MrMobile: The Galaxy Note 9 is a smartphone that’s actually worth $1000
I get it, you guys: no one thinks smartphones should actually cost a thousand bucks. Motorola kicks out incredible quality on the low end with its Moto G series; the OnePlus 6 delivers a truly exceptional experience at under $550; and buying last year’s flagships is another smart way to save coin. Given all these options, it seems ludicrous to drop ten Benjamins for any mobile device.
But the $1000 phone isn’t going anywhere, folks – and not just because people like me are “saying it’s okay,” as I’ve read many times in the comments. Rising component costs, market forces like inflation, and (yes) good old-fashioned greed will ensure that four-figure phones remain a reality for years to come. Plus, in a country like the United States where four out of every five smartphones are sold by a carrier with a monthly installment plan, the sting of that spend is sufficiently dulled that people are still whipping out the wallets. Just ask Apple.
The question then becomes: if you’re not in the market for an iPhone, but you’re willing to spend four figures for a supreme experience, which phone is worth the cheddar? Probably not one of the indulgent Porsche Design-branded Huaweis, unless you really need to stand out. And importing an Oppo Find X will still run you more than you should spend (at least until the European model becomes more widely available).
No, for me it’s Samsung’s Galaxy Note 9, with its epic combination of near-flawless screen, large battery, top-shelf specs, and newly-revised S Pen stylus, that wins the day. Sure, it’s still a glass sandwich, which I’m getting a little tired of, and I’m not getting the kind of endurance I think I should be from a power pack this robust … but even after taking these compromises into account, the Galaxy Note 9 is still the only phone I’d willingly drop a thousand bucks on. Check out my in-depth thoughts in the Galaxy Note 9 review video above, then head over to Android Central’s full review here … and if you have a contrary opinion, feel free to @ me – by subscribing to the YouTube Channel and leaving a comment there!
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Lenovo Smart Display: Everything you need to know
The Echo Show is so 2017.
Ever since the Google Home came out in 2016, Google Assistant-powered smart speakers have been among the most popular smart home gadgets on the market.
We’ve seen these devices come in all sorts of shapes and sizes, and now with the Lenovo Smart Display, we’ve got a Google Assistant speaker that comes with its own screen.
The Lenovo Smart Display is one of the most powerful (yet still rather affordable) smart speakers on the market right now, and if you’re already sucked into the Google ecosystem, should make for a great addition to your home.
Here’s everything you need to know!
It comes in two sizes
Unlike most other Smart Displays that have been announced, the Lenovo Smart Display is not a one-size-fits-all product. Instead, there are two different versions you can choose between.
The base model is the most affordable and comes with an 8-inch touchscreen and white plastic back. If you’ve got a bit more cash to spend, you can pick up the 10-inch model that also swaps out the plastic back for a gorgeous bamboo one.
Aside from the difference in screen size and back material, however, there’s no functional difference between the two models.
All of your regular “Hey, Google” and “Ok, Google” commands work like you’d expect
Although the Lenovo Smart Display might look a lot different compared to the Google Home and Home Mini, all of the “Hey, Google” and “Ok, Google” commands you’re familiar with work just like you’d expect.
You can ask the Smart Display for the weather, call your mom, get directions to work, play music on Spotify, control your smart bulbs, and so much more.
Thanks to the inclusion of the display, however, almost all of these commands now come with an extra visual element to take your experience a step further. For example, asking for the weather shows a forecast and setting a timer will keep that timer on the screen so you can look over at any time and see how much of it is remaining.
The display is a touchscreen
On top of those glanceable elements that provide more info with just a look, both versions of the Smart Display also come with touchscreens so you can manually control some elements without using your voice.
You’ll still need to talk to the Smart Display for the majority of your interactions, but you can tap on the screen to skip a song on Spotify, adjust a slider to get the perfect temperature for your thermostat, scroll through your pictures on Google Photos, etc.
