Oppo Find X: Goodbye long battery charge, and hello long camera zoom

Oppo will launch a new smartphone on June 19, and has chosen to resurrect a name from the company’s past to attach to it. At an event in Paris on the day, we will meet the Oppo Find X. Long-time smartphone fans may recognize the Find name, which has adorned several unusual, and very high specification Oppo phones over the years, but has not been used for some time.

What will the Find X be like? Oppo says the phone will not only revive the Find name, but also, “Carry the spirit of Oppo’s continuous exploration.” What does this really mean? Oppo, if you don’t know the brand very well, has often produced phones that are technically exciting, with several industry-firsts and various quirky-and-memorable features.

Oppo is teasing at least two of these for the Find X. The first relates to the camera, a feature Oppo often concentrates on. For the Find X, it may introduce a 5x zoom camera with dual lenses, which it demonstrated at Mobile World Congress 2017. At the time it didn’t share information on when, or if, the technology would make it into an actual phone for sale. This may change with the Find X.

Oppo’s only teaser image of the Find X gives nothing away.

The camera uses a clever periscope-style construction to produce the zoom effect, yet the module is only 5.7mm thick, so if it is inside the Find X, the phone won’t be incredibly thick to compensate. Perhaps more excitingly, the Find X may finally get Oppo’s Super VOOC fast charging system. Oppo’s VOOC charge is already quick, but Super VOOC is like nothing we currently use.

When it was demonstrated at MWC 2016, Super VOOC promised to charge a 2,500mAh battery from flat to full in only 15 minutes. The low-voltage system employs algorithms to regulate the current and voltage, ensuring everything is as safe as it is fast. Super VOOC’s charging speed is way beyond any other fast charging system we see today, and if it is inside the Find X, it will be a strong selling point.

It’s not certain either of these technologies will appear in the Find X, but we’re hoping it’s more than just a coincidence Oppo is teasing them alongside the phone. The remaining specification is unknown, but a phone believed to be the Find X did briefly appear on the TENAA certification website in China, potentially showing the phone will have a 6.4-inch screen, a Snapdragon 845 processor, 8GB of RAM, and a dual-lens camera with 20 and 16-megapixel lenses, plus a 25-megapixel selfie camera.

The Find X will launch at an event in Paris on June 19, and we’ll bring you all the details then. Oppo doesn’t officially sell its phones in the United States, but does sell them internationally outside China, so importing one will be possible.

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South Korean cryptocurrency exchange loses $40 million in hack

Tech Crunch reports that South Korean cryptocurrency exchange Coinrail has lost roughly  $40 million worth of tokens in a recent hack. The stolen currency was a mixture of alt-coins, cryptocurrencies which aren’t as big as the likes of Bitcoin.

The hackers managed to steal nearly $20 million worth of NPXS tokens which were issued by Pundi X’s initial coin offering. They also made off with $13.8 million from Aston X which is a company working to create a platform to decentralize documents. Finally, they stole $5.8 million in tokens from Dent and $1.1 million in Tron, a newer currency originating in China.

That data comes from the wallet address of the alleged hacker who also managed to get away with smaller amounts of coins from five other cryptocurrencies.

It is worth noting that the organizations which issued the coins were not hacked. Instead, the coins were taken from Coinrail’s users. Coinrail has not commented on whether or not it will refund the affected users. When a similar hack affected Japan’s Coincheck exchange, the company offered refunds to the affected customers.

While Coinrail has not commented on the matter of refunds, it has issued a statement addressing the hack. The company has taken its service offline and moved its remaining assets to cold storage while it deals with the matter.

Several of the companies whose coins were hacked have also issued statements and pledged to take action against the hacker. Pundi, which says the hacker stole 3 percent of its tokens, has frozen the stolen tokens. It has also ceased all trading of its tokens across various exchanges to help with the investigation which now involves the Korean authorities.

NPER, which lost $860,000 in the hack, says it has frozen the stolen coins and plans to incinerate them so the thief will get no value out of them.

While the coins may be of no use to the hacker, that is likely to be of little comfort to the victims of this crime. Unfourantely, as is often the case with cryptocurrencies, they have little in the way of legal recourse. The field remains unregulated meaning there is no system to insure these currencies in the event of a theft.

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OxygenOS 5.1.6 update for the OnePlus 6 enables portrait mode for the front camera

The latest OxygenOS update is packed with new features.

The OnePlus 6 is now picking up the OxygenOS 5.1.6 OTA update, which brings a host of new features to the device. The OTA update brings portrait mode for the front camera, and gives us a first look at the Light Bokeh effect that OnePlus talked about at the launch of the phone.

Aside from the camera tweaks, the update includes the ability to schedule Do Not Disturb mode, a feature that has been missing on OnePlus devices for a long time. With the 5.1.6 update installed, you’ll be able to set up a custom schedule to enable DND mode, and set up rules for what notifications and calls come through when the mode is active.

You can also view battery percentage in the status bar. This feature was missing in the initial OxygenOS builds of the OnePlus 6, but it’s now available for the device. There’s a bevy of bug fixes as well, and the update enables VoLTE connectivity for Idea Cellular users in India.

OnePlus says it optimized the call clarity as well, tweaked ringtone and audio quality, fixed stability issues with dual SIM cards, and added dual 4G options. There’s also a smart answer option for Bluetooth devices.

Like all OTA updates, the OxygenOS 5.1.6 build will start rolling out incrementally, with a small percentage of users receiving the update this week.

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Google Pixel 2 & Pixel 2 XL: News, tips, problems, specs and more!

Everything you need to know about the Pixel 2 and Pixel 2 XL!

The Pixel 2 and Pixel 2 XL are finally here, and there’s a lot to unpack.

While these devices resemble the original Pixel and Pixel XL, there are many changes both internally and externally that make them worth talking about.

Let’s dive in.

