Sprint is launching a new $15/month plan for unlimited everything

Hotspot functionality isn’t included, but that’s still a crazy-good deal.

Sprint may not be the biggest wireless carrier in the United States, but if there’s one thing it does well, it’s offering compelling promotions. Most recently, Sprint announced a new Unlimited Kickstarter plan that costs just $15/month.

For that price, Sprint’s giving you unlimited call, text, and 4G LTE data. Videos stream at a max of 480p “DVD quality” and there’s no mobile hotspot functionality, but aside from that, this is essentially Sprint’s regular Unlimited Freedom plan at 1/4 the regular price.

As enticing as this may be, there is one big caveat to take note of — only new customers that port over an existing phone number are eligible for the promotion. If you just sign up with a new number, you won’t get this pricing.

It’s worth mentioning that any of Sprint’s regular taxes and fees are going to be charged on top of that $15/month rate, but even so, this may be worth jumping on if you’ve been meaning to try out Sprint or just want to save some cash on your monthly phone bill.

Oh, and that $15/month rate applies no matter how many lines you add. As long as you port a number over for each one, a family of four can get unlimited service for just $60/month.

The promotion begins Friday, June 8 and will be available exclusively when ordering over the phone or online. Sprint says that it “won’t last long”, so I’d advise acting sooner rather than later to ensure you don’t miss out.

See at Sprint

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Red Dead Redemption 2 for PlayStation 4: Everything you need to know!

The wild west has never looked this good.

Yes, it’s finally happening my fellow outlaws. Red Dead Redemption II is real and it’s coming to PlayStation 4 this year. After Rockstar Games’ massively successful open-world cowboy game set during the death of the Wild West, fans began clamoring for a follow-up that continued the story of the Marston family or embraced a new gunslinger.

After years of rumors and silence on Rockstar’s end, they finally surprised the world on one random morning in 2016 by announcing a sequel to their critically acclaimed western. It took over a year to get any actual concrete details regarding the game and frankly, it’s still a bit of a mystery but it sounds like it could be a mix of a story of a new outlaw and also fill in a massive gap in John Marston’s story.

The story so far…

Rockstar Games appears to be returning to the traditional one playable character route after successfully experimenting with three playable protagonists in Grand Theft Auto V but he’s not John or Jack Marston. Players will travel back to 1899 (12 years before the first game) to fill the boots and don the hat of a much less noble man that goes by the name of Arthur Morgan, a brute that’s running with Dutch van der Linde’s gang during their prime. While little is known about Arthur, we know he’s a much more sinister cowboy who doesn’t mind getting his hands dirty. In the second trailer, we see him interrogating and roughing up several people who appear to owe money to Dutch’s Gang, perhaps for protection. He’s a brutal force that is loyal to Dutch and likely only Dutch.

It’s likely we’re going to see the rise and fall of the gang, with Arthur Morgan playing a pivotal role.

The story will see Morgan and Van der Linde’s gang stealing, running, and fighting to survive the rugged and cruel world that is the Wild West. Order has not yet been established, technology is slowly beginning to evolve into something far more advanced, and people like Dutch believe it’s important that things stay the way they are. The Van der Linde gang was always viewed as a Robin Hood-type of bandits, stealing from the rich to give to the poor and resisting the government in favor of a structure where it was an “every man for himself” situation.

The gang eventually evolved into something far more dangerous and unhinged according to an anecdote provided by John Marston, leading him to realize their Robin Hood act was all a front for their evil actions and crimes. The event that likely leads to the start of the downfall of the gang seems to be a heist in Blackwater which later became known as the Blackwater Massacre. In the plot synopsis for the game provided by Rockstar, it’s revealed that the gang is being hunted after they botch a robbery in the wealthy town that is seen toward the end of the first RDR.

Within the lore of the series, the Blackwater Massacre was a massive shootout that took the lives of over 30 people. Civilians, cops, and criminals were among the casualties of the bloody shootout, actual details of why the battle took place remain a mystery to the residents of Blackwater because the officials went to great lengths to cover it up. Why? Well, we’ll likely find out in Red Dead II.

Most people involved died or were criminals who escaped but one of the few survivors was the legendary lawman, Landon Ricketts. Ricketts is in the first game and Marston teams up with him in Mexico, Marston knows him for his status but the two don’t seem to know each other. It’s entirely possible that Marston was uninvolved in the heist or was playing coy and using him to further his quest for redemption.

How does it connect to the original Red Dead Redemption?

So, what’s the connection to the first Red Dead Redemption? Well, Rockstar is being very, very careful not to say much about this game and how it connects to the first game but it will shed light on the stories John told in the first game as well as provide more depth to the men we hunt down in that same game.

John Marston is indeed in the game but Rockstar has noted that this is Arthur Morgan’s story, not John’s.

Given this game takes place long before the events of the original game and has a direct link to it via Dutch van der Linde and his gang, it’s hard to imagine Rockstar isn’t trying to expand John Marston’s story in some way. With games like Grand Theft Auto, there have been very subtle connections tying the games together but none of them are direct sequels or relate to each other in any way. With Red Dead Redemption II, Rockstar had the chance to name the game something like Red Dead Revolution, Red Dead Retribution, or something along those lines given that the series so far has gone Red Dead Revolver and then Red Dead Redemption. They purposely named it in a way that links the two games.

Marston was also a substantial part of Dutch’s Gang, he was taken in by Dutch when he ran away from the orphanage he lived in. He was raised by this gang and lived with them for a large majority of his life and in the fallout of him abandoning the gang, it all went to hell and it was more or less disbanded. John Marston is indeed the game, he’s heavily featured in new screenshots and is seen in the newest trailer once or twice but Rockstar says this is Arthur’s story, not John’s. That doesn’t mean that we can’t expand on the character, it just means he will not be the focal point of the narrative.

