Quickstarter inspires creators to dream up small but fun Kickstarter projects

Kickstarter wants you to know that your project needn’t be an overly ambitious undertaking that leaves you sweating it out as you gradually begin to wonder how on earth you’re going to meet all those crazy goals you set.

That’s right — projects can be simple and manageable, too.

To inspire people to turn their attention to stress-free projects, the company this week launched Quickstarter, a place for low-budget ideas that can be done and dusted within a short time frame, or “the kind you do mostly for fun,” as the company puts it.

Kickstarter decided to incorporate Quickstarter into its site after hearing about the idea from London-based designer Oscar Lhermitte.

“As exciting as big projects can be, I’ve learned just as much from doing the little ones,” Lhermitte said in a post about the new initiative.

“Kickstarter is a great tool to test out experimental ideas — things that don’t follow traditional models — and working on a small scale can give you the freedom to experiment and explore new things without putting too much on the line.”

The designer points out how a Quickstarter project could work out perfectly for people looking to launch their very first crowdfunding project, in other words, those who might not have the time or money to “hire a videographer, spend months doing PR, or figure out a complex manufacturing process.”

But Lhermitte also points out that a Quickstarter project might also suit more experienced creators who’ve already crowdfunded projects but are feeling the need to “shake things up and try something new.”

According to Lhermitte, a Quickstarter project should not turn into something that takes over your life, or be seen as a job. In a nutshell, it’s about thinking small and having fun.

To help you to focus on a Quickstarter idea, he’s created some rules you might want to follow:
1. The development process — from sketching an idea to launching it on Kickstarter — should take no more than three months.
2. Keep the campaign under 20 days.
3. The funding goal should be below $1,000 (or thereabouts in your local currency).
4. The main reward should be under $50.
5. The video should be shot over one day with whatever camera you have (smartphone highly recommended).
6. Don’t do any PR and media outreach (unless you get contacted).
7. Don’t run any paid ads on social media.
8. No stretch goals.
9. Include “Quickstarter” in your campaign name.

Interested in starting your own Quickstarter project? To see what’s already out there, check out Kickstarter’s dedicated webpage for Quickstarter projects, which currently includes ideas for everything from webcam covers and “envelope bags” to “lazy postcards” and tape stickers. That last one happens to be Lhermitte’s own project.

Thieves nab $100K of Apple gear in ‘Mission: Impossible-style’ raid

Apple products have been targeted by thieves yet again, this time in a raid at a Best Buy store in Dunwoody, Georgia.

Around $100,000 worth of iPhones, iPads, Mac computers, and other Apple kit was taken, but it’s the way the crooks broke in that has surprised local cops, with one describing it as “a Mission: Impossible-style burglary.”

The perpetrators cut a hole in the roof of the store before rappelling down on ropes, bringing to mind the iconic vault scene in the first Mission: Impossible movie where Tom Cruise is lowered into a secure CIA room packed with sensors as he attempts to retrieve important data from a computer.

OK, we’re not saying the thieves had to overcome any of the security technology that Cruise and his gang had to deal with — including retina scans, vocal ID, laser nets, temperature sensors, and pressure sensitive floors — but these particular Best Buy bandits clearly considered it necessary to rappel down on ropes.

Cops said that once inside, the thieves “burrowed” their way into a locked storage area used for holding Apple gear when the store is closed.

The burglary took place on June 8 but no arrests have yet been made.

Apple products are often targeted by thieves because of their high resale value and popularity in the marketplace. The crimes, however, take various forms.

On the cruder side, some have seen gangs using hammers and other tools to simply smash their way into Apple Stores. Others have been carefully planned, such as the time a trio of thieves dressed as Apple Store employees to confuse staff and customers while they quietly stole iPhones from several stores in New York City.

But perhaps the most remarkable effort to date involved a gang stealing more than $500,000 worth of iPhones from a van as it motored along a highway in the Netherlands.

The audacious nighttime raid, which took place in 2017, is believed to have involved the robbers driving a modified van up to the rear of the targeted truck as it drove along the highway.

