Nokia 7.1 hands-on: A $350 success story

It won’t make headlines, but this phone ticks all the right boxes.

The Nokia 7.1 isn’t going to steal any headlines but it represents a significant upgrade over its predecessor and could be a smash hit. Replacing the Nokia 7, it borrows several clues from the more-premium Nokia 7 Plus, and at $349, it could be a smash-hit stateside.

Aiming to provide competition for devices like the Honor 10, it has everything you’d expect in a mid-range smartphone. Excellent design, smooth performance and the best of Google, including fast updates thanks to Android One, no bloatware, and a streamlined experience — basically, everything we’ve come to expect from the new-and-improved Nokia.

The die-cast metal core and aluminum frame feels great in the hand, and the anodized metal finish looks stunning. Nokia tells us the design has been inspired by aspects of jewelry design, and this is apparent in the Gloss Steel version.

The hint of copper trim around the edges provides a subtle beauty, and it really feels like the Nokia 7.1 has been designed to accessorize with whichever outfit you’re wearing.

Great design, smooth performance and the best of Google — Nokia in a nutshell.

The 5.84-inch FHD+ 19:9 display is packed inside a compact body that belies the size of the screen, with 2.5D curved glass on top and rounded corners adding to the ergonomic feel. The display brings full HDR10 support, and promises to offer better a more immersive experience thanks to SDR to HDR real-time upscaling throughout the phone.

The rear fingerprint sensor is each to reach, fast, and sits beneath the dual camera setup. The main camera is a respectable 12MP f/1.8 combo, while the second camera is used to capture depth for portrait mode shots.

The updated bothie mode now lets you adjust the split between the front and rear cameras (right).

Nokia says the 7.1 is designed with storytellers in mind, and there’s a few new camera experiences to help you broadcast to your heart’s desire. You can now control the amount of bokeh in a picture using a helpful slider, and the viewfinder updates in real-time.

The single front 8MP camera comes with a new AI assisted portrait mode — we weren’t able to test it, but I wouldn’t expect excellent results here. Nokia has also added the Pro Camera, allowing you to fiddle with advanced settings when taking an image — and updated its dual capture “Bothie” mode to offer additional customization over your live streams. You can now add Snapchat-like filters and masks, and adjust the split between front and rear cameras – unlike the 50:50 split it is on other Nokia phones.

The Nokia 7.1 has a clean Android One take on Oreo, which should be lightening fast with the Snapdragon 636 processor. In the U.S., you’ll get 4GB of RAM and 64GB of storage while some markets will get a cheaper model with 3GB of RAM and 32GB of storage. The 3080mAh battery is on par with other devices at this price point and should power you through a full day.

Looking at everything it offers, the Nokia 7.1 offers a compelling mid-range experience at an attractive price point. It’ll be available at Amazon, Best Buy and B&H starting at $349, with pre-sales launching on October 5, and the phone available on October 28.

The widespread availability — crucially, including in-store at Best Buy from early next month — should put this phone front and center in front of prospective buyers and it has a real chance of being a success for Nokia stateside.

See at Amazon

Nokia 7.1 specs: 5.84-inch display, HDR upscaling, Android One

Here’s everything you can expect.

The Nokia 7.1 brings a vastly improved package from the Nokia 7 late last year, and offers a compelling mid-range package at an affordable price. It comes with a larger display, slightly bigger battery, some key spec changes and bokeh capture in the front and rear cameras.

Here’s everything you’ll find inside the Nokia 7.1.

Operating system	Android One (Oreo)
Display	5.84-inch LCD, 2160×1090 (19:9)HDR10Real-time SDR to HDR upscaling
Processor	Qualcomm Snapdragon 636
RAM	3GB / 4GB (U.S.)
Storage	32GB / 64GB
Expandable	Yes, MicroSD up to 400GB
Rear camera 1	12MP, 1.28-micron, f/1.8, dual PDAF
Rear camera 2	5MP, f/2.4, 1.12-micron
Front camera 1	8MP, f/2.0, 84° field of view
Connectivity	USB-CBluetooth 5.0NFCLTE Cat. 6 (300Mbps DL/50Mbps UL)802.11n/ac
Audio	Nokia OZO audio3.5mm headphone jack
Battery	3060mAhNon-removable
Charging	Fast wireless charging
Security	One-touch fingerprint sensor
Dimensions	TBC
SIM card	Dual nano SIM or nano SIM + MicroSD
Colors	Gloss Midnight BlueGloss Steel

This is everything you need to know about the Nokia 7.1

This could be the mid-range phone to get this year.

