comes to this endless debate, software is the clear winner in my book.

A couple weeks ago, Android Central’s Hayato Huseman offered the question of “Is hardware or software a bigger determining factor when buying a phone?” This is a question that’s helped settle countless smartphone-buying decisions throughout time, and it’s one I felt like answering.

Both hardware and software are required to create any phone, but in my case, I’d much rather use one with a top-of-the-line software experience – even if it means settling for mediocre hardware.

Take the Google Pixel 2, for example. I bought this phone last October shortly after it was announced, and it’s been my daily driver ever since. It’s not a particularly attractive or modern-looking phone, but even so, it’s quickly become one of my favorite purchases of recent memory. Why? Google’s nearly perfected the end-user experience thanks to rigorous software optimizations.

Samsung’s phones are beautiful, but they’re notorious for performance degradation after just a few months.

Even after six months of heavy, daily use, my Pixel 2 still flies through everything just like it’s done from day one. Apps open in the blink of an eye, animations are buttery smooth, and there’s never even the slightest hint of lag or jitters when scrolling through apps, web pages, or the general UI.

The Snapdragon 835 processor and 4GB of RAM certainly contribute to the Pixel 2’s speed, but this processing power on its own isn’t nearly enough to ensure a smooth experience after months and months of use. Want an example for that? Take one look at the Galaxy S8.

Samsung’s Galaxy S8 is a top-notch phone, and it has the exact same processor and RAM as the Pixel 2. However, as Andrew noted in his 10-month re-review, Samsung’s heavy software customizations forced him to do a factory reset after just three months because the phone “became unbearably slow.” (Something he also experienced on the Note 8 a few months earlier). Coincidence? I think not.

The Galaxy S9 is at its best when trying to mimic the look of the Pixel 2.

Something else that keeps me hooked on the Pixel 2 is how well thought-out everything is. There aren’t any duplicate apps, all of the UI elements feel as if they have a purpose, and while this isn’t necessarily “stock” Android any longer, it feels like a natural evolution of what we saw with the Nexus brand for all those years. Not once have I found myself fighting a laundry list of features I’ve never heard of in the settings or accidentally launching an alternative, inferior virtual assistant, and when you don’t have to deal with these annoyances throughout the day, you get to enjoy your phone in a way that you won’t find from a Samsung, LG, Huawei, etc.

My Pixel 2 gives me a software experience I can’t find anywhere else, and it strikes the balance of melding hardware and software together that’s worked so well for Apple over the years. However, when you focus this heavily on software, something’s got to give.

Simply put, the Pixel 2 is not a pretty phone.

With the Pixel 2, that’s seen right away with its design.

As much as I love the Pixel 2, I’ll be the first to admit that it looks straight out of 2015. The textured metal and glass panel on the back looks great, but between the lack of wireless charging and dem bezels flanking the screen, it’s not a very elegant phone.

I used the Galaxy S8 for a short period before switching to the Pixel 2, and while Samsung’s software eventually drove me away, I couldn’t help but smile each time I powered on its screen. Having an app or video take up the vast majority of the phone’s front was almost magical, and it was very easy to get tricked into thinking you were holding a display panel with nothing surrounding it.

That illusion is never conjured up with the Pixel 2. Its screen isn’t necessarily bad, but it’s straight-up boring when placed next to virtually any phone that’s been released over the past year.

Even so, I continue to use and enjoy the phone. It may not be the prettiest out there and certainly doesn’t grab your attention like the iPhone X or Galaxy S9, but its software keeps me coming back day after day.

Do I wish it had slimmer bezels? Sure. Would I like to have wireless charging? Absolutely. These grievances may be deal-breakers for some consumers, but if you’re able to look past these things, your met with one of the snappiest and most reliable phones money can buy.

Until Google learns how to compete with Samsung and Apple on the hardware side of things, I’ll keep buying these “ugly” phones.

Google Pixel 2 and Pixel 2 XL

• Pixel 2 FAQ: Everything you need to know!
• Google Pixel 2 and 2 XL review: The new standard
• Google Pixel 2 specs
• Google Pixel 2 vs. Pixel 2 XL: What’s the difference?
• Join our Pixel 2 forums

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Google Store
Project Fi

What Android phone should you buy in early 2018?