Pixel 2 and Pixel 2 XL review!

The Pixel 2 and Pixel 2 XL are incredible phones — probably the best Android phones out there right now. Despite their different sizes, they are nearly identical where it counts, in their cameras, their performance, their build quality, and their software experience. While the Pixel 2 XL has slimmer bezels and a slightly more washed-out pOLED display, the smaller Pixel 2 contends with a more dated-looking form factor and a smaller battery. Oh, and a smaller price tag to boot.

Which one should you buy? Read the full review below!

Google Pixel 2 and Pixel 2 XL review: The new standard for Android

Pixel 2 second opinion: Close to perfect

Google Pixel 2 review, one month later: Still solid, still the best

The Pixel 3 is coming this October

Concept by @PhoneDesigner

The Pixel 2 and 2 XL are still excellent buys in mid-2018, and while we’ve got no problem continuing to recommend them, it’s worth keeping in mind that the Pixel 3 series will be here before you know it.

Google’s expected to announce the Pixel 3 and 3 XL in October, and while there’s a lot we still don’t know about the phones, early rumors have pointed at a notch and dual front-facing cameras on the larger Pixel 3 XL, front-facing speakers on both, and smaller bezels on the regular Pixel 3 compared to the Pixel 2.

Similar to past entries in the Pixel lineup, both the Pixel 3 and 3 XL will likely be exclusive to Verizon Wireless once again.

Google Pixel 3: News, Rumors, Release Date, Specs, and more!

You can download the Android P beta right now

Android P won’t officially be released until sometime this August, but until then, you can dive into the new software early as part of Google’s beta program.

Signing up for the Android P beta is as simple as going to a website, clicking a button to enroll your phone, and then downloading an over-the-air update.

Android P’s currently at Developer Preview 3 / Beta 2, meaning we’ve got two more updates to go before the final build is ready for primetime. The beta isn’t without its fair share of bugs, but in our testing, has proven to be good enough for use on a daily driver.

How to install Android P on your Pixel right now (or roll back to Oreo)

Pixel 2 and Pixel 2 XL specs

These are two phones of different screen sizes, screen-to-body ratios and aspect ratios, but otherwise nearly identical internal components.

Without knowing beforehand, you wouldn’t be able to tell that the Pixel 2 was made by HTC and the Pixel 2 XL by LG — they’re that similar. But when you dig a little deeper, the lineages are clear: the Pixel 2’s AMOLED display (which is actually made by Samsung) is clearly better than the washed-out, problematic LG-made pOLED display on the Pixel 2 XL.

Both phones have Snapdragon 835s, 4GB of RAM and between 64GB and 128GB storage standard, along with single rear 12MP cameras — this year with OIS. They’re waterproof (yay!) but don’t have headphone jacks (boo!). There’so no wireless charging, but the sides can be squeezed to activate Google Assistant. And though it ships with Android 8.0, not 8.1, there’s a lot new here — including an embedded eSIM to connect to Project Fi even without a SIM card.

Google Pixel 2 and Pixel 2 XL specs

How do they compare to other phones?

Of course, the Pixel 2 and Pixel 2 XL don’t exist in a vacuum; they are in an industry overwhelmed by choice. It’s pretty hard to buy a bad phone at this point in time, so how do the Pixel 2s stand out? We investigate in a number of comparisons with the top-of-the-line phones on the market right now.

Samsung Galaxy S9 vs. Google Pixel 2: Which should you buy?

Google Pixel 2 XL vs. Samsung Galaxy Note 8: Big phones, big prices

OnePlus 6 vs. Google Pixel 2 XL: Which should you buy?

Google Pixel 2 vs. iPhone 8: Do these bezels make my phone look fat?

Which color should you buy?

The Pixel 2 and Pixel 2 XL are available in three color options and two color options, respectively.

The Kinda Blue model is only on the smaller Pixel 2, but the Pixel 2 XL has the “chocolate-dipped” Black and White version, which we’re excited about. The Kinda Blue model used to be a Verizon exclusive, but is now available for unlocked and Project Fi buyers as well.

Oh, and about that orange power button…

Which color Pixel 2 or Pixel 2 XL should you buy?

Which storage size should you buy?

Last year, it was possible to buy the Pixel or Pixel XL in either 32GB or 128GB varieties; the former was too little for many people, the latter too much.

This year, the proposition seems a bit simpler because Google made it an easier choice: 64GB or 128GB.

Google Pixel 2: Which storage size should you buy?

Should you upgrade from the Pixel or Nexus lineup?

The Pixels, when they launched in October 2016, were no slouches. Featuring specs that still hold up today, including some of the best cameras on the market, it’s interesting to see how far Google came with the Pixel 2 series — especially on the larger Pixel 2 XL.

Google Pixel 2 and Pixel 2 XL vs. Google Pixel and Pixel XL: Specs comparison

So the question is — should you upgrade from last year’s models? That’s a difficult question to answer, but it’s one a lot of people will be considering.

Google Pixel 2 vs. Pixel: Should you upgrade?

Google Pixel 2 XL vs. Pixel XL: Should you upgrade?

Then there are the 2015 models, the Nexus 5X and Nexus 6P. Those are a bit older, and definitely don’t have the same quality of experience. It’s easy enough to suggest upgrading from to the Pixel 2 from the Nexus 5X — the price jump is significant, though — but it’s a less obvious move from the Nexus 6P to the Pixel 2 XL.

Is it worth upgrading to the Google Pixel 2 XL from the Nexus 6P?

Is it worth upgrading to the Google Pixel 2 from the Nexus 5X?

Google is doubling down on the single camera

Something amazing happened this year: Google didn’t add a second camera to either the Pixel 2 or Pixel 2 XL. The move says something in an industry where practically every other major manufacturer, from Samsung to Apple to Huawei, has taken steps to differentiate themselves with an additional camera sensor, and lots of added functionality as a result.

