This Saturday, a NASA probe will brave the heat to try and ‘touch’ the sun

On Saturday, August 11, when most of you are enjoying what will hopefully be a relaxing and enjoyable day off work, NASA engineers will be facing one of their most stressful days in a long while. That’s because it is the day on which the Parker Solar Probe will enter the very edge of the corona, the atmosphere of the sun, and make the first in-situ measurements to be taken there. The goal? To uncover crucial details about the origins of the solar winds, which go on to bombard Earth and pose a major challenge to our spacecraft and communications systems. Oh, and to unravel a giant mystery about the sun’s temperature, too.

“The corona is very hot, millions of degrees Centigrade, and we don’t know why,” Stuart Bale, a University of California, Berkeley professor of physics, who was one of the four principal investigators responsible for developing the FIELDS suite of instruments on board the probe, told Digital Trends. “The sun itself is a relatively cool — 6,000-degrees Celsius — star. Somehow this cool star makes the corona very hot. This hot corona then escapes the sun’s gravity and becomes the ‘solar wind.’”

As you might imagine, a mission that essentially involves flying into the Sun (or, at least, to its periphery) involves dealing with a fair amount of heat. While the Parker Solar Probe is equipped with a heat shield for protecting its various onboard sensors, it will nonetheless have to contend with temperatures almost hot enough to melt steel.

Bale has been working on the project since 2009 (“a long time,” he said), and everything since then has been building up to this point. Should all go according to plan, the instruments he helped develop will be used for measuring electric and magnetic fields in the corona and solar wind, before relaying this information back to Earth.

So spare a thought for the folks at NASA HQ when you’re out having your BBQ Saturday night, or sitting down to watch a movie. And if, through some miracle, you do happen to spot a tiny solar probe traveling at 340,000 mph (note: unless you have Superman-level vision, this is extremely unlikely) make sure to wish it good luck on its journey!

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To infinity and beyond? Space Force may be a real thing by 2020

On Thursday, August 9, Americans found out that President Donald Trump is serious about the creation of a Space Force, and it will be here sooner rather than later. In a morning speech at the Pentagon, Vice President Mike Pence laid out the administration’s plans, which state the Space Force may be established as soon as 2020.

“As President Trump has said, in his words, it is not enough to merely have an American presence in space — we must have American dominance in space. And so we will,” Pence said to attendees. “Space is, in his words, a war-fighting domain just like land and air and sea.”

According to a Department of Defense report released Thursday, the Space Force would be the sixth branch of the military, tasked with protecting United States security interests in space. Its aim would be “to deter and if necessary degrade, deny, disrupt, destroy, and manipulate adversary capabilities to protect U.S. interests, assets, and way of life.”

Some of these strategies would involve the development and use of anti-satellite weapons, communications jamming technologies, and enhancements to the U.S. radar and GPS systems. The Space Force itself would be created from the reorganization of pre-existing space programs and personnel, Pence says, and is designed to respond to efforts by countries like Russia and China, who have already stepped up efforts to develop space weapons.

“As their actions make clear, our adversaries have transformed space into a war-fighting domain already, and the United States will not shrink from this challenge,” Pence argued.

The report specifies three different agencies coming under the Space Force umbrella: The Space Development Agency, the Space Operations Force, Services and Support, and the Space Command, to be led by a four-star general. Given that the creation of a new military branch requires Congressional authorization, plans are to formally request the establishment within the 2020 budget.

Given the timing, it seems fairly likely that Trump plans to make his Space Force plans a significant part of his 2020 re-election campaign.

When Trump alluded to his idea for a new American branch of the military in space, the idea was met with a combination of excitement, dread, and derision. Pro-military analysts lauded it as a way to protect our increasing dependence on technology, much of which is served from satellites in space. But others have criticized the plan as wasteful.

That’s what former NASA astronaut Capt. Mark Kelly did on Thursday, telling MSNBC that “it doesn’t make sense to build a whole other level of bureaucracy in an incredibly bureaucratic DoD,” pointing out that the Air Force Space Command already is doing much of the Space Force’s work already.

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Samsung Gear owners may want to wait before upgrading to Android 9.0 Pie

Julian Chokkattu/Digital Trends

Those who own a Samsung Gear and also looking to update their device to Android 9.0 Pie, Google’s latest operating system, may want to wait. Users are running into an issue when pairing a Gear device to an Android smartphone.

According to a thread on Reddit, one user wasn’t running into any issues until they tried to pair and use their Samsung Gear S3 with a Pixel after upgrading to Android Pie. Apparently, the Samsung Gear app will not connect to the wearable once the phone is running the new OS.

While the app opens and begins to load, it then crashes a little while later. Even if your device was already connected prior to the update, Android P reportedly breaks the connection. Meanwhile, some users in the thread appear to have no issues at all — so, you may want to give it a try just in case it does end up working for you.

Google launched Android 9.0 Pie earlier this week. For now, the new operating system is only available on the Pixel, Pixel 2, and the Essential Phone, but will be released on additional devices in the near future. The OS comes with a slew of new features from improvements to Do Not Disturb to new gesture features, and more.

News of an issue with pairing the smartwatch comes the same day as Samsung’s Galaxy Unpacked event in Brooklyn, New York. In addition to products like the Galaxy Note 9, Wireless Charger Duo, and more, Samsung also announced its Galaxy Watch. The new smartwatch also happens to be the successor to the Gear S3 and Gear Sport.

