These are the games that support Razer Phone’s 120Hz display so far

Razer Phone is great for gamers and there are already a bunch of titles that support its unique display.

The display is one of the focal points of the Razer Phone, thanks to its 120Hz refresh rate and its first-party UltraMotion sync. Like G-Sync and FreeSync on a PC, UltraMotion matches the refresh rate of the display to the FPS output from the GPU in the phone to eliminate tearing and produce silky smooth, super fast gameplay.

All this goodness isn’t just automatically available to every game, though. Sync technology like this hasn’t been attempted on an Android phone yet, and as such developers are having to make adjustments to support it. If there’s a company with enough clout to make game developers listen, it’s Razer, and for the launch of its first phone, there are already some great games to play on it.

Updated April 2018: This is the most current list of games supported according to Razer.

Fighting

• Tekken Mobile
• Injustice
• Injustice 2
• Mortal Kombat X
• Marvel Contest of Champions
• Shadow Fight 3

Racing

• Gear.Club
• Real Racing 3
• Hill Climb Racing 2

RPG/MMORPG

• Battlejack: Blackjack RPG
• Evoland
• FINAL FANTASY BRAVE EXVIUS
• Final Fantasy XV: Pocket Edition
• Fire Emblem Heroes
• Lineage 2: Revolution
• MARVEL Future Fight
• Middle Earth: Shadow of War
• Vendetta Online HD
• Summoners War: Sky Arena
• Soul Seeker
• Wonder Tactics

Arcade

• Pac-Man
• Pac-Man Pop!
• RC Soccer
• Super Samurai Rampage
• Chicken Jump
• Zen Pinball
• CATS: Crash Arena
• Super Mario Run
• Subway Surfers
• Sonic Forces: Speed Battle
• Cooking Craze
• BUST-A-MOVE JOURNEY
• Space Invaders Infinity Gene
• RAYSTORM
• DARIUSBURST -SP-

MOBA

• Arena of Valor
• Vainglory

FPS

• Shadowgun Legends
• Hitman Sniper
• Modern Combat 5: eSports FPS

RTS

• Titanfall Assault
• Warhammer 40k: Freeblade
• World of Tanks: Blitz

Action-Adventure

• Alto’s Adventure
• Bleach Brave Souls
• Bug Butcher
• Caterzillar
• Don’t Starve
• Don’t Starve: Shipwrecked
• Far Tin Bandits
• Minecraft

Puzzle/Strategy

• Star Vikings Forever
• Puzzle Quest 2
• Mini Metro
• Hitman Go
• Lara Croft Go
• Deus Ex Go
• Flippy Knife
• Dragon Ball Z Dokkan Battle
• South Park Phone Destroyer
• Ballz
• Heart Star
• I Love Hue

Sports

• Big Shot Boxing
• Golf Clash
• Golf Star
• MLB 9 Innings 17
• OK Golf
• Pumped BMX 3

Rythym

• Dub Dash
• Groove Coaster 2

Location-based

• Pokémon Go

In some games, like Titanfall: Assault or Vendetta Online, you’ll need to manually enable the high frame rate mode in the settings. Likewise with Arena of Valor, which already has that feature built in but only goes up to 60 FPS right now.

For Razer, getting a developer to support UltraMotion is the priority. But thanks to having a 120Hz display, the side effect is that they can also leave the frame rate unlocked. When both are implemented, Razer Phone will give its best experience.

There are likely more games out there that support high frame rates, and since you can enable the built-in FPS counter and see your yourselves, spotting them isn’t too difficult. If you have a Razer Phone and come across any not mentioned be sure to drop them into the comments below.

Razer Phone review

Essential Phone on Sprint being updated to Android 8.1 Oreo

Rolling out to users now.

A little less than a month ago, Essential started pushing Android 8.1 Oreo to all unlocked versions of the Essential Phone. There wasn’t any word at the time when the Sprint variant of the phone would get similar treatment, but that’s now changing.

According to Essential’s official Twitter account, Oreo officially began making its way to the Sprint Essential Phone around 1:00 PM ET on April 9. Multiple users have replied to the tweet saying that they’ve gotten the update, so chances are it’ll arrive on your handset soon if you don’t already have it.