But Google’s image prowess allows it to do many things with one sensor that it takes other companies two to do. For instance, portrait photography. Portrait Mode is amazing on the Pixel 2 — better even than the iPhone X in many cases — and it applies to the front-facing camera, too.

With the Pixel 2, Google is doubling down on the single camera

Google built its own custom imaging chip to make the Pixel 2’s camera even better

Google may only be using one camera in the Pixel 2, but it’s got a trick up its sleeve — in the form of a new custom chip designed in-house called the Pixel Visual Core. Starting with the Android 8.1 update, it gives third-party developers a direct line to the immense amount of data captured by the Pixel 2’s camera sensor.

At first, the Visual Core will allow developers to tap into Google’s incredible HDR+ mode, which improves low-light performance while preserving detail in difficult lighting conditions. Then who knows — this is Google’s first foray into custom silicon, and it has huge potential for the future of the Pixel lineup.

The Pixel 2 camera’s secret weapon: A Google-designed SoC, the ‘Pixel Visual Core’

Pixel Visual Core enabled for all apps in Pixel 2’s February update

Pixel 2 is water resistant

This is the first Pixel that’s water resistant, with an IP67 rating, so you’ll be able to dunk your phone in up to one meter of water for 30 minutes at a time without a worry.

🏊

It also has no headphone jack

Yeah, these are the first phones from Google not to ship with a headphone jack, but the company is including a USB-C to 3.5mm adapter in the box (and is selling a $20 dongle if you want an extra) should you want to pair with traditional wired headphones.

If you want to go wireless, the Pixel 2 supports Bluetooth 5.0, and Google selling its own pair of wireless headphones called the Pixel Buds, and is partnering with companies like Libratone and others to market Google-certified headphones.

The best wireless headphones for the Pixel 2

It has an embedded eSIM

A what?

The Pixel 2 has this cool thing called an eSIM, or electronic SIM card, that allows you to connect to a network — in this case, Project Fi — with no physical SIM card.

Of course, the Pixel still supports that physical piece of plastic and bits, but you don’t need it to connect to Project Fi, and that little detail heralds the future of mobile connectivity — whenever the carriers decide to catch up. In the meantime, if you’re in the U.S., you can buy a Pixel 2 and activate Project Fi whenever you want, even if you didn’t order it directly them from.

Google Pixel 2 doesn’t need a SIM card, as long as you use Project Fi

Should you use the Pixel 2 or Pixel 2 XL on Project Fi?

So it has an embedded eSIM card in the phone, and you don’t need to buy it from Project Fi to use it on the service. But should you use it with Google’s MVNO, which cycles between T-Mobile, Sprint and US Cellular in the U.S.?

Should you use your Google Pixel 2 or Pixel 2 XL on Project Fi?

The Pixel 2 series will get Android R 😱

It’s true — Google is giving the Pixel 2 and Pixel 2 XL three years of guaranteed software updates, which means that when it launches with Android Oreo, it will get Android P in 2018, Android Q in 2019 and, miraculously, Android R in 2020.

Will people even use phones in 2020? We’ll find out!

Google Pixel 2 and Pixel 2 XL come with 3 years of guaranteed platform updates

Here’s what you should do first

The Pixels are pretty easy to set up, but our experts know what you should dive into first. If you want the best out of your Pixel 2 experience, check out our list of the first six things you should do with your new phone.

The first 6 things to do with your Google Pixel 2 or 2 XL

Where to buy the Pixel 2

The Pixel 2 is now available to order at the Google Store in all launch markets — that’s Australia, Canada, Germany, India, UK, and the U.S.

For carrier availability and a country-wide breakdown on pricing, hit up the link below.

Where to buy the Pixel 2 and Pixel 2 XL

Which carriers can you buy it from in the U.S.?

Verizon. In addition to the Google Store and Project Fi, Verizon is once again the exclusive U.S. carrier for the 2017 Pixel lineup. While the Verizon model comes unlocked, and can be used on other carriers, it’s updated through Verizon, not Google, and has carrier-specific optimizations.

See at Verizon

Pixel 2 XL OLED problems

Before you commit to buying the phones, it’s worth pointing out that the Pixel 2 XL has a few display issues. The quality of the panel itself is fairly low compared to equivalent Samsung models, featuring discoloration when viewed off-center; graininess and muddiness, especially at low brightness; poor backlight uniformity (similar to the LG V30); and in some cases, burn-in.

That’s some pretty wild OLED burn-in on the Pixel 2 XL after maybe 7 days of full-time use pic.twitter.com/EPJTs6D0Kg

— Alex Dobie (@alexdobie) October 22, 2017

Burn-in consists of a permanent marking on the screen after an unmoving image has been there for some time. It’s a hallmark of OLED displays, and can be found on panels of both high and low quality. Generally, the higher the quality the longer burn-in takes to show.

In a post on its community forums, Google addressed the issue, saying that it found the burn-in, or “differential aging,” characteristics of the OLED panel on the Pixel 2 XL to be no worse than other flagships using screens of the same technology.

Extensive testing of the Pixel 2 XL display show that its decay characteristics are comparable to OLED panels used in other premium smartphones. The differential aging should not affect the user experience of the phone, as it’s not visible under normal use of your Pixel 2 XL.

An update issued in early November added a “Saturated” mode to the Pixel 2 and Pixel 2 XL’s screens, and dramatically improved the color quality of the 2 XL. While blue shift is still a problem, washed-out colors are not, and Google now fades the navigation bar after a few seconds to mitigate burn-in. The official Android 8.1 update improved the Pixel 2 XL’s colors even more, so we’d now venture to say most people won’t notice an issue with the phone’s screen.