The AC community is here to help.

Buying a new smartphone is an exciting quest, but at the same time, can also be anxiety-inducing. A lot of truly excellent handsets have been released over the last few months, and all of this choice might make it difficult for you to narrow down the perfect phone for your needs.

One of our Android Central forum members reached out to the community for help in buying their next phone, as they’re currently stuck between the Sony Xperia XZ2, Google Pixel 2 XL, Huawei P20 Pro, Samsung Galaxy S9, and LG V30.

Other users were quick to throw in their two cents on the matter, and these are just a few of the responses.

B. Diddy
04-07-2018 08:08 PM

“

I’d go for the Pixel 2 XL, but it certainly isn’t the cheap option. You might consider a refurbished 1st generation Pixel XL, which is still an excellent phone with a great camera. Since it’s a Pixel, you know it’ll continue getting monthly security updates from Google until Oct 2019. It supposedly will stop getting Android version upgrades in Oct 2018, but that means it should still get…

Reply

FutureMech
04-08-2018 06:28 AM

“

I would go for P20 Pro, it just ticks most of the boxes, otherwise Pixel XL2 is a great alternative as it has timely software support, and unbeatable software user experience, well it’s google after all.

Side note, if battery life is the most important thing to you, then the P20 Pro should easily be the choice, as the Mate 10 Pro has the best battery life, it even bested mine Mate 9, which…

Reply

chanchan05
04-08-2018 08:17 AM

“

Well it would depend entirely on what you’re looking for. You could check out a Nokia 8. Closest thing to a Pixel 2 you can get without spending for one. I’m usinh an S9 and I’m finding it to be a great phone.

Reply

Morty2264
04-08-2018 02:24 PM

“

I see you are a relatively new user – welcome to Android Central! I too would recommend the Pixel 2 XL; especially since Google has a good warranty plan on their devices. I’d also recommend the V30. Both phones are devices that will stand up to long-term use and have great specs (great software, good battery life, water resistance, AOD; and the V30 has a headphone jack if that is something you…

Reply

Now, we’d love to hear from you – At this point in 2018, what Android phone do you recommend picking up?

Join the conversation in the forums!

Everything you need to know about Rick and Morty: Virtual Rick-ality for PlayStation VR

A day in the life of a Morty clone

Rick and Morty: Virtual Rick-ality has been available on Steam for $29.99 since April 20 of last year. Super soon it’s coming to PlayStation VR for the same price. Like, April 10 soon. So now that your long anticipated wait is almost over, it’s time to go over all the cool things you can do in this game when it reaches your console! Yeah, I’m talking Easter Eggs and mini-games. Surely you want to find them all, right? If not I’m sure Rick has some handy advice.

Created by Adult Swim Games and Owlchemy Labs (the people who brought you Job SImulator) this title is sure to get you riggity wrecked with excitement. So, without further ado let’s get down to business and defeat the GIANT ALIENS.

Pre-Order at Best Buy

The Easter Egg line-up

• Unlocking a photo of the Job Simulator robot
• Rick’s got jokes
• Guardians of the best mixtape
• Awkward times in the bathroom with Jerry
• St. Gloopy medicine
• Finding the good family photos
• Real Fake Doors
• Ooooh aprove!
• Plumbus ahoy
• Jerryboree Form
• Using other life forms to fuel your basic needs
• Every reference found in the books
• Oh, slam it’s Blim Blam
• Demons in your head again
• Where to find the 13 cassette tapes
• YOU WENT THERE
• Tiny Rick
• OH NO TINY RICK WHAT DID YOU DO
• Just make sure not to mess up

Available mini-games

• Charge battery
• Troy: A Life Lived
• Shoot Gromflomites

Unlocking a photo of the Job Simulator robot

Finish the main story task and complete the 10 crafting challenges to get a photo of Rick and the robot from Job Simulator!

Rick’s got jokes

Here we see where the creators have added a little jab on VR, and we gotta admit the irony of it did give me a little giggle.

Guardians of the best mixtape

Now it could be pure speculation, but I’m only left to assume this is a pun directed toward our beloved Guardians of the Galaxy.

