Table Tennis Touch is a top-notch sports sim game and our game of the week!

Table Tennis Touch

While most gamers are going gaga over Rockstar’s latest and greatest game, Red Dead Redemption 2, I’ve been over here reminiscing about another ambitious Rockstar game from over 10 years ago that has been mostly forgotten about — Table Tennis.

Rockstar’s top-notch table tennis simulation game was front of mind as I checked out Table Tennis Touch this week. Featuring photo-realistic graphics, fantastic overall presentation, and a stellar use of swipe control gameplay, Table Tennis Touch is quite possibly the best sports game for Android in 2018. Don’t believe it? Keep reading.

Having played more Android sports games than any healthy person should, I can tell you that far too many games released these days are instantly bogged down by clunky controls, annoying menus, and card collecting metagame mechanics that slow down your ability to just play the dang game. This is not the case with Table Tennis Touch, which is free-to-play with ads and non-intrusive in-app purchases (you’re able to buy “boosts” which give you a bit of extra power in your shots, but it’s nothing game-breaking).

Featuring photo-realistic graphics and stellar use of swipe-controlled gameplay, Table Tennis Touch is quite possibly the best sports game for Android in 2018.

Table Tennis Touch features four game modes which you can jump into right off the hop — quick game, career, multiplayer, and arcade. With a quick game, you can test your skills against AI opponents that range from beginner level to a world elite player. You’ll also get to preview the nine different venues available for play, which are appropriately low key, ranging from a garage to a more competitive tournament setting. Arcade mode offers a good changeup for gameplay, offering a total of 12 table tennis mini-games that are unlocked as you progress through the career mode.

That essentially makes career mode the main focus of the game. Fortunately, it’s not limited by recharging energy points or loot boxes for rewards, credits, or any of that noise. Career mode offers a mix of single matches, tournaments, and arcade challenges that are unlocked via your career reputation earned completing earlier challenges. It’s a pretty linear path from the club stages through the national level through to international competitions, but the AI skill and challenges get trickier as you go.

Finally, there’s multiplayer mode which lets you play over your LAN Wi-Fi with friends playing on iOS or Android. There’s no online play, but with the quick reaction times needed to play that’s pretty understandable.

Ultimately, it all comes down to whether the game itself is fun to play, and it really is. The touch controls are quick and responsive whether you keep your finger on the screen or swipe at the ball. You’re able to intuitively apply a curve to your shots and after lengthy rallies, you’ll get a nice pop from the virtual crowd which is so satisfying. Definitely worth checking out if you’re looking for a fast-paced sports game to play in your spare time.

Download: Table Tennis Touch (Free w/Ads, IAPs)

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Samsung expected to open Bixby to developers for Alexa-like skills

We’ll also learn more about the foldable Galaxy X next week.

Next week, Samsung’s hosting a developer conference in San Franciso where Bixby will be a big focus. The company previously said that the developer conference is where we’d learn more about the Galaxy Home that was first announced in August, and now according to a report from The Wall Street Journal, Samsung will also use the conference to make a big change to Bixby — make it open to developers.

Per WSJ:

At an event in San Francisco next week, Samsung will fully open its virtual assistant, called Bixby, to third-party developers for the first time. It is looking for help in bolstering its challenge to the industry’s big three players: Amazon.com Inc.’s Alexa, Apple Inc.’s Siri and Alphabet Inc.’s Google Assistant.

Furthermore, Samsung will announce “capsules” for Bixby that’ll essentially act like Alexa’s Skills.

Samsung will outline how developers can create functions, which it calls “capsules,” that are akin to the “skills” that Amazon’s Alexa assistant has, such as ordering pizza or hailing taxis with a voice command, according to people familiar with the matter.

In addition to the Bixby announcements, The Wall Street Journal goes on to say that Samsung will reveal more details about its upcoming foldable phone (the Galaxy X). The Galaxy X will supposedly allow users to run three apps at once and is being optimized for content on YouTube and Netflix.

Samsung’s developer conference is scheduled to take place on November 7 and 8.

Bixby’s reputation is tarnished beyond repair

Celebrate Alexa’s birthday with discounts on Echo, an Acer laptop, and more

Save big on tons of Alexa-enabled hardware for a limited time!

