Spigen Style Ring POP review: The new gold standard in phone grips

Spigen’s new phone grip solves every problem we had with the original and looks so good doing it.

It’s no secret that phone grips are a smartphone accessory worth having. They help you keep ahold of your precious, pricey Android phone — and help you avoid straining the muscles and tendons in your priceless hands — so don’t leave home without one!

Every phone grip on the market today seems to have a trade-off of some sort — Popsockets can’t kickstand in portrait like phone rings, the Ringke Ring is bulky and has a tendency to spin when I set it down on my desk, and the original Spigen Style Ring refuses to lay flat and is a big, bulky design that doesn’t look nearly as elegant as the rest of the cases and phone accessories Spigen is known for.

Well, it’s taken a few years and a few hiccups, but Spigen has a new Style Ring on its hands, and not only does the Spigen Style Ring POP fix everything wrong with the original — and then some — it’s also stolen my heart in just a few days.

Spigen Style Ring POP

Price: $14.99

Bottom line: This phone grip is small, thin, adaptable, and comes in five diverse colors that can add a pop of color — sorry, I couldn’t help myself — and functionality to any smartphone. Buy one for everyone you know

The Good

• Compact, lay-flat phone grip
• The ring’s flat edge gives the kickstand more stability
• Compatible with magnetic car/desk mounts

The Bad

• No “safe” silver/white/plain option
• The ring can be a bit hard to pull out when folded all the way down

See at Amazon

Not like, love

Spigen Style Ring POP What I love

Spigen’s Style Ring POP follows the same basic format many of the phone rings of the last year have used: the entire base of the mount sits atop a bearing that allowing you to rotate the grip 360 degrees, and attached to that central, circular hub is a phone ring that can fold the full 180 degrees from flat around the grip’s hub to flat folded away from the grip’s hub.

The Style Ring POP has kept the flat edge at the base of the phone ring, which offers more stability with using the kickstand in the portrait orientation, which adds extra stability when propping the phone up next to your keyboard at work in portrait.

This grip is incredibly compact, coming in at half the thickness of the Ringke Ring while the Style Ring POP’s central base is exactly the size of a quarter. Te grip’s hinge sits up ever-so-slightly above the flat back of your phone or phone case.

This thin, flat back allows the Style Ring POP to sit flat without spinning or rattling around on my desktop, and also allows the grip to sit flush against a magnetic mount in the car or at your desk. That’s right, Spigen has moved away from the proprietary pain-in-the-butt hook-based mounts that the original Style Ring used and is instead letting us all use more prevalent and consistent magnetic mounts, though that also means that the Spigen Phone Ring, like most metal phone rings, doesn’t play nice with wireless charging.

Spigen Style Ring POP What could still improve

Spigen made the Style Ring POP a low-profile phone grip, and while that means less of a bulge on the back of the phone and less chance of anything snagging when putting it in your pocket, it can also make the ring hard to swing open one-handed. Since the grip is so thin and lacks the indentation many phone rings like the Ringke Ring have, the ring can be hard to get a fingernail under — especially for a nail-biter like me.

The only other complaint I have for the Spigen Style Ring POP was when I was trying to figure out when one to use with my phone case. The Style Ring POP comes in five colors — Red, Champagne Gold, Gunmetal (dark metallic gray), Orchid Blue (muted light blue), and Rose Gold, which should really be called what it is: millennial pink.

My everyday case is a dark navy and silver, and no color quite matched it on first thought. Orchid Blue was too far from the straight Satin Silver of the case, and Gunmetal was far too dark. I know that regular silver is a bit boring at times because it’s the default color for so many phones and Chromebooks, but I’d rather have a boring that matched the phone instead of having to go big and bold with a flashy color.

Spigen Style Ring POP

As far as phone grips go, the Spigen Style Ring POP is one of the best-looking and best-performing I’ve ever seen. It lays flat and stable on my desktop, the kickstand is easy to adjust and use in both portrait and landscape, and by ditching the proprietary hook-based mounts to instead support our favorite — and darn near universally compatible — magnetic car mounts makes the Style Ring POP my new favorite phone grip.

5
out of 5

Bold color options like ruby Red and an Orchid Gray that looks tailor-made for the Coral Blue Samsung Galaxy S9 can add style as much as substance to the phone or phone case the grip is applied to, but I do wish there were more color options — especially in regards to a more neutral white or straight silver. Oh, well, at least the red pops against my blue/silver Spigen Neo Hybrid case and gives it a slight Captain America vibe.