One of the suspects reportedly climbed onto the van’s hood before forcing his way into the back of the truck carrying the Apple gear. It’s thought he then handed the iPhones to his accomplices via a hole cut into the van’s roof. In that case, police made a number of arrests.

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Apple Pay Debuts in Norway With Nordea and Santander

Just a day after launching in Poland, Apple Pay has debuted in Norway, bringing the total number of supported countries and regions to 24 by our count. Apple has updated its list of participating banks to note that Nordea and Santander Consumer Finance are currently supported in Norway.

Apple CEO Tim Cook announced on Apple’s earnings conference call last month that Apple Pay would be launching in Ukraine, Poland, and Norway in the near future, and with the addition of Norway today those promises have been fulfilled. Apple Pay launched in Ukraine just over a month ago.

(Thanks, TrulsZK!)

Related Roundup: Apple PayTag: Norway
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Kristen Wiig Drops Out of Upcoming Apple Comedy Series Due to Scheduling Issues

Kristen Wiig is no longer set to star in an upcoming Apple comedy series due to a scheduling conflict with “Wonder Woman 1984,” reports Variety. Wiig’s exit from the series and the reason behind it were confirmed by an Apple video spokesperson.

As was announced back in January, Wiig was set to play the lead role in a 10-episode comedy show based on the “You Think It, I’ll Say It” short story collection from Curtis Sittenfeld. The show would have been Wiig’s first regular television role since leaving “Saturday Night Live” in 2012.

Wiig is instead set to play the villain Cheetah in “Wonder Woman 1984,” which is set to be released in November of 2019. The first of Apple’s television shows have also been rumored to be debuting in 2019, explaining the scheduling conflicts.

Curtis Sittenfeld’s book features 10 stories that “upend assumptions about class, relationships, and gender roles in a nation that feels both adrift and viscerally divided,” according to its description on Amazon. According to Variety, Apple still wants to develop the series and the producers for the show are regrouping.

Apple has dozens of other television projects in the works at the current time, with a full list available in the original programming section of our Apple TV roundup.

Related Roundups: Apple TV, tvOS 12Tag: Apple’s Hollywood ambitionsBuyer’s Guide: Apple TV (Neutral)
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How to spot spam in WhatsApp

With more than 1.5 billion monthly users, it’s safe to say that WhatsApp has become one of the most popular messaging apps in existence. Unlike proprietary services like iMessage, which is only available on compatible Apple devices, the Facebook-owned app allows users to send text, voice, and video messages across a variety of devices, as well as images and other media.

With so many people using the service regularly, however, there are bound to be a few hiccups, one of which is the large amount of spam plaguing the app. Some messages attempt to scrounge your personal data or install malware, while others try to trick you into paying a fee in order to continue using the app. To help you identify and handle the deluge of unsolicited messages — whether from unknown users or contacts whose accounts have been hacked — we’ve put together a few tips.

Keep an eye out for misspellings and grammatical errors

One of the easiest ways to tell the difference between a hoax and a legitimate offer is to watch out for poor grammar and spelling. If an offer is legit, chances are it will have gone through rigorous editing and marketing meetings before being released. Does the message constantly misuse words like “your” and “you’re?” Is there a lot of unnecessary punctuation or random capitalization? If you receive a message from a contact, does the writing style seem different than the messages you typically receive from said contact? If so, chances are it’s spam.

Stop and think

While presentation is a good place to start, it’s not the only thing you should consider if you are trying to determine if a message is spam. Another important thing to consider is if this message is too good to be true. Hoaxes are made to appear too good to pass up. Does the message promise a large sum of money or a gift card for simply pressing a link or entering information like your home address? Would this deal be beneficial to a company if a thousand people (or more) sent them their information? If it seems too good to be true, unfortunately, it probably is.

Avoid messages that ask you to tap a link or share personal info

Another red flag is any message that asks you to tap a link or share personal information, such as your credit card number or birthday. Even seemingly innocuous questions like “what is your mother’s maiden name” or “where did you go to elementary school” should be cause for alarm because questions like these are commonly used for security questions and could be used to reset or acquire a password for one of your online accounts. Never download unknown attachments, either, especially if you aren’t expecting one. All these factors point to spam.