Similar to what we saw last month, there’s a lot that’s included with this update. Per the official changelog that Essential shared, the update adds Google’s Autofill API, fixes for jittery scrolling, Bluetooth 5.0, the latest April 2018 security patch, dynamic icons for the calendar and clock apps, and much more.

Lastly, the update changes the build number to OPM1.180104.141.

How’s the Essential Phone doing in 2018?

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Best Link Bracelet Watch Bands for Samsung Gear S3

Add a touch of class to your Samsung Gear S3 with a stylish link bracelet watch band!

The Samsung Gear S3 is the most powerful smartwatch you can own, making it a popular choice for Android users looking for an alternative to an Android Wear smartwatch.

If you love your Gear S3 and wear it every day you should croundeder getting some additional watch bands — maybe something a little fancier than the standard leather or rubber straps that come with the Classic and Frontier models respectively.

We’ve round up some of the best link bracelet watch bands for the Samsung Gear S3, so let’s go!

• LDFAS Natural Wood Link Bracelet
• LDFAS Stainless Steel Metal Chain Link Strap
• Acestar Stainless Steel Band / Milanese Loop Mesh Strap [2-pack]
• HOCO Stainless Steel Band w/ Tempered Glass Screen Protector and Pin Link Remover Tool

LDFAS Natural Wood Link Bracelet

First up is arguably the most classy option on this list. Whereas your standard stainless steel link wrist strap looks pretty cool, check out this Black Steel band with Red Sandalwood inlay. Beautiful

Available for $32, this band is just wonderful and compatible with both the Frontier and Classic models of the Gear S3. It comes with extra link pins so you shouldn’t need to buy more.

Don’t quite like the Black Steel look? LDFAS has a Silver Steel variant available, along with a couple other styles all for just $30 so take a peek and pick the style that’s right for your wrist!

See at Amazon

LDFAS Stainless Steel Metal Chain Link Strap

Same brand, more styles.

Looking for a dressy strap? check out this chain link wrist strap in black steel. Available for just $20, it’s a great option to have and with the quick-release design you can swap out your bands right before leaving the door for that wedding or special event.

LDFAS has included a couple other styles in this posting, including a Milanese Loop strap for just $12, so make sure you check all your options — you just might end up wanting to buy more than one strap!

See at Amazon

Acestar Stainless Steel Band / Milanese Loop Mesh Strap [2-pack]

Speaking of buying more than one strap, Acestar has a great deal on two-packs of metal link wrist straps that’s definitely worthy of your attention.

Choose between a classic stainless steel band and a Milanese Loop Mesh strap in your choice of silver or black steel. Love the look of the silver straps? Get two straps in both styles. Want the option to switch between silver and black? They’ve got two packs of each watch band style in both colors.

Whichever one you pick, you’ll only pay around $20 which is a great deal for such stylish metal watch bands.

See at Amazon

HOCO Stainless Steel Band w/ Tempered Glass Screen Protector and Pin Link Remover Tool

Perhaps your hesitant to buy a metal link strap because you can never get the right fit on your wrist. Removing pins can be a frustrating challenge some times.

HOCO knows that, which is why they include a pin link removal tool with each of its metal link bands for the Gear S3. It’s a courteous addition that should make life easier owning extra watch bands, and especially if you’re buying this as a gift for someone else.

Also included in this package is a complimentary screen protector which is thoughtful — nobody wants ugly scratches on their watch face. You can get your own HOCO metal link band in your choice of Silver ($20) or Black ($24).

See at Amazon

How have you accessorized your Gear S3?

Have any opinions on the styles we’ve highlighted? Did you buy a different band that you think should be on our list? Let us know in the comments!

YouTube hack defaces music videos from Drake, Taylor Swift (updated)

If you were in the midst of a music video marathon this morning, you probably got a rude surprise. Hackers (one claiming to have used a script) defaced numerous top music videos, including Luis Fonsi and Daddy Yankee’s record-setting “Despacito” as well as clips from Drake, Katy Perry, Shakira, Taylor Swift and others. In many cases, the intruders swapped out the thumbnails with their own (such as a threatening gang image from a Netflix show) and altered show titles. The incident appears to be under control as we write this, but it no doubt panicked more than a few fans and artist representatives.