Major gameplay innovations are coming in the western sequel

Since Rockstar has been pretty prude about Red Dead Redemption II, we only have the word of the press who have seen the game in action to understand how the game plays. There will be more details in the future regarding what the gameplay will look like but for right now we’ll just give you the basic rundown of what we know. For starters, Rockstar seems to be creating their most realisitic world yet and abandoning some of the most video game-y aspects in their formula for something with more depth.

According to Rockstar, they’ve been developing Red Dead Redemption II for eight years, starting as they were wrapping up the first game. In that time, they’ve been handcrafting a world with lots of detail and creating systems that may be fairly unexpected from them. A large portion of the game is centered around managing the gang, Arthur is Dutch’s right-hand man and he helps keep everything running smoothly. This means you’ll help perform odd jobs for gang members, go hunting to get food for the camp or get money to line their pockets with, and so on.

Rockstar has been very clear that you don’t have to do this and you won’t be severely punished if you don’t but the gang will make comments if you leave them hanging for days on end. If you do choose to take care of your gang, you’ll be rewarded in ways that have not yet been revealed and your gang will grow stronger.

Also on tap is a new dialog system that allows you to approach situations with more options than just shoot and kill. Each NPC has their own set of branching dialog, with the player able to talk niceties or show a degree of impatience in any given encounter. And this isn’t just a black and white morality system either. Some choices will be gray areas, some will be lore-advancing, some will lead to friendships, and others will most certainly erupt into bloodbaths. It’s unclear if there will be any more to this system – such as a relationship mechanic that gauges each NPC’s level of warmth toward you – but it’s something.

If you do choose to go off and do things like hunting, you’ll be able to see the amount of depth that Rockstar has added to its hunting system since the original game and Grand Theft Auto V. You’ll find yourself stalking animals, choosing your weapon carefully so you don’t damage pelts/meat, and tracking an animal by following blood trails after you’ve hit it. Once you’ve tracked the animal down, you may find it still alive, bleeding out and yelping. Arthur will then take out his knife and stab the animal in the heart to end its suffering and take what you want from it.

You can then string up your kill on the back of your horse and take it back to camp to feed your people or sell it in town and take the money for yourself. Regardless of what you choose, your hunt will rot and decay over time so the longer you have it on the back of your horse (yes, it’s literally on your horse, not in an invisible pouch), the less valuable it’ll be. If you were to kill an animal (or even a person) behind and let it sit in the wild, vultures, coyotes, and other creatures would come and munch on the remains.

It looks as if Rockstar will be carrying over the heists from GTA V as we see Arthur Morgan robbing a bank and holding up a train in the second trailer. It’s unclear how much of a focal point these will be in the game since it was the core of GTA V’s campaign but one has to imagine it plays a similar role given you’re a gang of notorious western criminals.

We do know there will be some depth to those heists, though. Players can go loud or quiet, create distractions, choose who you bring with you (some can be done solo but isn’t recommended), and use a bunch of other different variables to create different outcomes throughout the heists. All of this will result on if and when law enforcement shows up amongst other things. It’s unclear if you can have gang members die or get critically wounded in these heists like in Grand Theft Auto V or just how dynamic these systems are. Grand Theft Auto V’s heists were heavily scripted, if you chose a certain crew member to come with, they’d always die on the same mission in the same spot because it was coordinated by Rockstar’s writing. It was more of the illusion of choices having consequences rather than them actually having any meaning at all.

Some major changes are also coming in combat with the ability to dual wield weapons like Max Payne, bows and arrows used for hunting and maybe even some stealth combat as we see Arthur Morgan taking a knife to someone’s back in the dead of night. We also see Arthur brutally beating people up in the third trailer, suggesting Rockstar has refined their melee combat to create more intense and fun brawls.

A cowboy’s best friend

A cowboy’s best friend isn’t his fellow outlaws/lawmen, it’s his horse. In the original Red Dead Redemption, your horse was almost supernatural in the sense it teleported to you and was basically immortal. You didn’t have much of a connection to it because outside of its speed and stamina, there was nothing too special about the horses. In Red Dead Redemption II, Rockstar plans on changing that.

Your horse in the sequel will be very special. Perhaps the most significant change from the first game or any Rockstar game for that matter is that you won’t be able to carry every single weapon with you. The joke of pulling an RPG out of your rear end in GTA wouldn’t apply in this game as you’ll only be carrying small weapons such as handguns on your person, rifles and other gear will travel via your horse. We’re not sure if you can sling at least one rifle over your shoulder while walking around but you can expect most of your guns to be unavailable if your horse isn’t nearby.

Your horse won’t be disposable in this game, it’ll mean a lot more to you because it has lots of value. You’ll grow a bond that effects how scared it gets when put in danger, how far it gets from you, and more. Rockstar hopes that this bond won’t just serve a gameplay effect but a personal and emotional one to. If your horse gets critically wounded, you can attempt to heal it with medical supplies, if you don’t have any you can try and run into town quickly and gather some and run back. You may come back to your horse dead, making you realize that you left that poor animal that loved you to die thinking you abandoned it in its final moments. Brutal stuff, I know. Should it die, you’ll have to start that bond all over with a new horse and presumably any gear you can’t carry off of that horse’s corpse is lost.

It adds a whole new layer to an aspect that’s iconic to westerns but doesn’t have a lot of attention paid to it.

When you can play it and when we’ll know more

The only questions remaining are when we can play the game and when we can expect more firm details from Rockstar. The game is currently scheduled to release on October 26th, 2018 for PlayStation 4 as well as Xbox One, and we can likely expect some news regarding the game in June or July via a Game Informer cover story or a new breakdown directly from Rockstar. As of right now, we’ll just have to hold our breaths and keep waiting to saddle up again.

Where to buy Red Dead Redemption 2

You can now pre-order Red Dead Redemption 2 ahead of its October 27th release date. You’re in for some nice goodies if you decide to give Rockstar your cash early. All pre-orders for Red Dead Redemption 2 come with the War Horse mount and the Outlaw Survival Kit. The former is a grey-colored steed that has better courage and stamina than others, while the Outlaw Survival Kit gives you extra health kits, Dead Eye replenishment, and more.