As for the connectivity issue, Samsung is aware of the problem Gear S3 users are having — a spokesperson has responded to related comments in Play Store reviews. The company made it clear it is aware of the issue and that an update to the Samsung Gear app will be released for Android Pie as soon as possible.

Unfortunately, there doesn’t seem to be a quick fix other than downgrading back to Android Oreo. Otherwise, you will have to just wait to use your device until the Samsung Gear app update is available.

Editors’ Recommendations

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Denon and Marantz AV Receivers Updated With AirPlay 2 Support

Audio accessories from Denon and Marantz are gaining support for AirPlay 2 through firmware updates that are being distributed starting today.

With the AirPlay 2 update, compatible Denon and Marantz devices offer support for multi-room audio and are able to work with other AirPlay 2 devices such as the HomePod, the Apple TV, and Sonos speakers.

Both companies offer multiple AirPlay 2-compatible receiver options that are being updated with AirPlay 2 support.

Apple maintains a list of AirPlay 2-compatible speakers, both released and upcoming, on its HomeKit website, but its listings for Denon and Marantz are not complete. A full list of the AirPlay 2-compatible devices the two companies are said to be offering was shared in May by Poor Audiophile.

Both the Marantz and Denon brands are owned by Sound United, which also owns the Polk brand. Polk is not listed on Apple’s HomeKit site, but it is a partner on the main AirPlay website. It’s not clear when Polk devices will receive AirPlay 2 updates, but it does not appear that new firmware is rolling out as of yet. The same goes for Definitive Technology, another Sound United brand that is expected to get AirPlay 2 support at some point.

Denon and Marantz join Sonos in offering AirPlay 2-compatible devices, but many other brands are working on AirPlay 2 support as well, including Beoplay, Devialet, Libratone, Naim, Bowers & Wilkins, McIntosh, Bose, and others.

Tag: AirPlay 2
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Here’s how to buy the new Samsung Galaxy Note 9

Samsung has finally taken the wraps off of its latest and greatest smartphone, the new Samsung Galaxy Note 9. The device is jam-packed with new features, a beautiful design, and, in typical Galaxy Note fashion, a massive display.

Now that the new device has been announced, you might be wondering how you can get your hands on it for yourself. Samsung announced that pre-orders for the device start on Friday, August 10, with availability for the phone starting on August 24.

Whether you’re looking to buy it through a carrier or unlocked, here’s everything you need to know about buying the Samsung Galaxy Note 9.

Unlocked

As you might expect, the Galaxy Note 9 is available unlocked — though you have to pay for it up front. According to Samsung, the device will be available through its website, but you will also be able to get your hands on it through Amazon, Best Buy, Costco, Target, and Walmart. The phone will be available unlocked starting on August 24 and will cost $1,000 for the 128GB version. It does not seem as though the 512GB version will be available unlocked, so you may need to go through carriers to get your hands on it.

Carriers

Thankfully, you don’t have to shell out all that cash for the device at once if you don’t want to. Instead, you can buy the device through your carrier, which may break up buying the phone in installments. Here’s the low-down on how to get your phone through a carrier.

AT&T

AT&T is offering the Samsung Galaxy Note 9 for pre-order starting on August 10 at 12:01 a.m., with sales beginning on August 24. The company is also offering a free Galaxy Note 9, Galaxy S9, or Galaxy S9 Plus to those that purchase a Galaxy Note 9. Pricing for the device can be found below.

• 128GB: $1,000 outright, or $33.34 per month for 30 months on the AT&T Next installment plan.
• 512GB: $1,250 outright, or $41.67 per month for 30 months on the AT&T Next installment plan.

Sprint

Sprint will offer the Samsung Galaxy Note 9 for pre-order starting on August 10 at 12:01 a.m., with sales beginning on August 24. Sprint has also announced that customers who buy the Galaxy Note 9 will be able to choose between a $300 pair of AKG noise-canceling headphones, or the Galaxy Fortnite skin. Customers can also go for both by paying an extra $99. Next up is the fact that Sprint is offering the phone for 50 percent off through the Sprint Flex lease, which equates to $20.83 per month. Notably, Sprint will not be carrying the 512GB version of the Samsung Galaxy Note 9.

T-Mobile

T-Mobile’s pre-orders for the Galaxy Note 9 start on August 10 at 12:01 a.m., with sales beginning on August 24. Here’s the pricing T-Mobile has in store for the new device.

• 128GB: $1,000 outright, or $30 per month for 24 months with a $280 down payment through the Equipment Installment Plan, or $29 per month for 24 months with an $280 down payment through Jump! On Demand.
• 512GB: $1,250 outright, or $30 per month for 24 months with a $530 down payment through the Equipment Installment Plan, or $26 per month for 18 months with a $530 down payment through Jump! On Demand.

Verizon

Verizon, like other carriers, will offer the Galaxy Note 9 for pre-order starting on August 10 at 12:01 a.m., with sales beginning on August 24. The company is also offering a few promos for the phone. For starters, for a limited time, if you buy a 128GB Galaxy Note 9, you’ll get a second 128GB Galaxy Note 9, Galaxy S9, or Galaxy S9 Plus for free. To take advantage of that offer, both devices will need to be purchased on the Verizon payment plan, and will require one line of service.

