Samsung Galaxy S9 and S9+: Everything you need to know!

Samsung once again has a fantastic pair of flagships.

Samsung’s new Galaxy S9 and S9+ are definitely iterative updates over last year’s dramatically redesigned Galaxy S8 series, but that’s not a problem. Instead of going back to the drawing board altogether, Samsung focused on fixing a lot of the issues while making drastic improvements to the camera experience and retaining everything that made the last generation so great.

Whether you’re looking to buy or make the most of your new Galaxy S9, we have all of the information you need right here.

July 20, 2018 — New update brings 480 FPS manual slow-mo video recording

One of the big camera features for the Galaxy S9 is the ability to record things in 960 FPS ultra slow-mo. With a new update that’s rolling out to the S9 and S9+ now, there’s a new option for recording manual slow-motion videos at 480 FPS for 0.4 seconds worth of footage.

While 480 FPS isn’t quite as impressive as 960 FPS, the big difference here is that you can choose when to start recording slow-motion footage unlike the 960 FPS mode that automatically chooses for you. Also, 480 FPS video is limited to 720p.

The update is rolling out to handsets now, so be sure to keep an eye out for it.

July 9, 2018 — The U.S. unlocked Galaxy S9 is now down to $699.95 on Amazon

An unlocked Galaxy S9 typically costs $720, but on Amazon, that price has been reduced to just $699.95.

A savings of $20 isn’t particularly huge for a phone this expensive, but this is one of the lowest prices we’ve seen so far for an official U.S. unlocked variant of the S9 with Samsung’s warranty.

It’s unclear if this new pricing is only temporary or will be sticking around for a while, but if you want to grab one for yourself, click/tap that button below.

See at Amazon

What are the big changes over the Galaxy S8 series?

In a word, the camera. Samsung has kept the primary sensor at 12 megapixels, but that’s where the similarities end. The S9 and S9+ have adjustable apertures, switching seamlessly between f/1.5 and f/2.4, sitting in front of an all-new sensor that is great in low light. The Galaxy S9+ also gets a second 12MP sensor with a “telephoto” lens that provides 2X zoom and facilitates Live Focus, Samsung’s version of portrait mode that debuted with the Galaxy Note 8.

Samsung Galaxy S9 and S9+ specs

In terms of specs, the Galaxy S9+ (but only the S9+) has two more gigabytes of RAM than last year’s models. And let’s not downplay the importance of the fingerprint sensor being relocated to a much more sensible place on the back of the phone — below the now-vertical camera module.

Samsung Galaxy S9 review: A fantastic phone for the masses

Samsung Galaxy S9 India review: As good as it gets

Samsung Galaxy S9 review, 3 months later: Holding the high standard

Should you upgrade to the Galaxy S9?

This is the big question — and as always, it depends. If you’re running a Galaxy S6 or S7, and want to move to something new in the Samsung world, the answer is absolutely. If you’re rocking a still-new Galaxy S8 or Note 8, the answer is no. While there are substantial differences that clearly make the Galaxy S9 a better phone, the S8 is just a year old at this point, and has most of the Galaxy S9’s features thanks to its Android 8.0 Oreo update.

Samsung Galaxy S9 vs. Galaxy S8: Should you upgrade?

Samsung Galaxy S9+ vs. Galaxy Note 8: Which should you buy?

Is the Galaxy S9 better than the competition?

There are so many great phones on the market right now — how do you decide which one to buy? Here are our looks at the new phones compared to some of the best devices on the market.

The Galaxy S9 is the smaller of the flagships, and here’s how it compares to some of the other major phones on the market.

Samsung Galaxy S9 vs. iPhone X: The best of metal and glass

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

Samsung Galaxy S9 vs. Honor View 10

And how about the larger Galaxy S9+?

LG G7 vs. Samsung Galaxy S9+: Which should you buy?

Samsung Galaxy S9+ vs. Google Pixel 2 XL: The true flagships

OnePlus 6 vs. Samsung Galaxy S9+: Which should you buy?

Should you buy the Galaxy S9 or larger S9+?

OK, so you’ve made up your mind to buy the Galaxy S9 — but wait, should you get the S9 or the larger S9+?

Unlike last year, the Galaxy S9+ feels like more of the “default” choice of the two. It has extra RAM and a secondary rear camera in addition to its overall larger screen and bigger battery — yet the price delta between the two hasn’t changed. If you can handle the size difference and would like the extra battery life, go for the Galaxy S9+.

Here’s why the Galaxy S9+ is worth the extra money over the GS9

What colors are available?

Like last year, there are multiple colors of the Galaxy S9 series to purchase: Midnight Black, Lilac Purple, Coral Blue and Titanium Gray. U.S. buyers only get access to three of the four — silver is only available internationally — and both blue and purple are slight updates over last year.

A few months after the S9’s release, Samsung introduced two new colors in the form of Sunrise Gold and Burgundy Red.

Burgundy Red and Sunrise Gold are available around the world, and we took a look at the latter and it’s beautiful!

What color Galaxy S9 should I buy: Black, blue, purple, or silver?

Galaxy S9 and S9+ get Sunrise Gold and Burgundy Red color options; ARCore support

You can get as much as 256GB of internal storage

No matter where you decide to buy the Galaxy S9, 64GB is the default storage space that’s available with the phone. 64GB should be more than enough for most people, but if you want, you can always expand it with a microSD card.

However, if you’re someone who has a lot of local files and goes through GB like nothing, you may want to consider upgrading to a 128GB or even a 256GB model.

