The LeveTop is a cylindrical, vertical drone that looks like a coffee mug

You’ve never seen a drone that looks like a coffee mug. That is, until you see the LeveTop. What makes this particular quadcopter particularly interesting isn’t necessarily its flight capabilities (though they’re impressive) or its camera (though it’s more than capable of getting the job done). Rather, it’s the fact that the LeveTop almost looks like a thermos when it’s packed away, only to morph into an autonomous and intelligent drone capable of exploring the skies on your behalf.

Undeniably the most noteworthy aspect of the LeveTop is the compact quadruple folding frame. Its vertical, cylindrical shape looks unlike anything else on the market — at least that we’ve  seen — and the design is about more than just aesthetics. As LeveTop founder Longway Wang told Forbes, the shape of the drone actually helps it fly a bit more steadily, and of course, makes it more portable, too. When you’re finished using LeveTop, you need only to fold down its wings, and you can grab the body of the drone and be on your merry way — there will be no extruding, fragile parts to speak of. Adding to its portability, the unit weighs less than a pound..

As for the technical specs of the drone, the LeveTop is capable of flying for 20 minutes at a time at speeds of up to 33 miles per hour, and can reach an altitude of 100 meters above the ground. With four brushless motors, it should be able to get air quite quickly and keep tabs on everything it sees, as the drone is outfitted with a 1080p camera with a 4µm pixel size that should be able to take both photos and videos.

The drone also boasts an advanced GPS system that will follow you wherever you go  –provided, of course, that you’re carrying your smartphone, which must be synced to the drone to get it to work properly.

Wang is reasonable when it comes to his expectations for the drone. While it’s admittedly not the most powerful nor the most affordable, it is still accessible and useful enough for most drone enthusiasts to get their feet wet.

“The drone industry is just beginning,” he told Forbes. “As A.I. and 5G take shape and become more widespread in a few years, drone performances will improve, and the market will grow bigger.”

And thus far, the LeveTop has met with considerable success. It blew past its initial fundraising goal on Indiegogo, ultimately raising nearly $240,000. And while you should still exercise caution whenever taking part of a crowdfunding project, if the design of the LeveTop has caught your eye, a contribution of $179 should get you one of these drones by July 0f this year.

Editors’ Recommendations

• Parrot’s new HDR camera drone is a shot across DJI’s bow
• Halo Drone Pro review
• This bird-inspired morphing drone can slim down to fit through tight spaces
• Amazon delivery drone may use lights and music when it shows up at your home
• Drone-delivered meals come to Shanghai, but they’re dropped off by … a human?

Almost a quarter of Tesla Model 3 orders refunded, according to report

Despite the optimism and hope from fans for the success of the Tesla Model 3, it seems even some of its potential customers weren’t happy with the issues the company’s been having with the EV’s launch. According to Recode, another production delay recently made headlines, causing a new peak of pre-order cancellations — nearly a quarter of all Model 3’s initial reservations.

Since Tesla’s Elon Musk announced the Model 3 over two years ago, the company began accepting $1,000 deposits while promising the delivery of these vehicles by 2018. Bouncing off of the success of the Model S and Model X, Tesla managed to score several hundred thousand reservation orders.

Things went awry fast, however, as Tesla struggled with production roll-out and quality control issues that made headlines across the world. This caused both customer and investor confidence to dwindle very quickly, leading many to question the company’s validity and ability to produce a mass-market electric vehicle on such a massive scale to be the “EV alternative to a BMW 3-Series.” It also raised eyebrows over the handling of the company’s finances.

Many customers have been demanding their money back as a result of these production issues. New data surfaced around the end of April this year from financial data firm Second Measure. The company sorts and analyzes data regarding billions of dollars of anonymized credit and debit card purchases.

The firm discovered that Tesla refunded almost 23 percent of all Model 3 deposits in the U.S. In the grand scheme of things, this isn’t a back-breaking number and cancellations are expected to a certain degree. But while Tesla received around 450,000 reservations last quarter, the company only delivered 8,180 Model 3s. Yea, it’s that far behind.

Potential Tesla Model 3 customers are still supposedly eligible to replace a deposit for a Model 3 when production becomes steadier. But this still might have an effect on Tesla’s near-future performance in sales, as customers could simply choose an entirely different car brand and model altogether.

