Best parental control apps for your kid’s smartphone

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If your kids have their own mobile devices, you may want a way to track and control what they’re doing. The best parental control apps offer ways to limit time spent on the device, track usage and location, and block apps or games as necessary. Let’s take a look at the top apps that made our list. We’ve also got resources if you want parental controls for mobile game systems and gaming consoles.

FamilyTime (iOS and Android) — $1 to $2 per month

FamilyTime does a lot of everything, allowing you to customize your control options for the precise content or behaviors you want to prevent. The software gives you tools to set homework and bedtimes, or merely limit the time that your kids spend on their phones. Then it adds options for geofencing (you get alerts when that phone enters or leaves a specific area) and tracking. On top of that, you can block or control on an app-by-app basis, monitor texts, and keep an eye on contact lists.

While it’s great that FamilyTime meets so many needs, this is also a consideration for parents: The software suite may take some time to learn before you can use all the features effectively. It’s often better to get a simple control app that you know how to use rather than a complicated app that you don’t really understand, so FamilyTime may not be for everyone.

Get started at:

FamilyTime

Qustodio (iOS, Android, Kindle, Nook) — $55+ per year

Qustodio is user-friendly, efficient, and excellent for parents who are short on time. It offers a dashboard that shows you all recent mobile activity for any connected device, including time spent on specific services like Instagram or Twitter. From there you can set time limits, track texts, filter out racy sites, and set time limits for any game or app. It’s relatively noninvasive, but still effective — a great control app to use when managing devices for kids of multiple ages (it also works on the Kindle, if you want to protect Amazon devices). On the downside, the software is a little expensive at $55 annually for the five-device plan, and higher rates if you want to add more devices: You can check out our top free control software here.

Get started at:

Qustodio

ESET Parental Control (Android) — $30 per year

ESET has a collection of features that allow for more subtle control than some of the other big child security apps available. It offers app and website blocks, but allows you to choose age-based features that you can switch as kids grow up, allowing them to access a wider range of websites in the future while still keeping them protected. There’s also a parent message feature, which sends out a message that kids are required to respond to before they continue using their phones (if you prefer starting with gentle reminders). As is common, you can set time limits on device use, although ESET also allows kids to request extra time. If you are particularly invested in Android, you may want to compare this option to Google’s own Family Link control app.

Get started at:

ESET

Pumpic (iOS and Android) — $15 per month

Pumpic’s clean interface helps parents deal with the long list of tools that come with the app. You can track calls and texts, or block and limit them as you see fit. You can also monitor a variety of social media activities, along with any websites visited, with blocking options provided here as well. Pumpic also allows you to track device location and the history of where the device has been: For more direct action, you can choose to lock down or even wipe the phone at any time.

Get started at:

Pumpic

OurPact (iOS) — $2-7 per month for full services

OurPact is a streamlined app that offers core parental control services without getting too complicated (and a more affordable pricing plan to match). You can block apps or internet access, create time schedules, and control access in real time as you need to. It’s not the best choice if you want to watch everything your kid is doing online, but it’s useful for protecting younger children and working out smartphone limits early on.

Get started at:

OurPact

Net Nanny (iOS and Android) – $60 per year

From a feature perspective, Net Nanny is similar to Qustodio or PhoneSheriff: The suite of features includes an internet filter, porn blocker, time schedules, alerts about activity, and usage reports. However, there aren’t as many options to control specific app access, so games and social media get less attention with this approach. There are also a couple extra features, such as a profanity filter that allows kids to visit web pages but blocks out the bad words. Net Nanny’s knowledge sources also deserve a shout-out — the company has one of the best collections of guides and tips for parents learning more about digital security.

Get started at:

NetNanny

KidLogger (iOS and Android) — Free to $90 per year, depending on plan

KidLogger is a more aggressive option with a plethora of “spy” features for watching everything your kids do on their mobile devices. Reports include everything from web history recording and message/social media monitoring to random computer screenshots, detailed app usage, and records of all files and folders open (this extends to external storage as well). Basically, you can watch anything that goes on — as well as recording keystrokes and tracking time spent on the device. However, while it’s certainly a Big Brother approach, Kidlogger is relatively lax about actually blocking or limiting content, so it may ultimately offer more freedom for tweens and teens.

Get started at:

KidLogger

Norton Family Premier — $50 per year

Norton is a big name in the field of antivirus software, and Norton Family Premier is a solid program for restricting and monitoring your kids’ behavior online. Family Premier offers parents a variety of features and makes it easy to manage all those options thanks to its clean interface. Family Premier doesn’t limit the number of devices you can have on an account, so simply install on any iOS or Android devices (or Windows desktops) your kids will use.

Among Family Premier’s most notable features is its robust web supervision, which allows users to block sites entirely, or simply keep a log of the sites kids visit. You can also set Norton to issue warnings for sites that you may not want to ban, but would prefer your kids be careful on — for example, you want to urge them not to waste all their time browsing memes on Reddit. Norton also lets users set time limits for their kids, shutting down their devices after a certain amount of time or during specific hours of the day.

