ZTE banned from using U.S.-based hardware or software in its products [Update]

In other words, ZTE’s smartphone business in the United States may be coming to an end.

Updated 4/18/18 – Things just got even worse for ZTE. According to someone familiar with the matter at hand, ZTE’s access to using Android on its mobile devices may be revoked. Alphabet is reportedly in talks with ZTE about the impact of the ban that was announced on Monday, and while a decision on this front hasn’t been met yet, this isn’t a good position for ZTE to be in.

The United States government has been heavily targeting China-based technology companies throughout all of 2018, and the latest move from the Department of Commerce is a particularly large blow against ZTE. On April 16, Secretary of Commerce Wilbur L. Ross, Jr. issued a Denial Order against the company that essentially kills its smartphone business in the U.S.

Per the order –

[ZTE] may not, directly or indirectly, participate in any way in any transaction involving any commodity, software or technology exported or to be exported from the United States.

According to the Ross, Jr., the order is being issued in response to ZTE illegally sending telecommunications equipment to North Korea and Iran. ZTE agreed to a criminal and civil fine of $1.19 billion in 2017, and in addition to this, said it would fire four of its executives and either reprimand or cut back bonuses of 35 other workers. ZTE did fire the four execs, but it failed to institute any punishment for those 35 employees.

ZTE made false statements to the U.S. Government when they were originally caught and put on the Entity List, made false statements during the reprieve it was given, and made false statements again during its probation.

Going back to the Denial Order itself, this has the potential for huge repercussions against ZTE. For starters, it prevents the ZTE from buying hardware components from companies like Qualcomm and Intel. Secondly, and perhaps even more damning, also makes it impossible for Google to license any of Android’s apps/services to ZTE.

Shortly after the order was issued, the National Cyber Security Centre also reached out to the United Kingdom’s telecom entities saying that using any services or equipment provided by ZTE would be a national security risk.

Per Dr. Ian Levy, the Centre’s technical director –

It is entirely appropriate and part of NCSC’s duty to highlight potential risks to the UK’s national security and provide advice based on our technical expertise. NCSC assess that the national security risks arising from the use of ZTE equipment or services within the context of the existing UK telecommunications infrastructure cannot be mitigated

Where in the world does ZTE go from here? The company may still have a chance at redeeming itself in the UK, but as far as the U.S. goes, that’s a much different story. A ban of this magnitude is effectively a death sentence for ZTE’s US smartphone operations, so this could very well be an end of an era.

No matter where you live in the world, what’s your take on all this?

ZTE’s apparently making a phone with two notches because of course they are

Amazon made a lightweight browser for India, and it’s fantastic

Amazon’s lightweight web browser is designed for low-powered devices.

Amazon introduced the Kindle Lite app late last month, offering a similar experience as the full-fledged Kindle client for a fraction of the size. Now, the retailer has rolled out a lightweight web browser dubbed Internet, which comes in at just 2MB and takes up just 26MB of storage space on your phone.

One of the key highlights with Amazon’s browser is a private mode, which is essentially the same thing as Chrome’s incognito mode. The homepage has a trending news section that refreshes every few minutes, with stories ranging from entertainment to sports (with a focus on cricket updates), and current events.

The homepage also has links to popular sites, including Amazon, Cricbuzz, Facebook, BookMyShow, and Twitter. Local handset maker Intex’s site is also listed here for whatever reason, and it’s likely Amazon has inked a deal with the manufacturer to pre-install its browser on Intex’s phones.

The browser comes with a download manager as well (a must-have for markets like India), and while the default search engine is Bing, you can change it to Google from the settings. The URL for the Play Store listing suggests the codename for the browser is Garuda, who in Hindu mythology is considered to be the god of flight (he’s also associated with speed, which is what Amazon is going for here).

Amazon’s lightweight browser is perfect for entry-level devices.

As for the browser’s performance, it obviously runs fine on devices like the Nokia 7 Plus, and it was just as fluid on the few entry-level phones I tested it on. It truly shines on low-powered hardware, and it would’ve been the ideal browser for the likes of Nokia 1, HMD’s first Android Go phone. However, the browser isn’t compatible with Android Go just yet, and hopefully that will change once it officially launches.

