Best accessories for Ring Camera

The Ring Cameras are a great way to make your home smarter and a bit safer. The cameras can be mounted high for you to see the whole surrounding area around the front of your house, and it features a speaker and microphone so you can yell at people that are near your house. The future is truly upon us. The Ring Cameras come with a mounting kit to get you started, but that doesn’t mean you have to stop there. These are the best accessories for Ring Camera!

Better battery

Ring Rechargeable Battery Pack

Having the battery-powered Spotlight Cam 2 means you don’t need to mess with your home’s electrical system, but you will need to keep a fresh battery handy. This battery recharges itself over with an included USB cable, and users note it takes seven hours for a full charge, so keep that in mind when you want to make sure your camera has power.

$29 at Amazon

Unlimited power

TOODOO Ring Spotlight Cam Power Adapter

Of course, never needing a new battery is the best option. This power supply from TOODOO will do just that. The cable is thin enough to fit through a small hole in your wall, and at 20 feet (or six meters) long, it shouldn’t be hard to snake it to an available power outlet in your home.

$17 at Amazon

More power

Wasserstein Ring Spotlight Cam Power Adapter

If for some reason the TOODOO adapter isn’t available, this one from Wasserstein is another great option. Again, the cable is thin enough to make it through your wall and long enough to be routed to the nearest outlet once it gets inside. Everything you need is included, including screws to keep the power cable in place.

$15 at Amazon

The power of the sun

Wasserstein Solar Panel for Ring Spotlight Cam

There’s a version of the Ring Camera that already has its own solar panel, but this is a great upgrade for those that started with a battery-powered version. This panel connects to the battery inside your Ring Camera, so even if it’s a gloomy day, your camera will have enough juice in its battery to keep going. This comes in black or white, and there are screws included to keep in place on the side of your house or on a fence.

$40 at Amazon

Better mounting options

UDOIT Ring Mount

If the mount included with the Ring Camera doesn’t let you angle it exactly how you want, this mount from UDOIT is a great replacement. You get enough screws, bolts, and nuts to work with most of the Ring cameras, but you’ll still need a drill and screwdriver to get everything in place. Once it’s in place, you can adjust the camera vertically and horizontally so it gets the best view of your yard.

$12 at Amazon

Anti-glare

Silicone Cover Case for Ring Camera

If you’re getting a bit too much glare on your footage — or just want an extra bit of weather protection — this cover is for you. It’s just a simple piece of black silicone, no different than what you’d use on your phone or tablet. It provides a hood around your camera so the glare from the sun won’t be a bother, and raindrops will flow off, keeping your video feed pristine. This specifically works with the wired version of the Spotlight Camera, not the solar or battery-powered versions.

$13 at Amazon

The Ring Camera is great on its own, but it doesn’t have to end there. Whether you want a better power supply, more mounting options, or some extra weather protection, these accessories will make using the Ring Cameras much more enjoyable. If you’re only going to get one of these accessories, I’d go for the Wasserstein Solar Panel, since it means you’ll never have to worry about a dead battery or routing a long power cable again.

Add a Boost Mobile Unlimited Data plan to your phone for $25 a month

Even the newest smartphones are eligible.

Right now Boost Mobile is taking 50% off its unlimited data plan, and you don’t even have to switch phones to take advantage of it. The plan costs $25 a month and covers unlimited data, talk, and text. This is an online-only deal and you will need a little extra upfront cost to buy a SIM card to connect your phone to the Boost Mobile network.

You will be able to enter your phone’s ID to see if its eligible. The plan works with both Android and iOS devices going back many generations, but not every version is compatible. For example, the iPhone 7 works but only if it’s a Verizon phone. Same with the LG X charge but only the Amazon version. You’ll also need to unlock your device before switching if it isn’t already unlocked. Other eligible phones include the iPhone 8, 8 Plus, and iPhone X series. For Android users, you can use the Galaxy S9, S9+, Note9, and more.

The plan includes more than just the unlimited data. You’ll also be able to use your phone as a Wi-Fi hotspot. Access up to 8GB of your phone’s 4G LTE network every month.

This deal only applies to new customers and phones that are not already on the Sprint network, which is what Boost Mobile uses.

See at Boost Mobile

Amazon’s giving away free $3 credits for installing its browser extension

Cash in today.

The Amazon Assistant is Amazon’s way of helping you stay on top of price comparisons, wishlist items, and your latest Amazon orders. Right now, Amazon is offering new users of the browser extension a chance to snag $3 off a future purchase of $10 or more. All you’ve got to do is simply download the extension to your computer. This deal is only valid for US customers who have never used the Amazon Assistant browser add-on before.

