Got Verizon Unlimited? Get six months of Apple Music for free

As if Apple needed help getting more subscribers to its streaming music service, a new partnership with Verizon Wireless could end up padding its coffers. Earlier today, Verizon and Apple announced that those subscribing to one of Verizon’s unlimited data plans would also get six free months of Apple Music.

The offer will be valid to both existing and new Verizon Unlimited subscribers and will become available on August 16. Verizon suggests anyone interested in learning more should visit its website on that date.

This rather generous six-month offer comes on the heels of news that Apple Music is beating Spotify in terms of paid subscribers in the United States. With over 20 million paid subscribers in the U.S. and well over 40 million worldwide as of April 2018, Apple Music may not be the biggest streamer in the game, but it’s got the lion’s share of listeners in the biggest streaming market in the world listening to its catalog of over 45 million songs.

Not only will Verizon very likely bring Apple a rush of new subscribers, but it is likely this offer could lock in a grip of would-be Verizon subscribers on the fence and potentially get existing subscribers on lower-tier plans to upgrade. Based on Verizon’s statement today, that seems to be the crux of the exclusive plan, and we could see more like it in the near future.

“This first-of-its-kind offer is just the first step in an exclusive partnership with Apple,” said Angie Klein, vice president of marketing, Verizon.

Verizon offers three different unlimited plans which can be mixed and matched across up to four lines per account. Thought Verizon bills its plans as simple and easy to understand, we’ve found folks value a little help deciding, so we put together this guide to help choose.

Apple music costs $10 per month for a single user plan and $15 per month for a family plan. If you’re not sure Apple Music is right for you, check out this Apple Music vs. Spotify article for a detailed comparison.

Editors’ Recommendations

• Apple Music is winning the stateside streaming war. Here’s how it beat Spotify
• Spotify hits 83 million paid users as the race with Apple Music rocks on
• New leader alert — Apple Music is now beating Spotify in U.S. paid subscribers
• Switching to the ‘Un-carrier?’ Here’s a breakdown of T-Mobile’s plans
• Apple Music hits 50 million users, doubles down on original content

Xiaomi Mi A2 vs. Nokia 7 Plus: So close, yet so far

For two phones with so many shared specs, the Mi A2 and Nokia 7 Plus are very different.

Three months after its launch, the Nokia 7 Plus continues to be one of the best mid-range phones in the market. There really isn’t much the phone gets wrong — there’s a 18:9 panel at the front, proven dual cameras at the back, 4GB of RAM and 64GB of storage as standard, and to top things off, the device is powered by the Snapdragon 660. Then there’s the fact that the Nokia 7 Plus — like the rest of HMD Global’s portfolio — runs Android One, guaranteeing timely updates.

Xiaomi is now looking to challenge the Nokia 7 Plus with its 2018 Android One device, the Mi A2. At a high level, both devices are nearly identical: the Mi A2 also has an 18:9 display, and it features the Snapdragon 660 along with 4GB of RAM and 64GB of storage. The dual cameras at the back are just as capable as the Nokia 7 Plus.

That’s where the similarities end. The Mi A2 is set to go on sale in India from August 16 for ₹16,999, or $250. That’s $130 less than what the Nokia 7 Plus retails for in the country. Xiaomi’s aggressive strategy gives the Mi A2 an edge when it comes to pricing, but the device is missing out on several features, including NFC, a 3.5mm jack, and a MicroSD slot.

Here’s how the Mi A2 compares to the Nokia 7 Plus.

Xiaomi Mi A2 vs. Nokia 7 Plus: Specs

Where they’re equal

As highlighted above, the Mi A2 and Nokia 7 Plus share a lot of the same internal hardware. The Snapdragon 660 is integral here, as it’s currently the best mid-range chipset available today. That will change soon as we see more Snapdragon 710 devices make their way into the market, but for now, the Snapdragon 660 is a staple in this category.

Both the Mi A2 and Nokia 7 Plus come with 4GB of RAM and 64GB of storage. There’s a variant of the Mi A2 with 6GB of RAM and 128GB of storage, but that’ll make its way to India at a later date.