If you pre-order the digital copy on PlayStation 4 or Xbox One, you’ll also get some extra in-game cash to start your game, as well as a treasure map, though you’ll need to pre-order the game by July 31st to get those.

There’s also a special edition of the game available. It comes with 2 extra side missions, a black thoroughbred horse, gameplay bonuses through medllian and talisman charms, in-game cash bonuses, gameplay boosts, and discounts, a gunslinger outfit, and three additional weapons. You’ll also get a real map of the game world.

If that’s not enough, the Ultimate Edition comes with everything that the Deluxe Edition does, but you can add two more in-game outfits, another black thoroughbred with an exclusive saddle, a Survivor camp theme for the game’s online mode, three additional free weapons, and XP bonuses for online play up to rank 25.

As an added bonus for Grand Theft Auto 5 players, all digital pre-orders also come with in-game currency for GTA Online. Standard Edition gets $500,000, Special Edition gets $1,000,000, and Ultimate Edition gets $2,000,000.

Then there’s the big kahuna reserved for the most die-hard Red Dead fans. It’s a full-blown Collector’s Box, a red-tinted metal tithing box with a lock and key that comes with an assortment of real world goodies. There’s a collectible coin, a double-sized puzzle, a red bandana, a treasure map, a pin set, commemorative playing cards, a real 150-page Wheeler, Rawson and Co. catalogue, and 12 collectible cigarette cards.

You can pre-order your preferred digital edition of Red Dead Redemption 2 at the PlayStation Store, Xbox Store, or direct from the Rockstar Warehouse. Those opting for the Collector’s Box, however, can only get it through the Rockstar Warehouse.

Wanting to catch up and play through the original Red Dead Redemption before the sequel drops? You can find the Game of the Year Edition for $20 at Amazon

See at Amazon

Updated June 2018: We’ve added details about newly announced pre-order bonuses and special edition options for you to consider!

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MacRumors Giveaway: Win a MacBook Case, TechFolio, and Apple Watch Cuff From Pad & Quill

We’ve teamed up with Pad & Quill for a special series of WWDC-themed giveaways this week to celebrate Apple’s big June event, and our third and final giveaway takes place today.

Pad & Quill, for those unfamiliar with it, is a company that’s well-known for making high-quality hand-crafted leather accessories for iPhones, Macs, iPads, Apple Watches, and more.

For our last WWDC giveaway, we’re offering MacRumors readers a chance to win a Cartella Slim Case for the MacBook or MacBook Pro, a TechFolio Cord Organizer, and a Lowry Leather Cuff for the Apple Watch.

The Cartella Slim, priced at $100 to $110 depending on size, is available for the 12-inch MacBook, the 2016/2017 13-inch MacBook Pro, and 2016/2017 15-inch MacBook Pro. It’s a book-style case, made in a bindery in St. Paul, Minnesota, with a thin front and back cover wrapped in charcoal, cranberry, or gray linen.

All ports, vents, and fans are accessible with the Cartella Slim, and the MacBook attaches to the case using adhesive technology. Because there’s no solid frame, the Cartella Slim adds little bulk, but still protects your Mac from bumps, scratches, and minor drops. An elastic band closure completes the book-style look and keeps everything in place when your machine is closed.

The $90 TechFolio Cord Organizer, which can hold all of your MacBook’s accessories, is designed to keep all of your cords neatly organized in one easy-to-access place. Like all Pad & Quill products, the TechFolio is handmade from leather and able to hold a ton.

It has three cord organizer pockets, an Apple Pencil slot, a larger zipper pocket for a MacBook charger, two smaller pockets for accessories, and slots for keys or SD cards. All of this folds down into a small package that secures with a rivet closure.

Pad & Quill’s Lowry Leather Cuff for the Apple Watch fits the 42mm models and is made from a soft, vegetable-tanned leather with a comfortable suede interior. Priced at $130, it comes in American Tan, Galloper Black or Chestnut, and while it is a cuff design, it leaves the heart rate sensor accessible through a cutout at the back.

The Lowry Leather Cuff fits wrists sized 125 to 215mm, with lugs available to match all of the Apple Watch models.

Today’s prize pack includes one Cartella Slim for the MacBook or MacBook Pro, a TechFolio, and the Lowry Leather Cuff. To enter to win, use the Rafflecopter widget below and enter an email address. Email addresses will be used solely for contact purposes to reach the winners and send the prizes. You can earn additional entries by subscribing to our weekly newsletter, subscribing to our YouTube channel, following us on Twitter, or visiting the MacRumors Facebook page.

Due to the complexities of international laws regarding giveaways, only U.S. residents who are 18 years or older and Canadian residents (excluding Quebec) who have reached the age of majority in their province or territory are eligible to enter. To offer feedback or get more information on the giveaway restrictions, please refer to our Site Feedback section, as that is where discussion of the rules will be redirected.

a Rafflecopter giveawayThe contest will run from today (June 7) at 11:00 a.m. Pacific Time through 11:00 a.m. Pacific Time on June 14. The winner will be chosen randomly on June 14 and will be contacted by email. The winner will have 48 hours to respond and provide a shipping address before a new winner is chosen.

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Apple Plans TV Adaptation of Gregory David Roberts’ Novel ‘Shantaram’

Following yesterday’s news that Apple is partnering with producer J.J. Abrams on a show called “Little Voices,” Variety today reports that Apple has now landed the TV adaptation rights to Gregory David Roberts’ 2003 novel “Shantaram.”

Multiple parties were said to be interested in purchasing the rights to adapt the novel as a dramatic series, leading to Apple’s win in a “competitive situation.”