See at Amazon

Best Chromebox in 2018

Why trust us? We don’t just write about Chromebooks and Chromeboxes; we use them every day. Whether you want to watch a video, play a game, or get some work done, these are the best Chromeboxes you can buy.

The ASUS Chromebox 3 is the best Chromebox you can buy. Available in several configurations from the modestly priced Intel Celeron version to a powerful — and ready for Linux applications — Intel Core processor and all models feature a true M.2 SATA SSD for years of worry-free storage and upgradability should you need it.

Our Pick

ASUS Chromebox 3

Amazon — $429

• $429 from Amazon

A powerful and secure desktop computer

This is ASUS’ newest Chromebox. It’s pricey, — our pick is the Intel Core i3 version at $429 — but it’s also a very powerful computer that can handle every task you need it to today as well as any future tasks as Google rolls out Linux program support to Chrome OS devices.

This Chromebox simply can do everything. It’s loaded with exterior ports (both USB Type-C and legacy USB ports are included) and the components are current generation as you would expect in any powerful computer. If you want a Chromebox for the whole family that’s future-proof, secure, and dependable, you can’t go wrong with the ASUS Chromebox 3.

Who should buy this Chromebox

It’s tough to say anyone should buy a $429 Chromebox. Our budget pick, also from ASUS, will handle the needs of most users and provide a great experience on the web or in the home office. The difference, and what makes this configuration of the Chromebox 3 our top pick is its raw power versus price.

Linux and Android applications will change how many of us use a Chromebox. When updated, the Chromebox 3 will be able to install almost any program written for a full desktop computer and plenty of programs like Steam for gaming or Blender for 3D modelling and rendering will make good use of the higher specs. And since all Chrome products are fully supported by Google for over six years, the Chromebox 3 will also age very well and should be considered future-proofed.

Is it a good time to buy this Chromebox?

Yes. Last year’s Chromeboxes weren’t designed to be ready for full desktop programs or Android apps, and manufacturers have rushed to the gate with new models featuring powerful hardware. With the cost of computer components rising, buying a high-end pre-built small form-factor desktop is a wise decision for anyone who wants or needs said power under the hood.

We don’t see component prices lowering anytime soon, so an investment today means you’ll enjoy the benefit of a secure workstation or entertainment PC without needing to worry about upgrading in 2019 or beyond.

6 reasons to buy

• Desktop-class Intel Core processors are available
• 8 GB of high-speed DDR4 RAM
• User-upgradable internal SSD storage
• HDMI connection
• USB Type-A legacy ports and USB Type-C 3.1 ports
• Three-in-one SD card reader

2 reasons not to buy

• Expensive if you won’t need the extra power
• No internal speakers

When all Chromeboxes are similar, the little things count

It’s tough to say one brand of Chromebox is better than the rest. Google has strict guidelines manufacturers need to follow and almost every company that makes computers offers a Chromebox that is very similar to all the rest. What makes the Chromebox 3 the top pick when compared to Chromeboxes from other manufacturers is the performance versus price ratio and ASUS history of Chrome product support.

Out of the box, the Chromebox 3 can fit your needs because of the multiple configurations available. We think the Intel Core i3 version is the best purchase right now because it will offer the power needed to run any application and isn’t exorbitantly expensive.

Alternatives to the Chromebox 3

The Acer CX12 is also an excellent buy. It’s a popular model from 2017, but will be fully supported until 2023. We also recommend the Intel Core i3 version here because of the performance to price ratio, as the Acer CX12 can be found had for $350. the biggest difference, and what allows for the cheaper price, is the storage — the CX12 comes with a 16 GB SSD as configured.

Runner-up

Acer CX12

Acer’s CX12 Chromebox also brings plenty of power to a chrome desktop, but being a 2017 model with less storage means you can save a good bit of money.

See at Amazon

Google’s 6.5 years of support for Chrome products means a Chromebox that’s a year old can still be a great purchase. in the case of the Acer CX12, you’re getting a Chromebox that for all intents and purposes is just as powerful as our top pick art a considerable savings.

Budget pick

ASUS Chromebox 2

Had Google not announced a future where powerful Chrome products would have access to the vast library of Linux programs, last year’s ASUS Chromebox might have been our top pick. An Intel Celeron CPU with 4 GB of RAM means this $200 Chromebox will handle all Chrome has to give it and is nice and easy on the wallet.

See at Amazon

Bottom line

For someone who wants the best possible Chromebox experience the ASUS Chromebox 3 configured with a powerful but thrifty Intel Core i3 CPU is the best choice. It’s chock full of powerful components and many are user-serviceable, but you’ll pay quite a bit for it, roughly $430.