To use the discount, you must first navigate to the product you want to purchase using the Amazon Assistant extension. The discount is only valid on items sold and shipped by Amazon.com. It’s also important to note your purchase must total $10 before shipping and tax for the promo to take effect. While its promotional terms state that it’s not valid on digital content or Amazon gift cards, you may be able to use it on something such as a PlayStation Plus membership. Otherwise, there aren’t many limitations for its use.

Amazon Assistant allows you quick shortcut access to your orders, your universal registry and lists, and other popular Amazon webpages. My personal favorite feature of the add-on comes into play when you’re browsing a different retail site, such as Walmart or Best Buy. The extension will enable small pop-ups under your URL bar that show Amazon’s current price for the item along with a link to it directly. That can often let you know whether Amazon has price-matched the item or if they’ve got it available for even cheaper than the current store you’re browsing.

This browser extension can be used with most major desktop browsers, including Google Chrome, Mozilla Firefox, Microsoft Edge, Internet Explorer, and Safari.

See at Amazon

Complete a few activities in Spider-Man before The Heist DLC drops

Say goodbye to the Sinister Six and hello to Black Cat.

After you complete Spider-Man’s main campaign, you may be itching for more content. Insomniac has already detailed the game’s post-launch content called The City That Never Sleeps, which will be comprised of three chapters. The first chapter, The Heist, releases October 23 and focuses on the character of Black Cat. Here’s everything you’ll want to do in the game before this DLC drops.

• Complete all of the Black Cat stakeouts
• Complete the main campaign
• Pay attention to the little details

You can pick up the complete package of The City That Never Sleeps for $24.99 on the PlayStation Store.

See at PlayStation

Complete all of the Black Cat stakeouts

While Black Cat doesn’t play an important role within the game’s main story, you do find yourself performing activities across the city at her behest. Black Cat has left clues to her whereabouts and Peter believes that if he can piece together her targets he can figure out what she’s after and why she’s back in New York City.

These activities take the form of stakeouts, of which there are 13 total. Once you reach a stakeout location denoted by its own icon on the map, you’ll look through your camera and search the surrounding areas for a miniature Black Cat toy.

After completing each stakeout you’re finally given the location to Black Cat’s hideout, where you can unlock and obtain the Dark Suit. This little side adventure unfortunately ends there without a confrontation, but it looks to set up a meeting between Spider-Man and Black Cat in the DLC. If anything, it’s put Black Cat on his radar again.

Complete the main campaign

This might go without saying, but it’s always a good idea to finish up the game first. Not only will you unlock an outfit that can only be obtained through completing the main campaign and will have unlocked more gadgets to use at your disposal, but New York City won’t be under immediate threat anymore.

Insomniac has not revealed whether or not The Heist DLC has a recommended starting level to it or whether you need to beat the game in order to access it. Since the studio has not stated one way or the other, I’m inclined to believe that you don’t necessarily need to finish the main campaign, but it’s a good idea to anyway.

Pay attention to the little details

According to Spider-Man lead writer Jon Paquette, fans will want to explore New York City to its fullest in order to find all of the little hidden details that the team put in to create the most authentic game possible.

“They should be focused on a lot of the storytelling we do in the open world,” said Paquette in an interview with Polygon regarding what fans should do to prepare themselves for The Heist. “There’s probably things that you haven’t discovered yet unless you’ve got the platinum (trophy) already, in which case, congratulations. But the team worked really hard to build this amazingly authentic city that is so much fun to play in. So just keep looking for hidden things.”

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Cortana beta debuts major UI overhaul and more on Android and iOS

The Cortana version 3.0 beta brings “conversational experiences,” new connections for music and podcasts, and much more.

Microsoft is gearing up to release a major update to Cortana on Android and iOS, and beta testers are getting the first shot at it. Cortana version 3.0 is rolling out now to beta users on both platforms, bringing an overhauled UI focused on conversational experiences, new music and podcast connections, and the ability to join Skype and Teams meetings by speaking with Cortana.

Here’s the official look at all of what’s new:

• An update to the UI enabling conversational experiences with Cortana and a new place to manage and set up your Cortana devices
• Listen to music and podcasts on the go. Just ask Cortana to play your favorite tunes and podcasts with Spotify, iHeartRadio, and TuneIn on your phone or through a paired Bluetooth device
• Stay organized and on task. Set reminders, timers and create meetings with your voice
• Join your next Skype or Teams meeting by simply asking Cortana. You can also manage your calendar or send a quick email by voice

Additionally, references to syncing notifications to your Windows PC have been removed.

Cortana 3.0 beta

Though Microsoft has announced the update to beta testers, we’re not seeing it just yet, so it may be part of a slow rollout. However,if you want to get in line to test out everything that’s new, you can register to become a beta tester for Cortana on Android at Google Play. Cortana users on iOS will have to be enrolled in the limited TestFlight program to take part.

For everyone else, you’ll have to wait until all of the kinks have been worked out with beta testers to see the new features in the release version of Cortana. For now, you can give the current release a shot by picking up the Cortana app on Google Play and the App Store.

