6 things to do once you set up your new PlayStation 4

Did you just unwrap a new PS4? Here’s where to start.

So you got a brand spanking new PlayStation 4 for the holidays and you couldn’t be more excited. You have your gorgeous new console all set up and ready to go but the only problem is you don’t know where to start. That’s OK! The sheer volume of things you can do with your PlayStation 4 can be a little overwhelming. Let’s take a look at a few of the cool things you can do with your sparkling new PS4.

• Customization
• Apps
• Demos
• PlayStation Plus
• Streaming
• The PlayStation App

Customization

Make that baby yours! There are quite a few ways that you can make your PS4 unique to you. You could pick up some accessories, or you can set up a custom theme which will give your dashboard a special look that’s different from the default. You can also set up a custom profile picture. The ways in which you can tweak your PS4 gaming experience is nearly endless so get in there and explore the options!

Apps apps apps

Just like any modern day console Sony has aimed to make the PlayStation 4 a one-stop shop for your living room entertainment. One of the ways they work toward that goal is in the wide wide world of apps. From movies and TV to sports and music, if it can be streamed you can probably do it on PlayStation 4.
Just go to the PlayStation Store, select “Apps” and start downloading to your heart’s content.

Dive into some demos

A great way to taste test the options available to you in the world of games is to download some free demos. There is a whole litany of free demos available to you on the PlayStation store. Just go to the store and select “demos”. It’s just like wandering around in Costco but with way fewer people standing in the way and the free samples are games instead of summer sausages.

The power of Plus!

One thing you might want to consider is signing up for a PlayStation Plus account. There are a few reasons to go ahead and take the plunge but one of the best is that nothing else will help you build a kick-butt game library like a Plus account. As a PlayStation Plus member, you will have exclusive access to great discounts and free games. What a beautiful modern world we live in!

Stream the dream

Speaking of beautiful modern worlds, there is no longer any reason to game in a vacuum. The ability to stream your gaming sessions is built right into the PS4. Streaming is no longer relegated to those that bought all sorts of specialized hardware and software. All you have to do is press a button! Simply press the share button on your controller, select Broadcast Gameplay, and then select the service of your choice. Once you’re connected you are ready to share your epic victories and crushing defeats with the viewing public.

The PlayStation app

There’s no reason to leave the PlayStation experience when you’re away from the house. Thanks to Sony’s PlayStation app you can stay connected to the action from your Android or iOS device. It’s actually a pretty well designed little app.

`You can get notifications, status updates, and message friends but the best functionality is that while you sit at your desk at work you can use the app to purchase a game and have it download directly to your PS4. That way when you finally get home from a long day at the factory you can kick back and start a brand new game without any waiting involved.

There are all sorts of things you can do on your new PlayStation 4 but the most important thing of all is to have fun. Dive in and explore all that is possible but don’t forget to play a few games every now and then!

PlayStation 4

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May 2018: This article was updated to ensure your first few moments with the PS4 are blissful.

PUBG Mobile v0.5.0 update adds desert map, new unlocks, and more

The update’s rolling out to users now.

PUBG Mobile is one of the most popular Android games on the market, and with the v0.5.0 update that’s rolling out now, a heap of additional content is coming to the game to make it even more addictive.

The most notable thing to keep an eye out for with this update is the new Miramar map. This is the desert map that’s been available on the desktop version of PUBG, and it also comes with fresh weapons and vehicles to check out.

Something else that’s new is Progress Missions. Progress Missions allow you to complete various challenges to earn rewards as you reach new levels, and these are also joined by weekly Activity assignments where you can earn even more goodies.

If you’d rather just purchase items for yourself, v0.5.0 introduces a Shop where you can buy specific clothing items for your character, as well as a Secret Stash where you’ll find “special discounted items.”

Last but not least, this update also adds rewards to unlock in Season 2, Local Quick Teams to easily join the party of a friend that’s next to you, and language-specific chat channels. For even more improvements coming to the game, check out the full patch notes here.

