Own an Alexa device? Don’t miss out on these $10 smart home accessories

Buy now, think later.

Update: Both of the $10 deals are still available. These are amongst some of the best smart home discounts of the year. Make sure you get your order in before the offer expires.

Right now, you can grab TP-Link’s Wi-Fi smart plug mini or LIFX’s mini white smart bulb for just $10 at Amazon when you use coupon code SMART10 during checkout. This pricing is impulse buy territory, seriously. At $10 each, you can afford to give both a try and finally see what all the smart home stuff is about, or expand your current one at a small cost.

This promotion is only available to those who have an Alexa-enabled device, like the Echo Dot linked to their Amazon account, but at this point that’s likely most of you. Both of these accessories can be controlled using your Alexa device with a simple voice command, so if you’ve been looking to expand your current smart home system, or finally try one out, this is the best way to do it. Amazon also has a bunch of other smart home accessories on sale at 20% off, so be sure to check them out as well.

See at Amazon

HTC announces that Android Pie is coming to the U12+, U11, and more

A new version of Android means it’s once again time to peer into my crystal ball.

Did you hear? Android Pie is a thing now. And we know that everyone will want it and want it as soon as possible. That’s how it works and that’s how we are wired. We want updates, we want them to be spectacular and we want them right now.

The reality of the situation is a bit different. Most phones made in the last 18 months will see Android Pie, but some of them will only get updated when we see the first developer preview for Android Q (Quince Jelly or gtfo, Google!) come along. It’s a lot easier for manufacturers to update their phones to a newer version, but it’s still not any better. That’s another article for another time, though. This one is where I guess which phones will get updated sometime in the next 12 months.

Predicting anything Android-related is 10% science and 90% interpretation.

It’s not as easy as you think and many sudsy cold beverages worth of thought goes into my guesses each and every year. About one-third of them are no-brainers, but some of the others are basically the same odds as a coin flip. It seems like manufacturers only care about a few models that get a lot of press time. But I do have to toot my own hat (or something) and say I have a pretty good track record. Luck or skill? You decide. (It’s totally skill.)

Let’s break it down by the major manufacturers of the phones we love and make a few predictions. Remeber, these are just predictions and not any official word on anything from any company unless otherwise noted.

Still waiting for Oreo? Check to see whether your phone will be upgraded!

Google

I always start with Google because it’s easy and I’ll get it right every time. That’s what I want at the top of the page. I say it’s easy because Google has already told us which phones get updated and which won’t.

• The Pixel 2 and Pixel 2 XL have already been updated to Pie.
• The Pixel and Pixel XL have already been updated to Android Pie.
• While not actually from Google, any Android One phones manufactured since October 2017 will also be updated to Pie “later this fall.”

And that’s it. Prior to the Pixel, Google promised two years of full support and three years of security updates for phones they sell under their own brand. The Nexus 6P and Nexus 5X are just about three years old. Auf Wiedersehen, Adieu, Adios, Good Bye. They were great phones.

More: It’s time to say goodbye to the Nexus program for good

Android Beta Program Partners

For the first time ever other companies have joined Google in supporting the Android Beta Program. When it was started for Android Pie (then known simply as P) the following phones joined Google’s Pixel and Pixel 2 family in supporting it:

• Sony Xperia XZ2
• Xiaomi Mi Mix 2S
• Nokia 7 Plus
• Oppo R15 Pro
• Vivo X21
• OnePlus 6
• Essential PH‑1

That means that every one of these phones should see a full-on update to Android Pie in the very near future. In fact, the Essential PH-1 is seeing its update at the same time the Pixel and Pixel 2 are!

We’re proud to bring Android 9 Pie to Essential Phone the same day it’s released! Check your phone now for the update. 🥧 pic.twitter.com/pniUDl9yr8

— Essential (@essential) August 6, 2018

Samsung

Samsung makes more models of a single flagship line like the Galaxy S each year than Google has made in total, but it’s also pretty easy to know which phones Samsung will update because they’re predictable. Samsung offers four “premium” models each year. like 2018’s Galaxy S9, Galaxy S9+, the Galaxy S9 Active that we all know is coming, and the Galaxy Note 9. Even when Samsung sold 15 different models of the Galaxy S6, they were all treated the same when it came to expecting an update.

When to expect it is just as predictable, and it will happen about a year from the date this was first published (March 2018). Some models in Europe will see it first, about a month later it will show up somewhere else, and once Samsung is satisfied it’s not going to totally wreck about a gazillion phones they will give it the green light. Add in whatever time your carrier needs and the final result is just about a year from its initial release.

• The Galaxy S9 and S9+ (and any S9 Active that comes in the future) will be updated to Android Pie.
• The Galaxy Note 9 will be updated to Android Pie.
• The Galaxy S8 and S8+, and the Galaxy S8 Active, will be updated to Android Pie.
• The Galaxy Note 8 will be updated to Android Pie.

Here’s where it gets interesting. there are a handful of other Galaxy phones that have a huge regional fanbase. In India, for example, the Galaxy J models are huge hits because they offer most of the same experience you find in a Galaxy S at a lower price. Samsung will give them the same treatment the Galaxy S and Note lines receive. That’s not the most interesting part, though. That would be the seemingly random phones that Samsung decides to update. We don’t know why we see this every year (Carrier requests? Developer favorites? Aliens?) we just like seeing it. And we all wish we saw more of it.