Be aware of legitimate offers and changes to the WhatsApp Terms of Service

2nix/123rf.com

While some messages may obviously seem like spam — especially ones that suggest terms of service may be changing — it is possible that they are true. The best way to determine the validity of a supposed offer or Terms of Service changes is to simply Google it. For example, a quick search of “WhatsApp age requirement” will give you an article from the BBC explaining that WhatsApp actually is changing the minimum age requirement in the EU to 16 in response to new GDPR rules. Another search for “Aer Lingus free flights,” a popular scam that has been making the rounds on WhatsApp as of late, will bring up this article explaining that it is indeed a scam. Aer Lingus even tweeted from their verified Twitter account that they “don’t run promotions on WhatsApp.”

Once you’ve identified spam, report it

If you receive a message from an unknown number and determine that it’s spam, you will be given the option to report that number from directly within the app. If you receive spam from a contact, delete the message — do not click any links or provide any personal information. You should also tell said contact that the message they sent includes spam. They may not have realized that it was spam, but their account may have also been hacked, which will require a password change on their end.

In an effort to reduce the spread of spam messages, WhatsApp is reportedly in the process of testing a new feature that will alert users if they receive a message that has been forwarded multiple times. Sadly, there is no official release date for this feature as of yet.

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Apple v. Pepper: The Supreme Court could rule the App Store is a monopoly

Apple is facing yet another antitrust case. The subject this time? Apps. The Supreme Court has agreed to hear Apple Inc. v. Pepper, a case that asks whether or not Apple has monopolized the app market. If the Supreme Court rules against Apple, it could have far-reaching implications for everyone.

At the heart of the dispute is the issue of money. Apple both charges developers 30 percent of their app’s revenue, and prevents iOS devices from being able to install apps from other sources. Because of that, some argue that Apple has inflated the price of iPhone apps in an effort to make more money.

On the other side, Apple argues that the plaintiffs, who are consumers, don’t have the right to sue Apple under current U.S. antitrust laws. The key to that argument, as noted in a report by Wired, is a case from 1977, Illinois Brick Co. v. Illinois, which resulted in a ruling that you can’t sue for an antitrust case if you didn’t directly purchase goods or services. Because of that, Apple says, it’s not selling apps to customers — the developers are through the App Store.

The only problem with that is that the plaintiffs are arguing that Apple has monopolized app distribution — not necessarily apps themselves. There is evidence of that on Android — users can get apps from the Google Play Store, but they can also get them from Amazon and other third-party stores, too, if they so choose.

The case could result in some major changes for consumers and Apple alike. If Apple wins the case, nothing much will change with how it and developers interact, and developers will still be forced to go through the App Store and abide by Apple’s rules. If the plaintiffs win, however, Apple may have to pay hundreds of millions of dollars — and it may have implications for other large tech companies that sell products from third parties, including the likes of Amazon.

According to a report from Bloomberg, the Supreme Court will hear arguments for nine months starting in October. Safe to say, this case has a long road ahead of it.

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Meet the Italian composer who conducts the world’s biggest all-robot orchestra

Thanks to the digitized instruments found on Pro Tools and GarageBand, any wannabe music producer can command a virtual orchestra in 2018 using no more hardware than a single laptop. If they’re really serious about their craft, they might plug in an MIDI keyboard, a guitar, or a stand-alone sampler to go one step further. That’s nothing compared to Italian electronic music producer Leonardo Barbadoro. For his latest album, he’s still using a computer to program his instruments — but, thanks to some impressive robot technology, the instruments are all real.

In all, Barbadoro’s music is composed using a robot orchestra that’s capable of playing more than 50 acoustic instruments on command. These range from piano and organ to wind instruments and percussion. Barbadoro is able to control these real instruments from his laptop, with the real sound then recorded in a way that he can use it for his compositions. The purpose — perhaps somewhat ironically — is to achieve a more human sound than you’d get from your regular digitally synthesized instruments, due to the playing of actual instruments in a real acoustic space.