Shantaram is a fictional novel based somewhat on Roberts’ real life, and focuses on a character named Lin, a convict who flees an Australian prison and disappears into the city of Bombay.

Once in India, Lin’s journey takes him through a hidden society of soldiers, gangsters, and criminals, all while figures from his life in prison hunt him down.

Previous plans for Shantaram had Joel Edgerton in the starring role of a feature film, but plans have now shifted into a television series. The show will be produced by Paramount Television and Anonymous Content, which also own the rights to the sequel novel called “The Mountain Shadow.”

“American Hustle” screenwriter Eric Warren Singer will serve as the showrunner and executive producer of the new Apple series. Singer also worked on “The International”, “Only the Brave”, and wrote the script for the upcoming sequel “Top Gun: Maverick.”

Tag: Apple’s Hollywood ambitions
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Beats Solo3 and Powerbeats3 Wireless Headphones Get New Pop Collection of Colors

Beats this week introduced a new Pop Collection of colorways for its Solo3 Wireless and Powerbeats3 Wireless headphones.

Solo3 Wireless and Powerbeats3 Wireless are available in Pop Magenta, Pop Violet, Pop Indigo, and Pop Blue options for $299.95 and $199.95 respectively in the United States, the same standard pricing of other colors.

The overall design and features of the headphones remain unchanged, so this is purely a cosmetic change for those interested.

Solo3 Wireless and Powerbeats3 Wireless in the new Pop Collection can be ordered from Apple’s online store in many countries. Keep in mind that the traditional colors are currently on sale at both Apple and Amazon.

Like AirPods, the Solo3 Wireless and Powerbeats3 Wireless are equipped with Apple’s W1 chip for instant pairing with an iPhone. They can then simultaneously connect to an Apple Watch, iPad, and Mac via iCloud.

Like the BeatsX, both headphones feature Fast Fuel. Just five minutes of charging provides up to three hours of playback for the Solo3 Wireless and up to an hour of playback for the Powerbeats3 Wireless.

Apple acquired Beats for $3 billion in 2014.

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The Evolution of Drones

Drones have become so commonplace these days that’s it’s easy to forget how far the technology has come just in a matter of a few years with some experts saying that the UAV technology is just as disruptive as the internet and other modern inventions that have changed civilization.

Not so long ago, the use of drones were the preserve of the military where they were used in the battlefield and to get to unreachable and dangerous where it was impossible to get men on the ground to access.

Now, thanks to human ingenuity and curiosity, there more drones in civilian hands that there are in the military and they have even become something of a cultural phenomenon.

How drones are made

Also known as Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAV), drones consist of the flying unit made of light alloys and the remote control for navigation also referred to as the ground cockpit amongst drone enthusiasts.

The body is made of composite materials to make it strong while still maintaining their lightweight. This also helps for easy navigation and aerodynamics.

The technology

What makes drones interesting is the technology. Most drones especially those used in humanitarian missions and mapping applications have a radar system and also come with both the GPS and GLONASS that use satellite position systems. This improves the accuracy of the drones and that’s why some have a return to home capability.

Additionally, most drones in the market these days come with obstacle sensors so they don’t flying into walls and if the systems fail, the speed is usually significantly slowed down so that the impact is lessened thereby minimizing the possible damage on the drone.

Flight control

Drones fly using propellers that are multi-directional to make able to fly in any direction. Using an electronic speed controller and gyro stabilization technology, flight control is possible which is why drones can hover or flying at varying speeds.

Application

The uptake of drones has steadily grown over the years and has transcended what was formerly a military device and then for the indulgence of a few geeks and have become a mainstream electronic with several applications.

The application of drones in everyday life is common now where they used in photography, hobbies and food deliveries.

The future of drones

Manufacturers keep coming up with new drone models keep every other day, each with its own unique design and features. While this makes the industry quite vibrant, it can be confusing for a beginner to know where to start. Luckily, there are many drone review sites like Fpvdronereviews.Com that do the hard work for you and rank drones by every possible feature you can imagine. From size to capability, cost to ease of use.

There also now drone clubs that train newbies and organize drone competitions and air shows in addition to being great ambassadors for the use of drones in consumer applications.

The full potential of drones is yet to be exploited which makes the future even more exciting.

HUAWEI Watch 2 Classic Review

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I have an admission to make: I’ve been using an iPhone as my daily driver for the past four months. While I love Android, the iPhone just gives me a different experience and I really enjoy it. Even when I tire of the iPhone and iOS, I have still stuck with it. Why? Because of the Apple Watch. I’ve never been big on wearables, but the Apple Watch is truly an excellent companion. I’ve been searching for something to rival the Apple Watch on the Android side of things and hadn’t found much.

Or so I thought.

During my search, I kept running across the HUAWEI Watch 2 Classic. For one reason or another, I’d always passed it over. The bezel looks a little too big in the pictures, the screen isn’t the size I want to it to be… It was alway something. But, the reviews finally won me over and I reached out to HUAWEI to see if we could get a review unit. Now, reviewing a device over a year after it hits the market is not the norm, but luckily the guys over at HUAWEI were able to hook us up.

And damn if I’m not incredibly impressed. Let’s start out with the physical construction and the sides.

Build and Internals

The HUAWEI Watch 2 features a stainless steel body with a ceramic bezel around the display. That bezel features time increments like you’d find on a clock. This is a love it or hate it feature for me, but I find that I don’t mind it. I don’t particularly use it (I’m a digital kind of guy) but much like a notch on a cell phone display, I don’t notice it when I’m not looking for it.

The watch looks a bit big and hefty in pictures, but it’s a different story in person. I was surprised at how light it actually is. While some people will say that it makes the watch feel a little cheap, I love it because there’s zero fatigue here. Big bulky watches can get in the way (the Watch 2 Classic can easily slip under your shirt sleeve) and can weigh you down. You can tell that HUAWEI tried to keep this light so people would be more inclined to use it while they’re working out and they did a fantastic job of it.