Just in time for the big holiday shopping season, Nokia’s making a return to the United States with its latest smartphone — the Nokia 7.1. The Nokia 7.1 is a mid-range handset running Android One that offers a wide array of specs, features, and more at an extremely competitive price.

Is this a phone that deserves a spot on your shortlist this year? Here’s what you need to know.

Check out our hands-on coverage

We need to spend a bit more time with the Nokia 7.1 before we give it our full and final review, but in the meantime, do check out Nirave’s initial hands-on impressions.

The Nokia 7.1 is already looking great thanks to a well-constructed design, promising cameras, and a gorgeous display.

Get the full scoop here 👇

Nokia 7.1 hands-on: A $350 success story

Get familiar with all the specs

To meet such a competitive price, Nokia couldn’t outfit the 7.1 with the latest and greatest specifications around. Some corners had to be cut, but even so, we’re still looking at a pretty respectable spec sheet.

Some of the highlights here include a Snapdragon 636 processor, 4GB RAM, 32 or 64GB of expandable storage, dual rear cameras, and a 3,060 mAh battery.

Nokia 7.1 specifications: 5.84-inch display, HDR upscaling, Android One

It’s running Android One

All of Nokia’s phones going forward are powered by either Android Go or Android One, so it shouldn’t be much of a surprise that the Nokia 7.1 falls into the latter program. However, even if it isn’t surprising, it’s still darn exciting.

Android One means that the Nokia 7.1 has an extremely clean software experience that looks very close to what you’d find on a Google Pixel phone. There are a few custom software tweaks, such as Nokia’s own camera app, but this is still a stock Android experience through and through.

The Nokia 7.1 is currently based on Android Oreo, but we should hopefully see an update to Android 9 Pie in the not too distant future.

The display is impressive for this price

Smartphones in the $300 – $400 price range usually don’t have the best displays, but this is one area in which the Nokia 7.1 doesn’t disappoint.

On the front of the phone is a large 5.84-inch LCD panel with a resolution of 2160 x 1090. The aspect ratio is tall and narrow at 19:9, and since this is 2018, there is a notch at the top.

That’s all fine and dandy on its own, but Nokia kicks things up a notch (pun definitely intended) by integrating full HDR10 support and real-time SDR to HDR upscaling throughout the entire UI to give you an extremely rich and vibrant screen no matter what you’re looking at.

Here’s when and where you can buy it

If you’re interested in picking up the Nokia 7.1 for yourself, pre-orders go live at Amazon, Best Buy, and B&H starting Friday, October 5 with shipments scheduled to go out on October 28. In addition to online sales, the Nokia 7.1 will also be available in-stores at Best Buy locations beginning November 4.

The Nokia 7.1 costs $349, and to keep it protected after the fact, Nokia’s also selling an official clear case and flip cover that’ll run you $10 and $20, respectively.

See at Amazon

The best sweat-resistant Bose headphones for working out

We’re a virtual company made up of tech experts from across the globe. An Android phone is only as good as the headphones you have to accompany it, so let us help you find the best way to jam out to your favorite tunes.

The Bose SoundSport Wireless headphones feature a winning combination of amazing sound and great battery life. The IPX4 rating means they’re protected against sweat and water, and while the $149 price isn’t cheap, you really do get what you pay for.

Our pick

Bose SoundSport Wireless

• $149 at Amazon
• $150 at Best Buy

Amazing sound to keep the blood pumping.

Bose’s expertise in sound quality shines through with the SoundSport Wireless. In addition to a wonderfully balanced soundstage, you also get six hours of battery per charge and IPX4 water plus sweat resistance.

Who should buy the SoundSport Wireless?

Anybody that wants some of the best sound quality they can find in a pair of workout headphones should check these out. The SoundSport Wirelsss bring the best of Bose’s audio expertise to a form factor that’s suitable for the gym, and while they aren’t cheap, they’re still not quite as expensive as some of the company’s other offerings.

