Samsung’s 128GB EVO Select microSD card is down to $37 today

Upgrade your card.

The Samsung 128GB EVO Select microSD card is down to $36.99 on Amazon. That’s the lowest price we’ve ever seen by $3 and $8 off its regular price. This is a good deal we don’t expect will last very long.

If price is more important than speed, you can also get the PNY U3 Pro Elite 64GB microSD card for just $24.99 right now. It is usually around $33, and this is one of the best prices we’ve seen.

Samsung’s EVO Select microSD cards are extremely popular cards, and there’s a good reason for that. This Class 10 UHS 3 card has read speeds of up to 100MB/s and write speeds of up to 90MB/s. It works great for recording video (even 4K), as well as playing mobile games, taking pictures, and more.

The card comes with a full-sized SD card adapter as well so you can put it into devices that accept SD cards instead of microSD cards. This is within a few dollars of this card’s all-time low price, so don’t miss out.

See on Amazon

How to keep your Oculus Go from fogging up

The Oculus Go is great, as long as you can see what you need to. Here’s how to keep it fog free.

So you’ve setup your brand new Oculus Go and put it on to jump into some VR action, only to find that the lenses fog up so you can’t see a thing. This is a common issue for users of any VR headset and there are some easy remedies to help you get back to enjoying VR.

Warm up the headset

The reason this issue happens is that the cold lenses of your Oculus Go meet with the warm air coming off of your head. It’s the same reason that glasses fog up when you walk into a room on a cold Winter’s day. The easiest way to prevent your Oculus Go from fogging up is to place it on your head, but not over your eyes, for around five minutes before you start using it for VR. This heats up the lenses and will stop fog from impairing your vision.

Use a microfiber cloth

While it’s not a way to prevent fogging, using a microfiber cloth is an easy way to remove fog that has shown up. The makers of Oculus warn you not to use wet cleaners on your Oculus Go so a microfibre clutch is a dry way to take off fog while also removing smudges.

Try a little spit

This might sound like an odd solution but spit is used by divers and skiers to prevent fogging up in their goggles. The same principle can be used with your Oculus Go, though we’d recommend against this one if you want to share with your friends. Before you use your headset, get a little bit of spit on your finger and then gently rub in around the lenses. A light touch is best since the lenses are small and you don’t want to make a mess.

As mentioned above, Oculus warns against using any liquid on your headset so use this solution at your own risk.

Lens wipes and sprays

Instead of using your own spit, you can use synthetic sprays and wet wipes to prevent your lenses from fogging up. These work the same way but can be more sanitary, which is great for use with the Oculus Go because the device practically begs to be shared.

Remember to apply only a small amount on the small lenses of the Oculus Go and to do so at your own risk.

Ready to go!

That’s it! You’re ready to jump into virtual reality without any fog on your lenses. Let us know how you keep your lenses clear in the comments below.

Oculus Go

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

Oculus Go 32GB
Oculus Go 64GB

Best Charging Stands for Google Pixel 2 and Pixel 2 XL

Spruce up your desk with a nice charging stand.

If you’re anything like me, the thought of a messy, cluttered desk drives you crazy. That includes small details like your phone sitting randomly next to your keyboard — luckily, a charging stand can clean things up and turn your phone into an elegant and functional part of your desk, rather than part of the mess.

Though my preferred solution is a wireless charger like Samsung’s convertible pad, the Pixel 2 and Pixel 2 XL don’t support wireless charging. That doesn’t mean stock Android fans can’t still enjoy a charging stand, though — in fact, it just means you don’t have to pay more for slower charging speeds. Here are some of the best charging stands for your Pixel 2, Pixel 2 XL, or any other USB-C phone, for that matter.

• Spigen Mobile Stand S310
• Encased Pixel 2 Charging Dock
• FanTEK USB-C Charging Dock
• Sinjimoru USB-C Charging Dock

Spigen Mobile Stand S310

If you don’t mind providing your own cable and you’re strictly after aesthetics, it’s hard to go wrong with Spigen’s S310 phone stand. It closely resembles the stand for an iMac, mostly made of aluminum with Nanotac feet to keep it in place and a TPU mount (the same material used in Spigen’s cases) to keep the S310 from scratching the back of your Pixel 2.

