UL Benchmarks’ 3DMark TimeSpy may support Nvidia’s RTX 20 Series this October

UL Benchmarks is reportedly working on a new version of 3DMark TimeSpy targeting Nvidia’s GeForce RTX 20 graphics card family. Although there’s no official announcement to back the report, the benchmark will support the real-time ray tracing features embedded in Nvidia’s Turing-based RTX GPUs. The new benchmark will supposedly arrive around the time Microsoft’s October 2018 Update lands for Windows 10.

To bring you up to speed, Futuremark became a part of Underwriters Laboratories, or simply UL, in 2014. The partnership would bring a higher stream of revenue along with UL’s marketing resources, quality assurance and lab facilities. Futuremark then changed its name to UL Benchmarks in April to better integrate into the parent company’s highly valued brand and “explore new opportunities for benchmarking and related services.”

Meanwhile, Nvidia introduced a new family of graphics cards on Monday that supports real-time ray tracing: The GeForce RTX 20 Series. Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang spent the entire press conference discussing the new family’s ray tracing capabilities, such as talking about how one card performs more GigaRays per second than the previous generation. Huang even admitted that you now need to take a different approach in reporting performance numbers.

Right now, there is no real way to gauge how these cards perform off-stage. A recent video of the $1,000 GeForce RTX 2080 Ti running Shadow of the Tomb Raider even stirred some controversy because it was running the game between 30 and 70 frames per second at a 1,920 x 1,080 resolution while ray tracing was turned on. The developers fired back, saying ray tracing support is a work in progress.

Ray tracing is an important step in bringing photo-realistic visuals to gaming. Hollywood uses ray tracing to render the CGI movies we love today, but the technique requires loads of expensive processing power and time to render each frame. Getting a single consumer-based graphics card to fully support ray tracing in real time will take another 10 years of research and development, so Nvidia created a “shortcut” for the PC gamers of 2018.

The GeForce RTX 20 Series includes cores dedicated to ray tracing, but also cores dedicated to artificial intelligence. What the RT Cores can’t render in real time are “filled” by the Tensor Cores to complete each frame. Based on Nvidia’s presentation, neural networks will create this necessary data that will be included in drivers and made accessible to these artificial intelligence-dedicated cores.

Again, there is currently no benchmark to fully test this process on Nvidia’s new graphics chips. A representative for UL said a new version of 3DMark TimeSpy would “align with the launch of Redstone 5,” which is Microsoft’s code name for Windows 10 1809, aka the October 2018 Update. So far there’s no confirmed release date for Redstone 5.

Meanwhile, Nvidia’s RTX 2080 arrives on September 20 for a starting price of $800 along with the RTX 2080 Ti with a starting price of $1,000. The RTX 2070 will follow sometime thereafter with a starting price of $500 while Nvidia didn’t mention the RTX 2060 during Monday’s presentation. Rumor points to October 30 as the RTX 2060’s potential release date.

Editors’ Recommendations

• Nvidia’s GeForce RTX 20 Series starts at $500 and features real-time ray tracing
• Nvidia’s Turing chip reinvents computer graphics (but not for gaming)
• ‘Tomb Raider’ devs respond to RTX 2080 Ti, ray tracing performance concerns
• Here’s how to watch Nvidia’s GeForce event at Gamescom
• Nvidia’s new GPUs look amazing, but that doesn’t mean you should buy one

A.I. makes Nvidia’s RTX 2080 twice as powerful as the GTX 1080

New performance details are trickling out about Nvidia’s newest offering, the RTX 2080, and the consumer graphics card is as powerful as Nvidia’s claims, which bodes well for gamers. Even if you’re planning on sticking with current titles — those that don’t support the ray tracing capabilities that are a hallmark of the new RTX chips — you’ll still see some sizable performance gains compared to the older GTX 1080 chips, with Nvidia claiming a 50 percent improvement for many titles.

“Games like PUBG, Shadow of the Tomb Raider, Hitman 2, Wolfenstein II, and Shadow of War will be around 50 percent faster on an RTX 2080 at 4K resolution,” The Verge reported. “Nvidia also claims 4K running at 60 fps is now possible with the RTX 2080 in games like Call of Duty WW2, Destiny 2, Far Cry 5, and Battlefield 1.”

Even greater performance improvements can be seen when developers enable Deep Learning Super-Sampling, also known as DLSS, which uses the Tensor Cores in the new Turing architecture to render objects using A.I. and deep learning. When enabled, Nvidia claims that games will see between a 75 to 100 percent improvement compared to the GTX 1080, meaning that the RTX 2080 has up to twice the performance of the GTX card.