LG

LG has always been a wildcard when I write this post every year. Like Samsung, there are a few “important” models that get all the press coverage and plenty of other more inexpensive models that most of us aren’t talking about.

LG also mentioned some streamlining in the release cycle, which hopefully gives the development teams time to get an update out the door and have it be a good update.

• The LG G7 ThinQ will be updated to Android Pie.
• The LG V30 (including the V30S or whatever models we have seen or will see) will be updated to Android Pie.
• The LG V20 will be updated to Android Pie.
• The LG G6 will see Android Pie.

Older models like the G5 and V10 are done seeing any attention and won’t see any updates. LG makes a handful of phones that aren’t quite flagship material, and we know it is willing to spend the time and money on updating some of them even if your carrier isn’t and you never see it. That means nothing is a given.

I also think LG consolidating things and releasing phones when they think it’s time for a new model rather than by looking at a calendar will make a difference here and lead to longer support.

Huawei

Huawei is tough to read. It hasn’t abandoned the Asian way of doing smartphones like LG and Samsung have for their U.S. divisions and sometimes that means the things the company does can be puzzling to those of us used to the Western way of thinking. Just when I think I have figured out exactly which phones are the company’s flagship models that will get the lion’s share of time and money spent, they change it all up. That’s a good thing.

Something made Huawei change the way it redistributes and maintains phones running the EMUI operating system (Huawei’s version of Android) in 2017 and I think that’s going to be reflected when it comes to Android P updates.

• The Huawei P10 will be updated to Android Pie.
• The Huawei Mate 10 will be updated to Android Pie.
• The Honor 9 and Honor View 10 series will be updated to Android Pie. I’m hoping, but less confident about the Honor 7X.
• The Huawei Mate 9 will probably be updated to Android Pie, but we’ll see.

This includes the various Plus, Pro, and Porsche models (I want a Porsche phone) as well, and because EMUI is so different than every other smartphone software available users will have no idea which version of Android they are running unless they look.

Besides, if the things a handful of little birds are saying happen to be true, EMUI 9 isn’t going to be able to run on any hardware older than what comes in these phones.

Motorola

Motorola had a weird 2017. That’s putting it mildly. They released like 100 phones in the Americas and Western Europe (Editor’s note: it was actually 9) and they ranged from the surprisingly great $100 Moto E4 to the Moto X4, the first of hopefully many non-Google phones you can use on Project Fi, and all the Z and Force you can handle in between.. And they did it without compromising the G series which has been a company staple for years from the smartphone division.

Moto phones under Lenovo are slowly becoming like the Thinkpad — quietly chugging along in the background doing their thing. And doing it well.

So far in 2018, we’ve heard the company is going to release more phones than ever this year and that they were scaling back and had to lay off employees (in the same week, no less) so we’re not sure just what to expect in the coming months. One thing I am pretty sure of is that every one of those 2017 phones, as well as any we see in 2018, will be updated to Android Pie.

That’s right, no bullet point list of the highlight models. Every Moto phone manufactured in 2017 or later will see Android Pie.

Lenovo has taken a lot of the fanfare surrounding Android version updates away and quietly builds them in the background. Maybe the update horrorshow that happened when the company first absorbed Moto branding made them decide the limelight is a better place to be. Or maybe when you build like 100 different models, an update day feels more like a Tuesday than something special.

HTC

Disappointing sales have left the future of HTC’s smartphone business in uncertainty, but assuming the company doesn’t go under in the next few months, it’s announced that it’ll be updating four of its smartphones to Android 9 Pie. The list is as follows:

• HTC U12+
• HTC U11
• HTC U11+
• HTC U11 Life (Android One version)

We’re pleased as pie to confirm updates to Android Pie for the HTC U12+, U11+, U11, and U11 life (Android One). Timeframes for roll-out will be announced in due course. We can’t wait to know what you think of Google’s freshest slice of Android! pic.twitter.com/mPJePFegne

— HTC (@htc) August 10, 2018

Annnnddd…that’s it.

HTC says that it’ll release timeframes for its Pie updates “in due course”, and as those announcements are made, we’ll update this article accordingly.

Must mentions

These may be the companies we’re most familiar with in the west that sell Android phones, but they aren’t the only companies doing it. Out of the literally hundreds of models available, a few stand out and need mentioning.

• OnePlus will update the 5 and 5T and 3 and 3T.
• Sony’s high-end Xperia like the Zs and Xs from 2017 and 2018 will be updated, but other models probably won’t be.
• The BlackBerry KEYone probably won’t be upgraded to Android Pie, but we know the KEY2 will be.
• Now that Nokia has committed to Android One across all of its devices, there’s a good chance many of the more expensive models, like the Nokia 7 and Nokia 8 Sirocco, will join the 7 Plus in Pie-land.
• Someone at XDA will update their Nexus One to Android Pie and I am going to do my best to get Google to send that person a brand new Pixel 3 NotchXL.