Get started at:

Norton

Final note: There are thriving teen forums online discussing all possible ways to get around parental controls, some with highly advanced and/or sneaky tactics. If you know teens, that shouldn’t surprise you, but it’s still something to prepare for. When picking a parental control app, don’t write down your password or login information (no matter how well you think you can hide it). You may also want to create a news alert for the software you choose, to help keep an eye out for any new vulnerabilities or workarounds. Some software can be bypassed with phone resets, customer service requests, and other tricks that you should know about.

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iOS 12 will make your iPhone faster and less annoying. Here’s what’s coming

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At this year’s Worldwide Developer Conference, Apple unveiled its latest operating system: iOS 12. While the final version of the new OS won’t be available until September, the company announced a ton of new features to look forward to.

Ranging from app updates to group FaceTime, ARKit 2.0, and more, here are all the new features in iOS 12.

Better performance

New iOS 12 Features

Better performance
New AR file format
Measure app
ARKit 2.0
Photos
Siri Shortcuts
A variety of app updates
Do Not Disturb at bedtime
Grouped notifications
Managing screen time
Animoji and Memoji
Group FaceTime
Apple TV in the Control Center

In particular, iOS 12 will be focused on doubling down on performance. Apple plans on delivering an operating system that’s faster and more responsive across all iOS devices. The focus has mainly been on optimizing the system when it’s underload, with load speeds up to two times faster for sheet display and app launches.

CPU performance will also be ramped up to its highest state for performance and will be ramped down just as quickly in order to preserve battery life.

New AR file format

Apple wanted to make it easier to experience augmented reality with a new file format called USDZ. Developed in partnership with Pixar, USDZ is an open file format that allows developers to create and share 3D Augmented Reality assets, all through a single and compact file format.

Measure app

With the Measure app, you can easily get direct measurements of any objects around you. By tapping the object and dragging out a line, it’ll display a measurement right on your screen. You can also extend the measurements by tapping along the edges and dragging down. You’ll also have the ability to tap on an object like a photo, and have the app automatically detect the measurements, providing you with each dimension.

ARKit 2.0

Following the release of ARKit with iOS 11 last year, iOS 12 brings along a new version. ARKit 2.0 delivers improved face tracking, realistic rendering, and support for 3D object detection. There’s also support for shared experiences with multi-user augmented reality — you’ll be able to play AR games against other users in the same virtual environment.

Photos

In the Photo app, iOS 12 brings Search Suggestions, which highlights your photos based on key events or categories such as swimming and hiking. You’ll also be able to search for places by business name or a broader category such as a museum. Photos also indexes more than 4 million events by time and place, allowing you to search for specific photos based on terms like vacation and surfing. You’ll also receive suggestions on specific things to search.

The all new “For You” tab will provide you with featured photos. Whether it’s a photo you took on the same day a few years back or effect suggestions for looping a live photo, the tab provides individual suggestions for different actions you can take with the pictures in your album.

There’s also Sharing Suggestions, which will come in handy when you see all your friends and take tons of photos together. For example, if you go out to dinner and take pictures, you’ll see suggested photos you might want to share with your friends, along with who you specifically want to share them with. Each photo is shared at full resolution in your iCloud photo library.

Siri Shortcuts

With Siri Shortcuts, Siri is capable of much more via quick actions that can all be assigned through the new Shortcuts app. For example, if you use the Tile app, you can add a shortcut to Siri such as “I lost my keys.” That way, when do lose your keys, you can let Siri know and it will automatically start ringing your Tile.

You’ll also see suggestions for apps appear on your lock screen. If you’re running late, Siri will suggest you text the meeting organizer, or remind you to call your grandmother on your birthday. Even if you’re at the movies, Siri will suggest putting your phone on Do Not Disturb.

Users will be able to use Siri Shortcuts on not only their iPhone, but also on the HomePod and Apple Watch.

A variety of app updates

The News app didn’t receive a huge overhaul — those who use it on the iPad will now have a sidebar to scroll through in order to make it easier to find stories. As for the Stocks app, there’s a new spark line that shows stock performance throughout the day. Apple News has also been integrated into the Stocks app, allowing you to see top stories right in Stocks without having to leave the app. You’ll see relevant headlines from Apple News and be able to tap on them to view the full article. Stocks will also be coming to iPad with iOS 12.

Apple has also updated the Voice Memos app with availability on the iPad. The app also has added iCloud support, allowing you to sync your recordings across all Apple devices.

Previously known as iBooks, the redesigned app also has a new name — Apple Books. New features include a “Reading Now” section that previews where you left off, allowing you to easily pick right back up again. There’s also a new “Book Store” that makes browsing for new books easier than it was before.

With CarPlay, Apple has added support for third-party navigation apps.