More: Google Pixel 2 XL adds new display profiles, UI changes to address burn-in

There have been some issues with trade-ins

Google offers up to $410 for users to trade in their previous Pixels or other high-end phones, but the system has been marred in delays and other problems that have kept people from receiving their credits for the new Pixel 2 phones.

Fortunately, the issues have been sorted (according to Google), and those who didn’t receive a credit, or had their phone denied, should be fine now.

Google says it has fixed Pixel and Nexus trade-in issues

What about cases and accessories?

With the Pixel 2, Google has implemented a new ‘Made for Google’ program where accessory makers can build products that are guaranteed to work really well with the company’s new phones. If you’re looking for the right case, or maybe just a new pair of headphones, we’ve got you covered.

The best Pixel 2 accessories

The best Pixel 2 cases

The best Pixel 2 XL cases

Here’s every Pixel 2 and Pixel 2 XL case we could find

Best Car Chargers for Google Pixel and Pixel 2

Best Wireless Headphones for the Google Pixel 2

The new Daydream VR headset is fantastic

Just because Google (and everyone else) is excited about its new phones, that doesn’t mean the company has forgotten about its plans for VR. Alongside the Pixel 2 and 2 XL comes a new Daydream VR headset with improved materials, better lenses, and more comfortable straps that make using it for longer periods considerably easier.

Daydream View 2017 review: Mostly successful refinement

Should you worry about some of the issues you’re hearing about?

From a problematic display on the Pixel 2 XL to clicking sounds from the top speaker to poor sound quality when capturing video, the Pixel 2 line hasn’t been without its fair share of problems.

Oh, and some units are shipping with software that won’t boot, while others are reporting Bluetooth issues when connecting to headphones and other music players.

The good news is that Google is working on fixing all of them, and some have already started rolling out with Android 8.1 update.

How to fix common Pixel 2 and Pixel 2 XL problems

What could have been

Every phone goes through different design iterations before making it to market, and the Pixel 2 line is no different. Google recently shared some prototypes of the phones to shed some light on the earlier versions of the Pixel phones. By and large the prototypes were close to the final, two-tone design, but Google experimented with wider bodies, different size camera sensors and more.

This is what the Pixel 2 could have looked like

Anything else?

There were lots of other things announced at Google’s hardware event on October 4. Take a look at the video above to take a look, and read our other coverage on the Home Mini, Home Max, new Daydream VR headset, Google Buds headphones, and more!

Updated June 2018: This article has been updated with information on Android P, the Pixel 3, and more.

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

Best Buy
Verizon
Google Store
Project Fi

‘The Elder Scrolls: Blades,’ a free-to-play mobile RPG, arrives this fall

It turns out Bethesda is currently working on not one, but two Elder Scrolls games. Yes, The Elder Scrolls VI is in development, Bethesda announced at the end of its E3 2018 press conference. That is a long ways away, after Starfield, which is also a long ways away. Don’t be too sad, though. In the meantime, Bethesda is giving its fantasy franchise the mobile treatment in The Elder Scrolls: Blades, a free-to-play game launching this fall on iOS and Android.

Shown off on the iPhone X, The Elder Scrolls: Blades is a visual marvel, a pure Elder Scrolls experience that fans of the franchise will recognize instantly. It’s a first-person RPG. You can either tap the screen to move or use on-screen dual sticks to control your character like you would on a console.

In terms of dungeons, there are both procedurally generated and designed ones. The procedurally generated dungeons would seem to up the replay value of already-conquered lairs.

Blades will be split into three different modes. Town, where you can build up your little space in the world, is the main portion. This is where you grab story missions and quests. Outside of the main story, Blades has a player-versus-player mode called Arena, and a rogue-like set in an endless dungeon called Abyss.

While we imagine most will want to play Blades in landscape mode on smartphones, Bethesda has included the ability to play in Portrait mode. The controls are designed simplistically enough that you can play with one hand.

Get your game on

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The Elder Scrolls: Blades is already available for pre-order on both the App Store and Google Play. Interestingly, although all signs point to it being designed primarily for mobile audiences, Bethesda promised to bring the game to consoles, PC, and virtual reality as well — with cross-play across all platforms.

Given the success of Fallout Shelter — more than 100 million people have played so far — it’s no surprise Bethesda is cranking out another mobile game. If nothing else, Blades will at least help scratch the Elder Scrolls itch while fans wait for The Elder Scrolls VI. Blades looked impressive from the demo shown on stage. Plus, it’s free, so why not try it out?

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‘Fallout 76’ is an online-only ‘soft-core’ survival game arriving this November

Bethesda finally revealed some juicy details about its latest Fallout installment, including its November 14 release date, during a press event on Sunday evening prior to the start of the E3 gaming convention. The Fallout 76 reveal was a bit more in-depth than what we saw during the Xbox show Sunday afternoon, where we learned the game’s world will be four times the size of the explorable area in Fallout 4. That little tidbit was just the tip of the massive Fallout 76 iceberg. 

For starters, Fallout 76 takes place before all other Fallout games. Set in the hills of West Virginia, it casts you as one of the best and brightest selected to repopulate the Earth. You’re also one of the first to emerge from a vault after the post-apocalyptic dust settles. You’ve spent 25 years underground preparing for what’s called Reclamation Day, when you’ll step out into the world above and begin to rebuild America. 

But don’t worry: This won’t be a building simulator with a Fallout theme. Fallout 76 is an RPG at heart that expands on the base-building mechanics of Fallout 4 to encompass an entire settlement. And you won’t be exploring and building alone: Fallout 76 will be a dedicated online multiplayer game where every character you meet will be an actual player. 

Game director Todd Howard classifies Fallout 76 as a “soft-core survival” game. You and other players can build settlements and move them anywhere you want. But you also must protect those settlements from mutated beasts, wildlife, and other players. Did a group just come in and destroy your settlement? Return the favor by locating one of the multiple nuclear missile sites and returning the favor. Don’t have the complete launch code? Find other players holding the missing pieces. 