Is it a good time to buy?

Probably. The SoundSport Wirelss were originally launched back in 2016, but even so, continue to be some of the best wireless workout earbuds on the market.

Reasons to buy

• Stupendous sound quality
• Water and sweat resistant
• NFC + Bluetooth pairing
• Up to six hours of battery per charge

Reasons not to buy

• Expensive 💰

This is Bose’s most complete, well-rounded pair of workout headphones

Bose is one of the oldest and most-well audio brands in the world, and while its headphones are usually focused on non-gym environments, the company’s SoundSport lineup has steadily become one of the best names for workout-focused offerings.

The SoundSport Wireless offer some of the best sound you can find in a pair of workout headphones.

The SoundSport Wireless isn’t the newest entry in the SoundSport family, but it’s one of the best. Without a doubt, one of the biggest reasons you should consider picking up these earbuds is for their sound. The bass is powerful, mids are clear, and everything just sounds so darn good no matter what you’re listening to.

Battery life is another important factor when it comes to workout headphones, and with the SoundSport Wireless, this is another area they excel at. The up to six hours of use in between charges might not be as legendary as what you’d find on the Jaybird X4, but it’s still more than enough for runs, walks, and gym sessions.

There’s an IPX4 rating to keep the earbuds protected against both water and sweat, and thanks to the superb StayHere+ Sport tips, the SoundSport Wireless always feel secure and steady in your ear no matter how hard your blood is pumping.

Add that all together with support for the Bose Connect companion app, Bluetooth + NFC pairing, and inline controls for music/calls, and you end up with one insane package.

Alternatives to the SoundSport Wireless

If you like what you see with the SoundSport Wireless but have a bit more cash to spend and want something that’s even more advanced, there are a couple other options worth checking out.

Completely wire-free

Bose SoundSport Free

Expensive, truly wire-free buds.

$199 at Amazon

The SoundSport Free offer the same great Bose sound, up to five hours of playback, an extra 10 hours of use with the charging case, and includes a “Find My Buds” feature in case you misplace one (or both).

This is Bose’s first shot at completely wireless earbuds, and compared to some other first efforts, it’s pretty admirable just how well these really work. The sound is great, battery life is pretty good, and the fit is top-notch. To learn more, check out Harish’s full review.

Built-in heart-rate monitoring

Bose SoundSport Pulse

Great buds with built-in heart-rate tracking.

$199 at Amazon

Like the form factor of the SoundSport Wireless but wish they did more? The SoundSport Pulse keeps everything great about the Wireless but adds built-in heart-rate tracking to take your workouts to the next level.

The SoundSport Pulse is literally the SoundSport Wireless with a heart-rate tracker built right into them. Some buyers may not be willing to hand over another $50 for that privelege, but if you’re serious about getting the very most out of your workouts, having earbuds and heart-rate tracking in one device could prove to be rather useful.

Bottom line

While the SoundSport Free and Pulse are both great options, the Bose SoundSport Wireless is the best all-around package of sound quality, battery, comfort, and price.

Credits — The team that worked on this guide

Joe Maring is Android Central’s News Editor and has had a love for anything with a screen and CPU since he can remember. He’s been talking/writing about Android in one form or another since 2012 and often does so while camping out at the nearest coffee shop. Have a tip? Send an email to joe.maring@mobilenations.com!

Daniel Bader is the Managing Editor of Android Central. As he’s writing this, a mountain of old Android phones is about to fall on his head, but his Great Dane will protect him. He drinks way too much coffee and sleeps too little. He wonders if there’s a correlation.

Fitbit Charge 3 launches on October 7 for $150

The bolstered fitness tracker is more comfortable and packs more smart features than its predecessor.

Following its announcement in August, the Fitbit Charge 3 is nearly ready to start hitting wrists everywhere. The new fitness tracker, which is a gradual evolution of the Charge 2, will hit stores starting on October 7.

Fitbit isn’t reinventing the wheel with the Charge 3, as it largely looks much like the Charge 2 that preceded it. However, the company has packed in a number of new features and upgrades that should make for a more comfortable and stylish fitness watch. The display, for example, is a gray-scale OLED panel that Fitbit says should be 40 percent sharper and brighter than the one present on the Charge 2. That display is also covered in Corning Gorilla Glass 3 for a little extra durability.