“I have been working on this project for a long time now,” he told Digital Trends. “Everything started in 2011 when I was in Ghent, Belgium, to play a show, and a guy there showed me the website of the Logos Foundation. These people have built robots to play acoustic instruments for the past 20 years. It is now the largest robot orchestra in the world. I thought the whole concept was amazing, and finally decided to get in touch with them in 2014. I visited the foundation about 10 times to learn how these instruments work, and then composed and recorded ‘Musica Automata,’ a 10-minute composition for 19 robots controlled by a laptop computer.”

Taken with the versatility of the robots, Barbadoro has expanded this into an album, while also working to build his own robots — including one designed to play an unusual Persian string instrument. To complete the album, Barbadoro is now raising funds on Kickstarter. As a reward, he’s offering the album in various forms, including digital download and vinyl, along with the opportunity to attend a live performance of his robot music.

As ever, we offer our usual cautions about the potential issues that can befall crowdfunding campaigns. However, if you’re interested in getting involved with this blurring of digital music and authentic analog sound, head over to the project’s Kickstarter page for more information. The finished product is due to be delivered in early 2019.

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Could thermal imaging sensors help make self-driving cars safer?

FLIR Systems

Recently we published a story about the history of notable car accidents involving self-driving and semi-self-driving vehicles. While a significant number of these do involve human error, there are still multiple examples of crashes in which the vehicle was unable to properly read its surroundings. Thermal imaging company FLIR Systems thinks one way to make autonomous vehicles safer would be to give them the ability to use thermal reading tech to better deal with challenging lighting and weather conditions.

To help with adoption of these sensors, the company has made available an open-source dataset of 10,000 labelled infrared light images showcasing how pedestrians, animals, bicycles and other vehicles can be classified using the tech in difficult conditions, ranging from total darkness to fog and smoke to haze and glare from the sun. Using thermal cameras, combined with the dataset, it’s possible to recognize objects more than 200 meters away, the equivalent of 4 times the distance of typical car headlights.

“Navigation is limited by the perception accuracy provided by the vehicle sensor suite,” Mike Walters, vice president of micro-camera product management at FLIR Systems, told Digital Trends. “Visible cameras do not work well in a number of challenging lighting situations such as absolute darkness, driving into the sun, and in many types of fog — while thermal cameras, which principally see heat and not visible light, are unaffected by these adverse conditions. Therefore, thermal cameras provide more accurate situational awareness and perception under these conditions, which, in turn, improves safety and navigation.”

At present, thermal cameras are found in a number of luxury passenger cars. Some high-end automakers, such as Porsche and BMW, already fit vehicles with thermal imaging sensors made by FLIR. However, they are not part of the standard suite of sensors helping power today’s most prominent self-driving vehicles. That may sound like an obvious oversight, but current self-driving cars don’t rely on only one imaging system by which to see.

The self-driving cars being tested on the road right now figure out their surroundings using a combination of regular cameras, ultrasound, radar, lidar and more. Information from all of these sensors helps inform the decisions the car makes. In some cases, this array of sensors may lead to redundancy — but few people, either passengers or pedestrians, are ever going to complain about being too safe.

As a result of this, it’s difficult to calculate how much of an improvement using technology like FLIR’s thermal long-wave infrared (LWIR) cameras could offer. Still, hopefully datasets such as the one newly released this week will give carmakers the opportunity to more easily build the algorithms that will let them find out.

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Take 20 percent off HP Omen gaming PCs and laptops for a limited time

Gaming isn’t just a hobby, it’s a way of life. But for those of us who aren’t professional gamers, there is rarely enough time in a day to dedicate to the titles we love. With work and other adult responsibilities often stopping us from honing our craft, having the right equipment becomes increasingly important — especially for online gaming. If your current setup has you struggling with lag and you find yourself having to turn the graphics settings all the way down, it may just be time to pick up something more powerful.