If you would rather opt for a 2017 model and save a considerable amount of cash, the Acer CX12 will deliver virtually the same performance, albeit with less storage. If you aren’t concerned about Linux containers or any of the voodoo Google has in store for Chrome products, the ASUS Chromebox 2, also from 2017, is an incredible value.

Credits — The team that worked on this guide

Jerry Hildenbrand is Mobile Nation’s Senior Editor and works from a Chromebook full time. Currently he is using Google’s Pixelbook but is always looking at new products and may have any Chromebook in his hands at any time. You’ll find him across the Mobile Nations network and you can hit him up on Twitter if you want to say hey.

Andrew Martonik is the Executive Editor, U.S. at Android Central. He has been a mobile enthusiast since the Windows Mobile days, and covering all things Android-related with a unique perspective at AC since 2012. For suggestions and updates, you can reach him at andrew.martonik@androidcentral.com or on Twitter at @andrewmartonik.

Daniel Bader is the Managing Editor of Android Central. As he’s writing this, a mountain of old Android phones is about to fall on his head, but his Great Dane will protect him. He drinks way too much coffee and sleeps too little. He wonders if there’s a correlation.

Apple’s AirPods, rechargeable lighters, Amazon Key bundles 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 Apple’s hard-to-find AirPods, Amazon Key bundles, rechargeable lighters, and more! Most of these prices will be gone when the day ends, so don’t miss your chance to save big!

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!

Why your carrier’s coverage map may not match your experience

Maybe it’s time for a new phone.

When you’re looking to switch cellular carriers, the most important factor is going to be how well the service actually works in your area. Sure, saving $10 a month is great, but not if it means your family and friends can’t get ahold of you. A good starting place is your potential carrier’s coverage map, since that will show the relative coverage in a given location.

But that’s not the be-all and end-all. There are some factors that could drastically change the experience when you use your phone.

• Old hardware
• The number of users
• How to test your coverage

Old hardware

Truth be told, you can get a lot of miles out of an older phone these days. Battery life and photos won’t be as good as those on a modern smartphone, but something from 2014 onwards will still open apps in a reasonable amount of time, make phone calls and take decent photos.

But the modem in your phone is going to be older as well. The carrier is going to be advertising coverage based on all of the antenna bands they could use, and if they’re using frequencies that have been deployed in the last few years, your phone won’t be able to take advantage of that coverage.

The number of users

A cellular tower can get congested quickly if there are a lot of users all trying to connect to the same tower. If you’ve ever been at a concert, played Pokémon Go, or been at another large public event, you know your data can slow to a crawl as everyone tries to Snapchat and Instagram all at the same time. If you live near a concert venue or popular public space, you may just have to deal with slow speeds because you’re connecting to the same tower as the large crowds.

There’s also the chicken and egg problem when it comes to where carriers invest in their network. If there aren’t as many potential users in a given town — like my hometown of 1,200 people — the carrier is going to spend their time and money focusing on areas where they can better serve existing customers and maybe poach customers from competitors. But this means service is bad in places like my hometown, so no one there is going to use a carrier that doesn’t work for them.

How to test your coverage

If you want to know why your coverage isn’t as good as promised, there are a few tools available to help you out. Of course, the easiest thing to do is just try using your phone on the carrier you want to switch to. Pre-paid plans exist, and the $40 or so you spend up front for a month of service is a good way to know if the coverage is worth saving $10 per month. Just pop in your new SIM card, let the phone activate on the network, and make some phone calls and watch some YouTube videos.

But you can get more scientific with some apps. Signal Spy will tell you exactly which antenna band your phone is using to connect to the network. Meanwhile, OpenSignal will do a speed test without any carrier “optimization” that could change the results. It will also show you a map of the exact cell towers near your location that your phone could be trying to connect to. You can zoom in on a different area on the map, which can be helpful if you’re planning a trip to a remote area.

Download: Signal Spy (free, in-app purchases)

Download: OpenSignal (free)

What say you?

How consistent is your cell coverage? Let us know down below!

Electronauts is the VR music maker you didn’t know you wanted

The learning curve is steep, but so are the drops.

While there are a few different music games out there for the PlayStation VR, most of them are some kind of standard drumming machine trying to add an interesting VR twist. Electronauts, on the hand, achieves that twist. With striking visuals and a variety of beats to play with, this game – although I’m not sure if game is the right word – uses VR to create a mixing lab the likes of which only Daft Punk ever imagined in their chrome helmets.

Electronauts

Price: $18

Bottom line: Electronauts is a cyberpunk musical experience unlike any other, and enjoying it means remembering to forget what you think it means to do things in VR or music.

