Save 95% on a Pro Plan lifetime subscription to Animatron Studio

It’s no secret that video animations are great at attracting online viewers. Who doesn’t love a fun and colorful animated distraction? Don’t you wish you could quickly create your own fun animations, or add a splash of magic to your social media?

Save 95% on a lifetime subscription to Animatron Studio! Learn more

Android Central Digital Offers has a great deal for any budding animators out there. Check out this great deal on the Animatron Studio Pro Plan. For just $49.99, you can get a lifetime subscription to this simple and effective animation platform.

Animatron has designed a powerful tool for creating fun and colorful animated videos that are perfect for storyboarding a bigger film idea, adding a touch of fun to your next presentation, or marketing your small business on social media. You’re able to import and edit your own graphics, photos, and audio to create memorable content, and there are over 500,000 royalty-free assets available for you to use.

Everything you create can be exported to HTML5, SVG, GIF, or to a video format for universal playback. You get 10GB of storage for your movies and 100GB/month of hosting bandwidth.

Create awesome animations for your business or social media! Learn more

A monthly subscription to Animatron’s Pro Plan costs $15/month, so getting a lifetime subscription to these tools for just $50 is an incredible value. Save close to $1,000 thanks to Android Central Digital Offers and only pay once.You don’t need to be a professional animator to create professional-looking animations. Step up your social media game with animations from Animatron!

Best portable battery packs under $20 in 2018

I live my life on the go, so keeping all of my gadgets charged up is critically important. But, that doesn’t mean I need to go out and drop $100 on a battery. An inexpensive battery is just as good as a pricey one.

The ExpertPower 20,000mAh portable charger is the best battery you can get under $20 right now because of its large capacity. You get three USB ports to charge from, and the large capacity will mean you can go a few days without needing to charge the battery itself.

Your best choice for a battery

ExpertPower 20,000 mAh Portable Charer

• $17 from Amazon

If you’re gonna spend any money on a battery pack, you may as well get the biggest capacity you can.

The main job of a portable battery is to charge your gadgets, and the battery can’t do that if it’s already dead. This battery offers a generous 20,000 mAh cell, so you can easily go a few days without needing to charge the battery itself — even under the worst conditions.

Who should buy this battery

If you can go a few days without being near a power outlet — whether for camping, road trips or just in case of emergencies — this is the battery for you. The large cell will easily last you the course of a trip, even when charging all of your gadgets.

Is it a good time to buy this battery?

Yes. Batteries are batteries — they don’t go through a yearly release cycle like smartphones and laptops do. And even if a new battery does come out, that won’t change the capacity of this one at all.

Reasons to buy

• Largest capacity for this price
• Three USB-A ports to charge your devices from
• Two of the USB ports offer faster charging

Reasons not to buy

• No USB-C

Why you should buy this battery

A battery’s one job is to safely charge your devices, and this does just that for a low price. The large, 20,000mAh capacity means you’ll be able to charge your smartphone, headphones and even tablet several times over, making this perfect for a camping trip or other weekend excursion.

This battery will charge all of your gadgets multiple times over.

Having three USB-A ports means you can charge more than one gadget at a time, and two of the ports output at 2.1 amps. There’s no Qualcomm Quick Charge support, but this should still charge your devices at a reasonable speed.

Other batteries to consider

None of these batteries are going to be significantly cheaper, but if you don’t need a huge spare battery, a smaller pack will take less space in your bag or back pocket.

A more compact choice

Anker PowerCore 5000

This battery is super compact, meaning it can easily slip into your pocket.

$20 at Amazon

If you just want a battery that’s as small as possible, this one from Anker is for you.

This battery from Anker is perfect if you want something as small as possible. It has enough juice to recharge your phone one time, so you’ll need to charge the battery itself every night. It comes in right at $20 for the black version, but the blue, red and white versions are slightly more expensive. There’s no official Quick Charge support, but the 2 amp output should charge your device relatively quickly.

Better for campers

FLOUREON Solar Charger

If you’re heading to the great outdoors, you may as well get a battery that can charge right at your campsite.

$18 at Amazon

This battery can charge via solar power, perfect in the wilderness.

Solar power may not be as fast as charging from a wall, but it’s better than a dead battery. This pack from FLOUREON can charge from the sun’s rays, so you’ll never have an empty cell. You get two USB-A outputs, and the 10,000 mAh battery means you can charge your gadgets a few times before the power pack itself dies.

