Air Force goes all James Bond with tiny microphone that attaches to teeth

Forget about microphone-equipped earbuds or those Britney Spears mics rocked by pop stars — when it comes to state-of-the-art microphone systems you don’t need to look any further than the U.S. Department of Defense. As part of a new $10 million deal with Sonitus Technologies, members of the Air Force (and possibly others in the future) will soon be able to communicate using a next-generation miniaturized microphone system that clips to their back teeth.

“In this new era of human-machine communications, we need entirely new types of interfaces, and that’s what we’re delivering with the Molar Mic,” Peter Hadrovic, CEO of Sonitus, told Digital Trends. “Now, modern warfighters and others in the defense community can maintain clear, unbroken communications by moving their personal communications system inside their mouth, providing clear two-way communications with their colleagues while working in even the most severe and challenging environments and situations.”

The Molar Mic incorporates a miniature microphone and receiver in a small mouthpiece that’s designed to easily snap onto a wearer’s back teeth. Using near-field magnetic induction technology, the system converts incoming signals into vibrations that travel from the user’s teeth, through their jawbone, into their auditory nerves in their head. This eliminates the need for earpieces, microphones, or any other loose wires on the head.

The Molar Mic doesn’t just make microphone systems less bulky, however. It also opens up new possibilities for communication where it simply wouldn’t have been feasible using previous technologies. For instance, the Department of Defenses tested the Molar Mic rigorously under a variety of harsh conditions. In one, a pararescue-man was helping airlift an injured civilian into a helicopter hovering directly above. He needed to communicate with his colleagues in the helicopter, and the Molar Mic made it possible to maintain clear communication, even above the sounds of the rotor blades and a major storm in the background.

“The intent of the development contract that the U.S. Department of Defense awarded Sonitus is to field test Molar Mic further, refine it, and then move it on to full production,” Hadrovic continued. “The U.S. Air Force is spearheading this next phase of field test. There’s no hard date on when those tests will be concluded.”

Sadly, customers wanting this kind of tech for consumer purposes are likely to be waiting a bit longer. “We’re dedicated to completing this development phase with the DOD and U.S. Air Force, and won’t be thinking much about moving into commercial markets until we complete this phase,” Hadrovic said.

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The Kasa Smart Wi-Fi Power Strip can control 6 devices, charge 3 others

For many people, the idea of a smart home is limited by the amount of money it would cost to set up. The idea of spending hundreds of dollars on connected to devices stops people from experimenting. However, there are plenty of ways to turn “dumb” devices into connected devices, and the new Kasa Smart Wi-Fi power strip is the latest one on the market.

This Wi-Fi power strip is exactly what it sounds like: It connects to your Wi-Fi network and gives you the ability to connect to and monitor all devices plugged into the strip. The power strip works with the Kasa Smart mobile app to give users complete control over their devices. For homeowners that want more control over their fire safety, the ability to turn power on and off remotely is a must. It also allows users to monitor the amount of power used by each device, which allows for better control of energy expenditure and a lower utility bill each month.

The Kasa Smart Wi-Fi power strip can control six devices and charge three others at the same time. The three charging ports are all USB ports, which makes them ideal for users with a number of smart devices like phones, tablets, and certain game consoles.

The Kasa Smart Wi-Fi power strip is also compatible with smart artificial intelligence assistants like Google Home, Amazon Alexa, and Microsoft Cortana. Voice commands can be given to activate and disable specific outlets. Schedules can be set for specific outlets within the power strip to automatically power certain devices throughout the day. The power strip is available for order via Amazon as of Thursday, September 13.

Smart power strips provide a cost-effective way to add smart home technology into your home. You don’t have to upgrade every device you own. Many products like coffee makers and lamps can be programmed to power on and off at a given time through the use of a device like the Kasa Smart Wi-Fi power strip. For people with no prior exposure to smart home technology, a smart power strip is one of the easiest ways and most cost-effective ways to ramp up the intelligence of a home.

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iPhone XS Max vs. iPhone 8 Plus vs. iPhone 7 Plus: The big guys clash

Julian Chokkattu/Digital Trends

Plus-sized phones should watch their step — there’s a new super-sized sheriff in town. Apple’s new iPhone XS Max has been revealed, and it’s a huge and powerful phone packed with the latest technological advances. With an enormous 6.5-inch OLED display and the power of the new A12 processor pushing smartphone performance beyond previous limits, the iPhone XS Max is sure to be tempting if you like a large screen.