PUBG Mobile v0.5.0 is live on the Play Store, so be sure to click/tap the button below to grab the update now!

Download: PUBG Mobile (free)

Best streaming solutions for Android users

NVIDIA Shield TV ($179 at Amazon) is the best full Android TV experience you can buy.

Note: This is from our newest sister site, CordCutters.com. Check it out — you might recognize a name or three.

You have options.

When it comes to streaming TV, Android gets the short shrift. All the love tends to go to Roku and Amazon and Apple TV. And those are fine solutions.

But for many folks — particularly those who also rock Android devices in their daily lives — Android TV, and Chromecast along with it, shouldn’t be overlooked.

Here’s what I’d recommend an Android lover look at when it comes to cutting the cord.

At the very least, get a Chromecast

If nothing else, spend $35 and get yourself a Chromecast. This is the little HDMI dongle that’ll allow you to “cast” damned near anything on a TV in 1080p. You’re not streaming content directly from your phone — it’s the Chromecast itself that’s doing the heavy lifting. But you control it from your phone.

And it doesn’t just work with Android — you can cast content from an iPhone or iPad, and from a desktop browser.

How’s it work? You plug it in, and set it up through the Google Home app. Whenever you see the little cast icon, you hit it, then sit back and enjoy whatever content you want on the big screen. And all of the streaming services — Sling, PlayStation Vue, DirecTV Now, YouTube TV, etc. — support Chromecast.

And if want an upgrade, the $69 Chromecast Ultra will do all this, plus 4K resolution.

See at Google

Even better is Android TV itself

Now we’re really getting serious. Chromecast is great, but it’s not my favorite solution here. For one, you control it with a phone, not a proper remote. That’s fine, but it’s not great.

Shield TV is downright ancient by tech standards, but it’s still remarkably powerful and 100% usable.

Android TV is, as the name suggests, Android’s full TV experience. You can get it one of two ways — it can be built in to a TV itself and serve as the operating system, or you can get a standalone Android TV box.

Android TV has scores of Android apps available, including the obvious ones for streaming content — all the major services, Facebook, Twitter, Pluto, etc. — as well as a whole bunch of games and individual channels. If your TV also sports an OTA tuner, that’ll feed in there as well. Plus there’s a great YouTube experience.

A number of display manufacturers use Android TV as their OS of choice. Sony Bravia and Sharp Aquos are two of the major examples.

You also can get a set-top box that runs Android TV. There’s currently only one of those that we actually recommend — the $179 NVIDIA Shield TV. It’s a little long in the tooth, but it’s aged remarkably well. The software is kept current, it’s still ridiculously powerful, and you can hook it up to external drives and use it as a local entertainment server, if you that’s how you like to control your media.

Shield TV also is a more-than capable gaming platform, with tons of titles available through Google Play, and even more serious gaming through NVIDIA’s Geforce program.

By the way, Chromecast may already be built in

If you get a full on Android TV experience, Chromecast is built in already. You don’t need a separate puck. And a number of TVs that don’t run the Android TV operating system also have Chromecast support baked in.

Vizio is a big proponent of that. Toshiba is another. It’s a great option that won’t cost you anything extra.

The bottom line

Here’s the short version: Chromecast is great. Android TV is better. It ties in directly with your Google account, so all the movies and shows and music you’ve bought on one magically appears on the other. It’s got Chromecast built in, so it’ll work well with your Android phone — as well as with an iPhone.

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How to take a screenshot in Oculus Go

Seeing something awesome in Oculus Go that you want to share? Take a screenshot!

Oculus Go has a nice, easy-to-use feature that lets you take a screenshot of an app or game you’re using. If you’ve connected your Facebook account to your Oculus Go, you can share them on your timeline. If you aren’t signed into Oculus Go with your Facebook account, you can transfer the screenshots to your computer instead. Here’s how to take screenshots in Oculus Go.

