Apple Releases Updated Version of Shortcuts App With iPad Pro Support

Apple today updated its dedicated Shortcuts app for iOS 12 devices to version 2.1.1, introducing support for the new iPad Pro models that are set to be released tomorrow.

Apple’s 11 and 12.9-inch 2018 iPad Pro models are the latest Apple devices that will work with the Shortcuts app, which is designed to let you create multi-step shortcuts and automations using first and third-party apps that can then be activated with Siri commands.

With Shortcuts, for example, you can create an automation to do something like turn on the thermostat at home using the Nest app, text your roommate that you’re on the way with Messages, and open up the Maps app with directions home all with a single “I’m going home” Siri command spoken when leaving work.

Shortcuts are deeply customizable, with Apple’s Shortcuts app providing a gallery of Shortcut suggestions along with the tools to create your own.

In addition to support for the new iPad Pro models, the 2.1.1 update introduces a long list of bug fixes, as outlined in Apple’s Shortcuts support document.

• Fixed an issue where some actions (including Send Email, Dictate Text, Run Home Scene, and Vibrate Device) may not work when invoked from Siri
• Fixed an issue where the Set Flashlight action caused an error message to appear
• Fixed an issue where the Call action wasn’t able to dial phone numbers with special characters (such as * or #)
• Fixed an issue where entered decimal numbers may not be recognized properly in locales that use a comma as the decimal separator
• Fixed an issue where the selected photo album in the Save to Photo Album action may be reset to “All Photos”
• Fixed an issue where the Toggle Alarm action wouldn’t disable alarms until the “Enable” switch was turned on and back off
• Fixed an issue where the Speak Text action spoke using lower-quality voices

Shortcuts can be downloaded from the App Store for free. [Direct Link]
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Review: LaCie’s New Portable SSD is Pocket-Sized With Up to 2TB Storage and Fast Transfer Speeds

LaCie, Seagate’s premium brand, today announced the launch of the new LaCie Portable SSD, a palm-sized storage device with up to 2TB of storage space.

The new Portable SSD is one of LaCie’s smallest and lightest SSD options, with the 1TB model measuring in at about three and a half inches long and just under three inches wide. It’s pocketable at about 1/4 of an inch thick, and it easily fits into a bag or backpack without taking up much space.

LaCie says this drive is suitable for on-the-go use with drop resistance of up to two meters. We dropped it a few times from a two-meter height onto wood flooring to test LaCie’s claim, and the SSD suffered no harm.

The SSD is made from a black plastic material with a red-rimmed black metal plate at the top that catches the light and looks quite attractive. There’s unobtrusive LaCie branding at the top of the drive and a white LED at the front that comes on when it’s plugged into a computer. The LED is a bit too bright in a dimmer room, but it’s not a dealbreaker.

LaCie offers the Portable SSD drive in 500GB, 1TB, and 2TB capacities, so there are a total of three models at three price points. 500GB of storage costs $125, 1TB of storage costs $270, and 2TB of storage costs $540.

LaCie says that the Portable SSD features USB 3.1 Gen 2 with maximum read/write speeds up to 540/500MB/s, which wasn’t too far off of the speeds that we saw in our testing of the 1TB review unit that LaCie sent for evaluation ahead of the product’s launch.

Using a Blackmagic Disk Speed Test with a 2016 MacBook Pro, read speeds for us maxed out at about 524MB/s, while write speeds maxed out at 485MB/s. We didn’t quite see LaCie’s maximum speeds with the 1TB model, but it was still quick.

Transferring 45GB of photos from the MacBook Pro to the LaCie drive took just about four minutes, and LaCie says that you can transfer one hour of 4K 30fps footage (aka 30GBs) to the drive in about a minute. We didn’t see transfer speeds quite that fast, but on the 1TB model, but it wasn’t far off.

Transfer speeds will, of course, differ based on what other peripherals you might have plugged into your Mac and your Mac’s overall workload. During testing, the Portable SSD stayed cool, getting only the slightest bit warm when transferring a large number of files.