The Good

• Visually stunning
• Super easy to feel like you are making music
• Fantastic starting song list

The Bad

• This is not a game, there is no score
• Tutorial is a little too basic

See at Survios

Electronauts What I Like

The premise is simple, I think, from my time playing the game it seems to be devoid of any real gaming intent. Don’t think of it as a game with levels, or a score, but more of an interactive music experience, a chance to be creative with samples, beats and even the crazy visuals around you.

With minimal effort or musical background it is easy to feel like you’re creating something fun that you’d want to share with others.

Electronauts is visually a cyberpunk playground. Lots of bright colors and the general theme of the music you’re interacting with is electronic in nature. You can lean in any direction of that spectrum, but there’s clearly a theme. The initial tutorial explains that you’re on a musical voyage of creativity and expression, and starts you off with a premade track you interact with. The floating platform you are standing on, and yes i do mean standing because Survios has made sure when you look down you see a whole body, is orbited by 3 stations that allow you to chop and change almost anything from the song. This three-station layout lets you change the vocals, the visuals, add effects to the music and even use orbs to add your own extra beats to the music in sampled loops.

The feel of the 3 stations in VR is perfect. When I think of VR games this is what I want, taking something that you couldn’t do in a normal game – if you had 3 stations on a normal screen you wouldn’t be able to switch the view fast enough – and adding a 3D element not available otherwise, it really does make it feel like future tech. With minimal effort or musical background it is easy to feel like you’re creating something fun that you’d want to share with others.

Electronauts is played with 2 virtual drumsticks that you use like wands to help you cut and mix tracks. Depending on the song or even the part of the song there are sections of the backing track that you can play at will as well as well being able to mute component parts like the high hat or bass drum. If you have listened to Drum and Bass, Dubstep, or EDM, you will know that these kinds of muting options work extremely well in changing up the flow of the music.

This experience doesn’t have a victory condition, but there are still achievements to unlock for exploring things. The purpose of this game is not to win but to create a new artistic endeavor and share with those around you. For the moment, there aren’t any ways to share mixes you have assembled externally, like through Soundcloud or something. There are camera controls, and when I played with them I got a small screen showing my avatar doing cool stuff but nowhere did there seem to be a save or record or stream function anywhere. Maybe that will appear in time, I hope so, this game feels like it needs to be shared to really be appreciated. The goal is to have fun and make music, and be the virtual mix master of your friend circle. It’s not difficult to imagine a party with nice speakers connected to a VR set up, where someone in this experience was making music for the whole group to enjoy.

Electronauts What I don’t like

I really struggled with the no-win aspects of this game. I needed to feel like there was a goal in mind like I was doing well or not but the game offered little in the way of encouragement or even basic guidance. I constantly found myself looking for a running total or a Guitar Hero style meter that tells me if I am doing good or bad – I was doing bad gang, really, really bad – and not receiving any feedback from the game at all.

The tutorial is also frustratingly simple, so basic as to be almost no help. The tutorial takes you through the 3 simplest cubes – the cubes fit into the base station to bring up new interfaces to work with – and then says goodbye like you know everything there is to know. As you start your own music however you realize that everything is far more complicated. It’s maddening to want to be good but not knowing how to get there.

The game feels like it is actively working to stop you sounding too objectively terrible. I found myself dancing along to the dubstep track I made, eagerly waiting for the beat to drop then realizing we were in a safe break until I actually started the drop, which, when I actually hit the button at the exact right moment gave me a real thrill. Of course, I was instantly sad that there was no part of the game that told me I did it right, which is part of the hangup I have.

Electronauts Should you buy it? Probably.

Survios has made Electronauts that heady mix of futuristic and retro with primitive voxels and primary colors all around you and crisp clear details on your equipment. It’s like Daft punk went back in time into Jobes world in Lawnmower man, they are from the future, stuck in what the past thinks the future will be. The game is pretty trippy and so my head is all over the place. I really do enjoy the overall visual look of Electronauts and I’m happy that this kind of aesthetic is here to stay in VR.

The game is definitely very stylistic but it is still lacking what I need to make the game feel like a game, direction. When I finally did find a help button it was so overwhelming and technical that it actually made me feel less attached to the game, not more. I would like to see it become more game-ified in the future if I am going to continue playing it.

You can pick this game up August 7th on for HTC Vive, Oculus Rift, and PlayStation VR. In the Steam, and Oculus stores the game will start at $19.99, but for PlayStation VR users the price is $17.99. Enjoy!

MoviePass vs. Sinemia vs. AMC A-List vs. Cinemark: Which movie subscription service should you get?