Amazon is celebrating Alexa’s fourth birthday in typical Amazon fashion, and is offering some big discounts on a wide variety of products that utilize the assistant’s services. From the Echo Dot to Anker’s Roav Viva smart car charger, smart plug 2-packs, and even laptops with Alexa built-in, there’s a bunch of great devices here at awesome prices. Beyond discounts on individual pieces of hardware, there are a few bundles that help you save even more that are worth checking out.

The second-gen Echo Dot is down to $30 each right now, but if you buy four of them at the same time you can get that price down to just $25 each, for a total of $100. You can grab the newer Echo Dot for $50 by itself, or pair it with a set of four Tile trackers for the same price, which is a $50 savings. If you buy two of the new Echo Dots you can save $20, and buying three of them ups the savings to $33.

Bundle the latest Echo Dot with a Harmony Hub to save $50, making your purchase only $100, or opt for the 2nd-gen Echo Dot and original Fire TV Stick for $70, which is $10 off.

Some of the other deals include a free Echo Input with purchase of Marshall’s Woburn II Bluetooth speaker, B&O’s Beoplay A1 Natural, or Anker’s SoundCore Sport XL. Anker’s Roav Viva smart car charger is down to $39.99, Acer’s Alexa-enabled laptop drops from $900 to $760, and the First Alert Onelink Safe & Sound hits $199, a savings of $51.

There are a bunch of other great discounts available as well that are worth considering. Be sure to check out the whole sale and get your order in before it ends. If you have existing Amazon hardware laying around that you don’t use and want to upgrade, Amazon has a great trade-in offer running that can score you up to 25% off the already-discounted new hardware, plus an Amazon Gift Card on top.

See at Amazon

These are the best Galaxy S9 cases!

The Samsung Galaxy S9 is another outstanding device and a popular option for those upgrading in 2018. With its sleek all-glass design, you’re probably going to want to keep it protected with a quality case. Luckily, there are a ton of options out there to fit your protection needs and personal tastes. Here are some of our favorites.

Samsung’s best folio

Samsung S-View Cover

The S-View case is a folio-style flip case that features a clear cover for the screen, so it’s protected from scratches while also letting you see notifications and accept calls with a swipe. It can also be folded up as a hands-free stand.

$26 at Amazon

That nylon finish tho

Samsung Hyperknit Cover

Made of woven nylon, this case looks brilliant in red with a nice, soft finish. With extra protection in the corner and clean cutouts around the camera and fingerprint sensor on the back, you’ll love the functional and stylish design on display here.

$13 at Amazon

Samsung’s most stylish

Samsung Alcantara Cover

Made of Alcantara, a lightweight material that’s rugged and durable while keeping a slim form factor, you’ll get a stylish and grippy case that won’t add much bulk to the phone. This is a great price for a premium Samsung case!

$20 at Amazon

Sleek and rugged

Spigen Rugged Armor case

Spigen makes some outstanding smartphone accessories, and the Rugged Armor style is always a popular offering. This case features a slim one-piece case made of flexible TPU that helps to absorb impacts with little pockets of air in the corners to help protect your phone when dropped.

$12 at Retailer

Most minimalist option

RhinoShield CrashGuard bumper

This is a really well-designed bumper that’s rugged and shock absorbing in the corners and along phone’s edges — exactly where you need it most. It’s quick and easy to install and lets you still fully show off the design of your phone.

$25 at Amazon

For OtterBox fans

OtterBox Commuter Series

We recommend the Commuter series case, which is a pocket-friendly case that still delivers the rugged protection you’ve come to expect from Otterbox. It’s got one big cutout on the back for the camera and fingerprint sensor and includes port covers to keep dirt out.

$19 at Amazon

For the outdoor enthusiasts

Lifeproof SLAM case

Lifeproof says this case can survive drops from up to 2 meters (6.5 ft) thanks to the reinforced bumpers. It’s also got a rugged backplate that’s clear to show off the phone’s design and also compatible with wireless charging. While it’s not quite as Lifeproof as you’d expect, it’s also not as expensive as other Lifeproof cases at only $50. Plus, it looks pretty cool with the black and neon green, don’t you think?

$50 at Lifeproof

Slim fit and low price

Maxboost mSnap Perfect Fit

The mSnap case has cutouts on the corners just to be able to slide over the phone — and even that takes some force to get it on and off. It just shows you how strong this case is. Once you do get it on, your phone’s protected — there’s even a good little lip around the front so you can put the GS9 face-down on a table without scratching it. The case has a soft-touch coating that gives it just enough grip to hold comfortably but not so much that it snags on pockets.

