Use your messaging app to control your smart home with Line Things

Messaging apps are becoming more multi-functional. Apart from video calls and photo sharing, we can makes future plans through Facebook Messenger, and even shop through apps like WeChat. Line, the messaging app known for its cute stickers and artificial intelligence endeavours, showed off its plans at IFA 2018 to integrate the Internet of Things into the app.

Called Line Things, this is an IoT control platform with a Line-like twist. That means you can expect an eye-catching design and functionality that fits in with Line’s company mission statement of ‘closing the distance.’ What this means here is to make the complicated world of smart home products simpler and easily accessible through an app that has become ubiquitous in several parts of the world. Rather than a multitude of apps and hundreds of separate notifications coming through your phone, you just have one familiar source.

The platform is still in the very early stages of development and does have not have any compatible hardware yet, so our demonstration at IFA was more proof-of-concept using phones and tablets. The most intriguing was a connected plant monitor — the kind you stick in a plant pot that reminds you to water it — which showed how Line Things will work in the real world. The Bluetooth monitor would link with Line Things, ready to control through the app.

You could choose your plant type, and Line Things will assign health points to the plant, which change according to the amount of light, water, and ambient temperature the plant receives. This makes it easy to take care of the plant through an understanding of its environment. Alterations were made using sliders, and check out the cute emojis in the corner of the app screen showing the potential outcome of your ‘care.’

We also saw Line Things work with a connected microwave, where cooking instructions for meals can be pulled from the internet and automatically sent to the microwave. The upside here is instead of another app requiring setup, everything comes through Line — an app its users already know well. The other advantage is notifications. Instead of multiple apps, you get alerts from connected products linked with Line Things through one app, and interact with them in the normal way.

Familiarity is very important when adopting any new technology, and the smart home can be a dense, world of confusion the newcomer. Line Things could take away fears, and similarly make it easier for companies to link connected products together with others in an easy way. Line also has its own range of smart speakers available in Japan, potentially adding voice control through Line Things too. On the flip side of that, Line Things is another service entering the already busy smart home world. It also needs the involvement of developers and manufacturers to take off, which was likely part of Line’s intentions around showing Line Things at IFA.

According to Line, it plans to launch Line Things in the first half of 2019, and it will first be available in the messaging app’s core markets of Japan, Taiwan, Thailand, and Indonesia. Provided it’s successful, Line intends Line Things to become a global service in the future.

Editors’ Recommendations

• With Synaptics’ FFV tech, new TCL TVs hear your every word — even in noisy rooms
• It’s going to get crowded with Alexa, Siri, and Google in your bathroom
• Google Home too boring? You want Gatebox’s cute virtual character in your life
• How to set up your Lenovo Smart Display
• How to connect a Nintendo Switch controller to your PC

New iPad Pro Renders Depict Angular Chassis and iPhone-Like Antenna Lines

Serial mobile leaker Steve Hemmerstoffer shared high-resolution renders today, courtesy of tech blog MySmartPrice, that are based on supposed leaked CAD images of Apple’s upcoming redesigned iPad Pro.

Reliable Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo has said Apple is working on two new iPad Pro models that take design cues from the iPhone X, measuring in at 11 and 12.9-inches.

In addition to the thinner bezels, no Home button, and edge-to-edge display of the expected iPad Pro design, the mocked-up renders depict a device with an angular chassis boasting iPhone 4-style chamfered edges, rather than the rounded chassis of the current-generation tablet.

In another seeming nod to Apple’s evolving iPhone handset design, the device is shown with separate antenna strips along the top and bottom edges of the chassis, instead of the single continuous antenna lines on either side of the existing cellular models.

Elsewhere, a closer look reveals a distinct lack of headphone jack, two rows of speaker vents on either side of the Lightning port – similar to the alleged CAD images leaked last month – and two microphone ports located above the TrueDepth camera embedded in the bezel.

Also like the CAD image before it, a Smart Connector is positioned on the back of the device directly above the Lightning port, instead of the landscape orientation on current iPad Pro models.

MySmartPrice claims the positioning is related to the limitations of Face ID in landscape orientation, however well-connected Bloomberg reporter Mark Gurman has said horizontal Face ID support is a feature in the upcoming iPad Pro models, which are expected to be announced this month.

The legitimacy of the additional details in the renders – and the alleged leaked CAD images they are supposedly based on – have yet to be confirmed, but Apple’s scheduled media event on September 12 should reveal all.

Related Roundup: iPad ProTag: OnleaksBuyer’s Guide: 10.5″ iPad Pro (Don’t Buy), 12.9″ iPad Pro (Caution)
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These are the best speakers to use with your Echo Dot!