The browser went live sometime last month, and it has over a hundred installs — likely from Amazon employees dogfooding the app. TechCrunch spotted the listing yesterday, and it’s likely we’ll see Amazon make a formal announcement very soon. For what it’s worth, Amazon undertook the same strategy with the Kindle Lite app: it was available for download on the Play Store for several weeks before the retailer officially announced it.

With the launch of Kindle Lite and now a lightweight browser, Amazon is expanding its ecosystem efforts in India. The Amazon Prime subscription in India is the best deal in e-commerce today, with an annual membership costing just $15 (₹999) in the country.

Prime subscribers also get unlimited access to Prime Video, and Amazon recently rolled out Amazon Music in the country, giving customers the ability to stream millions of songs for free. With its foot firmly in the door when it comes to music and video streaming, it now looks like Amazon is set to increase its presence in India by introducing lightweight apps tailored for budget phones.

Download Amazon Internet from the Play Store (free)

The future of Android TV is less hardware, more YouTube TV

Take the Chromecast and make it smarter, maybe with a remote control for those in need.

We’re rapidly approaching that time of year where we hear more about what Google wants the next stage of its platforms to look and feel like. While all eyes are focused on the next flavor of Android on phones and tablets (and maybe even Chromebooks) you can bet Google is going to continue its efforts in the living room. While Google’s Chromecast platform continues to be explosively popular, Android TV has yet to find the same groove.

If Google is going to grow the living room experience into something more than just a phone-controlled platform, I think a combined hardware and software refresh is in order.

A box you hide behind the television

Chromecasts are responsible for a lot of industry firsts, but the one big “feature” you see everywhere now is to dangle a dongle off the HDMI port behind your television so no one can see the wires. The ability to connect a USB cable to a port on your television so it could power the original Chromecast wasn’t recommended, but it was effective as a “set and forget” device. Fast-forward to today, and HDMI dongles from Roku and Amazon are aggressively pushed as alternatives to the ridiculously popular Chromecast family of products.

Just be a really good streaming box I never have to look at or think about, but know it’s there when I need it.

If this works with a Chromecast, why not Android TV? We recently saw news of such a dongle passing through the FCC with a giant G across the body, and I think that’s the right way to go with this platform. For those Android TV users who don’t need 1TB of local storage attached for media or games, a 4K dongle with access to all of the Android TV apps is all you really need. Just be a really good streaming box I never have to look at or think about, but know it’s there when I need it.

I’m one of those people who is perfectly happy to use my phone to control my Chromecast at all times, but I know plenty of people who want a good ol’ fashioned remote control to navigate all of these experiences. Fortunately, the Android TV “lean back” UI is already really good at this. Set up this now-invisible Android TV box so HDMI controls flip to that input when I press a button on the remote, and maybe a separate toggle to flip back to the previous input when I’m done, and I can see a lot of people being very happy with this experience.

But really, what a new Android TV device needs more than anything else is a compelling price tag. For what I use Android TV for, most of these boxes are too expensive. I think the NVidia Shield Android TV player is great for what you get, but I don’t need another game console. With the 4K Chromecast Ultra priced at $70, I think Google could make some real headway with an Android TV box priced at around $80-$90. With Apple’s TV box ringing in at $150 and Amazon’s Fire TV available for $70, Google could own this middle ground with a few extra compelling features. It would also be cool to see Google take a page from Amazon’s playbook and offer a bundle with an HD antenna included for cord cutters, but keeping it all under $100 is the key I think.

Blow me away with software

Google’s “lean back” UI does a great job offering big buttons with easy-to-read text and some great auto-play capabilities, but it’s time for Android TV to become a whole lot smarter than it is right now. If Android TV is going to be seen as a step above the Chromecast, it needs to feel like a unified experience and actually deliver on some of the promises we’ve heard from all of the connected box companies over the years.