Do Not Disturb at bedtime

With a new Do Not Disturb feature, you’ll no longer wake up to a ton of different notifications on your lock screen. By turning this feature on, all of your notifications will be hidden until you toggle Do Not Disturb off.

For those who find themselves using Do Not Disturb often, you’ll also be able to set an end time to automatically turn the feature off whether it’s when you leave a particular location or an event ends.

Grouped notifications

Rather than seeing a long list of notifications, iOS 12 will now group them for you — not just by app but also by topic and thread. You’ll be able to tap in and look at a particular notification and then delete an entire thread with a single swipe.

You’ll also be able to tune your notifications and decide whether you want a particular app to send you ones in the future or if you want it to bypass the lock screen. Siri will even suggest which notifications you should turn off depending on the apps you don’t use often.

Managing screen time

To allow users more insight and control over how much time they spend on a device, iOS 12 will provide users with a detailed weekly activity summary. You’ll be able to see how much time you spent on your iPhone or iPad — whether it’s within a specific app, how often you’re picking up your phone, or what apps are sending you the most notifications.

Thanks to an App Limits feature, you’ll be able to set your own limits for how much time you want to spend on a specific app. You’ll then receive notifications letting you know that time is almost up and once you’ve reached your limit.

Parents will also receive a report of their kids’ phone usage and will have the ability to give them allowances. With a Downtime feature, parents will be able to choose whether they want to limit their kid’s usage by category, individual app, or unplug altogether. There’s also an Always Allowed section that gives them the ability to still make phone calls, use educational apps, and more. Parents can also limit access to movies and websites if they’d like. All of this can be managed remotely across iPhone and iPad using the Family Sharing app.

Animoji and Memoji

The new OS also brings along more Animojis — specifically the ghost, koala, tiger, and T. Rex. There’s also a new feature that allows you to add a tongue to any Animoji.

But that’s not all — Apple also introduced Memoji (which might be its response to Samsung’s AR Emoji). You’ll now be able to create an augmented reality character that resembles you — with the option to choose from different hairstyles, eye colors, and more distinct features like freckles.

Apple has also added fun effects into the iMessage camera. Users can add things like shapes, texts, filters, and stickers to their photos that they can then send within conversations. They’ll even be able to insert Animojis and Memojis into photos.

Group FaceTime

You’ll now be able to FaceTime not two or three people simultaneously, but with iOS 12, you can video chat with up to 32 people. Since it’s now integrated into iMessage, you can easily set up a group FaceTime call through the iMessage group chat window. You’ll also have the option to add fun effects like stickers and Memoji while on the FaceTime call.

The feature works on iPhone, iPad, and Mac. For Apple Watch users, you’ll be able to answer via FaceTime Audio.

Apple TV in the Control Center

For those who use Apple TV, you’ll now be able to add an Apple TV tile into the Control Center in iOS. That way, you’re able to easily access it by swiping up to the Control Center menu and tapping on the icon.

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Everything Apple announced at WWDC, from iOS 12 to MacOS Mojave

While the dust has settled on Apple’s Worldwide Developer Conference keynote, the show’s not over yet — the conference continues for the next week, and we can expect to see a lot more of Apple’s latest developments.

But the keynote always hits the major announcements for the event, and with updates announced for MacOS, iOS, ARKit, and more, there’s a lot to chew through. Here’s absolutely everything that was announced.

(Whether you’re attending or not, Apple’s official WWDC app is also available for download — providing you with the event schedule, latest news, access to the livestream sessions, and more.)

iOS 12

Well, iOS 12 is official, and it is quite shiny. The newest version of iOS is always going to be a huge part of Apple’s developer conference, and this year was no different. And Apple definitely had good reason to spend so much time on it. While iOS 11 set out to provide more customizability and accessibility options — complete with a redesigned Control Center and App Store — Apple is tailoring iOS 12 to hugely revamp performance on all iOS devices, including those from as far back as 2013. Apple has worked particularly hard to make iOS work better under heavy load, to the point where it’s seen apps load many times faster.

But it’s not all about sleek and shiny performance. There’s also an improved Do Not Disturb mode that aims to limit overexposure to our digital life. The new app Screen Time also aims to help people to use their device even more wisely, with a weekly report on how much time you spend on your iPhone or iPad — including how often you open your device. Users can also limit the time they spend in apps with App Limit.

There are also new security features on Apple’s hardware itself, with the addition of even more parental controls on the iPhone, iPad, and iPod Touch (remember that thing?). The new OS will include extra parental control features, such as the ability to monitor how much time their kids spend on their devices, as well limit that time, or blacklist certain apps at bedtime.

But Apple is also giving us more reasons to stare at our iOS devices with an increase in Animoji options and the introduction of Memoji. Memoji allows users to create their own Animoji faces in their own image. It’s similar to Samsung’s AR Emojis, and we look forward to putting the two services head-to-head — or face-to-face.