“As you can see, NVIDIA is claiming a roughly a 40-60 percent performance uplift for a Turing-based GeForce RTX 2080 versus the GTX 1080 right out of the gate, and that’s with DLSS disabled,” Hot Hardware wrote. “Flip on DLSS in a compatible game engine, however, and that performance lift jumps up to over 2x in some cases, like the Infiltrator demo and Final Fantasy, while offering similar image quality. Though smaller, other games still get a sizeable performance boost as well.”

“We saw DLSS in action and a Nvidia RTX 2080 Ti was able to render Epic Infiltrator at a steady 85 frames per second (fps),” TechRadar confirmed. “Right next to the Turing rig was a Nvidia GTX 1080 Ti-powered system that struggled to keep the same experience running near 45 fps with temporal anti-aliasing and supersampling turned on.

Traditionally, the rendering of scenes in a game relies on the GPU’s hardware and memory. DLSS renders a scene by using inferencing and shifts the heavy workload to A.I. This frees up the GPU’s resources for other tasks.

“Powered by Turing’s Tensor Cores, which perform lightning-fast deep neural network processing, GeForce RTX GPUs also support Deep Learning Super-Sampling (DLSS), a technology that applies deep learning and A.I. to rendering techniques, resulting in crisp, smooth edges on rendered objects in games,” Nvidia said of the technique.

Nvidia states that developers can send in the game code, and Nvidia will use its DGX supercomputer to build DLSS into the game code at no charge. The finalized code will be sent back to developers.

Although we’re starting to see prices dropping for the GeForce GTX 1080, these performance gains may be worth giving the RTX 2080 a second look. In the future, games that take advantage of ray tracing and DLSS will benefit most from Nvidia’s new GPU architecture.

Editors’ Recommendations

• Nvidia’s Turing chip reinvents computer graphics (but not for gaming)
• Nvidia’s GeForce RTX 20 Series starts at $500 and features real-time ray tracing
• Nvidia’s new GPUs look amazing, but that doesn’t mean you should buy one
• Everything you need to know about the Nvidia GeForce RTX 2000 series
• ‘Tomb Raider’ devs respond to RTX 2080 Ti, ray tracing performance concerns

Researchers put A.I. inside a camera lens to compute ‘at the speed of light’

Stanford

The camera is the eye for many automated devices and the computer is the brain — but researchers at Stanford University recently combined the two in an attempt to make smart cameras more compact. A team of graduate students recently created an artificially intelligent camera that doesn’t need a large, separate computer to process all the data — because it’s built into the optics itself.

Current object recognition technology uses A.I. on a separate computer to run the images or footage through algorithms to identify objects. As the Stanford researchers explain, driverless cars have a large computer in the trunk in order to recognize when a pedestrian steps out in front of the car’s path. Those computers are big, require lots of energy and are often slow.

The team of Stanford researchers behind the AI camera. Stanford

The researchers instead worked to build the A.I. directly into the camera, both to create smaller systems as well as faster ones. The camera has two layers — the first is called an optical computer. As light passes through the camera, the built-in computer pre-processes that data. The optical computer filters out unnecessary data, reducing the number of necessary calculations. The second layer is a traditional computer and imaging sensor that handles the remaining calculations. The science behind the A.I. camera is complex, but the result could lead to significant advances for devices with built-in cameras like self-driving cars and drones.

By processing the scene as the light hits the camera instead of after the fact, the researchers said they were able to create a camera that didn’t require input power, reducing the typically intense computing power required for object recognition A.I. “We’ve outsourced some of the math of artificial intelligence into the optics,” graduate student Julie Chang said.

Gordon Wetzstein, the assistant professor that led the research, says that moving the computing to the optics allows for much faster data processing, along with reducing the computing required. “Millions of calculations are circumvented and it all happens at the speed of light,” he said.

While one of the goals is to reduce the size of different devices, the research hasn’t quite reached that point yet. The camera takes up a lab bench, but the researchers suggest that further research will help the concept to decrease in size, eventually making the AI camera small enough for more portable devices. The team suggests several different potential uses, from autonomous cameras and drones to handheld medical imaging. The processing at the speed of light could be a big advantage in self-driving cars that rely on cameras to see and avoid potential collisions.

The device’s size suggests the technology needs some time to mature before actually being integrated into actual products, but the research takes a significant step forward for artificially intelligent cameras. The team recently published the full research in Nature’s Scientific Reports.