Like mentioned earlier, these are just educated guesses at this point. but one thing I know for certain is that no matter what the phone, any updates will feel like they took too long to make it into our hands. That’s just how we’re wired.

Android 9 Pie

• Android 9 Pie review: Greater than the sum of its slices
• Everything you need to know about Android 9 Pie!
• Will my phone get Android Pie?
• How to get Android 9 Pie on your Pixel right now
• Join the Discussion

Updated August 10, 2018: Added new info regarding HTC’s Pie plans.

Download the Galaxy Note 9’s official wallpapers right here

It’s finally here. After relentless leaks, rumors, and more, Samsung’s finally unveiled the Galaxy Note 9.

Even though we already knew a lot about the phone prior to its official announcement, there’s still plenty to talk about. What colors does it come in? What are the final specs? Were we impressed during our hands-on preview?

All those questions and more are answered right here, so without further ado, here’s everything you need to know about the Samsung Galaxy Note 9.

Check out our hands-on preview

Before you do anything else, be sure to check out our initial hands-on preview of the Galaxy Note 9!

This is Samsung’s biggest and most powerful phone of the year, and during our early look, we got a chance to check out the Note 9’s design, new S Pen features, cameras, and more.

Samsung Galaxy Note 9 hands-on preview: $1000 well spent

Here are the specs

Like past Notes before it, the Galaxy Note 9 is packed to the gills with all of the latest available tech. That means it has the latest processor, a massive battery, an insane amount of RAM, and much more.

Here are all the specs you can look forward to.

Samsung Galaxy Note 9 specifications

The 4,000 mAh battery is huge

Samsung’s Galaxy Note phones have typically been known for packing huge batteries, but following the disaster that was the Note 7, Samsung decided to play it safe with the Note 8 by including a fairly modest 3,300 mAh battery.

With the Note 9, Samsung’s going all the way with a seriously huge 4,000 mAh pack.

It’s being touted that the Note 9 will offer XX hours of use on a single charge, and while we’ll certainly need to put the phone through its paces to see how accurate that claim is, we’ve got high hopes considering the battery’s size and power efficiency of the Snapdragon 845.

When you do finally drain the Note 9, you’ll be able to top it up via wired and wireless fast charging.

Should you upgrade from the Note 8?

As exciting as the Galaxy Note 9 is shaping up to be, last year’s Note 8 is still one heck of a smartphone.

The Note 9 offers the expected improvements in regards to RAM, camera performance, etc., but really gets a strong edge over its predecessor thanks to its improved S Pen and a massive battery.

Then again, if you already have the Note 8 and don’t feel like throwing down $900 (?) on a new phone, maybe upgrading isn’t the right move for you?

Let Andrew break everything down for you in his comparison of the Note 8 and Note 9

How’s it compare to other phones?

That’s fine and dandy, but how’s the Note 9 hold up against other non-Note devices?

Without a doubt, one of the Note 9’s biggest competitors comes from Samsung itself with the Galaxy S9+. A lot of features are shared between the two phones, including a large Super AMOLED display, Snapdragon 845, Samsung’s custom software, excellent dual cameras, and more.

The Note 9 is obviously the only one of the two that uses the S Pen, but is that reason enough to make the pricey upgrade?

Similarly, there are still plenty of other phones that are scheduled to come out before 2018 is over — most importantly the Google Pixel 3 XL. Rumors and leaks are hinting at a phone with considerably slimmer bezels, an even better camera package, and an all-glass back (not to mention the ginormous notch).

Samsung Galaxy Note 9 vs. Galaxy S9+

Should you buy the Galaxy Note 9 or wait for the Google Pixel 3 XL?

A lot is new with the S Pen

The S Pen is easily the biggest reason so many people flock to the Note series year after year, and this time around, Samsung’s giving the S Pen one of its biggest upgrades in years.

For the first time, Samsung’s adding Bluetooth Low Energy to the S Pen. With this new connectivity, the S Pen picks up a heap of new features that allow you to control the Note 9 from a distance.

Some use cases include being able to use the S Pen and its button as a camera shutter, navigating through presentations, and more. The presence of Bluetooth also means this is the first S Pen to have a battery, and as with all things that have a battery, the S Pen will need to be charged.

Thankfully, seeing as how the S Pen seamlessly charges in the background when stored inside the Note 9, this shouldn’t ever prove to be an issue of any sort.

Get the official wallpapers right here!

New Samsung phones always come with striking wallpapers to help jazz up your home screen, and even if you don’t have the funds/interest to get a Note 9 right now, you can still bring its look to your exisitng handset with its official wallpapers.

We’ve got all 12 listed above for your viewing pleasure, and if you want to throw one (or all) of them on your phone, feel free to download ’em as you see fit.

These are all the colors

Samsung’s typically one of the better OEMs when it comes to offering a good variety of colors, and with the Note 9, that’s no different.

In the United States, buyers will be able to choose from Ocean Blue and Lavender Purple. In other parts of the world, Samsung’s releasing Midnight Black and Metallic Copper.

Here’s where you can buy the Note 9

There are a lot of reasons you may want to pick up the Note 9, and whatever those reasons may be, you’ve got a lot of options for deciding where to get it.