We’re a virtual company made up of tech experts from across the globe. With the rise of virtual assistants, we have spent countless hours testing every aspect so we can offer the best ways to enjoy your Amazon Echo.

The Sonos Play:1 is hands down the best speaker you can add to an Echo Dot to create a compelling audio experience. Not only are Sonos speakers generally unmatched in audio quality, but the size of the Play:1 makes it easy to tuck away just like the diminutive Amazon Echo. If your goal is high audio quality without taking up a lot of space, this is the speaker for you.

Our Pick

Sonos Play:1

• $149 from Amazon
• $149 from Best Buy

Powerful, room-filling audio in a tiny box.

Sonos speakers have well earned reputation for delivering high quality sound, but the quality packed into its smallest speaker is something truly special. Available in white or black, these little speakers will repeatedly surprise you with how great they sound.

Who should buy this

Your Amazon Echo Dot can connect to anything with a 3.5mm jack in it, so you might as well make sure you have something great at the end of that cable. Sonos Play:1 speakers are for people who enjoy quality audio but haven’t shelled out for that crazy expensive whole-home stereo system just yet. If you’re looking for a great speaker to connect to your Echo Dot so you can stream your favorites as loud as possible, this is your speaker.

Is it a good time to buy this phone?

Sonos constantly updates its lineup with fun new things, but it doesn’t retire the good stuff. The Sonos Play:1 is not only a great speaker, it’s a popular speaker due to its price compared to the other speakers Sonos makes. This speaker is going to be around for a long time, making right now the perfect time to own one.

Reasons to buy

• Great audio quality
• Fits almost anywhere
• Has 3.5mm jack AND Bluetooth
• Available in multiple colors

Reasons not to buy

• No battery for portable audio

You Amazon Echo Dot deserves a quality speaker

While it’s inexpensive and designed so you can buy multiple to be tucked away in every room of the house, the Amazon Echo Dot is an incredibly capable gadget. But if you want to have one streaming audio in a noisy kitchen or a bathroom while you’re in the shower, the little speaker in the Echo Dot isn’t going to cut it. What you need instead is a quality speaker you can connect to your Echo Dot with a 3.5mm cable, and if you want the best you need to look at the Sonos Play:1.

Sonos speakers are awesome, and they have been for a long time. These are the original high quality wireless streaming speakers, which now have tons of competition everywhere. When you get a Sonos speaker you not only get a ton of features, you get amazingly good sound. For those of us who have never built a full stereo system from scratch before, these are some of the best speakers you can buy. The Sonos Play:1 speakers take this idea and shrink it down to something both affordable and small enough to tuck away somewhere, just like the Amazon Echo Dot.

This combination is unmatched, especially in rooms where you need something nice and loud.

This speaker pairs so well with the Amazon Echo Dot, Sonos started working on a way to integrate the Alexa service directly into its speakers in a different product line. And while those speakers are great too, the only way to get the full Amazon Echo experience with the best audio is to connect a Dot to a Play:1. This combination is unmatched, especially in rooms where you need something nice and loud. Best of all, you can get these speakers in white or black to match the decor in your room or to make it easier to hide the speaker when not in use.

Alternatives to the Sonos Play:1

If your goal with an Echo Dot speaker isn’t superior audio quality, you’ve got a few other options worth considering. VAUX makes a great battery-powered speaker that actually holds the Echo Dot inside it, while Bose makes a great portable speaker you can enjoy for pretty much any occasion.

Runner-up

VAUX Cordless Home Speaker

If portability is key for your Echo Dot speaker, VAUX makes something truly special.

$40 at Amazon

You can drop your Echo Dot right in the top of this speaker and walk around with it, thanks to the included battery. It’s also plenty loud enough for most places you’d carry your Echo Dot to.

This design is just plain clever, making your Echo Dot behave more like a full-sized Echo but also making it portable.

Value Pick

Anker Soundcore

This little speaker will surprise you with how loud it can get.

$27 at Amazon

Anker has a reputation for making inexpensive accessories that exceed your expectations, and its Soundcore speaker is high on the list of reasons why.

Available in red, blue, or black, this little speaker has a battery with upwards of 24 hours of playtime so you can take your Echo just about anywhere.

Bottom line

You really can’t do better than the Sonos Play:1 for quality audio for an Echo Dot right now. It’s a great speaker with tons of extra features, and when you add the full Alexa experience to the mix you get something well worth using to wake up the neighbors at 2am.

Credits — The team that worked on this guide

Russell Holly is a Contributing Editor at Android Central. He lives for the shiniest new thing, and loves explaining its potential to improve your life. Whatever you do, don’t tell his spouse about the drawer full of tech under the bed.