Also notable is the fact that both phones come with Android One. With Google moving out of the mid-range market with the discontinuation of the Nexus line, third-party brands have filled the void with the current slate of Android One devices, and for the most part, the experience has been identical.

In fact, the Nokia 7 Plus’ design and feature-set have lent it the Pixel 2 Lite moniker, and it wears that badge very well. With Android One, you’re getting a user experience that’s near-identical to that of the Pixels on a diverse set of devices that span different regions and audiences.

What the Mi A2 does better

Xiaomi dominates the value game, and that’s evident when you see how the Mi A2 lines up next to the Nokia 7 Plus. A $130 difference is a huge deal, especially when you consider the fact that the camera on the Mi A2 is just as good as that of the Nokia 7 Plus, if not better.

It’s no small feat to launch a Snapdragon 660-powered phone for $250, and Xiaomi’s insistence that it won’t exceed over 5% in profits from its hardware products makes it the brand to beat when we’re talking about value. It is this factor that allows Xiaomi to undercut every other manufacturer.

Xiaomi Mi A2 to the left, Nokia 7 Plus to the right.

Xiaomi has also done a fantastic job with the camera on the Mi A2. I’m not exaggerating when I say that this is the best camera I’ve used on a sub-$300 phone, and both the rear cameras as well as the front 20MP shooter are incredible.

That last image in particular — the one with the window — is where you’ll see the Mi A2 pulling its weight. The greenery outside is more accurately portrayed in the Mi A2, and the overall detail is much better.

What the Nokia 7 Plus does better

With the Mi A2, Xiaomi focused on creating a device with a sleek form factor, and that meant eliminating features like the 3.5mm jack to maximize internal space. The Mi A2 comes in at 7.3mm as a result, whereas the Nokia 7 Plus is 8mm thick.

The Mi A2 doesn’t have the 3.5mm jack or even a MicroSD card slot, which puts the device at a disadvantage in the $250 category. The Nokia 7 Plus has both, and it has NFC as well, another feature that the Mi A2 is missing. NFC isn’t as vital a feature as the MicroSD slot for Indian customers, but its omission makes the Mi A2 a less attractive option in markets where Google Pay is available.

The Nokia 7 Plus’ added bulk also has to do with the fact that it has a larger 3800mAh battery. The battery life on the Nokia 7 Plus is fantastic, and in this area the device pulls out a significant lead over the Mi A2.

Also going in favor of the Nokia 7 Plus is the 6.0-inch 18:9 display. It is an LCD panel — like the Mi A2 — but it has better color accuracy, and much better sunlight legibility.

Then there’s the design: the two-tone finish on the Nokia 7 Plus gives it character and allows it to stand out in this segment, and I prefer it to the Mi A2. Xiaomi’s design language is starting to look stale, and it’s in need of an overhaul.

Xiaomi’s primary goal is to deliver the most amount of value, and as such you don’t get a lot of accessories in the box. There’s a silicone case, and although the Mi A2 offers Quick Charge 4.0 in India, the charger included in the box is the standard 5V/2A unit that Xiaomi provides with its budget phones. And while Xiaomi makes a pretty decent pair of USB-C earbuds, they’re not bundled either — you just get a USB-C to 3.5mm dongle that lets you hook up your existing wired gear.

On the other hand, HMD includes a Quick Charge 3.0 wall charger (9V/2A) in the box, so you don’t have to pick up a third-party accessory to access faster charging speeds. As the phone has a 3.5mm jack, you get the usual Nokia-branded earbuds, and HMD also threw in a silicone case.

Finally, although both devices are running Android One, I have more confidence in HMD delivering the Android Pie update to the Nokia 7 Plus ahead of the Mi A2. The fact that the Nokia 7 Plus was one of the devices in the Android Pie beta program definitely helps, but HMD has a much better record when it comes to rolling out updates.