Editors’ Recommendations

• Stanford A.I. can realistically score computer animations just by watching them
• This A.I. goes against the grain, cleans noisy images with a single shot
• From picking to pollinating, agribots are pushing farming into the future
• Huawei P20 Pro camera guide
• Like a vice principal in the sky, this A.I. spots fights before they happen

These are the best Galaxy S9 screen protectors

Keep your Galaxy S9 display safe and scratch-free

With every unboxing of the Samsung Galaxy S9 comes the inevitable debate of the best way to keep this beautiful (and expensive) phone safe. Some people are content with just “being careful” with their phone to avoid scuffs and cracks, but the rest of us know that an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.

Protecting the curved display of the Galaxy S9 is no easy task — tempered glass offers the best protection but a PET film can generally flex around the edges of curved displays better. There’s also a price difference, so there’s a lot to consider when you’re buying.

Whether you prefer tempered glass or a flexible film, these are the best screen protectors for the Samsung Galaxy S9.

• Whitestone Dome Glass
• Zagg InvisibleShield Glass Curve Elite
• amFilm Tempered Glass Screen Protector
• Spigen NeoFlex Screen Protector (2-pack)
• IQShield Case Friendly Film Screen Protector (2-pack)

Whitestone Dome Glass

Our Favorite

$49.99 at Amazon

The big selling feature for this wet install screen protector is its unique curing process, which uses UV light. It’s by no means cheap, but it’s one that you can trust to apply well, hold well to the edges of your screen, and protect it with its life.

The Whitestone Dome Glass proven to be a very popular screen protector and is currently on sale for $45, down from $60. Check out this review and installation guide to get an idea of how this tempered glass screen protector uniquely adheres like no other screen protector you’ve seen before. If the worst case scenario has already occurred and your screen is cracked, think of this as a second chance screen before dropping hundreds of dollars on a proper replacement screen.

With a UV light packaged to complete the curing process, this is a pricier option than other screen protectors out there, but based on video review and reviews on Amazon it’s an early favorite. I guess time will tell how well the Whitestone Dome Glass holds up in real-life use.

amFilm Tempered Glass Screen Protector

Easy to Install

$11.99 at Amazon

Whereas the Whitestone Dome Glass might require the most complicated installation process, amFilm has tried to simplify the process by providing an installation guide so you can line up the perfect fit. This simpler screen protector also comes with a more-wallet-friendly price.

amFilm’s offering is a curved tempered glass screen protector that adheres to the phone using a silicone gel along the edges and a dot matrix along the majority of the display. amFilm says if you properly install this phone you will get a perfect fit with no clicking, no rainbow effect, and a strong adhesion that won’t peel up. This is a case-friendly option that can be yours for just $12.

Spigen NeoFlex screen protector (2-pack)

Best for Cases

$8.99 at Amazon

Spigen always makes great cases, so they’re the natural choice for making case-friendly screen protectors. They might not be tempered glass, but they’re far easier to apply and you can a two-pack for less than ten bucks!

Just make sure you watch the installation video.

If you’ve got the patience to take the time for a film screen protector with a wet installation, you should be more than satisfied with this two-pack of reliable screen protectors. Because it’s a flexible film, the NeoFlex can offer full protection for your screen without affecting the touch responsiveness.

Spigen provides a comprehensive installation video that actually recommends installing the screen protector with your phone in a case to help line things up on the first shot. Didn’t get it quite right? Just peel it back off and try again.

It will take 12 hours for the screen protector to fully adhere so make sure you give it enough time and watch the blemishes and bubbles work their way out. Get this two-pack from Amazon for just $9.

IQShield Case Friendly Film Screen Protector (2-pack)

Thinnest Option

$7.85 at Amazon

The IQShield is a paper-thin screen protector that you will hardly notice after a clean installation and won’t peel up no matter how bulky or rugged a case you use it with.

IQShield offers a two-pack of plastic film screen protectors that have been fine-tuned to be completely compatible just about any case you throw at it. That’s in part due to these being PET film screen protectors rather than tempered glass.

These screen protectors have an oleophobic coating to help prevent fingerprints and smudges and are easy to install. Get your two-pack of case-friendly screen protectors from IQShield for just $8.

Where do you land on the screen protector debate?

Are screen protectors and cases a must-buy for any new phone you own or do you prefer the naked look and feel? Have you had hands-on experience with a screen protector that others should know about? Let us know in the comments!