Since you can use your own cable with the S310, you don’t have to worry about charging rates — just use the charger that came with your Pixel 2, or a similar USB-C PD charger. Best of all, the S310 is sturdy enough to accommodate larger devices like the Nintendo Switch, for those quick gaming sessions between studying or working. The only major downside of the S310 is its fairly steep price at $29.99, but again, if aesthetics are your main concern this is a great option.

See at Spigen

Encased Pixel 2 Charging Dock

While there’s nothing wrong with a slotted stand that holds your cable in place, it’s nice to have a stand with a built-in USB-C port that won’t move around or fall out when not in use. The Encased charging dock isn’t just compatible with the Pixel 2 — it’s designed specifically with it and the larger variant in mind. Of course, you can still use it with other devices, and there’s a wheel in the back to adjust the height of the USB-C plug-in, but who can argue with a charging dock catered specifically to your phone?

The downside? Despite Encased advertising otherwise, customer reviews indicate that this dock doesn’t support quick charging. On the bright side, Encased includes two cables with the dock (one Type-C cable and one C-to-A cable) — for only $19.99, that’s not a bad deal at all.

See at Amazon

FanTEK USB-C Charging Dock

The FanTEK dock may not have been made with the Pixel 2 in mind, but it works with it all the same — and with the smallest footprint on the list. It’s not much bigger than the phone itself, and you can move the front of dock back and forth to best fit your phone, even if it’s in a thick case. There’s also still a small backing for support, keeping the USB-C plug from snapping off over time.

FanTEK makes this dock in a few different colors; you’ll be able to choose from black, silver, gold, and rose gold. It supports quick charging, and best of all, it’s the cheapest dock on the list at just $7.99.

See at Amazon

Sinjimoru USB-C Charging Dock

This is another dock that relies on your own cable without a built-in USB-C connector. Sinjimoru makes its dock out of pure aluminum, and takes on a unique C shape with feet holding it in place, rather than the more traditional flat base. Available in silver or black, it’s one of the more eye-catching charging stands around, and it doesn’t occupy much space on your desk. Just keep in mind that while this stand includes a USB-C cable, you’ll need to provide your own charging brick.

For $21.99, this is a bit more expensive than the offerings from Encased or FanTEK, but that price might be worth paying if you’re after a unique stand to showcase your Pixel 2.

See at Amazon

Which one is right for you?

Have you considered a charging stand for your Pixel 2 or Pixel 2 XL? Would you buy one of the stands we recommended here, or is there a different one that’s caught your eye? Let us know in the comments below!

Google Pixel 2 and Pixel 2 XL

• Pixel 2 FAQ: Everything you need to know!
• Google Pixel 2 and 2 XL review: The new standard
• Google Pixel 2 specs
• Google Pixel 2 vs. Pixel 2 XL: What’s the difference?
• Join our Pixel 2 forums

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Huawei’s unlocked powerful Mate 10 Pro is now down to $550

Don’t let this limited time discount slip out of your hands.

From its 6-inch display to its 6GB of RAM or 128GB of internal storage, the Huawei Mate 10 Pro packs a whole lot of features to justify its price tag. In early-April, this phone dropped $150 from its regular $800 price, but now it’s down another $100 from that price. It’s available in both blue and gray at this price.

Our review here at Android Central delved into the pros and cons of this device, stating:

Huawei will tell you the Mate 10 is all about onboard artificial intelligence and everything that AI can bring to the smartphone experience.

And AI is all well and good. What makes the Mate 10 Pro a great buy today is its excellence in the core smartphone experience. Things like getting to the end of the day on a single charge, no matter what you’re doing. And taking excellent photos even in challenging night-time conditions.

B&H has matched this discount, and keep in mind that it doesn’t charge sales tax at the time of purchase to those who live outside of NY and NJ.

See at Amazon

Huawei Mate 10

• Huawei Mate 10 Pro review
• Huawei Mate 10 series specs
• Huawei Mate 10 Pro U.S. review: Close to greatness
• Join the discussion in the forums
• More on 2016’s Mate 9

Updated June 2018: Refreshed this article to be relevant with the current discount available for the Mate 10 Pro.

The Fitbit Ace is now available for $99.95 and is made specifically for kids

You can buy the Fitbit Ace at Amazon, Best Buy, and more.

Although the Versa was the highlight of Fitbit’s hardware event this past March, the company also used it to announce Ace — its first fitness tracker designed specifically for kids. A little less than three months since it was announced, the Ace is now available for purchase around the globe.

