Wirecutter’s best deals: Save $30 on an Apple Watch Series 3

This post was done in partnership with Wirecutter. When readers choose to buy Wirecutter’s independently chosen editorial picks, it may earn affiliate commissions that support its work. Read their continuously updated list of deals here.

Amazon Fire HD 8

Street price: $80; Deal price: $55 w/ Prime

At $55, this is a nice drop for Prime members on the Amazon Fire HD 8, beating the deal pricing we saw in late March by $5. While we’ve seen this tablet fall as low as $50, $55 is still a tremendous price for it as it usually goes for $80. If you or someone in your life needs a basic tablet, it’s a great option at this price.

The Amazon Fire HD 8 is our budget pick in our guide to the best Android tablet. Ryan Whitwam wrote, “Most people use tablets for streaming video, browsing the Web, and reading. The Amazon Fire HD 8 excels at all three and is the best budget Android tablet we’ve tested. The Fire HD 8 starts at just $80 (with lockscreen ads), but it lacks the powerful hardware or high-resolution screens of the ZenPad or Galaxy Tab S3. The base model of the Fire HD 8 has only 16 GB of storage, but it accepts microSD cards. It also uses Amazon’s services, not Google’s, which means no easy way to use Google Play Store or Google apps—adding them yourself requires some technical knowledge.”

Anker PowerPort Wireless 5 Pad

Street price: $20; Deal price: $15 w/ code VERGEAA2

Use code VERGEAA2 in cart to drop the price of the Anker PowerPort Wireless 5 Pad from $20 to $15. This matches the lowest price we’ve seen for this recommended Qi charging pad. The Anker PowerPort Wireless 5 is notable for how inexpensive it is, but an AC wall adapter isn’t included, so you’ll need to provide your own.

The Anker PowerPort Wireless 5 Pad is our inexpensive pick in our guide to the best Qi wireless charger for iPhone and Android. Nick Guy wrote, “Anker’s PowerPort Wireless 5 Pad and PowerPort Wireless 5 Stand are the most affordable WPC-certified chargers we’ve tried from a reputable company, and in our tests they performed as well as the more expensive Samsung models we recommend as our main picks. They’re extremely basic black-plastic-and-rubber units that simply get the job done. Notably, though, neither model comes with an AC adapter, so they’re not complete options out of the box. You can use any USB charger you have lying around, or buy one separately.”

Guy continues, “The Pad is 4 inches in diameter and a little under 0.4 inch thick; it’s so light that it feels kind of empty. It’s grippy enough on top to hold a bare phone in place, but not tacky, and the same rubber material on the bottom holds the charger itself in place. A tiny blue LED glows to indicate when the charger is engaged.”

Apple Watch Series 3

Street price: $330; Deal price: $300

The Apple Watch Series 3 (aluminium) is seeing a rare sale presently on both sizes. The 38mm is down to $300 from $330 and the 42mm is down to $330 from $360. All 3 colors of each size are on sale and shipping is free through Best Buy. This is one of the first drops we’ve seen – we’re hoping for more significant discounts in the future.

The Apple Watch Series 3 is our upgrade pick in our Apple Watch guide. Nick Guy and Dan Frakes wrote, “The Apple Watch Series 3 is essentially identical to the Series 1 on the outside—and very similar on the inside—but it has a few upgrades for those who need serious exercise tracking. The Series 3’s $80 price premium gets you built-in (no phone needed) GPS, swim-friendly waterproofing, and a brighter screen that’s easier to see outside. (The Series 3 also includes an AC wall charger; with the Series 1, you provide your own charger or use your computer’s USB port.)”

Guy and Frakes continue, “The Series 3 also has a few other upgrades compared with the Series 1, some more noticeable than others. The aforementioned brighter OLED screen (1,000 nits versus the 450 nits of the Series 1) doesn’t seem “twice as bright” to our eyes, as Apple claims, but it’s definitely brighter, especially in direct sunlight. The Series 3 also has a faster processor, a barometric altimeter for counting floors and tracking elevation, and audible Siri responses (the voice assistant can speak to you through the Watch’s speakers, rather than just displaying text on the screen.)”