Thanks, Ryan T., for the tip!

See at Google Play See at the App Store

The first Wear OS smartwatch with the Snapdragon Wear 3100 costs $995

The Summit 2 is our first look at the next generation of Wear OS.

Back in September during Qualcomm’s Snapdragon Wear 3100 event, it was announced that the very first smartwatch to use the new chipset would be the Montblanc Summit 2. A little over a month later, we now have exact specs and pricing details for it.

The Montblanc Summit 2 features a 42mm case that was “designed for both men and women.” There’s a 1.2-inch circular AMOLED display with a resolution of 390 x 390 and a heart rate sensor that uses an “improved” algorithm for monitoring your ticker throughout the day.

There’s built-in GPS for mapping your runs even when you’re not connected to your phone, NFC for Google Pay, and 5ATM water resistance. The Snapdragon Wear 3100 is, of course, powering the Summit 2, and as such, you can expect vastly improved battery life (up to a week’s worth of use in the Time Only Mode).

You can purchase the Montblanc Summit 2 starting today, but with a price tag of $995 and up depending on the style you choose, it’ll likely only appeal to our most fashionable readers.

See at Montblanc

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Kuo Predicts ‘Better Than Expected’ Replacement Demand for iPhone XR, Raises Shipment Forecasts

Demand for the iPhone XR will be higher than demand for the iPhone 8 last year, Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo reiterated in a note to investors this morning.

Kuo is predicting better than expected replacement demand for iPhone XR along with improved supply starting in October, leading him to revise his predicted shipment estimates.

Apple is now expected to ship 36 to 38 million iPhone XR units in the fourth quarter of 2018, up 10 percent from an original estimate of 33 to 35 million units.

As he said last week in a note about the XR driving upgrades in China, Kuo is expecting the iPhone XR to outsell the iPhone 8 because of its larger display, longer battery life, dual-SIM support, and new form factor design.

With the revised XR shipment expectations, Kuo believes Apple will ship a total of 75 to 80 million iPhone units during 4Q2018.

iPhone XR shipments are also expected to be up in the first quarter of 2019, a historically slow quarter for Apple. Quarter over quarter decline is expected to be at 25 to 30 percent instead of 45 to 50 percent for iPhone 8.

We expect XR shipments to beat low seasonality in 1Q19. We forecast that XR shipments in 1Q19 will decline 25-30% QoQ to 27-30mn units, and we attribute the lower XR shipment QoQ decline, compared with general consumer electronics and smartphones’ 30-40% QoQ decline, to better replacement demand and production delay. Also, XR’s shipment QoQ decline in 1Q19 will be better than the iPhone 8 series’ 45-50% in 1Q18.

Total iPhone shipments in the first quarter of 2019 are expected to grow by 10 percent year-over-year to 55 to 60 million units thanks to the strength of the iPhone XR. Shipment allocations of XS, XR, and legacy models will be at 35 percent, 50 percent, and 15 percent respectively.

Apple’s iPhone XR will be available for pre-order at 12:01 a.m. Pacific Time on Friday, October 19, with an official launch to follow on Friday, October 26. Apple’s colorful new iPhone will be priced starting at $749 for the entry-level model.

Related Roundup: iPhone XRTag: Ming-Chi KuoBuyer’s Guide: iPhone XR (Caution)
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Kuo: Apple to Maintain Same iPhone Mix in 2019 With 5.8 and 6.5-Inch OLED iPhones, 6.1-Inch LCD

Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo, who often accurately predicts Apple’s future device plans, believes the company will continue to offer three iPhones in 2019 with the same general lineup seen in 2018.

In a note to investors about Apple supplier Luxshare’s predicted market share released this morning, Kuo included a chart that suggests Apple will continue to offer 5.8 and 6.5-inch OLED iPhones in 2019, along with one 6.1-inch LCD model.

That’s the same lineup used this year, which consists of the 5.8 and 6.5-inch OLED iPhone XS and XS Max and the 6.1-inch iPhone XR.

Rumors about the 2019 iPhones have been circulating for a few months now, but this is the first time that we’ve heard specific details on the number of devices we can expect to see in 2019 and their screen sizes.

Given that 2018 is sort of an “S” upgrade year with no major changes to the iPhone X design introduced in 2017, there was a possibility that Apple could condense its iPhone lineup or introduce new screen sizes, but it looks like we may be sticking with the current lineup for at least another year.

Other 2019 iPhone rumors have suggested the upcoming iPhones will adopt faster, more efficient A13 chips from TSMC, triple lens rear camera systems, revamped front-facing TrueDepth camera systems, and perhaps support for the Apple Pencil.

Details about all of the rumors we’ve heard about the new devices so far can be found in our 2019 iPhones roundup.

Related Roundup: 2019 iPhonesTag: Ming-Chi Kuo
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