These larger configurations are sold exclusively on Samsung’s website and you’ll spend an extra $50 per each storage upgrade.

Samsung Galaxy S9: Which storage size should I buy?

Where can I get the best deal on a Galaxy S9?

The Galaxy S9 is now available worldwide, both from carriers and also unlocked.

In the U.S., the Galaxy S9 costs between $720 and $800, while the Galaxy S9+ goes for between $870 and $915. For all the details, take a look at our roundup of the best Galaxy S9 deals.

Where to buy the Galaxy S9: Best deals for your new phone

See at Verizon

Getting started with the Galaxy S9

Once you pick up your new phone, there are a few things you should do immediately. Here’s how to make your GS9 experience great!

The first 9 things to do with your Galaxy S9

The first 5 things to turn off in the Galaxy S9’s software

What’s this about bad battery life with the Exynos processor?

Samsung has regularly used both its own processors and Qualcomm’s latest chips in different markets, and it’s regularly been a point of discussion between enthusiasts as to which one is “better” overall.

In the Galaxy S9 and S9+, there’s a clear differentiation in that the Exynos versions of the phone have been getting much shorter battery life. To make things worse, the Qualcomm models are also outperforming Exynos in many synthetic benchmark tests.

So what can you do? Well, not much — Samsung doesn’t sell both versions of the phones in the same markets, so you can’t exactly cross-shop the two processors. The hope is that Samsung could update the firmware on the Exynos models to improve processor efficiency a bit.

Samsung Galaxy S9 battery problems, explained: Exynos vs. Snapdragon

Help me get started with accessories!

Once you have your Galaxy S9 or S9+, you’ll want to look into accessories like cases and screen protectors that make the phone even better. We’ve rounded up our favorites for you.

The best Galaxy S9 accessories

The best cases for the Galaxy S9

Four Great Quick Chargers for Galaxy S9

Spigen Rigged Armor case for Galaxy S9+ review: Low cost, rugged protection

Maxboost mSnap case for Galaxy S9 review: The only case you need

Having battery life problems?

The Galaxy S9 isn’t perfect —obviously, no phone is — but if you’re experiencing battery life problems, we have a guide on how to fix that.

How to fix Galaxy S9 battery life problems

Updated June 27, 2018: Added links to recent case reviews, accessory roundups, and information on new color options.

Samsung Galaxy S9 and S9+

• Galaxy S9 and S9+: Everything you need to know!
• Galaxy S9 review: A great phone for the masses
• Complete Galaxy S9 and S9+ specs
• Galaxy S9 vs. Galaxy S8: Should you upgrade?
• Join our Galaxy S9 forums

Verizon
AT&T
T-Mobile
Sprint

Everything that’s new in OxygenOS

Have a OnePlus phone? Here’s what’s new with your latest update.

OxygenOS is the software that powers OnePlus phones, and even if you’re not enrolled in the Open Beta, it’s still frequently updated with new features and bug fixes to keep an eye out for.

It can be tough to keep track of what’s new, so we’ll be updating this guide with each new OxygenOS update that’s rolled out.

July 20, 2018 — OnePlus 3/3T get July 2018 security patch with OxygenOS 5.0.4

Have a OnePlus 3 or 3T? You should be getting an OTA update soon that updates it to OxygenOS 5.0.4.

This is a pretty minor update, with the highlight being the July 2018 security patch. On the camera side of things, OnePlus has added a fix for an issue when adjusting manual ISO in third-party camera apps and improved the image quality for the front-facing camera.

You’ll also find bug fixes for a parallel WhatsApp crash issue and problems users have had when zooming in with the front camera in Snapchat.

This update is rolling out to all OnePlus 3/3T owners now, and if you have the phone but it’s enrolled in the Open Beta, OnePlus says it’ll update the download link once the global rollout is finished so you can switch back to a stable build now that the beta program has ended for the two older phones.

July 17, 2018 — OxygenOS 5.1.9 brings better dynamic range to OnePlus 6 camera, Google Lens integration

OnePlus is starting to roll out OxygenOS 5.1.9 build, with the update focusing on the OnePlus 6’s camera. The update will bring improvements to the autofocus and edge detection in portrait mode, as well as further enhancements to image clarity and dynamic range.

Additionally, the update will also bring Google Lens integration to the OnePlus camera app, allowing users to scan QR codes and get information about real-world objects. OnePlus says Google Lens will be making its way to the OnePlus 5 and 5T in addition to the OnePlus 6.

The update should be rolling out to select regions starting later today, and will be available more widely from July 20.

OnePlus 6

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

Sony WH1000XM2 review: The headphones I recommend to everyone

The best alternative to Bose’s popular QC35 IIs.

If there’s any one piece of tech I’ve consistently recommended that all my friends go out and buy, it’s a good set of noise-canceling headphones. Whether you’re sitting on a long flight, writing in your favorite coffee shop, or just trying to drown out noisy neighbors, there’s no better way to block out the rest of the world.

There are plenty of noise-canceling headphones available, but I’ve been using Sony’s WH1000XM2 set for about nine months, and they’ve become an absolute necessity in my daily routine.

Sony WH1000XM2 Wireless Headphones

Price: $298

Bottom line: The WH1000XM2s sound better than the Bose QC35s to my ears, and come in at $50 cheaper.

The Good

• Phenomenal noise canceling
• Great battery life
• Google Assistant built in
• Clean, clear sound with ambient sound mode
• Option to go wired

The Bad

• Expensive
• Aging Micro-USB port
• Google Assistant replaces Ambient Sound mode

See at Amazon

Nothing’s getting through these

Sony WH1000XM2 What I like

Where to begin? Let’s break down the name, because it’s sort of all over the place.