LaCie ships the Portable SSD with both a USB-C to USB-C cable for connecting USB-C accessories to one of Apple’s Macs with a USB-C port and a USB-C to USB-A port to connect it a Mac with a USB-A port, so it’s compatible with both. You won’t get USB 3.1 Gen 2 speeds with a USB-A port though, so be aware of that.

The drive comes formatted in exFAT, so it is compatible with both Mac and Windows machines, but it can be reformatted using the Disk Utility feature in macOS. It comes equipped with a link for registration and to download the LaCie Toolkit software for managing the device.

LaCie’s software is designed to sync files between mirrored folders on your computer and the Portable SSD and it is not required.

LaCie’s drive features a three-year warranty and a three-year Seagate Rescue Data Recovery Plan that offers data recovery should the drive fail.

Bottom Line

If you need ultraportable storage for uploading and saving content while on the go, LaCie’s new Portable SSD is worth checking out thanks to its small size, durability, and fast transfer speeds. It is pricier than some other options that you might find on Amazon, but it does come with a three-year warranty, which is worth taking into account.

How to Buy

The LaCie Portable SSD can be purchased starting this month from third-party resellers like Best Buy, Adorama, B&H Photo, and more. 500GB of storage is available for $125, 1TB of storage is available for $270, and 2TB of storage is available for $540.

Note: LaCie provided MacRumors with a 1TB Portable SSD for the purpose of this review. No other compensation was received.

Tags: LaCie, Seagate
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First iPad Pro, MacBook Air and Mac Mini Orders Begin Arriving to Customers in Australia and New Zealand

Apple customers in Australia and New Zealand are always the first to get their hands on new devices on launch day because of time zone differences, and the Apple’s newest devices are no exception.

It’s morning time in Australia and New Zealand and customers who pre-ordered one a new iPad Pro, MacBook Air, or Mac mini are beginning to receive their shipments and have started sharing arrival news on Twitter, Instagram, and the MacRumors forums.

There are no Apple Stores in New Zealand, so customers in Australia are the first to be able to purchase one of Apple’s new devices from an Apple retail location. Apple should have iPad Pro models available for walk-in purchases along with base models of the MacBook Air and Mac mini.

iPad Pro pre-orders sold out quickly after the new tablet was announced, so how much stock will be available for walk-in purchases is unknown.

Following New Zealand and Australia, iPad Pro, MacBook Air, and Mac mini sales sales will kick off in Asia, Europe, and finally, North America. Apple Stores globally are opening up at their standard times to allow customers to pick up reserved devices and make walk-in purchases.

In the United States, the first new device deliveries and sales will take place on the East Coast starting at 8:00 a.m.

Aside from Apple, other retailers including carriers and big box stores should also be stocking the new devices.

We’ll be sharing first impressions of the new device from actual Apple customers in Australia and New Zealand, so make sure to stay tuned to MacRumors and if you’ve received a new MacBook Air, Mac mini, or iPad Pro, let us know what you think.

Related Roundups: iPad Pro, Mac mini, MacBook AirBuyer’s Guide: 11″ iPad Pro (Buy Now), Mac Mini (Buy Now), MacBook Air (Buy Now), 12.9″ iPad Pro (Buy Now)
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Apple Highlights 2018 MacBook Air and Mac Mini Reviews

Reviews for the new 2018 MacBook Air and Mac mini went live this morning ahead of tomorrow’s launch, and in a press release, Apple this afternoon highlighted reviews from several media sites that were able to spend some time with the new machines.

Apple shared review passages from sites that include CNBC, WIRED, Daring Fireball, PC Mag, Six Colors, Tom’s Guide, and more.

Daring Fireball, for example, called the MacBook Air the MacBook that “most people should buy,” and the Daily Express said “fans of this laptop” will love the new update because “it takes the concept of power and ultimate portability to a whole new level.”

Gear Patrol said the MacBook Air is the “perfect computer” for anyone looking to do “normal things” like web browsing, answering emails, and watching movies, while Refinery29 highlighted the MacBook Air’s 12-hour battery life.

As for the Mac mini, Six Colors said that the new update allows it to fill a wide range of needs, from basic server needs to “high-end applications that require a great deal of processor power.”