Samsung Galaxy S9 and S9+

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

Verizon
AT&T
T-Mobile
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Update August 2018: We’ve updated pricing information for our picks, and removed the Zagg screen protector due to an increased number of poor reviews citing application and premature cracking problems.

These are the best Galaxy S9 cases!

Find a sleek and stylish case to keep your S9 protected.

The Samsung Galaxy S9 is another outstanding device and a popular option for those upgrading in 2018. With its sleek all-glass design, you’re probably going to want to keep it protected with a quality case. There’s a ton of options out there to fit your protection needs and personal tastes.

Here are the best cases we’ve found for the Galaxy S9. We’ll be updating this article as more awesome options become available.

• Samsung S-View Cover
• Samsung Hyperknit Cover
• Samsung Alcantara Cover
• Spigen Rugged Armor case
• Otterbox Commuter Series
• RhinoShield CrashGuard bumper
• Lifeproof SLAM case
• Maxboost mSnap Perfect Fit case
• Speck Presidio case
• BodyGuardz Ace Fly clear case
• Spigen Rugged Armor case
• VRS Design Clear Slim case
• Caseology Legion Series case
• Ringke Fusion Clear Case
• SUPCASE Unicorn Beetle Series case
• dbrand skins

Samsung S-View Cover

OEM Option

The S-View case is a folio-style flip case that features a clear cover for the screen to keep it protected from scratches while also letting you see notifications and accept calls with a swipe. It can also be folded up as a hands-free stand.

You’ll drop big money on this one — Samsung lists the S-View case at $30.

See at Amazon

Samsung Hyperknit Cover

Custom Finish

Google seemed to start the fabric case trend, but we’re happy to see Samsung also embracing it.

Made of woven nylon, this case looks brilliant in red with a nice, soft finish. With extra protection in the corner and clean cutouts around the camera and fingerprint sensor on the back, you’ll love the functional and stylish design on display here. You can get yours for just $20.

See at Amazon

Everyone’s going to want to see your brand new phone, so why not add a bit of extra flash while keeping it safe?

The Galaxy S9 and its Hyperknit case are a match made in heaven

Samsung Alcantara Cover

Most Stylish

The Alcantara case won us over with the Note 8, so we’re pretty happy to see it offered by Samsung for the S9. Made of Alcantara, a lightweight material that’s rugged and durable while keeping a slim form factor, you’ll get a stylish and grippy case that won’t add much bulk to the phone. It’s not yet available to buy but would be worth keeping an eye out for.

You can get this stylish case for $50 direct from Samsung or for $27 on Amazon.

See at Amazon

First-party accessories are always on the more expensive side, so they really need to offer customers something unique. Samsung’s Alcantara covers have been recent standouts, offering a combination of sound protection and a cozy finish for your Galaxy devices.

Samsung’s Alcantara case is the most luxurious way to protect your Galaxy S9 or S9+

Spigen Rugged Armor case

Sleek and rugged

Spigen makes some outstanding smartphone accessories, and the Rugged Armor style is always a popular offering.

This case features a slim one-piece case made of flexible TPU that helps to absorb impacts with little pockets of air in the corners to help protect your phone when dropped.
Get yours for just $12. Also available for the Galaxy S9+.

See at Amazon

With a matte black finish and carbon fiber accents in the top and back it’s got a stylish look that isn’t bulky or distracting. All the ports and buttons are accessible and the case is also screen protector compatible. It’s a sleek case that offers a great value, too.

RhinoShield CrashGuard bumper

Minimal Option

This is a really well-designed bumper that’s rugged and shock absorbing in the corners and along phone’s edges — exactly where you need it most. It’s quick and easy to install and lets you still fully show off the design of your phone.

You can get this minimalist case solution for just $25.

See at Amazon

Bumper cases are a bit of a rarity these days, but this one is the real deal. If you would really prefer not to put a bulky case on your phone but still want some added peace of mind for those rare times where your phone slips out of your hand, consider the CrashGuard bumper from RhinoShield.

OtterBox Commuter Series

Mid-Range Protection

We recommend the Commuter series case which is a pocket-friendly case that still delivers the rugged protection you’ve come to expect from an OtterBox case. It’s got one big cutout on the back for the camera and fingerprint sensor and includes port covers to keep dirt out. You can get yours for just $20 from Amazon.

See at Amazon

Few names are as synonymous with phone cases as OtterBox. They’re built a reputation as a trusted brand by designing rugged cases and backing their products with superior customer service. We’ve highlighted the Commuter Series here, but OtterBox has over 10 different case styles available for the Galaxy S9 which you can check out on their site.