Notably, all the affected videos came from Vevo accounts on YouTube. We’ve asked both Google and Vevo for comment. Despite the scripting claim, it’s possible that this involved YouTube account breaches instead of a vulnerability inherent to YouTube itself. Whatever the cause, it’s worrisome — even if repairing the damage is easy, it shouldn’t be that trivial for someone to alter numerous videos. The next incident may be less of a prank (as this appears to be) and more of a malicious campaign.

Update 4/10/18 10:45 AM ET: Vevo has confirmed to Engadget that a “security breach” affected a number of videos, and that it’s continuing to look into the cause. You can read the full statement below.

“Vevo can confirm that a number of videos in its catalogue were subject to a security breach today, which has now been contained. We are working to reinstate all videos affected and our catalogue to be restored to full working order. We are continuing to investigate the source of the breach.”

Via: The Verge

Source: Prosox (Twitter)

Urbanears made a smaller, $199 version of its connected speaker

Urbanears’ first batch of Connected Speakers were clever, packing AirPlay, Chromecast and Spotify Connect into colorful boxes you wouldn’t mind putting on display. There was one main problem, though: at a minimum of $350, you were paying a lot for the privilege. Enter the company’s just-unveiled Lotsen: the new speaker is considerably smaller and drops the price to $199, all the while offering the same multi-room audio (and Bluetooth) as the larger Baggen and Stammen. It promises “well-balanced” sound for small- to mid-sized rooms and is meant to sit on corner tables and other areas where its bigger siblings might be intrusive.

Be ready to wait: Lotsen doesn’t arrive until sometime in the summer. It does come in six colors ranging from “goldfish orange” to “plant green,” though, so you can use that extra time to decide which one will best match with (or better yet, clash with) your decor. As it stands, this makes Urbanears’ offerings considerably more competitive. They don’t have built-in voice control like a Sonos One, but that might not matter if you’re comfortable using your phone as a jukebox.

Source: Urbanears

Gemini PDA review: We’ve come a long way since keyboards

The sun may have set on the phone-with-a-keyboard phenomenon, but there are still people who pine for physical keys. Armed with a deca-core processor, Android, all the wireless connections you need and slots for SIM and microSD cards, the Gemini ($599, by Planet Computers) is a refreshing proposition to those frustrated with the port-less, key-less mobiles of today. (And yes, it even has a headphone jack.) But I’ll warn you now, the touchscreen world has come a long way in recent years — so much so that you might find a keyboard isn’t as helpful as you hoped and can even be a hindrance.

When the Gemini was shown off at CES earlier this year, team Engadget was divided. Most saw it as a novelty at best. A handful of us (myself included) thought it was exciting. The idea of laptop productivity on a device that fits in your pocket roused my inner Tolstoy. No more wasted time on municipal transport! I’d finally write that novella while languishing at the coffee shop! Little did I know that the reality was I’d be pecking out emails hunched over my lap, or lamenting the absence of Swiftkey like a long-lost friend.

But first, what exactly is the Gemini? In short, it’s a Personal Digital Assistant (PDA) modeled on the classic Psion series, but with some 2018 twists. Or, you might argue that it’s a mid-range Android phone with a keyboard attached. Both definitions are accurate. Which one is apt for you will depend on your needs. I’ll explain why later.

Before we get to that, though, let’s talk about the hardware. The Gemini casts a silhouette that’s slightly bigger than an iPhone 8 Plus or a Pixel 2 XL. Held in portrait mode, it’s about half an inch taller, and about twice as thick. It’s chunky, but not unmanageable for most pockets. The screen is hidden away until you open the clamshell device, so if you intend on using this as a phone (it’s available with or without a SIM slot), know that this means there’s no home screen, no clock to glance at and no way to glance at notifications (though there is a notification LED). In short, when the Gemini is closed, it’s more like a sleeping laptop than a phone on standby. Which if you’re buying this soley as a PDA is obviously less of an issue.

Open the Gemini up, though, and everything changes. The 6-inch (FHD) display isn’t mindblowing, but it’s on par with most mid-range Androids out there. Below that is the all-important keyboard.