Recode spoke to a Tesla representative, who said that Second Measure’s data doesn’t accurately portray the company’s internal data. The same representative didn’t disclose the size of the data discrepancy, however.

This isn’t to discredit Second Measure, since the same firm accurately discovered that of the 518,000 gross reservations, the company only netted around 455,000 reservation confirmations (Elon Musk confirmed this data back in August). This implies that there were around 63,000 cancellations, resulting in a 12 percent cancellation rate.

Editors’ Recommendations

• This has not been an easy year for Tesla and its Model 3
• Here’s the latest news on the Tesla Model 3, including specs and performance
• Is the revolutionary Tesla Semi dead? Some analysts believe so
• Tesla boss admits company had been too reliant on robots
• Called Model Y, the Tesla Model 3’s SUV counterpart will arrive in 2020

Xbox Live subscriptions, Star Wars Lego sets, and more are all discounted today

Whether you’re looking for new tech gear or household items, we’ve got you covered.

We found plenty of great deals today that include big discounts on Xbox Live subscriptions, Star Wars Lego sets, and more! Time’s running out to take advantage of these prices, so hurry!

View the rest of the deals

If you want to know about the deals as soon as they are happening, you’ll want to follow Thrifter on Twitter, and sign up for the newsletter, because missing out on a great deal stinks!

Every PlayStation 4 game announced at E3

Stay up to date with all the E3 announcements for PS4!

Put on your party hats and slip on your hype shoes because it’s time for E3 2018. If you’re a passionate gamer, then this very well could be one of your favorite times of the year. This is when we get to find out what we’re going to get excited about and just how long we are going to have to maintain that excitement.

If you want to know about all the Switch titles that were talked about at E3 2018, then you found the place to be. As E3 progresses we will make sure to keep you in the loop right here, so check back!

EA

Kicking off E3 2018 was the occasionally divisive gaming powerhouse EA. From the tentpole sports titles to a whole host of other blockbusters, EA had a lot to say this year.

FIFA 19

Unravel Two

Sea of Solitude

NBA Live 19

Madden NFL 19

Anthem

There’s a whole lot to be excited about in the world of gaming in the coming year. Be sure to keep an eye on this space. We will be updating with all the titles announced at E3!

What games are you excited about?

Let us know in the comments below!

PlayStation 4

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

Amazon

What’s new in Chrome OS (Stable, Beta, and Developer Channels)

Not sure what’s new in Chrome OS? We’ve got you covered!

Chrome OS, Google’s own desktop operating system, receives regular updates to outfit it with new features, bug fixes, and more. There are three main levels of Chrome OS (Stable, Beta, and Developer) and while you can learn more about what these mean here, this guide will be updated regularly to highlight the main additions with each new release.

We’ll update the Stable section each time a new version is released, but since the Beta and Developer channels receive multiple updates throughout the week, we’ll only add new information to those sections when something particularly noteworthy is added.

Without further ado, here’s what’s new in the Stable, Beta, and Developer Channels for Chrome OS!

Stable

June 7, 2018 — Progressive Web Apps can be installed and Tablet Mode gets split-screen support

Chrome OS’s Stable Channel was updated to 67.0.3396.78 on June 7, and it comes equipped with a host of new features.

One of the big highlights is the ability to download Progressive Web Apps as standalone applications — similar to how you’d download Android or regular Chrome OS apps. Progressive Web Apps are technically portals to websites but come with refined user interfaces and increased performance. They essentially give you desktop apps for things like Spotify, Flipboard, and more without developers having to create apps specifically for Chrome OS, meaning that we’ve just about ended the complaint that Chrome OS doesn’t have enough applications available for it.

Another big addition is that you can now use apps/websites in split-screen while in Tablet Mode. With devices like the HP Chromebook X2 and Acer Chromebook Tab 10 now around, a feature like this couldn’t have come at a better time.

Other goodies include a cleaner list of your Bluetooth devices, the ability to zip files on Google Drive via the built-in Files app, and new shortcuts that pop up when holding down your power button.

Read through the full changelog here

Beta

June 7, 2018 — All HTTP sites are now labeled as “Not Secure”

HTTPS is the future of website security, but for whatever reason, there are still some sites that continue to use the old HTTP standard.