In the United States, pricing starts at $999.99 for the 128GB model and goes up to $1249.99 for the 512GB one.

You’ll be able to get the phone at Best Buy, Amazon, Samsung’s website, all of the major carriers, and more.

Where to buy the Galaxy Note 9: Best deals for your new phone

Samsung Galaxy Note 9

• Samsung Galaxy Note 9 hands-on preview
• Galaxy Note 9 vs. Note 8
• Where to buy the Galaxy Note 9
• Galaxy Note 9 specifications
• Is the Note 8 still a good buy?
• Join our Galaxy Note 9 forums

AT&T
Verizon
T-Mobile
Samsung

Updated August 10, 2018: Added the Note 9’s official wallpapers!

How to install Android Pie Beta 4 on the Nokia 7 Plus

The Nokia 7 Plus is receiving the last Android Pie beta right now.

One of the more interesting announcements to come out of Google I/O 2018 was the fact that the Android Pie Beta would be making its way to third-party phones. Aside from the Pixels, seven phones from the likes of Nokia, Xiaomi, and Sony got onboard the beta, making it the largest expansion to the Android beta program following its inception a few years ago.

The Nokia 7 Plus is one of the devices on the list, and its inclusion is interesting as it is the only mid-ranger in the beta program. HMD has done a great job rolling out new beta builds to the device, and is currently offering Beta 4 to devices enrolled in the beta. This is the last beta build, and HMD is looking to iron out a few kinks before rolling out the stable Android Pie build.

If you’ve already installed the Android Pie beta on your Nokia 7 Plus, then just head into the settings and go to system update to manually initiate the download. If you’re running Oreo, then you’ll have to flash the image onto the device. Here’s how you can install Android Pie Beta 4 on the Nokia 7 Plus.

Before we begin: Installing the Android Pie Beta will get rid of all the data on your phone, so make sure you have your files and photos backed up.

Register your Nokia 7 Plus for the beta

You’ll have to validate your device on Nokia’s website before you can install the Android Pie Beta. To do so, head to this site, register for a Nokia account (if you don’t already have one), and add your device.

You should enter the IMEI number of your Nokia 7 Plus (open the dialer and enter *#06#) on the page, as well as the carrier your SIM card is registered to, and the country. Then hit Register and your device will be validated and ready to install the Android Pie Beta.

Getting started

The easiest way to get the Android Pie beta on your Nokia 7 Plus after registering the device on Nokia’s website is via an OTA update. Go to the Install over the air section, select the check box and hit Request OTA, and your device should receive the Beta 4 OTA build shortly. This works even if you’re on the stable Oreo build.

If you’ve already requested an OTA and haven’t received one, then you’ll have to manually flash the beta build onto your device. To do so, you’ll need to install the Android SDK, or just use a utility like Minimal ADB and Fastboot if you’re using Windows.

Here’s what you need to download before proceeding with the installation:

• Download the Android P Beta build from Nokia (1.40GB)
• Install Minimal ADB and Fastboot or the Android SDK

Factory reset your device before installing Android Pie

Before you can install the Android Pie Beta, you’ll have to factory reset your Nokia 7 Plus. But there’s one step that comes before this, and that’s enabling USB debugging from the developer options. Head to Settings -> System -> About phone and tap on the build number seven times. Enter your PIN or passcode to enable developer options.

Go to the previous menu (System) and you’ll see the developer options listed. Tap the menu, scroll down, and toggle USB debugging to enabled. This will allow you to sideload the beta build.

Nokia’s beta labs page specifically states that you’ll have to clear the data via recovery mode and not from the phone’s settings, so you’ll have to boot into recovery first. Here’s how you can do so:

Power off your device and connect it to your computer.
Press the Power and Volume Up keys simultaneously for 10 seconds.
Release the keys once you see the Android One boot screen.
You’ll now see a screen with the Android robot and a red exclamation mark with “no command” written underneath.
Hold the Power button and then press the Volume Up key once to see the recovery mode menu.
Select factory reset to reset your device (scroll through the menu with the volume buttons, and use the power button to make a selection).
At the next screen, hit Yes to confirm the factory reset.

Install Android Pie Beta on the Nokia 7 Plus

Once your device has been reset, you will be able to install the Android Pie build via ADB:

In recovery mode, scroll to the “Apply update from ADB” option.
Open up a command prompt on your computer and navigate to the folder where you downloaded the beta build.
Enter adb devices. You should be able to see sideload on the device screen.
Enter the following command: adb sideload B2N-3050-0-00WW-B01-update.zip (switch out B2N-3050-0-00WW-B01-update with the filename on your build).
You should see a progress bar indicating the status of the installation.
Once the installation is complete, select “Reboot system now”.

Once your device reboots, you’ll be able to set it up from scratch and start using Android Pie.

Android Pie stable OTA is coming soon

HMD is gearing up to launch the Android Pie stable build on the Nokia 7 Plus, and the OTA should be arriving in the coming weeks. There’s no mention of when it will make its way to HMD’s other phones, but as the manufacturer has committed to the Android One initiative for all of its devices, it should be arriving before the end of the year.