• How to take a screenshot
• How to share a screenshot
• How to delete a screenshot

How to take a screenshot in Oculus Go

There is a dedicated button in your sharing menu that lets you trigger a screenshot. Once you click on it, you have five seconds to get back to the app or game you want to take a screenshot of.

I recommend navigating to the view you want to screenshot, then pausing the app app or game. When you click to take a screenshot, it will automatically un-pause the app or game so you’re where you want to be quicker. You might still have to click on Continue or select a video once you’re back in the content, but it’s faster than trying to open a slow app or get to the right game screen.

Launch your Oculus Go.
Select Sharing from the options panel at the bottom of the screen.

Select Take Photo.

Navigate back to the app or game you want to take a screenshot of. Remember, you only have five seconds, so you’ll have to click through to the correct screen quickly.

Screenshots are stored in your Oculus Go photo library where you can share them.

How to share a screenshot in Oculus Go

After you’ve taken a screenshot, you can share it directly to Facebook quickly and easily. If you don’t have your Oculus Go linked to your Facebook account, you can transfer your photos directly to your computer instead.

Launch your Oculus Go.
Select Sharing from the options panel at the bottom of the screen.

Select Share Photos.

Select the screenshot you want to share.
Click Add a caption to your screenshot to add a caption.
Click on Privacy to choose whether to share your photo publicly, with friends only, or just to yourself.

Click Share to Facebook.

How to delete a screenshot from your Gallery in Oculus Go

The last thing you’ll want to do is fill up your internal storage with a bunch of screenshots you’ve already shared on Facebook. Unfortunately, there isn’t any way to delete screenshots directly on Oculus Go. Instead, you’ll have to delete them by connecting your device to your computer and removing the files from the Oculus Go folder.

How to delete Oculus Go screenshots on Windows PCs

Connect your Oculus Go to your Windows PC with the included micro USB cable. You’ll be prompted to give access to your data.
Put your Oculus Go on and select Allow Access to Data.

A device file folder should pop up automatically. If it doesn’t, select Open Device to View Files and select VR-Headset in your File Explorer.

Click on Internal Shared Storage.

Click on Oculus.

Click on Screenshots.

Select and delete the screenshots you don’t want anymore.

How to delete Oculus Go screenshots on Mac

Download the File Transfer Tool from Android and install it on your Mac.
Open the File Transfer Tool on your Mac.
Connect your Oculus Go to your Mac with the included micro USB cable. You’ll be prompted to give access to your data.
Put your Oculus Go on and select Allow Access to Data.

Click on Oculus Go in the VR-Headset folder that pops up.

Click on Screenshots.

Select and delete the screenshots you don’t want anymore.

Any questions?

Do you have any questions about taking, sharing, or deleting screenshots in Oculus Go? Put ’em in the comments and we’ll help you out.

Oculus Go

• A parent’s guide to Oculus Go
• Oculus Go vs. Lenovo Mirage Solo
• Best Gamepad for Oculus Go
• Best Battery Backup for Oculus Go

Oculus Go 32GB
Oculus Go 64GB

5 great reasons to buy your first drone this summer

Grab a drone and see the world from a new perspective.

In the past decade, drones have gone from an expensive tool almost exclusively for filmmakers to a swelling consumer industry filled with drones at every price point.

Needless to say, it’s a great time to get into the drone hobby and there’s no better time than the beginning of summer to touch the skies with a drone of your own.

NOTE:As of 2018, the U.S. has reinstated the law requiring all unmanned aircraft to be registered with the FAA. It costs only $5 per aircraft to register and the government requires your email address, physical and/or mailing address, and the make and model of your unmanned aircraft. Once you’re registered, you’re valid for 3 years and are required to label your drone with your registration number.