The HP Omen series has some pretty great options for gamers looking to, well, up their game. The Omen Desktop PC 880 — 125 SE was even used to power the Fortnite Pro-Am at E3 this year, making it an excellent option for professional and amateurs alike. Though a high-end gaming PC or laptop is normally quite expensive, HP has an awesome promotion going on right now that can save you up to 20 percent on a brand new setup. Take a look at some of our favorite deals, or dive right into the sale to check them out for yourself.

Omen Desktop PC and 25-inch Display Bundle

If you’re looking for the best deal this HP sale has to offer, look no further than this bundle. It comes with the Omen Desktop PC 880 — 125 SE as well as an Omen 25-inch display, making it the perfect bundle for anyone who wants to upgrade their entire setup. If you dream of going from average gamer to gaming legend, this may just be the quickest way to do so.

With this HP Omen sale going on right now, you can save over $400 on this bundle and start gaming like you’ve never gamed before.

See Bundle

Omen Desktop PC 880 — 160 SE

With an eighth-generation Intel Core i7 processor, an Nvidia GeForce GTX 1070 graphics card, and a pretty sweet exterior, this desktop PC has everything you need to fulfill your gaming potential. It’s also packing a 1 TB hard drive, so it should be able to house a vast library of games without too much trouble.

If you’re looking to pick up a brand new gaming PC , this is definitely one to consider HP has to offer. With a price cut of $300, this is a deal you won’t want to miss.

See it

HP Omen Laptop — 15t Gaming

If a desktop PC doesn’t suit your fancy, HP also has some great gaming laptops for you to peruse. The HP Omen — 15t Gaming laptop also sports an Intel Core i7 processor as well as the Nvidia Geforce GTX 1050 graphics card, so it packs quite the punch. While it may not be as powerful as some of their desktop options, this Omen laptop is still a great piece of gaming equipment.

Whether you’re looking to take your gaming on the go or just prefer the laptop experience, this HP laptop should do the trick. You can save $100 for the duration of the sale or while supplies last.

See it

Omen X Compact Desktop PC

If you’re in need of something tiny and powerful, this compact PC is perfect for you. Equipped with an Nvidia GeForce GTX 1080 graphics card and an Intel i7 processor, this compact PC packs all of the power you need without the bulkiness of traditional desktops. You can play at your desk, on the couch, or get fully immersive with the optional virtual reality backpack. It’s unique docking station and rechargeable battery allows you to cut the cord like never before.

With the discount from the Omen sale, you can save $200 on this great compact option from HP.

See it

Looking for more great stuff? Find PC deals and more on our curated deals page, or follow us on Twitter for daily updates.

We strive to help our readers find the best deals on quality products and services, and choose what we cover carefully and independently. If you find a better price for a product listed here, or want to suggest one of your own, email us at dealsteam@digitaltrends.com.Digital Trends may earn commission on products purchased through our links, which supports the work we do for our readers.

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PUBG for Android: News, rumors, updates, and tips for winning!

The best shooter on Android just gets better and better.

Player Unknown’s Battleground (or PUBG for short) is a battle royale-style game that pits you against 99 other players in a heart-pounding survival scenario where you must scavenge for loot, explore the map and stay in the safe zone while taking out your competition. It’s a highly competitive game that offers game modes for Solo play, pairing up in Duo mode, or playing as a squad of four, and every playthrough will be unique in its own way.

Originally released in China, the mobile version is now available in North America and elsewhere around the world and, in short, the hype is real. Keep reading to learn more about one of the biggest games released for Android in years.

Download: Player Unknown’s Battleground (Free)

Update June 19, 2018: Major update adds first-person mode, Battle Pass Season 1, and a host of other cool features

The latest update to PUBG Mobile has introduced a slew of features that have made the best shooter for Android even better. You can find the full list of new features in the “What’s New” section of its Google Play Store listing, but I’ll highlight the most significant improvements to the game:

• First-person perspective: Many players have been clamoring for the developers to add a proper first-person mode to the game and it’s finally here. To play in first-person, you’ll need to tap the new drop-down option on the main menu that says “TPP” (third-person perspective) and select “FPP” (first-person perspective). Rather than including FPP as a customization in your personal settings, the developers have basically made it a separate gameplay mode so that you’ll only be playing against others using the same playing perspective as you are.