On top of that, Verizon Up members that buy the new phone will get $10 off Samsung accessories, and, if you order the phone before August 23, you get a choice of either a pair of $300 AKG noise-canceling headphones, or the Fortnite Galaxy skin with 1,500 V-bucks. You can also go for both by paying an extra $99.

Here’s the pricing Verizon has for the Samsung Galaxy Note 9.

• 128GB: $1,000 outright, or $41.66 per month for 24 months on Verizon device payment plan.
• 512GB: $1,250 outright, or $52.08 per month for 24 months on Verizon device payment plan.

U.S. Cellular

Apart from the big four carriers, you can also get the Samsung Galaxy Note 9 from a few other companies like U.S. Cellular. The company is offering the device for pre-order starting on August 10 at 12:01 a.m., with sales beginning on August 24. U.S. Cellular also announced that anyone who purchases the phone on a new line of service will get $150 back in bill credits. On top of that, anyone who pre-orders the device before August 24 can choose between a pair of AKG noise-canceling headphones worth $300, or the Galaxy Fortnite skin and 1,500 V-bucks. Customers can also choose to get both for $99. U.S. Cellular did not share specific pricing information for the Galaxy Note 9, but we expect it to be in line with everyone else’s pricing.

Xfinity Mobile

Comcast Xfinity announced that the Galaxy Note 9 will be up for pre-order starting on August 10 at 12:01 a.m., with sales beginning on August 24. Xfinity has also announced that new customers who buy the phone, activate a new line, and port over their phone number to Xfinity Mobile will get a $300 prepaid card.

Here’s the pricing Xfinity Mobile has to offer for the Samsung Galaxy Note 9.

• 128GB: $1,000 outright, or $41.70 per month for 24 months.
• 512GB: $1,250 outright, or $52.08 per month for 24 months.

Updated on August 9: Added U.S. Cellular’s offers, and additional information about Sprint.

Editors’ Recommendations

• Samsung Galaxy Note 9: Everything you need to know
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• Here’s everything you need to know about the 2018 Samsung Galaxy J7, Galaxy J3

Samsung Galaxy Watch hands-on review

Research Center:

Samsung Galaxy Watch

Battery life has always been the Achilles heel of smartwatches. Charging an extra device every evening is annoying enough, but it’s even worse when that device can’t even survive the day, and you end up with a dead watch on your wrist. Samsung is trying to fix that with its new Galaxy Watch, a successor to the Gear S3 and the Gear Sport.

We’ve spent some time with the watch at Samsung’s Galaxy Unpacked event in New York City, and here’s what it’s like.

Design and display

The Galaxy Watch retains one of the best features of Samsung’s smartwatches — a rotating bezel to control the user interface. It’s still just as satisfying to rotate, like twisting the dial on a combination padlock.

Julian Chokkattu/Digital Trends

Samsung has gone with a sporty look, with markers around the bezel of the watch, and an inner bezel that slopes into the screen with markers for every 5 minutes. Two elongated buttons on the right edge act as a back and home button, and the lugs slope down to eliminate the usual gap between the strap and the wrist.

It’s a watch that can look at home in the gym, but won’t feel out of place in the office. A wide variety of watch faces to choose from mean you can personalize the Galaxy Watch to your liking.

Some of the watch faces will trick you into thinking you’re looking at a real, analog watch.

There are two size options: A 46mm in silver, and a 42mm in black and rose gold. The larger variant uses 22mm straps, while the smaller watch allows 20mm straps.

The default straps on the models we looked at are made of high-quality silicone: ideal for when you get sweaty. The straps are interchangeable, so you can really just add whatever you fancy.

The 46mm Galaxy Watch has a 1.3-inch Super AMOLED screen with a 360 x 360 resolution, and it’s protected by Corning’s Gorilla DX+ glass. The smaller 42mm model has a 1.2-inch Super AMOLED with the same resolution and glass. The blacks on the screen are so incredibly deep that some watch faces will trick you into thinking you’re looking at a real, analog watch. The colors are vibrant, and it was bright enough to see in the area we were in, but we’ll have to do more testing to see how it fares outdoors.

Both watches feel relatively lightweight and supremely comfortable on the wrist, though people with smaller wrists may prefer the 42mm model.

Julian Chokkattu/Digital Trends

Performance, battery, and software

The Galaxy Watch is powered by a dual-core 1.5GHz processor with 768MB of RAM, and it runs version 4.0 of Samsung’s Tizen wearable operating system. Rotating the bezel to move throughout the interface is quick, and we ran into no slowdowns opening apps, though we’ll need to do more rigorous testing.

It’s paired with 4GB of internal storage, in case you want to store some music for a run or workout without your phone. Spotify integration is also new, allowing you to listen to songs offline or without a phone.

The Galaxy Watch can automatically detect six workouts, such as walking, running, and cycling.

New fitness features will be a major draw for anyone considering the Galaxy Watch over a dedicated fitness tracker. A breathing exercise mode lets you monitor your stress levels and helps calm you down, similar to what you can find on a Fitbit. You can also continuously monitor your heart rate, and the watch can automatically detect six workouts, such as walking, running, and cycling. There are 21 new indoor exercises, and an overall list of 39 activities. We’ll be working out with this watch to put it through its paces.

Thanks to an internal microphone, the Galaxy Watch also responds to voice commands via Samsung’s Bixby virtual assistant. It could come in handy for controlling smart-home devices, but we wish Samsung would give up on Bixby and just use Google Assistant like everyone else.