There are so many movie theater subscription choices out there now, but how do you know which one to pick?

So it’s peak summer season, which means prime time for going to the movies. But with ticket prices the way they are, along with the cost of concessions, moviegoing gets fairly pricey.

So what are you supposed to do without spending an arm and a leg to enjoy the latest summer blockbusters? Fortunately, movie theater subscriptions have become a rising trend lately, and it seems there’s a new option popping up every few months now.

But with so many choices now, which movie subscription service is the best for you? Let’s dive into some of the more popular choices and find out!

• MoviePass
• Sinemia
• AMC Stubs A-List
• Cinemark Movie Club

MoviePass

Let’s start with the one that everyone’s probably heard of by now due to making plenty of headlines recently: MoviePass.

Pricing

There are two levels of membership: MoviePass and MoviePass Unlimited.

The regular MoviePass subscription starts at $7.95 a month and gives members three movies a month. If you go with MoviePass Unlimited at $9.95 a month, you get one movie a day for the month, although there are some caveats that we’ll discuss in a bit.

Membership cards

With MoviePass, unfortunately, you can’t use the service until you receive the physical card in the mail. This process can take up to two weeks after you sign up for a plan.

The physical MoviePass card works like a debit card, and it’s even branded as a MasterCard. Once you check-in to a movie, just use your MoviePass card to pay for the ticket at the box office or kiosk, just like you would with any other credit card for payment. This works because after you check in, your card gets about $15 of credit loaded onto it to “pay” for the ticket.

It’s important to keep track of your MoviePass card at all times, though, because if you lose it, getting in touch with their customer service department for a replacement can be a doozy.

Features and Limitations

The most enticing thing about MoviePass is the fact that you can go to any participating movie theater once a day to watch any movie that’s playing. So if you go by that, you can potentially see 30 movies each month for just $10! This was the case when the company first started, and through their jaw-dropping price drop announcement back in 2017.

However, there have been plenty of major changes since then that make MoviePass less appealing.

First off, MoviePass limits you to standard 2D viewings only. That means no IMAX, Dolby Cinema, Digital 3D, or anything fancy, just plain old 2D film. If you prefer premium movie experiences, you’re going to have to pay for those separately. It’s also limited only to participating theaters, so you have to check to make sure your local theater even takes MoviePass.

While MoviePass does have some e-ticketing options for reserving your tickets, the theaters that utilize this feature in MoviePass are far and wide. For most people, you need to use the standard “check-in” method with MoviePass to get your tickets. This means being within 100 yards of the theater, finding the movie and showtime you want to check into, and then going to the box office or kiosk to get your tickets.

This proves to be rather troublesome when you want to get good seats for big releases, or even seats next to each other on busy days. With this system, you’ll need to plan ahead and get to the theater early.

Previously, MoviePass allowed for multiple viewings of a single movie. So if you really liked a film, you could go back and watch it again, no problem. However, recent changes limit subscribers to one viewing for each movie, so no double-dipping!

Users also have to submit a photo of their ticket stub after each check-in, and failure to do so could result in suspended accounts. It’s just another annoying little thing to remember when using MoviePass.

Lastly, there’s now “peak pricing” for popular blockbuster movies if you want to watch them during opening week. This means more money on top of your monthly charge.

All those changes don’t even take into account service outages, which are apparently a thing.

Who’s it for?

MoviePass is best for the person who wants good value. If you don’t mind only seeing standard 2D movies, don’t do repeat viewings, don’t care about having another physical card to track, or having to check-in manually every time you want to see something, then MoviePass gets you a lot of bang for your buck.

MoviePass – Free – Download Now

Sinemia

Sinemia is another subscription just like MoviePass, but it seems to be lesser known because of lack of marketing. However, it works similarly.

Pricing

Sinemia has several membership tiers, and there are even family plans as well.

The cheapest option, Classic, starts at $4.99 a month and gets you one standard 2D movie a month at any theater with no blackout days and advance ticketing options. A second level Classic tier is available for $7.99 a month and nets you two movies a month.

Then there are the Elite plans, which start at $9.99 and $14.99 for two or three movies per month, respectively. The Elite plans include everything that comes in Classic, but with the addition of 3D and premium movie formats (Dolby Cinema, IMAX, 4DX, and more).

Sinemia also offers family plans. These include one membership owner, and you can bring up to six additional people when getting your tickets. Only the owner of the account can purchase the tickets though.

It seems that the price of Sinemia Elite pays for itself within one visit to the theater if you go with one of the premium format viewings. However, you need to keep in mind that Sinemia only charges annually, so your first payment starts at $60 and you’re locked in for a year.