The display is a 1.3-inch, 390 x 390 AMOLED panel covered in Gorilla Glass. I absolutely love AMOLED and HUAWEI put a fantastic display in the Watch 2 Classic. It gets incredibly bright for use on sunny days. Since AMOLED simply turns off pixels when it needs to show black, the resting watch screen and dark watch faces look fantastic.

The AMOLED display also helps to save battery. There’s a quick charge-enabled 420 mAh battery inside that provides anywhere from 36-48 hours of use depending on what you’re using your watch for. I don’t do a ton of health tracking so I tend to get closer to two days of battery life. I’m really happy with the battery life and find that if I throw the watch on a charger when I’m getting ready in the morning, I have more than enough battery to get through the entire day.

HUAWEI claims that the watch can be charged from dead to full in about 90 minutes so we did our own testing. Here are the results:

10%	5:23
20%	11:30
30%	17:36
40%	23:36
50%	29:35
60%	35:36
70%	43:13
80%	51:36
90%	1:01:35
100%	1:31:35

As we can see, Huawei’s claims are pretty dead on. I generally head to bed with about 45% battery, throw the watch on the charger in the morning, and I’m good to go through the rest of the day.

Charging pins on the back of the watch

Speaking of the charger, HUAWEI did a fantastic job here. If you remember back to the original HUAWEI Watch, the charger was one of the worst we’ve ever seen. The watch would routinely slide off the pins and just not charge at all. To fix this issue, HUAWEI redesigned the charger to make sure the watch would stay in place. In fact, the magnets have such a tight hold that I can hold the charger upside down and shake and the watch will still stay in place. If we’re not going to get wireless charging, this is the next best thing.

Inside the watch, we find a healthy smattering of radios. The standard Bluetooth and WiFi radios are here in addition to GPS, and on some models, LTE. Our model does not have LTE so we can’t take calls or stream music while untethered to our phone. That’s something we’re seriously missing when moving over from the Apple Watch Series 3 LTE, but if you get a model with LTE you should be set. Unfortunately, it doesn’t look like that model is available in the US, but you may be able to import one.

If you are into taking calls on your watch, the Watch 2 Classic will let you do that. Sure, you do have to be connected to your phone, but it’s still pretty convenient. The speaker is surprisingly loud but the microphone falls a bit flat. Those we were talking to could understand us but they could definitely tell we weren’t talking to them on our regular phone.

The HUAWEI Watch 2 Classic features a standard 22mm watch band configuration. The band that comes in the box a leather/silicon combo. The top is real leather and looks fantastic and feels great. The part that touches your skin is silicon and feels great even when you’re sweaty from your workout. But, if you want to switch it out, you can. We picked up a nice Milanese loop band and installed it in just a few minutes.

Overall, we really like how the HUAWEI Watch 2 Classic is built and what it was able to fit inside. Hell, there’s even an IP68 rating so you know it’s not going to get ruined if it gets wet. But, the story isn’t all great here.

Both the original watch band and the side of the watch have a gigantic HUAWEI branding. To make matters worse, where the branding is on the side of the watch is plastic instead of stainless steel. It looks tacky and cheap in our opinion. We’re guessing that the plastic is there to help radio transmission, but other watchmakers are able to pull it off without something like this so we’re left to wonder why its really there. Hopefully, HUAWEI redesigns this in its next generation watch.

We’re also not in love with how the digital crowns work. The top crown is programmable and can do things like open up your apps or launch Google Assistant. The bottom crown opens up some fitness tracking features when pressed. But neither of these crowns allow you to scroll when you turn them. That’s a big miss in our opinion. HUAWEI says that they didn’t include that because they feared that the crowns could break from usage. My response to that is, do better. I have big fat fingers and its hard to see the screen when I’m scrolling through things. A crown that allows you to scroll through menus is a great option and we’d like to see them add this at some point.

Software

The HUAWEI Watch 2 Classic runs the latest version of Android Wear 2.0 Wear OS. In fact, you can even get in on an Android P beta for the watch if you’re brave enough.

I’ve never been a massive fan of Android on wearables. There’s either not enough functionality or it’s a convoluted mess half the time. Google seems to be rectifying this recently. After a bad first impression, I’m firmly back on the bandwaggon.

It’s not all peaches and gravy, unfortunately. The notification cards are all the same color and there’s little to distinguish them at a glance- something that’s needed on a wearable. It’s still a little hard to tell what is going to work on the watch, and what isn’t. But Google does seem to be moving in the right direction. On device apps now work whether you’re tethered to a phone or not, a major pain in earlier releases.

We’re not going to get too into the weeds with Wear OS here because the software experience is generally the same across on Wear OS devices. What we are going to talk about, however, are the health tracking features.

Now, I’m not a big health guru by any means. I’m trying to work back to fitness after some pretty bad back problems and this is what made me fall in love with the Watch 2 Classic.

With just the push of the bottom crown, you’re in the workout screen. Here you can select a number of exercises including an outdoor run, indoor run, cardio, walk, outdoor and indoor cycle… all with their own goals for the day. These goals are set by you in the app settings.

Huawei also included a “Training Plan” feature that lets you set your desired distance and then will help you train up to that. If you’re looking to run a half marathon this year, the watch app and the Huawei Health Android app are a great start. The Huawei Health app syncs with your watch to show you all of the data it has collected in an easy to consume format.

If you’re looking for a health-focused wearable, you currently have a few choices. You can go the Fitbit route, but your choices are between trackers with crappy notifications or smartwatches that feel like their infancy. Or, you can go with a wearable like the Polar M600 or the HUAWEI Watch 2 Classic. It should surprise no-one that Polar is leading the pack in the Android Wear space when it comes to fitness tracking. But, what most don’t realize is that HUAWEI is a close second. Plus you get the advantage of your watch actually looking like a watch.