It’s cheap to get started for beginners

If you’ve never owned a drone before, the idea of buying a $1000 piece of flying technology and crashing it on its maiden voyage might terrify you. And let’s be clear — that’s absolutely a possibility. Give a novice drone pilot a top-end, super fast drone and a crash landing of some sort is almost guaranteed.

Fortunately, there are quality drones available to fit into any budget. Sure, you’ll be exchanging some cool features like HD video and auto-piloting modes — but if you’re a complete novice to drones and other remote-controlled toys you’re best off getting something that lightweight and replaceable. Especially if you’re buying for a younger child, you want a drone that won’t cause too much harm if it comes crashing into someone, and also at a low cost point so you’re not absolutely heartbroken if it crashes and breaks.

Once you feel entirely comfortable piloting a cheap, plastic drone, you’ll feel that much more confident flying a more substantial product with higher top speeds and better features.

• Best Drones for Under $50 to Earn Your Wings

Great excuse to go outside and explore

So much of the technology we buy for entertainment purposes these days is designed to keep us staring at screens while sitting comfortably indoors. Drones, with rare exception, are strictly for flying outdoors, and can offer a great excuse to simply go out for a hike and see your world from a new perspective.

Now, it’s here that I should reemphasize that you shouldn’t be flying drones in congested urban areas, over busy streets, or anywhere that’s considered restricted airspace. You should be able to get away with some low-key practise flying at a local park, but ideally you’ll want to go be sure you’re flying legally and safely away from buildings, trees, people, and other vehicles.

That said, it’s a great reason to grab the drone and go explore a National Park, or some other really cool natural areas. If you’ve got kids, buy them a drone and take get them hooked on playing with tech that gets them outdoors!

• Best Drones for Kids

Take breathtaking photos and video

Lets be real — most of us see some of the epic footage and cool photos taken from drones and thing “I want to do that, too”.

The good news is that you can absolutely replicate some of those super awesome shots that look like it was shot by a professional without investing in a $21,000 rig capable of carrying a Hollywood film camera.

You’ll find capable camera drones for as low as $400 and some of the more premium models for closer to $2000. Typically, you get what you pay for in terms of video quality and other features such as the ability most DJI drones have to automatically lock on and track a moving object for excellent action shots as you bike down the side of a mountain or skateboard around like your Casey Neistat.

• Best Camera Drones in 2018

They’re easier to fly than ever

If you were an early adopter when consumer drones first started hitting the markets, you’ll know that they were crazy expensive and near impossible to control outside of near-perfect weather conditions.

These days, even the smallest drones you can buy will typically have on-board tech to keep your flight relatively steady. While I would certainly recommend starting out small and cheap with your first drone, if you gotta have a full-featured drone DJI has made incredible strides in making their industry-leading drone tech available in entry-level drones like the DJI Spark Mini Drone.

For just over $300, you get a full-featured drone with gesture and TapFly controls, active obstacle detection, and an HD video camera with subject tracking features. Just be assured that even the best-featured drone can still get away from you…

• Best Drones Under $300 in 2018

Join the ever-growing FPV drone racing community

I personally consider this the supreme end to becoming a hobbyist drone pilot. First-person view drone piloting takes an extreme amount of skill and technical ability to fly your drone with pinpoint accuracy, wearing a VR headset strapped to your face feeding you live video as your drone zips through the air.

If you’re curious, your best off Googling around to find any local drone racing communities in your area. It’s a great way to network with other likeminded individuals, and could also open your eyes to a bustling community that you never knew existed.

To become an elite drone racer will require serious investment of time and money to keep up regular practise and build a kit of replacement parts. Before you start investing on tech, you’re best off trying a drone racing simulator to get a feel for the insane speeds and dizzying twists and turns you’ll hope to experience in real life.

Have you hit the skies with a drone?

Share any tips or recommendations in the comments below!

Wi-Fi Alliance announces EasyMesh, Qualcomm promises support for WPA3

EasyMesh will allow mesh routers from different brands to communicate with each other.