Android 9 Pie

• Android 9 Pie review: Greater than the sum of its slices
• Everything you need to know about Android 9 Pie!
• Will my phone get Android Pie?
• How to get Android 9 Pie on your Pixel right now
• Join the Discussion

Detroit: Become Human has surpassed a million in sales!

Look into your soul and decide whether you’re OK with letting history repeat itself.

Quantic Dream is one of those rare studios which dares to be different, and the company’s 2018 title – Detroit: Become Human – continues that reputation of peculiarness. You could describe the company’s works to date as interactive movies more than they are games, with the experience primarily driven by narrative and decision making.

Expect more of the same out of Detroit. That’s not to say that the game doesn’t deserve its status as such. You won’t need pristine mechanical gaming skills or muscle memory to get through it. It’s all about influencing the game through your choices and watching it all unfold. Here’s everything you need to know about Detroit: Become Human.

August 10, 2018 — Over a million and counting

It wasn’t long ago that we learned Detroit: Become Human surpassed over 1 million sales since launch. Since then, over 1.5 million people are said to have experienced the thrill of fighting for humanoid rights.

While it doesn’t sound like a runaway success on paper, Detroit: Become Human is a rather niche game available on one platform. By Quantic Dream’s standards, it’s by far and away their most successful game in the same time period. To compare, the game is performing well above Heavy Rain, according to NPD. It’s up 20% compared to Heavy Rain, the flagship interactive story Quantic Dream produced for the PlayStation 3.

Does this mean Quantic will continue to support Detroit with more content post-launch? That’s tough to say for now. The company historically preferred to move directly onto new projects instead of releasing episodic DLC or significant updates.

David Cage hasn’t ruled the possibility out, however, noting that there is still a ton of backstory available for many of the characters in the game, as well as room to maneuver for post-story happenings. He also mentioned that stuff could just as soon be introduced as a sequel. Either way, nothing is promised, so enjoy what we have now and hope for the best.

History repeats itself

Detroit: Become Human is a classic thought-provoking story by Quantic. It’s designed from the ground up to make you question your every move, as well as your resolve, emotions, and morals. In this game, you’ll take control of at least three characters, all of whom are sentient robots called androids living in futuristic Detroit.

These androids were first employed as helpers. Naturally, the humans thought this was the perfect role for them as they were to be emotionless beings whose actions are entirely programmed by their makers. But as these types of stories always go, they become aware, and they eventually figure out just how oppressed they really are.

You’ll see the events unfold through the eyes of three such characters:

• Kara: This is the main character designed to get you emotionally attached. Kara is the “nanny-bot” of the story, the typical service android that shows how life with these things should be. She helps a single father whose baby girl needs taking care of. Kara eventually shows signs of becoming sentient, teetering on the lines of obedience and rebelliousness.
• Connor: He’s an android detective, and his entire mission is to track down what they consider to be rogue bots. If a robot is overstepping its boundaries, Connor makes sure they’re corrected one way or another.
• Markus: Say hello to your classic rebel. Markus is probably the most “woke” of all the androids, with a strong play for civil rights, freedom, and equality being his driving force. His role in inspiring other androids to take a stand and fight for their rights is the polarizing issue driving the plot at large.

Detroit’s script is classically long, with its writer – David Cage – known for going over 2,000 pages with all his work. You likely won’t experience all 2,000 of those pages in one sitting, and maybe not even in five.

You can expect an overwhelming amount of branched dialog choices and multiple possible story outcomes. In fact, Quantic Dream suggests there are over 1,000 possible combinations. That’s likely an exaggeration as minor, inconsequential changes in detail will inflate that number, but you don’t have to worry about a shortage of conclusions.

And there’s a lot to it, to boot. The game touches on many of the issues prevalent in today’s society: racial inequality and prejudices; domestic abuse and violence; love. These games have always challenged the player’s soul.

You may be thinking to yourself by now: this is iRobot, The Game. That’s one way to put it, and we won’t argue. While it’s not the iRobot game we imagined we’d get – there were some really cool battle scenes in that movie that you won’t be able to replicate with pure gaming skill – it’s close enough in its underlying theme to make us happy.

Your choices matter

There isn’t much to Detroit’s gameplay. You control the three main characters of the game as you guide them throughout the city’s various environments to look for information, clues, details, and more.

That’s not to say that Detroit won’t have your adrenaline pumping or have your critical thinking skills put to the test. The constant threat to your favorite characters’ safety and your ultimate desire to see the happy outcome you’re hoping to see will have you mulling over each decision as carefully as you can. Your choices of dialog in any given situation are polarizing enough to tear away at the very fabric of your sanity. Your connection to these characters will grow.

Quantic Dreams is trying something a bit different with Detroit: Become Human in that regard, though. In years past, the formula for deciding the outcome of a situation was hidden to the player. You were left to use your deductive reasoning skills to try and figure out where the story would turn. It was obvious in some cases, but really vague in others. To be fair, it added to the feeling of uncertainty that kept you on edge and has become a staple trait of Quantic’s games.

This time, however, we get what’s called a ‘Probability of Success’ meter that shows in real time the consequences of your choices and actions. It seems to be a reliable way to gauge how certain situations will play out and could ultimately help you figure out how you want to react to each situation. But it is only a probability of success, after all, and your outcomes are never guaranteed.

