TP-Link gear, true wireless earbuds, 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 TP-Link smart plugs and other TP-Link gear, a Razer wireless gaming mouse, the Jabra Elite true wireless earbuds, and more!

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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!

The best PlayStation 4 games you can play online without PlayStation Plus

We’re a virtual company made up of tech experts from across the globe. Our interests also incude video games, and we have some of the best recommendations when it comes to what to play if you don’t have PlayStation Plus.

While PlayStation Plus is usually a requirement to play online multiplayer, there are notable exceptions to this rule. Most free-to-play games actually allow people to enjoy online multiplayer matches without needing to be an active PlayStation Plus subscriber.

We’ve created a list of some of the best online games you can play without PS Plus for you to check out. Should you want to see the full list of free-to-play games offered on PS4, Sony has an entire section of its store dedicated to just that.

King of the hill

Fortnite Battle Royale

While Fortnite may be one of the most popular games to ever release—and certainly one of the most popular this year—it doesn’t require a PS plus membership to play. You can jump into its newest season and get in on the craze for yourself completely free of charge.

See at PlayStation

Dungeons & Dragons

Neverwinter

Not a tabletop fan? Live out your dreams by picking up Neverwinter, an MMORPG based on Dungeons & Dragons. Delve into its fantastical world full of mythical creatures and threats.

See at PlayStation

Battle of the gods

Smite

Team up in 5v5 matches as you duel it out with powerful gods. This MOBA took the world by storm, and you can hop in and try it for yourself.

See at PlayStation

Mech assault mayhem

Hawken

Like Titanfall, you can pilot an imposing Mech to wreak destruction on the battlefield. Who doesn’t want to live out their childhood fantasies of helming Voltron or the Megazord. You won’t get those exact mechs (darn licensing!) but you get the next best thing.

See at PlayStation

Comic book legends

DC Universe Online

DC has trouble with its live action film division, but its video games are going strong. In DC Universe Online, you can play as some of the most iconic heroes and villains in history.

See at PlayStation

Sci-fi goodness

Warframe

If sci-fi is more your speed than fantasy, check out Warframe. Take up the role of an ancient warrior as you’re caught in the midst of a devastating war between hostile factions.

See at PlayStation

Last man standing

H1Z1 Battle Royale

Before there was Fortnite, there was H1Z1. If you’re looking for a more grounded, gritty battle royale experience as opposed to what Fortnite offers, H1Z1 has got you covered.

See at PlayStation

Not your father’s overwatch

Paladins

Not an Overwatch fan? Try out Paladins, another hero-shooter with vibrant graphics and characters. With millions of players you shouldn’t have any problem finding a match.

See at PlayStation

Now go forth and have some fun without worrying about breaking the bank!

What about The Elder Scrolls Online and Final Fantasy XIV?

You may Google “PlayStation 4 games that can be played online without PlayStation Plus” or something similar and see The Elder Scrolls Online pop up. It’s easy to get excited about this, but unfortunately this is no longer the case. When ESO was first announced it was using a monthly subscription-based model in order for people to play it, similar to other MMOs like World of Warcraft. During this time, it did not require a PS Plus membership to play online in addition to its monthly subscription fee. However, Bethesda eventually got rid of its subscription-based model and simply sold the game as a one-time purchase. Once this took effect, PS Plus was required for ESO going forward, and still is today.

While it’s true that Final Fantasy XIV does not require a PS Plus membership, there is a huge asterisk that follows which is why I have decided to leave it off of the main list. Final Fantasy XIV is also subscription-based. If you don’t have a PS Plus membership, odds are you won’t want to shell out the entry fee of $12.99 for 30 days. Though if you do find yourself itching to jump in, the standard subscription fee for 6-months is also $12.99, making it a much better deal than a $60 PS Plus membership for a whole year.

PlayStation 4

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Amazon

These are the best gaming controllers for the NVIDIA Shield TV

The NVIDIA Shield TV is the best Android box for gamers, with so many great ways to play the best games from the Google Play Store as well as PC games streamed through NVIDIA’s GeForce NOW service. If you want a couple extra controllers for some couch multiplayer, you’ll be happy to know that alongside its own excellent controller, the NVIDIA Shield TV offers Bluetooth support for other great gaming controllers.

Specially designed by NVIDIA

NVIDIA Shield Controller

The NVIDIA Shield controller is designed to take full advantage of all that the NVIDIA Shield can do, with a built-in microphone for Google Assistant and a headphone jack along with dedicated volume and Android system controls. Unlike other controller options, it connects via Wi-Fi so there are no latency issues to contend with.