Which should you buy? Nokia 7 Plus

Ultimately, it comes down to what you’re looking for in a phone. I love the camera on the Mi A2, but the Nokia 7 Plus has more going for it. The $130 premium it commands over the Mi A2 is well worth it when you consider the fact that it has a 3.5mm jack, MicroSD slot, NFC, and a larger battery.

The last part makes a lot of difference, because the battery life on the Nokia 7 Plus is fantastic. The 3000mAh battery on the Mi A2 is decent enough and it manages to deliver a day’s worth of use, but the Nokia 7 Plus is the clear winner in this area. Same goes for the display as well — the Nokia 7 Plus has a much more vibrant panel.

The Nokia 7 Plus also doesn’t exhibit any lag in day-to-day usage, and it’s puzzling to see the Mi A2 face this issue as they both share the same platform. There isn’t a lot to differentiate between either phone when it comes to the camera, and that’s a testament to just how far Xiaomi has come in this area over the course of the last 12 months.

All things considered, the Nokia 7 Plus is the better option.

See at Amazon

Apple Confirms Infowars App Won’t Be Removed From App Store

Apple does not plan to remove the Infowars app from the iOS App Store at this time, the company told BuzzFeed News this evening. Apple said that the Infowars app had not violated its App Store guidelines.

“We strongly support all points of view being represented on the App Store, as long as the apps are respectful to users with differing opinions, and follow our clear guidelines, ensuring the App Store is a safe marketplace for all,” the company said in a statement.

“We continue to monitor apps for violations of our guidelines and if we find content that violates our guidelines and is harmful to users we will remove those apps from the store as we have done previously.”

Apple over the weekend removed the entire libraries of five Infowars podcasts from the Apple Podcasts platform. “War Room” and “The Alex Jones Show,” hosted by controversial U.S. radio show host and conspiracy theorist Alex Jones, were among those pulled from Apple Podcasts.

When removing the Infowars podcast listings from the Podcasts platform, Apple said that it does not tolerate hate speech, finding that the Infowars podcasts did indeed violate its podcast content guidelines.

“Apple does not tolerate hate speech, and we have clear guidelines that creators and developers must follow to ensure we provide a safe environment for all of our users,” a company spokesperson said.

“Podcasts that violate these guidelines are removed from our directory making them no longer searchable or available for download or streaming. We believe in representing a wide range of views, so long as people are respectful to those with differing opinions.”

As BuzzFeed points out, the Infowars mobile app available from the App Store allows users to live stream the same programs that were removed from the Apple Podcasts platform. The Infowars mobile app streams video broadcasts rather than making a repository of content available to listeners, however, which may be why the app was not pulled while the podcasts were.

BuzzFeed suggests that since the streaming broadcasts are ephemeral and not stored in the app, that Apple will need to “catch [Jones] in the act and in the moment” to act on a violation.

Apple’s App Store guidelines state that apps should not include content that is offensive, insensitive, upsetting, intended to disgust, or in exceptionally poor taste. Defamatory, discriminatory, or mean-spirited content is listed as an example.

Defamatory, discriminatory, or mean-spirited content, including references or commentary about religion, race, sexual orientation, gender, national/ethnic origin, or other targeted groups, particularly if the app is likely to humiliate, intimidate, or place a targeted individual or group in harm’s way.

Multiple social media platforms have now removed Infowars content from their services, including YouTube, Facebook, and Spotify.

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.
Discuss this article in our forums

This waterproof case turns your iPhone into an underwater camera system

Previous

Next

1 of 5

Aspiring photographers and videographers who prefer to shoot with an iPhone now have a new tool that can help them take their game to an entirely new level. A company called AquaTech released a new product called the AxisGo system that was built specifically for Apple’s smartphone, transforming the iPhone into a fully functional underwater camera complete with lens, grips, and a variety of other accessories.

Available for all iPhone 7, 8, and X models — including plus-size versions — the AxisGo features a rugged housing made from polycarbonate plastic and aluminum parts. The housing features an ergonomic grip for maintaining a hold on the iPhone, top and bottom mounting brackets, and a removable flat port for attaching additional add-on lenses. A functional touchscreen membrane makes it easy to interact with the smartphone, even while submerged in the water, while optical glass, treated with anti-reflective and hydrophobic coatings, ensure that image quality remains high at all times.