According to Apple, Siri is the most used digital assistant in the world, and Apple is working hard to make Siri even more useful. Siri’s new “Shortcuts” feature will be able to reach into certain apps and perform specific actions or deliver information to the user, straight from Siri. Users will also be able to create some rather complex lists of actions that are activated by a single command. These will even work on your HomePod and via the new Siri watch face in WatchOS.

Messages and FaceTime are also getting some love, with the addition of stickers, filters, and Animoji, whether in single shots sent in Messages, or applied while on FaceTime calls. FaceTime is also getting even more new features, with the new ability to chat to large groups of people — as many as 32 participants. Apple has even made it easy to join a FaceTime group call thanks to support for joining a call directly from a group Messages chat.

Other features include a redesigned Stocks app with News integration, a rebuilt Voice Memos app on iPhone and iPad, and more control over notifications directly from the lock screen. There are also features that were originally supposed to be included in iOS 11 but were delayed until iOS 12. This includes an improved Photos app, a revamped News app, and multitasking features — such as tab support for apps on the iPad, split-screen view on the iPhone, and more.

Read more:

iOS 12

ARKit 2

It’s only been a year since Apple unveiled ARKit — its own framework for augmented reality apps integrated into iOS 11 — but it already feels like it’s been here forever. Placing virtual objects anywhere using your iPhone or iPad and creating the illusion that they’re in your physical space is groundbreaking, and Apple is pushing even further into augmented reality with ARKit 2.o.

The launch of ARKit 2.0 will tighten up the performance of AR, and most excitingly — will let users enter AR together, in real time. The keynote showcased a new Lego app that allowed for the insertion of characters into a simulated environment, and even let multiple users enter the same space.

Key to Apple’s approach to AR is the introduction of a new file format called USDZ. This format allows for sharing AR animations and graphics to make AR far more shareable across iOS devices — it will even let websites embed AR imagery into their web pages.

Apple also announced a partnership with Adobe, and a new AR design tool that allows users to see what they’re editing when they’re editing it. There’s also a new app called “Measure,” which lets users measure real-life items using their device’s AR.

Read more:

ARKit 2

Watch OS5

While we didn’t hear any news about a next-generation Apple Watch, we learned a lot about the next version of WatchOS — WatchOS 5.

WatchOS 5 will boast improved health-tracking features. It will allow users to challenge friends to an activity challenge every week, as well as set mile pacing and cadence while running. WatchOS 5 will even automatically detect when you’ve started and ended workouts.

One of the biggest additions in WatchOS 5 is the new Walkie Talkie feature — the ability to send short voice messages to friends straight from your Apple Watch.

Users will also be able to talk to Siri without the “Hey Siri” hot word, or just interact with her straight from the new Siri watch face. Notifications will also be even more interactive — users will be able to tap links or access app information.

Also included in WatchOS 5 is a native podcast app, even more watch faces, and the ability for students to add their ID cards to their Apple Watch.

Read more:

Watch OS 5

tvOS

Apple released tvOS 11.4 a few weeks ahead of WWDC but we still saw more updates at the keynote.

Dolby Atmos is being added to tvOS, allowing for true surround sound that moves in three-dimensional space. Dolby Atmos joins Dolby Vision on tvOS — the only place you can get both together.

Also, tvOS will support even more cable providers, and will now automatically unlock all the apps that come with your TV service — meaning there’s no requirement to sign in to access them.

Read more:

tvOS

MacOS Mojave

MacOS Mojave has been revealed, and it’s bringing some serious updates for both personal and professional users.

One of the first major features to be showcased was Desktop Stacks. Instead of a cluttered desktop, MacOS will automatically sort all icons and documents on the desktop into either preset or user-defined folders at the side of the screen.

While Apple quashed rumors that it was planning to merge iOS and MacOS, the company confirmed it was working on bringing iOS apps to MacOS. While the multiyear project is apparently still quite far away, Apple did reveal that some classic iOS apps would be coming to MacOS, with some additional features included. Stocks, News, Home, and Voice Memos are making the jump to Mac. Voice Memos will also sync with iCloud, making it even easier to access your recordings.

The Mac App Store also is getting a redesign, with helpful videos for apps and recommendations, and the addition of Office 365, Adobe’s Creative Cloud, and other big names.

Apple is also beefing up security features for MacOS, with even more parts of the Mac being protected by default from any apps run on the system. Safari will also start blocking even more web tracking by default, and will let users choose whether they want to let trackers follow them.

It’s not all about software, though — Macs will now be able to add external graphics processing units to help boost performance in games and apps. Apple is also using Metal processing to help speed up machine learning using Create ML.

MacOS Mojave will also be bringing Dark Mode, Dynamic Desktop, which changes the wallpaper based on the time of day, and a handful of quality-of-life improvements.

Read more:

MacOS Mojave

Updated June 4: We updated this article with everything that was announced at WWDC.