$60 at Amazon

Microsoft’s best

Xbox One Controller

The Xbox One controller can be connected to the Shield via Bluetooth. This iconic controller is available in a wide range of colors and styles and is a great option if you already own an Xbox One console. Uses AA batteries unless you also buy a Play and Charge kit for an extra $25.

$50 at Amazon

Best option for Sony fanboys

DualShock 4 Wireless Controller

Sony’s wireless controller for the PlayStation 4 can also be connected to the NVIDIA Shield. Put the controller into pairing mode and it should come up as an available Bluetooth accessory in the Shield settings. Powered by rechargeable internal battery and comes with charging cable.

$45 at Amazon

A great controller for Android

SteelSeries Stratus XL

The Stratus XL is our favorite Bluetooth controller for Android, so it absolutely deserves a mention as a great accessory for our favorite Android streaming box. It has dedicated controls for controlling Android devices and pairs up quickly and reliably. Requires AA batteries.

$43 at Amazon

The NVIDIA Shield offers support for third-party controllers, but the best option is still going to be the NVIDIA Shield Controller ($60). It’s the priciest option on the list but it’s designed to work seamlessly with full support for the headphones, Google Assistant, and convenient volume control. Of course, if you prefer the look and feel (and price) of an Xbox or PS4 controller, you can conveniently pair those, too.

Canada Daily Deals: Beats headphones, rugged storage and more

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 a range of discounted Beats headphones, rugged storage from SanDisk, Espro’s portable French press and much more!

View the rest of the deals

Each day, the Thrifter Canada team scouts out and shares amazing deals on products you know and love, helping you find the best prices on the ‘net.

For more Canadian deals coverage, be sure to keep an eye on Thrifter CA and follow the team on Twitter.

Apple Watch Series 4 vs. Apple Watch Series 3

The all-new Apple Watch Series 4 is just hours from being available for pre-order, with orders opening on Apple.com at 12:01 a.m. PDT on September 14. If you’re still on the fence about jumping to the new generation, this post should help you discern all of the pros and cons between sticking with your Apple Watch Series 3 or going with the upgraded Apple Watch Series 4.

Display

Perhaps the first thing you’ll notice about the Series 4 is its bigger display, which is up to 35 percent larger than the Series 3. Specifically comparing the larger 42mm Series 3 and 44mm Series 4 models, the Series 3 has a 740 sq mm display area while the Series 4 has a 977 sq mm display area. This means that the 44mm Series 4’s display is 32 percent larger than the 42mm Series 3.

Likewise for the smaller models, the 38mm Series 3 has a 563 sq mm display area, compared to the 40mm Series 4 with a 759 sq mm display area. This results in a 35 percent display size increase between generations. In essence, this means that the Series 4 packs more screen into what is nearly the same package as the Series 3, with slimmer bezels that are somewhat visually similar to the rounded corners of the iPhone X and iPhone XS.

The increased display area also results in increased resolution, with the 44mm Series 4 including 368×448 pixels, compared to 312×390 on the 42mm Series 3. The 40mm Series 4 has 324×394 pixels, while the 38mm Series 3 has 272×340 pixels. Thanks to all of these changes, app icons and fonts are now bigger and easier to read as well.

Case Size

Although the display sizes have been increased, there are minimal changes to the actual size of the cases for Apple Watch Series 4, despite the new measurements. 38mm in Series 3 and prior has become 40mm, and 42mm in Series 3 and prior has become 44mm, with both of these numbers representing the height of the Apple Watch Series 4 case.

This is a change that shouldn’t be too noticeable, unless you’re comparing the Series 4 with a previous generation model side-by-side. And don’t worry about this update affecting your current band collection, as Apple made it clear during yesterday’s keynote that all previous Apple Watch bands will fit with the Series 4 case.

Looking at the thinness, Apple Watch Series 4 is just under 1mm slimmer compared to Series 3. Series 4 measures in at 10.7mm thin, compared to 11.4mm thin for Series 3.

Processor

As expected with an Apple update, the Series 4 has received a beefed up processor in the form of the 64-bit dual-core S4 processor.

Apple says that this is up to two times faster than the S3 processor found on the Series 3, enabling the Series 4 to be speedier when opening apps and performing other functions.

Watch Faces

Exclusive to Apple Watch Series 4 are a collection of watch faces that take advantage of the enlarged displays to showcase as many as eight complications.

These complications have been enhanced to be more precise and provide more information, thanks to the increased display area.

There are also a few watch faces that will uniquely react to the edges of the Series 4’s display, like Vapor, Liquid Metal, and Fire and Water.