The AxisGo case is built to keep the iPhone safe down to a depth of 33 feet, extending Apple’s own waterproof rating by a factor of 11. This makes it a good option or those who like to use their phone to capture photos and video in and around the pool, at the beach, or in the ocean. AquaTech makes a number of waterproof housings for Canon, Nikon, and other DSLR and interchangeable lens cameras, and the company has utilized its years of experience and knowledge to develop the AxisGo system for iPhone, too.

But plenty of companies make waterproof cases for the iPhone. What sets the AxisGo apart is its accessories and lenses. For instance, AquaTech offers a wide angle lens port, a dome port, and a filter that brings a high level of versatility to the system. The company also has a pistol grip mount for securely holding the camera while underwater, as well as an “action” mount that locks it in place much like a GoPro. Other accessories include lens covers, a sports leash, and a bumper kit to add even more protection.

The AxisGo underwater camera housing system is available now. The housing itself sells for $199 and comes with a lens cap, wrist lanyard, an O-ring removal tool, and an O-ring grease tube. Lens and accessories range in price from as little as $5 to as much as $199 depending on the item. Find out more at the AquaTech website.

Editors’ Recommendations

• The best home security systems
• Nokia 7 Plus review
• HandyShower is the portable bathroom for your next camping trip
• Lowepro shelves the traditional camera backpack design in favor of versatility
• Tomorrow’s laptop will work more like your phone — and you’re going to love it

There’s a new use for the failed Google Glass: Helping kids with autism

For all intents and purposes, Google Glass has joined the ranks of the LaserDisc or Nintendo Power Glove among the once-promising gadgets which failed to catch on with consumers. After we had written them off as old news, however, Google’s ill-fated smart glasses may have finally found their ideal use case: Helping kids with autism in social situations.

“Google Glass is a lightweight, unobtrusive, augmented reality wearable device that is ideal for use with individuals who have often have sensory sensitivities,” Dennis Wall, an associate professor of Pediatrics, Psychiatry and Biomedical Data Sciences at Stanford Medical School, told Digital Trends. “It is adjustable, and can fit on children as young as three years of age. Many other smart glasses available today are heavy or bulky, and therefore are not practical for use with children.”

Somewhat ironically, much of the negative press around Google Glass revolved around people’s fear that the camera could be used for nefarious purposes, such as facial recognition. That’s exactly the functionality that is used by the Stanford researchers — only instead of attempting to identify people, the focus is on notifying wearers of the expression displayed by the people they are interacting with. This is something that those on the autistic spectrum can have particular difficulty with.

Called Superpower Glass, the new software is not intended to be used in all social situations, but rather as a training tool at home. To that end, an accompanying phone app lets users match up emojis to acted-out emotions on the part of a parent or caregiver. It can also help promote eye contact.

“We have completed two preliminary studies with over 60 children,” Wall continued. “So far, we have demonstrated that Superpower Glass is comfortable and appropriate for use with children as young as three years of age and across the entire autism spectrum. In a longitudinal trial where 14 families used the device for several weeks at home, all children experienced a decrease in autism severity, and most parents reported an increase in eye contact after the study. Although this study did not include a control group for comparison, we have also completed a randomized controlled trial on over 70 additional children to further test the therapeutic impact of the system.”

A paper describing the work was recently published in the journal NPJ Digital Medicine.

Editors’ Recommendations

• The best Google Pixel cases and covers
• Felix Gray gears up for summer with blue-light filtering, stylish sunglasses
• Fussy, hungry, or in pain? This app accurately translates your baby’s cries
• The best smart water bottles
• Google Home Mini review

Save $670 on the HP 15t Touch laptop while you still can

Unless you’re a hardcore gamer, graphic designer, or coder, you don’t need the most powerful laptop on the market. For most of us, all we really want is something with enough battery life and processing power to get us through the day.