I want a single UI for all of the shows I watch across all of these services, something Google gets closer than most to pulling off when set up correctly. Give me the list of shows I am watching, and pull the latest episode from whichever app has it. I don’t need to be taken to the Hulu app to choose from a list of options. I want to turn on my TV, see the next episode of The Flash is ready to watch, and immediately start watching it as soon as I hit play. The “lean back” UI from Google gets close to this already, I’d like to see it get a little smarter to keep the momentum going.

Google has a unique opportunity here to make YouTube TV do some things it can’t do elsewhere.

Any mention of a new Android TV is going to include Google Assistant, and I’m very excited by this. Google’s current efforts to control a Chromecast through Google Home is admirable, but not quite as functional as it could be. Basic things like movies I have rented in Google Play are frequently difficult for Assistant to find, and I want the next wave of Android TV to fix this. With deeper access to the titles and shows I say are important to me, I’d like Assistant to not only be better able to recognize shows when I ask for them but also be able to tell me when I’m not at home and ask what new shows are available.

Finally, I think Google has a unique opportunity here to make YouTube TV do some things it can’t do elsewhere. It would be cool to see YouTube TV interact with an HD Antenna through YouTube TV, and treat this secondary input the same as streaming video from the paid service. If I have access to channels through my HD Antenna that I can’t get on YouTube TV, I would like to be able to watch those channels from everywhere and maybe even have access to Cloud DVR for those channels. It also wouldn’t suck to be able to flag certain Cloud DVR recordings for different family members, maybe with notes attached so when my spouse sits down to watch something there’s a little pop-up from me saying something positive about that episode.

Eager to see more at Google I/O

If the FCC teaser we got last week wasn’t enough to assure we’re going to see something Android TV related at Google I/O, the “What’s new with Android TV” session on the first day of the conference seals the deal. As for when we will see these new things out in the real world, who knows! Google may take to the stage and say a new Android TV box is at your local Best Buy right now, like they have done in the past. On the other hand, it could be these new gadgets and the accompanying OS updates are going to be made available alongside the next major Pixel release.

What do you want to see in Android TV? Share you thoughts in the comments!

Huawei will stop focusing on the U.S. following security setbacks

After months of pushback, Huawei’s reached its breaking point.

After months of setbacks over security concerns from the U.S. government, Huawei has finally reached its breaking point. During a meeting in its home of Shenzhen, China, Huawei agreed that it’ll be shifting its focus and resources to other markets outside of the States.

During the meeting, rotating CEO Eric Xu said –

It is beyond myself to clearly explain what is going on between the two countries.

Huawei’s troubles began this January when its plans to launch the Mate 10 Pro on Verizon and AT&T were thwarted after the U.S. determined the company was a national security threat. AT&T was later urged to stop its commercial relationship with Huawei, and in February, the FBI, NSA, and CIA began telling American consumers to not buy Huawei phones.

Huawei’s done fighting with the U.S. government and its mistrust of the company.

Best Buy then succumbed to the pressure in March by announcing it’d stop selling Huawei phones, tablets, smartwatches, laptops, and all Honor devices, and while Huawei’s other CEO, Richard Yu, said the company would continue its efforts in the U.S., it looks like the company’s finally had enough.

Along with Huawei, ZTE’s also been faced with just as much pushback in the country. The Department of Commerce issued a seven-year ban on April 16 preventing ZTE from using any hardware or software that’s exported from the U.S., and on April 18, it was reported that Alphabet was considering revoking ZTE’s Android license.

This recent attack on China-based telecommunication companies has been in full force throughout most all of 2018, and it doesn’t appear to be going away any time soon.

Whether you live in the U.S. or somewhere else in the world, what’s your take on this?

Why does the U.S. government mistrust Huawei and not ZTE or Lenovo?

Clean your house, your driveway, and more with this $102 Greenworks 1950 PSI pressure washer

Your cleaning needs more power.

The Greenworks 1950 PSI 13 Amp 1.2 GPM Pressure Washer is down to $101.99 on Amazon. It normally sells for around $182, and this drop is one of the best we’ve ever seen.

This sale is part of Amazon’s Gold Box deal of the day. There are several different attachments for the pressure washer on sale as well, like this $15 25-foot hose attachment. There’s also a smaller pressure washer on sale for $58.12, but it’s more of a backpack than a pushable machine.