Get ready for Detroit: Become Human

Ready to play Detroit: Become Human? You won’t have long to wait, as its release date is pegged for May 25th, 2018. That date is set in stone, too, with recent news that the game has gone gold, which means they’ve finalized the game and will start producing copies based on the master Blu-Ray disc on which it was preserved.

If early gameplay footage and previews don’t do it for you, there’s a free demo available to download on the PlayStation Store. It features you playing as Connor in a heated attempt to save a woman’s daughter. You’ll get a good serving of that gut-punching dialog and a scenario that does well to preview everything the game has to offer. There are even multiple endings, so there’s a reason to replay it after you’ve run through it for the first time.

If you’ve decided to pre-order it then you’ll want to know the best places to spend your money. For starters, every single pre-order of the standard edition of Detroit: Become Human will net you a dynamic PS4 theme and the game’s digital soundtrack, the latter of which should be able to contend with your library’s most memorable scores.

Amazon Prime members will get 20% off the game’s usual cost of $60, which brings the total to $47.

See at Amazon

Best Buy also offers the same discount for its Gamers Club Unlocked members.

See at Best Buy

For folks who don’t want to pay the cost to be part of either service, Newegg figures to be your best bet with a flat $10 off for anyone who buys it at their online storefront.

See at Newegg

There’s also a $70 digital deluxe copy available, and you’ll definitely want to consider spending the extra $10 here. The biggest benefit is that it comes with a digital copy of Heavy Rain, Quantic Dream’s PS3-bound classic. Heavy Rain was a huge improvement on the company’s signature formula and still holds up as one of the finest interactive storytelling experiences gaming has to offer. Other goodies include a digital artbook, the digital deluxe soundtrack, 2 PS4 dynamic themes, and 10 PS4 avatars. The digital deluxe edition costs the same no matter where you buy it.

See at Amazon

Updated August 2018: Detroit: Become Human is off to a nice start as it’s been played by over a million people since launch!

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

Cavalier Maverick review: Nails everything but the bass

If you’re looking for a great-looking alternative to the Amazon Echo, there’s none better.

I’m a huge fan of portable Bluetooth speakers. As I’ve been reviewing them over the last two years, I’ve amassed a solid collection, and I’ve tried everything from the absolutely abysmal to the jaw-droppingly marvelous. The Cavalier Maverick, however, is my first Wi-Fi enabled portable speaker, and when I was offered the chance to review it, with its elegant good looks and Alexa integration, I pounced.

I’ll say this right now: this thing rocked my socks, but didn’t quite knock ’em off. This is the Cavalier Audio Maverick.

Cavalier Audio Maverick

Price: $299.99

Bottom line: It’s a sleeker, sexier Amazon Echo that’s missing a couple features, but not enough to make it a non-buy.

See at Cavalier

**Pros*

• It’s the best-looking Bluetooth speaker I’ve seen
• Alexa integration is simple and works well
• Setup is simple and it easily switches between modes
• Responsive touch control

Cons

• The bass is lacking
• Missing some key Alexa features, like texting
• $299.99 is pretty expensive, even for what you get

Echo’s sexy cousin

Cavalier Audio Maverick Wi-Fi/Bluetooth speaker What I like

I don’t want to come across as shallow, but daaaaaaamn this thing is fine. I received the “Indigo” version, which features blue mesh with a real brown leather accent and matching charging base. The colors complement one another beautifully, and nothing about this speaker feels cheap.

It’s somewhat weighty — not heavy, but it feels substantial. The volume knob on top keeps things simple with a very responsive touch control (tap once for play/pause, twice for skipping tracks, three times to go back a track), and the five LEDs are there to indicate connections, battery level, and Alexa, with multicolor LEDs that are effective, good-looking, but not ostentatious.

This is as much a statement of style as it is of functionality.

That genuine leather strip on the front isn’t necessary, but this is as much a statement of style as it is of functionality. Speaking of function, the fact that both the charging base and speaker have a USB-C port is refreshing and a show of foresight. Every other Bluetooth speaker I have around the house still has Micro-USB, despite having only come out in the last year or so.

The Alexa integration in the Maverick is a delight. It works just like an Amazon Echo, with a few caveats that aren’t deal-breakers for me: you can’t change the wake word and you can’t send text messages. Other than that, it works like a dream — I was just about instantly able to connect to some smart plugs I have and use them flawlessly, and the Maverick’s microphone is responsive and quick. It’s basically just a sexier, better sounding first-gen Echo.

Where this has the leg up on the regular Echo is that you can remove the Maverick from the charging base and take it anywhere. The ability to start playing Spotify in the kitchen while I’m making dinner and then just grab the speaker and head into the living room, while maintaining full control through Alexa, is dynamite.

All about that treble

Cavalier Audio Maverick Wi-Fi Bluetooth speaker What I don’t like

The list of things I dislike about this speaker is short, but important in relation to whether or not I would buy this for myself. The Maverick lacks a present low end. That’s not to say the tone of the speaker is tinny, because it isn’t; it’s actually white warm and lovely. But there is absolutely no punch to the bass.