If the Ace looks similar to past Fitbit products, that’s because it’s essentially a Fitbit Alta that’s been updated with a kid-first focus. Fitbit Ace tracks steps-taken, activity levels, sleep, and more. Out of the box, the activity goal is set to 60 minutes per day with a recommended 9 hours of sleep every night as suggested by the CDC.

Ace gives kids reminders throughout the day to keep moving, has a battery that’s rated to last 5 days on a single charge, includes 10 clock faces to choose from, and is “showerproof” to survive “splashes and spills.”

Fitbit’s new Family Account gives parents control over what kids can see and do in the Fitbit app.

If you buy an Ace for your kid, the setup process is a bit different compared to past trackers Fitbit’s released. You’ll be asked to create a Fitbit Family Account, and with this, you can make secure profiles for your kiddos so they can keep track of their activity while also staying safe. Parents can view the activity of their kids, manage what they see in the app, set bedtime reminders, and more.

Fitbit Ace is available in two colors, Power Purple and Electric Blue, and costs $99.95 in the U.S. You can buy it directly from Fitbit’s website, as well as Best Buy, Amazon, Target, and Kohl’s.

See at Fitbit

Fitbit

• Fitbit Versa vs. Fitbit Ionic: Which should you buy?
• Fitbit Versa hands-on: Fitbit’s finally getting serious about smartwatches
• Fitbit Versa and fitness: Everything you need to know
• Best Fitbit fitness tracker

Fitbit Ionic
Fitbit Versa
Fitbit Charge 2 HR

Best Sony Xperia XZ2 Compact Cases

Smaller phones need cases, too.

The Sony Xperia XZ2 Compact is a small phone living in a big phone’s world. Despite its pint-sized form factor, it’s a great phone with impressive specs.

We’ve rounded up the best cases available for the Xperia XZ2 Compact so you can keep your new phone safe from harm.

• Ringke Onyx case w/ wrist strap
• Spigen Rugged Armor Case
• 32nd Classic Series Folio Case
• Anccer Ultra-Thin Case

Ringke Onyx case w/ wrist strap

Ringke is one of the top phone accessory makers the world over, and the Onyx case is one of its most well-known designs.

Featuring precise cutouts around the camera and fingerprint sensor on the back, the bottom half of the case features a ridged pattern that’s sure to help with your grip. And it looks pretty sleek as well. The top half has a brushed steel look, with a reinforced bumper that protects against drops.

Ringke’s Onyx case is available for $11 in both black and lilac purple color options.

See at Amazon

Spigen Rugged Armor Case

From Spigen comes the Rugged Armor case, which is my go-to recommendation for pretty much any phone out there.

The reasons this case is so great is because it’s thin and lightweight while offering the protection your device needs, especially in the corners. The carbon fiber accents at the top and bottom look great, too, when paired with the matte finish of the rest of the case.

You can get Spigen’s Rugged Armor for your Xperia XZ2 Compact for just $11.

See at Amazon

32nd Classic Series Folio Wallet Case

Wallet cases are both stylish and functional, and if you want one for your Xperia XZ2 Compact, this case from 32ndShop is your best option.

These cases are made with genuine leather and a soft satin finish on the inside, where you’ll also find a card slot and a pocket for cash and receipts. The case doesn’t impede the functionality of the phone at all, and the front cover protects the display better than any other case on this list.

Get this stylish case in your choice of three colors for just $20 on Amazon.

See at Amazon

Anccer Ultra-Thin Case

Anccer is known for making thin-and-light cases that don’t add much bulk to the phones they’re attached to. On a device as chunky as the Xperia XZ2 Compact, being able to protect the phone’s frame and back without adding weight or thickness is definitely appreciated.

Moreover, the Anccer Ultra-Thin Case, which is available for most phone models, has a grippy “gravel” texture that makes the phone easy to grip.

Grab it for just under $12.

See at Amazon

Which is your favorite case?

Let us know what you’d use to protect your Xperia XZ2 Compact in the comments below!

Apple Store Modernization Efforts Continue From Los Angeles to London

Apple’s process of modernizing its chain of over 500 retail stores continues in several major cities around the world.

Over the weekend, Apple celebrated the grand opening of its relocated Beverly Center store in Los Angeles. Apple’s original store in the shopping mall, opened November 2005, permanently closed at the end of Friday.