The WH1000XM2 is Sony’s second-generation over-the-ear noise canceling headphones, the first being … no, not the WH1000XM1, but the MDR-1000X. Yeah, I’m not really sure what that’s about either, but the WH in the name stands for “wireless headphones.” 1000X denotes the product line — Sony also makes earbuds called the WF-1000X — and M2 ostensibly stands for “mark two.”

Got it? Good.

The sound quality, noise canceling, and fit and finish of the 1000XM2s are all superb.

The 1000XM2s are incredibly well-made, with no signs of creaking or give. The headband is flexible and sturdy, and the cups are soft and big enough to fully cover your ears for proper sealing. These are incredibly comfortable headphones that I wear for hours on a near-daily basis without ever experiencing fatigue or discomfort. Even nine months down the road, the fit and finish of the 1000XM2 hasn’t aged at all — these headphones still look like the day I bought them.

You can get the 1000XM2s in either black or champagne gold, but either color comes with a black carrying case, which also contains an airplane adapter for wired audio. I tend to toss the headphones into my bag without the case and they’ve held up just fine, but if you’re particularly worried about them getting hurt in transit, the case is a nice inclusion.

As far as controls go, there’s a power button on the left cup, as well as a toggle for active noise canceling and Sony’s Ambient Sound mode, which uses the built-in microphones to feed the sounds of your environment into your ears. It’s one of my favorite features of the headphones, since it allows you to hold conversations with others without interrupting your music.

The right cup doesn’t feature any physical buttons — just a Micro-USB port for charging (yes, a USB-C port would’ve been preferable). Instead, the entire surface of the cup acts as a gesture pad. Double-tap on the cup to play or pause your music, swipe left to go to the previous track, and swipe right to skip to the next one. If you’re in active noise canceling mode, you can also hold your hand over the entire cup to quickly switch to Ambient Sound mode, then let go to switch back.

In short, the controls are great, but none of that really matters if the sound quality isn’t equally great. Luckily, these are some of the best-sounding Bluetooth headphones I’ve ever heard. Of course, they should be considering their high price tag, but I prefer the sound of the 1000XM2s over even the more expensive Bose QC35 IIs; it sounds full and fairly balanced, without exaggerated bass response or sharp high end.

Oh, and the noise canceling is incredible. I don’t know that it quite matches up to Bose’s legendary noise canceling, but it’s enough that with music playing at even low volumes, I genuinely can’t hear someone talking right next to me. It’s enough to completely shut out background noise at the coffee shop I frequent, even during open mic night with locals strumming away on their acoustic guitars.

A few months ago, the 1000XM2s received an update that brought support for Google Assistant to the headphones, which works exactly as you might expect. You can ask about the weather or upcoming calendar appointments, but I mostly use it to choose the next song when my phone is too far to just open Spotify.

Sony WH1000XM2 What I don’t like

That does lead to one of the things that irks me about the headphones, though — while Google Assistant integration is nice, it overrides the Ambient Sound toggle, disabling my favorite feature of the headphones. While you can still hold your hand over the right cup to temporarily enable Ambient Sound, I spend far too much time with the mode enabled for that to be a viable solution.

Google Assistant support is nice, but it forces you to give up the Ambient Sound toggle.

I’m also annoyed that Sony’s second-generation 1000X headphones still use Micro-USB in the age of USB-C. That’s an acceptable choice on cheap headphones, but these are anything but, and considering Sony’s smartphones have been using USB-C for a few years now, I’m not sure why Micro-USB is still here. It’s not a deal-breaker by any means, but it means that I have to carry an extra cable with me on long trips.

On the other hand, the internal battery lasts so long that it almost doesn’t matter. Sony estimates about an insane 30 hours of continuous playback with noise canceling on and 38 without, and while I haven’t logged exact hours, I can say that even with daily use, I only end up charging my 1000XM2s about once every other week.

Another minor annoyance is that the 1000XM2s only support one Bluetooth connection at a time, whereas the Bose QC35s can handle up to two. That’s usually not a huge deal, but it’s still annoying having to pair them all over again every time I want to switch devices. If you find it too bothersome, you can always use an auxiliary cable and forego Bluetooth altogether, which also saves on battery life.

Sony WH1000XM2 Wireless Headphones

As I mentioned at the beginning of this review, the 1000XM2s are the first product I recommend to any of my friends when they ask about headphones. $300 is a lot to shell out for any pair of headphones, but particularly if you often travel or work out of busy environments like coffee shops and find it hard to focus, the 1000XM2s are well worth the money.

4.5
out of 5

If you need to run multiple Bluetooth connections at once, the Bose QC35s may still be the better option for you, and depending on your sonic preferences you may prefer their sound signature as well. But having used both extensively, I vastly prefer Sony’s headphones and can’t recommend them enough, so long as you have deep enough pockets and a busy enough travel schedule to justify buying them.

See at Amazon

Samsung Galaxy S10: News, Rumors, Release Date, Specs, and More!

2019 is going to be the year of Samsung.

Samsung’s Galaxy S phones always give us something exciting to look forward to at the beginning of each year, and 2019 officially marks the 10-year anniversary of when the first Galaxy S flagship was released.

Similar to what Apple did with the iPhone X, we’re expecting the Galaxy S10 to be truly special. The Galaxy S9 and S8 were both excellent phones, but in honor of such a big anniversary, Samsung will likely pull out all the stops to release a truly special and jaw-dropping gadget.