“You’ll decide the heroes, and you’ll decide the villains,” he said. Howard added that you can visit the targeted site after the dust settles to collect rare, valuable resources. 

Given Fallout 76 is entirely online, your progression stays with your character. Even more, your character won’t be tied to one specific server, so if Bethesda’s network needs to shift you over to another server, your character remains intact. Bethesda will provide servers “100-percent” dedicated to the game for years to come. 

Get your game on

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While it’s an online-only game, you can still play Fallout 76 solo. There’s a story and quests to complete that are rooted deep in West Virginian folklore, and six distinct regions to explore with their own styles, risks, and rewards. Backing this massive area is an engine rendering 16 times the detail seen in Fallout 4. You can even see distant weather systems on the horizon, Howard boasts. 

Fallout 76 will be playable in 4K with HDR on the Xbox One X console. We imagine this will be the case on PlayStation 4 Pro and Windows 10 as well. 

Pre-orders for Fallout 76 begin June 15, 2018. The Collector’s Edition will include a map that glows in the dark, figures you can place on the map, and a wearable T-51 Power Armor helmet with a working headlamp.

Editors’ Recommendations

• Bethesda E3 2018 press conference confirms ‘Starfield’ and ‘The Elder Scrolls VI’
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Elon Musk’s Boring Company puts first 1,000 flamethrowers in buyers’ hands

Consumer flamethrowers and rockets on cars? Sure, right? Never happen. Fact is, Tesla CEO Elon Musk promised both and this weekend he delivered on his promised personal flamethrowers.

To be more specific, Musk’s The Boring Company delivered the first 1,000 of a limited run of 20,000 TBC Flamethrowers to customers this weekend. On that basis, who’s to say the next-generation Tesla Roadster won’t have a SpaceX option package with 10 rocket thrusters, as Musk claimed Saturday?

Choosing one of his favorite communications forums, Musk took to Twitter to post some photos of the flamethrower customer pickup event, accompanying his tweets with enthusiastic comments.

Musk’s Twitter thread started with a straight announcement, “First 1000 Boring Company Flamethrowers being picked up today!”

First 1000 Boring Company Flamethrowers being picked up today! pic.twitter.com/hBMp5fGzAB

— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) June 9, 2018

Musk later posted a photo of a couple with a baby carriage and a flamethrower standing in front of a Boring Company photo shoot backdrop in a parking lot. “Nothing makes your baby more zen than a few gentle puffs of a TBC Flamethrower,” Musk tweeted.

Nothing makes your baby more zen than a few gentle puffs of a TBC Flamethrower pic.twitter.com/HewJf66hh2

— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) June 9, 2018

Still on a roll, Musk followed up with a suggested application for the flamethrower: lighting BBQs and home fireplaces. This suggestion probably should have a “Kids, do not try this at home” caution, because you know that’s what people will do.

Musk tweeted “Flamethrower obv best way to light your fireplace/BBQ. No more need to use a dainty “match” to ignite! If no wood, just drop your flamethrower in fire place! It will generate way more warmth than a quaint pile of logs.”

Flamethrower obv best way to light your fireplace/BBQ. No more need to use a dainty “match” to ignite! If no wood, just drop your flamethrower in fire place! It will generate way more warmth than a quaint pile of logs.

— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) June 9, 2018

Twitter user @SPPhotonic mentioned California fire hazards, “Did Nobody tell you that fire Hazards in California are not a joke? Have some respect for the Firefighters and make an Ice Blaster.”

Did Nobody tell you that fire Hazards in California are not a joke? ???????????? Have some respect for the Firefighters and make an Ice Blaster❄️❄️❄️

— Sanki (@SPPhotonic) June 9, 2018

In response to @SPPhotonic, Musk may have revealed an upcoming new TBC product when he tweeted, “Each flamethrower comes with a state-of-the-art The Boring Company brand fire extinguisher. Will offer a TBC ice blaster before the dry season starts in winter.”

Each flamethrower comes with a state-of-the-art The Boring Company brand fire extinguisher.

Will offer a TBC ice blaster before the dry season starts in winter.

— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) June 9, 2018

The 20,000 TBC Flamethrowers sold out quickly for $500 each. If TBC actually does plan to offer an ice blaster and expects it to be useful when the “winter dry season” begins, the news should come soon. Musk first announced TBC Flamethrower in January and the first deliveries took almost five months.

The 2020 Tesla Roadster with the SpaceX option package won’t see light before 2019, so we’ll have to wait longer to see if Musk really meant it when he promised rocket thrusters.

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Gears Pop! will take fun-sized Gears of War action mobile

Gears of War is going mobile with a Funko Pop twist.

Gears of War 5 drew all of the attention from fans of the franchise at Microsoft’s E3 2018 presentation, but Microsoft’s also had something a little more fun-sized in mind for mobile phones. As part of a collaboration with Funko Pop, Microsoft took the wraps off of Gears Pop!, a new mobile title coming to Android and iOS.

There’s little to go off of for now, but Microsoft says the game will bring a “unique mobile spin” to the Gears series. And if you’re an avid collector of Funko Pop’s infectiously cute vinyl figures, then there’s a whole lot to like here.

From Microsoft:

We’re working with our friends at Funko to bring a unique mobile spin to the world of Gears. Developed in partnership with Mediatonic, Gears Pop! brings together iconic Gears characters in a cute Funko Pop! style. It’s the perfect slice of mobile mayhem. It will be available on iOS and Android in 2019.

So, mobile fans will have some Gears action to look forward to in 2019. Whether the cutesy art style will go over well with fans who are used to the Gears franchises dark tone remains to be seen, but it stands a chance of capturing some portion of the mobile market with such a major property.