Bottom line

Capacity comes before other features in a power pack, and the 20,000mAh battery in ExpertPower’s pack is the biggest we could find for this price. Being able to charge multiple gadgets at once is a happy addition as well.

Credits — The team that worked on this guide

Tom Westrick is a U.S.-based freelancer. He’s been poking and prodding at Android phones since 2011, and covering various topics for Android Central since 2017. He can often be found with multiple laptops in his backpack and a cup of iced tea in his hand. Follow him on Twitter.

Ara Wagoner is overjoyed to have joined the Android Central team full-time after four years of freelance contributions to the site. Yes, her holster is for a phone not a gun. When she’s not building new Android themes and poking Google Assistant with a stick, you can find her gutting pumpkins to brine and bake pumpkin seeds. If you see her without headphones, RUN.

Microsoft To-Do updated on Android with faster sync, new ‘undo’ option

Microsoft To-Do has added new ways to interact with your tasks and faster syncing on iOS and Android.

Microsoft is taking a small break from its onslaught of major features for its To-Do app, opting instead for some smaller tweaks in the latest updates for mobile devices. Across both iOS and Android, that means you’ll now see To-Do sync a little faster. Meanwhile, each app has received its own slight tweaks to the way you interact with tasks.

Here’s a look at what’s new for To-Do on Android:

• If you’ve ever lost track of an important to-do due to a case of clumsy fingers, we’ve got your back. We now give you the option to Undo after removing a to-do from the Important smart list.
• We’ve improved sync and performance in shared lists, including fixing a crash that could occur when removing members.

Over on iOS, To-Do has simplified the process of moving tasks between lists. Here’s a full look at what’s new:

• New: We’ve made it easier to move your tasks between lists. Just swipe from the left on the to-do, tap the new yellow Move to button and choose the new list.
• New: We believe that a to-do by any other name would still accomplish just as much, so our To-Do list is now named Tasks.
• Improved: We’re continuing to make improvements to sync and accessibility. This particular update includes faster sync for newly created lists and better voiceover support when completing tasks.

These tweaks are small in comparison to other recent updates like list sharing and steps for tasks, but they’re important nonetheless as Microsoft moves to flesh out To-Do as a replacement for Wunderlist.

See at App Store
See at Google Play

Cloud Remote for PS4 vs Universal Remote for PS4: Which should you buy?

We’re a virtual company made up of tech experts from across the globe. We also happen to be avid PlayStation lovers and have the best recommendations for you when it comes to peripheral hardware.

Universal Remote

Traditional design

$30 at Amazon

Pros

• Cost efficient
• Dedicated PS4 buttons
• Bluetooth
• Compatible with up to three additional devices

Cons

• Outdated design
• Too many buttons
• Larger size

An archaic design that’s outlived its welcome in 2018.

Cloud Remote

Modern elegance

$30 at Amazon

Pros

• Sleek design
• Cost efficient
• Cloud-assisted technology
• App control
• Dedicated PS4 buttons
• Less buttons for less confusion

Cons

• Modern design may be too foreign for those unfamiliar with smart technology
• Only compatible with PS4

If you’re in the market for a PlayStation 4 remote, pick up the Cloud model.

What’s the difference?

In terms of functionality, the major difference between the Universal and Cloud PS4 remotes is that the Universal model can also work with televisions, cable boxes, and audio receivers. The Cloud Remote does allow users to control power, input, and volume for their televisions while using their PS4s, but it is not a substitute or replacement for an actual cable box remote. Other than that, much of their usefulness remains the same.

Price	$30	$30
Dimensions	23.5cm x 4.19cm x 1.95cm	15.39cm x 4.98cm x 1.83cm
Dedicated PS4 buttons	Yes	Yes
Cloud technology	No	Yes
App control	No	Yes
TV/cable box/audio support	Yes	No

What these features mean to you

How important these features are will vary from person to person, but it’s always good to stay informed. If you’re unfamiliar with a certain feature, like what Cloud technology really means for the Cloud Remote, I’ll break it down for you so you can decide which remote suits you best.