As it stands right now, sites using HTTPS show a green “Secure” badge to the left of the domain. Starting with the Chrome OS 68 beta, that “Secure” badge is being removed and all HTTP sites wil show a “Not Secure” label so users can more easily identify if they’re on a site that’s not as safe as it should be.

Read through the full changelog here

Developer

June 8, 2018 — The Pixelbook’s power button can act as a physical two-factor authentication key

Two-factor authentication is a great way to secure your online presence, and one way to go about this is by using a USB key. If you’ve got a Pixelbook running the Developer Channel, you can now mimic the functionality of a USB U2F key with its power button.

To enable this, simply open a Chrome Shell and enter u2f_flags g2f. As with everything in the Developer Channel, this feature isn’t the most stable so consider having a USB key anyways just in case something goes wrong.

June 5, 2018 — Chrome OS’s emoji shortcut is now available!

Chrome OS has long been in need of an easy way to access emojis, and if you’re running the Developer Channel, there’s a new tool that allows you to do just that.

After enabling the flag chrome://flags/#enable-emoji-context-menu, right-click on a text field and you’ll see a new “Emoji” option. Click on this, and you’ll be able to insert whatever emoji you’d like.

It’s reported that the implementation is still a little wonky, but it should smooth out as it makes its way through the Beta and Stable Channels.

How to change your software channel on Chrome OS

Chromebooks

• The best Chromebooks
• Chromebooks in education: Everything you need to know
• Should you buy a Chromebook?
• Chromebook Buyers Guide
• Google Pixelbook review
• Join our Chromebook forums

Best Wireless Charging Pads for Galaxy S8 in 2018

The Samsung Galaxy S8 supports wireless charging, so take full advantage of the convenience!

The Samsung Galaxy S8 is a beautifully designed phone packed with convenient features. That includes wireless charging, which allows you to forgo dealing with cables and elegantly have your phone charging on your desk at work or nightstand at home and simply grab it when it’s time to get up and go.

There are a variety of wireless charging stands and pad options compatible with the Galaxy S8, from chargers designed by Samsung to third-party products. Here are your best available options for the Samsung Galaxy S8.

• Samsung Fast Charge Convertible Wireless Charging Pad
• Samsung Fast Charge Wireless Charger pad
• Tylt Qi Wireless Charging Stand
• Aukey Wireless Charging Pad
• iOttie iON Wireless Qi Wireless Charging Pad
• PASONOMI Fast Wireless Charger

Samsung Fast Charge Convertible Wireless Charging Pad

Samsung has come out with a completely redesigned wireless charging pad/stand, which launched alongside the Galaxy S8. Besides the premium leather-like appearance and ingenious design which allows you to easily convert this pad into an angled charging stand, you can be sure that this charging pad was created with your Galaxy S8 in mind.

The charger comes with a spare Samsung Fast Charge wall charger — because let’s be honest, you can never have too many Samsung wall chargers — and allows you to fast charge your Galaxy S8 wirelessly at your home or office. Priced at $45 to $50, this is the most expensive option on the list, but if premium quality and functionality are your top priorities, this is the one you want.

See at Amazon

Samsung Fast Charge Wireless Charger pad

For the same fast charging speeds in a less-expensive (and smaller) package, look for Samsung’s last-generation flat wireless charging pad.

This UFO-like charging pad can charge all Qi-compatible devices and is Fast Charge-compatible with your Galaxy S8. It also comes with a Samsung Fast Charge wall charger, which is a requirement to get the fastest speeds. This Amazon listing has them available for $35 each and may be a better choice for you than the convertible stand. You can frequently find refurbished models on sale for much less.

See at Amazon

TYLT Qi Wireless Charging Stand

TYLT has been in the wireless charging game for years, proving itself to be one on of the most trusted third-party manufacturers. This is another angled wireless charging stand that lets you keep your phone accessible while it charges at your desk.

What separates TYLT from the rest is its bold color options — you can get this charging stand in black, red, blue and yellow starting at just $28.

See at Amazon

iON Wireless Plus Fast Charger Qi Charging Pad

This wireless charger from iOttie is the latest refinement from a company that has been making quality charging pad for years. The latest is Qi-compatible with Wireless Fast Charging up to 10W for the fastest wireless charging speeds for your Samsung Galaxy S8.