Bonavita BV382510V 1.0L Digital Variable Temperature Gooseneck Kettle

Street price: $67; Deal price: $56

Down to $56, this is the lowest price we’ve seen on the Bonavita BV382510V 1 liter gooseneck electric kettle. A favorite of pour-over coffee enthusiasts because of the precise temperature controls and elongated spout, Bonavita is a respected name in coffee circles. This is a great chance to up your coffee game.

The Bonavita BV382510V is our runner-up pick in our guide to the best electric kettle. Michael Sullivan, Winnie Yang, and Tim Barribeau wrote, “We think the stainless steel Bonavita BV382510V 1.0L Digital Variable Temperature Gooseneck Kettle (a design also available in a larger, 1.7-liter version) represents an excellent compromise between a traditional tea kettle and one better suited for making pour-over coffee (see our guide to the best pour-over coffee gear for more). Although this model wasn’t the fastest kettle to bring water to a boil, the Bonavita had the most accurate temperature controls among all the models we tested. The long, gooseneck spout provides superior pouring technique, and the interface is easy to use. We also like the looks of this kettle; it’s handsome enough for you to keep it on your kitchen counter.”

Because great deals don’t just happen on Thursday, sign up for our daily deals email and we’ll send you the best deals we find every weekday. Also, deals change all the time, and some of these may have expired. To see an updated list of current deals, please go here.

Sweden modified a road to recharge EVs while driving

You can now charge your electric vehicle as you drive in Sweden, but only for about 2km (1.2 miles). That’s the length of a road outside Stockholm that’s been embedded with electrified rail, which is the first length in a government-planned nationwide rollout of EV-recharging streets. Unfortunately, you won’t be able to juice up a stock electric car on these roads: Vehicles need to drop a movable arm on the rail itself to recharge.

Think of it like the old Scalextric electric toy cars that drew power from the track — except, in this case, it’s more like a record needle. It may not be so fragile as the latter; The arm automatically disconnects should the vehicle stray from the rail. Its ‘dynamic charging’ only funnels electricity to a vehicle while it’s in motion. The system can even calculate the amount of energy consumed and debit it to the proper vehicle and user.

The rail-and-arm certainly seems easier to install on both roads and cars than the overhead wire system Sweden experimented with two years ago. But the plan isn’t to electrify all 500,000km of road in the country. Instead, the government aims to install rails in the 20,000km that constitute highways, the chief executive of the eRoadArlanda consortium behind the project told The Guardian.

“If we electrify 20,000km of highways that will definitely be be enough,” eRoadArlanda CEO Hans Säll said. “The distance between two highways is never more than 45km and electric cars can already travel that distance without needing to be recharged. Some believe it would be enough to electrify 5,000km.”

The electrified rail system is expected to cost €1m per kilometre, which would make it 50 times cheaper than building an urban tram line, according to The Guardian. But installing these roads could encourage automakers to include smaller batteries in their EVs if they end up counting on these strips to recharge electric cars mid-drive.

Source: The Guardian

White Castle serves up plant-based meat with the Impossible Slider

Now that the Impossible Burger is easier to find thanks to an increased production capacity, it’s likely we’ll see it at more fast-food places than ever. That’s a good thing for both its parent company as well as those of us who could stand to eat a little less red meat. Popular fast-food joint White Castle is now serving the “Impossible Slider” at 140 different restaurants in New York, New Jersey and Chicago, and claims that it is the largest single restaurant group to serve the Impossible Burger.

The plant-based sliders will be topped with smoked cheddar cheese, pickles, onions and served on the White Castle signature bun. You can get your own singular slider for $1.99, or grab it as part of a combo meal. “White Castle’s model has been often imitated but never duplicated — an impressive feat in the hyper-competitive fast-food sector,” Impossible Foods’ CEO Dr. Patrick O. Brown said in a statement. “We look forward to working closely with White Castle, and together learning how to popularize plant-based meat with mainstream burger lovers.”