W-Fi is a crucial part of what allows our digital world to keep spinning, and today, the Wi-Fi Alliance announced a brand-new standard to ensure it’s as easy-to-use as can be — EasyMesh.

Mesh Wi-Fi systems like Google Wifi and Eero are becoming increasingly more popular, and with EasyMesh, hardware from different brands will be able to work with one another.

Let’s say you’ve currently got Eero but want to give Google Wifi a shot. With EasyMesh, you could buy one Google Wifi router and connect it with your existing Eero ones — allowing you to mix and match systems to your heart’s content.

EasyMesh is a great idea, but there’s no guarantee it’ll see wide adoption. Companies aren’t required to add EasyMesh to their routers, and as The Verge points out, businesses love keeping consumers in their own ecosystems. Even so, the Wi-Fi Alliance remains optimistic that EasyMesh will catch on. As noted by Kevin Robinson, the Vice President of the Alliance —

That intelligence is where the differentiation is going to be. It opens up opportunities to use new controllers with existing equipment if someone develops more intelligence around managing the network.

Along with EasyMesh, there’s also news regarding WPA3 — the successor to WPA2. WPA3 will provide users with enhanced security measures even if the password for their network is less-than-stellar, data privacy when using a public/shared Wi-Fi network, and a “more seamless onboarding experience.” Qualcomm’s announced that it’ll begin integrating WPA3 across its entire lineup of mobile and networking hardware, with Senior Vice President and General Manager of Connectivity, Rahul Patel, saying —

By adopting the latest in encryption technology to protect Wi-Fi connected products from security attacks, Qualcomm Technologies helps customers build products that not only deliver the industry’s latest technologies to the market, but adopt the most advanced security standard available.

If you own a smartphone with Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 845 processor at the heart of it, you can expect WPA3 to be added at some point this summer.

How to change DNS settings on your Google Wifi

Best Strategy Games for PlayStation 4

If you’re looking to scratch the strategy itch on your PS4, check these titles out.

Once upon a time strategy games and consoles didn’t really get along. If you wanted to play great strategy games your best bet was to stick to a PC. However, things have changed. Consoles are far more powerful than they once were and various developers have created solid strategy games which you can experience from the comfort of your couch. If you enjoy getting down to the nitty-gritty, looking for any advantage, and tactical planning, then strategy games might just be what you’re looking for.

Here are some of the very best strategy games that the PlayStation 4 has to offer.

• XCOM 2
• Shadow Tactics: Blades of the Shogun
• Valkyria Chronicles Remastered
• Banner Saga
• Cities Skylines
• Battlestar Galactica Deadlock
• SteamWorld Heist
• Tropico 5

XCOM 2

Firaxis games have been churning out stellar strategy games for the better part of 2 decades. XCOM 2 is their second entry to the long-running series which was launched in 1994. Not unlike other installments, you take on the role of a commander in the military organization known as XCOM. It is your job to defend earth from occupying alien forces. XCOM 2 represents one of the purest military strategy experiences available on PS4. It actually feels like a PC game that was picked up and placed lovingly on your console. Head over to Amazon and you can get a copy for 30 bucks.

See at Amazon

Shadow Tactics: Blades of the Shogun

If you’re not into the idea of a science fiction based strategy game then maybe samurais are more your cup of tea. Shadow Tactics: Blades of the Shogun, developed by Mimimi Productions is set in Japan’s Edo period. Using real-time tactics you will command a squad of characters with various special abilities. It is your charge to investigate and take down a new warlord whose actions are serving to destabilize a unified Japan. It’s a great real-time strategy game and the addition of stealth elements brings interesting depth and tactical possibilities. It can be yours for $30 over at Amazon