But it’s never that simple. Though the “Max” moniker was created to surpass the old Plus models, Apple’s been making “Plus” models for years, and so there’s a lot of competition within Apple’s own stables. Which phone wins when the iPhone XS Max, iPhone 8 Plus, and iPhone 7 Plus go head-to-head, and which should you buy? Let’s take a look.

Specs

iPhone XS Max
iPhone 8 Plus
iPhone 7 Plus

Size
157.5 x 77.4 x 7.7 mm (6.20 x 3.05 x 0.30 inches)
158.4 x 78.1 x 7.5 mm (6.24 x 3.07 x 0.30 inches)
158.2 x 77.9 x 7.3 mm (6.23 x 3.07 x 0.29 inches)

Weight
208 grams (7.34 ounces)
202 g (7.13 ounces)
188 g (6.63 ounces)

Screen size
6.5-inch Super Retina OLED
5.5-inch IPS LCD
5.5-inch IPS LCD

Screen resolution
2,688 x 1,242 pixels (458 pixels per inch)
1,920 x 1,080 pixels (401 pixels per inch)
1,920 x 1,080 pixels (401 pixels per inch)

Operating system
iOS 12
iOS 12
iOS 12

Storage space
64GB, 256GB, 512GB
64GB, 256GB
32GB, 128GB, 256GB

MicroSD card slot
No
No
No

Tap-to-pay services
Apple Pay
Apple Pay
Apple Pay

Processor
A12 Bionic
A11 Bionic
A10 Fusion

RAM
4GB
3GB
3GB

Camera
Dual 12MP rear (both with OIS), 7MP TrueDepth FaceTime HD front
Dual 12MP rear (both with OIS), 7MP FaceTime HD front
Dual 12MP rear (both with OIS), 7MP FaceTime HD front

Video
2,160p at 60 fps, 1,080p at 240 fps
2,160p at 60 fps, 1,080p at 240 fps
2,160p at 60 fps, 1,080p at 240 fps

Bluetooth version
Bluetooth 5.0
Bluetooth 5.0
Bluetooth 4.2

Ports
Lightning
Lightning
Lightning

Fingerprint sensor
No, FaceID instead
Yes
Yes

Water resistance
IP68
IP67
IP67

Battery
TBC

Fast charging (fast charger not included)

Qi wireless charging

2,675mAh

Fast charging offers up to 50 percent charge in 30 minutes (fast charger not included)

Qi wireless charging

2,900mAh

App marketplace
Apple App Store
Apple App Store
Apple App Store

Network support
T-Mobile, AT&T, Verizon, Sprint
T-Mobile, AT&T, Verizon, Sprint
T-Mobile, AT&T, Verizon, Sprint

Colors
Gold, Silver, Space Gray
Gold, Space Gray, Silver
Jet Black, Black, Silver, Gold, Rose Gold, Red

Price
$1,100
$700
$670

Buy from
Apple
Apple
Apple

Review score
Hands-on review
4 out of 5 stars
4 out of 5 stars

Performance, battery life, and charging

Julian Chokkattu/Digital Trends

The most recent version of the iPhone has always been one of the most powerful smart devices available, and that’s not about to change with the iPhone XS Max. Apple claims the new A12 Bionic processor is up to 40 percent faster than the A11 Bionic in the iPhone 8 Plus. The new Neural Engine in the A12 can handle up to 5 trillion operations per second, and promises to add even more grunt to Apple’s already impressive iPhone performance. There’s very little doubt the A12 is the most powerful processor here, though we don’t really have any complaints about the 8 Plus in terms of performance.

Battery power is a bit closer, though. Each of these phones will last you the day, and though Apple claims the XS Max will last longer than the iPhone X‘s considerable battery life, we need to put it to the test before we can really judge. You’ll only find wireless and fast charging on the XS Max and 8 Plus, though neither of them comes with a fast charger in the box.

There’s still a lot that’s unclear here — but what is clear is that the iPhone XS Max’s processor is stupendously powerful and wipes the floor with the competition.

Winner: iPhone XS Max

Design and durability

• 1.
  iPhone Xs Max
• 2.
  iPhone 8 Plus
• 3.
  iPhone 7 Plus

Apple came in for some criticism for repeating the same design in the iPhone 6, 7, and 8 range. Thankfully, that changed with the iPhone X and all the new iPhones this year sport the newer look. The iPhone XS Max is one of the most beautiful phones on the planet. It ditches the hefty bezels you’ll find on the iPhone 8 Plus and 7 Plus for a sleek, curved design, with glass laid over a high-quality stainless steel frame. It’s clear to us that the iPhone XS Max is the better-looking phone of these three. Apple has managed to pack a screen that’s a full inch bigger into a slightly smaller body by killing those bezels.