Also on board is the dashboard from the Ionic and Versa, which will let you quickly check in on all of your stats. Those include basic things like your steps and calories burned, but you can also see your heart rate, most recent exercises, and Fitbit’s female health tracking tools. The Special Edition Charge 3 also includes Fitbit Pay for contactless payments at the register.

Battery life, which has always been one of Fitbit’s selling points, is still high here, with up to seven days of use on a charge. The watch is also water resistant at up to 50 meters, and a new swimming mode should help you accurately track workout while you’re in the pool.

A major new addition coming with the Charge 3 is its new Sleep Score function. It won’t be immediately available, but Fitbit says that it is planning to open enrollment for qualifying Fitbit users (those with newer trackers like the CHarge 3, Versa, and Ionic) starting in November for the Sleep Score beta program. The feature works by giving you a sleep score based on your heart rate and SpO2 sensor data.

The Fitbit Charge 3 is available to preorder now, starting at $150. Otherwise, you can pick up the new tracker at stores starting on its October 7 launch date.

See at Fitbit

Call of Duty: Black Ops 4’s Blackout will have better looting at launch

Boots are back on the ground.

It wouldn’t be a year in gaming without the annual Call of Duty release blessing the fall launch schedule. The last title we got was a non-Black Ops game, which means we’re due for another from the talented team over at Treyarch.

Call of Duty: Black Ops 4 is poised to build on the previous game by implementing changes inspired by fan feedback and introducing some interesting new game modes that’ll change your expectation of what a Call of Duty experience is supposed to be. Here’s everything you need to know.

October 4, 2018 — Treyarch announces tweaks to Blackout’s loot pickup mechanic

One of the most frustrating mechanics in the Call of Duty: Black Ops 4 Blackout beta was loot pickup. It was a bit awkward as you would have to hold the Square button (X on Xbox One) to confirm pickups, something tha tmade the process slower. Treyarch favored this approach as it saves the quick tap for the reload mechanic, a much more important thing to make sure you can do at a moment’s notice.

But many fans complained about the mechanic, and so an option was born. You can now switch between tap or hold to loot, and you also get the option of looting everything in your immediate area with one button instead of having to go to each item and pick them up individually.

Sir David Young and team have created this peace offering. It still needs to go through the normal quality assurance and integration steps. But, ASAP. I promise. Just don’t yell at me when you turn this on but can’t reload after a hot drop! pic.twitter.com/hw2BB4ouMQ

— Lord Vonderhaar (@DavidVonderhaar) October 3, 2018

The developer still hasn’t addressed other looting concerns, such as the difficulties experienced when opening a downed players bag and trying to cycle through their inventory. It works, but it just isn’t always intuitive. The jury is still out on whether this is intentional, with many believing Treyarch wanted there to be real risk involved in looting downed enemies during the heat of battle.

More than the changes themselves, today’s news is nice reassurance that Treyarch are not only willing to address player pain points with updates, but also be transparent about them. That should bode well for the game mode come Black Ops 4’s launch, which happens October on PlayStation 4, Xbox One, and PC.

September 26, 2018 — PS4 gets content a week early

Sony has revealed new details about their timed content exclusivity deal for Call of Duty: Black Ops 4. New content — which you get as part of owning the Black Ops Pass — will arrive 7 days early on PlayStation 4. Such a deal isn’t new for Sony and Activision, though it does mark the first time since this marketing partnership began that the gap has been narrowed from 30 days to 7.

We also have a bit better of an idea regarding the timeline of the first content drops. Here’s what’s planned:

• Nuketown: This fan-favorite map returns in November in an all-new take.
• Specialists: The first of several new characters will debut in December.
• Blackout: Launch day is only the start; Blackout will continue to evolve after launch with regular map updates, expansions and new Blackout modes.
• Events: Seasonal, weekly, and time-limited events bringing new game modes and content to players.

Call of Duty: Black Ops 4 launches October 12th for PlayStation 4, Xbox One, and PC.