Update, September 2018: The Sonos Play:1 remains our pick for the best speaker for your Echo Dot, and we’ve replaced the Bose SoundLink II with the cheaper, more portable Anker Soundcore. Happy listening!

Casper mattresses, Hue lights, Instant Pots, 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 the 8-quart Instant Pot, all of Philips’ Hue lights, Casper’s newest mattresses, 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!

Best Leather Cases for Samsung Galaxy Note 9

A strong, protective case is almost a necessity these days, especially for all-glass phones like the Samsung Galaxy Note 9. But if you want to add a touch of refinement and luxury to your Note 9, then a great leather case, like the Amovo 2-in-1 wallet case is your best bet.

These are the best leather cases for your Galaxy Note 9.

Top pick

Amovo 2-in-1 wallet case

Amovo’s 2-in-1 case is an awesome wallet case, with room for three cards and some cash. The best part is the inner case detaches when you don’t need your wallet, leaving you an elegant, protective leather bumper case on it own.

$25 at Amazon

Budget sophistication

Maxboost folio-style wallet case

Maxboost’s very affordable wallet case has room for three cards, as well as a sizeable cash slot, and the cover folds back into a kickstand for watching videos hands-free. The triangular magnetic closure is an elegant and unique statement, while the white stitching is a stark accent to an already lovely-looking case.

$11 at Amazon

Non-wallet option

Mikki bumper case

You’re hard-pressed to find a leather case that isn’t a folio-style wallet, but Mikki’s option is a great back cover that comes in blue, black, tan, and red. The textured PU leather gives an added look of luxury, and the slim profile makes this perfect for anyone who loves a minimalist case.

$9 at Amazon

Samsung’s own

Samsung Leather Wallet Cover

Who better to turn to for a great case than the phone’s maker? Samsung’s Leather Wallet Cover is quite expensive, but it’s an awesome, slim wallet option for anyone looking for a leather case. These genuine leather cases fit your Note 9 perfectly, and it automatically sleeps when you close the cover.

$60 at Samsung

These are the best leather cases available for the Samsung Galaxy Note 9, and the list is admittedly short in the early days of the phone. If you’re using an awesome leather case on your Note 9 that’s not listed here, sound off in the comments below!

My favorite is the Amovo 2-in-1 because of that detachable inner case, which looks just as great as the whole wallet case. I also like that the detachable case has a rubber bumper, and the color options are dynamite!

The Lenovo Chromebook 500e is the best Chromebook a student can buy

We are a team of experienced and knowledgeable Chromebook experts that test every model that comes out. We are also parents, so we know what students need in a laptop.

The Lenovo Chromebook 500e is a great educational device. It’s cheap and offers robust software experiences and access to school services. It’s easy to manage and use, versatile and attractive and comes with a stylus for taking notes. It’s the best of all worlds for a student.

Our pick

Lenovo Chromebook 500e

Top Pick

$309 at Lenovo

The Chromebook 500e is designed for educational use but still has the options we want to see in our best pick. It’s exactly what a busy student needs.

Why you should buy this Chromebook

The Chromebook 500e was built for students to carry back and forth to class without worry because of its rugged build. Features like a 360-degree hinge and excellent pen support make it the best Chromebook for any student. Lenovo’s long history of making excellent laptops shines through with the keyboard and trackpad and the display is specially bonded to work excellent with the built-in Wacom EMR pen.

Inside, you have plenty of power to get things done with an Intel processor and ample 64GB or storage. And Android app support is an added bonus that means a student will be able to find the app they need to be productive in class.

Reasons to buy

• Fantastic build quality
• 360-degree hinge
• Included pen
• Great battery life
• Powerful processor
• Lots of storage

Reasons not to buy

• Trackpad isn’t great
• A bit heavy

There are plenty of great alternatives for students

The Lenovo Chromebook 500e is an amazing Chromebook, but there are plenty of other options, especially if you’re looking for something a bit smaller or thinner.

For younger students

Acer Chromebook Tab

For Younger Students

$345 at Amazon

The Chromebook Tab is light and easy to hold, is great for more interaction with learning materials, and helps young students learn spelling and grammar by being more hands-on.

Not quite a Chromebook, not quite an Android tablet, the Chromebook Tab is great for youngsters who need to learn by touching and doing.

Ultra-portable

ASUS Chromebook Flip

Best on the go

$250 from Amazon

The ASUS Chromebook Flip line has been the go-to when you need a Chromebook that’s small, light, and capable.

The ASUS Flip C101 offers plenty of power and long battery life in a small and light 10-inch package. It’s perfect for bustling between classes when you don’t want anything heavy slowing you down.