You can always drop $1,200 on one of the best consumer laptops available but in the end, you’re just going to end up with a bulky monstrosity that you have to lug around all day. Sure, you’ll have enough juice to hack the Pentagon at a moments notice, but as an average citizen, high treason is likely pretty low on your to-do list. So if you all you need is decent, lightweight laptop that won’t let you down when you need it most, the HP 15t Touch should work quite nicely — especially after a sweet $670 discount.

HP 15t Touch is an excellent entry-level laptop for work, college, or even just watching Netflix. With a 13-hour battery life, a seventh-generation Intel i7 processor, and 8GB of memory, this stylish piece of technology was designed to help you stay productive. It also comes with a nifty Intel UHD graphics card, so you don’t have to suffer through poor quality videos whenever you choose to stream. The 15.6-inch touch display also allows for easy viewing and navigation, though admittedly, too much touching can result in a fingerprint covered screen that may need to be cleaned every now and again.

Though there are a lot of great things going on in this laptop, perhaps the biggest draw is the price. Normally retailing at $1,240, the HP 15t Touch laptop is an absolute steal at just $570. This deal is all part of an ongoing back to school sale happening online at HP, and will only last through Saturday, August 11. If you’ve been looking for a decent entry-level laptop, or know a college student who needs something better than a pen and paper for note-taking, the HP 15t is an excellent option. Though you can always take a gander at the rest of the sale if you aren’t convinced.

$570 | HP

Looking for great savings? Find laptop deals and more from our curated deals page, or follow us on Twitter for the latest savings.

We strive to help our readers find the best deals on quality products and services, and choose what we cover carefully and independently. If you find a better price for a product listed here, or want to suggest one of your own, email us at dealsteam@digitaltrends.com.Digital Trends may earn commission on products purchased through our links, which supports the work we do for our readers.

Editors’ Recommendations

• HP slices prices on laptops for its huge back to school sale
• Take 20 percent off HP Omen gaming PCs and laptops for a limited time
• HP slashes prices up to 52 percent for its Fourth of July sale
• Fourth of July sale: Take $300 off the HP Envy x360 2-in-1 convertible laptop
• Here are the 5 best Fourth of July sales you won’t want to miss

Google Contacts 3.0 adds new Material Theme UI

The update is rolling out to the Play Store now.

Thanks to apps like Google News and Tasks, we’ve steadily been seeing Google’s new design language — Material Theme — come to life. Material Theme is slowly replacing the Material Design standard that was introduced with Lolipop in 2014, and the latest app to adopt the upgraded aesthetic is Google Contacts.

Google Contacts 3.0

Version 3.0 of the Contacts app is rolling out to the Play Store now, and while all of the core functionality remains untouched, the user interface is now in-line with Google’s new look. That’s a nice way of saying that there’s a lot more white elements.

The deep blue header has been replaced with an all-white background and “Contacts” branding that’s now centered, and the pink + circle is now white with a subtle blue accent. There’s also a welcome touch of the excellent Google Sans font throughout the entire app.

Google Contacts 2.0

Although I loved the colors of the old Contacts app, I don’t necessarily hate what we have in 3.0, either. Having a consistent look/feel across Google’s apps is something that’s been missing for quite some time, and while we’re still in the early days of Material Theme, that consistency is already starting to take hold.

What do you think about Google Contacts 3.0? Sound off in the comments below!

Download: Google Contacts (free)

Roku gives its users even more free shows — even if you don’t have a device

And you don’t even need a Roku box or stick to watch it.

The new “Featured Free” section on Roku’s home pages will roll out to users starting today.

Roku today announced its earnings for the second quarter of 2018. From the company’s letter to shareholders:

Roku delivered particularly strong Q2 2018 financial results. Robust active account growth expanded the reach and scale of our TV streaming platform, while at the same time Roku captured a bigger share of TV advertising budgets and continued progress on monetization. Our investments are delivering a better streaming experience for consumers, bigger audiences for content owners, and more effective marketing tools for brands. We are raising our full year 2018 outlook and believe Roku is well-positioned to seize the significant opportunities being created by the transition to streaming.