September 4, 2018 — New Blackout beta details arrive

Waiting for the Blackout beta for Call of Duty: Black Ops 4? The wait isn’t long now, with PlayStation 4 gamers finally able to check the new Battle Royale game mode out on September 10th, while friends on other platforms will get a chance to play starting on September 14th. No matter which camp you fall in, you’ll have until September 17th to see what it’s all about.

The official Call of Duty Twitter is getting folks hype about its arrival by sharing our first look at the Blackout map, which is naturally the largest in franchise history. The map shows several classic names, including Nuketown Island, Hyro Dam, and Firing Range. You’ll note that these are based on maps from older Call of Duty games, except they’ll all exist on the same seamless map in Black Ops 4’s Blackout mode.

Where are you dropping first?This is Blackout, featuring the largest map in Call of Duty history. Pre-order #BlackOps4 and get access to the Blackout Beta, playable September 10 on PS4: https://t.co/XFvGMDwF3M pic.twitter.com/RAxzzDxjPO

— Call of Duty (@CallofDuty) September 5, 2018

We count just 14 unique locations named throughout the map, which is a little on the light side compared to Battle Royale games like Fortnite and PUBG. But the areas should be highly detailed, and there are lots of other smaller settlements and compounds which don’t have names littered throughout the map. It’ll be just a few days before we can see how all of this looks inside the actual game world, so get ready.

July 20, 2018 — Mystery Box Collector’s Edition is now up for pre-order

There’s a new pre-order option for those who eat, sleep and breath Black Ops. It’s the “Mystery Box Edition” and it’ll launch October 12, 2018.

The biggest thing that comes with the Mystery Box is, well, the box itself. If you aren’t in the know, these boxes are scattered throughout Zombies maps, and allows the player to get a random weapon, item, or perk upon opening it. It looks like Black Ops 4’s box is more ominous than ever, with skeleton heads whose eyes light up in blue. It looks really cool.

You’ll find an interesting assortment of collectibles inside the box. There are FigPins, a pop socket, the first edition of a new Dark Horse-made Zombies comic, 10 specialist patches, 3 lithographs, as well as the game itself inside a nice steelbook case. On the digital side, you’ll be getting the Black Ops pass, which grants you access to all the new zombies and multiplayer content that’ll be released in Black Ops 4’s life cycle.

Call of Duty: Black Ops 4 Mystery Box Edition will run you a whopping $199.99, but considering all it comes with it just may be worth the money. Head to Amazon to pre-order yours today.

See at Amazon

What is Call of Duty: Black Ops 4?

This is the latest game in the Call of Duty series, and, specifically, the fifth such game made by Treyarch, the studio which got its start with Call of Duty: World at War and exclusively made Black Ops games ever since.

Black Ops games have never followed traditional Call of Duty standards in terms of story. They’re set in a dystopian-like universe that explores alternate realities. One of the games even straddled the line of supernatural, with Black Ops 3’s events all taking place inside someone’s head.

While the original Black Ops game was set in a period during the Cold War, subsequent titles have gone for a more futuristic setting so as to introduce interesting new gameplay mechanics.

Is there a story mode?

Earlier Black Ops games featured original stories, but Call of Duty: Black Ops 4 will not. In fact, this will be the first ever Call of Duty game that doesn’t have a single-player campaign.

It was originally rumored that Treyarch had started on a campaign for the game, but scrapped it during development as it wouldn’t be finished in time. We later learned that this wasn’t the case, and it was instead a conscious decision by the team to focus their time on multiplayer as a majority of players don’t finish the single-player campaigns in Call of Duty games.

If you love a good single-player campaign and nothing more, it’s wise to skip this one. But Treyarch has mentioned that this isn’t necessarily the start of a trend and that single-player campaigns can and will return to future Call of Duty titles.

Gameplay

With multiplayer being the sole way to play Call of Duty: Black Ops 4, Treyarch wants to ensure they make the deepest shooter possible, and also looked to address some of the more unpopular things they tried in Black Ops 3. Jetpacks and wall-running have been completely removed from the game.

The fan cry for “boots on the ground” has been quite loud, which is why many were ecstatic for Call of Duty: World War 2’s launch. Treyarch’s removal of the feature is a testament to their ability to listen to feedback and not only understand what their fans want, but take action on it.