Shadow of the Tomb Raider for PlayStation 4: Everything we know so far

This is one girl who will continue to kick our butts

“Everything lost
is meant to
be found.”
― Lara Croft

This September we’re going to be getting another sequel to the Tomb Raider franchise. This is the 3rd game in a rebooted series and I literally couldn’t be any more excited. This sequel takes place in the dangers of a deep jungle and, of course, a tomb with unknown dangers within. So, get your thinking caps ready for the puzzles and dangers that lie before you because it’s coming to PlayStation 4.

It all started with a mind-blowing news release. In December 2017, Square Enix took to Twitter and gave us a massive teaser about how they were in the process of making a new game.

A message to our fans! pic.twitter.com/HlDYsUtZMs

— Tomb Raider (@tombraider) December 7, 2017

They even went as far as letting us know that the release date and the official reveal wouldn’t be too far away from one another. It’s absolutely refreshing to get this hype about something and not have to wait over a year for the release date.

The first trailer we got from Square Enix in March of 2018 didn’t reveal much information on what the game will actually entail. This video gives us a taste of the setting as well as the much-improved graphics of the overall series.

So… if we’ve captivated you this far with information on the new Tomb Raider than read on to fill your brain with all the information we have to offer. Not just that, but if you want to secure your copy you can pre-order this title from the PlayStation Store for $59.99 and start playing on September 14, 2018.

See on PlayStation Store

Continuing a legacy

Created by a team of veteran Tomb Raider developers at Eidos-Montréal, in collaboration with Crystal Dynamics

Shadow of the Tomb Raider follows the tale of the lovely Lara Croft and proceeds the story from Rise of the Tomb Raider. This time around she’s faced with the task of saving the world from a Maya apocalypse that threatens to destroy it. There is a very real supernatural feeling to the dilemmas brought to us because of this. The trailer shown at E3 shows quick glances of ritual sacrifices, as well as Lara herself, explaining vivid visions of the future.

Trinity is once again the villains of the show. This terrible group of ancient and militaristic people is out to claim all the wonders of this world and lock them away from everyone. Unfortunately for our hero most of her actions of suppressing them have terrible, terrible consequences.

This year during E3 we received more information regarding this well-anticipated game along with a brand new trailer I’ve shown above. Emotions are high as the crowd is left wondering just how much of this deviation is actually Lara’s fault for perhaps taking a step too far in her efforts of preventing Trinity from getting their hands on something they never should. On the official release page Square Enix reveals one small sentence that only solidifies my estimation.

Lara must master a deadly jungle, overcome terrifying tombs, and persevere through her darkest hour.

“Darkest hour?” Oh no. Don’t do my heart like this. I can’t handle it.

Gameplay

Judging from the trailers and screenshots available currently, we can see the general premise of the game will remain the same. There will be puzzles, combat, sneaking and all sorts of hard thinking required to get through this game. We also see the usage of knives, a bow and arrow and the iconic grappling hook in play during these sneak peaks. So get ready to duck, tumble and assassinate your way through this title to help Lara prevent anyone from altering the course of humanity.

Not just that, but we were given another subtle hint into just what this game will entail:

Our team has created a diverse set of skills, combat techniques and equipment for players to master, and they’ll certainly need them if they hope to survive the deadly jungle environments and tombs.

I don’t know about you, but they’ve got my vote (and my pre-order.) And, last but not least, this title will have the option of enhanced versions for the PlayStation Pro.

Pre-order options

So far you can preorder Shadow of the Tomb Raider from the following stores.

Amazon

Shadow of the Tomb Raider (Croft Steelbook Edition)

You get a limited edition Steelbook, three art cards, and the Season Pass, featuring 7 Challenge Tombs, each with new narrative side missions, as well as 7 Weapons, 7 Outfits, and 7 Skills. The Croft Steelbook Edition also delivers 3 additional weapons, 3 additional outfits, and the Original Game Soundtrack with this $89.99 purchase from Amazon.

See on Amazon

Shadow of the Tomb Raider (Limited Steelbook Edition)

This includes a Steelbook and three art cards – while supplies last for $59.99 on Amazon.

See on Amazon

Game Stop

Shadow of The Tomb Raider Season Pass

Includes 7 challenge tombs, 7 weapons, outfits, and skills, multiple narrative side missions, 1 of each of the above will be exclusive to the Season Pass. Following a first Weapon/Outfit drop on Sep 14th, Season Pass content will release on a monthly basis starting in October 2018. This is $29.99.

See at Game Stop

Shadow of The Tomb Raider

This copy of the game is available for $59.99 at Game Stop.

See at Game Stop

Shadow of the Tomb Raider Limited Steelbook Edition

Pre-order Shadow of the Tomb Raider and receive the Limited Steelbook Edition, which includes 3 Collectible Art Cards + Steelbook Packaging for $59.99. While Supplies Last. Not Valid on Digital

See at Game Stop

Shadow of The Tomb Raider Digital Deluxe Edition

The Shadow of the Tomb Raider Digital Deluxe Edition includes an additional weapon and outfit, and the Original Game Soundtrack. Pre-Order Shadow of the Tomb Raider Digital Deluxe Edition now to receive 48 Hour early access, and an additional Skills Booster Pack. $69.99.

See at Game Stop

Shadow of the Tomb Raider Croft Steelbook Edition

The Shadow of the Tomb Raider Croft Steelbook Edition includes a limited edition Steelbook, three art cards, and the Season Pass, featuring 7 Challenge Tombs, each with new narrative side missions, as well as 7 Weapons, 7 Outfits, and 7 Skills. The Croft Steelbook Edition also delivers 3 additional weapons, 3 additional outfits, and the Original Game Soundtrack. Pre-Order Shadow of the Tomb Raider Croft Steelbook Edition now to receive 48 Hour early access, while supplies last. $89.99.

Pre-Order Shadow of the Tomb Raider at GameStop and receive an Exclusive Tomb Raider Flashlight! While Supplies Last. Not valid on Digital.