Tom’s Guide said that the Mac mini is the best option for those who want a compact Mac desktop for streaming media or getting into Apple computing, and ZDNet said the new version is “designed for all types of users” and is “no longer serving a niche market.”

As with prior reviews roundups for devices like the iPad Pro, Apple has only highlighted the positive elements from each review. For anyone considering a purchase of one of these machines, it’s worth taking a deeper dive into the reviews to get a full picture of both the positives and the negatives.

Apple’s full list of Mac mini and MacBook Air review selections can be seen in the article shared through the Apple Newsroom, while additional reviews can be found in our Mac mini and MacBook Air review roundups.

The new 2018 MacBook Air and Mac mini models officially launch tomorrow and base configurations will be available in Apple retail stores and from third-party retailers.

The first pre-orders for the machines are also set to be delivered on November 7 and have already started arriving in Australia and New Zealand.

Related Roundups: Mac mini, MacBook AirBuyer’s Guide: Mac Mini (Buy Now), MacBook Air (Buy Now)
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LG Display to Supply Apple With 400,000 OLED iPhone Panels By End of Year

Apple has contracted LG Display to begin production of OLED panels for iPhones. According to ETNews, the display panels will be produced at LG’s E6 production line in Paju, with shipping to begin next month.

LG will supply approximately 400,000 OLED panels to Apple before the end of the year, with the cost of each unit expected to be around $90.

In September it was reported that LG’s sixth-generation flexible OLED display panels passed a series of Apple’s quality tests, which led to the preparation phase for mass production.

In April, a report claimed that Samsung would likely remain Apple’s exclusive supplier of OLED display panels for its latest phones, after LG fell behind schedule due to mass production challenges.

However it looks like LG has cemented its position as Apple’s secondary supplier of OLED panels. Korean newspaper Newspin reported about a potential deal signed between Apple and LG back in July.

Apple in September launched the iPhone XS and iPhone XS Max with 5.8-inch and 6.5-inch OLED displays, respectively. Last month it launched the more affordable iPhone XR, but that phone has a 6.1-inch LCD “Liquid Retina” display.

Apple can potentially negotiate lower prices for OLED panels as Samsung and LG compete for its business, which should in turn lower its production costs of OLED-equipped iPhones.

Related Roundup: iPhone XSTags: etnews.co.kr, LG, OLED, LG DisplayBuyer’s Guide: iPhone XS (Buy Now)
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The world’s first foldable smartphone is awesome, and you shouldn’t buy it

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Since Apple launched the iPhone in 2007, smartphones have become more powerful, more stylish, and more feature-packed than ever before — but the overall form-factor has remained the same. The smartphone market is ripe for change, and foldable phones are gearing up to be the next big thing. You don’t have to wait until 2019, though, because a company called Royole has beaten everyone to the punch with the Royole FlexPai.

Is this foldable smartphone ready for consumers? And can a small, unknown company like Royole really take on the likes of Samsung? We had an opportunity to spend some time with the FlexPai, and the answer is a resounding “no,” and “no.” But that doesn’t mean Royole hasn’t delivered something interesting.

Foldable design

The FlexPai is a phone unlike any other, and that’s immediately noticeable when you first lay eyes on it. When folded out the device offers a 7.8-inch display, which sits firmly in “small tablet” territory, with a 1,920 x 1,440 pixel resolution. Folded up, the FlexPai suddenly delivers two displays — one with a 16:9 aspect ratio, and the other with an 18:9 aspect ratio. Royole demonstrated a few use-cases for a device with two displays. For example, when taking a photo of someone, you can show the viewfinder on both the front and the back display, allowing the subject to be able to see themselves while they’re being photographed.

Christian de Looper/Digital Trends

You don’t need to use the second display when it’s folded up. The FlexPai can automatically detect which display you’re using, turning the other one off. In our limited time with it, we found it to work reasonably well, but there were often stutters and skips in the software figuring out which display it should be using.