Lifeproof SLAM case

Drop-Proof

Lifeproof cases typically offer protection from dirt and snow, but the SLAM case focuses exclusively on drop protection. Lifeproof says this case can survive drops from up to two meters (6.5 ft) thanks to the reinforced bumpers. It’s also got a rugged backplate that’s clear to show off the phone’s design and also compatible with wireless charging. While it’s not quite as Lifeproof as you’d expect, it’s also not as expensive as other Lifeproof cases at only $50. Plus, it looks pretty cool with the black and neon green, don’t you think?

See at Lifeproof

When you’re dropping over $700 on a brand new phone, you want to protect it from everything life might throw at it, especially if you spend a lot of time outside.

Looking for the classic FRE Lifeproof case? You can get the supreme Lifeproof case for a whopping $89. It’s real pricy, and probably more than we could justifiably recommend to the average user, but if you want one you can buy it straight from the source.

Maxboost mSnap Perfect Fit

Best Fit

The mSnap case has cutouts on the corners just to be able to slide over the phone — and even that takes some force to get it on and off. It just shows you how strong this case is. Once you do get it on, your phone’s protected — there’s even a good little lip around the front so you can put the GS9 face-down on a table without scratching it. The case has a soft-touch coating that gives it just enough grip to hold comfortably but not so much that it snags on pockets. The mSnap comes in four colors, and starts at just $6.

See at Amazon

The Galaxy S9 deserves protection, but we don’t always want to give up the thin and sleek Galaxy S9 design to get it. That’s why the Maxboost mSnap case is so great. It has an extremely hard and tough plastic exterior that doesn’t flex or bend, and that means it can take all of the bumps and scrapes of daily life. But at the same time, those properties also let it be incredibly thin.

Speck Presidio

Simplest Design

Speck has a full line of cases available for the Galaxy S9, but we’ll focus on the Presidio case here because it’s a great place to start. It’s got a simple design with smart features where it counts like double protection in the corners and a slim profile that’s compatible with wireless charging. It’s been drop tested up to 10 feet and the matte finish is scratch resistant so it shouldn’t show wear. Get this classic looking case for just $40.

See at Amazon

This is just one of the many case styles Speck offers, so check them all out if you want something with a bit more flair.

BodyGuardz Ace Fly clear case

Keep it Clear

Looking to show off your Galaxy S9 without leaving it prone to drop damage? BodyGuardz offers a clear case they say is built using the same impact gel used in padding and helmet technology for athletes. Whether or not that marketing talk sways you, the Ace Fly clear case is a reliable clear case for $35. BodyGuardz backs their products with a lifetime warranty and you have a 30-day money back guarantee so if you don’t love it you can simply return it.

See at Amazon

These cases are also compatible with the Pure Arc Tempered Glass screen protector, so if you’ve used BodyGuardz screen protectors before and trust the brand, this would be a good combo to keep your Galaxy S9 fully protected right out of the box.

Spigen Rugged Armor case

Best Value

The Spigen Rugged Armor case is my go-to phone case. It’s a sleek, one-piece case that adds good protection to your phone without much bulk. Thin enough to not impede wireless charging, this is a great minimalist case that still offers rugged protection.

More importantly, it always comes in at a great price. At just $12, it’s one of the cheapest options currently available from a brand we trust.

See at Amazon

Spigen Liquid Crystal clear case

Make it Shine

Looking for a clear case option under $20? Spigen’s got you covered there, too. Just like the Rugged Armor case, the Liquid Crystal is slim and pocket-friendly. Made of flexible TPU, it’s easy to slip on and will provide quality protection while still letting you show off your phone’s design.

You can get the Liquid Crystal for just $9.99 or add a funky print or some sparkles starting at $11.99.

See at Amazon

VRS Design Clear Slim case

Slim Option

These clear cases from VRS Design basically offer it all. It’s a clear case that shows off the body of the Galaxy S9 with a shockproof bumper available in the exact color to match your device. Better still, these cases are thin enough to be fully compatible with wireless charging. Make sure you get the right color for your phone to complete the look. You can get this case for just $14 on Amazon.

See at Amazon

Caseology Legion Series case

Dual-layer protection

Check out the rugged Legion series case from Caseology. It features a layer of flexible a shock-absorbing TPU with an outer layer of polycarbonate. You’re protected from hard bumps and scratches, as well as shocks and drops. All the buttons are covered, but the coverings provide great tactile feedback, and your ports are completely accessible. You have your choice of black, violet, burgundy or midnight blue which all look stylish and fun. You can grab one from Amazon for around $16.