See at Game Stop

Shadow of The Tomb Raider Digital Croft Edition

The Shadow of the Tomb Raider Digital Croft Edition includes the Season Pass, featuring 7 Challenge Tombs, each with new narrative side missions, as well as 7 Weapons, 7 Outfits, and 7 Skills. The Digital Croft Edition also delivers 3 additional weapons, 3 additional outfits, and the Original Game Soundtrack. Pre-Order the Shadow of the Tomb Raider Digital Croft Edition now to receive 48 Hour early access, and an additional Skills Booster Pack. $89.99

See at GameStop

PlayStation Store

Just the game

You can always choose to just get your copy of the game right off the PlayStation Store for $59.99.

• See on PlayStation Store

Shadow of the Tomb Raider – Croft Edition

The Croft Edition is also available on the PlayStation Store for $89.99. This includes the game, additional skills,
booster Pack, a Season Pass, 3 additional weapons & outfits and a digital OST.

If you pre-order this will also come with 48H early access and a PS4™ Theme.

See on PlayStation Store

Game Guides

You can also pick up the Tomb Raider: Shadow of the Tomb Raider Collector’s Edition Guide for $39.99 at Game Stop.

See at Gamestop

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Amazon

BlackBerry Key2 vs. Galaxy S9, S9 Plus: Can physical keyboard trump top devices?

Julian Chokkattu/Digital Trends

BlackBerry has done what BlackBerry does — launch a flagship phone with modest specs, a physical keyboard, and utterly stunning battery life. That’s right — the BlackBerry Key2 (rumored as the “BlackBerry KeyTwo”) has been revealed and all the other flagships must be wondering what this strange creature is doing in their backyard. While the original KeyOne played up the nostalgia factor to bring back BlackBerry fans, the Key2 is trying to capture the attention of people used to touchscreen keyboards on phones like the Samsung Galaxy S9 and Galaxy S9 Plus.

With your pocket space as the prize, how do these three flagships compare when put head-to-head? Let’s find out.

Specs

BlackBerry Key2

Samsung Galaxy S9 Plus
Samsung Galaxy S9

Size

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

157.7 x 73.8 x 8.5 mm (6.21 x 2.91 x 0.33 inches)
147.6 x 68.7 x 8.4 mm (5.81 x 2.70 x 0.33 in)

Weight
168 grams (5.92 ounces)
189 grams (6.67 ounces)
163 grams (5.75 ounces)

Screen size
4.5-inch IPS LCD
6.2-inch AMOLED display
5.8-inch AMOLED display

Screen resolution
1,620 x 1,080 pixels (434 pixels per inch)
2,960 x 1,440 pixels (531 pixels per inch)
2,960 x 1,440 pixels (568 pixels per inch)

Operating system
Android 8.1 Oreo
Android 8.0 Oreo
Android 8.0 Oreo

Storage space
64GB (U.S.), 128GB (International)
64GB, 128GB, 256GB
64GB, 128GB, 256GB

MicroSD card slot
Yes
Yes
Yes

Tap-to-pay services
Google Pay
Google Pay, Samsung Pay
Google Pay, Samsung Pay

Processor
Qualcomm Snapdragon 660
Qualcomm Snapdragon 845
Qualcomm Snapdragon 845

RAM
6GB
6GB
4GB

Camera
Dual 12MP, 8MP front
Dual 12MP (with OIS) and 12MP (with OIS) rear, variable aperture, 8MP front
12MP (with OIS) rear, variable aperture, 8MP front

Video
Up to 4K @ 30 frames per second (fps)
Up to 4K @ 60 frames per second, 1,080p @ 240 fps, 720p @ 960 fps
Up to 4K @ 60 frames per second, 1,080p @ 240 fps, 720p @ 960 fps

Bluetooth version
Bluetooth 5.0
Bluetooth 5.0
Bluetooth 5.0

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

Fingerprint sensor
Yes (front)
Yes (back)
Yes (back)

Water resistance
No
IP68
IP68

Battery
3,500mAh

QuickCharge 3.0

3,500mAh

QuickCharge 2.0

Qi wireless charging

3,000mAh

QuickCharge 2.0

Qi wireless charging

App marketplace
Google Play Store
Google Play Store
Google Play Store

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

Colors
Black, Silver
Midnight Black, Coral Blue, Lilac Purple
Midnight Black, Coral Blue, Lilac Purple

Price
$650
$840
$720

Buy from
BlackBerry

Samsung, Amazon

Samsung, Amazon

Review score
Hands-on review
4.5 out of 5 stars
4 out of 5 stars

Performance, battery life, and charging

Julian Chokkattu/Digital Trends

If you’re buying a flagship in 2018, you expect to find the hyper-powerful Snapdragon 845, or at the very least last year’s Snapdragon 835. BlackBerry bucks that trend with the Snapdragon 660, and while it holds up well in our tests with good, smooth performance, you’re not going to get the same sort of power the Galaxy S9 and S9 Plus can deliver. Other specs are a bit more up to standard though, with the Key2 bringing 6GB of RAM to the table — matched only by the 6GB in the Galaxy S9 Plus.

The Key2 runs away with the battery tests though, and we expect the 3,500mAh battery to provide two-day battery life, much like the BlackBerry KeyOne. The S9 Plus comes with the same-sized battery, but due to extra power draw on the processor and display, it just about manages a single day. You’ll also find QuickCharge 3.0 in the Key2, which beats out the QuickCharge 2.0 in the Galaxy S9 range. The S9 phones do come with wireless charging though.

While the Snapdragon 845 will offer you top-notch performance, the Snapdragon 660 will be sufficient for most people. We think people will like the Key2’s two-day battery life, so we’re making this a tie. The win will be based on what you prefer.