The screen itself is plastic, not glass, which Royole said can fold 200,000 times until it degrades. That many folds means if you fold it 100 times a day, the screen should have no problem lasting five years before you’ll start seeing significant wear and tear. It’s highly unlikely you’ll be unfolding a phone this many times. Despite having no issues folding the device in and out, we did see some air bubbles under the hinged part of the display, and touch sensitivity was wonky. We were told this is because the phone is a prototype, and these problems shouldn’t be present on the final version. We’re skeptical, but we’ll have to wait and see to find out.

We did see some air bubbles under the hinged part of the display, and touch sensitivity was wonky.

The phone folds up with a hinge, and there’s a gap between the two sides of the phone, which not only makes the device thicker, but it also makes it a little awkward to hold and use. Phone thickness and overall feel is something foldable phone manufacturers will have to address if this is the future of the smartphones, because it’s not comfortable to use the FlexPai.

2018 continues the bezel-less smartphone trend, where the edges around the screen are minimized, but it looks like we may have to go back in time with foldable phones because the FlexPai has chunky bezels. When folded out into a tablet, the bezel is found on top; while in phone mode, it’s on the left side of one of the two displays. In that inch-thick bezel, there are two camera sensors, including one 20-megapixel telephoto lens and one 16-megapixel wide-angle lens.

Clunky software

Perhaps the biggest question mark with the FlexPai is software. Every time we folded or unfolded the phone, the software skipped around a little before settling in on the right mode. It runs a forked version of Android that Royole calls Water OS, and the company said it’s still working on ensuring the software works properly before release. On top of that, it’s also unclear how well third-party apps will work on the FlexPai without special development. When asked, we were told “third-party apps would work on the phone as-is, but apps specially developed will work better.” We’re not confident this phone will be able to run all the usual apps in a well-optimized manner.

Christian de Looper/Digital Trends

Under the hood, the phone comes with either 6GB or 8GB of RAM, and storage options of 128GB, 256GB, or 512GB. According to Royole, the chipset on offer is a Qualcomm “8-series” processor developed with a 7nm process. That’s means the device likely features the next-gen Qualcomm flagship processor that hasn’t even been announced yet. It remains to be seen exactly what that chip will be called, but it will likely bring 5G support.

Conclusions

The Royole FlexPai is an interesting product — likely one of the world’s first foldable phone — but it’s hardly feels like a consumer-ready product. With Samsung set to unveil what will likely be a more polished device in the near future, it’s hard to imagine people walking around with a phone from a brand name no one has heard about in the U.S.. There’s also the cost. Royole said it’s been taking pre-orders in China, at a cost of 8,999 Yuan ($1,300) for the 6GB RAM + 128GB storage model, 9,998 Yuan ($1,445) for the 8GB RAM + 256GB storage model, or 12,999 Yuan ($1,879) for the 8GB RAM + 512GB storage model. Even in an era of $1,000+ smartphones, that’s a lot of cash to pay for a first-gen phone that hasn’t yet proven to work properly or even be truly useful.

Editors’ Recommendations

• Sony Xperia XZ3 vs. Galaxy Note 9: Can Sony topple Samsung’s giant?
• Razer Phone 2 vs. Red Magic Phone vs. Honor Play: Which gaming phone is best?
• Razer Phone 2 vs. Galaxy Note 9: They’re closer than you think
• The fastest-charging phone we’ve ever tested has a Lamborghini badge
• Samsung Galaxy Note 9 vs. Huawei P20 Pro: Two high-end phones clash

LG Display to Supply Apple With 400,000 OLED iPhone Panels By End of Year

Apple has contracted LG Display to begin production of OLED panels for iPhones. According to ETNews, the display panels will be produced at LG’s E6 production line in Paju, with shipping to begin next month.

LG will supply approximately 400,000 OLED panels to Apple before the end of the year, with the cost of each unit expected to be around $90.

In September it was reported that LG’s sixth-generation flexible OLED display panels passed a series of Apple’s quality tests, which led to the preparation phase for mass production.

In April, a report claimed that Samsung would likely remain Apple’s exclusive supplier of OLED display panels for its latest phones, after LG fell behind schedule due to mass production challenges.