See at Amazon

Valkyria Chronicles Remastered

While strategy games can be tons of fun to play, they are often not the most beautiful games in the world. So many games tend to default to a ¾ top-down view of the world with relatively unimpressive graphics. Valkyria Chronicles went another way entirely. With an anime-influenced painterly visual style, it is a joy to look at. Not only that, but the remastered version really puts a shine on the graphics. Aside from being a good looking game, it’s also a joy to play. As you control your characters you will move them in third-person and choose your shots. This element helps the game avoid the rinse and repeat feel that some tactical strategy games can fall victim to. If you missed this game when it was first released in 2008, now is a great time to check it out for 30 bucks at Amazon

See at Amazon

Banner Saga

Speaking of beautiful games, Banner Saga most certainly is one. First, imagine the beauty of Dragon’s Lair but then imagine a game that is actually fun and isn’t designed for the sole purpose of stealing your quarters. That game you just imagined is Banner Saga. By pairing one of my favorite strategy combat systems in recent years with beautiful graphics, you end up with one heck of a game. Banner Saga was developed by Stoic games and originally released in 2014 with a port to PS4 two years later. If you enjoy turn-based combat and have a soft spot in your heart for Norse mythology, then this game is square in the middle of your wheelhouse. The other great thing is that if you love it, you can jump right into its sequel and there is a third installment planned for 2018. You can pick it up at the PlayStation store for only $20.

See at PlayStation

Cities Skylines

Strategy games don’t always have to be about fighting, shooting, and blowing stuff up. Sometimes you want to create and build rather than smash and destroy. City management games have long been an option for those looking for a more peaceful experience. For those looking for that type of game, SimCity was the go-to for many years. Then in 2013, industry darlings, EA dropped the most recent in the SimCity series. Without going into too much detail, this made a lot of people very angry and was widely regarded as a bad move. Developer Colossal Order saw the fumble, picked up the ball, and ran. In 2015 they release Cities Skylines, the answer to everything wrong with SimCity. If you want to dip your toe into the world of city management then you can’t do much better than Cities Skylines for 47 dollars.

See at Amazon

Battlestar Galactica Deadlock

I have no doubt that there are people out there who have been waiting for this game. Unfortunately, it just seemed to slip under the radar without so much as a hint of dradis contact. The new Battlestar Galactica TV series ended in 2009 but we didn’t see a great tie-in video game until 2017. Fans of the show will absolutely love this game. This is your opportunity to take control of the colonial fleet and give those dirty toasters what for. With a laser-like attention to the details that made the TV series great, it’s like playing the show in many ways. If you loved Battlestar Galactica and you enjoy space combat strategy then you should certainly give this game a whirl for 30 bucks.

See at PlayStation

SteamWorld Heist

SteamWorld Heist was released a few years ago, but it still represents one of the best options when it comes to strategy style gaming on the PS4. With this, the third in the SteamWorld series from developer Image & Form, they chose to go with a 2D turn-based mechanic and it’s loads of fun. You will recruit and build a team of steampunk robots in order to take down the bad guys. You can pick up the SteamWorld collection for only $17 which will also include SteamWorld Dig. That’s a lot of bang for your steam-buck!

See at Amazon

Tropico 5

If you’re a fan of city building games but you have always wanted to get your hands dirty with some political machinations, then Tropico 5 is the game for you. You will take on the role of El Presidente as you lead your island of Tropico through settlement, to the cold war, and all the way to modern times. So many of these types of games can suffer from having to be controlled by a DualShock controller. However, the developers have done a wonderful job porting this game to console, making it one of my favorite city management games on PS4. You can pick up the complete collection which includes all available DLC for just $40.

See at Amazon

What are some strategy games that YOU love on PS4?

Updated May 2018: We’ve refreshed this post with the latest strategy games for your PlayStation 4!

PlayStation 4

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Honor 10 is coming to Europe: AI camera + iridescent glass chassis

New handset coming May 15, priced £399.

Huawei’s Honor brand has just unveiled its latest affordable flagship, the Honor 10, at an event in London. And as expected, the phone brings many of the key features of the P20 to a more affordable price point.