A lot of the good stuff is returning, though, including the game’s use of Specialist characters. These characters are unique and feature special traits, abilities, and finishing moves. We’re getting four new characters with this launch for a grand total of 10:

• Torque: This is the builder of your team. You can make barricades to control firing lanes in the game, as well as more advanced deployment of barbed wire. Torque’s barricades have heat and distortion fields built-in, so anyone looking to challenge the area you’re denying will have a tough time.
• Ajax: When you need someone to push into an enemy zone, Ajax is the pick. He has a shield, and the shield has a hole in it, so whoever uses him can still be a deadly force. Ajax also has a flashbang that can be cooked, and the longer you cook it, the more flashes it will set off.
• Recon: A new fog of war mechanic means enemies won’t always show up on your radar whenever they shoot, so Recon’s goal is to reveal them.
• Crash: Medic fans will love Crash. He can not only heal allies, but he can also buff them in certain ways. And if you’re wondering why he has to heal anyone, it’s because Black Ops 4 will not have regenerative health.

All of these specialists share much of the same weapon and equipment pool, but there will be some mods and attachments specific to each character. And not all attachments will be made equally, with tier 2 versions of mods offering greater benefits than their standard ones.

Speaking of which, gunplay is getting a big upgrade in Black Ops 4. Treyarch has implemented predictive recoil patterns for each gun, which means you’ll have a rough idea of how your gun will react whenever you shoot it. The recoil mechanic in previous games was based on RNG, something Treyarch felt was important to eliminate as they wanted all of the game systems in Black Ops 4 to be learnable.

Scorestreaks are back. This staple Call of Duty feature nets you game-changing perks and bonuses as you rack up kills. Treyarch hasn’t yet revealed any new scorestreaks or changes to existing ones.

Players will do battle on a number of maps, five of which are fan favorites from previous Black Ops games that have been remade. Those include Jungle, Slums, Summit, Firing Range, and, of course, Nuketown. The former four will be available at launch, though Nuketown will arrive a bit later.

When you want to take a break from multiplayer, you can play Solo Missions, a collection of missions that’ll let you test your skill with any of the specialists. These missions will contain light backstories for each specialist if you’re interested in learning more about them.

It’s clear Treyarch wants more for Call of Duty than its roots as a simple twitch shooter. The continued focus on unique character abilities and an upgraded ballistics system puts it in league with the likes of Rainbow Six: Siege, and should help position it well to become a fun game to follow and play for eSports.

Zombies

What’s a Black Ops game without a zombie mode? Zombies in Black Ops 4 will have the most launch content we’ve seen yet. This coop mode lets you and up to three other friends take on a horde of zombie enemies across several big maps, with each wave being interspersed with time-sensitive objectives.

Black Ops 4 will feature three such maps at launch, two of which are entirely new and one that has been remade from a previous game. The new maps – Voyage of Despair and IX – have a short storyline of their own to follow, and will feature all-new original characters Scarlett, Shaw, Diego, and Bruno.

The remake is Blood of the Dead, which is based on the Mob of the Dead map from Black Ops 2. Its story will feature the original Primis gang, including Nikolai, Takeo, Richtofen, and Dempsey. A fourth map made for the Primis characters named Classified is also on the way, but will only be available for Black Ops Pass owners and anyone buying the Special Edition versions of the game.

You’ll get more customization than ever before, as players can now customize their starting loadouts before each game. And the game at large can be played to your exact liking with over 100 variable “mutations” that can be applied. These mutations can alter things like zombie speed, health, damage, and overall difficulty.

And to give players a reason to keep coming back, Treyarch will run events called Callings. These limited time events may offer rewards or introduce new gameplay twists to help keep things fresh.

Blackout Mode

Peg Call of Duty as another game jumping on the Battle Royale bandwagon. Black Ops 4 will have its own royale mode called Blackout, and it’ll feature the single largest map we’ve ever seen in a Call of Duty game. It’s said the original test map for Blackout mode was 144 square miles wide. We don’t know how much it’s been shrunken or enlarged since then, but it sounds massive either way. The map will have iconic locations from previous Black Ops games, and it can be traversed by land, sea, or air.

