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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Stephen Hackett Shares Over 1,500 Screenshots of Every Mac OS Release Since 2000

Relay FM co-founder Stephen Hackett today shared an extensive collection of screenshots for every major release of the Mac operating system in the past 18 years, over which time its name has changed from Mac OS X to OS X to macOS.

The library of over 1,500 screenshots is available on Hackett’s blog 512 Pixels, providing a look back at the visual history of Mac OS X Cheetah in 2000 through macOS High Sierra in 2017. Hackett plans to update the library for every major release of macOS going forward, including Mojave in the next couple of months.

Hackett says he ran every macOS release on actual hardware, including various models of the Power Mac G4, Mac mini, and MacBook Pro, capturing screenshots of major features and other elements he felt were important over the years.

The screenshots show the evolution of the Mac’s visual theme Aqua, ranging from gloss and pinstripes in the early days, to brushed metal and corinthian leather during the skeuomorphic days, to the flatter, translucent look of today. Highlights are available in a related blog post on 512 Pixels.

Hackett says he put an extraordinary amount of time into the collection, which is certainly worth checking out for a trip down memory lane.
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How Apple’s iOS 12 Password AutoFill Feature Works With 1Password

Apple in iOS 12 introduced a new Password AutoFill API for apps like 1Password and LastPass, designed to allow password management apps to provide stored usernames and passwords for not only websites but also third-party apps.

1Password has introduced support for Password AutoFill in a beta capacity ahead of the launch of iOS 12, giving us a look at just how simple and easy Password AutoFill makes entering login details.

Note: This 1Password feature is not widely available yet because it is implemented in a beta version of the app, but it will be available for everyone when the 1Password app is updated following the release of iOS 12.

Set Up

Once a password management app that supports Password AutoFill has been installed, the feature needs to be enabled on an iOS device.

Go to Settings > Passwords & Accounts > AutoFill Passwords and toggle on the AutoFill Passwords option while also making sure your password management app, such as 1Password, is selected.

You can use third-party password management apps right alongside iCloud Keychain, or you can choose to disable iCloud Keychain and use just a password management app.

How it Works

The Password AutoFill feature lets a third-party app function just like iCloud Keychain, with your sensitive data protected but easily accessible within apps when you need your login information.

When you encounter a login field in an app or on the web, tapping in the entry field will display the stored username and password from your password management app if you’ve saved one.

From there, you can tap the information to enter it into the app or website’s login window, such as in the Spotify example below.

There are instances where 1Password does not have saved information entirely right or where you have multiple logins, such as in the case of multiple Twitter or Instagram accounts.

In these situations, if you tap on the key icon and then select the “1Password” option, you can view all of the available accounts for a particular service.

In the case of Instagram, this means that when I’m logging into the Instagram app, I see my two Instagram accounts listed in 1Password and I can tap either one to enter my login information.

For apps that 1Password cannot automatically identify, you will be able to access your entire password vault to find the login information that you need.

Where it Works

What’s great about the Password AutoFill API is that it does not require developers to implement any kind of integrations with your password management app to function, as was required in previous versions of iOS for this kind of functionality.

1Password’s Password AutoFill feature, for example, works automatically in most apps and websites, with your 1Password archive available no matter where you’re logging in.

As a caveat, 1Password will not recognize some apps and you’ll see a message that the app is “Unidentified” with no identifying information provided. In this situation, you can still access your 1Password vault to search for the password that’s required.

One-Time Passwords

When logging into apps and websites that require two-factor authentication, using a one-time password is also simplified.

If your two-factor authentication setup is linked to 1Password, when you log into an app or website that requires two-factor authentication, your password is entered in the field and your one-time authentication password is automatically copied and pasted to the clipboard for easy entry.

For apps that use your phone number for authentication purposes, iOS 12 introduces a feature that takes a code from an incoming iMessage and copies it to the clipboard, so two-factor authentication is simplified no matter the method.

Password AutoFill on Apple TV

Password AutoFill extends to the Apple TV using the continuity keyboard that permits the iPhone to be used to enter passwords and login information on the Apple TV.