Part of the redesign includes a really nice fabric finish that’s available in Ruby Red, Ash Grey, and Ivory White. This is a wireless charger that doesn’t look like a cheap disc of plastic, so you’ll be happy to show this charger off in your office or living room. The kit comes with a wall charger brick and charging cable and can be yours for $50.

Check out our full review

See at Amazon

PASONOMI Fast Wireless Charger

This wireless charging stand from PASONOMI is a great option for the Galaxy S8 or any Samsung Galaxy phone with wireless charging because it supports fast charging. That means you’ll be able to fully charge your phone in under 2 hours!

It’s an intelligently designed charger with two charging coils positioned so that you’re even able to charge your phone while watching videos in landscape mode. There’s also a nice LED strip that will indicate the charging status, and the whole thing has a sleek and futuristic vibe to it.

The stand is available in your choice of black or silver for just $18.

See at Amazon

Do you charge wirelessly?

Have you owned any of the wireless chargers we’ve featured here? What has been your experience? Let us know in the comments below!

Update June 2018: Added the new iON Wireless Plus Fast Charger Qi Charging Pad to our list and updated pricing information

Samsung Galaxy S8 and S8+

• Galaxy S8 and S8+ review!
• Galaxy S8 and S8+ specs
• Everything you need to know about the Galaxy S8’s cameras
• Get to know Samsung Bixby
• Join our Galaxy S8 forums

Verizon
AT&T
T-Mobile
Sprint
Unlocked

Grab the Certified Ethical Hacker Bootcamp for just $49!

Not all hacking is bad hacking. The word itself is associated with negativity usually, but it can be used for just as much good as it can bad. Have you ever thought how cool it would be to research vulnerabilities and try to discover them on your favorite websites while working for them? It would be pretty sweet, right? But, how do you even get started?

Become an ethical hacker for only $39! Learn More

Meet the Certified Ethical Hacker Bootcamp, a perfect way to get going. The boot camp offers access to more than 40 hours of content that you can access at any time of the day, along with nearly 150 lectures on different topics. From learning perimeter defenses to gaining practical experience with DDoS attacks and more, there is a wide variety of great information here that will help you advance your current career, or help you make a move to a new one.

The bootcamp includes:

• Access 526 lessons & 877 hours of content 24/7
• Learn from industry experts in an interactive, lab-filled environment
• Foster skills in incident management, penetration testing & more
• Explore common threats, such as viruses, social engineering & DDoS attacks
• Understand the necessary steps to secure a system
• Prepare to ace the EC-Council Certified Ethical Hacker v9 exam upon completion

This sure sounds like it would cost a lot, right? Well, normally this boot camp is priced at over $3,000, but right now you can pay just a fraction of that. You won’t set yourself into a financial debt to try and learn something new here.

Become an ethical hacker for only $39! Learn More

Priced at just $39 for a limited time you’ll get everything mentioned above and even more. Don’t miss out on this deal or you may regret it later.

How to sideload apps on the Oculus Go

Time to get your hands on all the cool things

Sideloading things might seem pretty difficult, but the steps are actually pretty easy to follow. Here we’re going to show you how to sideload apps onto your Oculus Go

So what is sideloading? Long story short, sideloading will give you the access to games and apps that aren’t in Oculus Software as of yet. This means you’ll be able to get all of the cool things that aren’t available for you to download on the Oculus Store right from your headset. We’ll show you how to get the app file for these games and how to get them working on your Oculus Go.

What you will need

• Oculus Go
• Oculus Go charger
• Android Phone
• Android Phone charger
• A computer with two available USB ports
• Internet access

Getting started

The first two things you’ll need to do to get your Oculus Go ready to sideload apps is creating your developer account and turn the developer mode on in your headset. It doesn’t matter what you name the organization for your developer account.

Create your Oculus developer account

Go to this website and sign into your Oculus account.
Create a name for your “Organization”.
Read over the “Developer Non-Disclosure Agreement”.
If you agree to the terms, check the box and press “I Agree.”

Enabling Developer Mode on your Oculus Go

This will allow debugging on your Oculus Go so that we can transfer files later on.

Open the Oculus app on your phone.
Select settings from the bottom right.
Select your Oculus Go headset.
Select “More Settings”.
Toggle Developer Mode on.

Finding your phone ID

The first thing you are going to need is your phones device ID. This is not your phones serial number so it won’t be in the information from your settings. To find this information do the following.