If you’re ready to learn more about the Galaxy S10 and find out what we could look forward to next February, here’s everything you need to know.

The latest Galaxy S10 news

July 20, 2018 — The Galaxy S10+ might be the last Plus model for the Galaxy S series

This year’s Galaxy S lineup is expected to be one of the biggest ever with three different S10 models being released at the same time, but according to a new report from The Bell, that could be changing next year.

For the past couple of years, Samsung’s released one regular Galaxy S phone and then a larger Plus model alongside it. That’ll continue with the S10 series, but after that, it’s said that Samsung will simply get rid of the Plus variant as it already overlaps the Galaxy Note line so much.

This move is reportedly being made to “defeat profitability deterioration caused by the saturation of the smartphone market.”

What’s your take on this?

July 16, 2018 — New report says Samsung will use Qualcomm’s in-display fingerprint sensor tech for the S10, Note 10, and more

We’ve already been expecting Samsung to introduce an in-display fingerprint sensor with the S10 series for some time, but thanks to a new report from Ming Chi Kuo at TF Securities, we now have specifics as to what kind of tech will be used for this system.

Per Kuo:

We expect Samsung will promote the ultrasonic FOD aggressively starting from 2019. Shipments of models equipped with this function are likely to reach 60mn units; specifically, the high-end S10 models.

Furthermore, Kuo goes on to say that this technology will also be present in “the most high-end model of the A series” as well as the Galaxy Note 10.

These ultrasonic sensors are developed by Qualcomm, and unlike optical ones from Synaptics, can even measure things like your heart-rate and current blood flow.

All the important details

How many versions is Samsung going to launch?

For the past four years, Samsung’s launched two models of its Galaxy S series:

• 2015 — Galaxy S6 and S6 Edge
• 2016 — Galaxy S7 and S7 Edge
• 2017 — Galaxy S8 and S8 Plus
• 2018 — Galaxy S9 and S9 Plus

With the Galaxy S10 in 2019, Samsung is expected to shake-up its formula by releasing three different models at the same time — codenamed Beyond 1, Beyond 2, and Beyond 3.

Beyond 1 and Beyond 2 will be similar to older S flagships with the former having a flat screen while the other has Samsung’s iconic curved display. Beyond 3 is where Samsung’s putting all the marbles, with things like a larger screen and triple camera system on the back.

When will the Galaxy S10 be released?

Perhaps the biggest question on your mind is “When will I be able to buy the Galaxy S10?”.

Save for the Galaxy S8 that was announced at its own special event, Samsung usually unveils its Galaxy S flagship phones during Mobile World Congress each year.

MWC 2019 is scheduled to take place between February 25 and 28 in Barcelona, and there’s a good chance that’s where we’ll get our first look at the S10. To back up this thought, reliable leaker Ice Universe said on July 5 that the S10 will be unveiled at MWC — just a month before the Galaxy X.

As for when you’ll be able to purchase the S10, it should officially launch around two or three weeks from when it’s announced. Should Samsung decide to reveal the phone during MWC, that’d place it with a launch date of around early-March.

How much will the S10 cost?

When it comes to price, that’s where things could get interesting next year.

Samsung’s only ever released one or two variants of its S flagships at a time, such as the S7/S7 Edge, S8/S8 Plus, etc. However, as noted above, the Galaxy S10 series will likely consist of three different phones.

This could result in vastly different pricing across all models, and depending on how you look at things, that’s either a dream come true or a nightmare.

The Samsung Galaxy S9 has a starting price of $720, and my guess is that the lowest-end Galaxy S10 will come in with a similar or slightly lower price of around $650-$700. The mid-tier S10 will probably cost a bit less than the S9+ at $800-$820, whereas the highest-end variant may very-well sell for $999.

Samsung Galaxy S9 and S9+

• Galaxy S9 and S9+: Everything you need to know!
• Galaxy S9 review: A great phone for the masses
• Complete Galaxy S9 and S9+ specs
• Galaxy S9 vs. Galaxy S8: Should you upgrade?
• Join our Galaxy S9 forums

Verizon
AT&T
T-Mobile
Sprint

The Instant Pot 6-quart programmable cooker has dropped to $75

Not quite Prime Day pricing but close.

The Instant Pot Duo60 6-quart 7-in-1 multi-use programmable pressure cooker is down to $74.95 on Amazon. On Prime Day, this slow cooker reached a new low price of $59. Then they sold out very quickly. This deal isn’t quite as low as that, but it’s still a pretty excellent sale considering the Instant Pot regularly sells for $100 and doesn’t bother to drop from that price outside of big holiday events. Plus, this deal doesn’t require a Prime membership to make the purchase.

You can use this as a pressure cooker, slow cooker, rice/porridge cooker, yogurt maker, cake maker, egg cooker, saute/searing, steamer, warmer, and sterilizer. It’s very user-friendly as well. You’ll get a few different accessories, including a steam rack (with handles), recipe booklet, two different spoons, a measuring cup, and a user manual. If you need recipe inspiration, check out The Instant Pot Cookbook.

See on Amazon

What to do when your PlayStation 4 won’t accept a disc

Having trouble with your PS4 disc drive? Here’s what to do when it won’t accept a disc

If your PlayStation 4 won’t accept a disc, there could be a myriad of factors involved, both on the hardware and software front. Whether it’s the former or the latter plaguing you with problems, you can fix it yourself either way… to an extent. I wouldn’t recommend completely gutting your PlayStation 4, but there are ways to take it apart and make minor adjustments that could prove to be the solution.