For this to work, both the Apple TV and the iOS device need to be signed into the same iCloud account, and from there, the process is identical to using Password AutoFill on the iPhone.

In a text entry field, when prompted to use the iPhone to enter login information, passwords stored in a password management app and linked to Password AutoFill will be able to be entered on the Apple TV.

Note: tvOS 12 and iOS 12 are required for Password AutoFill to work on the Apple TV.

Security

Every time your password management account is activated, you will need to confirm your identity with either Face ID or Touch ID to enter a password.

If Face ID or Touch ID fails, you will need to enter a password. In the case of 1Password, this means that if biometric authentication does not work, you will need to use the master password.

Release Date

1Password’s Password AutoFill update will be available following the release of iOS 12, which we expect to see debut next month, shortly ahead of the launch of new iPhones. 1Password is available on Macs and iOS devices for as little as $2.99 per month for an individual account. A free 30 day trial is available from the 1Password website.
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The Top Five Mobile Games To Get You Through Lectures

Zoning out in lectures is something we’re all used to. We’ve all switched off and found something more appealing when we’re supposed to be listening in and taking note.

Now, of course we’re not condoning it, but it is something we totally feel you with. It’s so tempting to pull out your phone and take on something more appealing. With a new semester about to get back underway, we take a look at the mobile games and apps to enjoy when your university lecture is sending you off to sleep.

The Bored Button

It seems common sense to simply have a button on your smartphone when you’re feeling a little bored.

The Bored Button is the perfect solution and available as both an app and in your browser. All you have to do is push it and you’ll be given a random game or fun little snippet of information to keep you entertained.

It’s perfect for a dull lecture as you don’t need to overly pay attention while they’re only small, fun games that take a short period of time.

Slot Machines

Fun in short bursts is definitely the way, allowing you to zone in and out of gaming and listening.

Online slots are ideal for this, taking little time to play but significantly boosting your excitement levels.

You can usually play for free by picking up some no deposit free spins meaning you won’t have to worry about making a loss while in class.

It’s a type of game in which you can dip in and out of, again making it ideal for this scenario.

Sudoku

Games that aren’t dictated by a clock counting you down are always a good idea and sudoku will keep you occupied on and off for an entire lecture.

You often see people completing them from newspapers in lectures and in coffee shops, so why not simply download one onto your mobile?

There are dozens of sudoku apps out there, most of which are free. And what’s more there will be no evidence you’ve been preoccupied like there would be with a pen and paper.

Compulsive

A short sharp gaming app, Compulsive is a Tetris-like game that gives you 60 seconds to make blocks of four or more tiles of the same colour.

It’s simple yet can prove incredibly tense, so you certainly have to hold your nerve in a busy lecture theatre. It’s a highly addictive game, so don’t go overboard with it, but it’s a superb quick bit of fun for playing before a lecture has started or in the mid-speech slump.

Here’s what we know about the Honor 8X, including its rumored 7.12-inch screen

Julian Chokkattu/Digital Trends

Last year’s Honor 7X quickly became one of our favorite budget phones. It had an appealing, yet durable design, great specs and came in at $200.

So when we heard news of a possible successor to the Honor 7X, we had to learn more. Here’s everything we know about the Honor 8X.

Design, display, and specs

Gizmochina

For the most part, it looks like the Honor 8X will share many design cues with its predecessor, the Honor 7X. On the front of the phone the bezels have been slightly reduced, thanks to a tear drop notch that houses the camera. The back, if TENAA renders are correct look nearly identical to the 7X with the exception of an additional camera lens. While we can’t confirm the material used on the back of the phone, it looks like it may be the same aluminum used on last year’s 7X.

Perhaps the most exciting spec on the Honor 8X is its display. According to GSMArena, and other sources, the 8X features a monstrous 7.12-inch LCD with a resolution of 2,240 x 1,080.

A recent TENAA filing offers lots of information about the other specs on the Honor 8X. While many originally assumed the 8x would feature a Kirin processor, the TENAA filling and Master Lu listing shows the phone will have a Snapdragon 660 chip along with 4GB of RAM. Storage will come in at 64GB with an external storage slot.