Our budget pick

2018 Acer Chromebook 11

Best on a budget

$270 from Amazon

Acer’s new Chromebook 11 is an affordable and dependable Chromebook that has no aspirations to be anything else.

The Acer Chromebook 11 is a throwback to the days when a Chromebook was just a great, inexpensive laptop. The beautiful blue body doesn’t flip over into a tablet, there is no touch display or pen input — it’s a Chromebook. And we think it offers the best value of any you’ll find.

Bottom line

Students have some incredible options these days when shopping for a Chromebook. They can go the traditional route by getting something like the Acer Chromebook 11, or go in the complete opposite direction and buy a Chrome tablet that is super portable.

But we think the Lenovo Chromebook 500e is a student’s best bet right now.

Update, September 2018: The Lenovo Chromebook 500e is the best choice for a student because it’s tough and offers excellent performance

Credits — The team that worked on this guide

Jerry Hildenbrand is Mobile Nation’s Senior Editor and works from a Chromebook full time. Currently, he is using Google’s Pixelbook but is always looking at new products and may have any Chromebook in his hands at any time. You’ll find him across the Mobile Nations network and you can hit him up on Twitter if you want to say hey.

Daniel Bader is the Managing Editor of Android Central. As he’s writing this, a mountain of old Android phones is about to fall on his head, but his Great Dane will protect him. He drinks way too much coffee and sleeps too little. He wonders if there’s a correlation.

Tom Westrick is an information technology specialist and full-time Chromebook user. His job at Mobile Nations keeps him busy and his HP Chromebook X2 keeps him productive.

Chromebooks

• The best Chromebooks
• Chromebooks in education: Everything you need to know
• Should you buy a Chromebook?
• Chromebook Buyers Guide
• Google Pixelbook review
• Join our Chromebook forums

What’s new on Netflix in September 2018

Wakanda forever. And some other stuff.

Look, you don’t have to be the world’s biggest MCU fan. You don’t have to care about Avengers or super heros or any of that stuff. But Black Panther is worth watching, and it’s worth watching several times. And that’s why we’re stoked that it’s coming to Netflix on Sept. 4.

And there are, of course, a bunch of Netflix Originals on the way. Atypical hits season 2, as does Iron Fist. (OK, OK, it’s another MCU thing.) And the trailer for Maniac is, well, insane. (And how good is Justin Theroux in just about everything?)

Put it this way: It’s going to be one hell of a month. Here’s what’s coming up.

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Coming to Netflix on Sept. 1

• 10,000 B.C.
• Another Cinderella Story
• Assassins
• August Rush
• Bruce Almighty
• Delirium
• Fair Game
• Groundhog Day
• King Kong
• La Catedral del Mar (Netflix Original): In 14th-century Barcelona, a serf’s determined climb to wealth and freedom incurs the disdain of the noble class and the suspicion of the Inquisition.
• Martian Child
• Monkey Twins (Netflix Original): Inspired by Khon dance drama and Thai martial arts, a fighter scarred by the past joins forces with a determined cop to battle an organized crime ring.
• Mr. Sunshine (Netflix Original): A young boy who ends up in the U.S. after the 1871 Shinmiyangyo incident returns to Korea at a historical turning point and falls for a noblewoman.
• Nacho Libre
• Pearl Harbor
• Scarface
• Sisters (Netflix Original): Her dad’s deathbed confession leads Julia to discover she has more than 100 brothers and two sisters: troubled TV star Roxy and uptight lawyer Edie.
• Spider-Man 3
• Stephanie
• Summer Catch
• Sydney White
• The Ant Bully
• The Breakfast Club
• The Cider House Rules
• The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy
• The Keeping Hours
• The River Wild
• The Texas Chainsaw Massacre: The Beginning
• Two Weeks Notice
• Unforgiven

Coming to Netflix on Sept. 2

• Disney’s Lilo & Stitch
• Disney’s The Emperor’s New Groove
• Maynard
• Quantico: Season 3

Coming to Netflix on Sept. 3

• A Taiwanese Tale of Two Cities (Netflix Original): Two brainy beauty queens — same heritage, on separate coasts — and one fateful decision that soon links their paths.