Conclusion

When the battery gets low, Watch Mode can get you a few days of battery life while still displaying the time and your steps

If you’re looking for a Wear OS watch right now, I think the search has to start with the HUAWEI Watch 2 Classic. Sure, there are other watches out there that may offer things that it doesn’t, but it is the closest thing we have to a complete package right now.

The branding on the side of the watch is just bothersome. It just looks and feels cheap on a great device. But, we can generally get over that once we put the watch on. We’d love to see a rotating bezel like the Gear S3 or a more useful crown in a future version to expand the watch’s functionality.

This is also one of the first Wear OS devices I’ve used where there’s no lag during normal use. When the battery gets pretty low there seems to be some throttling to save energy and some stutters can be seen. But in normal day to day operations, it functions fast and flawlessly. That is extremely important because the function of a smartwatch is to make my life a little easier. Any issues, even something as minor as some lag, destroy the watch’s purpose for being.

There are other little things we love like a very nice vibration motor that is the cherry on top. We’re also encouraged by how well the watch held up during our testing. We were uncharacteristically hard on the watch during our review period and it held up well. After several hits on door jams, car door windows, and in other places, the watch still looks just like it did when we pulled it out of the box.

If you’re as impressed by the HUAWE Watch 2 Classic, be sure to enter to win one now. We’re giving away both a HUAWEI Watch 2 Classic and HUAWEI Band 2 Pro through June 30.

BlackBerry Key2 vs. BlackBerry KeyOne: A stunning successor

Julian Chokkattu/Digital Trends

Although it’s a modern Android phone internally, the BlackBerry KeyOne was made to appeal to BlackBerry fans of old. It was aimed more at those who remembered the clickety-clack of a physical keyboard on a phone and wanted to replicate that today than it was for turning the heads of iPhone and Samsung owners. Because of this, it didn’t win over a broad new audience of BlackBerry devotees. The BlackBerry Key2 will change that with a new design and, more crucially, major changes to the keyboard.

If the BlackBerry KeyOne appealed to you but never quite made it into your hand, is the Key2 the one for you? Here are the differences between them, and how the Key2 improves over the KeyOne.

Specs

BlackBerry Key2
BlackBerry KeyOne

Size

151.4 x 71.8 x 8.5 mm (5.96 x 2.82 x 0.33 inches)

149.1 x 72.4 x 9.4 mm (5.87 x 2.85 x 0.37 inches)

Weight
168 grams (5.92 ounces)
180 grams (6.35 ounces)

Screen size
4.5-inch IPS LCD
4.5-inch IPS LCD

Screen resolution
1,620 x 1,080 pixels (434 pixels per inch)
1,620 x 1,080 pixels (433 pixels per inch)

Operating system
Android 8.1 Oreo
Android 7.1.1 Nougat (will get Oreo soon)

Storage space
64GB (U.S.), 128GB (International)
32GB

MicroSD card slot
Yes
Yes

Tap-to-pay services
Google Pay
Google Pay

Processor
Qualcomm Snapdragon 660
Qualcomm Snapdragon 625

RAM
6GB
3GB

Camera
Dual 12MP, 8MP front
12MP rear, 8MP front

Video
Up to 4K at 30 frames per second (fps)
2,160p at 30fps

Bluetooth version
Bluetooth 5.0
Bluetooth 4.2

Ports
3.5mm headphone jack, USB-C
3.5mm headphone jack, USB-C

Fingerprint sensor
Yes
Yes

Water resistance
No
No

Battery
3,500mAh
3,505mAh

App marketplace
Google Play Store
Google Play Store

Network support
Verizon, AT&T, and T-Mobile
Verizon, AT&T, and T-Mobile

Colors
Black, silver
Black, bronze, silver

Price
$650
 $550

Buy from
BlackBerry
BlackBerry

Review score
Hands-on review
3.5 out of 5 stars

Performance, battery life, and charging

Julian Chokkattu/Digital Trends

BlackBerry hasn’t packed the Key2with the fastest Snapdragon processor but has updated the slightly wheezy Snapdragon 625 in the KeyOne with the much more recent Snapdragon 660. It has also doubled the RAM to 6GB, and the phone comes with 64GB of storage space. A 128GB version will receive a limited international launch.

The battery inside stays almost exactly the same with a 3,500mAh capacity, and there’s still Qualcomm’s Quick Charge 3.0 technology, which is facilitated by a USB Type-C connector. Qualcomm’s Quick Charge 3.0 returns 50 percent charge in a little less than 40 minutes, and BlackBerry expects two days use out of the phone before the battery is flat. This is consistent with the KeyOne. The screen measures 4.5-inches and has a 1,620 x 1,080 resolution. Like the KeyOne, it has a 3.5mm headphone jack and a fingerprint sensor in the keyboard’s space bar.

The Key2 is more powerful and has more RAM and storage. Battery life is about the same as the KeyOne, which means the new phone takes the win.

Winner: BlackBerry Key2

Design and durability

Julian Chokkattu/Digital Trends

Changes to the Key2’s keyboard, which we’ll go into later, have drastically improved the typing experience over the KeyOne. Those changes are assisted by alterations to the phone’s design. Perhaps the most obvious is when you pick the phone up, which immediately highlights the 12-gram reduction in weight. BlackBerry achieved this by using 7,000 series aluminum for the phone’s body. It’s better balanced too, so it doesn’t “hang” from your fingers quite so much as the KeyOne does, a point further emphasized by the keyboard moving higher up the phone’s body.

The back of the device is more traditional-looking, with its twin camera lenses and central BlackBerry logo. It’s more reminiscent of the BlackBerry Motion’s restrained character than the more heavily styled KeyOne. This is also evident when you examine the phone from the sides and front. The KeyOne’s curvy sides are now flat on the Key2, and a little less comfortable to hold because of it, but the look is considerably more modern. Another very welcome change is that the sleep/wake key has been moved in line with the volume keys and the Convenience Key on the right-hand side of the phone, and it’s textured.