Health

For the first time in a wearable device, you’ll be able to take a full ECG reading on Apple Watch Series 4. Using electrodes built into the Digital Crown and a new electrical heart rate sensor in the back crystal, an included ECG app will perform a reading when you touch the Digital Crown and hold it for 30 seconds.

The app can classify if your heart is beating in a normal pattern or if there are signs of Atrial Fibrillation, which could hint at potential health complications. You’ll be able to save your ECG recordings in the iOS Health app and create a PDF to share with your doctor. While Apple Watch has always been able to track your heart rate, the ECG app is a major update to Apple’s wearable line.

The ECG app will be added to Apple Watch Series 4 later this year, and will only be available to customers in the United States at launch.

Tidbits

Below you’ll find a quick list of features that are new and exclusive to Apple Watch Series 4, which are unavailable on Series 3 and prior devices. We’ve also listed everything that hasn’t changed further down, one notable constant being 18-hour battery life.

Changes between Series 3 and Series 4:

• Series 4 now includes haptic feedback on the Digital Crown
• The black ceramic and sapphire crystal back allows radio waves to easily pass through Series 4 for better cellular service
• The speaker on Series 4 is 50 percent louder
• Apple has relocated the microphone so that it reduces echo for better sound quality on the receiving end of phone calls
• With a new accelerometer and gyroscope, Series 4 can detect if you fall down and ask if emergency services should be alerted
• The improved accelerometer can measure up to 32 g-forces, increased from up to 16 g-forces on Series 3
• Series 4 has Apple’s new W3 wireless chip instead of the previous generation W2
• Connectivity improvements also include new Bluetooth 5.0, up from 4.2 on Series 3
• Now all models have 16GB storage capacities, instead of just GPS + Cellular on Series 3
• Second-generation optical heart sensor

No changes between Series 3 and Series 4:

• Built-in rechargeable lithium ion battery with an 18-hour battery life
• GPS, GLONASS, GALILEO, and GZSS
• LTE and UMTS on GPS + Cellular models
• 802.11b/g/n 2.4GHz Wi-Fi
• Barometric altimeter
• Water resistance up to 50 meters
• Ambient light sensor
• Force Touch
• Display with 1,000 nits brightness
• Magnetic charging cable and USB power adapter included

If you’re interested, Apple Watch Series 4 pre-orders will kick off at 12:01 a.m. PDT on September 14. Our pre-order post can help you figure out when pre-orders go up for you if you’re in a different time zone. We also went hands-on with Apple Watch Series 4 after yesterday’s “Gather Round” event, which you can read here.

Related Roundups: Apple Watch, watchOS 4, watchOS 5Buyer’s Guide: Apple Watch (Caution)
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Jony Ive on Apple Watch Series 4: ‘Every Bone in My Body Tells Me This is Very Significant’

Apple’s chief designer, Jony Ive, recently discussed this week’s reveal of the Apple Watch Series 4 with The Washington Post, stating that “Every bone in my body tells me this is very significant.”

Ive’s comment references new health-related features in the Apple Watch Series 4, including the ability to detect if you’ve fallen down and a new feature that lets you take an ECG measurement — the first time that’s been possible in a wrist-worn device. In the interview, the designer further states that the new watch “will be a more marked tipping point in understanding and adoption of the product.”

According to Ive, Apple plans to focus on further separating the Apple Watch from the iPhone in the future, in addition to increasing the reliability of internet and cellular connectivity.

Ive won’t give away how Apple wearables could spiral beyond the watch, though company watchers expect an augmented reality device could be in the works. He hints that the watch, on the other hand, could evolve in the years to come.

“The clues for the future are when you can have a high degree of confidence that you personally are connected to the Net — not your phone, you,” said Ive. Sporting a new watch with a white rubberized band, Ive said the gadget has helped him lessen his dependence on his phone.

Ive says that he became “zealous” about the Apple Watch following the thousands of user letters sent to the company, in which people describe how the wearable saved their life. These life-saving Apple Watch stories have grown frequent in the years since Apple debuted the Apple Watch in 2015, with many referencing the device’s ability to pick up on abnormal heart patterns and others using the Apple Watch’s emergency 911 feature.

“I’m so zealous about the watch because I see it as making a material difference to people’s quality of life and actually their ability to be alive,” Ive said.

Ive also mentions that the increased display area of Apple Watch Series 4 is beneficial to users who want to reduce the screen time on their iPhones. Ive says that while the Series 4 displays are bigger, they aren’t so expansive that you’ll become sucked into a social media spiral.