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Bye to Apple Maps, hello to Waze: CarPlay to support third-party navigation apps

Do you have an iOS device and a car with Apple CarPlay? If so, you probably love being able to run all your favorite iOS apps through your vehicular dashboard. There is one major drawback to CarPlay, though: Apple Maps, Apple’s proprietary navigation software, is just not very good. In fact, some people have developed a deep-seated hatred of iPhones because of it.

At today’s Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC), Apple announced that in iOS 12, CarPlay will support third-party navigational apps — including Google Maps and Waze, the two most popular options in America today. For many users who eschew CarPlay altogether in favor of phone-based navigation, this could streamline commutes and reduce transportation stress when driving to new locations.

If you’re unaware, CarPlay is a software overlay that essentially turns your car’s dashboard display (the video screen, not the part with the speedometer and gas gauge) into a second screen for your iPhone. We say “essentially” because CarPlay isn’t compatible with the full suite of iOS apps; it’s mostly limited to navigation, voice-activated communication — both calls and texts — and playing music. The list of supported third-party apps is scarce, comprising mostly just music apps like Spotify, Pandora, and Tidal.

The addition of support for Google Maps and Waze — not to mention the brevity of the announcement in the WWDC keynote and the news’ relegation to a footnote in this press release — may signal an admission from Apple that its navigational software is, indeed, inferior. Last June, Apple deployed a program, TryRating, that allowed users to test Apple Maps software and provide feedback, ostensibly in an attempt to improve the app’s accuracy.

Apple’s iOS 12 update isn’t limited to CarPlay improvements. As with each iteration of the operating system, the company has compiled a bevy of new bells and whistles to both optimize phone performance and increase capabilities. This year’s slate is headlined by some neat augmented reality features and the addition of group FaceTime calls. Other notable improvements include changes to Photos, Notifications, Apple Books, and Apple News. Head on over to our WWDC 2018 landing page to get the scoop on everything Apple announced.

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Uber will run criminal and driving history checks for every driver every year

Starting soon, Uber says it will run criminal background and driver history checks every year for all of its drivers.

Uber emailed riders about three new safety programs with the subject line, “Your safety is our priority.” The three new safety initiatives include the company’s commitment to ramped up driver screening, plus the Trusted Contacts ride-detail sharing, and 911 access from the Uber app.

Uber states that since 2009 millions of drivers have passed background and driving record screenings. According to Uber’s statement on stricter driver screening in the email sent to users, “Everyone driving with Uber in the U.S. must first pass a criminal and driving history check. Starting this year, we’ll proactively rerun those checks annually.”

In 2016, Uber agreed to pay $10 million to settle a lawsuit involving driver background checks in Los Angeles and San Francisco. In the 2014 lawsuit, San Francisco district attorney George Gascón and Los Angeles district attorney Jackie Lacey faulted Uber’s background checks.

The district attorneys claimed the procedure missed criminal records for 25 Uber applicants in the two cities in part because the background checks covered only the seven preceding years. The screening also ignored a database of about 30,000 registered sex offenders, the lawsuit claimed.

At the time, an Uber spokesperson said, “We’re glad to put this case behind us and excited to redouble our efforts serving riders and drivers across the state of California.”

The new annual driver screening program will apply to all Uber drivers nationwide.

Uber’s Trusted Contacts lets you set reminders to share trip details with up to five friends and family members. While you are on the ride, your designated contacts will be able to track your location in real time on a map. They will also know when you have arrived at your location. Assuming you have configured the Trusted Contacts feature ahead of time, you will be able to turn it on with a single tap on the Uber app screen.

Ubers’s new 911 feature makes the call with a single tap in Uber’s app. The feature displays your current location and trip details so you can tell the operator. Because not all 911 systems are alike, Uber is working with RapidSOS’ pilot programs in six U.S. cities where the app will automatically share the rider’s name and the car’s make, model, color, license plate number, and exact location.

The email Uber sent users includes multiple links to its Moving Forward website page, on which it states, “We’re listening to riders and drivers, changing our company from within, and working with cities to improve transportation.”

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Parkinson’s is hard to detect early, but this ingenious mobile app can help

Progressive neurodegenerative brain disorder Parkinson’s disease (PD) can be tough to spot early on. A failure to do so can mean that patients miss out on valuable time during which they could get treatment or have the opportunity to make lifestyle changes. That’s something an EU-funded project called i-Prognosis wants to change. A four-year project led by Greece’s Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, it has launched a smartphone and smartwatch app which could help diagnose onset Parkinson’s much earlier than is currently the case.

“PD is a progressive and chronic neurological disease that often begins with mild symptoms that advance gradually over time,” Professor Leontios Hadjileontiadis, coordinator of the project, told Digital Trends. “Symptoms can be so subtle in the early stages that they go unnoticed, as there are no PD-related biomarkers, such as blood tests, and findings on routine magnetic resonance imaging and computed tomography scans are unremarkable — leaving the disease undiagnosed for years.”

It is here that i-Prognosis aims to help, thanks to the various sensors found in modern mobile devices and some amazing insights from machine learning.