Apple’s new Beverly Center store via Instagram
Apple’s remodeled stores often gain additional square footage to accommodate an increased number of both products and customers. The extra space is also beneficial to Today at Apple sessions related to photography, coding, exercising with the Apple Watch, and other topics.

Apple’s latest retail design, introduced in 2015, typically includes large glass doors, large video screens for product marketing and in-store events, and sequoia wood shelves on the walls for accessories.

Apple recently announced that its flagship Covent Garden store in London will be closed starting June 27 to allow for renovations to be completed. Of note, this location became Apple’s largest store when it first opened in 2010, although it has since ceded the title to a newer store in the United Arab Emirates.

A sign at Apple Covent Garden tipped by a MacRumors reader
Likewise, 9to5Mac’s Michael Steeber reported that Apple Wangfujing in Beijing will be closed for renovations starting June 24.

Elsewhere in the Greater China region, Apple has revealed that it will be opening a second store in Macau, along the Cotai Strip, an area with several hotels, casinos, and resorts, earning it the nickname of the Las Vegas of Asia. Apple has yet to specify an exact opening date, but it could be within the next month.

Apple’s banner for its second store in Macau via MacRumors reader Chris Gooda
Apple’s renovation efforts continue at its iconic Fifth Avenue store in Manhattan, and at its Palo Alto store, often visited by Apple CEO Tim Cook on product launch days due to its close proximity to Apple’s headquarters.

Apple reinstalling its glass cube on Fifth Avenue via MacRumors reader David Bills
Other regional stores closed for renovations include locations in Charlotte, Nashville, and Westchester County in Upstate New York.

Update: As noted by a MacRumors reader, Apple Causeway Bay in Hong Kong is also undergoing renovations, although the store remains open.

Related Roundup: Apple Stores
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Feral Debuts Support for External GPUs With ‘Rise of the Tomb Raider: 20 Year Celebration’

Mac and Linux video game publisher Feral Interactive today announced that it will begin supporting external GPUs, beginning with the recently-launched Rise of the Tomb Raider: 20 Year Celebration. Apple first launched support for external graphics processors in March with macOS High Sierra 10.13.4.

The addition allows users to connect an eGPU to their Mac through Thunderbolt 3, powering additional performance for better gaming graphics, VR content creation, professional apps, and more. Feral notes that players can use an eGPU with “any Mac supported by Rise of the Tomb Raider,” but there could still be limitations due to the power of the Mac’s CPU, despite the boost from the eGPU.

As of now, Rise of the Tomb Raider is the only Feral game confirmed with eGPU support, but the company says that it is working to introduce eGPU support to more of its games. Announcements for these titles will take place on Feral’s social network and news feeds, which anyone interested can find on today’s FAQ page.

Feral first revealed Rise of the Tomb Raider would be coming to Mac back in February, and then it launched in April. The game is a port of the console game from 2016, and is the second part of the rebooted franchise that began with Tomb Raider in 2013.

Tags: Feral, Tomb Raider
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Net Neutrality Rules Officially End Today as Democrats ‘Less Than 50 Votes’ From Advancing Petition in the House

Net neutrality regulations officially expired in the United States earlier this morning, making today the first day of a post-net neutrality internet (via The New York Times). The expiration of the laws comes six months after the Federal Communications Commission voted 3-2 in favor of repealing net neutrality, a vote that has since faced intense backlash including multi-state lawsuits and a recent move by Democrats to block the repeal.

Although supporters and opponents of net neutrality greatly disagree on how the internet will look following the repeal, without the rules internet service providers like Comcast, Verizon, and AT&T now have the legal ability to throttle any traffic on their networks, and block access to sites and services completely, as long as they inform their customers of their actions. In essence, many have theorized that this could lead to ISPs bundling “packages” of internet sites and selling them like cable companies, as well as putting high-paying customers in “fast lanes” and everyone else in “slow lanes.”

Of course, all of these changes won’t happen at once, and some states won’t see any affect from the disappearance of net neutrality today due to local legislation. Washington state governor Jay Inslee signed a law in March that effectively reinstated the federal net neutrality rules for its residents, and other state governors in Montana and New York are said to have used executive orders “to force net neutrality.” A total of 29 state legislatures had introduced bills to ensure net neutrality as of May, but many failed or are still pending today as the national repeal takes place.