For a budget phone, the camera on the Honor 7X was pretty impressive. It looks like the Honor 8X may be even better. According to a regulatory TENAA filing, it looks like the Honor 8X may pack a dual camera module on its rear with a 16-megapixel primary sensor and 5-megapixel secondary sensor; other sites state the phone will have 2-megapixel secondary lens. The front-facing camera, tucked into a tear drop notch, will come in at 8 megapixels.

The battery on the Honor 8X will come in at a massive 4,900mAh. That should be plenty to get a day’s worth of heavy use, even with the huge 7.12-inch screen.

Release and pricing

Weibo

Since the Honor 8X has not been officially announced yet, we don’t have pricing or availability information. However, Honor did tease the upcoming 8X on its official Weibo page, which leads us to believe we should see the phone in the coming months.

At this point, our best guess is that the Honor 8X will be announced in China in October or November. Once the phone is announced in Asia we’d expect to see a global release announced early 2019, perhaps at the Consumer Electronics Show.

Editors’ Recommendations

• Nokia 6.1 Plus: Everything we know
• Here’s everything we know about the Motorola One Power
• Moto G6 Play review
• Nokia 3.1 review
• Moto G6 vs Nokia 7 Plus vs Honor 7X camera shootout

Chrome 69 arrives in September with Google’s Material Design overhaul intact

The latest version of Google Chrome will arrive on September 4 and it comes with the interface overhaul called Material Design. A specific portion of the company’s notes for the enterprise makes this clear, stating that Chrome will sport “a new design across all operating systems.” The same paragraph also mentions autofill updates and integration into the notification center on Windows 10.

If you’re not familiar with Material Design, it’s a new approach to Chrome’s interface from a visual standpoint. If you’re on a Windows 10 PC, you can actually unlock a portion of the redesign in Chrome 68 by changing the “UI Layout for the browser’s top chrome” flag to “Refresh.” On MacOS, you will also need to enable “Use Views browser windows instead of Cocoa” to see Material Design in action.

In a nutshell, Google tries to emulate printed paper with this new design. Launched in 2014, Material Design emerged in Google Now to emulate cards, rendering crisp edges and shadows to give these virtual cards depth. Material Design then appeared in Android 5.0 and is slowly infiltrating all apps and services provided by Google, including its Chrome web browser.

“Material Design is guided by print design methods — typography, grids, space, scale, color, and imagery — to create hierarchy, meaning, and focus that immerse viewers in the experience,” Google says. “Material Design is inspired by the physical world and its textures, including how they reflect light and cast shadows. Material surfaces reimagine the mediums of paper and ink.”

One of the apparent Material Design-based changes in Chrome is the address bar sporting cleaner, rounded edges. The tabs get a visual overhaul as well showing straight edges and slightly rounded corners, just like those you may see on real-world folders. All drop-down and right-click menus are clean, widely spaced and card-like, imitating printed media.

Outside the addition of Material Design, Chrome 69 will require you to grant permission for websites to use Flash every time you restart the browser. Adobe confirmed in 2017 that it would no longer update and/or distribute Flash starting 2020. Adobe’s long-time media platform will be replaced by the technologies served up in HTML5, WebGL and WebAssembly.

On the enterprise front, Chrome 69 will include a password alert policy. According to Google, if someone tries to sign into a website that’s not whitelisted or is flagged as suspicious by the company, a popup will warn the individual to reset his/her password. This move attempts to crack down on those who like reusing passwords across multiple sites, leading to compromised accounts and company network breaches.

“Third parties can sometimes inject code that disrupts the stability of Chrome Browser,” the notes add. “In Chrome 66, we introduced on-screen warnings that alerted users when a third-party injects code. In Chrome 69, third-party code is now blocked by default. If you still use software that injects code into browser processes, you can temporarily enable access using the new ThirdPartyBlockingEnabled policy.”

Google Chrome 69 arrives on September 4.

Editors’ Recommendations

• Google’s Chrome desktop browser is about to receive a major facelift
• Unlock Google’s cool new Material Design interface hidden inside Chrome 68
• The best web browsers
• Google Chrome now shows browser notifications in Windows 10 Action Center
• Chrome OS keeps improving, but it still doesn’t work for me