The main pressure washer has a heavy-duty 13 Amp induction motor capable of 1950 PSI and 1.2 GPM. It comes with a 25-foot high pressure hose and 35-foot electric cable. It also has soap tanks, 40-degree nozzles, wand, and a low-pressure foam sprayer. Users give it 4.2 stars based on 152 reviews.

See on Amazon

Best Android apps for your Chromebook

An injection of over 1,000,000 Android apps does a great job filling in the holes in Chrome.

A few Chromebooks already have Android apps through Google Play. More are scheduled to get them, and most new Chromebooks will ship with the Play store working from day one. Android app support has also been announced for several Chromeboxes and the Chromebit. It’s a slow process, but it is happening.

Android apps will change how you use your Chromebook. They have already changed things like how much storage is enough or how useful a touchscreen is on a small laptop. They fill a void that many people needed to be filled before they would purchase a Chromebook because they needed support for a particular app or just wanted a bigger selection. Android apps also help when developers that have a Chrome app aren’t offering the same feature set as the Android equivalent. They’ll also expose more people to Chrome OS which will make native Chrome apps even better because developers will need to pay more attention to it. Android apps on Chrome are good no matter how you look at it.

Of course, some apps fill that void better than others. Here is the best of the best when it comes to Android apps for your Chromebook.

The best Chromebooks you can buy

Infinite Painter

If your Chromebook has pen support, you need to try Infinite Painter. Even if you aren’t the artsy type you’ll appreciate just how well it works.

The tools and features you expect are there, layers, filters and effects, transformations, you name it. But what sets Infinite Painter apart are the brushes and how they work with the different paper textures available. We expect things to look and feel different when using different textures and Infinite Painter does it better than anyone else.

Download Infinite Painter (free)

Slack

You might not use Slack, but you probably should. It’s a cross-platform service where you can chat with friends or co-workers with necessary features like private chats (including private group chats) and voice/video calls. You can even program bots for your channel(s). We use it here at Mobile Nations as our primary way to communicate.

And the Android version of the Slack App is great! It’s far better than the native Chrome offering and runs flawlessly in its own resizable window on your desktop. It’s also integrated perfectly and notifications come in the same way all your Chrome notifications do. Slack is the first icon I click when I open the lid on my Chromebook.

Download Slack (free)

Quik

Quik is a great lightweight video editor built for Android phones and tablets. It’s not a replacement for Final Cut Pro X or Sony Vegas or any other professional-level video editing environment nor does it pretend to be. But it is a really easy way to build a very nice video from a bunch of short (or long) clips.

Quik is from GoPro and works great with GoPro footage through the Android app or from the GoPro Plus service. But it can also pull videos from your gallery or Google Photos or Facebook until you hit the 75 clip limit. The editor has automated tools for things like smart cuts and highlights, but you can also do everything by hand. It’s free, so why not check it out?

Download Quik (free)

Pocket Casts

There are ways to manage your podcast feeds via the web or through Chrome, but none of them are half as good as Pocketcasts.

Pocketcasts is one of the best ways to download and listen to the latest episodes from all of your podcasts on Android, and it works the same way on your Chromebook. You can let your list play in the background while you’re doing anything else, and a click in the notification tray brings up media controls if you need to skip ahead or backward. It’s also a good bit cheaper than the web version, though it’s worth just as much.

Download Pocket Casts ($2.99)

Unclouded

Now that you can use the Unclouded app for Android you have a way to access all your stuff in the cloud.

Chromebooks work really well with Google Drive. With a fast connection, it’s just like working in an office where folders are on a central server but integrated into your files, too. If you use Google Drive for all your stuff you’re set. But most of us use other services, too. Unclouded will put Google Drive, Dropbox, OneDrive, Box and Mega into its file explorer and you can open, download, upload and whatever just like you were working on a PC with an app from the company.

Just be careful you don’t download everything if you have a Chromebook with limited storage.

Download Unclouded (free)

Firefox

You can’t install another browser built to run on Chrome OS, but you can install one built to run on Android.

You can sync with other devices running Firefox, have the same privacy settings that you have on any other version of Firefox, and can use the same extensions across every installation. You can run the Android version of Firefox full-screen and set things to always serve the desktop page instead of mobile.