Coming to Netflix on Sept. 4

• Marvel Studios’ Black Panther

Coming to Netflix on Sept. 5

• Van Helsing: Season 2
• Wentworth: Season 6

Coming to Netflix on Sept. 6

• Once Upon a Time: Season 7

Coming to Netflix on Sept. 7

• Atypical: Season 2 (Netflix Original): While Elsa and Doug face the aftermath of their marriage crisis and Casey tries to adjust to her new school, Sam prepares for life after graduation.
• Cable Girls: Season 3 (Netflix Original): After a tragedy, Lidia fights passionately for her family, Carlota finds her voice, Ángeles goes undercover and Marga reveals a talent for accounting.
• City of Joy (Netflix Original): Women who’ve been sexually brutalized in war-torn Congo begin to heal at City of Joy, a center that helps them regain a sense of self and empowerment.
• Click
• First and Last (Netflix Original): Filmmakers go inside Georgia’s Gwinnett County Jail to capture two days that define an inmate’s experience: the first and last.
• Marvel’s Iron Fist: Season 2 (Netflix Original): With the defeat of the Hand, Chinatown is left vulnerable to turf wars, and Danny must protect the streets of New York.
• Next Gen (Netflix Original): A friendship with a top-secret robot turns a lonely girl’s life into a thrilling adventure as they take on bullies, evil bots and a scheming madman.
• Sierra Burgess Is A Loser (Netflix Film): Smart high school girl Sierra teams up with a more popular girl hoping to win over her crush. Starring Shannon Purser (Barb on “Stranger Things”).
• Stretch Armstrong & the Flex Fighters: Season 2 (Netflix Original): Wrongly accused for the attack on Rook Tower, the Flex Fighters must protect their city as wanted men. Will Charter City ever trust them again?
• The Most Assassinated Woman in the World (Netflix Film): In 1930s Paris, an actress famous for her gory death scenes at the Grand Guignol Theater contends with a mysterious stalker and ghosts from her past.

Coming to Netflix on Sept. 10

• Call the Midwife: Series 7

Coming to Netflix on Sept. 11

• Daniel Sloss: Live Shows (Netflix Original): The dark mind of Daniel Sloss is back, and he’s ready to find the funny in some very taboo topics, from the deeply personal to the highly irreverent.
• The Resistance Banker (Netflix Film): Risking his family and future, a banker in occupied Amsterdam slows the Nazi war machine by creating an underground bank to fund the resistance.

Coming to Netflix on Sept. 12

• Blacklist: Season 5
• Life (Netflix Original): At Korea’s top university medical center, ideals and interests collide between a patient-centered ER doctor and the hospital’s newly-appointed CEO.
• On My Skin (Netflix Film): Arrested for a drug-related offense, Stefano Cucchi suffers at the hands of Italy’s Carabinieri police and a broken legal system. Based on true events.

Coming to Netflix on Sept. 14

• American Vandal: Season 2 (Netflix Original): In the wake of the first documentary’s success, Peter and Sam seek a new case and settle on a stomach-churning mystery at a Washington high school.
• Bleach (Netflix Film): When high schooler Ichigo is suddenly given reaper abilities, he really wants to give the powers back. But he’ll have to reap some souls first.
• Boca Juniors Confidential (Netflix Original): This docuseries profiles Argentine soccer power Boca Juniors, highlighting the relationships between coaches and players as they contend for trophies.
• BoJack Horseman: Season 5 (Netflix Original): BoJack’s back on screen as the star of “Philbert,” a new detective series produced by Princess Carolyn. But his demons are out in full force.
• Car Masters: Rust to Riches (Netflix Original): The colorful crew at Gotham Garage overhauls an eclectic collection of cars, trading their way up to a showstopper they can sell for big bucks.
  Ingobernable: Season 2 (Netflix Original): Emilia takes on the leader of a drug trafficking empire in her fight to reunite her family and reduce corruption in her country.
• LAST HOPE (Netflix Original): After causing the near extinction of mankind seven years ago, genius scientist Leon Lau must now fight the ecological disaster he unwittingly created.
  Norm Macdonald has a Show (Netflix Original): Comedian Norm Macdonald hosts this talk show with celebrity guests, unexpected conversation and a behind-the-scenes view into Norm’s world.
• Super Monsters Monster Party: Songs (Netflix Original): Sing along and move to this groovy collection of music videos featuring monster friends Katya, Lobo, Zoe, Drac, Cleo and Frankie!
• The Angel (Netflix Film): While operating at the highest levels of Egypt’s government, Ashraf Marwan walks a dangerously thin line as a spy for Israel. Based on a true story.
• The Dragon Prince (Netflix Original): Two human princes forge an unlikely bond with the elven assassin sent to kill them, embarking on an epic quest to bring peace to their warring lands.
• The Land of Steady Habits (Netflix Film): After leaving his wife and his job to find happiness, Anders begins a clumsy, heartbreaking quest to reassemble the pieces of his fractured life.
• The World’s Most Extraordinary Homes: Season 2 Part A (Netflix Original): Piers and Caroline head to Portugal, Switzerland, Japan and the United States to tour more one-of-a-kind homes with extraordinary architecture.