Julian Chokkattu/Digital Trends

You’ll still be able to connect the watch to most Android and iOS devices, which allows you to interact with or dismiss notifications, and more.

Perhaps what’s most interesting, however, is the Galaxy Watch’s battery life. Samsung claims the 46mm model can last around four to six days due to a huge 472mAh battery and processor optimizations — impressive for a smartwatch. This depends on your usage, though, so constantly running workout tracking and the heart-rate monitor will deplete the battery much quicker.

Samsung Galaxy Watch Compared To

Tag Heuer Connected Modular 41

Mondaine Smart Helvetica

Nixon Regulus

Alpina AlpinerX

Garmin Vivoactive 3

Apple Watch Series 3

Motorola Moto 360 (2015)

LG Watch Sport

Huawei Fit

Apple Watch Series 2

Martian Passport MP100WSB

Garmin fenix 2

LG G Watch R

Martian Notifier Watch

Phosphor Touch Time

Sadly, it doesn’t look like these battery claims apply to the 42mm model, which only has a 270mAh battery. We’re not sure what Samsung is claiming battery life is on this model, but we’d be happy with at least two to three days.

Price and availability

The 46mm Galaxy Watch costs $350, and the smaller model will cost $330 — both will be available starting August 24 from Amazon, Best Buy, and Samsung’s website. Pre-orders kick off on August 10.

Julian Chokkattu/Digital Trends

There’s also an LTE model coming later this year, and it will be supported by AT&T, T-Mobile, Sprint, and Verizon. Prices will vary by carrier. You’ll be able to place calls and stream music with this model — all without the need of a smartphone.

The Galaxy Watch looks like a solid upgrade over the Gear Sport or the Gear S3, but what we’ll mostly be looking at is if it can deliver four to six days of battery life. If it can, then Samsung may have a real winner here.

This underwater camera drone can auto-follow and film while you dive

Chalk it up to a misspent youth watching movies like The Abyss if you want, but we’re total suckers for underwater robots. However, the majority of machines we see in this space are either aimed at industry or used exclusively as research and development projects within university research labs. Thankfully, Chinese startup Youcan Robot is throwing a bone to the regular working man and woman — courtesy of its new underwater drone, which just launched on Kickstarter.

Called BW-Space, it’s a remote control drone that’s capable of descending more than 300 feet below the waves, attached to dry land via a communications cable which reaches up to a Wi-Fi module on the surface. So long as you’re within range of this module, you can then control the underwater drone using your trusty smartphone or tablet. What better way to spend a day at the beach than taking well-illuminated 4K videos or 12MP stills of the depths, right?

“BW-Space Underwater Drone is the second-generation product developed by the Youcan Robot team,” Jenny Pan, chief marketing officer of Youcan Robot, told Digital Trends. “It is the world’s first underwater drone with intelligent tracking. Users who operate our drones can use the intelligent tracking function to automatically follow divers and swimmers, and can free their hands without having to operate the machines all the time. We also have the intelligent function of automatically adjusting the light. As the depth of the dive deepens, the BW-Space can intelligently adjust the light according to the brightness of the external environment to achieve the optimal shooting effect.”

As if that wasn’t smart enough, Pan said that the aquatic drone also boasts a fixed depth and direction motion control algorithm that ensures that the BW-Space will stay in a stable position in the water even when faced with a current. This is achieved courtesy of thrust provided by two horizontal and one vertical propellor, capable of moving the BW-Space through the waves at a maximum of 6.6 feet per second.

“Our BW-Space will appeal to divers, fishing enthusiasts, photography enthusiasts, drone enthusiasts, and [just general] technology enthusiasts,” Pan continued. “Since the emergence of BW-Space, we have participated in many exhibitions and won many awards. Users adore BW-Space Underwater Drone.”

As ever, we offer our usual warnings about the potential risks associated with crowdfunding campaigns, which can fail to materialize on time or as described to customers. However, if you’re aware of these risks and still want to get involved, head over to the BW-Space Kickstarter page to pledge your cash. Prices start at $659 for the basic kit, although pricier options with more accessories are also available. Shipping is planned to take place in October.

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Fortnite is finally available for Android!

The hottest game of 2018 has finally arrived on Android.

Fortnite has been blowing up lately. Millions of people have become obsessed with the game, both as players and just watching popular Twitch streamers play the game.

Interested to learn more about what the heck Fortnite is all about? Just keep reading.

What’s new with Fortnite?

August 9, 2018 — Fortnite Beta for Android is officially live, exclusive to Samsung Galaxy devices until August 12

In spite of all of those clickbait ads you’ve probably seen over the past several months, the Fortnite Beta was officially announced today at the Samsung Unpacked event alongside the Samsung Galaxy Note 9.

Samsung and Epic Games have teamed up to make Fortnite exclusive to Samsung Galaxy phones until August 12, at which point the beta will be opened up to other Android devices. If you’ve got a Samsung Galaxy S7 or better, you can download and start playing Fortnite on your phone right now!

August 3, 2018 — Epic confirms that it won’t be offering Fortnite for Android via the Google Play Store

It’s official, folks. A few days after rumors started piling up, Epic has confirmed that Fortnite for Android won’t be offered on the Google Play Store. Instead, users will have to download the game directly from Epic’s website.