Connect your phone to a USB port on your computer.
Open your computers command window and type in “adb devices”
This will show you a list of all the attached devices to your computer.

If you are having troubles with that method you can download this app and it will give you all the information you need. Remember, you are not looking for your serial number or IMEI. The Android Device ID is listed at the top of this app. It will be a series of numbers and letters.

Using SideloadVR

This app contains games and apps, uploaded by developers, for you to test out. These are made for the Gear VR but so were most of the games there already for you to download to your Oculus Go. You might encounter a few that are not compatible, but you’ll also find some that work just fine.

Download SideloadVR for GearVR to your phone.
Open the App and let it load, this might take a few minutes.
Follow the setup. If you hit skip you can find the setup options by selecting the hamburger menu button on the top left and press “Manual OSIG Setup” from the list.
One of the first steps it will have you do is go to the Oculus Website to download a file, this is where your Android Device ID comes in handy. Don’t close the app, leave it running in the background while you do the next step.
In order to get the download, you will need to input that Device ID on the top of the page (where requested) and press “Download File”.
Now restart the app.

Alright, now that you’re manually set up for Slideload VR to run it’s time to move onto the next step. If you are using a phone that is not a Samsung Galaxy Note 4, any S6 variant, S7 variant or Note 7 there will be a few extra steps for you. If you are using one of those phones, skip over this small section of instructions and move on to how to use your APK extractor.

Turn on the developer options on your phone and make sure you turn on USB debugging. An option to do this will pop up on your drop bar as soon as you connect your phone to USB.
On that note, connect your phone to the USB port on your computer (if you haven’t already.)
Go to this link on your computer to download the dropbox file for Oculussig_
Go to the Downloads folder on your computer, right-click the oculussig_ file and select copy.
Open the folder containing your Phones storage on your computer. If you don’t see any folders make sure “MTP” is selected under your developer options on your phone. This will be located in a section called “Select USB configuration”.
Open the “Download” folder on your computer (the download folder from within your phone files, not your computer files.)
Past the Oculussig_ file into that folder.

Using APK extractor

Now that everyone is up to speed we’re gonna show you how to get the apps you wanna play working with your Oculus Go. The first thing you want to do is download APK Extractor – Creator to your phone.

Open SideloadVR and select the game or app you wish to download. (For your first download, choose VRidge 2). If that app you are trying to download requests special access, for your safety, I would advise not doing that.
Once you have the app selected that you want to hit “Download app” on the bottom of the information page.
A pop-up will appear asking you to confirm the download as well as giving you contact information for downloads that aren’t working. Select “Continue”.
If you receive an error stating “For your security, your phone is not allowed to install unknown apps from this source” hit the settings button from the pop-up.
Now select “Allow from this source” and start the download process over again.
Open your APK Extractor app on your phone.
Find the app you just downloaded on the list. In this case, it will appear as “VRidge Gear VR”.
Select the three-dot menu option next to the name and press “Extract APK”.
Find the extracted APKs file in your phone’s download section and email it to yourself (so you can transfer it to your computer.)
Once received in your e-mail save it to your desktop so it’s easy to find and move on to how to work the ABD installer.

Using ABD installer

Now you want to get an ABD installer on your computer. This is an installer for tools and drivers between a PC and an Android. Go to this link here to download the file you need.

Once you have the file downloaded, find it in your download folder and double-click.
Select “Run”.
Wait a moment and a blue box (shown above) should appear.
Type “Y” into the box and press enter.
Now it will ask if you want it installed system-wide. If you select no (N) it will only download to your account. If you select yes (Y) it will install to all of the users on your computer.
Now it asks if you want to install the driver. Type “Y” and hit enter.
An installation wizard should have popped up now. Go through the prompts for downloading and, when everything is finished, press “Finish.”
This will prompt for a computer restart, go ahead and do that now. Remember to save the link to this article for the next steps!

Now that your computer is finished restarting, we can move on to the next steps.

For these next steps start by connecting your Oculus Go to an open USB port on your computer and turn it on.