See at Amazon

Ringke Fusion Clear Case

Fan Favorite

The best way to protect your phone from drop damage is to not drop your phone. The latest Fusion clear case from Ringke includes a handy wrist strap built into the case.

Whether or not you want to use the wrist strap is up to you, but it’s a thoughtful addition to a consistently stellar case style. Available as a clear case or with a Orchid Purple or Smoky Black bumper accent, you can get this case for just $11 on Amazon.

See at Amazon

SUPCASE Unicorn Beetle Series case

Old Standby

The Unicorn Beetle case is one of those phone cases that people buy with every new device. It’s got that classic rugged design with ridges to help with grip and it includes a built-in screen protector to keep your S9 in pristine condition.

Port plugs keep dust and pocket lint out of your charging port and headphone jack, and it also comes with an optional belt-clip holster. Rugged enough to keep your phone protected and yet thin enough to work with wireless charging, get your Unicorn Beetle Series case starting at just $13.

See at Amazon

dbrand Skins

Skin It to Win It

Dbrand Skins are a consistently popular option for phone enthusiasts who want to customize the look of their phone without adding any bulk. They of course offer an awesome level of customization for creating a skin for your Galaxy S9.

You can pick between nine different texture styles for the back, the minimal bezels on the top and bottom of the display, and even around the camera sensor! You can mix and match and create your dream skin. Didn’t get the phone color you wanted? Make it your own with dbrand!

See at dbrand

Updated August 2018: Updated pricing and formatting. There are some great deals to be had this month on Galaxy S9 cases from Samsung and down on through our entire list!

Samsung Galaxy S9 and S9+

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

Verizon
AT&T
T-Mobile
Sprint
Amazon

Logitech keyboards, Splatoon 2, 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 Logitech keyboards and other accessories, the Splatoon 2 video game, Aaron Leather messenger bags, and more!

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!

Here’s how to download the Fortnite Beta on your Android phone

The wait is over: Fortnite is finally available on Android.

The Fortnite beta has started rolling out to Android devices registered with Epic Games.

Samsung partnered with Epic Games to get the Fortnite Beta on Galaxy devices first, and since Epic Games decided not to launch the game through the Google Play Store, you’ll need to download the Fortnite Installer APK first and install the game from there. It’s a bit different than what you’re likely used to, but we’ll walk you through it.

How to download from the Galaxy App Store

The Fortnite Beta is easiest to download on a Samsung Galaxy phone. Available on the Galaxy S7 and up, it can be downloaded from the Galaxy App Store.

It’s easy to forget that Samsung has its own dedicated app store and chances are you’ve never used before, so we’ll walk through the steps of downloading the Fortnite Installer.

Swipe up to open the app drawer.
Tap on the Samsung Apps folder.

Tap to launch the Galaxy App Store.

You should see the big Fortnite banner ad at the top, or you can search for Fortnite.
Download the Fortnite Installer.

Once you’ve downloaded the installer, the app will install the game itself. If you’ve previously played Fortnite on another platform, you’ll be able to log in to your existing account and access any in-app purchases and continue your progress on your Battle Pass.

How to get the game on other Android phones

To get into the Fortnite Beta on a non-Samsung device, you must first register with Epic Games and then wait to receive your invitation to download the game. Epic Games will eventually email you the link to the Fortnite installer.

The Android beta is available for the following devices:

• Samsung Galaxy S7
• Samsung Galaxy S7 edge
• Samsung Galaxy S8 and S8+
• Samsung Galaxy S9 and S9+
• Samsung Galaxy Note 8
• Samsung Galaxy Note 9
• Samsung Galaxy Tab S3
• Samsung Galaxy Tab S4
• Google Pixel and Pixel XL
• Google Pixel 2 and Pixel 2 XL
• ASUS ROG Phone
• ASUS Zenfone 4 Pro
• ASUS Zenfone5Z
• ASUS Zenfone V
• Essential PH-1
• Huawei Honor 10
• Huawei Honor Play
• Huawei Mate 10 and Mate Pro
• Huawei Mate RS
• Huawei Nova 3
• Huawei P20 and P20 Pro
• Huawei Honor V10
• LG G5
• LG G6
• LG G7
• LG ThinQ
• LG V20
• LG V30 and V30+
• Nokia 8
• OnePlus 5 and 5T
• OnePlus 6
• Razer Phone
• Xiaomi Blackshark
• Xiaomi Mi 5, 5S and 5S Plus
• Xiaomi Mi 6 and 6 Plus
• Xiaomi Mi 8, 8 Explorer, and 8SE
• Xiaomi Mi Mix
• Xiaomi Mi Mix 2
• Xiaomi Mi Note 2
• ZTE Axon 7 and 7 S
• ZTE Axon M
• ZTE Nubia Z17
• ZTE Nubia Z11