Durability paints a slightly different picture. The iPhone XS Max and 8 Plus both come with glass bodies, which means they carryshattering risks not present in the aluminum iPhone 7 Plus. But the iPhone XS Max brings full IP68-rated water-resistance to the table too, further guarding against the negative effects of water immersion. As is now the case with Apple, there’s no headphone jack on any of these phones, and you won’t find a fingerprint sensor on the iPhone XS Max either — it’s been replaced with FaceID.

Despite durability worries with glass and a lack of Touch ID, it’s another clear win for the iPhone XS Max.

Winner: iPhone XS Max

Display

Little changed between the displays on the iPhone 8 Plus and 7 Plus. Both rock great-looking 5.5-inch IPS LCD displays, and while they’re more than good enough, they struggle to compete with the Super Retina OLED display that dominates the iPhone XS Max. It’s a monster, that’s a full inch larger than the other phones’ screens at 6.5-inches. It’s beautiful too, with deep blacks and support for HDR10 and Dolby Vision. With a seamless edge-to-edge design, the XS Max’s OLED screen is leaps and bounds above its predecessors.

While all three have sharp and detailed displays to show off your videos and images, the iPhone XS Max has the objectively better display.

Winner: iPhone XS Max

Camera

Julian Chokkattu / Digital Trends

When read straight off the specs sheet, you’d be forgiven for assuming each of these phones has the same camera, as each sports a rear-facing pair of 12-megapixel lenses. But the devil’s in the details, and Apple has made great advances in its photography with each generation. Thanks to the increased power of the A12 processor, the XS Max is capable of far more software trickery than its predecessors. You can adjust the level of background bokeh blur in your photos — even after the shot has been taken — and the new Smart HDR mode can auto-adjust and compile an HDR photo in milliseconds. We haven’t had much chance to test it yet, but the iPhone XS Max’s camera has already impressed us.

The iPhone XS Max is also equipped with the iPhone X’s TrueDepth selfie camera that enables FaceID unlocking and Animoji support, as well as solid Portrait Mode-style selfies. Video capabilities have also been improved, though it might be harder to see the differences there.

While the iPhone 7 Plus and 8 Plus still possess astoundingly good cameras, the iPhone XS Max’s camera really takes that performance to the next level. It wins comfortably.

Winner: iPhone XS Max

Software and updates

Brenda Stolyar/Digital Trends

Apple is well-known for providing a new version of iOS every year, and keeping older phones up-to-date longer than its competitors. While you can expect the iPhone Xs Max to be updated further into the future, the update schedule still looks bright for both the 8 Plus and 7 Plus. With the older iPhone 6 still receiving updates, you can expect all of these phones to at least get iOS 13, and probably iOS 14 too.

The iPhone XS Max will get these updates for longer, so we’re awarding the win to it — but it doesn’t have much of a lead.

Winner: iPhone XS Max

Special features

Elijah Nouvelage/Getty Images

Many of the iPhone’s special features are built into iOS, so you’ll find similar capabilities on each of these phones — including Apple’s augmented reality platform, ARKit. The advanced processor in the iPhone XS Max will obviously run these features better, but it’ll be much the same in most use cases.

The TrueDepth front-facing camera on the XS Max does offer features like FaceID unlocking and Animoji, and that’s a significant advantage for the new iPhone. Animoji is still fairly niche, but FaceID certainly isn’t — and it wins the iPhone XS Max this round.

Winner: iPhone XS Max

Price

Make sure you’re sitting for this one. Prices for the new iPhone XS Max start at a staggering $1,100. That’s a huge chunk of change for a phone, and it’ll only go up for the models with larger storage. It’ll be available from September 21, with pre-orders starting September 14.

The release of the new iPhone range has come with discounts for the older models. You’ll be able to pick up the iPhone 8 Plus from $700, while the iPhone 7 Plus starts at $670.

As with most modern iPhones, each of these models will work on most major U.S. carriers.

Overall winner: iPhone XS Max

It’s an unsurprising win for the new iPhone XS Max. With a more powerful processor, drop-dead gorgeous design, and a stunning camera, the iPhone XS Max is going to be one of the phones to beat for the next year. But just because it’s the best of this three doesn’t mean it’s the best for you. The iPhone 8 Plus and 7 Plus still offer rock-solid performance, strong cameras, and Apple’s latest iOS 12. Even without the stunning new design, both of these phones are great choices — especially with the discounts Apple is offering.