Talking to The Verge, Epic CEO Tim Sweeney said:

Epic wants to have a direct relationship with our customers on all platforms where that’s possible. The great thing about the Internet and the digital revolution is that this is possible, now that physical storefronts and middlemen distributors are no longer required.

In addition to having a more direct relationship with players, Epic’s second reason for bypassing the Play Store is that it won’t have to hand over 30% of all sales from in-game purchases to Google. According to Sweeny, “30 percent is disproportionate to the cost of the services these stores perform.”

Sweeny also went on to say that Fortnite for Android will be available globally except for China. However, Epic is currently working on finding a way to bring both the iOS and Android version of the game to the country at some point in the near future.

All the big details

What is Fortnite?

Fortnite is what would happen if you combined two of the most addictive games out there — Minecraft and PUBG.

Fortnite offers a free 100-player Player Vs Player (PvP) Battle Royale game mode. Just like PUBG, you’re dropped onto the large island map and must arm yourself and outlive your competition. But in Fortnite, you always start out armed with a pickaxe which can be used as a melee weapon or to harvest raw supplies for building walls, ramps, and shelters.

It certainly adds extra layers of strategy to the format, creating essentially a perfect storm of addictive gaming action that’s as fun to watch as it is to play. Oh, speaking of storms all the action takes place in the eye of a deadly electrical storm meaning you can’t just hunker down and hide out the whole game. You got to keep moving.

How do you play the game?

Just like PUBG, your goal is to be the last man standing — with up to 100 players involved in each match, that’s no small task.

Each game starts with the players jumping out of the flying “Battle Bus” and parachuting down onto a giant island. Once landed, you must loot nearby buildings for items, guns, and ammo to defend yourself and attack other players.

You also need to keep an eye on the map, as every few minutes the storm closes in on the play area. If you’re caught in the storm, you slowly die so you do not want to forget to regularly check where you are on the map. Eventually, the play constricts to a tiny area for the final showdown between the remaining players — there can only be one winner!

Unlike PUBG, you’re able to carry more than two guns. Instead, you’re limited to the number of weapons and items you can carry at one time. Also, guns are color-coded to denote their rarity — from grey (common) to orange (legendary) — and the rarer the gun, the deadlier it is.

Then there’s the crafting element. Every player starts out with a pickaxe which can be used as a melee weapon or used to break down trees and buildings to harvest the raw resources. You can then use these raw resources to build your own structures, whether it be a defensive wall to provide cover from an advancing enemy, a set of stairs to reach the second floor of a building or your own watchtower to snipe players from across the map. The resources you mine will determine the strength. Steel is stronger than brick, which is stronger than wood.

The latest update to the game for the Season 5 Battle Pass has introduced a slew of new map areas and gameplay features including the All-Terrain Kart (ATK) which let you and your squad move around the map faster than ever before. You can read more about the latest tweaks in the full release notes.

Where can I download the game?

Since Epic Games has decided to release Fortnite for Android outside the confines of the Google Play Store, you’ll need to download the Fortnite Installer APK to get the game on your phone.

As of August 9, the Android beta is only available on Samsung Galaxy devices (S7 or better, but you’ll want to be playing this game in the newest and biggest Galaxy phone — S8+, S9+, or Note 8 — if possible. If you sign up for the Android beta with Epic Games you’ll be emailed a link to the installer as soon as the beta is made available to non-Samsung devices.

How to download the Fortnite Beta on your phone

Is it free to play?

Fortnite for mobile includes the PvP Battle Royale game that’s free to play across all platforms. The console versions have a paid game mode called Save The World that’s Player vs Environment (PvE). Save The World plays more like Minecraft, where you’re harvesting more resources and stocking up on loot to survive waves of AI enemies in a sort of tower defense-style of gameplay.

The PvE mode will not be available in Fortnite Mobile due to CPU limitations and, frankly, it’s the PvP mode that everyone is crazy for so that’s quite alright with us.

Having said that, there are some reasons to spend money in Fortnite. The best way to spend money is to buy a Battle Pass which gives you daily challenges over the span of a Fortnite Season (typically lasts 10 weeks) which let you unlock a ton of cool outfits, dance emotes, and other goodies to customize your character. You can also spend V-Bucks, the in-game currency, to buy cosmetic items for your player and people sure have been buying stuff. According to this report from Sensor Tower analtyics, Fortnite Mobile players spent more than $1 million during the first 72 hours of its release on iOS. Fortunately, nothing you can buy will give you an actual advantage in the game to prevent people from paying to win. In this case, its a matter of playing to look cool

So, to answer the question, you have the option to spend money on Fortnite if you want a cool looking character, but the game is free to play and you won’t need to pay to win.

Where’s the support for Bluetooth controls?

Epic Games has confirmed that Bluetooth controller support is coming, but as of right now only touchscreen controls are available.

Is it cross-platform?

Epic Games have indicated that you will be able to play Fortnite across all platforms. Your Fortnite profile can be connected to all the platforms you play on so you can add to your stats however you connect to the game.

Don’t be worried about getting mismatched as the one mobile player in a server of PC and console players. If you’re playing solo on mobile, you will only be matched up against other mobile players. If you join a squad with friends playing on another platform, then that squad will be matched against a multi-platform population, essentially making cross-platform play opt-in.

• Learn more about Fortnite Mobile

How does it compare to the PC or console version?