“i-Prognosis proposes a radically novel approach to capture the risk of transition from healthy status towards PD by unobtrusive behavioral sensing and large scale collection of elderlies’ data, acquired from their natural use of smart devices,” Hadjileontiadis continued.

Once a user’s consent has been gathered, the app proceeds to analyze an extraordinary amount of data on their phone. This includes (but isn’t limited to) their voice characteristics while having conversations, the steadiness of their hands while holding their device, the way they enter keystrokes, and even their facial expressions on stored photos or the emotional content of text messages. In other words, it combs through every inch of data in a way that no doctor would be able to, and uses this to predict whether you might want to see a physician. This level of detail probably doesn’t make it an app for the more privacy conscious of people, but if it is able to successfully make you aware of onset Parkinson’s the trade-off may be worth it.

For now, the app is firmly in the testing phase. Hadjileontiadis said that the models will continued to be refined through February 2020. At present, it is available in the Google Play app store for Android users, although only in Germany, Greece, Portugal, and the United Kingdom. Hopefully, a U.S. version — and possible iOS support — could follow at a later date.

Google Pixelbook now on sale for $750, its lowest price ever

Dan Baker/Digital Trends

Arguably one of the most powerful and beautiful Chromebooks on the market today, Google’s Pixelbook is now at its lowest price ever with a $250 discount. This brings the cost of the entry level Pixelbook down to a more palatable price of $750 from its $999 price tag when it debuted, and the laptop could be ordered from Google’s online store, Amazon, and through Best Buy.

At $750, the Pixelbook still costs more than twice as much as an entry-level Chromebook, but you also get a faster processor, pen support, more storage and RAM, and a premium Swedish design for your money. The entry-level model comes with an Intel Core i5 processor, 128GB of solid-state storage, and 8B RAM in a convertible form factor where the screen can flip around to transform into a tablet. Google’s discount only applies to the entry-level model. Unfortunately, that means the upgraded Core i5 model with twice the storage still costs $1,199, and the top configuration with an Intel Core i7 processor, 16GB RAM, and a 512GB solid-state drive saw no change to its $1,649 price. On Amazon, the optional Pixelbook Pen is down to $82 from its $99 retail price.

We found a lot of positives when we reviewed the Pixelbook. From the laptop’s premium design and gorgeous display, there is a lot to love. The best feature for productivity is the long battery life, which could easily last a full workday.

Although Chrome OS may be more limiting compared to Microsoft’s Windows 10 and Apple’s MacOS, Google has been investing a lot of effort in turning its Chromebook platform into a suitable PC replacement. Like most modern laptops, the Pixelbook ships with just two USB Type-C ports and a headphone jack, so you may need adapters and dongles to connect legacy accessories, like flash drives. The Pixelbook’s high-end components are more typically found on premium Windows Ultrabooks, and Google’s work on supporting Android apps on the Chrome operating system makes it feel more like a desktop PC. If you’re buying the Pixelbook just for Android app support, be warned that we found that Android apps running on Chrome OS can still be buggy at this time.

Google’s Pixelbook promotional pricing is good through June 17. If you have ever had your eyes on the best Chromebook money can buy, the latest Pixelbook discounts may be tempting. There are also rumors that Google may be refreshing its Pixelbook design, potentially with a 4K screen upgrade, in the future, so the sale may be a tactic to clear out existing inventory ahead of a new product announcement. Before you splurge, you may want to check out our guides on buying the best laptops, the best Mac notebooks, and the best Chromebook devices.

Marvel’s Spider-Man for PlayStation 4: Everything you need to know!

Forget everything you know about Spider-Man video games. This experience is on a whole new level.

Spider-Man is one of the most iconic fictional characters ever created. The web-head has starred in countless comics, movies, TV shows, and video games but not all of them have bee super high quality. While games like Spider-Man 2 are widely regarded as one of the best superhero games of all time, Spider-Man has also been subjected to some extremely bad video games that many of us try to block out of our memory.

With that said, Ratchet and Clank, Sunset Overdrive, and Resistance developer Insomniac Games is spearheading an exciting new vision for the wall-crawler. While we haven’t played the game yet, the studio has proven themselves time and time again and all the trailers we’ve seen look incredibly promising for PlayStation 4 fans this year.

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The Spidey classics, with a new twist

Insomniac has taken great care with Marvel’s golden boy by working closely with comic-book legends like Dan Slott and Christos Gage to craft an original story for Spider-Man. We all know how Peter Parker got his powers, how he struggles to find his footing as a superhero at first, and all that jazz so Insomniac is going to spare us the classic origin story and thrust into the prime of Spidey’s life. Peter Parker is 23, he has been Spider-Man for eight years and has pretty much gotten this whole superhero thing down to a tee.