The Roku Channel is now available to everyone — for free — via a website.

The big news, though, is that you no longer even need a Roku device — either one of its streaming boxes or sticks, or a Roku TV — to watch free content from Roku. All you’ll need is a Roku account, and to head to TheRokuChannel.com from a web browser to watch the free Roku Channel online, which features free news, movies and other TV shows.

Is this a ploy to get folks to sign up for a Roku account? Absolutely. And it’s a good one. In addition, Roku is changing up its home screen on its devices to surface free content from The Roku Channel, ABC, Fox, The CW, Freeform, Pluto TV, and more, under the “Featured Free” umbrella.

From the announcement:

“We want to be the best destination for free streaming entertainment. We’re delighted to deliver even more value to our customers without subscriptions, complicated logins or fees,” said Rob Holmes, Roku’s Vice President of Programming and Engagement. “By expanding The Roku Channel to the Web, we’re broadening the access points to high-quality, free streaming entertainment. With Featured Free, we’re making it easy for our customers to see the great, free content already available on the Roku platform in one place, while creating value for our content providers by connecting them with Roku’s growing audience.”

Check out The Roku Channel for free

Here’s what else you need to know:

• Roku now has some 22 million active accounts, up 46 percent year over year for the quarter.
• That’s up from 20.8 million active accounts at the end of Q1.
• Roku has added nearly 7 million net new active accounts in the past 12 months.
• Platform revenue was up 96 percent YoT at $90.3 million.
• Gross profit landed at $77.8 million for the quarter — up 107 percent YoT.
• (That’s counting an expected extra $8.9 million from “potential IP licensing liabilities that have not materialized.)
• The number of hours of TV streamed was up 57 percent YoT at 5.5 billion hours.
• The fastest growth for those streaming hours came from Roku TVs, which doubled their streaming time YoY.

Introducing CordCutters.com

• The hardware you need
• All about streaming services
• What channels are on which service
• FREE over-the-air TV
• How to watch sports
• Join the discussion

Get the latest deals

Verizon and Apple Team Up to Offer VZW Unlimited Subscribers Six Free Months of Apple Music

Verizon and Apple today announced a new partnership which will see Verizon Unlimited customers able to sign up to receive six months of Apple Music for free.

Starting on Thursday, August 16, both new and existing customers who have one of Verizon’s Unlimited wireless plans can access a special offer for six months of Apple Music at no cost. Following this period, the subscription will be priced at $9.99 per month, the standard cost for an Apple Music subscription.

This is available to both new and existing Apple Music subscribers. According to Verizon, current Apple Music subscribers will get the same six months of free service as new subscribers, but will be required to cancel and reactivate their Apple Music subscriptions.

Verizon says that once registered, its VZW Unlimited customers will have full access to Apple Music on iPhone, iPad, Apple Watch, Apple TV, Mac, HomePod, CarPlay, PC, and Android devices.

“This first-of-its-kind offer is just the first step in an exclusive partnership with Apple,” said Angie Klein, vice president of marketing, Verizon. “It gives our customers exactly what they want: Apple’s best-in-class music streaming experience, paired with an unlimited plan tailored to them, on the network they deserve. And now that you can mix and match our unlimited plans, every person in your family can stream worry-free on the unlimited plan they need, without paying for things they don’t – and enjoy all the music they want for six months free with Apple Music with this exclusive offer in the U.S.”

Apple normally offers new subscribers three months of free access to Apple Music, so this is double the normal trial period.

Verizon offers three unlimited plans, priced starting at $75 for a single line. All plans offer unlimited text, talk, and LTE data, but offer varying video quality and mobile hotspot limits.

The cheapest Go Unlimited plan includes 480p video streaming and unlimited mobile hotspot access at 600kb/s. The middle tier Beyond Unlimited Plan offers 720p video streaming and 15GB of LTE hotspot data, while the higher-end plan offers up 720p video streaming, 20GB of LTE hotspot data, and other perks like Mexico and Canada Text and Data, and five TravelPasses per month.