The phone packs a 5.83-inch 1080p display with a P20-style cutout up top, and front-facing fingerprint down below. Around the back, the Honor 10 comes in the standard grey and black, in addition to a couple of stunning new iridescent hues that shift between purple and blue, or turquoise and blue. All models boast 15 layers of polished glass around the back, giving the phone a distinctive reflectivity similar to last year’s Honor 9.

Honor’s latest handset boasts a P20-like color-shifting glass back, plus a 24-megapixel AI camera.

On the inside, the phone packs the proven Huawei Kirin 970 processor — the same Neural Processing Unit-equipped chip found in the Mate 10, P20 and Honor View 10 — along with 4GB of RAM and 64 or 128GB of storage. The AI chops of that chip are put to work on a dual-camera setup combining 24- and 16-megapixel sensors, behind f/1.8 glass, which boasts AI shooting modes. Honor claims the phone’s AI technology can identify more than 500 distinct shooting scenarios across 22 categories, allowing it to intelligently apply camera settings to each shot. Like the P20 series, there’s also a 24-megapixel front-facing camera behind an f/2.0 lens.

Huawei’s latest Android software is onboard too — EMUI 8.1, based on Android 8.1 Oreo, which delivers the core feature set of the Huawei-branded flagship, with some unique Honor-designed icons and themes. Other key specs include a 3,400mAh battery (same as the standard P20), and Huawei’s excellent SuperCharging technology, rebranded here as “Honor SuperCharge.” Oh, and unlike any of Huawei’s high-end offerings, the Honor 10 boasts the increasingly rare 3.5mm headphone jack.

The Honor 10 arrives in the UK at 4 p.m. BST on May 15, priced £399 outright. It’ll be available on contract through Three UK, as well as through Honor’s own digital storefront, Carphone Warehouse, Argos, Amazon, AO, Very and John Lewis.

Based on the price, specs and feature set, the £399 price tag seems highly competitive. However the Honor 10 will face tough competition from the OnePlus 6, due to arrive tomorrow (May 16) at its own London launch event.

Best Bands for Samsung Gear Sport

Summer is here! It’s time to get sweaty with your Samsung Gear Sport.

The Samsung Gear Sport is a really nice smartwatch that just happens to focus on fitness. You’re able to load it up with your favorite Spotify playlists, pair your Bluetooth headphones, and hit the trail. When you’re done your run and your watchband feels a bit sweaty, the quick release pins make swapping out bands a breeze.

Whether you hate wearing a gross sweaty band after a workout or you simply want some stylish band options to switch between throughout the week, we’ve rounded up the best bands for the Gear Sport!

• Barton Watch Bands
• KADES Breathable Soft Silicone Bands
• ANCOOL Silicone Watch Bands
• LoveBlue Stainless Steel Bands
• Fintie Milanese Loop Bands
• Acestar Stainless Steel / Milanese Loop (2-pack)

Barton Watch Bands

We’ll start by highlighting a great collection of bands from Barton Watch Bands. Barton makes bands for a wide selection of smartwatches, and they offer 48 unique styles for the Samsung Gear Sport.

We’ve highlighted one of the gorgeous leather bands crafted out of top grain leather ($24), and there are 12 leather colors to choose from. Barton also offers bands made of canvas ($20) and silicone ($14) and they all look great.

Barton offers $2 shipping worldwide and you can also save 15% on any order with 4 or more bands by using the coupon code SPRINGTIME18.

See at Barton Watch Bands

KADES Breathable Soft Silicone Bands

If you bought the Gear Sport because you lead an active lifestyle, then you’ll want a watchband that’s designed to be lightweight, breathable, and affordable.

These are made from high-performance fluoroelastomer making each band durable and strong with a soft-touch finish that feels great on your wrist. The holes in the strap let the air get so your wrists don’t get gross and sweaty, and they’re also safe for swimming.