Coming to Netflix on Sept. 15

• Inside The Freemasons: Season 1

Coming to Netflix on Sept. 16

• Role Models
• Scott Pilgrim vs. the World

Coming to Netflix on Sept. 17

• The Witch

Coming to Netflix on Sept. 18

• American Horror Story: Cult
  D.L. Hughley: Contrarian (Netflix Original): Comedian D.L. Hughley riffs on politics, “Black Panther,” his upbringing and more in a rapid-fire stand-up show at Philadelphia’s Merriam Theater.

Coming to Netflix on Sept. 21

• Battlefish (Netflix Original): Over the course of the fishing season, a group of fishing boats pursues the lucrative albacore tuna in the competitive waters off the Oregon coast.
• DRAGON PILOT: Hisone & Masotan (Netflix Original): Recently stationed Air Self-Defense Force rookie Hisone Amakasu is chosen by a dragon concealed within Gifu Air Base to be his pilot.
• Hilda (Netflix Original): Join Hilda as she travels from a wilderness full of elves and giants to Trolberg, a bustling city packed with new friends and mysterious creatures.
• Maniac: Limited Series (Netflix Original): Two strangers find themselves caught up in a mind-bending pharmaceutical trial gone awry. Starring Emma Stone and Jonah Hill.
• Nappily Ever After (Netflix Film): Violet has it all: the perfect job, the perfect relationship and the perfect hair. Until she doesn’t. What happens when being perfect isn’t enough?
• Quincy (Netflix Original): The life and career of legendary music producer Quincy Jones are traced in this biographical documentary directed by his daughter, Rashida Jones.
• The Good Cop (Netflix Original): Honest cop Tony Jr. gets advice from his unscrupulous father, retired NYPD officer Tony Sr., about everything from his job to his love life.

Coming to Netflix on Sept. 23

• The Walking Dead: Season 8

Coming to Netflix on Sept. 25

• Disney’s A Wrinkle in Time
• Disney’s Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl

Coming to Netflix on Sept. 26

• Norsemen: Season 2 (Netflix Original): The sea road to the west has been found, but Norheim’s villagers must still cope with power struggles and the ever-present threat of Jarl Varg.
• The Hurricane Heist

Coming to Netflix on Sept. 28

• Chef’s Table: Volume 5 (Netflix Original): This season, meet four innovative chefs who are shaking up the food culture in Philadelphia, Istanbul, Bangkok and Barcelona.
• El Marginal: Season 2 (Netflix Original): Set three years before the first season, this award-winning Argentine series explores the backstory of criminals and cops operating in the shadows of San Onofre.
• Forest of Piano (Netflix Original): Kai grows up playing an old piano discarded in the woods; Shuhei’s father is a famous pianist. Their chance meeting transforms their lives and music.
• Hold the Dark (Netflix Film): Summoned to a remote Alaskan village to search for wolves that took a local boy, a naturalist soon finds himself caught in a harrowing mystery.
• Jack Whitehall: Travels with My Father: Season 2 (Netflix Original): This season, Jack and his not-so-adventurous dad, Michael, tackle Europe, including the Bavarian Alps, Istanbul, Budapest, Romania, Moldova and Ukraine.
• Lessons From A School Shooting: Notes from Dunblane (Netflix Original): Devastated by the school shooting in his town, a priest from Sandy Hook, Connecticut, bonds with a Scottish priest who experienced a similar tragedy.
• Lost Song (Netflix Original): War looms over the kingdom of Neunatia, where two young women are both burdened and blessed by the power of song.
• Made in Mexico (Netflix Original): Get to know the opulent lifestyles and infamous dynasties of Mexico City’s socialites and the expats vying for a spot in their exclusive social order.
• Reboot: The Guardian Code: Season 2 (Netflix Original): With Megabyte, Hexadecimal and the evil Sourcerer still at large, the rebooted Guardians face a new season of threats — both at home and online.
• Skylanders Academy: Season 3 (Netflix Original): Season 3 finds Spyro and the Skylanders forging unexpected alliances, taking on new adventures and even straddling the line between good and evil.
• The 3rd Eye (Netflix Original): After the death of their parents, two sisters move back to their childhood home, where one sibling claims to be able to see a dark presence.
• Two Catalonias (Netflix Film): Lawmakers and activists with conflicting ideologies speak about the complexities of Catalonia’s politics and the fight for its independence from Spain.