There’s currently a summer sale going on, which reduces every plan’s cost by $1 across-the-board. If you want to take advantage of this super-low pricing, then you should sign up now.

Membership cards

Similar to MoviePass, Sinemia issues out a physical card to all members. This takes about a week or two, but it’s how you’ll be “purchasing” your movie tickets as a Sinemia member.

Unlike MoviePass, there are no geofencing limitations when it comes to the process of obtaining your ticket. In fact, you’re able to obtain your tickets the day-of by just purchasing them online through the website or mobile app.

There’s even the ability to select and purchase a ticket within 30 days, rather than same-day only as with MoviePass. If you do it this way, you have a window of two hours to buy the ticket with your Sinemia card. MoviePass only has a window of 30 minutes since checking in to get your ticket.

And once again, it’s recommended to always keep track of your Sinemia card. If it’s lost, it can be hard to get a hold of a representative to get it replaced.

Features and Limitations

Though Sinemia doesn’t have an unlimited option like MoviePass, there’s still a lot to like about it.

For one, you’re able to reserve tickets up to 30 days in advance, and there’s a two-hour window to do so, meaning it’s much more relaxed. All of your tickets can be purchased online, so there’s no silly geolocation restriction.

If you opt for the Classic plans, you’ll only get the option for standard 2D showings, but at a cheaper price than MoviePass. This makes sense if you don’t go to the movies that much anyways, as it still saves you some money from buying a normal ticket.

But Elite plans offer you the most bang for your buck. With 3D and premium offerings available in these plans, it practically pays for itself with one movie (IMAX and Dolby Cinema tickets are about $20 in my area).

Really, the only flaws of Sinemia are the fact that you’ll need to wait to receive the physical card before you can use it, and you can only see up to three movies max each month. You also need to pay for your membership annually, which isn’t as appealing.

Who’s it for?

Sinemia’s designed for the person who doesn’t go to the movies every week, but wants to get the most bang for their buck when they do go. And if you want to be able to watch premium formats at any theater with no blockout dates, then Sinemia is the way to go.

Sinemia – Free – Download Now

AMC Stubs A-List

AMC recently rolled out their own subscription service, which is a new level of their Stubz membership. It’s made to compete with MoviePass after the little dispute between the companies.

Pricing

AMC A-List is a bit more expensive than the competition. It costs $19.95 a month and you must commit to at least three full months before you’re able to cancel. However, the $19.95 cost is locked in for at least 12 months, so you don’t need to worry about any changes during that time.

The pricing for A-List only includes one ticket for each of the three movies per week that you’re entitled to. If you need more tickets for someone without A-List, those must be purchased separately.

Membership cards

There’s no physical card to use for A-List, so you can start using it as soon as you sign up. Everything can be done online through the app or website as long as you’re signed in to your AMC Stubs A-List account.

However, if you were a previous AMC Stubs Premiere member and have your physical membership card, you can continue to use it.

Features and limitations

Even though A-List is one of the pricier options, it has a lot of perks.

Though it’s not unlimited, A-List members can see up to three movies each week, with new weeks resetting Friday morning. You can spread these out over the week or see three movies in one day, with at least two hours in-between each viewing.

A-List also doesn’t limit you to standard 2D films. With membership, you can see 3D, IMAX, Dolby Cinema, and other premium formats. So even if you just see one premium format screening, the membership already pays for itself.

All ticketing and seat reservations are done online, through the app or website. You don’t need to be near the theater to get your tickets, as it’s all digital and can even be saved to Apple Wallet. To top it all off, you can reserve tickets and seats in advance.

The final benefit of A-List is that it comes with all perks of AMC Stubs Premiere, which is normally $15 a year. That means you get a free fountain drink and popcorn size upgrades, waived online fees (if you purchase separate tickets), 10 percent back on all concessions, and Priority Lane access.

The only restriction with AMC A-List is the fact that you need to go to AMC theaters only.

Who’s it for?

If you love watching your movies on the best screens possible and have AMCs nearby or go there frequently, then A-List is totally worth it. Plus, being able to reserve your tickets days in advance is great.

AMC Theaters – Free – Download Now

Cinemark Movie Club

If Cinemark theaters are where you prefer to go for movie watching, then you may be pleased to know they also have their own subscription plan.

Pricing

CInemark’s Movie Club is a bit more expensive than the other three that we’ve covered so far, since it costs $8.99 a month for one movie only. However, unused tickets roll over into the next month, so if you don’t go to the theaters often, you can accumulate rollover tickets after a while.