Chrome is a great browser. But it’s not the only great browser.

Download Firefox (free)

Microsoft Office

Microsoft may be struggling in mobile, but they rule the roost when it comes to the basic productivity tools we call an office suite.

Google Docs works great for most people. But Microsoft’s offerings for Android do, too. You can install Word, Powerpoint, and Excel for Android on your Chromebook and get the same app you would have on a full-sized Android tablet. Which means they are pretty darn good. In fact, it’s better using them on your Chromebook because you have a keyboard every time you open them. They still backup your documents to the cloud so your files are available from anywhere, and they’re hundreds of dollars less than the versions for Windows or Mac — free.

• Download Microsoft apps (free w/ subscription)

Almost every app in Google Play will run on a Chromebook that has the Play store enabled. Be sure to tell everyone what apps you’re using on your Chromebook that fill your app gap so we all can check them out!

Update, April 2018: Made sure the best apps were featured and added Infinite Painter for Chromebooks with Pen support.

Chromebooks

• The best Chromebooks
• Should you buy a Chromebook?
• Google Play is coming to Chromebooks
• Acer Chromebook 14 review
• Join our Chromebook forums

Android P will remember volume levels for individual Bluetooth devices

Per-device volume levels will finally be a thing 🙏

There’s a lot to look forward to in Android P, and during next month’s Google I/O conference, we should get even more info on what to expect from the new software later this year. We already outlined some of our favorite features found in Android P so far, but it looks like another recently discovered one will make using Bluetooth speakers and headphones much more enjoyable.

As it currently stands, the volume you set for one Bluetooth device remains the same for whatever else you use. For example, if you’re jamming out to your favorite tunes at max volume with a Bluetooth speaker, your volume will remain at full blast when you put on your wireless headphones – even if you were last listening to them at a lower level.

Thankfully, according to XDA Developers, Android P will change this. Spotted in a commit in the Android Open Source Project, there’s a new item called “Implement Bluetooth device volume memory” and states –

Bluetooth volume memory is now handled on a per device basis. The volume is stored in a shared preference and is loaded every time the device is active.

In other words, if you have your Bose QC 35s set at 50% volume, they’ll remain that way even if you crank things up to 100% on your UE Boom 2.

The commit was merged shortly after it was discovered, meaning that it’ll more than likely be available to use in the second developer preview for Android P.

Android P: The best new features so far

Moss for PlayStation VR: Everything we know about Book One and Book Two

Helping a little, armored mouse solve puzzles? squee!

A new game by Polyarc games studio, Moss is the fictional world told of in a book that you, the player, are reading. Through the book, you create a connection with Quill, the eponymous hero of the tale, a small mouse with armor and sword who, with your help, solves puzzles and fights other woodland creatures to achieve some unknown end.

The premise of the game is shrouded in mystery. All we really know is that you play some sort of spirit that has a connection with Quill, a denizen of the world of Moss, who is out to make her mark in the world. Using your connection to Quill and some helpful sign language on her part, you must quest to save the world! Or destroy the world! or.. actually we really don’t know what the quest is for, but we excited to find out!

Polyarc has released some super cute cards explaining the backstory of some of the people you are likely to meet in your journey through the game. I’ve not seen any of these characters in the demo so it’s exciting to know there are other cute, small creatures in this game for me to squee over.

What’s new with Moss?

On April 9th Moss Animation Director Rick Lico wrote a post over at the PlayStation Blog focusing on how Polyarc brought Moss to life and answered a few questions about the possibility of Book for the game.

Someone asked that as there was a trophy called “Book One” when you complete the game was there going to be a Book Two?

Rick answered by saying “Like any small, indy startup, we have a bigger plan we’d like to accomplish. We’re hoping that, thanks to our amazing fans, things will go well so we can see this plan through to completion. Fingers crossed.” So while that sounds like Polyarc would like to release a Book 2 they are being cautious on how they talk about it but given the critical success of Moss and the fan base, it has managed to create I think a Book 2 is looking really likely.