However it looks like LG has cemented its position as Apple’s secondary supplier of OLED panels. Korean newspaper Newspin reported about a potential deal signed between Apple and LG back in July.

Apple in September launched the iPhone XS and iPhone XS Max with 5.8-inch and 6.5-inch OLED displays, respectively. Last month it launched the more affordable iPhone XR, but that phone has a 6.1-inch LCD “Liquid Retina” display.

Apple can potentially negotiate lower prices for OLED panels as Samsung and LG compete for its business, which should in turn lower its production costs of OLED-equipped iPhones.

Related Roundup: iPhone XSTags: etnews.co.kr, LG, OLED, LG DisplayBuyer’s Guide: iPhone XS (Buy Now)
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Apple Highlights 2018 MacBook Air and Mac Mini Reviews

Reviews for the new 2018 MacBook Air and Mac mini went live this morning ahead of tomorrow’s launch, and in a press release, Apple this afternoon highlighted reviews from several media sites that were able to spend some time with the new machines.

Apple shared review passages from sites that include CNBC, WIRED, Daring Fireball, PC Mag, Six Colors, Tom’s Guide, and more.

Daring Fireball, for example, called the MacBook Air the MacBook that “most people should buy,” and the Daily Express said “fans of this laptop” will love the new update because “it takes the concept of power and ultimate portability to a whole new level.”

Gear Patrol said the MacBook Air is the “perfect computer” for anyone looking to do “normal things” like web browsing, answering emails, and watching movies, while Refinery29 highlighted the MacBook Air’s 12-hour battery life.

As for the Mac mini, Six Colors said that the new update allows it to fill a wide range of needs, from basic server needs to “high-end applications that require a great deal of processor power.”

Tom’s Guide said that the Mac mini is the best option for those who want a compact Mac desktop for streaming media or getting into Apple computing, and ZDNet said the new version is “designed for all types of users” and is “no longer serving a niche market.”

As with prior reviews roundups for devices like the iPad Pro, Apple has only highlighted the positive elements from each review. For anyone considering a purchase of one of these machines, it’s worth taking a deeper dive into the reviews to get a full picture of both the positives and the negatives.

Apple’s full list of Mac mini and MacBook Air review selections can be seen in the article shared through the Apple Newsroom, while additional reviews can be found in our Mac mini and MacBook Air review roundups.

The new 2018 MacBook Air and Mac mini models officially launch tomorrow and base configurations will be available in Apple retail stores and from third-party retailers.

The first pre-orders for the machines are also set to be delivered on November 7 and have already started arriving in Australia and New Zealand.

Related Roundups: Mac mini, MacBook AirBuyer’s Guide: Mac Mini (Buy Now), MacBook Air (Buy Now)
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How to watch the Samsung Developer Conference 2018 keynote

While the Samsung Developer Conference may not be as consumer-focused as the likes of Apple’s WWDC or Google I/O, this year could be a little different. Rumors have been circulating for months that Samsung could tease its upcoming foldable smartphone, set to be the company’s most innovative release in years. Skepticism certainly abounds surrounding the very concept of the foldable smartphone — but if it does take off, Samsung’s announcement could be the biggest thing to happen to smartphones since the launch of the iPhone in 2007.

Of course, you might be interested in checking out the announcement for yourself — and thankfully, there are a few ways to do so. Here’s everything you need to know about watching the Samsung Developer Conference 2018 keynote at 10 a.m. PT on Wednesday, November 7 (the event continues on Thursday, November 8).

Watch the SDC keynote on YouTube

Perhaps the easiest and most convenient way to watch the Samsung Developer Conference keynote is through YouTube. Samsung is only streaming the keynote the first day of the Samsung Developer Conference, so if you want t0 watch the entire second-day keynote, you’ll need to do it somewhere else. The company is, however, streaming a so-called “Day 2 Spotlight” on YouTube.

Stream Day 1 SDC keynote on YouTube here

Stream Day 2 SDC Spotlight session on YouTube here

Watch the SDC keynote on Facebook

Perhaps you’d prefer to watch the keynote on Facebook. If so, Samsung is streaming the keynotes for both day 1 and day 2 of the developer conference on Facebook. You can check out the streams for the Samsung Developer Conference using the links below.