If you want the best of the best and biggest Apple screens, then go for the iPhone XS Max. But if you’re not too worried about the older design and losing out on the latest hardware advances, check out the solid performance offered by the cheaper iPhone 8 Plus and iPhone 7 Plus. Whichever you pick, we wager you’ll be happy with your new phone.

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Watch a robot create amazing string art portraits with thousands of feet of yarn

String art is one of those deceptively simple things: Crisscross string back and forth between tiny nails hammered into a board until they form a recognizable image. At the simplest levels, it’s possible to create attractive geometric patterns. If you’re more expert, you can create full-on detailed portraits. It’s a challenging process that takes a whole lot of time, and a massive amount of human skill — until now, that is.

That’s thanks to researchers from TU Wein, one of the major universities in Vienna, Austria. They have created an algorithm that allows an industrial robot to create these images for itself. Just show it any arbitrary image, and the robot will then figure out the optimal thread path to accurately re-create it in thread art form.

“Our framework takes an image as input and delivers a fabricated piece of string art as output,” Michael Birsak, one of the researchers on the project, told Digital Trends. “The main goal is to reassemble the given image as accurately as possible using one continuous piece of textile thread. In our setup, we use an aluminum bicycle rim for the frame, together with 256 pins. While it is quite easy to create a simple geometric pattern by spanning the thread between the pins, reassembling the portrait of a person is particularly difficult because it is not possible to address the single pixels of the input image by moving the thread around. Therefore, the goal is to find a good approximation. One could naively try out all possible combinations, but this would take forever, since with 256 pins, there are more combinations than atoms in the universe.”

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The algorithm takes several hours to work out its solution and then another few hours to create it — since each portrait can consist of up to 19.6 thousand feet of thread. Completed portraits include a picture of a cat, a portrait of Albert Einstein, and an image of pioneering programmer Ada Lovelace.

While there have been some tremendous examples of computation creativity we’ve covered in the past, Birsak said the aspect of the project the team was most excited about was crafting an optimal routing algorithm. This is the kind of thing more commonly associated with problems like finding the most efficient order to deliver packages or dispatch taxis. “Our main goal was not to produce art, but to focus on the mathematical challenges of the problem and how it can be solved in a scientific way,” he said.

A paper describing the work was recently published in the journal Computer Graphics Forum.

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Watch a robot create amazing string art portraits with thousands of feet of yarn

String art is one of those deceptively simple things: Crisscross string back and forth between tiny nails hammered into a board until they form a recognizable image. At the simplest levels, it’s possible to create attractive geometric patterns. If you’re more expert, you can create full-on detailed portraits. It’s a challenging process that takes a whole lot of time, and a massive amount of human skill — until now, that is.

That’s thanks to researchers from TU Wein, one of the major universities in Vienna, Austria. They have created an algorithm that allows an industrial robot to create these images for itself. Just show it any arbitrary image, and the robot will then figure out the optimal thread path to accurately re-create it in thread art form.

“Our framework takes an image as input and delivers a fabricated piece of string art as output,” Michael Birsak, one of the researchers on the project, told Digital Trends. “The main goal is to reassemble the given image as accurately as possible using one continuous piece of textile thread. In our setup, we use an aluminum bicycle rim for the frame, together with 256 pins. While it is quite easy to create a simple geometric pattern by spanning the thread between the pins, reassembling the portrait of a person is particularly difficult because it is not possible to address the single pixels of the input image by moving the thread around. Therefore, the goal is to find a good approximation. One could naively try out all possible combinations, but this would take forever, since with 256 pins, there are more combinations than atoms in the universe.”

Previous

Next

1 of 4

The algorithm takes several hours to work out its solution and then another few hours to create it — since each portrait can consist of up to 19.6 thousand feet of thread. Completed portraits include a picture of a cat, a portrait of Albert Einstein, and an image of pioneering programmer Ada Lovelace.

While there have been some tremendous examples of computation creativity we’ve covered in the past, Birsak said the aspect of the project the team was most excited about was crafting an optimal routing algorithm. This is the kind of thing more commonly associated with problems like finding the most efficient order to deliver packages or dispatch taxis. “Our main goal was not to produce art, but to focus on the mathematical challenges of the problem and how it can be solved in a scientific way,” he said.

A paper describing the work was recently published in the journal Computer Graphics Forum.