In the game’s opening, Spider-Man will take down the infamous criminal mastermind, Wilson Fisk AKA Kingpin. Insomniac Games has noted Kingpin as Spider-Man’s greatest villain at this point in his career and it’s a massive achievement for him when he finally takes him down. Peter Parker’s apartment is also littered with various details regarding his past encounters with criminals like Shocker and Rhino meaning he has tackled some of his famous villains but the biggest baddies like Venom and Green Goblin may not have surfaced in New York yet.

On the opposite side of Peter’s life where he’s not wearing the mask, things are a bit more troublesome. His relationship with the red headed bombshell, Mary Jane Watson, is on the rocks, he’s on the verge of being evicted from his messy apartment, and Aunt May is put into danger when she becomes close with the charitable Martin Li. Li looks like a pretty swell guy on the surface but he holds a dark secret inside of him in the form of his super villain alter ego, Mister Negative. In fear that Li could hurt those closest to him, Peter begins his hunt for Li while tackling plenty of other criminals along the way such as Taskmaster.

Beyond that, it’s come to light that players will actually be able to play as Mary Jane Watson at some point during the story. Insomniac wasn’t too chatty about what sort of role she would have when playing as her, nor do we know how her gameplay mechanics will work. Another interesting character that the player may be able to take control of is Miles Morales.

More than an open outdoor world

As much as those in Peter’s life are important to a good Spider-Man story, one of the most vital characters is the city of New York City itself. As expected, there will be tons of side activities to tackle such as stopping robberies and other crimes. According to Game Informer, when they went hands-on with the game, there will actually be a good amount of interiors to go inside during these crimes so it’s not like other Spider-Man games where you have to chase after a speeding car or beat up some guys on the street.

To make the city feel more alive, Insomniac has built a Marvel universe within it. Players will be able to find the Avengers Tower, the Wakandan Embassy, and likely other major landmarks within the world to help take the worldbuilding to another level. There’s no word on if any other Marvel heroes will show up in the game but it’ll likely be kept to a minimum as they’re trying to make a Spider-Man game, not build an expansive Marvel games universe.

With a heavy focus on story and developing Peter Parker’s life and world, a lesser team could forget to develop a really solid set of gameplay systems, but Insomniac isn’t taking their eye off the ball.

Dynamic movements, killer combat

Many look to Spider-Man 2 as the best gameplay experience in a Spidey game due to the incredible attention to detail and physics based gameplay. The webs attached to walls, Spidey swung like a pendulum, and there was an incredible sense of momentum and speed building as you zipped through the city. With all of the advancements and innovations in games in the last decade and a half, Insomniac is on track to deliver the best Spider-Man game, perhaps superhero game, to date.

The most important aspect of the character is the way he moves through the world. Spider-Man will be as agile and fast as ever in this new game where he acts like a speeding train that has had the brakes ripped out. In Insomniac’s game, Spider-Man is equipped to adapt to his environment on the fly. He’ll never stop moving if you don’t want him to, the game is constantly making adjustments so you’re speeding through the world as the real experienced “masked menace” would.

It’s some of the more traditional Spider-Man combat with elements of the Batman Arkham series mixed in.

If you’re swinging but you’re about to smash right into a wall, Spider-Man will instead prepare to run along the wall in the direction you’re holding the stick. If you’re running along a rooftop with lots of vents and other objects, Spider-Man will parkour over them. If you’re running up a wall with a fire escape, he won’t awkwardly get stuck on it, he’ll bounce off each individual layer of the fire escape like stairs or propel himself through them if he’s coming at them from the side.

There’s an almost dynamic nature to the locomotion of Spidey in this game. His animations are diverse so it keeps this fun and fluid sense of rhythm, he’ll twirl, move his body in cool ways, and all sorts of other things you’d expect him to do when going from place to place. It’s safe to say that it will probably one of the most beautifully animated games to date when it drops.

As for combat, it’s some of the more traditional Spider-Man combat with elements of the Batman Arkham series mixed in. You’ll have your punching and kicking but you can also use some gadgets to help keep things fresh and make things easier on yourself. One gadget Spider-Man has is a web grenade, it detonates and then strings up any nearby enemies so you can swing in and deliver some cheap shots or pick them up and swing them around with a makeshift silk lasso.

If you’re feeling a bit playful, you can use the tripwire which is similar to the web grenade. It sits on a surface and when someone walks past it, it shoots a web out at them and slams them toward the wall. If you manage to latch the tripwire on to a person instead of a wall, it will smash two enemies together like Newton balls. If you also happen to knock an enemy off of a building, a tripwire will automatically be deployed and activated to prevent a foe from becoming a splatter on the sidewalk down below. The city is messy enough and Spider-Man doesn’t kill so the game will help you out there.

If you’re in the heat of the moment and you’re keen on doing that, players will be able to slow down time briefly and analyze the area for their next move. Is it singling out a guy? Choosing where to throw a gadget? Using an environmental object to defeat some evildoers? It’s up to you how strategic you want to be with it.