Treyarch doesn’t seem to be touting any crazy twists on the genre. The teaser trailer for the mode suggests players will parachute down into the play area to find their starting loot before the game eventually shepherds players into tighter areas. Their whole selling point, then, is that this is a Battle Royale game with the tried and true gunplay, smooth controls, and fast-paced action that Call of Duty is known for. They’re also taking care to ensure each game feels different through the mode’s core mechanics, something they hope will keep players hungry for more.

In the mode, you’ll be able to play as series favorites Alex Mason, Raul Menendez, and all of the original Primis crew, among other characters. Treyarch didn’t have much to say regarding how, exactly, the mode will operate, but we do know the company is looking to incorporate bullet drop, a first for a Call of Duty game.

Black Ops Pass

Treyarch is trying a different monetization model with Black Ops 4. Instead of offering up new maps in flat-rate map packs, you will now have to buy a Black Ops Pass. The pass will offer up access to new content as soon as it becomes available.

Pricing information for the Black Ops Pass hasn’t yet been revealed, but we do know that the pass will eventually offer up 12 additional multiplayer maps, four exclusive characters to use in Blackout mode, and four Zombies maps throughout 2019, as well as the Classified Zombies map at launch.

Activision has also confirmed that you will need to buy special editions of the game starting at $100 if you want the Black Ops Pass at launch. They have plans to make the pass available separately, but not until a later date.

Beta

Yes, there’s a private beta, and you’ll be able to play it by doing one simple thing: pre-order the game. Treyarch hasn’t ruled out other ways to access the beta, but this is your safest best to try it out early if you don’t mind committing your money to a pre-order.

A beta launch date has yet to be set, but previous rumors suggest we’ll see it at some point in August. An open beta is also still a possibility leading up to the game’s launch.

Pre-order deals

There are lots of good things to be had for pre-ordering Call of Duty: Black Ops 4. All standard edition pre-orders will be in line for a Black Ops 3 map pack that will feature Jungle Summit, Slums, and Firing Range. You’ll also get access to the private beta in August.

See at Amazon

Get the Digital Deluxe Edition for $100 and you’ll get 2,400 Call of Duty Points and the Black Ops Pass to go along with it.

See at Amazon

The Digital Deluxe Enhanced Edition is the same as the Digital Deluxe Edition, but comes with 8,500 Call of Duty Points. It’ll run you $130.

See at Amazon

Finally, there’s a $120 Call of Duty: Black Ops 4 Pro Edition that adds in a steelbook, a pop socket, 10 specialist patches, three Zombies-inspired collectible art cards, 1,100 Call of Duty Points, and a Call of Duty Endowment (C.O.D.E.) calling card. This version of the game is available exclusively at GameStop.

See at GameStop

When can you play it?

The boots hit the ground for Call of Duty: Black Ops 4 on October 12th for PlayStation 4, Xbox One, and PC. Let us know if you’ll be joining in on the fun.

Updated October 2018: Treyarch announced a key change to Black Ops 4’s looting mechanic. All the details for you right here.

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

Instagram Launches New ‘Nametag’ Feature for Adding Friends IRL

Instagram today debuted a new feature called “Nametag,” which is a customizable identification card that’s designed to allow people to easily find your Instagram profile when it’s scanned.

The Nametag feature makes it simpler for people who you meet in real life to follow you on Instagram. You can set up your Nametag by going to your profile, tapping the hamburger button at the top, and selecting the “Nametag” option.

Nametags can be personalized with various colors, emojis, selfies, and stickers.

Scanning a Nametag is done within the Instagram app through swiping right into the camera or tapping on the camera and choosing the “Scan a Nametag” option. Nametags can also be shared in text messages and on other social media sites.

In addition to Nametags, Instagram is also launching a new School Communities test feature. School Communities is designed to let you connect with other students or recent grades from your university.

Connecting to other users is done in a “common space” at several test universities across the United States. Those who are at a test site and choose to join can add a line to their profile listing university, class year, and relevant groups.

Everyone who is participating in the Communities feature can see a directory listing of all of the people who have added the same university.

The new Nametag feature is rolling out to iOS users starting today. School Communities are in “some US universities” and will be expanded to additional universities in the coming weeks.