Verizon’s cheapest plan offers unlimited LTE data, but warns that customers could be throttled at times of peak usage. The Beyond Unlimited plan lets customers use 22GB of LTE data before throttling, while the Above Unlimited plan provides customers with 75GB of unlimited LTE data before throttling kicks in at times of peak congestion.

Verizon will be providing more information about the partnership with Apple Music on its website on August 16.

Tags: Verizon, Apple Music
Discuss this article in our forums

Gemini Rue review: a game that really knows how to weave a story

Do you happen to be nostalgic about old computer games? Well, the immense app database that is the Google Play Store harbors a few titles that mimic the pixelated graphics of the games of old. Among them is Gemini Rue, a game that was almost single-handedly developed by UCLA undergraduate Josh Nuernberger, who is also known for the La Croix Pan.

Gemini Rue is a 2D point-and-click adventure set in a sci-fi/dark universe. The graphics are intentionally out of sync with today’s more intense high-action games, so that the story becomes the focal point of the experience.

Storyline

So as not to give you any spoilers, I will try to keep things minimal when talking about the storyline. Gemini Rue is about an amnesiac patient called Delta Six who wakes up in some sort of facility. Here people are “re-educated” before they get to go back into the world. At the same time, the story is also about former assassin Azriel Odin. This character is searching for his missing brother in a world controlled by a militia called the Boryokudan.

What I loved about the game is that it doesn’t reveal the whole story from the get-go. At first, you have no real idea what’s really going on, and as the events slowly unfold you become even more curious. You begin to ask questions such as How does this universe work? Are there multiple worlds? Why is Delta-Six locked up? It’s this looming mystery that kept me from abandoning the game at various stages in the experience.

Throughout the game, the two stories will alternate and you’ll either be helping Delta Six hatch up a plan to escape. Or you’ll be uncovering clues with Azriel Odin.

Impressions

But while the storyline is quite stellar, I can’t really say the same for the gaming experience. Playing it on an Android phone, even one with a big screen was definitely not very rewarding.

The pixelated graphics make it quite difficult to notice small details/objects, like the log blocking the door in Azriel’s friend Matthius Howard’s hotel room.You can interact with objects either by touching or kicking them, so you have to pay attention at all times.

I also tend to have a short attention span, so the lengthy dialogue scenes weren’t my favorite part. Sure, you can speed through them. But you’ll most likely miss essential information which you”ll need to solve the puzzles and quests at some point.

You’ll also have to be careful how you choose your answers while interacting with the various characters in the game. This act has consequences in the sense that you might be prevented to complete a quest unless you offer the satisfying answers.

Be prepared to die…multiple times

Another thing I didn’t particularly enjoy were the really awful combat scenes. At least in the mobile version of the game, the system doesn’t work too well. Azriel and Delta six both know how to fire a gun. Yet in Gemini Rue that’s not an easy-to-accomplish task. The biggest problem with the system is that firing the gun is slow.

It’s also quite difficult to watch both a meter and a moving enemy while switching between the two states (shooting mode and re-charging mode). As a result, you end up dying multiple times before finally moving to the next scene. Fortunately, there’s an autosave option, so you won’t have to start from scratch if you perish.

On the bright side, the developer of the game obviously understood the importance of sound in a game such as Gemini Rue. The soundtrack created by composer Nathan Allen Pinard is truly excellent and really helps amplify the dark mood enveloping this dystopian universe. The dialogue is also quite clever and amusing, while the puzzles are intuitive.

As low-resolution and low-fi as it is, Gemini Rue uses these qualities to create a gloomy and intense atmosphere that perfectly complements the story.

Conclusion

It’s quite spectacular how Josh Nuernberger managed to do almost everything in Gemini Rue by himself including writing, animation, and programming. While the game might have its flaws (at least on mobile, I haven’t played the PC game), its well-crafted story was more than enough to make me want to stick around until the end.

Gemini Rue is available to download in the Play Store for $4.99.