Stream Day 1 SDC keynote on Facebook here

Stream Day 2 SDC keynote on Facebook here

Watch the SDC keynote on Livestream

Prefer to steer clear from the Facebook and Google overlords? You’re in luck — Samsung is streaming the event on Livestream too. It’s currently unclear if Samsung is streaming the day 1 keynote only or both days on Livestream.

Stream Day 1 SDC keynote on Livestream here

Stay tuned

Whether you tune in to the Samsung Developer Conference keynotes or not, we’ll be covering all the most important announcements — including any information we get about Samsung’s upcoming foldable phone. Keep an eye on this post for any news related to the Samsung foldable phone.

Editors’ Recommendations

• How to watch Samsung’s Galaxy Unpacked August 2018 event
• Samsung Galaxy Watch: Everything you need to know
• Samsung’s going to up its (Galaxy) A game on October 11
• Not to be outdone, Samsung says it’s making a laptop with a foldable display
• Samsung Galaxy S10: Here’s everything we know

It’s time to annoy your friends again with Candy Crush Friends Saga (Review)

Depending on which side of the story you are, Candy Crush is either a franchise you really like, or hate with a passion. People who like it keeps coming back for its huge amount of content, colorful visual style, and addictive nature. People who hate it either doesn’t like the microtransaction aspect of it, are fed up with Facebook invitations to play the game, or can’t stand King as a company.

It really doesn’t matter which side you fall into, Candy Crush Friends Saga will not make you change your mind. Either you will still love them, or you will find that it adds almost nothing new to its past games.

Developer: King
Price: Free

Overview

Have you played previous Candy Crush games? If you have, then this game is basically the same you are already used to, and, as previously said, there is very little new content to be seen compared to other entries in the franchise.

If you haven’t, then the gameplay is massively simple. You get a board full of candies of different colors in random order, and your job is to combine them in a way that lets you complete the goal the game requests of you. The most basic combination consists of three candies, which make them disappear.

However, there are more combinations, like four, five, L-shaped, and square-shaped, that not only makes them disappear, but also yield additional, more powerful candy. These special treats have a big range of effects, such as clearing whole rows, exploding in order to clear neighboring candy, destroying all candies of the same color across the board, and similar.

You also have a certain number of turns to complete the goal. In case you fail to do so, you lose a life. At first, the game is very easy, and there is no need to worry about lives. However, the game becomes more difficult as you progress through it. Because of the randomness of it, some levels might prove more difficult than they should. You can easily struggle to get even close to the goal the game asks on your first playthrough, and then get a lucky order of candies and clear it without issues.

Setup and Tutorial

On the main screen, you will notice two buttons: one says “Play,” and the other says “Save your progress,” accompanied by a Facebook logo. One would think that either you play the game and lose the progress you have made each time you close it, or you have to log in to Facebook in order to save your progress. However, both of these are wrong.

In case you decide to not press the button, you will be able to play just fine. Your progress will be saved without issues. However, if you need to save your progress across devices, then this option is necessary.

On the other hand, if you do press the button, you will see that Facebook is not the only option to log in. There’s also an option for a King account. So Facebook might not be needed at all. Frankly, I didn’t test it because this arrangement does not inspire confidence. After all, one of the two buttons at the first screen you see when launching the game is massively misleading, and says a lot about the tactics that King applies to its games.

Anyways, the game teaches you the basics across several different levels. It actually does a pretty good job at it. Sure, the mechanics are easy, but there are several things you should remember around the combinations that you can make in order to get more powerful candy. Even if you don’t remember them all at first, the game highlights which movement is best in order to get the most powerful combination available on the board.

Candy Crushing

In order to keep things more interesting compared to the regular Candy Crush Saga, developer King has added several different goals for completing a game in Friends. While the original one mostly depended on getting to a certain score or clearing a certain amount of blocks, Friends mostly asks you to “free” animals which are hidden behind candy or trapped inside them. In order to do so, you need to combine candy contiguous to these blocks.