As I rested my fingers on it, I noticed something strange: My thumbs were touching together. Not surprising, I guess (given the size of the Gemini), but for someone who spends a large part of the day touch-typing, it felt unnatural. I opened a browser from the touchscreen and started to type “engadget,” but found myself feeling flummoxed trying to hit the right keys. This isn’t an indictment of the keyboard, yet. I have a few different PCs I switch between regularly, and all their layouts are slightly different; it often takes me a few minutes to adapt. But the early signs weren’t promising.

The keys themselves feel steady under your fingertips. The travel as you type is similar to that of a larger non-chiclet laptop, just much closer together. All the essentials, like Esc, Tab and Shift are where they should be, albeit a little cramped. Many of the keys serve double duty via a “function” option, allowing you to adjust the volume, screen brightness and so on. Confusingly (for me) the @ sign isn’t Shift+2 like you might be used to, but Fn+K. With Android there are ways to change this, but that means the symbols printed on the keys will no longer be accurate.

“When the Gemini is closed, it’s more like a sleeping laptop than a phone on standby.”

There’s a bigger drawback to typing on the Gemini, which isn’t directly related to the keyboard itself. I found that if I set the device on a surface, I can type at a decent clip after a few minutes. But if you’re lying back on a couch, or resting it on your lap, it becomes near impossible to get comfortable. This is one of the factors that will likely move you from camp “PDA” to camp “phone with a keyboard” pretty quickly.

I am willing to persist with quirky technology if I find the idea endearing enough. When it comes to email, I found the keyboard useful. I wouldn’t want to spend my morning responding to messages with the Gemini, but it’s practical enough in short bursts. Keyboard shortcuts for reply/archive, etc. work, and you can navigate messages with the arrow keys as you’d hope (at least, in the Gmail app you can).

Planet Computers clearly had productivity in mind when it designed the Gemini. To that end, it pre-loaded a menu dock with apps like Word and Excel, though you can add whatever you like there — even if it does just pop up over the Android home screen (where you could also have those same apps).

It’s worth mentioning that as you’re mostly going to be using the Gemini open like a laptop (i.e., in landscape), apps that are portrait-centric (like Instagram) don’t format quite as well. (You can lock it to portrait, and wield the Gemini like an open book as a workaround.)

I’m guessing that if you’re in the market for a PDA in 2018, Instagram might not be at the top of your list for apps. When I used Microsoft Word, there were occasions where I thought, “This isn’t bad, actually.” For a crazy moment, I even thought about writing this whole review on the Gemini, but that soon passed after typing a few lines. Despite gaining some aptitude with the keyboard, I never achieved the comfort and speed I needed to convince me I could work on this for extended periods of time.

I can probably type faster with a touchscreen than with the Gemini’s keyboard, and given that you need optimal conditions to really type anything (a desk/table, etc.), it became clear this wasn’t designed to replace your phone (not that Planet Computers are claiming as such). There is a WiFi-only Gemini ($499), which might be a better option if you’re not looking to use it as a phone much or at all.

There was one problem, in particular, that persisted: The space bar kept missing strokes and I read other reports online with similar complaints. Even after I was more comfortable with the keyboard, I still found myself having to hit backspace (or use the touchscreen to place the cursor) so that I could add in missing spaces. So any progress in my typing speed was always impaired by having to make corrections.

What if you do want to use it as a phone replacement? Remember, you pretty much have to open the Gemini to do anything, so while you can place calls with it, you need to open it, peck in the number (or just use the touchscreen anyway). You can summon Google Assistant to make calls, but that comes with its own issues. Answering calls is possible while closed, but of course, you won’t know who’s calling you.

There are other minor annoyances, too. The internal speakers aren’t very good. I played a YouTube music video, and recognizing the song was almost impossible until the vocals kicked in. (Sidenote: The space bar doesn’t pause videos by default like it does on the desktop either.) There is a camera, but you’ll only ever want to use it for Skype/Hangouts, etc., and using it to take photos of anything is one step goofier than using an iPad (pointing an open PDA at something without being able to see the screen).