Television, cable box, and audio receiver support

The Universal Remote for PS4 is just that: universal. Using infrared (IR) light, it can connect to a television, cable box, and audio receiver (up to three additional devices aside from your PS4) so that you can control all of them with only one remote instead of jumbling a few. Finished watching a movie on your PlayStation and want to switch back to cable to record your favorite show? You can easily do that with the Universal Remote. If you have a separate audio system and don’t use the integrated speakers on your television, you can control that as well.

Cloud technology/app control

PDP implemented Cloud technology for its newest remote’s app. This enables the Cloud Remote to auto-detect devices connected to your PS4 console for easier programming. The app can be downloaded directly onto your PS4 from the PlayStation Store.

Dedicated PS4 buttons

The PS4’s four face buttons adorn both remotes, but the Cloud Remote also includes both bumpers and triggers as dedicated buttons. Certain media will require you to use them in order to select different options and navigate the console’s interface since the PlayStation 4 was designed with its own controller’s inputs in mind.

The bottom line

Considering their comparable price points and nearly identical functionality in regards to the PlayStation 4 console specifically, the Cloud Remote should be your remote of choice if you’re in the market. The Universal Remote still gets the job done, it’s just outdated in its design. I’d only recommend the Universal Remote if you prefer convenience and don’t like keeping multiple remotes for different hardware.

Cloud Remote

Modern elegance

$30 at Amazon

Sleek and sexy

Going forward, anyone looking for a media remote for PS4 should pick up the Cloud model.

Universal Remote

Traditional design

$30 at Amazon

Outdated

This is frankly an outdated model that should be left in the past.

Save 25% on an athletic apparel purchase from popular brands at Amazon

Effortless athleisure.

Right now at Amazon, you can add an item of your choice from a selection of athletic shoes and apparel to your cart and automatically receive 25% off during checkout. This only works on one thing, and you can only use it one time. The selection is huge, though, so it is definitely worth checking out. A lot of the items are already discounted too which makes the extra percentage off icing on the cake.

Note that some accounts aren’t eligible to receive this discount. It worked for some Team Thrifter members, but not others. Your mileage may vary but it’s definitely worth checking out since you can shop such a large variety.

For example, the pictured highly-rated Adidas Men’s Matchcourt Sneakers fall to $37.98 shipped after the discount is applied. This style has sold for as much as $70 in the past.

See at Amazon

How to unlock every suit in Spider-Man for PS4

Don’t be like Peter just starting out. We all deserve better suits than old clothes found in our closets.

Spider-Man features 27 different suits for Peter to wear as he’s stopping crime throughout the city. These range from iconic suits pulled straight from the comics to some funnier suits that Insomniac designed just for the game.

Most of them require you to level up within the game and earn tokens to unlock them. You can earn these by completing side activities like fighting crime, research tasks, and finding Peter’s backpacks around the city. The remaining suits are gated behind specific story missions or completing 100% of every district.

Note: The name of one of the final suits you unlock can be considered a spoiler, however we have included it in this list.

• Advanced Suit
• Classic Suit Damaged
• Classic Suit Repaired
• Noir Suit
• Scarlet Spider Suit
• Spider Armor – MK II Suit
• Secret War Suit
• Stark Suit
• Negative Suit
• Electrically Insulated Suit
• Spider-Punk Suit
• Wrestler Suit
• Fear Itself Suit
• Stealth “Big Time” Suit
• Spider Armor – MK III Suit
• Spider-Man 2099 Black Suit
• Iron Spider Suit
• Velocity Suit
• Spider Armor – MK IV Suit
• Spirit Spider
• Spider-Man 2099 White Suit
• Vintage Comic Book Suit
• Last Stand Suit
• Anti-Ock Suit
• Undies Suit
• Homemade Suit
• Dark Suit

See at Amazon

See at PlayStation

Advanced Suit

Unlocked with:

• Complete 5th main story mission Something Old, Something New
• 1 Backpack Token
• 2 Crime Tokens

Classic Suit Damaged

This is the suit you start off the game with.