Coming to Netflix on Sept. 30

• Big Miracle

What’s leaving Netflix in September

• 13 Going on 30 (Sept. 1)
• A Royal Night Out (Sept. 1)
• Batman Begins (Sept. 1)
• Casino (Sept. 1)
• Dead Poets Society (Sept. 1)
• Disney’s Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man’s Chest (Sept. 1)
• Exporting Raymond (Sept. 1)
• Forgetting Sarah Marshall (Sept. 1)
• Ghostbusters (Sept. 1)
• Hachi: A Dog’s Tale (Sept. 1)
• Hotel for Dogs (Sept. 1)
• I Now Pronounce You Chuck and Larry (Sept. 1)
• It Might Get Loud (Sept. 1)
• Joyful Noise (Sept. 1)
• Just Friends (Sept. 1)
• Lockup: County Jails: Collection 1 (Sept. 1)
• Man on Wire (Sept. 1)
• Stuart Little 3: Call of the Wild (Sept. 1)
• The Assets (Sept. 1)
• The Bucket List (Sept. 1)
• The Dark Knight (Sept. 1)
• The Descent (Sept. 1)
• The Descent: Part 2 (Sept. 1)
• Outsourced (Sept. 2)
• Waffle Street (Sept. 2)
• Rules of Engagement: Seasons 1 – 7 (Sept. 11)
• Disney’s Pete’s Dragon (Sept. 14)
• A Star Is Born (Sept. 15)
• Before the Devil Knows You’re Dead (Sept. 15)
• Bordertown (Sept. 15)
• Are You Here (Sept. 16)
• Jackass 3.5: The Unrated Movie (Sept. 16)
• Moonrise Kingdom (Sept. 16)
• Iris (Sept. 24)
• The Imitation Game (Sept. 28)

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Sony DualShock 4 vs. Razer Raiju: Which controller should you buy?

Sony’s DualShock 4 may be the standard, but the Razer Raiju has extra features you shouldn’t overlook.

DualShock 4

Standard issue

$47 at Amazon

Pros

• Inexpensive
• Simple
• Classic design

Cons

• Fewer customization options
• Inferior for competitive play

Your standard DualShock 4 gets the job done, but it lacks a lot of bells and whistles.

Razer Raiju

Competitive advantage

€150 at Razer

Pros

• Hair trigger mode
• 4 remappable multi-function buttons
• Razer Mecha-Tactile Action Buttons
• Offset analog sticks
• App control

Cons

• Expensive
• Unappealing to casual players
• Unable to swap thumbsticks or D-pad like the Raiju Ultimate

For competitive players, the Razer Raiju Tournament Edition is the controller to get.

Third-party peripherals, especially those manufactured by Razer, tend to offer more features than official first-party products. But that doesn’t necessarily mean that they’re superior, or that they are better suited for everyone. Such is the case with the Razer Raiju PlayStation 4 controller. It has a few different models, but I’ll break down the more broadly-appealing one’s specs and compare it to Sony’s standard DualShock 4 so you can see which may be the best fit for you.

Razer Raiju: Which one is for you?

For the purpose of this article, we feel that most people will be interested in the Razer Raiju Tournament Edition (right). Though the company also offers a Raiju Ultimate controller (left) with a few tweaks that set it apart from the Tournament Edition, it is more expensive. For the price you’re paying, it’s a good deal to snag the “lower-end” model when they both have similar specs, unless you really want that light up Razer Chroma strip on the Raiju Ultimate.

What’s the difference?

The DualShock has similar tech to the Razer Raiju without all of the bells and whistles. So you’ll have your standard bumpers and triggers, face buttons, D-pad, and thumbsticks along with its touch pad and share button. Where they vary are their layouts. The DualShock 4 features symmetrical thumbsticks while the Raiju features the more popular offset thumbsticks similar to that of your standard Xbox One controller. And of course the Raiju includes a few more buttons, app integration, and hair triggers.

What these features mean to you

A few of these features may not mean anything to you at first, but they’re quite important and make a drastic difference in your gaming experience when utilized. Since not everyone is familiar with them, I’ll help you out.

Hair Trigger mode

To put it simply: hair triggers enable faster shooting. When you’re in a multiplayer session in your favorite FPS, even milliseconds make all the difference. With hair trigger mode engaged, it only takes a slight amount of pressure on the trigger to shoot your weapon, instead of fully pressing down like you would normally. This also allows you to shoot multiple bullets in succession quicker if the weapon you are using isn’t automatic.

Remappable multi-function buttons

The Razer Raiju Tournament Edition has four multi-function buttons: two next to the inner corners of each bumper, and two on each side of the back where your fingers naturally rest once you’re holding it. These allow even further customization when it comes to remapping your controls depending on the type of game you are playing. For instance, you could remap certain button combos for fighting games to make them easier. In total, you can create more than 500 customized profiles according to Razer.