But it’s important to keep in mind that the $8.99 per month cost only accounts for standard 2D movies. If you want to catch a premium viewing, then additional upcharges will apply. Extra tickets can also be bought at a discounted price of $8.99, rather than the standard normal ticket cost.

Membership cards

Like AMC Stubs A-List, Cinemark’s Movie Club has no physical membership card, so you’re able to use your perks right away after signing up.

All ticket reservations are done online or through the Cinemark app. If you prefer to still go up to the box office to get tickets, that’s fine too! Just pull up your Cinemark ID on your phone and have them scan your unique QR code to redeem your Movie Club credit.

Features and Limitations

As already mentioned, Movie Club only gets you one standard 2D movie credit per month. But unused credits roll over into the next month, and these unused credits can continue to roll over until you redeem them — there’s no expiration on them. If you cancel your Movie Club account, you’ll have six months to redeem any unused credits.

If you go over your credits, you can purchase up to two additional tickets per transaction at the rate of $8.99 each. This is great if you’re bringing a buddy along. Movie Club also gives members 20 percent off concessions, which can add up over time if you always have a case of the munchies while watching movies. And all purchases net you Connections points, which you can use for movie swag, digital downloads, and sweepstakes entries.

Since this is Cinemark, your Movie Club membership is valid at all Cinemark, Century, CinéArts, Tinseltown, and Rave theaters.

Unfortunately, if you don’t frequent these theaters often, then Movie Club may not be your best option. It’s also rather limiting with just one movie per month, and you’ll have to pay extra for premium format viewings.

Who’s it for?

Cinemark’s Movie Club is great for those who only seldom go to the movies, get food and drink often, and want the option of purchasing discounted tickets when needed. And if you don’t mind a small upcharge, being able to view a premium movie every so often is a nice option to have.

Cinemark Theaters – Free – Download Now

What’s your movie subscription service of choice?

Movie subscription services are a rising trend as of late, and it seems that everyone’s using some sort of program these days. But with all of these different options, it’s definitely hard to pick the one that’s right for you. Personally, I was a MoviePass customer but switched to AMC A-List when it came out because I was tired of the constant changes to how MoviePass works.

We’ve listed out all of the pros and cons of each one, and hope that it helps you narrow down your choices. Happy movie-going!

MoviePass – Free – Download Now

Sinemia – Free – Download Now

AMC Theaters – Free – Download Now

Cinemark Theaters – Free – Download Now

Apple Expected to Report Its Best Third Quarter Ever Today

Apple is set to report its earnings results for the third quarter of its 2018 fiscal year at 1:30 p.m. Pacific Time today.

The quarter began April 1, 2018 and ran through June 30, 2018, according to Apple’s fiscal year accounting calendar.

Apple provided the following guidance for the quarter back on May 1:

• revenue of $51.5 billion to $53.5 billion
• gross margin between 38 and 38.5 percent
• op. ex. of $7.7 billion to $7.8 billion
• other income/expense of $400 million
• tax rate of approximately 14.5 percent

Apple’s guidance suggests it will report its best third quarter results ever, by revenue, comfortably topping its 2015 record of $49.6 billion:

• 2014: $37.4 billion
• 2015: $49.6 billion
• 2016: $42.4 billion
• 2017: $45.4 billion
• 2018: $51.5+ billion

Wall Street analysts forecast that Apple will report $52.3 billion revenue, meeting roughly the midpoint of its guidance, and earnings per share of $2.18, according to 29 estimates averaged by Yahoo Finance.

Key Takeaways and What to Look For

• iPhone unit sales of around 41.7 million, according to a FactSet estimate.
• Apple doesn’t break out iPhone sales on a model-by-model basis, but the iPhone’s average selling price should reveal whether the iPhone X remains Apple’s best selling iPhone model since it launched, or if sales have slowed. iPhone ASP was $728 last quarter. $606 in year-ago quarter.
• iPad unit sales should be boosted by the new sixth-generation 9.7-inch iPad, released March 27, just four days before the third quarter.
• Apple’s guidance for its fourth quarter, which runs from July 1 through September 29, as new iPhones will likely be available to order during the final two weeks of the quarter. Analysts expect revenue of $59.5 billion, based on 29 estimates averaged by Yahoo Finance.
• Apple’s comments on the trade war between the United States and China, and what impact it could have on Apple products, if any.
• Continued growth of Apple’s Services category, including the App Store, Apple Music, iCloud, iTunes, Apple Pay, and AppleCare. Loup Ventures expects Services growth of 19 percent on a year-over-year basis.
• Continued growth of Apple’s Other Products category, including the Apple Watch, Apple TV, HomePod, AirPods, Beats, iPod touch, and accessories, as Apple diversifies revenue beyond the iPhone.