Via: Tech Crunch

Source: White Castle

‘Jessica Jones’ gets a third season at Netflix

Netflix was clearly confident Jessica Jones’ second season would be a hit, and it appears that belief was well-founded. The streaming giant has renewed Marvel’s jaded investigator-slash-superhero show for a third season just a month after the second string of episodes premiered on March 8th. There’s no date or casting details, but it could take a while before the saga continues — remember, the second season arrived more than two years after the series’ November 2015 premiere.

This isn’t the first Marvel series on Netflix to get a third season (Daredevil was renewed back in 2016), but it’s certainly important for a number of reasons. It suggests that Jessica Jones’ frequent focus on weighty social issues, not just fisticuffs, has found a consistent audience. It also shows that Daredevil isn’t the only Marvel show on Netflix to have a strong following — important when Netflix and Marvel are trying to establish a cinematic universe where every series plays a crucial role.

Here’s to season 3! 🥃 https://t.co/Ioq0nDtkwm pic.twitter.com/cPGyvWfPNf

— Jessica Jones (@JessicaJones) April 12, 2018

Via: EW (warning: major spolier)

Source: Netflix

New Vehicle Owners Largely Satisfied With Apple CarPlay and Android Auto

New vehicle owners who have purchased a car that’s equipped with Apple CarPlay or Android Auto are satisfied with the system and are increasingly relying on it for all in-car tasks, according to a new report released today by Strategy Analytics.

In a survey querying new vehicle owners that have Apple CarPlay or Android Auto installed in their vehicles, Strategy Analytics found that 34 percent of CarPlay owners rely on CarPlay for all of their audio infotainment needs, while 27 percent of Android Auto users use the Android platform exclusively for audio infotainment.

32 percent of CarPlay users and 33 percent of Android Auto users rely on those systems for all of their navigation needs, with CarPlay’s slightly lower number here likely attributable to customers who continued to be unsatisfied with Apple Maps compared to other mapping apps like Google Maps or Waze.

Speech recognition usage is said to be “strong” across both sets of users, with CarPlay owners taking advantage of Siri for hands-free tasks while driving.

Overall, more than 85 percent of CarPlay and Android Auto users are “somewhat or very satisfied” with their system, and more than 90 percent are likely to recommend those systems to others.

In a similar report from October, Strategy Analytics learned that CarPlay is becoming an increasingly important feature that consumers look for when purchasing a vehicle.

In the United States, for example, 23 percent of respondents said that CarPlay was a “must have” feature for a new car, while another 56 percent said they were “interested” in vehicles equipped with CarPlay.

While CarPlay has been available since 2015, car manufacturers did not begin widely adopting the feature until mid-2016. CarPlay is now included in many new vehicles from a wide range of manufacturers, with more than 200 vehicles on the market offering CarPlay support.

Related Roundup: CarPlay
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It’s a Space Thing charmingly recreates arcade shooter (review)

It’s a Space Thing takes players on a journey through the lenses of 80s era moon shades. Harkening back to the days of such classics as Space Invaders and Galaga, indie dev Brad Erkkila has struck a nice balance between nostalgia and present-day game mechanics.

With various game modes (Single/Multiplayer, Invaders and Boss Mode) along with character selection and achievements, gamers get to decide how to approach the galactic goodness offered up by IAST.

Blast Off

Getting going is just a matter of downloading from the Google Play Store, launching and connecting to your Google Play Games profile (should you choose to do so). You are then greeted with a cheeky sci-fi reference setting the tone immediately before being presented with game mode options.

Following your mode selection, it’s time to pick your character skin. Currently, there are eleven “things” to choose from to represent you on your retro-quest.

Straight Baller

The overall gameplay of IAST can be described as a quick-twitch shooter. While paying homage to its old-school brethren, it mirrors the same unyielding difficulty. But upon settling in, gamers will likely appreciate the opportunities for strategy in the forms of barricades and power-ups.

The goal is to simply dodge fire from an opposing enemy scrolling across the top while you maneuver below armed with forcefields and a blaster (both items must recharge after use). Besting your opponent ten times will trigger a boss attack. Bosses come in many shapes and sizes and offer their own unique enhanced challenge.