App control

I know what you may be thinking. Why does a controller need an app? This comes down to ease of use and quality of life. With Razer Raiju’s app, available on the Google Play Store and the iOS App Store, you can remap your controller’s buttons and change its settings with little hassle. The app’s user interface appears intuitive and clean, so you shouldn’t have a problem finding whichever setting you are looking for.

Mecha-tactile action buttons

This is really just a fancy name for the X, square, circle, and triangle face buttons that Razer utilizes. The company boasts that they “provide a unique combination of a soft cushioned touch with crisp, tactile feedback.”

The bottom line

If you’re a competitive player, whether professional or casual, you’ll want to shell out the extra money for the Razer Raiju. The DualShock 4, however, is much better suited for the mass market.

DualShock 4

Standard issue

$47 at Amazon

Casual appeal

Your standard DualShock 4 gets the job done, but it lacks a lot of the bells and whistles.

Razer Raiju

Competitive advantage

€150 at Razer

Hundreds of customization options

For competitive players, the Razer Raiju Tournament Edition is the controller to get.

Check out these tech deals for Labour Day in Canada

Labour Day sparks some big sales at Canadian retailers so we’re rounding up a bunch of the best deals around!

Labour Day is here for Canadians and as well as scoring an additional day off work, it also brings with it a number of sales at some of the country’s biggest retailers. Many popular tech gadgets, accessories, and more are on sale right now, and we’re bringing you a sample of some of the best to whet your appetite.

From discounted Amazon hardware, to smart lighting, to gaming PCs, and more, there are plenty of great deals that you’re going to want to check out.

Here are a selection of today’s unmissable deals:

• Amazon Echo – $109.99 (Was $130)
• Amazon Echo Dot – $44.99 (Was $70)
• Amazon Fire TV (Basic Edition) – $39.99 (Was $50)
• Apple MacBook Air 13-inch – $999.99 (Was $1,200)
• August Smart Lock – $149.99 (Was $200)
• Beats Solo3 Bluetooth Headphones – $199.99 (Was $330)
• DJI Mavic Pro Quadcopter Drone – $1,199.99 (Was $1,300)
• Fitbit devices – Up to $70 off
• Google Chromecast Ultra – $70 (Was $90)
• Google WiFi Home System 3-Pack – $329.99 (Was $425)
• Microsoft Surface Pro with Type Cover – $250 off
• Philips Hue Starter Kit – $107.54 (Was $190)
• Samsung EVO Plus 128GB microSD card $79.99 (Was $112)
• SanDisk Ultra Flair 64GB USB 3.0 Flash Drive $24.99 (Was $40)
• Seagate Expansion 6TB USB 3.0 External Hard Drive – $129.99 (Was $230)
• Sony 70-inch 4K UHD HDR Smart TV – $1,299.95 (Was $1,800)

There are many more deals today at Amazon, Best Buy, Canada Computers, HP, The Source, and more. Any other deals catch your interest this weekend? Be sure to drop a comment if you’ve spotted something we haven’t, and let us know what you like about it!

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

This 11-course bundle may be your ticket to a career in Project Management

You’ve been thinking about getting new certifications to move you ahead at work; in fact, it’s been on your to-do list for a long time. Being a Project Manager is the ultimate goal, and you know you’d be perfect for the job with the right certification. With tuition costs that seem to climb with every passing year and limited free time on your hands, how are you supposed to attend classes and afford any kind of certification?

Learn how to use the essential tools of a successful project manager! Learn more

Project Management Professionals are sought after in nearly every field, and even if you’re convinced that you can’t afford the time or money to get your certificate, can you afford not to?

That’s where the Complete Project Management Bundle can help. This 11-course program from SkillSuccess.com will guide you through everything you need to know and the tools that will help you become successful in your new role

There are nearly 30 hours of content spread across 11 courses which cover the following topics:

• Setting Up A Real-World Project In JIRA
• Understanding JIRA For Users, Managers & Admins
• Agile Project Management: Scrum Step By Step w/ Examples
• PMP Project Management
• Scrum Certification Prep Training & Agile Scrum Training

Use code LABORDAY30 for an extra 30% off and pay just $20.30! Learn more

By the end of these courses, you will have all the knowledge you need to prepare to use JIRA software and ace the Scrum certification exam. If you were to buy these courses individually it would cost you over $2000, but for a limited time you can get this entire bundle for just $29. But wait! Use coupon code LABORDAY30 at checkout and save an additional 30%!

Yep, you read that right. You’ll pay just $20.30 for these courses that may help you jumpstart a new career!