Since Epic Games decided to release the game outside of the confines of the Google Play Store, to download Fortnite on your phone you’ll first need to go into your phone settings and allow installation of apps from unknown sources. Epic Games will be sending you a link to download the Fortnite Installer which will then install Fortnite on your phone. It’s a pretty straightforward procedure — the hardest part might be waiting for an invite to play.

Unknown Sources: Everything You Need To Know

Are you a Fortnite fanatic?

Fortnite has taken the world by storm! Are you excited to play it on your phone? Let us know in the comments below!

Update August 20, 2018: Updated the article to reflect that the beta is now open to non-Samsung devices.

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Official ZTE Axon 9 Pro render released, announcement coming August 30

ZTE’s (hopefully) going back to what made the Axon line so great in the first place.

In 2015, ZTE ushered in its Axon brand with the ZTE Axon and Axon Pro — powerful Android phones that offered incredible designs, flagship-grade specifications, and seriously competitive price tags. Now, ZTE is continuing the Axon story with its newly-teased Axon 9 Pro.

The company took to Chinese social network Weibo to share the above teaser image that gives us our very first look at the Axon 9 Pro. Although we have no idea what kind of specs we’re getting, we can see that the phone has a notch in its display, dual rear cameras, and a glass back. In other words, typical makings for a 2018 smartphone.

ZTE’s also sending out press invites for an August 30 event where the Axon 9 Pro will be formally announced, and on the invite, there’s one mention of “5G” near the top.

While the Axon 7 from 2016 proved to be a worthy successor to the original Axon, last year’s Axon M and its foldable design wasn’t exactly what fans of the series had been hoping for. As such, it’s encouraging to see that the Axon brand is (hopefully) being used once again to sell powerful, no-frills phones that don’t cost an arm and a leg.

August 30 is just a few short days away, so we’ll be watching closely to see what ZTE has up its sleeves.

POCO F1 review: Incredible performance at an unbeatable price

How to Use the Podcasts App in watchOS 5

watchOS 5 introduces a new Podcasts app for Apple Watch, which is designed to let you listen to your favorite podcasts on the watch without the need for the iPhone.

Streaming podcasts works over Wi-Fi or a cellular connection, and you can also use the Podcasts app to play podcasts from a connected iPhone if desired.

Using the Podcasts App on Apple Watch

As with Apple Music, when using Podcasts on the Apple Watch, you will need to have a pair of AirPods or other Bluetooth headphones paired to your Apple Watch.

Once Bluetooth headphones are paired, you will need to tap on the Podcasts icon, which looks like a radio antenna on a field of purple, much like the Podcasts app icon on the iPhone. You can also ask Siri to open it.

The Podcasts app will open up to the most recent podcast among the podcasts you’re subscribed to, and you can play it by tapping on it.

Music controls are available by scrolling with the Digital Crown or swiping and tapping on “Now Playing.”

Viewing Your Library

To view your library of subscribed podcasts, follow these steps:

Open the Podcasts app.
Scroll down with the Digital Crown or Swipe to get to the list of app options.
Choose “Library.”
The Library section of the Podcasts app will let you see all of the different podcasts that you subscribe to in the “Shows” section, and individual episodes in the “Episodes” section.

Scroll through each section using a swipe on the Apple Watch’s face or the Digital Crown.

Adding New Podcast Subscriptions

To add new podcast subscriptions on the Apple Watch, you’ll need to know the name of the podcast you want to add. You can subscribe using Siri, with a command like “Hey Siri, subscribe to Reply All” or Hey Siri, subscribe to The Daily podcast.”

If you would rather listen to a podcast or a specific podcast without subscribing to it, you can ask Siri to play it with commands like “Hey Siri, Play Reply All,” or “Hey Siri, Play episode 21 of The Daily.”

Outside of subscribing to new podcasts using Siri, there is no way to browse through podcast content on the Apple Watch. If you want to find new podcasts to listen to, you’ll need to use the Podcasts app on iPhone.

Offline Usage

Podcasts that are listed in the episodes section of the Podcasts app are downloaded to the Apple Watch and can be listened to even without a cellular or WiFi connection. According to Apple, podcasts are downloaded when the Apple Watch is connected to power and placed near the iPhone.