Another method of playing is by switching to “Invaders” mode. This style pits your character against three stationary motherships which launch projectiles including spacecraft and energy spheres. This mode increases in difficulty every round and players amass an overall score.

The 2-player setting of IAST is way more fun than it should be. With online multiplayer being the norm these days, there is just something refreshing about being able to sit opposite a friend or family member in the same room, on one smart device, with the sole goal of conquering and disintegrating one another (Ah, old-fashioned wholesome fun).

Additionally, there is a standalone boss mode. You will make your way through a host of enemies:

• Widowmaker
• Tri-Orb
• Turbo Tyrant
• Eliminator
• Destructor
• Marauder
• Goliath
• Crusher
• Spectre

Accomplishing every boss mission (achievements) will give players access to all bosses.

Hella Tight

When replicating 80s gaming, music and sound effects are as important to the experience as the product itself. IAST hits the mark with accurately pitched “pew-pews” and a throwback electronic soundtrack provided by PlayOnLoop. Sound effects and/or music can be disabled within the audio settings in the event you are a killjoy.

Awe Dang

Being that IAST is a free app, of course, there are ads. They are quite frequent, but not overly invasive. Currently, there does not seem to be a way to disable, so deploying an ad-free paid version would be ideal.

Super Dope

It’s a Space Thing succeeds on many levels while faithfully recreating a slice of gaming from a bygone era. Players will appreciate how each component of this mobile gem was given proper attention.

With a distinct visual and audio vibe propped up by engaging game modes, IAST makes for a nearly perfect mobile experience for retro gamers and enthusiasts alike.

You can grab It’s a Space Thing in the Google Play Store.

Mercedes has a luxury car subscription service, too

Last month, car brands fell over themselves announcing new luxury vehicle subscription services. Latest but not least, Mercedes has added its own part-rental, part-concierge service to the list. A pilot program will begin in Nashville and Philadelphia this June.

Compared to services announced by other brands, we don’t know much about Mercedes-Benz Collection, as the company is calling it. Subscribers will be able to choose between several tiers, though it’s unclear how they differ. They’ll be able to choose from a ‘broad array’ of the automaker’s vehicles, including the high-performance Mercedes-AMG models. Like with other services, customers will be able to swap between vehicles on a whim.

Mercedes-Benz neglected to mention how much its service will cost, though competing ones cost between $600 (for a Volvo) to $2,000-per-month for BMW and Porsche. Like its higher-end rivals, the Mercedes-Benz Collection lets customers engage concierge services through a dedicated mobile app to, for example, arrange for staff to deliver a new vehicle to the subscriber’s location. The monthly fee also covers insurance, 24/7 roadside assistance and maintenance costs.

Via: The Verge

Source: Business Wire

‘Fortnite’ is back online after a day-long blackout

The popular game Fortnite is finally playable across all platforms after a server outage and emergency update took it offline for almost a day. According to a Reddit post by a company employee, a “critical failure with one of [the] account service databases” made the login and matchmaking systems unstable. But for their trouble, Epic Games is giving players of both the game’s battle royale and tower defense modes free in-game loot.

The Battle Bus once again operational! Hop in and hop on 🙂 🚍🎉

— Fortnite (@FortniteGame) April 12, 2018

The problems came hours after the studio updated Fornite with the large 3.5 patch yesterday (it’s unclear at this time if or how the database crash derived from the update). Per Epic Games’ status website, the company first reported issues with account services after 4pm ET on April 11th, and worked through the night to get the servers supporting all its games back online. At around 3:30pm ET today, the Fortnite account tweeted the all-clear (above) signaling the game was back online for all platforms. The game is back up to over 264,000 viewers on Twitch as of this writing, but even while the game was down last night, it still managed to get 50,000 people watching streamers sit at essentially blank screens.

To make up for the delay, Epic is giving Battle Royale players a free Back Bling gift this weekend and a pack of Battle Stars next week; Those who still load up the game’s original Save The World mode get a Troll Stash Llama and seasonal gold. Unfortunately, the account service issues have pushed the Fortnite team to delay the debut of the new 50v50 v2 Limited Time mode until sometime next week.