Awkward times in the bathroom with Jerry

Unlock a monolog from Jerry and the “Love Hurts” achievement.

This was an achievement for Oculus and may not be an achievement on PS4

Go to the bathroom and attempt to open the door.
You’ll hear Jerry give a lengthy speech.
Get the hemorrhoid cream from under the sink
Slide it under the door.

You’ll hear Jerry trying to talk to you again when you try and leave the garage!

St. Gloopys medicine

Snap back to the “Temping Fate” episode of season 2 when our favorite duo talks about the galaxy’s best hospital, St. Gloopy Noops. Well, you may never know what Rick is being treated for, but you can find his medication on the bench! Good LORD are those huge pills!

Finding the good family photos

Inside the bathroom, you can find two note-worthy pictures! Mr. Poopy-Butthole, who’s sorry you never had a bad memory with him, and Snuffles, who probably promises to not try and take over the world again.

Real Fake Doors

Remember the “Rixty Minutes” episode from Season 1? The company “Real Fake Doors” (a real fake company) was advertised in this episode. This is relevant to the game because any of the rooms you can’t access will always have the doorknob pop off in your hand. If you hold up the doorknob you’ll see “Real Fake Doors” written on the tag!

Ooooh aprove!

Another reference from the “Rixty Minutes” episode, you can find a bottle of Baby Legs Baby Powder in the bathroom. Baby Legs the detective would be mighty proud of you for this find.

Plumbus ahoy

Under the computer board on Rick’s workbench, you’ll find a Plumbus. No matter how you pick it up or what you do with it, Rick’s gonna call you and give you crap for not using it right. Furthermore, you can find the instruction manual for one on the shelf inside of a plastic sorter!

Jerryboree Form

In a direct reference from the Mortynight Run episode from Season 2, you can find a Jerryboree Form. It’s located under the TV cabinet on the left side. Be sure to make sure your Jerrys are properly taken care of in your absence!

Using other life forms to fuel your basic needs

Nothing screams Rick quite more than the blatant disregard for any other form of life more than using that form of life to simple odds and ends. You know that device that allows you to recharge batteries? Does it remind you of the Ethically-Dubious Microverse creation unit?

Yup. You’re using entire miniature worlds to power your gear!

Every reference found in the books

In the bathroom

• Eyehole Man comic
• Advertisement for the Ball Fondlers movie sequel.

Under the TV

• 3 different Rick and Morty comics
• Fanciful Horse
• Prosthetic Alien Penises catalog (Interdimensional Cable 2: Tempting Fate episode, season 2)

Oh, slam it’s Blim Blam

From the Auto-Erotic Assimilation.episode in Season 2 you can find the hidden hatch hiding away a terrible monster.

Go under RIck’s workbench
Open the hatch
Realize you’ve found the prison for Blim Blam the Korblock is going to try and eat your baby if you left him out.
Close the hatch and never open it again.

Demons in your head again

Combine the demon box (with the tape) with your hand, head or youseeks.
Get the item that comes out.
Listen to the ridiculous banter about the government.
Put the demon box to your ear.
Hear it begging you to let it out.
Cry yourself to sleep and move on to the next task.

Where to find the 13 cassette tapes

Squim Squam Rap

Use a Youseeks to get it from next to the board

The Best Mixtape

Bottom shelf in the garage, next to the gas.

Gender Ambiguity

Next to the crown in the garage smash open the demon box and the tape is inside.

Snuffles

Use a Youseeks to get it from outside the window of the garage.

Ice Cream

When you open the portal to the Satellite there is a drawer behind the panel you can unscrew. In the drawer is the tape.

1% Visible – Courier Flaps

Order the tape from Rick’s computer and it will arrive in the delivery zone.

Clones?

Open the Planet 840-3GG portal and walk over to the scoreboard. Pick up the weird blue triangle, underneath it is the tape.

Summer’s Audio Diary

In the bathroom under the sink open the right drawer. Move the toilet paper aside, the tape is there.

VR Forever 100 Year

Play the Troy mini-game for 100 years, this is your prize!

Dear Future Lawyer

Open up the monster’s hatch on the floor and he’ll ask for a Metal Candy Bar. Combine two food items to make a Candy Bar. Combine the Candy Bar with a Wrench to make a Metal Candy Bar, feed that to the monster.