$5 at Amazon

Simple, stylish design

Speck Presidio

Speck has a full line of cases available for the Galaxy S9, but we’ll focus on the Presidio case here because it’s a great place to start. It’s got a simple design with smart features where it counts like double protection in the corners and a slim profile that’s compatible with wireless charging. It’s been drop tested up to 10 feet and the matte finish is scratch resistant, so it shouldn’t show wear.

$25 at Amazon

Keep it Clear

BodyGuardz Ace Fly clear case

Looking to show off your Galaxy S9 without leaving it prone to drop damage? BodyGuardz offers a clear case it says is built using the same impact gel used in padding and helmet technology for athletes. BodyGuardz backs its products with a lifetime warranty and you have a 30-day money back guarantee so if you don’t love it you can simply return it.

$35 at Amazon

Make it Shine

Spigen Liquid Crystal clear case

Looking for a clear case option under $20? Spigen’s got you covered there, too. Just like Spigen’s Rugged Armor case, the Liquid Crystal is slim and pocket-friendly. Made of flexible TPU, it’s easy to slip on and will provide quality protection while still letting you show off your phone’s design.

$10 at Amazon

Super Slim

VRS Design Clear Slim case

These clear cases from VRS Design basically offer it all. It’s a clear case that shows off the body of the Galaxy S9 with a shockproof bumper available in the exact color to match your device. Better still, these cases are thin enough to be fully compatible with wireless charging. Make sure you get the right color for your phone to complete the look.

$14 at Retailer

Dual-layer protection

Caseology Legion Series case

Check out the rugged Legion series case from Caseology. It features a layer of flexible a shock-absorbing TPU with an outer layer of polycarbonate. You’re protected from hard bumps and scratches, as well as shocks and drops. All the buttons are covered, but the coverings provide great tactile feedback, and your ports are completely accessible. You have your choice of black, violet, burgundy, or midnight blue, which all look stylish and fun.

$16 at Retailer

Fan Favorite

Ringke Fusion Clear Case

The best way to protect your phone from drop damage is to not drop your phone. The latest Fusion clear case from Ringke includes a handy wrist strap built into the case. Whether or not you want to use the wrist strap is up to you, but it’s a thoughtful addition to a consistently stellar case style.

$11 at Amazon

Old standby

SUPCASE Unicorn Beetle Series case

The Unicorn Beetle case is one of those phone cases that people buy with every new device. It’s got that classic rugged design with ridges to help with grip and it includes a built-in screen protector to keep your S9 in pristine condition. Port plugs keep dust and pocket lint out of your charging port and headphone jack, and it also comes with an optional belt-clip holster.

$13 at Amazon

Skin It to Win It

dbrand Skins

Dbrand Skins are a consistently popular option for phone enthusiasts who want to customize the look of their phone without adding any bulk. They, of course, offer an awesome level of customization for creating a skin for your Galaxy S9. You can pick between nine different texture styles for the back, the minimal bezels on the top and bottom of the display, and even around the camera sensor! You can mix and match and create your dream skin.

Starting at $12 at dbrand

The Samsung Galaxy S9 is a fantastic device that should last you for many years if you keep it in good condition. While we’ve given you a ton of options here to choose from, if I had to pick one I would have to recommend the Spigen Rugged Armor case ($12) that delivers solid protection in a slim form factor at a great price.

The Samsung Chromebook Plus V2 with LTE is now available for purchase

The new version is on sale now for $599.

This past June, Samsung released an upgraded version of its excellent Chromebook Plus in the form of the Chromebook Plus V2. As of November 2, you can purchase a version of the V2 that’s outfitted with LTE.

With that LTE connectivity, you can send emails, access Twitter, play online games and more without having to worry about whether or not you’re near a Wi-Fi network. You’ll need to pay an additional monthly fee with your carrier for that privilege, but if you’re constantly on the go, this is a welcome upgrade.

Everything else about the Chromebook V2 remains the same, including its Intel Celeron processor, 4GB RAM, Intel HD Graphics, and 32GB of internal storage that can be expanded up to 400GB.

If you’re interested, the Samsung Chromebook Plus V2 (LTE) is available for purchase starting today at Samsung.com, Best Buy, and Verizon for a starting price of $599.99 ($100 more than the Wi-Fi only model).

See at Best Buy

Updated November 2, 2018: Updated this article to reflect the Chromebook V2 with LTE being on sale.

Conquer Christmas with the $209 KitchenAid Professional 6-quart Stand Mixer

Have some help.