• Clean disc
• Safe mode restart/Update from safe mode
• Tighten manual eject screw
• Send it to Sony

Clean the Disc

This sounds like a no-brainer, but you should carefully clean the disc. While at first glance a disc may seem fine if you’re checking it quickly, it could still need a quick polish to get rid of some superficial scratches or dust. Try rubbing it down with a dry microfiber cloth and also check that there are no small cracks on the disc that may be hard to see.

Restart and update from Safe Mode

To begin this step, make sure your PlayStation 4 is completely powered off and not just in Rest Mode.
Once off, press and hold the power button for several seconds.

• You’ll hear an initial beep and then another beep after 7 seconds. Release the button after the second beep.

Connect your DualShock 4 controller to the console using your USB charging cable as instructed.
From here you’ll see a black screen with listed options to choose from. Either choose the first: Restart PS4, or the third: Update System Software.

Your console should boot up as normal after this.

Tighten manual eject screw

No matter what model console you’re playing on, be it the original PS4, the PS4 Slim, or a PS4 Pro, each has a manual eject screw associated with the disc drive should problems arise and your disc gets stuck. Sony thankfully has diagrams showing exactly how to tighten this screw, which conveniently also tends to solve the issue of your PS4 not accepting a disc to begin with.

These all require you to unplug every cable from your PS4.

Original PS4 Model

If you purchased your PS4 between 2013 and the middle of 2015, you likely have either a CUH-1000 Series model or CUH-1110 Series model.

Gently slide off the left HDD bay cover panel as seen below.

You will now see two sets of vents. From the front, follow these vents until you come across a slot that is not grouped with any other slots. This is where the screw will be. (Use a flashlight if needed).

Once located, tighten the screw as needed.

Place the HDD panel back on and plug in your console.

PS4 CUH-1200 Model

From mid-2015 to around September 2016, anyone buying a PS4 likely picked up the PS4 CUH-1200 Series.

Like the above steps, start by removing the HDD cover bay. Using your fingers as leverage, apply even pressure near the seam to slide the top panel away. (The panel should move about 7mm and a click will be heard).

You’ll now need to partially remove the HDD itself. You’ll see a screw with the PlayStation symbols. Simply unscrew this counter-clockwise so you can move the HDD out of the way.

You should then see the manual eject screw as seen in the diagram below.

PS4 Slim and PS4 Pro

And if you bought a PS4 from late 2016 until today, you’ll probably either have the PS4 Slim or PS4 Pro, which are quite easy to tell apart.

This is the easiest out of the batch to tighten.

Flip over your console and look for the circular hole directly above the PlayStation logo.

Insert your screwdriver here and turn.

Voilà!

I have the new Days of Play PS4 model, so if the diagram isn’t enough for you I’ve taken a few pictures to show exactly where you’ll need to insert the screwdriver on a PlayStation 4 Slim.

Send it to Sony

As a last resort, this just might not be a problem that you can fix. In which case Sony will need to step in and take it from there. It’s easy to put in a service request.

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

Control time in Square Enix’s beautiful ‘Life is Strange’! [Game of the Week]

Update July 20, 2018: Life is Strange has finally arrived on Android complete. You can play the first episode of this time-warping and emotional story-driven game for free!

Life is Strange

Life is Strange is an episodic narrative-based adventure game that arrives on Android this week. It was first released on PC and consoles back in 2015 where it earned cult-hit status for its beautiful hand-drawn art style and an engaging storyline that branches based on the decisions you make. Last year, it was ported to iOS, but it was well worth the wait for Android users as the game arrives all at once and polished for a mobile experience.

Broken in to five episodes, the game focuses on Max Caulfield as she discovers she has the mysterious power to rewind time and relive moments. If you’ve previously played games by Telltale Games, you’ll feel very comfortable with the story-based gameplay but what’s best are the controls. There are three styles of on-screen controls available along with support for Bluetooth controllers. This is important as you’re often required to explore your surroundings and interact with other characters in a timely fashion.

To play the game, you’ll need a device running Android 6.0 or later that supports OpenGL 3.1. Your phone will also need a 64 bit ARM processor and a minimum of 2 GB of RAM. Square Enix recommends the game be played on a Samsung Galaxy S7 or Note 5 and up, Google Pixel or Pixel XL and up — basically any phone released in the past two years should be able to play the game just fine. Older devices might be able to load the game but you may experience laggy frame rates or other bugs.

You can download and play the first episode for free with the second episode available for just $0.99 with the remaining episodes available for $4.99 or a season pass available for $8.99 — the better deal if you fall in love with the game.

Download: Life is Strange (Free w/IAPs)

Android Gaming

• Best Android games
• Best free Android games
• Best games with no in-app purchases
• Best action games for Android
• Best RPGs for Android
• All the Android gaming news!

Best Sports Games for Android in 2018

Get your game on — even in the offseason — with the best sports games available for Android.

After a few golden years of fantastic entries, it seems that sports games have all but succumbed to the freemium model. There are far too few quality sports games out there that just let you jump into the game without having to deal with player cards, upgrades or waiting for ‘stamina meters’ to refill. Nearly all the top mobile sports game franchises have switched over to a team building system that requires you to unlock (or buy) card packs to upgrade your team.

But there are still great games to be played! We’re covering the five major North American sports here — football, basketball, baseball, hockey, and, ahem, soccer — with two options for each. The first will typically be more sim-based for the hardcore sports fan, while the second is a more arcade-like option for casual players.