Interdimensional Radio

This tape is in the area where you charge the different batteries. Look under the panel and you will find the tape there.

Mixtape

This is the only tape that you cannot find in freeplay. Start off by loading disk 05 where you will need to fix Rick’s engine. Look underneath the engine and you will find the tape attached.

Looks like I only listed 12. Weird. Guess it’s time to GO THERE and see what’s up.

YOU WENT THERE

Talk about being silly. This one you literally stumble upon when goofing off.

Find at least one of the hidden cassette tapes
Use the combination machine to combine the tape with any other item
Recieve another tape.
Add this tape to any other tape.
Recieve “Tape-Tape-Tape” cassette tape.

This unlocks a tape that is a message from the developers to you! BUT IT DOESN’T STOP THERE.

Combine “Tape-Tape-Tape” cassette tape with another copy of “Tape-Tape-Tape” cassette tape
Recieve an alien tape.
The Insert-Object-Name-Here will now say “DANIEL REMEMBER TO INSERT ITEM NAME”.
Recieve achievement “You went there.”

This was an achievement for Oculus and may not be an achievement on PS4

You ever say a word so much it starts to look weird and feels wrong to say? I’m there right now. Tape, tape, tape, tape. Oh, geeze.

Tiny Rick

You can unlock a tiny Rick figurine that will appear by your DVD player in the main menu! All you have to do is finish all the story tasks.

OH NO TINY RICK WHAT DID YOU DO

Let’s get schwifty.

Complete the main story.
Return to the main menu.
Pick up your newly aquired Tiny Rick and get yelled at by Rick.
Suffer from inception like symptoms by realizing you’re actuall a Jerry Clone watching DVDs of a Morty clone.
Have an extesnsial crisis.

Just make sure not to mess up

We all know Rick just doesn’t care. He’s the boss who runs this show, so make sure as a friendly Morty clone you doa good job! If not.. Well.

Welcome to Purgitory.

This part is just a quick jab to the ribs showing you just how many Mortys you have watched die over the course of 10 seasons. Enjoy!

Mini-games

Troy: A Life Lived

In the Mortynight Run episode in season two Rick and Morty visit Blips and Chitz which is a popular arcade on the Chucina planet. While there Morty ends up playing a virtual reality simulator called “Roy: A Life Well Lived” where he lived the entire life of a man named Roy. Well, in Rick-ality you have the chance to play “Troy: A Life Lived” which is just a knock-off of the original game from the series.

You can find this game by flipping a switch behind the washing machine in the garage! The arcade game will replace the machines and all you have to do is put the headset on the top of the machine on to play! Due to the many choices you can make in this game, there’s actually several endings for you to wind up in. So be sure to give if a whirl a few times!

Charge battery

Charging batteries in this title is a challenge in itself. This fun mini-game is available in the garage for you to use when it comes time to charge the batteries for your guns. As you can see in the video, the purple lights will come on to tell you what you need to do in terms of making the machine work correcttly. There was even a “Fully Charged” achievement if you were able to get your battery to 900.

I for one was not capible of this as that game just made me look like the gif above. It gets super difficult so let us know in the comment section below what your high score was! To get to this game, shrink yourself down with the battery lever on the worchbench!

This was an achievement for Oculus and may not be an achievement on PS4

Shoot Gromflomites

Get the real experience of feeling just as much of a monster as the real Morty felt in the pilot episode. One of the mini-games available gives you the chance to shoot at Gromflomites for a high score. Don’t worry if they scream about their wife and children. Remember, they’re just robots, Morty!

Endless fun

Honestly, there are hundreds of Easter Eggs in here refrencing something from an epsisode that has aired before. While I have listed the most obvious and note-worthy, there are still plenty more to fine. Both teams of developers have done such a spectacular job creating a game with this much immersiveness in it. Kudos! So now it’s your turn, put on your PSVR headset and go know what it’s like to live a day in the life of a Morty clone!

Pre-Order at Best Buy

What are you most excited for? Or, if you’re reading this after it’s come out, what were your favorite Easter Eggs I didn’t mention? Tell us in the comment section below!