Democrats took to the Senate last month and won a vote to restore net neutrality rules across the country, which is now facing a major hurdle in the House of Representatives. According to Bloomberg, Democrats are now “less than 50 votes” from advancing their resolution in the House that would reinstate net neutrality protections, with a petition to force a vote at 170 of 218 signatures needed. If the measure ultimately makes it to President Trump’s desk, it’s believed that it would likely still be struck down as the President wouldn’t go against a regulation created by his own FCC chairman Ajit Pai.

The pro-net neutrality petition’s sponsor, Representative Mike Doyle, noted that many see the measure gaining momentum as customers become aware of how things could change in the future.

“If certain services are blocked or throttled, they get it,” Doyle said. “People start to understand, these are protections for consumers that no longer exist.”

In contrast, USTelecom president Jonathan Spalter said the outcry is unfounded and pointed out that “it’s business as usual on the internet today.”

“It’s business as usual on the internet today — movies are streaming, e-commerce is thriving, and advocates are using the internet to make their voices heard,” said Jonathan Spalter, president of broadband trade group USTelecom with members including AT&T and Verizon. “These positive and profound benefits of a free and open internet — among many others — are here to stay.”

FCC chairman Ajit Pai said in a press conference on Friday that today’s repeal will lead to “better, faster, cheaper internet access for consumers, and more competition.” Supporters of the repeal cite the return to an “open” and less regulated internet, seen prior to the 2015 induction of net neutrality. Multiple groups taking the FCC’s side in the debate and in numerous legal battles include wireless communications trade association CTIA, which represents AT&T, Verizon, Sprint, and T-Mobile, and NCTA, an association representing cable carriers like Comcast and Charter.

As Democrats gather votes in the House, many of the big technology companies have voiced support of net neutrality, including Netflix, Google, Amazon, and Apple. Although the company and its executives have not discussed the topic in a few months, Apple’s comment last year stated that the net neutrality repeal could “fundamentally alter the internet as we know it,” and if it passed it would be put in place to the detriment of consumers, competition, and innovation.

Note: Due to the political nature of the discussion regarding this topic, the discussion thread is located in our Politics, Religion, Social Issues forum. All forum members and site visitors are welcome to read and follow the thread, but posting is limited to forum members with at least 100 posts.

Tag: net neutrality
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Bethesda Reveals Free-to-Play RPG ‘The Elder Scrolls: Blades’ Will Launch This Fall on iOS

During its E3 conference last night, Bethesda Game Studios revealed that a new game in the Elder Scrolls series is coming to iOS and Android devices this fall, called The Elder Scrolls: Blades [Direct Link] (via TouchArcade). Bethesda describes Blades as a free-to-play title, but the developer didn’t give any further details about potential in-app purchases.

In terms of story, players will take on the role of a member of the ancient order of the Blades, tasked with rebuilding and restoring their ramshackle hometown to its former glory after being exiled from the order. Bethesda says the mobile game “contains the many hallmarks” of the series that fans know of:

…beautifully rendered, console-quality environments, powerful magic, tons of gear to collect, upgradeable skills and of course, real-time fantasy battles!

Like other Elder Scrolls games, Blades is first person and fights are controlled by using the touchscreen to slash your sword, deflect, cast spells, and more. A fighting Arena features one-on-one combat with other players in real time, and an infinite, roguelike Abyss mode hides treasures in a never-ending dungeon.

The single-player campaign takes players through the town rebuilding process, where they will be able to customize the city to their liking as it expands and even visit their friends’ towns. In every mode, Blades supports both two-handed landscape and a one-handed portrait setup, and to switch between each all you have to do is rotate the iPhone or iPad.

During the company’s press conference, Bethesda Games Studios director Todd Howard showed a video of the game running on an iPhone X.

Those interested have until June 15 to pre-register for a chance to be part of the game’s early access program. Otherwise, Bethesda says that The Elder Scrolls: Blades will launch to the public sometime later this year. Although it’s launching first on smartphones and tablets, Howard says that Blades will eventually be available on PC and console.

On the iOS App Store, Apple has featured The Elder Scrolls: Blades today in a sneak peek article, where users can also pre-order the game [Direct Link] with an expected release date of September 1, 2018. A few other iOS gaming announcements have been made at E3 this year, one including a mash-up of the Gears of War franchise and Funko Pop toys called Gears Pop.

Tag: Bethesda
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