When asked whether Book 2 would take 3 years like the original game Rick did say “I certainly hope not! We’re working hard to make sure that’s not the case.” So take heart, it sounds like Polyarc wants more Quill adventures as much as we do.

On February 19, Polyarc revealed over Twitter release details as well as a new launch trailer.

And to hold you over until Moss launches on February 27, Studio Director Tam Armstrong’s blog in which he reveals our Moss Launch Trailer providing a glimpse of Quill’s story, more gameplay, and some of the fantastic places you’ll travel with her. https://t.co/wDJvMxhf8F #Moss

— Polyarc Games (@PolyarcGames) February 19, 2018

Moss was released on PSVR February 27, 2018. You can purchase it at Amazon for around $30.

Find it at Amazon

Check out the launch trailer to see a bit more about this cute little mouse on a heroic journey!

What is the Gameplay like?

In gameplay terms, Moss is a puzzle-solving game with some quirky fighting thrown in. The viewpoint is somewhat unique as you are playing a First Person game while controlling another character in 3rd person. This really gives the effect of you and Quill working together to achieve the goals instead of you actually being Quill.

Yes, you move her around and press buttons to make her fight but you are also you, moving things with the Sixaxis controller to help her solve puzzles. It makes the game feel very collaborative especially when you start moving the monsters around while also controlling Quill to help you solve puzzles. It’s a pretty unique looking experience.

In the latest footage, they have also mentioned that there will be collectibles to find in the game, always a pleasure for those of us who need to complete every little thing, that you can find in boxes, crates, and hidden ledges. At one point they show Quill running behind the scenery to access a ledge, there is nothing there right now but in the full release, there should be. We also got a chance to see how Quill is healed and it’s a delight! If you move your glowing orb into Quill you help her heal, and you get some of the best animations I’ve seen in a VR game ever.

More: Moss now available for purchase on Amazon for $29

Is it only in VR?

I spoke to the team at Polyarc on Twitter and asked them that exact question. Their response was was short and sweet though not reassuring.

Me: Have you thought about making a non-VR version? Similar to what Star Trek: Bridge Crew has done?

Polyarc: We have, but it will not work. There’s no way you could have the emotional experience playing Moss without VR.

So as much as I would love to see Quill in the hands of more people it’s clear that Polyarc has a vision for their little mouse adventurer and keeping it in VR is an integral part of that. But that also gives me hope that this foray into VR and Moss won’t be Polyarc’s last.

What is the World of Moss like?

Recently Polyarc gave the guys at Sony a sneak peek at 14 minutes of new footage from the world of Moss and it shows some interesting revelations. It seems that the world Quill inhabits was once ruled by Giants! In the opening scene, we see Quill looking cute as all heck, sleeping by a campfire on the lee side of what looks to be a statue of a human, or whats left of one. We can also see a shipwreck out in the ocean and a huge castle in the very far background that seems to be her goal. All these hints make us think the world Quill lives in did once have people in but they are no longer around.

What’s interesting about the world of Moss is that it’s clear the small creatures of the world have flourished. They don’t live in giant homes that were left by something else, they have their own, mouse-sized houses, and in the case of the new footage, mines that have been around for a long time. All of this makes me feel like it’s a living, breathing world. One that is fleshed out in a way we rarely see in VR games.

More: Learn about the world of Moss

Can I use Motion Controllers?

The controls for Moss are like any other 3rd person platform game, using thumbsticks and button combos to move, jump and fight, but with the added bonus of using the motion controls on the Sixaxis to grab pieces of the world and move them so Quill can reach her goal.

You won’t be able to use the motion controllers on PlayStation VR for Moss as they have no thumbsticks or even a d-pad to control Quill as you journey through the game. Until Sony update their Controller system the best, and easiest way to control the game is through the Sixaxis. At least the Sixasis allows you to move the controller in free space making use of the room VR gives you to work with.

More: Top tricks to help you complete Moss

How long is Moss?

Polyarc has said that an experienced, hardcore gamer could get through the main story in 2-3 hours but for those of us who want to savor the world, look at the beautiful scenery, and get to know our hero, we should be looking at least 7 hours of the main storyline.