If the iOS version of Fortnite is anything to go by, the Android version will enjoy feature parity with all other platforms, including PS4, PC, Xbox One, and Nintendo Switch. There will be minor differences to account for the form factor, such as (hopefully) support for Bluetooth controls, on-screen controls for those not using a controller, and certainly toned down graphics capability. But if you want to jump in for a quick game of Battle Royale, you won’t need to worry about playing a vastly different game. Fortnite on Android is still Fortnite.

Are you hyped for Fortnite?

We’ll be sure to let you know when the game launches for Android. Until then, you can create your Epic Games account and start playing on one of the other platforms to start getting a handle on the game

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Anker Roav VIVA review – add Alexa to your car for just $59.99

We took a look at the new Roav VIVA from Anker. Priced at $59.99, it’s a Bluetooth unit that promises to add Amazon Alexa to your vehicle. It’s a little pricier than most dual-outlet car chargers on the market, but does that Alexa integration make it worth the extra cost? Read on to find out.

Setting up an Anker Roav VIVA is pretty simple. Just plug the unit into an open port on your dash, pair your phone to it, open the app (which you’ve of course downloaded ahead of time) and follow the prompts with regards to music streaming.

From there, just log in to your Amazon account to get started with Alexa. It took me way too long to realize that I wasn’t connecting to the VIVA through my Bluetooth menu – just pairing it. Don’t be like me.

Compatibility-wise, Anker’s acknowledges that there may be some hiccups. A number of cars use different Bluetooth standards and software than are standard – this can cause issues. The list of makes and models that may not be compatible is comprehensive and somewhat unnerving.

It’s far from ideal, but Anker offers a 30-day unconditional money-back guarantee through Amazon. So, even if your car is on the list, there’s really no risk to giving it a try. And for what it’s worth, I drive a 2015 Honda Fit – definitely on the list – and I’ve had no problems whatsoever.

Build

As we’ve come to expect from Anker, the Roav VIVA is well-designed. It’s got an odd mixture of materials, textures and finishes: faux carbon fiber siding, glossy black plastic plug, a matte black plastic cap, and a frosted translucent LET ring and icon. Somehow it works, though – especially when plugged in.

That matte black cap is at home in basically any black interior. The LED ring – characteristic of an Alexa device – is surprisingly nuanced, the multi-color LED featuring fades, patterns and blinks with impressive sophistication.

In an odd design choice, the two USB ports are located on the underside of the unit, rather than its face or sides. It’s a strange decision, especially when you consider that not all DC ports offer enough clearance to plug a cable in there. When installing the VIVA, I’d definitely insert the cables before plugging in the unit; it’s tough to do, otherwise.

Anker’s Roav VIVA has two microphones and a dedicated noise canceling chip onboard, making it especially adept at isolating voice commands, even in a noisy cabin.

Granted, it’s probably not going to hear you shout at Alexa when you’re blaring Childish Gambino with the bass cranked, but for your average in-car experience, it’s totally adequate. The face of the VIVA also features a physical mute button, for when you’d rather not give Amazon access to every single word you say while driving.

Performance

As a charger, the Roav VIVA performs about as well as I expected. It features two PowerIQ USB ports, which automatically detects the voltage (between 5-12V) and amperage (between 1-2.4A) of your device and charging it at that speed.

While my V30 didn’t detect it as charging via Quick Charge 3.0, the estimated time to take my phone from 74% to 100% (56 minutes via PowerIQ vs 50 minutes for QC3.0) was pretty similar.

But the real selling point here is the VIVA’s on-board Alexa. It essentially uses your phone’s Data to do anything Alexa can do, including communicating with your Smart home devices; unlock your door, turn on your A/C, start up your Roomba… now, your phone can already do any of that, but the Anker Roav VIVA will let you do it while driving – safely.

While many cars on the road have some kind of voice control, Alexa adds a layer of (artificial) humanity to what is often a cumbersome experience. With over 15,000 recognized commands, and the ability to create custom ones, the possibilities are pretty extensive. From Home Automation to ordering, music, sports and communication, Alexa – and its Google/Apple counterparts) – is the future.

Value

At $59.99, the Anker Roav VIVA is expensive for a car charger. But for an Alexa speaker, it’s right on the money. The Amazon Echo Dot retails for $49.99 as well, though you can find it for as low as $34.99 often enough.

Products from Amazon.com

• 

  
  -33%
  

  Roav by Anker 30W Car Charger with Quick Charge 3.0, SmartCharge Spectrum with Car Locator, Dedicated App, Car-Battery Monitor, Quick Charge 3.0 and PowerIQ USB Ports and 16000 Color Led Light

  Price: $19.99

  Was: $29.99

• 

  
  -40%
  

  Anker PowerCore 10000, One of the Smallest and Lightest 10000mAh External Batteries, Ultra-Compact, High-speed Charging Technology Power Bank for iPhone, Samsung Galaxy and More

  Price: $29.99

  Was: $49.99

• 

  
  -45%
  

  Anker Elite Dual Port 24W USB Travel Wall Charger PowerPort 2 with PowerIQ and Foldable Plug, for iPhone X / 8/7 / 7 Plus / 6s / 6s Plus, iPad Pro/Air 2 / mini 3 / mini 4, Samsung S4/ S5, and More

  Price: $10.99

  Was: $19.99

• 

  
  -78%
  

  Anker PowerLine 6ft Lightning Cable, MFi Certified for iPhone X/8/8 Plus/7/7 Plus/6/6 Plus/5/5S (White)

  Price: $8.99

  Was: $39.99

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While the Roav VIVA doesn’t have the same speaker power as an Echo Dot, it does offer mobility and charging solutions, which the Dot does not. As such, the Roav VIVA is a decent price-point, though not the door-busting bargain we’re used to seeing from Anker.