• MLB RBI Baseball 18
• MLB Nine Innings 2018
• Badminton League
• FIFA Soccer: FIFA World Cup
• Score! Hero
• Madden NFL Mobile
• Football Heroes Pro 2017
• NBA Live Mobile
• NBA JAM
• Matt Duchene Hockey Classic
• Hockey Hero
• Golf Star
• Snowboard Party: World Tour

MLB Nine Innings 2018

The latest version of the Nine Innings franchise for 2018 features the best graphics we’ve seen yet. The game features all 30 MLB ballparks and over 1,700 players, which have been carefully rendered in 3D for a very authentic gameplay experience.

There are ways to play depending on how much free time you have. You can jump into an exhibition game or play your way through a full season with options to play bat/pitch only or take control of both sides of the game. The game also features a unique “Live Player System,” which will accurately reflect the real-life performance and value of MLB players throughout the season.

You’re also tasked with collecting your favorite players and building your dream team which, coupled with the free-to-play model, means you’re going to have to deal with in-app purchases. If you can get past that, you should have a great time playing this game throughout the season.

Download: MLB Nine Innings 2018 (Free w/IAPs)

R.B.I. Baseball 18

If you’re looking to play full baseball games on your Android device without being pestered with in-app purchase offers, R.B.I. Baseball 18 is your best bet. This paid app was developed by the MLB and is also available on PS4 and Xbox One.

While the game might feel a little lacking on the consoles, it looks and plays quite nicely on Android, featuring beautifully rendered stadiums and all 30 MLB teams available with regularly updated rosters. Choose your preferred game mode and play a quick exhibition game, take your favorite team through a full season, or jump right into the heat of the post-season.

This game is fairly optimized for mobile gaming, allowing you to play a full nine-inning game in under 20 minutes with intuitive two-button on-screen controls. Keep in mind that all those pretty graphics requires a modern phone to play it, which means R.B.I. Baseball 17 only supports devices with memory/processor comparable to the Samsung Galaxy S7 and up. Some people have complained that the game runs awfully on their phone, but if your phone has 3GB of RAM or more you should have no issues at all.

This game will set you back $9.99 in the app store, but you won’t have to deal with clunky free-to-play game mechanics which is worth the price of admission.

Download: R.B.I. Baseball 18 ($9.99)

Badminton League

When you think of sports and video games, badminton might not jump to mind. Badminton League for Android is a pleasant surprise, offering a simplified version of the sport on a 2D plane that offers a true challenge whether you’re facing AI or online opponents.

The controls are easy to learn with three different shot types to choose from. Which one you choose is a matter of timing, positioning, and can force your opponent to the backcourt and get them to set you up for a big smash for the point.

It’s a quick and competitive game that features tournament play and also allows you to play locally against a friend when you’re connected to the same Wi-Fi. The game is free to play with ads, and there are also in-app purchases available to remove the ads and get a ton of coins for buying equipment.

Download: Badminton League (Free w/IAPs)

FIFA Soccer: FIFA World Cup

The latest update to the FIFA Mobile Soccer app is a World Cup mode which is perfect if you’re an England fan hoping to retcon the results of that loss against Croatia.

The fact is, FIFA Mobile used to be a standout title and one of the best investments available in the paid app section of the Google Play Store. FIFA 13 remains one of the best mobile games I’ve ever played. Sadly, EA shifted to a freemium model with the entire focus of the game being on building your Ultimate Team.

While I feel like the change in format is a disservice to players, the game itself still plays like a dream and will surely keep any footy fans addicted for some time. There are four game modes to choose from: you start out with Live Events and Attack Mode, and unlock Leagues and Season once your profile reaches level 5. Live Events throw you into different drills and game situations where you can unlock coins, XP, and specific card packs. Attack Mode pits you against other players around the world in turn-based gameplay where you’re each given time on offense to rack up as many goals as you can (hence the name). The newest addition is Leagues, which lets you start or join your own global league consisting of other players. It’s both competitive and cooperative, as you can either compete in a league tournament or collectively challenge another league. Season mode is the single-player mode you’ve come to expect, but you’ll need to maintain an internet connection to play FIFA Mobile, even in single-player mode.

While FIFA Mobile is missing the freedom to play as you like from previous editions, it’s still the best footy game you can play on Android.

Download: FIFA Mobile (Free, with IAPs)

Advertisement

Score! Hero

For something a little different, look no further than Score! Hero. Instead of putting you in charge of building a team, you create your own player and work your way through a professional career from rookie to legend.

Another difference from other games is the way you control the action. Instead of the free-flowing action found elsewhere, you only take over once your team has control of the ball. Play freezes, waiting for you to swipe at the ball to take your shot or pass to a teammate. It’s an interesting dynamic that really highlights the strategic elements of soccer and a nice change of pace.

Each level sets up the game situation and gives you your mission for completing it, but if the defending team intercepts or otherwise gains control of the ball, you’re forced to restart the level or spends some of your in-app funds to use a rewind to redo your last kick. Sometimes your mission involves scoring back-to-back goals which make those rewinds extra tempting, but you’ll want to avoid relying on them unless you’re intending on dropping real cash into the game. All told, Score! Hero features 420 levels to play through. Can you beat them all?

Download: Score! Hero (Free, with IAPs)

Madden NFL Mobile

Football fans know that Madden is king on consoles, and despite the freemium, card-collecting gameplay at the core of the Android version, Madden NFL Mobile still reigns supreme on the mobile gridiron as well.