So, it’s a mid-range Android phone with a keyboard attached? Well… yes. But, and here’s the part where your proclivities come in: Maybe you want something that has all the apps you are used to on your touchscreen phone, but absolutely want a keyboard, too. I briefly used to work as a systems administrator, and the Gemini would have been perfect for restarting servers, working on the command line and other such tasks without having to take my laptop out.

The Gemini can dual-boot into Linux (or other operating systems), meaning if you want to bring Android and Linux along with you in the same device and don’t care about the whole phone thing, then the Gemini (with its 64GB of expandable storage and dual USB-C ports) is quite a flexible workhorse.

Thankfully, my days as an on-call sysadmin are over, but I can see how the Gemini might resonate with developers or a certain tinkerer crowd as a second or even third portable device. The quirks of the keyboard are potentially surmountable when you have the convenience and connectivity that this thing offers. As a bonus, the 4220 mAh battery is pretty longevous, especially if this is not your primary device.

For me, I think my nostalgia clouded my better judgment. As excited as I was for the Gemini, it turned out not to be the device for me. Whether I like it or not, my computing habits have moved on, and I’m happy with my phone/laptop combo. But I do hope that the Gemini finds its audience, and that the company continues to release new versions. Maybe one with a second screen on the outside to enhance the phone features or allow for more convenient touchscreen access. It’s a lot to ask for a company just shipping its first product, but if it can balance mainstream needs with the demands of hardcore fans, it might carve out a little space in the market for itself.

Uber executives on the hook for criminal charges in France

France can bring criminal charges against Uber executives for operating an illegal taxi service, the Court of Justice of the European Union (ECJ) has ruled. The decision stems from events in 2015, when France’s government banned UberPop and said that if Uber managers told drivers to ignore the ban, they’d be committing “a criminal offense.” Uber executives defied the ruling, and the situation culminated in a raid on Uber’s Paris office and the arrests of Uber France CEO Thibaut Simphal and Uber European GM Pierre-Dimitri Gore-Coty.

Under EU law, legislation from member states that affects digital services must be pre-approved by the European Commission. That formed the basis of Uber’s appeal, as it argued that the taxi laws banning UberPop weren’t vetted by the EU. If the legislation was illegal to start with, the charges against the managers should be dropped, it reasoned.

However, the European Commission recently dealt a blow to Uber’s argument by ruling that it is a transportation, not a digital service company. That meant that France’s laws were about rides, not apps, clearing the way for the criminal charges.

Member states may prohibit and punish, as a matter of criminal law, the illegal exercise of transport activities in the context of the UberPOP service, without notifying the Commission in advance of the draft legislation.

“Member states may prohibit and punish, as a matter of criminal law, the illegal exercise of transport activities in the context of the UberPOP service, without notifying the Commission in advance of the draft legislation,” the court said in a statement.

Uber’s situation in France won’t change with the ruling, because the cheaper UberPop services, which used non-professional drivers, hasn’t operated for several years. UberBlack, which offers rides using licensed chauffeurs, is still available.

Uber has toned down the pugnacious approach it took to local laws under former CEO Travis Kalanick. It voluntarily halted services in Athens and other cities to comply with local laws, and is offering ride data to select cities to aid in transportation planning.

“This case is about whether a French law from 2014 should have been pre-notified to the European Commission and related to peer-to-peer services which we stopped in 2015,” the company told Engadget in a statement. “As our new CEO has said, it is appropriate to regulate services such as Uber and so we will continue the dialogue with cities across Europe.”

It’s clear Uber believes the laws are customer-hostile, though, and has long complained about discrimination against what it sees as “innovation.” It would argue that banning everyone but taxis from using geolocation tech to show available cars in real time, for instance, does not benefit or protect consumers.

In any case, it’s becoming more cooperative with governments out of necessity, not generosity, under new chief Dara Khosrowshahi. Uber has already dropped out of several markets, and risks losing London and others thanks to its past methods.

Via: Reuters

Source: Court of Justice of the European Union

PayPal Discounts $100 iTunes Gift Cards to $85 as iTunes Launches New Movie Sales

PayPal’s Digital Gifts eBay storefront today launched another 15 percent discount on $100 App Store and iTunes gift cards, which the company has been doing once a month since February. While the deal lasts, those with a PayPal account can purchase the $100 iTunes gift cards for $85, which will then be delivered via email a few hours later. The gift cards will only be valid on purchases made in the United States App and iTunes Stores.