For what the Key2 loses in character — the KeyOne is a striking, distinctly recognizable phone — it makes up in usability and modernity, and it’s a trade-off that arguably had to be made if BlackBerry wants more people than just the die-hard fans queuing up to buy one of its phones. The keyboard prevent BlackBerry from adding water-resistance to the phone, without ruining the feel, so you won’t want to drop the phone in any water.

Winner: BlackBerry Key2

Display

Julian Chokkattu/Digital Trends

The IPS LCD screen now takes up more space on the front of the phone, even though the 4.5-inch size is unchanged from the KeyOne, as the bezels around it have been shrunk. This reduction has helped BlackBerry make the keyboard on the Key2 larger, and visually makes the phone more attractive and up-to-date. However, because the screen size and the resolution are the same, you won’t notice any difference viewing content on the Key2 over the KeyOne.

Winner: Tie

Camera

Julian Chokkattu/Digital Trends

The KeyOne had a surprisingly good camera, a feature rarely associated with BlackBerry phones up till that point. For the Key2, BlackBerry has adopted the latest trend — a dual-lens camera with a portrait mode. The KeyOne’s single f/2.0 aperture, 12-megapixel camera has transformed into a dual 12-megapixel camera setup, with the main camera having an f/1.8 aperture and the secondary an f/2.6 aperture.

While the KeyOne’s camera took decent standard photos, it wasn’t feature-packed. The Key2 has a portrait mode that blurs out the background and isolates the focal subject in the picture. It’s a feature we’re used to seeing on the majority of midlevel and flagship smartphones today, and a necessary addition for BlackBerry on the Key2. The app has also been given an overhaul, with a slide-up menu system to access the portrait mode, along with a panorama mode and a basic slow-motion video mode. There’s also 2x optical zoom.

The Key2 has an 8-megapixel selfie camera, which is similar to the one on the KeyOne.

We haven’t had a chance to test out the Key2’s camera yet, but on paper, it should easily take the crown from the KeyOne.

Winner: BlackBerry Key2

Software and updates

Julian Chokkattu/Digital Trends

BlackBerry phones use Google’s Android as the operating system. BlackBerry 10 — and anything that came before it — is a thing of the past. On a modern BlackBerry phone, you get access to Google Play, all the usual Google apps, and a very similar user experience to that provided by a Samsung, LG, or any other Android phone.

Android 7.1 Nougat came installed on the KeyOne, and an Android 8.0 Oreo update is in the process of being released now. On the Key2, it’s Android Oreo 8.1. BlackBerry promises a version update to Android P in the future, along with two years of software support. It’s not certain if the KeyOne will get the Android P update, or if it does, when it will arrive.

There are a variety of new software features on the Key2. These include new features in Locker, to which apps can now be added. Firefox Focus is also part of Locker now, enabling private browsing, and can be used to privately open links sent in emails or messages. BlackBerry’s DTEK has been given a visual update, making it cleaner-looking, and now has a system scanner that makes security recommendations. Some of these features will also come to the KeyOne in a future software update.

The software experience is similar between these two phones, but the Key2 will get updates for a longer period of time.

Winner: BlackBerry Key2

Keyboard

Julian Chokkattu/Digital Trends

The physical keyboard was what made the KeyOne different, and it returns on the Key2, but with some crucial changes to make it not only more usable but also more newcomer friendly. This is very important. The KeyOne took practice to use with any speed and precision if you were coming directly from a touchscreen keyboard.

For the Key2, BlackBerry has introduced a new keyboard design that’s 20 percent larger than on the KeyOne, with the keys extending higher on the body than on its predecessor, and with new contours to make them more tactile. A matte finish replaces the sticker coating on the KeyOne’s keys, and the separators between each row have been reduced in height. There’s even a pleasing downward slope to each, now larger key, making it more comfortable and natural to press.

The difference is considerable. Even coming directly from the KeyOne, typists will immediately feel faster, and the entire typing process feels more coherent and natural. A lot of the extra space has been generated by losing the second shift key, but BlackBerry has also added a new key that activates user-definable shortcuts. Each letter key can be assigned two tasks, based on a short press or long press, and by using the new key at the same time, apps can be switched from within apps without using the app drawer.

It’s still a capacitive touch keyboard, enabling a quick scroll through web pages and the ability to select words from the predictive options when typing. The overall package of BlackBerry’s changes to the Key2’s keyboard is one that’s more comfortable to use, and less time-consuming and less frustrating to adapt to using. Whether you used the KeyOne or not, don’t base the Key2’s keyboard on previous experience with a modern Android BlackBerry phone, because they’re very different beasts.

Winner: BlackBerry Key2

Price

The BlackBerry Key2 starts at $650, 650 euros, or 580 British pounds. The KeyOne was $550 at launch. BlackBerry says the price increase represents the investment in design, performance, and specifications, and pointed out that the upgraded Black Edition of the KeyOne cost $600, showing the increase is actually more minimal given the alterations.

Overall winner:

The BlackBerry Key2 is the clear winner here. For only $100 over the KeyOne, you get a stronger processor, more RAM, a better camera, newer software, and best of all, a physical keyboard that’s easier to use even if you’re a hardened touchscreen typist. You can’t argue with that, and initial impressions show the Key2 to be a significant step forward for BlackBerry’s modern efforts.

Editors’ Recommendations

• Blackberry Key2 hands-on review
• The Blackberry Key2: Everything you need to know about 2018’s top keyboard phone
• Swapping an iPhone for a BlackBerry made me appreciate the physical keyboard
• BlackBerry wants you to do its advertising by joining its fan league

Has the Mars Curiosity rover found something? NASA shares news today

It’s been six years since the Mars rover Curiosity landed on the Red Planet, and now it seems that the space vehicle has some news to share. NASA has called a press conference to share the latest findings by its rover, which will begin later today (June 7) at 2 p.m. ET. It’s unclear exactly what we’ll learn from the conference, as the space agency has only revealed that it has new “science results” to share with its eager public. You can watch the entire stream right here, or head over to NASA’s Facebook page and its other social media channels.