Yes, you’re stuck building your team through opening card packs, which can be bought with in-game coins or purchased with real cash. Fortunately, there are many ways to earn in-game currency: Head-to-head match-ups against other users where you exchange offensive drives, a single-player season mode where you play out through a full season against CPU opponents, and multiple daily live events to test your skills. The live events offer some nice nostalgia for those who remember the mini-camp drills from Madden 2004. On the field, the touch controls are on point, and while the graphics are understandably a far cry from those found on the latest PlayStation and Xbox editions, they’re more than serviceable for the bite-sized football action Madden NFL Mobile provides.

Madden NFL Mobile provides good fun whether during halftime or break time at work — as long as you don’t mind being slightly bogged down by the collectibles aspect.

Download: Madden NFL Mobile (Free, with IAPs)

Football Heroes Pro 2017

Football Heroes Pro 2017 is a full-fledged arcade football game, licensed by the NFLPA. Unlike the more realistic sim-style of Madden, it provides a casual football experience (think Tecmo Bowl) in your downtime when you’re all caught up with the real games. Players build and train their team with their favorite real-life players and unlock new plays by opening card packs. Premium currency can be used to buy card packs, though you’re also able to buy packs with coins earned from winning and by leveling up your players. Gameplay-wise, this one features a lot of button mashing for tackling and breaking tackles.

For those looking for a casual football game to kill time during commercial breaks, Football Heroes Pro 2017 has plenty to offer.

Download: Football Heros Pro 2017 (Free, with IAPs)

NBA Live Mobile

Another sport, another EA Sports title. If you’re a fan of NBA Live on consoles, or even the NBA 2K franchise, you’ll likely dig the mobile offering. Again, with every other sports title offered by EA this year around, there’s the unavoidable emphasis on card collecting to unlock players. If your sensibilities are offended by that, you’ll want to look elsewhere.

Otherwise, what you get here is pretty solid. Dive into daily live events, or challenge other players around the world to a head-to-head challenge where you go back and forth playing one quarter at a time. Season mode lets you play a full NBA season with your team, all the way through to the NBA Championships. Once you’ve reached level 5, you unlock Leagues, which lets you start up a league for you and all your friends, or join a random league. They operate similar to clans and allow for friendly matches between other league members, or for interleague showdowns. Another neat feature of leagues is if someone in your league makes an in-app purchase, everyone in the league gets a gift — essentially an added incentive to engage in that freemium model.

Download: NBA Live Mobile (Free, with IAPs)

NBA Jam

NBA Jam has been available on Android since October 2010, and yet it remains as one of the most polished and fun sports games you can play on the platform.

This remake of the 90s classic features all the fast-paced two-on-two action you remember from back in the day, with upgraded graphics including hilarious big head animations for every player in the game. Touch controls are simple and responsive, making it super easy to set up an epic alley-oop, or sink three shots in a row and hear Tim Kitzrow — the original NBA JAM commentator — yell his infamous line, “HE’S ON FIRE!”

There are four modes of play and no in-app purchases or currencies to deal with, so you can jump into a game right away. On top of quick matches and a Classic Campaign where you can unlock legendary players and other goodies, you can play online (but good luck finding a random opponent) or with a friend over local Wi-Fi.

If you’re an NBA fan or a fan of the original game, NBA Jam should be a mainstay on your Android device.

Download: NBA Jam ($4.99)

Matt Duchene Hockey Classic

For whatever reason, EA Sports’ has not ported their celebrated NHL franchise for consoles over to mobile platforms. It’s a shame, but Matt Duchene Hockey Classic might be the next best thing.

The latest in a line of games attached to rising NHL players (previously Patrick Kane), Matt Duchene Hockey Classic is free to try, but you only get Team Finland and Team Sweden when you download it from the Google Play Store. Fortunately, you’ll need to pay a very reasonable price to unlock the full game, which includes 60 teams and a plethora of game modes including playoffs, outdoor games and “Hockey Giants”, which is essentially big head mode.

As you might have noticed from the title, this game isn’t officially licensed by the NHL, so while, for instance, the team from Boston wears black and yellow jerseys there are no logos nor are there any active rosters. It’s also a bit of a resource hog. You’ll notice some sluggish moments if you play on an older device. But considering the lack of options for full-featured hockey games on Android, Matt Duchene Hockey Classic delivers as well as you’d expect.

Download: Matt Duchene Hockey Classic (Free, with IAP to unlock full game)

Advertisement

Hockey Hero

Hockey Hero is an outlier on this list, as it’s not exactly a traditional sports game — more a sports-themed entry if anything. However, with its charming retro graphics, simple gameplay, and minimal ads, it’s a great break from the rest of the titles on this list.

The concept is both wacky and simple — tap and hold to control the hockey hero, who must deftly deke past wave after wave of opposing players who are looking for a fight. If you lift your finger off, time slows down allowing you to determine the clear path between defenders. You move on an endless sheet of ice comprised of multiple hockey rinks attached end-to-end so that once you’ve skated to the end of one rink and scored, you immediately skate on towards the next rink. It’s a silly and fun concept for an endless runner style and is a great game you can just pick up and play whenever you have some free time. As you progress further, you unlock different jerseys for your hockey hero, giving you goals to work towards.

Hockey Hero is far from a traditional sports title, but with its simple controls and fun concept, it’s definitely worth checking out.

Download: Hockey Hero (Free, with IAPs)

Golf Star

Hit the links in Golf Star, the best golf game for Android!

This game features great graphics and easy controls. Customize your golfer and jump into Career Mode and hone your skills. It’s going to take you a bit of time to figure out the intricacies of the physics and how to properly read the greens and aim your putts, but you’ll pick it up in no time.