The touchscreen interactions are meant to supplement your voice commands rather than replace them, and while that might sound like a bit much at first, it’s a really natural experience after using the Smart Display for just a few minutes.
It’s the perfect kitchen TV
Being able to see the weather and your commute to work on the Lenovo Smart Display is incredibly helpful, but where this gadget’s screen really shines is with video content.
Although this won’t be replacing your home theater setup anytime soon, the Smart Display is a great supplementary TV for the kitchen or office.
More video sources should be coming in the future, but for the time being, you can watch YouTube, YouTube TV, and HBO Now.
How to watch YouTube videos on the Lenovo Smart Display
How’s it compare to the Amazon Echo Show?
The Lenovo Smart Display may be the first of its kind for Google Assistant speakers, but it’s certainly not the first smart speaker in the world to come equipped with a display.
Amazon beat Lenovo to the punch by an entire year, but that’s not to say Lenovo’s a year behind the Echo Show in regards to functionality and polish. In fact, the end result just might surprise you!
Lenovo Smart Display vs. Amazon Echo Show: Which should you buy?
There are still a few kinks here and there
While the Lenovo Smart Display does get a lot of things right, there are a few areas that would benefit from a software update or two.
Almost all of the day-to-day interactions work just fine, but there are some bugs that can make the experience a tad frustrating at times. To get a better idea of what I mean, check out the link below to see what 4 things we think would make the Smart Display even better.
4 things that’d make the Lenovo Smart Display even better
Pricing starts at $199
If you’re interested, you can pick up the 8-inch Lenovo Smart Display for just $199.99. If you’ve got more cash to spend and want the larger screen, you can step up to the 10-inch version for $249.99.
The Lenovo Smart Display is available in the United States at Best Buy, B&H, Walmart, Lenovo’s official website, and more.
See at Best Buy
The newest PlayStation 4 Gold wireless gaming headset is down to $80 today
This PlayStation accessory is just inches away from being an essential for gamers.
Sony’s PlayStation Gold wireless headset is down to $79.99 via Amazon today. This headset was released in February earlier this year, and today’s deal is just $5 above the lowest offer we’ve seen on it. It regularly sells for $100 at other retailers such as Best Buy.
The older version was a really well-liked gaming peripheral, but the new one is getting good critical reviews as well. PC Mag gave it 4 stars. The team here has a breakdown of the differences between the two and talks about whether or not you should upgrade.
The headset has 7.1 virtual surround sound, a noise-canceling microphone, a free companion app, and a comfortable feel for long-term gaming. You can even remove the faceplates and customize it according to your own style. It’s still somehwat new so it doesn’t have a huge amount of user reviews, but close to 150 users give it 3.8 stars out of 5 collectively at Amazon.
See at Amazon
VRidge has added better Oculus Go controller support for SteamVR games
A major VRidge update has added extra support for using Oculus Go controllers with SteamVR.
Thanks to some savvy developers, it’s possible to stream SteamVR games to mobile VR systems, like Oculus Go. I already wrote a guide on using Air Light VR (ALVR) to get this done, but a recent update to RiftCat’s VRidge software, an alternative method for streaming, has added better controller support. This is key when trying to make up lost ground between the two motion controllers PC-based VR uses and the single controller used with the Oculus Go. Let’s take a look at how to get everything set up, as well as what to expect when using a Go controller with SteamVR games.
Related: Best laptops for VR
- How to install VRidge on your PC
- How to install VRidge on your Oculus Go
- How to stream SteamVR games to your Oculus Go
- Using your Oculus Go controller with SteamVR
How to install VRidge on your PC
First, you need to install VRidge on your PC. A free version is available, but it limits play time to 10 minutes per session. If you’d like, you can purchase a full version of VRidge for about $17.
Navigate to the VRidge download webpage at RiftCat’s website.
Click Download.
Click Save.
Click Run.
Click Accept.
Click Install.
Click Start RiftCat. You can leave the client running on your PC while you get VRidge set up on your Oculus Go.
How to install VRidge on your Oculus Go
Now you need to get VRidge set up on your Oculus Go.