Winner: Tie

Design and durability

The Key2 has learned some lessons from the KeyOne, and that has resulted in a better looking phone. The bezels have shrunk, the keyboard’s bigger, and the general design has been smoothed out and made more elegant. But is it more elegant than the sweeping curves of the Galaxy S9 and S9 Plus? It’s a tough call to make, but the pure sleekness of the S9 range just pips the Key2 in our books.

Look at each phone’s durability and the needle swings slightly back toward the Key2. It might not be able to implement water-resistance due to the keyboard, but the aluminum frame and rubberized back means the Key2 should be fairly resistant to damage — or at least more than the all-glass S9 and S9 Plus. That said, both S9s come with IP68 water-resistance, and they also use Gorilla Glass 5, which is stronger than the Key2’s Gorilla Glass 3.

It’s a tough to call to make, and despite being fully covered by glass, the S9 and S9 Plus beat out the Key2 in beauty and water-resistance.

Winner: Samsung Galaxy S9/Galaxy S9 Plus

Display

Julian Chokkattu/Digital Trends

Like its predecessor, the BlackBerry Key2 comes with a 4.5-inch IPS LCD that sits above the keyboard. It’s running an odd 1,620 x 1,080 resolution due to the oddly shaped screen, but it’s sharp and bright, and shouldn’t let you down. However, it can’t compare to the deep inky blacks and vibrant colors that you’ll find on the AMOLED displays of the S9 and S9 Plus. With a smaller 5.8-inch display, the Galaxy S9’s screen is slightly sharper than the S9 Plus’ 6.2-inch display when both run the same 2,960 x 1,440 resolution, but we don’t think most will be able to tell the difference. It’s a tie between the two S9 phones.

Winner: Samsung Galaxy S9/Galaxy S9 Plus

Camera

Julian Chokkattu/Digital Trends

It seems that 12-megapixels is the right amount of pixels — these phones have five 12-megapixel lenses between the three of them. The Key2 comes with the first dual-lens camera suite in BlackBerry’s long history. It consists of two 12-megapixel lenses, with an f/1.8 aperture on the main lens and an f/2.6 on the other. This should give it good performance in a variety of circumstances, but we’ll have to wait until we’ve finished testing to say that for definite. We were surprised with the camera capability on the KeyOne, and we expect to be happily surprised again with the Key2.

The Key2 will likely struggle to beat the cameras on the S9 and S9 Plus though. The S9 range uses a mechanically-changing aperture to make the most of the available light, and it’s led to the S9 having one of the best low-light cameras around. Of the two, the S9 Plus’ second lens helps boost that performance even higher. We’re confident the Key2 will struggle to beat that performance.

All three phones will record in 4K (though the S9 range does it at 60 frames per second), and the S9 range’s super slow motion video puts the nail in the coffin. The S9 Plus wins out here.

Winner: Samsung Galaxy S9 Plus

Special features

Julian Chokkattu/Digital Trends

All three of these phones are packed with special features — but aimed in different ways. The S9 range is primarily an entertainment device, with support for the Gear VR and the Bixby personal assistant. There’s also the DeX Pad and Dex Station, which help turn the phone into a productivity machine (though it requires some extra investment).

The Key2, on the other hand, is clearly an enterprise-focused device, and BlackBerry’s focus on security really cements that. There’s the Locker and the Privacy Shade, which keep apps and data away from prying eyes, and the DTEK app keeps an eye on what’s accessing your systems, and allows you shut down unauthorized access. On top of that, there’s all of BlackBerry’s extra apps that long-time fans will be more than familiar with, such as BBM and BlackBerry Hub. Of course, the keyboard is just as much a feature as everything else. You can add up to 52 shortcuts to different apps through the keyboard, and the new Speed Key lets you switch between apps without having to ever go to the home screen.

These phones have loads of additional features on top of standard Android — but they’re just so different that we don’t feel we can judge. Base this on your own priorities between entertainment, security, and enterprise.

Winner: Tie

Software and updates

You’ll find the latest version of Android on all three of these phones, and since they’re 2018 flagships, you can expect them all to get Android P, and an eventual upgrade to Android Q. The Galaxy S9 and S9 Plus run Samsung’s Android skin, and while it definitely has its own style, it’s still clearly an Android-based product. BlackBerry’s software is mostly stock Android, just with the addition of a few additional widgets and a whole lot of BlackBerry apps.

In terms of update speed, we have to give this one to the Samsung phones. While the last generation of Galaxy phones have fully seen Oreo updates this year, BlackBerry is still kicking its heels on the update, with neither the KeyOne or Motion having received a promised Oreo update. The KeyOne is getting the update soon, though. It’s still disappointing, and we hope the Key2 gets faster updates.

That being said, BlackBerry does a great job at delivering monthly security updates.

Winner: Samsung Galaxy S9/Galaxy S9 Plus

Price

The Samsung Galaxy S9 and S9 Plus are both currently available, and have support from most major carriers and can be bought from a large amount of retailers. The Galaxy S9 starts at $720 for the 64GB model, while the S9 Plus sees a bit of a price hike with the cost starting at $840.

The BlackBerry Key2 will be available in the U.S. in June, with prices starting from $650. There’s no word on which carriers will be supporting it yet, but we reckon Verizon, AT&T, and T-Mobile are likely candidates.

Overall winner: Samsung Galaxy S9 Plus

Pound-for-pound and across our chosen categories, the Samsung S9 Plus shines as the stronger overall smartphone for most people. The Galaxy S9 comes a close second with a smaller footprint, but the extra power and camera smarts on the S9 Plus really push it to the win.

But you’ll know if you want the BlackBerry Key2, and the beauty and better cameras on the S9 range isn’t going to convince you otherwise. If you’re one of those people, be happy in the fact that the BlackBerry Key2 is a strong contender that’s worthy of your time and your pocket space, and plenty powerful enough to handle everything you throw at it.

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