After an episode has been played, it will be removed from the Apple Watch to make room for new episodes.

Controlling Podcasts on iPhone From Apple Watch

If your phone is connected to your Apple Watch and there’s a podcast playing, you’ll see an “On Phone” section in the Apple Watch Podcasts app and there will be a little red icon on the Apple Watch’s face.

If you tap on the “On iPhone” section in the Podcasts app, you’ll see options for “Now Playing” with controls for the current content, a “Listen Now” section that shows recent podcasts, a “Shows” section that displays all of the shows you subscribe to, an “Episodes” section that displays all of the available episodes, and a “Stations” section that displays Podcasts stations created on iPhone.

Related Roundups: Apple Watch, watchOS 4, watchOS 5Buyer’s Guide: Apple Watch (Caution)
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Deals: New Anker Savings, eBay’s Latest Promo Code, and Pad & Quill’s 15% Off Sitewide Sale

Anker this week has debuted a large new collection of promo codes on Amazon, offering up to 45 percent off wireless chargers, Lightning cables, portable battery packs, and more. Most of the codes last through the end of the week, but some extend into September. We’ve listed a few of the best deals below, but for the full collection be sure to visit our Deals Roundup and scroll down to the “Anker Sale at Amazon” section.

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

August Codes

• Soundcore Bluetooth Speaker – $23.99 with code SDC31021, down from $26.99 (exp. 8/25)

• Premium Double-Braided Nylon Lightning Cable 6ft (All 3 Colors) – $9.74 with code CABLELTN, down from $12.99 (exp. 8/26)

• PowerCore 5,000 External Battery – $15.99 with code ANKERPC9, down from $19.99 (exp. 8/26)

• PowerCore II Slim 10,000 Ultra Slim Power Bank – $28.79 with code ANKERPC2, down from $35.99 (exp. 8/26)

• PowerPort Wireless Charger – $10.99 with code ANKER1099, down from $19.99 (exp. 8/31)

• Powerline+ II Lightning Cable 10ft (All Colors) – $14.99 with code CABLE454, down from $19.99 (exp. 8/31)

• Soundcore Space Wireless Noise Canceling Headphones – $79.99 with code SDCORENC, down from $99.00 (exp. 9/2)

No Codes Needed

• eufy Smart Plug Mini – $15.99, down from $20.99 (exp. 8/25)

• Soundcore Motion B Portable Bluetooth Speaker – $27.98, down from $32.99 (exp. 8/26)

• PowerPort Cube, 3 Outlets and 3 USB Ports with Switch Control – $19.54, down from $25.99 (exp. 8/26)

• 5-in-1 Premium USB C Adapter – $43.99, down from $59.99 (exp. 8/26)

• Soundcore Motion B Portable Bluetooth Speaker – $27.98, down from $32.99 (exp. 8/26)

• Fast Wireless Charging Stand – $23.99, down from $29.99 (exp. 9/2)

On eBay, the retailer today kicked off its latest coupon code discount, this one aimed at end-of-summer savings on eyewear, smartphones, drones, luggage, and more. While not sitewide, anyone interested can browse the full list of supported sellers at the bottom of this landing page, add $25 worth of eligible items to your cart, and enter the code JUSTSAVE10 to save 10 percent on your order. This code lasts through 11:59 p.m. PT on August 26.

Pad and Quill is hosting a sitewide sale for Labor Day, allowing customers to save 15 percent sitewide. The sale doesn’t require a coupon code, so you can simply browse Pad and Quill to see the discount automatically applied to the company’s leather iPhone and iPad cases, wallets, bags, Apple Watch bands, and more.

Additionally, Best Buy is taking $30 off the latest iPad models. This means that the 9.7-inch 2018 iPad with 32GB is available for $299.99 and the 128GB model is $399.99, some of the best prices for these models online. You can also get $50 off the Apple Watch Series 3, with the GPS Aluminum models down to $279.00 (38mm) and $309.00 (42mm).

A few of Brydge’s iPad keyboard offers are still up on its website as well, with the Brydge 9.7 available for $99.99, down from $129.99, and a Brydge 9.7 Bundle (with a 5,000 mAh portable battery and Lightning cable) available for $129.99, down from $179.99. Head over to Brydge’s website to see more of its keyboards, including those supporting the 12.9-inch iPad Pro and iPad mini.

For more sales, check out our full Deals Roundup.

Related Roundup: Apple Deals
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