Apple’s CEO Tim Cook and CFO Luca Maestri will discuss the company’s earnings results on a conference call at 2:00 p.m. Pacific Time today. MacRumors will loosely transcribe the one-hour call as it occurs live.

Tags: earnings, AAPL
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Apple’s Upcoming 6.5-Inch OLED ‘iPhone X Plus’ to Support iPad-Style Landscape Mode

Rumors have suggested Apple’s upcoming 6.5-inch OLED iPhone, which can be thought of as an “iPhone X Plus” device, will feature a screen resolution of 2688 x 1242 with somewhere around 450 pixels per inch. Comparatively, the current 5.8-inch iPhone X features a screen resolution of 2436 x 1125, and the second-generation device is expected to use the same display.

As with Apple’s plus-sized iPhones, the extra screen real estate of the larger 6.5-inch device will enable an iPad-style landscape mode that offers up more available information in apps like Mail, Contacts, Calendar, and Stocks when viewed in landscape orientation.

This has been confirmed in data gathered by Brazilian site iHelpBR from the most recent beta versions of iOS 12 and Xcode. The site forced the iOS Simulator tool to run at a resolution of 2688 x 1242 with a PPI of 458 and found that many native apps have been adapted with landscape mode features appropriate for a larger device.

In screenshots, the Contacts and Calendar apps, for example, both feature iPad-style layouts that are currently used in plus-sized devices like the iPhone 6 Plus, iPhone 7 Plus, and iPhone 8 Plus.

This suggests that Apple plans to treat the “iPhone X Plus” as it does the other larger-screened Plus devices, taking full advantage of the extra display area, and it also confirms that the upcoming device is likely to use the rumored 2688 x 1242 resolution.

Apple first introduced the new landscape mode features in iOS 8 alongside the release of the iPhone 6 Plus, the first larger-screened Plus sized device that Apple launched. Since then, the feature has been limited to the larger iPhone models.

Though the iPhone X’s 5.8-inch display is bigger diagonally than the 5.5-inch display of the iPhone 8 Plus and prior plus-sized iPhones, it did not adopt the iPad-like landscape mode features.

Related Roundups: 2018 iPhones, iOS 12
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Apple Reports 3Q 2018 Results: $11.5B Profit on $53.3B Revenue and 41.3M iPhones

Apple today announced financial results for the third fiscal quarter of 2018, which corresponds to the second calendar quarter of the year. For the quarter, Apple posted revenue of $53.3 billion and net quarterly profit of $11.5 billion, or $2.34 per diluted share, compared to revenue of $45.4 billion and net quarterly profit of $8.7 billion, or $1.67 per diluted share, in the year-ago quarter.

Gross margin for the quarter was 38.3 percent compared to 38.5 percent in the year-ago quarter, with international sales accounting for 60 percent of revenue. Apple also declared a quarterly dividend payment of $0.73 per share, payable on August 16 to shareholders of record as of August 13.

Apple sold 41.3 million iPhones during the quarter, up slightly from 41.0 million a year earlier, while Mac sales fell to 3.72 million units from 4.29 million units in the year-ago quarter. iPad sales rose slightly to 11.55 million from 11.42 million.

“We’re thrilled to report Apple’s best June quarter ever, and our fourth consecutive quarter of double-digit revenue growth,” said Tim Cook, Apple’s CEO. “Our Q3 results were driven by continued strong sales of iPhone, Services and Wearables, and we are very excited about the products and services in our pipeline.”

Apple’s guidance for the fourth quarter of fiscal 2018 includes expected revenue of $60–62 billion and gross margin between 38 and 38.5 percent.

Apple will provide live streaming of its fiscal Q3 2018 financial results conference call at 2:00 PM Pacific, and MacRumors will update this story with coverage of the conference call highlights.

Conference call starts at 2:00 PM Pacific – No need to refresh

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Tag: earnings
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This simple Chrome extension makes new tabs gorgeous

Google’s backdrops are great, but Apple’s Aerials are awesome.

We’ve talked about how easy it is to bring Apple TV’s excellent Aerial screensavers to Android TV. It’s also possible to use them as your Mac background. And for everyone else — especially those of the chromeOS variety — it’s also possible to use them as what you see when you fire up a new tab in the world’s best browser.

Here’s how to do it:

Install this Chrome extension.
Open a new tab. (I’m a fan of the Ctrl-T method, you might be a mouse clicker. To each his own.)

And that’s in. Inside that new tab you’ll see the gorgeous aerial screensavers Apple’s left open for folks to do with as they please.

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