Source: Fortnite (Twitter), Epic Games

iMovie for iOS Gains Support for iPhone X Display and Adopts Metal for Graphics Processing

iMovie for iOS was today updated to version 2.2.5, introducing long-awaited support for the full screen edge-to-edge display of the iPhone X.

Along with iPhone X display support, today’s update also adopts Metal for graphics processing, and it improves overall stability. Apple says installing the new version of iMovie requires iOS 11.2 or later.

What’s New
– Updated for Super Retina display on iPhone X
– Adopts Metal for graphics processing
– Improves localization for Simplified Chinese
– Improves overall stability

This version of iMovie requires iOS 11.2

Since the iPhone X launched in November, iMovie was one of the major Apple apps that had not been updated with support for the new display, forcing iMovie users to deal with black bars on their flagship devices.

Thankfully, with the update, the iMovie app now displays properly on the iPhone X. Several other Apple apps have yet to be updated with iPhone X support, including iTunes Connect, iTunes Remote, Beats Pill+, Music Memos, and AirPort Utility.

iMovie for iOS version 2.2.5 comes just a few days after Apple released an update for the Mac version of iMovie with support for iPhone X resolutions for app previews and a number of bug fixes.

Tag: iMovie
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You may need to pay extra if you want to buy a home with Bitcoin

NurPhoto/Getty Images

With the surge in popularity of cryptocurrency, it’s becoming more acceptable to pay for things with Bitcoin. However, given the volatility of cryptocurrency exchanges, accepting Bitcoin can result in a loss for the seller if the market takes a downturn. One enterprising individual is hoping to cover any possible losses, and likely secure a gain, demanding a premium for accepting Bitcoin.

Hedge fund manager Claio Guazzoni de Zanett is selling his Manhattan townhouse, and potential buyers can pay the $30 million listing price in cash, with a mortgage loan through a bank, or use cryptocurrency to fund the transaction. If you use cryptocurrency, though you’ll have to pay $45 million. That’s a whopping 50 percent premium over the traditional list price.

No foreigner to cryptocurrency exchanges, Zanett is the founder of the Zanett Cryptocurrency Group and has been an investor in cryptocurrency and blockchain since at least 2015, according to CCN. “I’m a true believer in these networks, but it’s very volatile,” Zanett said of cryptocurrency exchanges in an interview with the Wall Street Journal. “They could be down 60 percent in two weeks.”

Zanett says he will accept Bitcoin (BTC), ethereum (ETH), or Ripple (XRP) for the transaction. The townhouse is listed as a six-story property in New York City’s Upper East Side neighborhood.

While Zanett asking for a 50-percent premium from buyers wishing to pay with cryptocurrency, he wouldn’t be the first to accept Bitcoin as a form of payment for real estate. One buyer in Colorado purchased a home for Bitcoin, but in a hybrid transaction scheme. In that purchase, the buyer slowly liquidated his cryptocurrency portfolio, converting his holdings into cash, which he used for the purchase.

Cryptocurrency investors could of course work their way around Zanett’s premium by selling their cryptocurrency holdings and converting their investment into cash. The cash can then be used to finance the purchase of the $30 million property, rather than transferring the cryptocurrency funds directly to Zanett.

As cryptocurrency gains momentum, it’s unclear if other real estate sellers or vendors would demand such a hefty premium when Bitcoin or similar funds are used in a transaction. In addition to Zanett’s listing, there are five cities around the world where you can use Bitcoin to pay for real estate, including Miami, Dubai, New York, Lake Tahoe, Nevada and Bali, according to Coin Telegraph.

If you’re looking for a house to buy, be sure to check out some of the best real estate apps available on mobile.

Editors’ Recommendations

• Purse.io lets you nab steep discounts on Amazon if you pay with Bitcoin
• What is Litecoin? Here’s everything you need to know
• Everything you need to know about Samsung Pay
• What is a blockchain? Here’s everything you need to know
• Everything you need to know about Google Pay and Google Pay Send