Beyond the single-player Career Mode, there are a couple of different ways to play against friends and other online opponents. Tournament Mode lets you compete in one-on-one competitions against live opponents. More game modes are unlocked as you progress your character from beginner to amateur — all the way until you achieve pro status.

Win and you’ll earn rewards, which can also be bought via in-app purchases. Golf Star also requires you to spend a certain amount of hearts each time you play, which you’ll need to wait to regenerate. If you’re alright with dealing with those free-to-play mechanics, you’re sure to enjoy Golf Star for Android.

Download: Golf Star (Free w/IAPs)

Snowboard Party: World Tour

While Android shamefully lacks a port of quintessential snowboarding franchise SSX, it does have its own snowboarding franchise in the form of Snowboard Party.

The latest title in the series is Snowboard Party: World Tour, and it rocks. The graphics are great, the pop-punk soundtrack is fitting, and the touch controls are surprisingly tight. There are also four different mode to choose from — Time-Attack, Freestyle, Big Air, and Halfpipe, along with a multiplayer mode for playing against your friends. There are 16 snowboarders to customize and upgrade, which you can do without spending a dime although in-app purchases are included.

This is an Editor’s Choice on the Google Play Store, and after spending even just a few minutes playing this game it’s clear to see why. This is the best snowboarding game you can play on your phone!

Download: Snowboard Party (Free w/IAPs)

What did we miss?

There’s a ton of sports games in the Google Play Store but if we’re completely honest, most of them aren’t worth your time. If you think we missed one that should absolutely be on our list, let us know in the comments!

Updated July 2018: This article was updated with the latest versions of each game, new buy links, and added Badminton League.

Android Gaming

• Best Android games
• Best free Android games
• Best games with no in-app purchases
• Best action games for Android
• Best RPGs for Android
• All the Android gaming news!

Dish Becomes First Pay-TV Provider to Support Apple Business Chat

Dish today announced that its customers can now start support conversations using Apple Business Chat, a feature that Apple launched in iOS 11.3 in March that lets users interface with businesses right in the Messages app.

With the new support, users can connect directly to a Dish customer service representative in Messages on iPhone and iPad, marking the first time a pay-TV provider has supported Business Chat. The other companies making use of the feature include Apple itself, Aramark, Discover, Four Seasons, Harry & David, Hilton, The Home Depot, Lowe’s, Marriott, Newegg, T-Mobile, Ameritrade, Wells Fargo, and 1-800-Flowers.

“TV should be simple, so we’ve made reaching our live customer service representatives as easy as sending a text,” said John Swieringa, DISH chief operating officer. “Adding messaging with Apple Business Chat is a powerful way to connect with us, giving another choice so you can pick what fits with your life.”

When talking to a Dish agent in Business Chat, the company says that customers can ask questions, make account changes, schedule and appointment, use an on-file credit card to order a pay-per-view movie or sporting event, and more. Dish promises that contact information is not displayed to agents, “so customers are in complete control of whether they want to share any contact information and can authenticate their account to make changes or purchases.”

Customers can start conversations and pick them up later on different devices signed into their Apple ID, with the company promising that conversations never time out and only end when users delete the message thread in the Messages app. To kick off a Dish Business Chat, search for “Dish” on iPhone or iPad, tap the Messages icon that appears next to the Dish search result, and send your first message.

Tags: iMessage, Business Chat, Dish
Discuss this article in our forums

Uber Riders in Select Cities Can Now Buy Snacks, Electronics, and More Following Partnership With ‘Cargo’

Uber this week announced a partnership with startup “Cargo,” which aims to increase the wages of rideshare drivers by providing them with small containers filled with goods that riders can buy during their trips (via TechCrunch). Despite the new partnership with Uber, Cargo will still support drivers of other ridesharing apps.

Cargo works by providing drivers with a free Cargo box filled with free products and free shipping on all product replenishments, as long as the driver has at least a 4.7 rating. When the rider gets in the car, they can browse which items are in their driver’s Cargo box by opening the Cargo mobile site, add the products to their cart, and checkout on their smartphone.

Payment methods supported include all major credit cards, Apple Pay, Android Pay, Venmo, and Paypal.

“It’s always a pleasant surprise when you’re in an Uber and the driver offers you a bottle of water or a piece of gum, but up to this point these perks have usually been on the driver’s dime,” said Keith Hensley, Business Development Lead, Uber. “Cargo took note of this and created an innovative model that aims to bring new value to riders and drivers. We’re looking forward to working with Cargo to develop and scale in a way that makes the most sense for our customers.”

When complete, drivers earn $1 per order and average $100 earnings per month, according to the company. Since its launch last summer, about 7,000 rideshare drivers have made more than $1 million with Cargo. On an annual basis, drivers earn an average of $1,200/year, and the top 10 percent of drivers make $3,600/year in income.

Items in Cargo boxes include energy bars, gum, mints, various snacks, beauty items, beverages, electronics like earbuds and small phone chargers, and free samples of many of these products. Riders will still have to leave the Uber app to pay for Cargo items by visiting the mobile site (which they can do by scanning the QR code on their driver’s Cargo box), but Uber says it “envisions” integrating Cargo into its own app down the road.

The partnership with Uber is beginning first in San Francisco and Los Angeles, where Uber drivers can pick up a Cargo box at one of Uber’s driver support locations. Following the initial rollout, Uber says it hopes to continue expanding support for Cargo in more cities.

Tag: Uber
Discuss this article in our forums