To make things as interactive as possible, NASA is offering folks the opportunity to join in on the discussion via Facebook and Twitter. If you’re interested in being part of the conversation, or have a burning question that you’d like NASA to answer, you can submit inquiries using the hashtag #askNASA up until 1  p.m. this afternoon.

As it stands, conference participants include Paul Mahaffy, director of the Solar System Exploration Division at NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, Maryland; Jen Eigenbrode, a research scientist at Goddard; Chris Webster, a senior research fellow at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) in Pasadena, California; and Ashwin Vasavada, Mars Science Laboratory project scientist at JPL.

It’s been quite some time since we heard from Curiosity, which first landed on Mars in August of 2012.  Its initial mission was to determine whether our closest  planetary neighbor had ever supported life, or might be suitable for life in the future. While the rover hasn’t exactly found solid evidence of life-like activity on Mars, it did make quite a major discovery a year after landing. In 2013, the rover found that liquid water and the chemical components behind life had once existed on Mars.

More recently, at the beginning of 2018, the Curiosity was thought to have found evidence of bioturbation, which is what occurs when organisms living in sediments leave an imprint on their structure. Not much has come of  that initial report since then, so it may not have been quite as exciting as initially thought.

In any case, we’ll soon learn what the latest discovery is in a few hours. We’ll keep you posted.

Editors’ Recommendations

• NASA abruptly shuts down its planned 2022 moon rover mission
• Get your Sagan on with 60 awe-inspiring photos of the final frontier
• NASA and ESA will team up to bring Martian soil samples back to Earth
• NASA will send a tiny drone helicopter to fly through the Martian skies
• Robot bees on Mars — NASA funding a swarm of drones to explore the Red Planet

Best Screen Protectors for the OnePlus 6

Never Settle for a cracked screen

The OnePlus 6 is a fantastic new phone from the brand that wants you to “Never Settle”. With a screen protector properly installed, you’ll never have to settle for a cracked screen.

Do note that because of the curved edges of the OnePlus 6 display, most screen protectors won’t be able to cover the entire display without peeling up around the edges. Even still, all of these options will cover 99% of the display and you’ll be glad it’s there to take the brunt of drops and scratches.

• OnePlus Tempered Glass Bundles
• LK Tempered Glass screen protector [3-pack]
• IQShield Matte Film screen protector
• Mr. Shield Tempered Glass screen protector [3-pack]
• Wellci Tempered Glass Screen Protector

OnePlus Protection Bundles

If you’re the type who loves to accessorize your phone, OnePlus is a brand that’s on your side.

You can buy a tempered glass screen protector made by OnePlus itself — so you know that it’s made perfectly to fit the OnePlus 6. It’s got all the features you’d expect from a quality screen protector such as oleophobic coating to reduce fingerprints and exceptional hardness to protect your display.

The screen protector alone is $20, which is a bit pricy, but if you cruise over to the OnePlus Store you’ll find four different bundle options that include a tempered glass screen protector along with your choice of wired OnePlus Bullets earbuds, charging accessories, and/or a bumper case. OnePlus offers a discount on each of those bundles, so if you want a case along with your screen protector or are planning on picking up some extra accessories, it’s your best bet.

See at OnePlus

LK Tempered Glass screen protector [3-pack]

From the expensive accessories offered by OnePlus itself to a great value pack — if you know you’re going to need more than one tempered glass screen protector, LK has got you covered with this three-pack of tempered glass screen protectors for just $9.

These screen protectors include a black border around the display and covering the notch, which should help with lining things up during installation. Each screen protector is precisely laser cut to fid the camera lenses and sensors in the notch and features oleophobic coating to prevent fingerprints and smudges.

These screen protectors will be in stock on June 12 and are available for purchase now on Amazon.

See at Amazon

IQShield Matte Film screen protector

Not everyone wants a tempered glass screen protector, although they do absolutely offer the best protection from damage. But if you want a film screen protector that will cut down on screen glare, you’ll want to check out this screen protector from IQ Shield.

Designed with a cutout around the top for the OnePlus 6 notch, this wet-install film screen protector features a matte finish that reduces the glare from sunlight. this is an ultra-thin screen protector that comes with everything you need for a clean and bubble-free installation.

Get yours for just $8 on Amazon.

See at Amazon

Mr. Shield Tempered Glass screen protector [3-pack]

Mr. Shield offers a great option for protecting your OnePlus 6’s screen. This three-pack of tempered glass screen protectors are crystal clear that’s been laser cut to fit the OnePlus 6 and it’s notch.

Mr. Shield gives you three screen protectors in the package and also backs up their products with a lifetime replacement warranty that covers installation issues or damage from use. The kit includes everything you’ll need for a clean installation.

Get this three-pack for just $8 on Amazon.

See at Amazon

Wellci Tempered Glass Screen Protector

Wellci offers two different styles of tempered glass screen protectors for the OnePlus 6 — whether you want the style with a black border around the display or a crystal-clear slab of glass. No matter which style you opt for, you’ll get two screen protectors for the price of one so you’ll have a backup.

These screen protectors are ultra-thin at just 0.26mm of thickness to help maintain the original touch sensitivity of the phone.

The clear screen protectors go for $8 for the pair or get the black bordered ones for $9.

See at Amazon

Do you use a screen protector on your phone?

Let us know what you think about the value of a screen protector and the brand you trust most, in the comments below!

OnePlus 6

• OnePlus 6 review
• OnePlus 6 vs. OnePlus 5T: How much changes in six months?
• OnePlus 6 vs. OnePlus 5: Should you upgrade?
• These are the official OnePlus 6 cases
• The OnePlus 6 doesn’t work on Verizon or Sprint
• Join the discussion in the forums