• Royale Pass Season 1: Royale Pass is a new feature for PUBG Mobile which allows players to rank-up during each season to unlock rewards that include player profile and unlocks new crates for customizing your character. There’s a free Royale Pass available to all players and the option to upgrade to an Elite Royale Pass ($10 in-app purchase). It borrows heavily from the Battle Pass found in Fortnite, and is surely intended to try and keep pace with it’s top competition. There are more (and better) rewards available for Elite Royale Pass players so it may be a compelling option for some.

• New UI improvements: Once you’ve jumped into a game you’ll notice a few key improvements to the user interface. For starters, there’s a dedicated slot for pistols now, which means you won’t automatically drop a pistol if you come across a better weapon, and allowing you to carry three guns at once and preserve your primary weapon ammo as needed. The update also introduces emotes, which are located in a new menu near the top of the screen. Emotes let you react to other players with physical gestures and even dance — although the best emotes must be unlocked as Royale Pass rewards. Also another example of PUBG Mobile “borrowing” from a feature already found in Fortnite, but I’ll allow it because it’s fun.

What makes PUBG Mobile stand out on Android?

We’ve all played mobile ports of a favorite PC or console game that try to take the look and feel of the full game and then oversimplify it for mobile or bog things down with in-app currencies and energy meters to temper your ability to just play the game. PUBG for Android is essentially the full game that you could buy for Steam or Xbox One, simply scaled down for mobile devices.

Unlike other mobile adaptations that offer a simplified version of a popular PC game, PUBG Mobile is the real deal optimized to be played on the go!

This would have been a golden opportunity to make this game pay-to-win with in-app purchases available to let you start with a kick-ass gun, but that would have also clearly broken the scavenger aspects of the game. You also have full access to use vehicles scattered around the map. Pretty much, if you’ve seen a streamer pull off some ridiculous stunt on the PC version, you can do it on the mobile version, too. This includes voice chat, which lets you talk with teammates or other players in your immediate vicinity, however not too many people make use of this feature, and in my experience, most of those that do are kind of annoying.

The fact this game has been released for free is just the icing on the cake. In-app purchases have been introduced for clothing and accessories via loot crates, but fortunately, it only affects cosmetic upgrades to your character, so players can’t just pay to win.

The mobile version automates a few things for you, which is highly appreciated.

One of the biggest things holding back mobile ports of first- or third-person shooters would be complaints about touch controls, but big props to the developers here for spending the time to not only offer really functional touch controls but for also including a bevy of settings to tweak things exactly the way you want.

I’ve found the controls to be pretty stellar right from the start, but I love that you’re able to really finetune look and movement sensitivity, re-map button locations, and ultimately find the right configuration for touch controls that work best for your play style.

The game has streamlined some of the more finicky mechanics, so you will automatically pick up ammo and accessories for your equipped weapons along with any other upgraded equipment, and by default the game will auto-open doors as you approach them, although that can be turned off in settings if you’d like to preserve the element of surprise. Another clutch feature you’ll use a lot is auto-sprint, which allows you to keep running in one direction while using the look button to scan your surroundings for enemies.

Frankly, I feel like third-person shooters like PUBG are perfectly suited for mobile, as you’re able to quickly scan around your surroundings while still moving towards your next target as opposed to first-person shooters where your viewpoint is locked. While there’s no formal controller support, people have managed to find a way to play the game with a keyboard and mouse which looks awkward as all hell and could be considered cheating, however, I really don’t buy into the argument that it’s a huge advantage.

Can my phone run PUBG?

If you’ve got a newer device that allows you to play this game at the highest graphics setting, DO IT. I’ve been playing this on a Galaxy S8 and it plays like an absolute dream at the top settings compared to the medium settings recommended for my Pixel XL.

Reddit users have reported this game running fine on low settings on a Samsung Note 3, so you should be able to get this game to play on practically any Android phone — but it really shines the brightest on the max settings.

What game modes are available?