Amazon has the KitchenAid Professional 6-quart Bowl-Lift Stand Mixer in Empire Red on sale for $209.00. This usually sells for more than $300, and the reviews are fantastic.

There’s a reason why everyone you know has a stand mixer. They’re awesome. Whether you’re baking, making pasta, mixing up huge batches, or you just want special touches like homemade whipped cream without the 40 minutes of hand-whisking, a KitchenAid can help you out. It makes classroom-sized cookie batches a goal you can reach, since the capacity can mix enough dough for 13 dozen cookies. The mixing action makes your ingredients incorporate thoroughly, and the bowl-lift design is capable of handling whatever you throw at it.

You’ll get a spiral dough hook, flat beater, and wire whip attachment. Don’t let the party stop there, though. There are about a gajillion attachments to take your new stand mixer to the next level.

See at Amazon

iPad Remained World’s Most Popular Tablet Last Quarter While Huawei Topped Apple in Smartphones Again

Apple continued to lead the tablet market in the third quarter of 2018, with the iPad achieving “nearly double the shipments of its nearest competitor,” according to data shared by research firm IDC today.

Apple on Thursday reported sales of 9.7 million iPads last quarter, giving it an estimated 26.6 percent share of the worldwide tablet market during the July-September period, according to IDC. Samsung finished runner-up with an estimated 5.3 million tablet shipments and 14.6 percent market share.

The worldwide tablet market declined 8.6 percent during the quarter, as global shipments fell to 36.4 million, according to IDC. Apple was not immune to the market contraction, as iPad revenue declined 15 percent last quarter on a year-over-year basis, according to the company’s earnings report on Thursday.

Top Five Tablet Vendors, Worldwide Shipments in Millions, via IDC
Nevertheless, IDC believes the new iPad Pro with Face ID bodes well for Apple’s sales through the holiday shopping season:

The refreshed $329 iPad with Pencil support that launched in late March continued to drive volume although it was unable to maintain the same momentum from the third quarter of 2017 as that was the first time in a while that Apple had released a lower cost iPad. iPad Pro saw year-on-year declines in anticipation of a refresh at the beginning of the fourth quarter, which bodes well for Apple through the end of the year.

iPad has remained the world’s most popular tablet for several years, even as the market has declined. IDC senior research analyst Jitesh Ubrani believes Apple’s continued focus on innovation and marketing has helped the company set itself apart from smaller rivals such as Microsoft, Amazon, and Huawei.

Notably, Microsoft did not crack the list of the top five tablet vendors based on shipments last quarter, according to IDC’s data. An all-new Surface Pro launched in October, but that was after the quarter ended.

IDC also shared smartphone data for the third quarter today. Apple reported sales of 46.9 million iPhones last quarter for an estimated 13.2 percent market share, finishing behind Samsung and Huawei, which had estimated market shares of 20.3 percent and 14.6 percent respectively last quarter.

Top Five Smartphone Vendors, Worldwide Shipments in Millions, via IDC
Apple is typically the world’s second largest smartphone maker, behind Samsung, but Huawei bumped it down to third for the second consecutive quarter. Nevertheless, IDC believes Apple could jump to first place next quarter thanks to anticipated holiday sales of the iPhone XS, iPhone XS Max, and iPhone XR.

Like the tablet market, the worldwide smartphone market also declined to the tune of six percent last quarter, according to IDC.

Tag: IDC
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Spotify is Coming to Apple Watch With Beta App Available Now

Spotify is officially coming to Apple Watch, as the streaming music service today delighted users with an early beta version of the watchOS app through TestFlight. There is no timeframe for a public release yet.

A few Reddit users participating in Spotify’s public beta testing program have shared screenshots of the app’s icon, playback controls, and recently played list with a toggle for shuffle mode.

According to one Reddit user, offline downloads are currently not supported, but the feature could be added later of course. The user also says the app has yet to be optimized for 40mm and 44mm sized Apple Watch Series 4 models, but it should work on all App

An official Spotify for Apple Watch has been long awaited, especially after third-party app Spotty was discontinued.

Related Roundups: Apple Watch, watchOS 5Tag: SpotifyBuyer’s Guide: Apple Watch (Buy Now)
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Apple News Gaining Dedicated ‘Election Night’ Tab With Real-Time Results

Apple will replace the existing “2018 Midterm Elections” channel in Apple News on November 6 with a new “Election Night” section, providing readers with real-time results of Election Day 2018 (via TechCrunch). The change will happen at 8:00 p.m. ET on November 6 and showcase live results, updates on key races, the latest developments, and more.