However, some of them have several layers, making it more complicated than it sounds. Even though sometimes it would seem better to go for another combination that would yield powerful candy, sometimes you have to prefer combining a smaller amount of candy in order to reach the goal.

Just as with other games, you have a set amount of lives, and failing to complete the goal means game over for you. Run out of lives, though, and it means you cannot play the game anymore. If you have played other Candy Crush games before, then you know the drill. The easiest way of getting more lives is to ask your friends to send you some. This kind of spam on Facebook is one of the reasons Candy Crush is such a polarizing game. Either you are addicted enough that you don’t care about the spam in order to get lives, or you cannot stand how intrusive this practice is.

With a little help from my friends

For this game, King has added a big differentiating factor, and that is the inclusion of Friends. These are characters that are there to help you complete a level. There are a lot of characters you can collect, all with different abilities.

For example, early characters transform regular candy into more useful candy, while others deal additional damage to blocks that are harder to break. The general objective of them is to make the game easier for you. They can also wear different outfits, all of which you get playing through the game.

For some reason, there are some levels in which you cannot use some characters. Also, the game “recommends” you to use one character depending on the level, although for sure you could clear the level using whichever character you wanted.

Microtransactions

As this game is completely free to download, King then makes money through microtransactions. The game’s primary currency is gold bars, which lets you buy additional lives and items to use in the games. You can also use them to buy additional turns in case you run out of them but feel like you are very close to the goal.

Candy Crush Friends Saga also offers some packs in which you are supposed to get more of your money’s worth. With these, you don’t only get bars but additional items to make the game easier. These can be as cheap as $4 or as expensive as $260.

Compared to other games that employ this freemium model, I find Candy Crush Friend’s microtransactions to be massively expensive. For example, getting all lives back costs 9 gold bars, while buying 12 bars (because of course they don’t sell 9 only) costs $4. If you are impatient and want to play right away, that’s $3 you would have to put down to play again. You can also wait until the lives regenerate (which takes time), or you can spam your friends.

I have also noticed that ads get worse and worse the more you progress, and I know for sure that ads can get very annoying on later levels of the regular Candy Crush Saga. Knowing King, I would expect it to be the same for Friends.

Graphics and sound

Candy Crush games have a visual style that has been associated to the game since its beginnings. Friends is no different, sporting the same colorful design with very saturated colors. Everything, especially candies, seem to pop out of the screen. The visual effects are very flashy, using a lot of bright animations.

For this offering, the friend you use to complete the level appears at the beginning performing some kind of animation. Also, it appears dancing at the end while something called Sugar Crush happens (basically getting additional points at random for free). Frankly, neither does anything for the game, even becoming annoying as you complete more levels and have to sit through the same animations every single time you play a level. At least, it closely adheres to the extravagant nature of this game.

Music and sound effects are also what you would expect from the franchise. Each visual effect has its corresponding sound effect to go with it, and there is not a single interaction that doesn’t have a sound built in. Unlike the previously mentioned character animations, the sound part of the game does not get old as quickly, and, if you do get fed up, you can turn them off in the settings.

It is important to note that even in my Samsung Galaxy S8, the performance was not what I would expect. There were plenty of dropped frames and overall sluggishness. It wasn’t that bad, but I am using a more than respectable phone that hasn’t struggled with almost anything I’ve thrown at it. That makes me worry about the performance of it on middle and low-range devices.

Conclusion

Candy Crush Friends Saga builds on the solid foundations of its predecessors and offers a game with the same mechanics, gameplay, art style, and practices. It does add new elements in the form of Friends, but, other than that, this is another Candy Crush game that does little for the franchise and the genre in general in terms of originality. Think about it like the annual titles that EA does for FIFA and Madden. There are a couple of new things, but the game is vastly unchanged from previous offerings.

Nevertheless, the amount of content is huge, as with these games in general. If you like the previous games and want more, then this is a no-brainer, since it provides the same content that you already love. If you are looking for something different to the other games in the franchise, then sadly you will have to keep waiting and look elsewhere.

Download and install Candy Crush Friends Saga from the Google Play Store.