Missions, Trophies, and so many different suits

Of course, New York City is known as the city that never sleeps so there’s always something brewing on the streets whether it be petty crimes or full-blown robberies. Outside of story missions, our friendly neighborhood Spider-Man will get side activities to go clean up the streets. Crimes will play out differently each time so you’re not doing the same repetitive task over and over again so you can grind for that trophy or special in-game perk. According to Game Informer, robberies can evolve into car chases and so forth so it’s always shifting and keeping you on your toes.

If you’re a bit tired of beating people up (you’re a superhero, it’s your job, get over it), you can go and do some of the collectible missions like finding Peter Parker’s lost backpacks. As we saw in Spider-Man: Homecoming last year, Peter tends to just leave his school bag webbed up in alley ways when he has to spring into action. Of course, this can result in some bags being misplaced so you need to go and retrieve some key mementos of Peter’s. The items in the bags will serve as backstory for Peter Parker and fill in some of the blanks in the story as well as give you little trinkets such as the first pair of web-shooters he ever created.

There are other little side activities sprinkled in the world but Insomniac isn’t going to divulge all of them before launch so that there can be some surprises when you play it. Similarly, they were tight lipped on the suit customization.

While it is now officially confirmed there will be dozens of costumes for Spider-Man inspired by comics, other games, and the movies, they’re not revealing many of the suits yet. So far we know that there will be a more traditional suit that you start the game in, an upgraded one with the white spider which supposedly ties into the narrative, the Noir suit, and the Spider-Punk suit.

Each suit has a unique special ability tied to it, the Spider-Punk suit features the ability to pull out a guitar and strum it really hard to create an AOE attack. The other suits have their own benefits but Insomniac isn’t willing to talk too much about them yet.

Oh, and one last thing: they’re including a killer photo mode in the game. Considering Peter Parker is a professional freelance photographer when he isn’t donning his Spidey suit should mean we’ll have plenty of great tools to capture his musings around New York City.

Alright, when can I buy this?

If you’re as excited as we are for this game, you can pre-order the game for $59.99 at most retailers. If you want to go the extra mile, you can drop $149.99 on the Collector’s Edition which includes a nice looking statue, some digital items such as post-launch DLC missions, and a steelbook case.

Spider-Man will swing onto store shelves on September 7th, 2018 exclusively on PlayStation 4, this is NOT a timed exclusive. It will never be on anything else other than PlayStation.

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PlayStation 4

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

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Updated June 2018: We’ve added new details about playable characters and a Photo Mode that would make even Peter Parker nerd out!

NVIDIA unwraps Jetson Xavier and Issac, an AI and autonomy platform for robotics

NVIDIA is offering a complete turnkey platform to developers for only $1,300.

NVIDIA is not just a company that makes the best Android TV box and great computer graphics cards. The company is also heavily invested in Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning and has always provided an excellent testbed of products for developers to build around.

It’s only natural then for the company to take things to the next level and introduce a complete development kit for AI and autonomy designed specifically with robotics in mind. NVIDIA Issac, the name of the platform itself, contains a full SDK, development framework and all the tools needed to write, compile, and debug applications that bring autonomy to life in almost any way.

On the hardware side, NVIDIA Jetson Xavier is a new system of components designed from the ground up with robotics applications in mind. It’s powerful, compact, and a full part of the Issac platform. On the system board, you’ll find an eight-core ARM64 CPU, a Volta Tensor Core GPU, two NVDLA (NVIDIA Deep Learning Accelerator) chips, and dedicated co-processors for imaging, vision systems, and video

Together this comprehensive suite of hardware and software makes a complete development platform that will retail for just $1,299. It’s clearly not designed for consumers, but that price should allow anyone or any team to be able to take their great ideas and turn them into a working development model. And that’s how every great idea is born.

Interested parties will be able to purchase an NVIDIA Jetson Xavier development kit in August from a number of worldwide distributors. The kit includes all the hardware and access to the complete Issac software suite. Learn more at NVIDIA’s Issac product page.

Android’s June 2018 security update brings Bluetooth and display improvements to Pixel phones

Monthly update fixes Android security exploits and offers general fixes for Pixel line.

The beginning of the month means the Android Security Bulletin gets published, we learn all about the monthly security patch, and those sweet, sweet updates start streaming through the bright blue sky towards our phones.

There aren’t any singular “big” issues addressed in the June 2018 patch, but there are a set of updates from Google and all the companies who make the various components used in Android phones from every manufacturer. These cumulative updates are the extra layer of protection on top of Google Play Protect and are something we all need to have.

Pixel-specific updates include a handful of minor quality-of-life improvements for things like Bluetooth reception, screen response and several other features of the phone that always seem to get a bit of tweaking.

The factory images are available right now if you’re not the waiting type, or you can just chill and wait for the mellow sounds of smartphone rock & roll to float your way. Or you can start mashing the heck out of the check for updates button, whatever gets you groovy.

How to manually update your Nexus or Pixel