Find where ADB was installed to your computer. For most people, it will go right to your (C:) Local Disk. If not, check the “Users” folder under the local disk and it will be right there in a folder labeled “adb”.
Open the adb folder.
Click and drag over your APK file (that we saved to the desktop earlier) and drop it into the adb folder.
If you want to make the file easier to find later, go ahead and rename it to whatever you like. I renamed mine to “VRidge”.
Now open the command prompt on your computer. Make sure you are running this prompt as an administrator.
Type in “adb devices” and press enter.
Open your Oculus go and allow debugging.
Run the same “adb devices” prompt once more.
Right-click on the name on your address folder (shown above) and select “copy address as text”.
Now select paste within your command prompt and hit enter.
In the new prompt that appears type in “adb install [NAME].apk”. The [NAME] should be whatever you named your file. In my case I typed in “adb insall VRidge.apk” and press enter.
Wait a few moments, as soon as it is done installing the command prompt will notify you if the installation was successful or not.

Time for things to get fun!

You’re almost there!

Put on your Oculus Go headset.
From the main menu at the bottom of your screen select the “Navigation” menu.
Go to the “Unknown Sources” section on the left-hand side (pictured above).
Scroll through the pages of files until you find your file containing the APK you downloaded.
Select your APK and it should load right up!

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

PayPal on eBay Discounts $100 iTunes Gift Cards to $85 as iTunes Highlights $5 Modern Horror Movie Sale

PayPal on eBay this weekend is offering $100 App Store and iTunes gift cards for $85, marking the latest 15 percent discount on the cards and a good chance for those who have been waiting on a deal to get free iTunes credit. While the sale lasts, anyone with a PayPal account can take advantage of the deal, and you’ll receive the code for the iTunes credit via email within a few hours after the purchase.

Note: MacRumors is an affiliate partner with eBay. When you click a link and make a purchase, we may receive a small payment, which helps us keep the site running.

The credit will only be valid on purchases made on the United States App and iTunes stores. PayPal’s iTunes gift card sales are limited and typically tend to last for a day or two, so be sure to visit PayPal’s Digital Gifts eBay store and place your order before the end of the weekend if you want to stock up on some iTunes credit, or send it as a gift to a friend or family member.

These iTunes card sales are a great way to get iTunes credit at a cheaper price, which you can then use to rent and buy movies on iTunes, pay for your Apple Music and iCloud subscriptions, purchase a new app, expand your iBooks collection, and much more.

Coinciding with the new gift card offer, iTunes has some notable discounts on its Movies storefront that might be of interest to horror movie fans getting iTunes credit today. The sale prices include a collection of Modern Horror films for just $4.99 each, including the ones listed below:

• The Cabin in the Woods (4K)
• Don’t Breathe
• 10 Cloverfield Lane (4K)
• Tucker & Dale vs Evil
• The Witch
• The Conjuring
• 28 Days Later
• You’re Next
• Sinister
• Green Room
• Wrong Turn
• It Follows
• 30 Days of Night

The full list of discounted Modern Horror films can be seen on the iTunes Movies storefront. If you’re interested in checking out more sales and offers, be sure to visit our Deals Roundup.

Related Roundup: Apple Deals
Discuss this article in our forums

Here’s what we’re reading, watching, playing, and listening to this week

How we’re spending our leisure time.

Everyone has a bit of quiet downtime once in a while. Whether you’re sitting quietly at home or trying to relax on a plane or just giving your busy mind and hands a break, it’s important to relax.

A good way to do that is to read a book, listen to some music or watch a movie or show. See what’s caught our attention for the week of June 9th.

Jerry Hildenbrand

The first Far Cry 5 DLC came out this week for the PC version and I’ve been slowly working my way through it. It’s leaving me with mixed thoughts on it all, which is something I’m not really used to when it comes to games.

It’s excellent in most ways. It gives hours of gameplay, has a very high replayability factor, was cheap, and ties into the original game in a unique way. This is how you do DLC if you don’t want your customers to hate you.

My problem is how it glorifies the Vietnam war. That might sound silly to you; the Far Cry series is all about using weapons to murder villains. I don’t have any feelings when shooting a person who is evil and out to destroy whatever, but senselessly crossing a jungle and stealthily killing hundreds of people just because they wear a different uniform just doesn’t feel the same.

I guess it’s a testament to the quality of the games designers and writers, but it reminds me of something I’m old enough to remember. As a child it terrified me to think my uncle wasn’t coming home from Southeast Asia. When he didn’t, it became a set of memories I’d rather not revisit.