Editors’ Recommendations

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A.I.-powered Grammarly comes to Google Docs to improve your writing

Grammarly

Earlier this summer, Google announced that it is leveraging the power of artificial intelligence to help you write better in Google Docs, and now the grammar check tool is getting some competition. Grammarly, a popular grammar check service, announced that it is bringing its grammar checking tool — available initially as a beta — to Google Docs via a browser extension.

“Grammarly wants to be a part of everything you write,” the company announced in a blog post. “While many of our users type their important documents in a word processor, we know that Google Docs is where some of the most collaborative work gets done. That’s why we’re starting to release a beta version of Grammarly for Chrome in Google Docs to all users!”

The extension, for now, will only be available to users on Chrome, so you won’t be able to access Grammarly’s service in Google Docs on other browsers. The company said that it may take some time for the service to become available for all users, and that it is rolling out the extension gradually over the next month.

While all Chrome users will be able to download the Grammarly for Chrome extension immediately as a free download through the Chrome web store, it may take some time to be accepted into Grammarly’s beta program for Google Docs. After the extension is installed, if you’ve been granted access into the beta, you’ll see a popup letting you know that Grammarly is working once you open Google Docs.

With Grammarly installed, you can take advantage of the service’s grammar suggestions as you type. When you begin typing out a letter, memorandum, or report, you’ll notice red underlines in your text in places where Grammarly thinks you may have used improper grammar rules or sentence structures. Similar to how Grammarly works on other products, these red underlines represents suggestions for corrections. You’ll be able to accept Grammarly’s suggestion by hovering over each red underline.

Like Google’s built-in A.I.-powered grammar checker for Google Docs, Grammarly’s extension and service relies on artificial intelligence to suggest corrections as you type. “Grammarly’s products are powered by an advanced system that combines rules, patterns, and artificial intelligence techniques like machine learning, deep learning, and natural language processing to improve your writing,” the company said. “Grammarly’s A.I. system combines machine learning with a variety of natural language processing approaches.”

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How to cancel your digital pre-order for a PlayStation 4 game

Canceling is easy, depending on your method of payment.

While we all love the ability to pre-order our favorite video games, sometimes the world gets in the way. With games like Spider-Man, Tomb Raider, and the new Assasins Creed just over the horizon, it’s easy to get caught up in the excitement and spend your money before you actually have it.

I am going to take you through the options you have for canceling your pre-order through the PlayStation Store. It is fairly simple but the rules change depending on how and when you paid for your pre-order so there are a few different ways to tackle the problem.

A Note: Make sure you turn off your auto download settings if you are unsure about keeping your pre-orders. Things get a lot harder to cancel if you have already downloaded the main content to your console even if it hasn’t activated or you haven’t played it.

Pre-ordered but not paid.

Sony calls this Pay Later, and while it used to be fairly common in brick and mortar stores it happens far less with online purchases. Fortunately, if you do have one of these pre-orders canceling it is quick and easy. All you have to do is find the pre-order in your Transaction History and, providing the money hasn’t come out — they normally take the money two days before the game releases — you can refund the amount back to your wallet. Here is a step by step for you to make it easy.

Go to the Account Management section of the PlayStation Store website
Choose the Transaction History tab in the Accounts window
Find the title you want to cancel
Press the cancel button at least two days before the release date

Now if you used the Pay Later method but want to cancel it after the payment is made your only choice is to contact Sony and ask them to refund it, but they aren’t under any obligation to do so.

Pre-Ordered but Paid

Ok, this is a little more tricky. Because Sony makes you top up a wallet instead of taking your money directly there are more hoops to jump through to get your money back. As with most purchases, you do get a 14 day grace period to get your money back but you will only get the money refunded to your wallet.

Anytime up to the release date and at a maximum of 14 days after the release date — and as long as you haven’t actually downloaded the game — you can ask for a refund from Sony and they will refund the money to you, but likely only to your wallet, not to the card you used to make the purchase. Unfortunately, there is no simple way to do this, you have to contact Sony and ask them to cancel it for you, there are no quick buttons.

Important You can only get a refund if you have not downloaded the main content. If you have downloaded extras like themes that’s ok, Sony will just stop them working on your machine after the refund, but if you download the main title even on a pre-load you cannot get a refund.

Final Thoughts

This system is pretty bad. If you do decide you no longer want your pre-order you have to jump through hoops to get your money back and that’s not ok, especially when you are pre-ordering a digital copy of a game. It isn’t like they have printed a copy of the game because you pre-ordered it but big companies don’t like to let go of money.

What are your thoughts on this? Have you had problems with pre-order cancellations or is it not a big deal for you?Let me know in the comments.

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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!

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!

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.

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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.