To ensure that readers can quickly keep tabs on results, Apple will also replace the central “Digest” tab in Apple News with the Election Night section. Apple is partnering with the Associated Press for the update, using its real-time election results to create dynamic infographics and a complete list of federal election results in every state, as well as House and Senate seats.

The AP’s data will allow Apple News to send out special alerts at the top of the Election Night feed — or as a push notification if users choose — to note if the balance of power in either the House or Senate has changed. All of these infographics and results data will automatically update every minute, and there will still be a manual page refresh option to force an immediate update.

Readers can expect the usual news coverage and live video feeds from existing Apple News partners as well:

Another section will focus on the latest developments – meaning breaking news headlines and stories related to election night coverage. This will feature news from a variety of sources including Axios, Politico, The Washington Post, Fox News, CNN, The New York Times, CBS, and others.

CBS News, CNN, and Fox News will also contribute video clips to the Election Night hub, while ABC will offer a live video feed. Another live video feed from NBC News will appear in a widget alongside the Live Results infographic.

Apple says that having a wide range of various news sources was necessary to ensure that all voters were informed about the election, no matter their political leaning. The company also notes that all of the Election Night coverage is not being driven by algorithms, and the November 6 update will see an “all-hands-on-deck” situation for the Apple News team.

This preference for human curation was recently highlighted in a report by The New York Times, which talked with Apple News editor in chief Lauren Kern about how her team approaches daily news curation for Apple. The company’s decision to lean more heavily on human-led news selection instead of algorithms is the opposite strategy of rivals like Google News and Facebook, and Kern argues that Apple’s way is “really the only legitimate way to do it at this point.”

Note: Due to the political nature of the discussion regarding this topic, the discussion thread is located in our Politics, Religion, Social Issues forum. All forum members and site visitors are welcome to read and follow the thread, but posting is limited to forum members with at least 100 posts.

Tag: Apple News
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“Vouwbare Samsung Galaxy F krijgt naast 7,3 inch display toch 2e scherm”

Er lijkt meer bekend te zijn geworden over Samsung’s vouwbare telefoon. De Galaxy F lijkt inderdaad in geopende toestand een 7,3 inch scherm te krijgen. Daarmee valt het in dezelfde categorie als een kleine tablet. In gesloten toestand zou aan de buitenkant nog altijd een 4,6 inch scherm te gebruiken zijn. Beiden zouden van het type OLED zijn.

In onze eerdere render gingen we er vanuit dat het toestel van slechts één display gebruik zou maken; een 7,3 inch groot OLED exemplaar. Deze zou niet helemaal in het midden gevouwen worden zodat altijd nog een gedeelte zichtbaar zou zijn. Handig voor notificaties, de tijd of het weerbericht. Ten tijde van het maken van onze render gingen er al geruchten over een 2e secundaire scherm maar wij hebben dat toen op deze manier geïnterpreteerd.

Ook scherm aan buitenkant Samsung Galaxy F

Nu zwellen de geruchten over een 2e scherm opnieuw aan. We horen zelfs al een schermformaat; 4,6 inch. Daarmee zou het toestel in gesloten toestand bruikbaarder moeten zijn al neemt hierdoor wel de dikte en het energieverbruik toe. Samsung zou in november willen beginnen met de productie van beide schermen waarna rustig begonnen kan worden met de productie van de Galaxy F. Door de verwachte hoge prijs en complexiteit tijdens de fabricage wordt niet gerekend op hoge productieaantallen.

Ontvang een e-mail wanneer de Galaxy F verkrijgbaar is

E-mail

Aanpassingen Android

De bron van het verhaal bevestigt onze interpretatie van het scharnier-mechanisme. Deze laat namelijk een kleine opening bij de vouw zodat het scherm niet beschadigt. Hierdoor zal het toestel in gesloten toestand wel dikker zijn dan traditionele smartphones. Grootste uitdaging blijft de interface. Android houdt momenteel geen rekening met een dergelijke vormgeving. Samsung zou naar verluidt nauw samenwerken met Google voor de nodige aanpassingen. Een glimp op de vernieuwde interface krijgen we mogelijk 7 november te zien tijdens het Samsung Developer Conference. Dat vindt plaats in San Francisco, niet geheel toevallig om de hoek bij het hoofdkantoor van Google.