Classic Suit Repaired

Unlocked with:

• Complete 5th main story mission Something Old, Something New
• 2 Backpack Tokens
• 2 Crime Tokens

Noir Suit

Unlocked with:

• Complete 5th main story mission Something Old, Something New
• 2 Backpack Tokens
• 1 Base Token

Scarlet Spider Suit

Unlocked with:

• Reach level 4
• 3 Crime Tokens
• 2 Landmark Tokens

Spider Armor – MK II Suit

Unlocked with:

• Reach level 5
• 1 Landmark Token
• 1 Base Token
• 2 Research Tokens (You must reach a certain point in the story in order to earn Research Tokens)

Secret War Suit

Unlocked with:

• Reach level 7
• 1 Base Token
• 2 Backpack Tokens
• 1 Research Token

Stark Suit

Unlocked with:

• Reach level 9
• 1 Base Token
• 3 Crime Tokens
• 1 Research Token

Negative Suit

Unlocked with:

• Reach level 11
• 2 Landmark Tokens
• 1 Research Token
• 1 Base Token

Electrically Insulated Suit

Unlocked with:

• Reach level 13
• 3 Crime Tokens
• 1 Base Token
• 1 Research Token

Spider-Punk Suit

Unlocked with:

• Reach level 16
• 2 Backpack Tokens
• 3 Base Tokens
• 2 Landmark Tokens

Wrestler Suit

Unlocked with:

• Reach level 19
• 2 Backpack Tokens
• 2 Base Tokens
• 2 Research Tokens

Fear Itself Suit

Unlocked with:

• Reach level 21
• 6 Challenge Tokens
• 2 Base Tokens
• 3 Research Tokens

Stealth “Big Time” Suit

Unlocked with:

• Reach level 23
• 4 Challenge Tokens
• 2 Base Tokens
• 3 Landmark Tokens

Spider Armor – MK III Suit

Unlocked with:

• Reach level 26
• 4 Challenge Tokens
• 2 Base Tokens
• 4 Crime Tokens

Spider-Man 2099 Black Suit

Unlocked with:

• Reach level 29
• 2 Base Tokens
• 4 Crime Tokens
• 4 Research Tokens

Iron Spider Suit

Unlocked with:

• Reach level 31
• 3 Challenge Tokens
• 3 Base Tokens
• 4 Crime Tokens

Velocity Suit

Unlocked with:

• Reach level 33
• 4 Challenge Tokens
• 2 Backpack Tokens
• 2 Landmark Tokens

Spider Armor – MK IV Suit

Unlocked with:

• Reach level 35
• 4 Challenge Tokens
• 4 Base Tokens
• 3 Landmark Tokens

Spirit Spider

Unlocked with:

• Reach level 37
• 6 Base Tokens
• 6 Challenge Tokens
• 6 Crime Tokens

Spider-Man 2099 White Suit

Unlocked with:

• Reach level 39
• 4 Base Tokens
• 4 Challenge Tokens
• 4 Crime Tokens

Vintage Comic Book Suit

Unlocked with:

• Reach level 41
• 4 Challenge Tokens
• 4 Backpack Tokens
• 4 Crime Tokens

Last Stand Suit

Unlocked with:

• Reach level 45
• 20 Crime Tokens

Anti-Ock Suit

Unlocked with:

• Complete the main story campaign

Undies Suit

Unlocked with:

• Complete the game 100% (All main missions, side missions, activities, and districts)

Homemade Suit

Unlocked with:

• Find all 55 backpacks around the city

Dark Suit

Unlocked with:

• Complete all Black Cat Stakeouts

See at Amazon

See at PlayStation

PlayStation 4

• PS4 vs. PS4 Slim vs. PS4 Pro: Which should you buy?
• PlayStation VR Review
• Playing PS4 games through your phone is awesome

Amazon

Apple’s September 2018 Media Event: Spoiler-Free Video Stream

Apple’s “Gather round” media event will be kicking off at 10:00 AM Pacific tomorrow, and as is tradition some MacRumors readers who can’t follow the event live are interested in avoiding all of the announcements and waiting until Apple posts the recorded video of the event so as to experience it without already knowing the outcome.

For those individuals, we’ve posted this news story, which will be updated with a direct link to the presentation once it becomes available from Apple. No other news stories or announcements will be displayed alongside this story.

Apple has become quicker about making event videos available for replay over the past several years, and videos are now frequently available within an hour of an event’s conclusion.

Users waiting for the video to be posted are welcome to gather in the thread associated with this news story, and we ask that those who follow the events refrain from making any posts in the thread about Apple’s announcements.

Tag: September 2018 event
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