Nvidia thinks 5G could give you a high-end PC gaming experience on the go

Nvidia’s GeForce Now subscription service allows you to play purchased PC games on low-end machines, with the majority of the work offloaded to cloud-based processors. It requires a fairly fast internet download speed to run effectively, but with the advances of 5G on the way, Nvidia is confident it can open up the door for even more players to get the performance of an expensive PC without the cost.

Nvidia demonstrated GeForce Now’s capability with 5G during AT&T’s Spark Conference in San Francisco. According to The Register, a fairly run-of-the-mill laptop was hooked up to a 5G base station and was able to achieve 60 frames-per-second framerate with only 16ms of lag. This could feasibly be reduced down to as little as 3ms in the future, which Nvidia said could allow users to play virtual reality games without needing expensive extra hardware.

It probably isn’t safe to play virtual reality games while you’re standing on the bus or in the park, but Nvidia’s vision seems to be in line with what we’ve heard from other companies recently. Microsoft is making a push for cloud gaming, as well, in order for players to experience its games regardless of device. Cross-play games like Fortnite have made this even more appealing, as they allow users from nearly any platform to compete against each other.

Bill Roberson/Digital Trends

Mobile carriers aren’t yet ready to roll out 5G and it will be even longer before they’re able to do so on a large scale. AT&T, for instance, will initially introduce the technology to Atlanta, Dallas, and Waco, Texas, and Verizon is planning to launch a wider version of the technology beginning in 2019.

GeForce Now is just one of several game streaming services that could benefit from 5G. PlayStation Now lets subscribers play full PS4 games without having to purchase them, and we’d love to be able to access these games on more devices. GameFly Streaming was previously another option, but was shuttered after its technology was sold to Electronic Arts this year.

According to Ubisoft CEO Yves Guillemot, all games could take the streaming-only approach in the future, as he speculated that the upcoming console generation would be the last. Only time will tell if this is true, but Microsoft’s is reportedly developing a second streaming box to sell alongside its next traditional Xbox console.

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• Nvidia’s new GPUs look amazing, but that doesn’t mean you should buy one
• Take 20 percent off HP Omen gaming PCs and laptops for a limited time
• ‘Hellblade’ comes to VR, free for those who own the game on Steam
• Pictures of a blank GeForce GTX 1180 card reveal connectors and memory slots

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

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

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

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

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

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Best portable battery packs under $20 in 2018

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

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

Your best choice for a battery

ExpertPower 20,000 mAh Portable Charer

• $17 from Amazon

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

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

Who should buy this battery

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

Is it a good time to buy this battery?

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

Reasons to buy

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

Reasons not to buy

• No USB-C

Why you should buy this battery

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

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

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

Other batteries to consider

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

A more compact choice

Anker PowerCore 5000

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

$20 at Amazon

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

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

Better for campers

FLOUREON Solar Charger

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

$18 at Amazon

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

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

Bottom line

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

Credits — The team that worked on this guide

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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See at Google Play

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

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

Universal Remote

Traditional design

$30 at Amazon

Pros

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

Cons

• Outdated design
• Too many buttons
• Larger size

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

Cloud Remote

Modern elegance

$30 at Amazon

Pros

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

Cons

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

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

What’s the difference?

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

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

What these features mean to you

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

Television, cable box, and audio receiver support

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

Cloud technology/app control

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

Dedicated PS4 buttons

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

The bottom line

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

Cloud Remote

Modern elegance

$30 at Amazon

Sleek and sexy

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

Universal Remote

Traditional design

$30 at Amazon

Outdated

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

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

Effortless athleisure.

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

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

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

See at Amazon

How to unlock every suit in Spider-Man for PS4

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

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

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

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

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

See at Amazon

See at PlayStation

Advanced Suit

Unlocked with:

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

Classic Suit Damaged

This is the suit you start off the game with.

Classic Suit Repaired

Unlocked with:

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

Noir Suit

Unlocked with:

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

Scarlet Spider Suit

Unlocked with:

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

Spider Armor – MK II Suit

Unlocked with:

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

Secret War Suit

Unlocked with:

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

Stark Suit

Unlocked with:

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

Negative Suit

Unlocked with:

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

Electrically Insulated Suit

Unlocked with:

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

Spider-Punk Suit

Unlocked with:

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

Wrestler Suit

Unlocked with:

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

Fear Itself Suit

Unlocked with:

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

Stealth “Big Time” Suit

Unlocked with:

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

Spider Armor – MK III Suit

Unlocked with:

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

Spider-Man 2099 Black Suit

Unlocked with:

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

Iron Spider Suit

Unlocked with:

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

Velocity Suit

Unlocked with:

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

Spider Armor – MK IV Suit

Unlocked with:

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

Spirit Spider

Unlocked with:

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

Spider-Man 2099 White Suit

Unlocked with:

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

Vintage Comic Book Suit

Unlocked with:

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

Last Stand Suit

Unlocked with:

• Reach level 45
• 20 Crime Tokens

Anti-Ock Suit

Unlocked with:

• Complete the main story campaign

Undies Suit

Unlocked with:

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

Homemade Suit

Unlocked with:

• Find all 55 backpacks around the city

Dark Suit

Unlocked with:

• Complete all Black Cat Stakeouts

See at Amazon

See at PlayStation

PlayStation 4

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

Amazon

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

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

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

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

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

Tag: September 2018 event
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‘Dummy’ 6.1-inch LCD iPhone Images Reposted on Social Media as Alleged iPhone Xc ‘Prototypes’

Over the weekend, mobile leaker Benjamin Geskin reposted a series of images supposedly showing “prototypes” of Apple’s forthcoming 6.1-inch LCD iPhone in three colors. The images were in fact first shared by Slashleaks on September 6, when they were described as “clones” of Apple’s upcoming mid-tier LCD iPhone.

Despite that, on Sunday Geskin re-shared an earlier tweet of his linking to the original Slashleaks page, and claimed the dummy/clone images were in fact “the real deal”, without offering any evidence to substantiate the new claim.

Guys… this is not clones or dummy models.. this is a real deal 🤯 Prototypes https://t.co/B8KESnTjx2

— Ben Geskin (@VenyaGeskin1) September 9, 2018

Whatever the truth is behind these images, they’ve become a topic of online discussion, so we’re covering them here for completion.

Rumors have been running for some time that Apple’s more budget-friendly LCD iPhone will launch in several colors, with Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo predicting in July that gray, white, blue, red, and orange colors would be available.

Speculation surrounding possible color options was also reignited on Sunday when an alleged Chinese mobile carrier leak referred to the lower-spec LCD iPhone as “iPhone XC”. The last time Apple used “C” nomenclature in its smartphones was for its budget-friendly iPhone 5c, which featured a plastic rear case available in blue, green, yellow, white, and pink colors.

The red color shown in the images appears similar to Apple’s special PRODUCT(RED) iPhone editions, which for the last two years have only become available for select models midway through their first year of availability.

One of the images of the alleged “prototypes” also shows the 6.1-inch LCD iPhone with a dual-SIM card slot. Again, previous rumors have suggested that a dual-SIM version of the LCD iPhone will be available in select regions.

Lastly, the cases in the images look to have glass backs surrounded by aluminum edges, in contrast to the more expensive-to-manufacture stainless steel finish used in last year’s iPhone X.

It’s not long now before we’ll know for sure what Apple has planned for its 2018 iPhone lineup. Apple’s “Gather Round” media event takes place on Wednesday, September 12, and you can find all the coverage here on MacRumors.
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Apple’s ‘Gather Round’ Event Will Be Live Streamed on Twitter

Apple has confirmed that it will live stream its “Gather Round” event on Twitter, in addition to Apple.com as usual.

Join us September 12 at 10 a.m. PDT to watch the #AppleEvent live on Twitter. Tap ❤️ below and we’ll send you updates on event day. pic.twitter.com/i9mGHTKhvu

— Apple (@Apple) September 10, 2018

Just to be clear, MacRumors has confirmed that Apple’s promoted tweet refers to an actual live stream of the entire keynote on Twitter, likely complementing tweets and photos of highlights from the event. Twitter users can “like” the tweet to receive keynote-related updates from Apple on event day.

Wednesday will mark the first time Apple live streams an event on Twitter. Apple has been gradually expanding the ways that people can watch its live streams over the past few years, making them viewable in Chrome, Firefox, and Microsoft Edge, in addition to its own Safari browser across Mac, iPad, and iPhone.

The keynote can also be live streamed via the Apple Events app on Apple TV. On the fourth-generation Apple TV and newer, the app is available from the tvOS App Store. On the second- and third-generation Apple TV, the app appears on the home screen automatically within close proximity of events.

Apple’s keynote begins Wednesday at 10:00 a.m. Pacific Time at Steve Jobs Theater, situated on its Apple Park headquarters in Cupertino, California. MacRumors will be providing live coverage of the event beginning around 8:15 a.m. Pacific Time tomorrow, accompanied by live tweets via @MacRumorsLive.

Tag: September 2018 event
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