Get the Anker Roav VIVA for $59.99 on Amazon

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Fortnite on Android first look – you might want to wait off…

At this point, whether you’re a gamer or not, there’s a good chance that you’ve at least heard about Fortnite. This free-to-play game has taken the world by storm and has ended up earning the company hundreds of millions of dollars through in-game purchases.

Fortnite has made its way to PC, Macs, game consoles including the Nintendo Switch, and even Apple’s iPhone. But what about Android?  The good news is that Fortnite for Android is here. Unfortunately, not without some caveats. First, you need to have a supported Samsung device at least until August 12th. Second, this beta seems to have some serious performance issues.

Note: I’m a long time Fortnite player on the PC, but also tested the game out extensively on Apple iPhone before the release of the Android version. Our team also has played the Android version on several devices ranging for the S4 Tab to the Galaxy S9 and older devices like the S7 Edge. Unfortunately, the experience just doesn’t live up to what you’d get from PC or even Apple’s iOS version. 

Performance: it’s not great..

I have been a long-time Fortnite player primarily playing on my PC. To get the most out of the game on that platform, I have had to rely on a reasonably high-performance CPU and GPU. With my current setup, I have no issues with lag or graphics.

So when I started playing Fornite mobile first on an iPhone, I was surprised by the fact that the gameplay wasn’t garbage. While graphics weren’t nearly at the level found on consoles or PC, they are on par with other hit mobile games. But what wass urprising is that performance didn’t take a hit either. You have to remember that these games are filled with up to 99 people at a time that are all participating in a single match.

The same solid performance doesn’t apply to Fortnite for Android, unfortunately. First, the game is capped at 30fps even on newer devices like the Galaxy S9 and Tab S4. Second, the graphics are considerably tuned down from the iOS version, unless you are willing to put up with extremely bad frame rates. That’s not all.

Battery and data usage

While this is true for the iOS version as well, this game eats up a phone’s battery life. In my testing, I was finding that every match was draining my phone’s battery by up to 10 percent or more.

I get that mobile games are supposed to help people pass the time and have fun on their phones, but when half a dozen matches drain most of a battery, you have to start thinking if it’s worth a dead phone.

Secondly, I can’t recommend playing this game when you’re not on WiFi. As previously mentioned, Fortnite is a live multi-player game that requires a constant data connection to the other 99 users playing in a match. This demand means you will start to drain your data allotment provided by your cellular carrier.

Fortnite on Android: All the info on its unconventional release in one place

If you can look past the performance issues, the game is still playable, just frustrating. So let’s look further at gameplay, game modes, and the rest.

Gameplay

Fortnite for Android is a battle royale genre game where the objective is to be the last player standing. Each match kicks off with every character in a flying bus that takes a random route over an island with multiple types of terrain and cities. At any time during this flyover, players can jump to the ground and begin their journey.

Game modes

Fortnite is perfectly made for users who prefer to either play by themselves or with their friends. To achieve this, Fortnite offers several different default game modes. These include solo, duos, and squads. As the names suggest, solo is for when users want to play as a team of one, duos are for teams of two, and squads allows for up to four people to play together at once.

What’s nice is that if you want to fight alongside other players but don’t have any friends online, you can automatically be paired together with other people playing the game.

Outside of these default modes, Fortnite occasionally introduces modified game styles. For example, at the time of this writing, the battle royale has a 50 V 50 mode where players are put on a team of 50 characters and are given the primary goal to eliminate all opposing members. Other past examples are shotgun and sniper only game modes where players are only able to pick up and use those classes of weapons.

In-game weapons, tools, health, and shields

When a player first lands in the game, they are given nothing but a harvesting tool. While this technically is a weapon, it can’t do much damage to opponents. This tool is primarily used for collecting resources around the map such as wood, brick, and metal

If a player wants to survive, they’re going to need to move around the map and either find guns and explosives or open crates that provide a random array of items that the user might want.

Additionally, players should stock up on healing items and shields. As the character can take damage from opposing gamers, they will want to reheal when possible.

Character customization

The moment a new Fortnite round starts, everyone is on the same playing field. This means that no one player will have better powers, weapons, or capabilities when dropping from the bus. The only advantage someone might have is their own experience gained by previously playing the game.

So then why does everyone look different from one another? The simple answer to this is that people have either unlocked or bought character customization items.

Outfits

The look of each character is the primary difference between users. When players are new to the game, they’re given several basic-looking avatars that aren’t fancy. As they advance, a limited number of characters can be unlocked for free. But the way most people change their look is by buying different outfits from Fortnite.

I will explain the in-game currency in a bit, but basically, Epic Games releases different looks every 24 hours or so and people have the opportunity to purchase them. But don’t worry, if something disappears from the store before it can be bought, it will show back up in several weeks.