For a game that’s only $29.99 and looks to be just the start of a whole new world, I think we will have a lot of time to explore the world of Moss.

What systems is Moss available on?

Recently in an AMA, the Polyarc team said that they were concentrating on making Moss the best game they could PlayStation VR but would love to bring it to other platforms including Daydream and GearVR. The issue right now for them is that they require both head and hand tracking which the phone based headsets don’t allow. With the imminent arrival of the Oculus Go and Daydream Standalone things may change, however. You can find the full AMA here for more details.

I think we are likely to see a Rift/Vive port of the game fairly quickly after initial launch as both those headsets have thumbsticks on their controllers as well as buttons so it should be possible. We will update you when we can.

More: Everything you need to know about Oculus Go

When Can I play Moss and How much will it cost?

Polyarc released Moss in February, too much acclaim but if you can’t afford the full game right now there is another way to play Moss. If you head over to the PlayStation Store you can download the PlayStation Vr Demo Disc 2 which has a short level of Moss to play.

In the Demo, you get to meet Quill for the first time, work on some puzzles, fight some cute monsters, and even see Quill use ASL for the first time! I have to say seeing Quill use an actual sign language in the game was a real treat for me, as I’m sure it will be to people who use it on a daily basis. Polyarc said it seemed the ideal way for Quill, who doesn’t speak your language to communicate in-game. It is well worth playing the demo before buying the game as the demo disc is free to download and lets you get a taste of things to come.

Moss is available to purchase now for $29.99.

Updated April 2018: Did you beat Moss? It looks like there might be more to this story eventually!

PlayStation 4

• PS4 vs. PS4 Slim vs. PS4 Pro: Which should you buy?
• PlayStation VR Review
• Playing PS4 games through your phone is awesome

Amazon

Save up to 45% on select Timbuk2 messenger bags and backpacks

Carry your stuff from here to Ti…. well, you know.

Amazon is having a huge one-day sale on Timbuk2 backpacks and bags, saving you 25% on your purchase. This sale includes messenger bags, backpacks, and duffel bags, like the Blink Pack in black for $48, The Closer Case for $113.24, and many more.

Not all sizes and colors are on sale, so here’s a few that are with the specific qualities to look for:

• Ramble Backpack – $66.75 (Was $89)
• Classic Print Messenger Bag – $74.25 (Was $99)
• The Closer Case – $113.24 (Was $149)
• Blink Pack – $48 (Was $119)x

This is an Amazon Gold Box deal so this sale ends today. Check out the full list.

Huawei P20 Pro and P20 Lite are launching in India on April 24

Huawei is bringing its latest flagships to India next week.

Huawei unveiled the P20 and P20 Pro last month in Paris, and the flagships are set to make their way to India next week. Huawei India is sending out invites to the media for an event on April 24 in New Delhi, where the company is expected to launch the P20 Pro and the P20 Lite in the country.

The Huawei P20 Pro is notable for having three cameras at the back, with a 40MP sensor joined by a 20MP monochrome sensor and an 8MP telephoto lens that offers 3x optical zoom. The phone also features a 6.1-inch 2240 x 1080 panel (with a notch), Kirin 970 chipset, 6GB of RAM, 128GB of internal storage, 24MP front camera, Wi-Fi ac, Bluetooth 4.2, and a massive 4000mAh battery.

On the software side of things, the P20 Pro offers EMUI 8.1 based on Android 8.1 Oreo. The phone ticks all the right boxes both on the hardware and software side of things, and we’ll have to wait until next week to find out what it costs in the country. The Huawei P20 Pro retails in the UK for £799 ($1,130), so it will go up against the likes of the Galaxy S9+ in India, which costs ₹64,900 ($990).

As for the P20 Lite, the phone offers a 5.84-inch 2280 x 1080 panel (also with a notch), Kirin 659 chipset, 4GB of RAM, up to 64GB of storage, dual 16MP + 2MP cameras at the back, and a 3000mAh battery.

I’ll be on the ground at Huawei’s launch event in Delhi, so stay tuned for updates regarding the P20 Pro and P20 Lite in India.

Huawei P20 and P20 Pro hands-on preview