For those adding more credit onto their iTunes accounts, the iTunes Movies store refreshed today with a handful of new sales on both HD and 4K HDR films. We’ve rounded up a few of these movies below, alongside notable ongoing film discounts. Besides movie rentals and purchases on iTunes, these gift cards can be used for Apple Music and other iTunes billing subscriptions, album and iBooks purchases, and more.

Note: MacRumors is an affiliate partner with eBay. When you click a link and make a purchase, we may receive a small payment, which helps us keep the site running.

4K HDR

• Independence Day – $4.99, down from $14.99

• The Shape of Water – $9.99, down from $14.99

• The Disaster Artist – $9.99, down from $14.99

• War for the Planet of the Apes – $9.99, down from $14.99

• Edge of Tomorrow – $9.99, down from $14.99

• The Fifth Element – $9.99, down from $19.99

• The Secret Life of Pets – $9.99, down from $14.99
• The LEGO Movie – $9.99, down from $14.99

HD

• It Comes At Night – $7.99, down from $14.99
• The Witch – $7.99, down from $14.99
• I, Tonya – $9.99, down from $14.99
• Fargo – $9.99, down from $14.99
• Grosse Pointe Blank – $9.99, down from $14.99
• Father Figures – $14.99, down from $19.99

Head over to our full Deals Roundup to check out more of this week’s sales and discounts.

Related Roundup: Apple Deals
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Check right now if Cambridge Analytica used your Facebook data

In the aftermath of the Cambridge Analytica scandal, you’re probably wondering: Was I actually affected? After all, the company obtained data on 87 million users (that’s the current estimate, anyway.) Facebook has, thankfully, started sending News Feed notifications to explain whether users’ accounts were affected. If you’re still waiting for yours to come through, however, you can visit this page and find out immediately. In short, it explains if you or your friends ever logged into This Is Your Digital Life — the quiz app developed by university researcher Dr Aleksandr Kogan, which Cambridge Analytica used to profile and manipulate users.

It’s the latest attempt by Facebook to apologise for what happened and ensure similar data harvesting doesn’t happen again. Chief executive Mark Zuckerberg has promised to investigate “every app that has access to a large amount of information.” The company has already suspended AggregateIQ and CubeYou for Cambridge Analytica-style tactics, and strengthened a bunch of data policies, which include disabling the ability to search for users by email address and phone number, and restricting the information accessible through its Events API. Zuckerberg, if you need a reminder, is scheduled to testify at a joint Senate hearing later today.

Via: Matt Navarra (Twitter)

Source: Facebook

Amazon reshuffles its TV team in fight against Netflix

Amazon’s new studio chief Jennifer Salke has made her first mark on the entertainment division since taking up the role in February. Amazon COO Albert Cheng has been named co-head of television, having previously served as interim head of the studio following Roy Price’s disgraced departure last fall. According to Variety, sources say Salke is still on the lookout for an executive to work alongside Cheng, but no lead candidate has yet been identified.

Elsewhere, Sharon Tal Yguado returns to her original role as head of genre, having overseen all scripted TV programming since Price’s exit. Marc Resteghini has been named head of drama (non-genre), replacing Nick Hall who takes the role of head of alternative. Gina Kwon and Ryan Andolina will continue as co-heads of comedy, while Georgia Brown, Amazon’s director of original TV for Europe, has been named head of UK-originated scripted TV. Heather Schuster and Melissa Wolfe remain in their existing roles of head of unscripted and head of kids programming, respectively.

Salke, former president of NBC Entertainment, joined Amazon after a lengthy search focusing on female candidates following Roy Price’s sudden departure amid sexual harassment allegations. She’s been swift in making changes, demonstrating Amazon’s ongoing intention to take on Netflix. On Sunday, for example, Amazon abruptly canceled its award-winning signature series Mozart in the Jungle, a show that’s proven popular with many viewers but doesn’t align with Jeff Bezo’s long-term vision for projects with greater widespread appeal.

Source: Variety