Harvesting tool, glider, emotes, and more

In addition to outfits, players can customize their Fortnite avatar’s appearance by changing the look of their harvesting tool, glider, contrail, and more. Also like outfits, players can unlock or purchase different designs and styles.

Lastly, one of the most popular aspects of the game is the emotes. Whether someone is celebrating a kill or just messing around, users can launch into a dance or action.

In-game purchases

To purchase all of these customization options, users have to use a virtual currency called V-Bucks. Throughout the game, users gain experience points which then progresses them to higher levels. Every once in a while, one of the rewards for advancement is 100 V-Bucks. The problem with this is that everything in Fortnite’s virtual store costs at least 500 V-Bucks and can go up to at least 2,000 V-Bucks.

So if players want a new outfit, emote, or whatever, the only real option is to buy the virtual currency with real money. The exchange rate is roughly $1 to every 100 V-Bucks. To motivate players to spend even more money, Fortnite gives “bonus” V-Bucks when they buy large sums of the currency.

Related: Fortnite might not come to the Play Store, and that’s a horrible idea

I’ve broken down the different tiers for the in-game currency:

• Wingman Starter Pack + 500 v-bucks + 100 bonus = $4.99
• 1,000 V-bucks = $9.99
• 2,500 (+300 bonus) = $24.99
• 6,000 (+1,500 bonus) = $59.99
• 10,000 (+3,500 bonus) = $99.99

Remember, Fortnite is a free-to-play game which means users technically never have to spend a single dollar to play it. By buying V-Bucks and then exchanging those for character customizations, those gamers aren’t getting any advantage while playing. Having the different outfits and accessories is more of a social experience than anything else.

Seasons

To make Fortnite more enjoyable, and make it more than just a game about killing other characters, Epic Games includes weekly challenges that players can complete to level up faster and unlock new outfits, accessories, and more. Each season consists of 10 weeks and each weekly challenge tests a player’s skills.

Battle Pass

Ofcourse, Fortnite wants to try to make money off of its free game. So in addition to buying customization features for avatars, users can purchase 25,000 V-Bucks and unlock the Battle Pass.

When buying this upgrade, players are unlocking more weekly challenges and gain access to more free items while leveling up. Again, there’s no in-game benefit gained by spending $25 every 10 weeks, but it helps users level up faster and get “free” stuff.

Controls

Just like many other mobile video games, all of the controls to navigate the virtual world are at your fingertips. There are two gesture areas in the lower two corners that are used to move the character around. User’s left thumb will be used to walk or run forward, backward, or left or right. The right thumb is what allows the player to look around.

Shooting, jumping, switching guns, interacting with items, and more

But as Fortnite is much more than just running around, there are a lot more buttons placed around the screen. Two easy-to-reach buttons near each navigation area let the user either swing the harvesting tool or to shoot a gun. Having the two buttons in an easy-reach location makes it so users can quickly react when they see opposing players or want to collect materials.

As this transition isn’t always the fastest when in a combat situation, the mobile game has a setting that can be turned on that automatically has the character shoot its weapon when an opponent is in their crosshairs. I found this extremely useful because it lets the player focus their attention on keeping the enemy directly in front of them instead of having to move and shoot at the same time.

Epic

Two other static buttons are for crouching and jumping. These are strategically placed above the right thumb so that they can easily be tapped on while running or moving around.

Picking up weapons and supplies is easier on mobile when compared to other platforms. Instead of hitting a particular button, players have to run over the item and it will be collected.

If the gamer’s inventory is full, they will then have to tap on the item and it was be exchanged for whichever weapon is selected in their inventory.

Building

One significant part of Fortnite that separates it from other battle royale games like PUBG is the ability to build structures. Using the material that was farmed utilizing the harvesting tool, players can build simple walls, or they can practice and end up making a skyscraper.

I will say that this is much easier to do on other platforms. On mobile, while trying to move and avoid enemies, users have to lift one of their hands off the screen, press a button to switch into building mode, select the desired material and desired structure type (walls, floors, stairs, or roofs), and then hit build. This process can be extremely cumbersome on mobile, and I found myself not even bothering with the effort while playing.

On-screen audio indicators

Fortnite is a very audio-focused game. By this, I mean that a lot of the strategy while playing comes from listening for other players and chests. But in this case, when users are playing on mobile, they might not have the best speakers on their phones/tablet or be able to have the sound on at all. To help with this problem, Epic Games includes on-screen indicators to help direct or alert players about nearby sounds.

Coming from the PC, I found these indicators to be handy. Even though Fortnite does an excellent job at pinpointing where a sound is coming from audibly while wearing headphones, it can still be challenging to judge it accurately. These indicators fix this problem on mobile.

 

Conclusion

For people like myself who have been playing Fortnite for months on a different platform, it’s nice to have the game available while on the go. Unfortunately, the experience just isn’t great with the Android version yet.

Editor’s Pick

Fortnite for Android interview – Epic Games CEO Tim Sweeney on breaking away from Google Play

When Fortnite: Battle Royale launched, it was an instant hit, thanks to its more colorful and lighthearted take on the battle royale genre. Indeed, the game has since crossed over from just being a popular video …

Keep in mind this is still a beta, so a few updates could change everything. For now, you’re likely better off waiting or sticking to the game on another platform.

So that’s it for our first look review of Fortnite for Android. We’ll be sure to revisit when the game gets a few updates under its belt. What do you think of the game, have you had the same performance issues? Let us know in the comments.