The Maverick’s tones aren’t tinny, but there is no punch to the bass.

You can adjust the EQ in the Cavalier app, but cranking the bass up as high as it goes has very little effect. I tried it with audio from multiple sources (Spotify, music physically on my phone, my Mac), and I actually found that things sound better over Bluetooth than over Wi-Fi. I have a cheap VTIN Royaler speaker with incredible sound, so I tend to hold very expensive speakers at least to that standard, and I find the Maverick’s low end quite subpar. That being said, when I compared the two speakers side by side, I found the Maverick’s sound to be far more well-rounded — mids are more present, and the high end is very clean.

All that being said, after listening for more than my test songs, I came to find that I really like the Cavalier’s tone, if I do find it a little off-putting when normally bass-heavy tunes don’t quite pack the kickapow that I like.

The only other thing I’m kind of “meh” on for the Maverick is the Cavalier app; it’s clunky and not exactly intuitive. Getting to certain settings that should just be in a settings menu is awkward, and you have to first tap the speaker you’re using and then there’s your Alexa, audio, and other settings. I suppose it does make sense, since you can connect multiple Mavericks together to get a whole-home audio system going over Wi-Fi, but it’s rather inelegant.

It would also be really awesome if the Maverick supported Google Home as well as (or instead of) Alexa, since that’s my personal preference, but there are so few third-party Google Assistant speakers right now that I really can’t fault Cavalier.

Cavalier Audio Maverick

If I were looking for a third-party alternative to Amazon Echo devices, this would probably be the one I’d buy… If I had the money for it. $300 is a big ask for what you get (in my frugal opinion), but the fact that you get a stunning speaker that sits on its leather-clad charging base and can go anywhere with you is gold.

The Maverick is easy to set up and control, and I can even get past its fairly absent low end, since you don’t really notice after a while.

4.5
out of 5

If you have $300 to spend and basically just want a sexier Echo, then have at the Maverick. Execution alone makes this a buy.

See at Cavalier

The best external hard drives for the PlayStation 4

The days of cracking open a PS4 for expansion are over!

PlayStation 4 owners have no shortage of choice when it comes to storage expansion. Popping out the internal drive is fairly easy, but if you don’t want to go through that trouble there’s an alternative. Just plug a USB hard drive into your console, and instantly you have all the storage you could ever need.

All you need now is to pick the right drive for your needs. Here are some solid options available to you today.

Seagate Portable 2TB

If you are looking for a boost in storage space from a that has a small footprint, This Seagate drive is a great option. It’s super thin and can fit just about anywhere. Not only that, but it has a perfect design that will fit right in with the black and blue styling of the PlayStation.

You can one up at Amazon for a mere $86. It also comes in a 4TB flavor for $115.

See at Amazon

Western Digital WD Elements

People who want to massively upgrade the storage on their PS4 but don’t want the hard drive to take up a lot of space aren’t left with a ton of options, but one of the better choices comes from Western Digital. The WD Elements series isn’t small enough to be pocketable but can be concealed on most entertainment centers. Most important of all, it’s a 2TB drive, so you’re unlikely to fill it with your PlayStation 4 games anytime soon.

See at Amazon

WD Elements do also come in 1TB and 3TB variants, but for $80 the 2TB model is the most competitively priced and will be more than enough for most PS4 owners.

Seagate Expansion

If all you really care about is storage, and you want to make sure you never have to worry about running out of storage on your PlayStation 4 ever again, the Seagate Expansion series has you covered. These external hard drives will go up to 5TB in capacity but is one of the few 3TB options for under $100 if you’re also concerned with your budget.

See at Amazon

These drives are big, so don’t grab one thinking you’re going to be able to easily hide it next to your PlayStation 4. As long as that isn’t a problem for you, these $82 drives will get the job done.

BYOD (Bring Your Own Drive)

Not everyone needs to buy a whole new external drive to expand a PlayStation 4; you just need a solid enclosure to put an existing drive in. If that’s you, the Inateck enclosure is everything you need. It’s USB 3.0 enabled, offers an aluminum body to better handle heat dissipation when under stress, and doesn’t require any additional software to set up.

See on Amazon

Drop your drive in, connect to your PlayStation 4, and you’re done. Not bad for $27, assuming you already have a drive you aren’t using.

Update August 2018: Updated with current prices and new drive options!

Why are we talking about PlayStation 4 stuff on Android Central? Let us explain.

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

The Pixel 3 XL may be the first phone from Google I don’t want

“Stock” Android is what I want, but not like this.

People who know me also know that I’m a fan of Android the way Google builds it on its own phones. Anyone can build Android and is free to add or take away whatever parts they like, but the small additions that Google adds make Android something unique and awesome.

But later this year, I may not want to use a phone from Google.

It’s not the software’s fault — I think Android Pie is the best mobile operating system you can use today even if it has the worst name of anything, anywhere. No, I’m feeling this because of what I know in my heart and what I’ve seen in regard to the Pixel 3 XL. So far, none of which has me feeling very good about it.

I hated gestures on my Palm Pre and they were far better than Android Pie’s offerings.