“The screen size isn’t so expansive that you somehow feel you’ll fill every minute browsing whatever you browse, whether it’s your social media, ” said Ive. He added: “It addresses that functional imperative of being able to be in touch. ”

We’ve got plenty of other Apple Watch Series 4 coverage for those looking for more information on the device, including an announcement post, hands-on, breakdown of every Series 4 collection, and comparison to the Series 3. Those interested will be able to pre-order Apple Watch Series 4 — as well as the iPhone XS and XS Max — beginning at 12:01 a.m. PDT on September 14.

Related Roundups: Apple Watch, watchOS 4, watchOS 5Tag: Jony IveBuyer’s Guide: Apple Watch (Caution)
Discuss this article in our forums

Credit card-size device could slash the price of ultrasound sensors

An unassuming device developed by engineers at the University of British Columbia (UBC) could pave the way for ultrasounds scanners that cost as little as $100. Barely bigger than a credit card, the UBC ultrasound sensor is mobile, wearable, and can be powered by a smartphone.

Ultrasound machines typically use piezoelectric crystals to create those first photos of a person’s life. In contrast, the technology introduced by the UBC team uses tiny vibrating drums, which are cheaper to fabricate.

“We replaced the piezoelectric technology used in commercial ultrasound machines for drum-like sensors called CMUTs,” Carlos Gerardo, a UBC Ph.D. candidate who worked on the project, told Digital Trends. “These CMUTs offer many technological advantages over the piezoelectric technology, but their widespread use is hampered by high fabrication costs. We on the other side, decided to use inexpensive plastic-like polymer materials to create the same kind of drums structures called polyCMUTs. It turns out that by using polymers, we were able to create high-performance ultrasound [sensors] for a few dollars only.”

Besides lower costs, one of the biggest advantages of the UBC device is that is doesn’t require much energy to operate. A smartphone can do the trick. That means the device could be used in remote areas and regions without reliable access to electricity. And the device doesn’t skimp on quality either. According to the researchers, the UBC device produced sonogram images on par with conventional ultrasound sensors.

“The quality of the created images is comparable in quality to the ones obtained by commercial ultrasound machines, except that in our case we did not have to use a complex and expensive electronic interface to create the images,” Gerardo said. “Moreover, we did this using much lower voltage levels than the ones found in commercial devices. This translates directly into an extended safety for patients.”

Since the device is small and portable, Gerardo and his team envision it being applied directly to a patient’s skin, where it could monitor vital signs. They are currently creating prototypes for medical uses.

A paper detailing the research was published recently in the journal Nature Microsystems and Nanoengineering,

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Privacy-focused browser Brave sues Google claiming breach of Europe’s GDPR rules

mikewaters/123rf

Privacy-focused browser Brave is taking on Google in a big way when it comes to how your personal data is being stored and shared. Brave, which was founded by Mozilla co-founder Brendan Eich, filed its complaint against the search giant in Britain and Ireland on Wednesday, September 12 in what is seen as a test case against the digital advertising industry’s handling of consumer browsing data.

Brave wants to trigger Article 62 in the GDPR rules to begin an EU-wide investigation on how Google and the digital advertising industry are handling people’s data. The General Data Protection Regulation, or GDPR, was passed by EU regulators in order to give people more control over their data on the internet, but Brave alleges that Google and its peers are instead sharing that data with advertisers without the knowledge of individual users, and this may be in direct violation of Article 5(1) of GDPR, which requires that personal data be “processed in a manner that ensures appropriate security of the personal data, including protection against unauthorized or unlawful processing and against accidental loss.”

“Every time a person visits a website and is shown a ‘behavioral’ ad on a website, intimate personal data that describes each visitor, and what they are watching online, is broadcast to tens or hundreds of companies,” Brave wrote in a blog post. “Advertising technology companies broadcast these data widely in order to solicit potential advertisers’ bids for the attention of the specific individual visiting the website.” The data that Google and digital advertising platforms share with advertisers include what you’re reading or watching at the moment, your location, description of the device you’re using, unique tracking IDs and cookies, your IP address, and data broker segment ID.

Google has responded to Brave’s complaint, and the company issued a statement to Tom’s Hardware stating, “We build privacy and security into all our products from the very earliest stages and are committed to complying with the EU General Data Protection Regulation. We provide users with meaningful data transparency and controls across all the services that we provide in the EU, including for personalized advertising.”