Navigate to the RiftCat key webpage.
Click Register. If you already have a RiftCat account, enter your username and password to proceed.
Type your email address.
Type a password.
Type your password again to confirm.
Click the checkbox next to I accept Terms of Service and Privacy Policy.
Click Register.
Highlight and copy the unique Oculus key displayed on the page.
Navigate to the Oculus key redeem webpage.
Paste the RiftCat VRidge code into the field.
Click Redeem.
The next time you start your Oculus Go, VRidge will show up in your library. If it doesn’t check the Uninstalled section and select it to install.
How to stream SteamVR games to your Oculus Go
Now that everything is downloaded and installed, you can start streaming SteamVR games to your Oculus Go.
Launch the VRidge app on your Oculus Go.
Click Yes in the RiftCat client on your PC.
Launch a SteamVR game on your PC.
Click the Play button in the RiftCat client if it does not start automatically.
You should now be able to see the SteamVR game within your Oculus Go.
Using your Oculus Go controller with SteamVR
Most SteamVR games are designed to work with two motion controllers, each with six degrees of freedom (6DOF). Unfortunately, the Oculus Go only has a single controller with three degrees of freedom (3DOF), so you won’t get the same experience, but VRidge has added better support for button mapping.
The Go controller’s trigger remains the same, but the touchpad now has four extra inputs along its edges.
- Menu: Press the upper part of the touchpad.
- Grip: Press the left or right side of the touchpad.
- System: Press the bottom part of the touchpad.
Running your thumb along the middle touchpad will still emulate a joystick, allowing you to move as normal. It will take a bit of getting used to, but tapping the edges for extra buttons does come in handy and should prove to make most SteamVR games a bit more accessible when streaming to the Oculus Go.
Related resources
- How to play SteamVR games on Oculus Go with ALVR
- Best HTC Vive games set to launch on SteamVR this month
Apple Scores Rights to ‘Losing Earth’ Climate Change TV Project
Apple has purchased the rights to develop a project based on popular New York Times Magazine story “Losing Earth: The Decade We Almost Stopped Climate Change,” reports The New York Times.
“Losing Earth,” written by Nathaniel Rich, is also set to be the subject of an upcoming book. The magazine article covers the 10-year period from 1979 to 1989, a decade when “humanity settled the science of climate change and came surprisingly close to finding a solution” but ultimately failed to act due to various political forces.
An image in “Losing Earth” taken after California wildfires last year
The “Losing Earth” article recounted how, from 1979 to 1989, a small group of American scientists, activists and politicians tried to save the world from the ravages of climate change before it was too late. The article was produced with the support of the Pulitzer Center and was based on more than 18 months of reporting and over 100 interviews.
“‘Losing Earth’ is an extremely important piece of journalism and we are thrilled it will get a wider audience,” Jordan Cohen, a spokesman for The Times, said.
The New York Times said that at least a half-dozen bidders were aiming to acquire rights to the nonfiction project, which Apple plans to turn into a TV show.
The TV show will be produced by Anonymous Content, a company known for films that include “Spotlight,” “The Revenant,” “Collateral Beauty,” and TV shows like “True Detective,” “Mr. Robot,” and “13 Reasons Why.”
Rich will serve as an executive producer on the series alongside Steve Golin, founder of Anonymous Content.
“Losing Earth” is one of more than a dozen television shows Apple is working on, most of which are fiction-based. Apple plans to introduce the first of its television shows next year, perhaps as early as March, and several of them are in the casting stages. From The New York Times:
Apple has said it will start streaming its television offerings next year, when it will begin competing against Netflix, Amazon and Hulu in earnest.
The 30,000 word “Losing Earth” article can be read online on The New York Times website.
Note: Due to the political nature of the discussion regarding this topic, the discussion thread is located in our Politics, Religion, Social Issues forum. All forum members and site visitors are welcome to read and follow the thread, but posting is limited to forum members with at least 100 posts.
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