There are three main game styles to choose from in PUBG Mobile — Solo, Duo, and Squad. Solo is just you versus the world, Duo lets you team up with a friend or an auto-matched teammate, and Squad has you teaming up with three others to try and take down the other 24 teams scattered through the map. Once you’ve decided whether you want to squad up or go lone wolf, you can choose between Classic and Arcade modes.

Classic mode is the full PUBG experience, from jumping out of the plane, following the safe circles, and outlasting 99 opponents until you’re the last man standing. These games can take upwards of 30 minutes to complete and offers up the full island complete with all the available weapons and equipment scattered randomly throughout the buildings.

Arcade mode is a condensed version of the game that was specially created for mobile gamers who may be looking for a more bite-sized chicken dinner. In this mode, you’re air-dropped into safe zone circle that cuts off most of the map from play with about a quarter the number of players as a Classic match. Within Arcade mode, there are two additional variants to choose from: Quick Match and Sniper Training.

Play through an epic 30-minute battle in Classic mode, or opt for a bite-sized, 8-minute match in Arcade mode.

Quick Matches are typically around 8 minutes and feature a random variation. You may play a game with all weapons available to you, or a game featuring only shotguns, melee weapons, or pistols. This requires you to adapt your strategies depending on the drop location and the game variation. Alternatively, Sniper Training is a snipers-only mode that’s great if you want to brush up on your long-range skills.

Which game mode you choose ultimately depends on your level of time commitment — if you’re down for a marathon session you can play a single Classic match for close to an hour sometimes. If you want a quicker game, the Arcade modes offer a different style of challenge that’s significantly condensed.

Is there cross-platform support like Fortnite?

Fortnite is the biggest competitor to PUBG, and while it’s not yet available for Android it is coming and it seems to be setting itself to carry over your Fortnite profile across multiple platforms. PUBG Mobile is a wholly different game than PUBG for PC or console, and so it’s a more insular community that requires you to log in via your Twitter or Facebook account.

Tips for surviving until the end

• Pick a smart landing spot: You can set yourself up for success or failure before you even jump out of the plane by taking the time to pick a strategic place start your game. You’ll ideally want to try and pick a spot that’s not too far off the flight path with a landing spot that’s near some structures where you’ll find weapons and gear. Typically 20 or so players will immediately jump out as soon as the option appears, so you’re best off waiting a bit to avoid getting caught up in an early round gunfight before you’ve acquired proper gear for yourself.

• Learn to master the look feature: The best way to get kills and win in PUBG Mobile is by getting the jump on your opponents. If you can spot an opponent way off in the distance before they can spot you, you can get off the first few shots and maybe snipe them before they have a chance to spot you. That’s why you need to become best friends with the look mode, which is the eyeball icon on the right-hand side of the screen. You can set your character to sprint towards the safe zone while using the look feature to scan the horizon for enemies. Master this technique along with the intelligent use of the map noise notifications and you should be able to get the jump on enemies.

• Get down and take cover: If you start getting shot at out of nowhere and you can’t immediately tell where the shooter is, you need to assess the situation fast and find cover. If you’re running through a grassy section, often your best bet is to go prone and crawl while using the look icon to try and get a read on where the shots are coming from. Alternatively, if there’s a shelter nearby, make a beeline for it and heal yourself before engaging with the enemy.

• Vehicles are almost unstoppable: There’s a number of reasons why it’s a smart idea to make use of vehicles in PUBG Mobile. The most obvious reason is if you’re well outside the safe zone and the circle is closing in on you a vehicle is often your only chance of survival. But cars and trucks can also be used as an effective weapon against other players. There’s no point in sticking to the roads in a game like this, and it can be pretty easy to catch players running through an open field. Hit them going full speed and it’s usually a one-hit kill. Of course, if you miss they will have a prime opportunity to shoot back — so don’t miss.

Is it worth playing?

Emphatically yes. This game is the real deal. If you’ve played PUBG on another platform, or have seen Twitch streamers playing the game and wanted to check it out, you can play PUBG on your Android for free. If you’re in the game, add me, mousemachine, and let’s go win some squad matches!

Download: Player Unknown’s Battleground (Free)

Updated June 19, 2018: Added info on the new update and a section on tips for winning.

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