The idea that the Pixel 3 and beyond will rely on navigation through gestures isn’t crazy. Google might not have come out and said it plainly, but it’s obvious that the company wants to use gesture-based navigation in lieu of any sort of buttons in Android Pie. If that means there will be no way to bring buttons onto the display, it’s a horrible and thoughtless decision. I’m currently going through physical therapy and each week I see folks who would definitely not want to rely on small delicate motions of their appendages to use a smartphone. I’m thankful that I could use one but still have zero desire. I hated gestures on my Pre. I hated the gestures on every one of the Symbian phones I had. I’m not a gesture kind of guy.

And then there is the notch.

Notches on a display are stupid and lazy. They are a stop-gap because a company hasn’t figured out a way to do what it wants to do while providing an unspoiled display area. The notch on some phones may be functional — they often house sensors and cameras — but I don’t care. I think they are disruptive and make using my phone a worse experience by being there. I’m sorry, but the notch is not fine and I don’t want to get used to it. (It’s OK, Hayato, you’re still a helluva guy.)

The only thing worse than a notch is someone who tells me to stop complaining about them.

When Vivo is able to build a smartphone without a notch and still have a wall-to-wall display (which is equally stupid in my opinion) and companies like Apple and LG do not, something is wrong. I would rather have a place to place my hands that’s not part of the screen when I’m holding a phone, but if you insist on selling me something that’s all display up front, don’t cut part of it out because you couldn’t figure things out. I wouldn’t tolerate a notch at the top of my television or computer monitor and I’m not going to settle for one on my phone.

My only hope is that this fad of selling phones with full-frontal displays that aren’t really all display quickly dies before every company starts doing it. I’ll happily use my BlackBerry KEY2 throughout much of 2019 while I await the KEY3, but when it comes to “stock” Android I’ll use my Pixel 2 if the Pixel 3 ships with no software buttons and big ugly places where the display is missing.

Is it wrong to hope that Samsung makes another Google Play Edition phone?

Google Pixel 2 and Pixel 2 XL

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

Best Buy
Verizon
Google Store
Project Fi

The Lenovo Chromebook 500e is the best Chromebook a student can buy

We are a team of experienced and knowledgeable Chromebook experts that test every model that comes out. We are also parents, so we know what students need in a laptop.

The Lenovo Chromebook 500e is a great educational device. It’s cheap and offers robust software experiences and access to school services. It’s easy to manage and use, versatile and attractive and comes with a stylus for taking notes. It’s the best of all worlds for a student.

Our pick

Lenovo Chromebook 500e

Top Pick

$309 at Lenovo

The Lenovo Chromebook 500e is built like a tank with a reinforced shell and rubber bumpers that make it MIL-STD 810G compliant so it’s going to survive banging around in a backpack. The Chromebook 500e is designed for educational use but still has the options we want to see in our best pick. It’s exactly what a busy student needs.

Why you should buy this Chromebook

The Chromebook 500e was built for students to carry back and forth to class without worry because of its rugged build. Features like a 360-degree hinge and excellent pen support make it the best Chromebook for any student. Lenovo’s long history of making excellent laptops shines through with the keyboard and trackpad and the display is specially bonded to work excellent with the built-in Wacom EMR pen.

Inside, you have plenty of power to get things done with an Intel processor and ample 64GB or storage. And Android app support is an added bonus that means a student will be able to find the app they need to be productive in class.

Reasons to buy

• Fantastic build quality
• 360-degree hinge
• Included pen
• Great battery life
• Powerful processor
• Lots of storage

Reasons not to buy

• Trackpad isn’t great
• A bit heavy

There are plenty of great alternatives for students

The Lenovo Chromebook 500e is an amazing Chromebook, but there are plenty of other options, especially if you’re looking for something a bit smaller or thinner.

For younger students

Acer Chromebook Tab

For Younger Students

$345 at Amazon

The Chromebook Tab is light and easy to hold, is great for more interaction with learning materials, and helps young students learn spelling and grammar by being more hands-on. While many Chromebooks can fold into a tablet, the Chromebook Tab 10 is a tablet.

Not quite a Chromebook, not quite an Android tablet, the Chromebook Tab is great for youngsters who need to learn by touching and doing.

Our budget pick

2018 Acer Chromebook 11

Best on a budget

$270 from Amazon

Acer’s new Chromebook 11 is an affordable and dependable Chromebook that has no aspirations to be anything else. The beautiful blue body doesn’t flip over into a tablet, there is no touch display or pen input — it’s a Chromebook.

The Acer Chromebook 11 is a throwback to the days when a Chromebook was just a great, inexpensive laptop. That makes it simple to use and easy on your wallet.

Bottom line

Students have some incredible options these days when shopping for a Chromebook. They can go the traditional route by getting something like the Acer Chromebook 11, or go in the complete opposite direction and buy a Chrome tablet that is super portable.

But we think the Lenovo Chromebook 500e is a student’s best bet right now.

Update, August 2018: The Lenovo Chromebook 500e is the best choice for a student because it’s tough and offers excellent performance

Chromebooks

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

LIFX smart bulbs, TP-Link smart plugs, and more are 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 TP-Link’s smart plug mini, LIFX’s smart bulb, SanDisk microSD cards, kitchen knives, 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!