You can buy these bands individually for just $9, or buy a three pack for just $18 so you can mix and match your bands based on your outfit or mood.

See at Amazon

ANCOOL Silicone Watch Bands

ANCOOL offers a selection of third-party bands that closely resemble the band that comes with the Gear Sport. Made of soft silicone, these bands are lightweight and easy to wear — perfect if you wear your Gear Sport on the daily.

Available in 5 color options, you can buy the bands individually for $8 each, or get a five-pack that gives you the choice of all five colors for just $17. It’s a great deal if you’re the type who loves to accessorize your smartwatch with your outfit.

See at Amazon

LoveBlue Stainless Steel Bands

Moving from silicone and leather to more stylish stainless steel varieties, these LoveBlue bands offer a high-end look at a reasonable price.

These bands are available in black, gold, silver, or rose gold color options and are perfect if you’re looking for a classier band for those fashionable events where you still want to wear your favorite smartwatch but a silicone strap just won’t do.

LoveBlue’s products are custom designed for the Gear Sport with the quick-release pins and included tools for removing links if the band is too big for your wrist. Get this luxurious band for your Gear Sport for just $16.

See at Amazon

Fintie Milanese Loop Bands

Another stylish option that’s very popular these days is the Milanese loop bands. Made of a premium stainless steel mesh, these are great bands for those who wish to find a mix of something that’s both stylish and breathable.

The strap is held to your wrist with a magnetic clasp design that stays secure even when you’re active. Fintie offers five color styles for these bands, from standard black and silver designs to a rainbow-like style, rose gold, and a very stylish navy blue model.

These bands are priced between $11 and $15, depending on the color style you opt for.

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Acestar Stainless Steel / Milanese Loop (2-pack)

Having a hard time choosing between a stainless steel link band and a Milanese Loop band? Why choose when you can get both from Acestar in this great bundle.

This two-pack of bands are available in classic black, so they’ll blend right in with the Gear Sport itself and add a touch of class to any outfit. You don’t get the removal tools for the link band, so you may need to visit a jeweller if you don’t have the proper tools on hand.

Otherwise, getting two stylish stainless steel watch bands for your Gear Sport for just $22 is one heck of a deal.

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How do you accessorize your Gear Sport?

Do you own any of the replacement straps on our list? Got a recommendation that we missed? Let us know in the comments!

Twelve South Debuts New ‘AirFly’ Wireless Transmitter for Using AirPods With In-Flight Entertainment Systems

Twelve South today announced the launch of the AirFly, a new adapter accessory that’s designed to let you use your AirPods or other Bluetooth headphones in situations where only wired headphone jacks are available, such as on an airplane or at the gym.

When you fly, in-flight entertainment systems often require you to plug wired headphones into the headphone jack to hear sound, preventing you from using AirPods or Bluetooth headphones. The AirFly connects to these kinds of systems, allowing you to listen wirelessly using your AirPods.

AirFly is a small Bluetooth device that’s about the size of the AirPods themselves. You connect them to the AirPods over Bluetooth and then use a small cable to plug the AirFly into any headphone jack that requires a physical connection.

This is a bit of a niche product because this likely isn’t a situation most people run into on a daily basis, but for long-haul flights where in-flight entertainment is essential, the AirFly is a useful little addition to your carry-on. It’s also handy for workout equipment at the gym that requires a physical connection to listen to the gym’s entertainment offerings, or in a car that doesn’t have native Bluetooth support.

As previously mentioned, the AirFly is similar in size to the AirPods, and it comes with a travel pouch, so it’s easy to take with you. Along with the pouch, a 3.5mm to 3.5mm stereo audio cable is included, plus there’s a micro-USB to USB-A cable for charging the AirFly.

The AirFly has a built-in battery that will last for approximately eight hours, and it can charge from any USB port.

You can purchase the AirFly from Twelve South’s website or from Amazon.com for $39.99.

Tag: Twelve South
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