If an investigation is triggered, and if the EU finds against Google, heavy fines are at stake for the entire digital advertising industry. Serious violations can trigger fines of as much as four percent of the company’s total global turnover or 20 million euros, whichever is higher. According to Statista, Google’s advertising revenue in 2017 amounted to $95.38 billion, bringing the total revenue for the year to $109.65 billion. This means that Google stands to lose up to $4.39 billion if it is at fault for violating privacy protections. The company was more recently scrutinized for its reported secret deal with MasterCard that tracked users’ online browsing with in-store purchases.

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A.I. creates ‘HDR finally done right’ for more natural images in Aurora HDR 2019

Skylum

High dynamic range photography is easy to overdo into harsh colors and unnatural images — but the popular HDR-focused editor Aurora HDR is now using artificial intelligence to create more natural-looking edits. Skylum Aurora HDR 2019, launching on October 4 and now available for pre-order, is the most sophisticated version of the HDR tool yet, according to the company.

A Quantum HDR Engine powers the enhanced editing inside the update. The feature uses A.I. tone mapping to analyze the images and create a more natural merge. Skylum says that the A.I. creates images that are both dynamic and natural-looking by analyzing the photos before the merger.

The neural network helps reduce some of the issues commonly created when merging multiple files in order to capture a wider range of light in high contrast scenes. Skylum says the update is more capable at handling burned colors, noise, and lower contrast sometimes caused by HDR mergers. The program is also more capable of handling halos and de-ghosting, both common issues when merging an HDR image.

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Before Iurie Belegurschi

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The new HDR Engine is joined by what Skylum is calling HDR Smart Structure. The tool comes in the form of a panel of editing tools that allows the photographer to control the detail, structure, and sharpness. The controls follow the software’s goal of creating more natural-looking images by controlling clarity and sharpness.

The update also brings LUT mapping, a color correction tool common in video editing. With the new color grading tools, editors can bring out specific tones or create a different look, including black and white and film-inspired looks. The LUTs also join the renamed Aurora HDR Looks (formerly Presets) to create specific image styles. The update has more aesthetic choices Skylum says, and allows for textures and mask-based editing.

A majority of the new tools inside the update stem from Skylum’s A.I. lab — including three years of research into that new Quantum HDR Engine, which is impressive considering Aurora HDR was first released in 2015.

“We are incredibly excited to get Aurora HDR 2019 into the hands of photographers from around the world,” said Skylum CTO and co-founder Dima Sytnik. “The results are so accurate and natural that the final images appear as though you’re looking at the scene with your own two eyes. Simply put, it’s HDR finally done right.”

The update launches on October 4 for $99 (or $59 for current users to upgrade). Pre-orders are already available with a $10 discount and bonus materials.

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Security flaw on modern PCs could leave your encrypted data exposed

Malarie Gokey/Digital Trends

A vulnerability on most modern PCs and Macs could leave your data exposed. Cybersecurity researchers at F-Secure discovered a weakness in the firmware of most modern computers could allow hackers access to encryption keys and other sensitive data.

Access to sensitive data is gained through a 2008-style cold boot attack, where the hacker forces a computer to restart without going through the normal shutdown process. The computer’s data is briefly accessible in the RAM after power is lost, but many modern devices overwrite the RAM to prevent unauthorized access to data during this type of attack. Researchers discovered that there is a way to disable the overwrite process, essentially reviving the decade-old method of attack.

“The attack exploits the fact that the firmware settings governing the behavior of the boot process are not protected against manipulation by a physical attacker,” F-Secure wrote in a blog post. “Using a simple hardware tool, an attacker can rewrite the non-volatile memory chip that contains these settings, disable memory overwriting, and enable booting from external devices. The cold boot attack can then be carried out by booting a special program off a USB stick.”

Despite the seriousness of the findings, the vulnerability may not be as damaging given that to carry out this exploit, hackers would need physical access to your device. If a hacker has physical access, the exploit can be conducted in approximately five minutes, researchers cautioned.

F-Secure shared its findings with Microsoft, Apple, and Intel, but given that physical device access is required for this type of attack, it doesn’t appear that a fix may be coming soon. Newer Mac systems with a T2 chip aren’t affected by this attack, and Microsoft claims that enabling pre-boot authentication with a PIN or startup key with BitLocker could help mitigate these risks. These more advanced security tactics, however, aren’t available to general consumers who run Windows 10 Home edition.

“Unfortunately, there is nothing Microsoft can do, since we are using flaws in PC hardware vendors’ firmware,” F-Secure principal security consultant Olle Segerdahl told TechCrunch. “Intel can only do so much, their position in the ecosystem is providing a reference platform for the vendors to extend and build their new models on.”

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