See at Amazon

Ara Wagoner

It’s been a busy, rough month, and while I’ve been listening to more and more on YouTube Music, I’ve needed some good catharsis. And no one does cry-your-eyes-out catharsis like Shonda Rhimes and Grey’s Anatomy. I’ve drifted in and out of this show since I was in middle school, and there’s always at least two or three episodes a season that will make me cry.

This season ended with the departure of two series regulars, and it was wonderful to see Karev and Jo finally tie the knot after putting all their drama with abusive exes and family issues to bed. I’m not sure where things are going next, but it’s Grey’s Anatomy, so no matter what happens, I’m sure there will be something new to stab at my heart with a hypodermic needle of feelings.

Catch up on the current season on Hulu, though you might need to catch up on old seasons on Netflix first.

Daniel Bader

I spent most of last week catching up on podcasts — I took Marc at his word and listened to the five-part 30 for 30 podcast about Bikram yoga and was not disappointed. It’s the Incredibly-told and terribly upsetting story about a serial predator who also happens to be an incredible force of positive change for the yoga community.

Aside from that, I spent part of the week catching up on old Reply All episodes, which continues to be one of the best podcasts on about the internet … on the internet. The latest few episodes have been really timely, touching on piracy, the growth of the incel movement, and the big business of addiction clinics in the U.S. There’s over 120 episodes to catch up on, and they’re all great. Highly recommended.

Joe Maring

As soon as the Fallout 76 trailer dropped late last week, I decided to take a break from Fortnite and CoD: WWII and jump back into Fallout 4. Oh man, I forgot just how great this game is.

I’m starting over from scratch since it’s been well over a year since I last played, and even though I’m going through missions I’ve previously completed, that hasn’t stopped me from getting completely immersed in the world, characters, and creatures inhabiting Boston in 2287.

When I’m not blasting away feral ghouls or running unrelenting errands for Preston Garvey, I’ve been listening to the Stuff You Should Know podcast. Each week, co-hosts Josh and Chuck take 40-60 minutes to explain a topic you should know about. Some of the episodes I’ve listened to so far have covered drowning, North Korea, and the old Pied Piper fairy tale. There are more than 1000 recordings to check out and it’s been a great addition to my morning workout.

Tom Westrick

This week, I mostly focused on reading. I finished Batman Vol. 2: I am Suicide (the actual story is less gruesome than the title suggests), and it was a good way to kill an hour or so. I’ve never held strict continuity for comic books sacred, since I bounce from story to story and era to era without going in any particular order. This was self contained enough that I didn’t feel like I was supposed to read others stories just to understand this one.

I’ve also started reading Operation Elop — give that page a minute to load since it’s loading a literal book. As the name might suggest, it tells the tales of the missteps the Nokia board took after the launch of the iPhone and the sale of Nokia’s mobile division to Microsoft. We all know how this story ends, but it’s great to read through what was going on inside the Nokia board while everything went down. I’m just at the part where Stephen Elop takes over as CEO, so I have a ways to go before getting to 2014, when the story ends.

Essa Kidwell

[Trigger warning for the video above: Depression and bullying.] This week has gotten pretty real for me. Besides me preparing for E3 and all of the amazing announcements I’m sure we are going to get (because who isn’t excited for the new Fallout or Fable), I’m taking time to focus on friends and family. No matter how busy I will always have time for love, and I will always have time for spreading positivity. Sometimes the easy smile you give someone with a simple “Hello, how are you?” can make someone’s day.

More than 1 out of every 5 students in the United States alone report being bullied over the internet, on the school bus, at school and even between siblings. So I plan on using literature and poems to help teach my little sisters, who are 9 and 13, that even what seems like the smallest person can overcome any obstacle. That even the “little guy” can make a difference. That there is always a way to prevail over the negative that exists in this world and in our own heads.

I’ll teach them how to fight with love and imagination with Bridge to Terabithia. How, even when we hit the dark times in our life, there is always a light at the end of the tunnel showing us that we can always go forward. Then I’ll teach them how family and loved ones can be the sturdy bricks to a mental wall of “I can do this” with Stuart Little (the book).

This week I’m focusing on the widespread of positivity and how we can achieve this as a whole in society. When I was growing up books saved my life, and I hope I can pass them around to save a few more.

Your turn

What are YOU reading, watching, or listening to this week? Let us know in the comments!

Update, June 9, 2018: This is a weekly series where we tell you what we’re into, so check back every weekend!