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Ted Baker’s posh new iPhone cases teach you how to accessorize like a pro

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British luxury clothing brand Ted Baker’s new range of iPhone accessories will satisfy everyone who likes things to match, not only in terms of style and design, but with products working together in harmony. Cheekily called “Connected,” with the emphasis on the ‘Ted,” the lineup consists of an iPhone case, a battery pack, a wireless charger, an in-car mount, and a set of cables.

Ted Baker has worked with accessory brand Proporta on the new products, and the quality of both companies shines through. Each product has the Ted Baker name, and sensibly, they’re not making them seasonal, so the color and design won’t go out of style. It’s also refreshing to see a muted palette and subtle design from Ted Baker, rather than the bright floral designs many will associate with the brand’s iPhone accessories.

Let’s look at the battery pack, which is a good example of the range’s coherence. It’s covered in Italian leather and wrapped in a metal body shell, and comes in Ted Baker’s signature chocolate brown suede, or a gold and white leather combination. What makes it cool is the addition of wireless charging, a feature in iPhone models since the iPhone 8, removing the need to plug anything in, although the packs do support dual charging if you want to charge two devices at a time.

The 5,000mAh capacity cell has three charging coils along the top of the pack, providing a large contact area for charging. Here’s where it gets clever. Ted Baker’s 2018 bags — for women and men, including a laptop bag — will have special pockets made to hold the charger and your phone, keeping the battery topped up on the move. The triple-coil design makes sure the phone and charger stay in contact. The Connected iPhone cases share the same color scheme and work with wireless chargers. Your new iPhone gets a Ted Baker case, slips into a Ted Baker bag, where it charges up against the Ted Baker battery pack. Take everything out, and it all matches. Very cool.

Ted’s new range also includes a subtle desktop wireless charger, a series of reinforced nylon-covered cables, and in the near future, a car charging mount as well. We saw an early prototype and liked the compact dimensions, and the supportive, spring-loaded bar that holds your phone in landscape or portrait orientation. The new Connected Ted Baker cases all have panels inside that clamp onto magnets inside the holder, keeping everything secure. The cases are made for all modern and brand new iPhone models, including the new iPhone XS, iPhone XS Max, and iPhone XR.

Set for release in November, the Ted Baker Connected range of products are available for pre-order very soon through Ted Baker’s website, Proporta’s website, and they will be out to buy in various retail stores too. Prices range from $55 (45 British pounds) for a case, up to $100 (80 pounds) for the wireless charging battery pack.

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Hideo Kojima confirms more main characters are coming for Death Stranding

Kojima’s first independent game is just as weird and mysterious as you thought it’d be.

If you don’t know who Hideo Kojima is, it’s time to pay attention. He’s the creator of the world-renowned Metal Gear franchise, known best for his works with the mainline series Metal Gear Solid.

Well, he left Konami, the company that controls the Metal Gear IP, and is now doing his own thing under independent label Kojima Productions. Their first work is Death Stranding, a forthcoming PlayStation 4 exclusive that not even Kojima himself can easily explain. Here’s everything we know about it so far.

What’s new with Death Stranding?

It’ll take us a while to fully decode the cryptic teasers Kojima is releasing for Death Stranding, but don’t worry. Every time we hear something new, we’ll be adding it to this space, so keep checking back for more!

October 1, 2018 — More main characters to be revealed

Main characters of DEATH STRANDING revealed at TGS last week. Yoji made this drawing for TGS based on the setting, the design, the gimmick, the outfit, and the casting as of today (minor change might be considered in future) BTW, there’s a few more main character will appear. pic.twitter.com/XV5hA2jv5U

— HIDEO_KOJIMA (@HIDEO_KOJIMA_EN) September 28, 2018

In a teaser-recap of the Tokyo Game Show, Hideo Kojima let loose word that there are a few main characters yet to be revealed. The company had recently teased many of the important figures in an artistic drawing that shows the setting, art style, outfits, and their casting decisions. They noted there might be minor changes in the future, especially since there are “a few more main characters” still to come.

Sony and Kojima are still playing their cards close to the chest with Death Stranding. While the recent TGS trailer finally offered more than just scenes of the main charactrering walking around with weird stuff attached to his persons, we still don’t have a solid clue regarding its plot or core gameplay.

With no release date in sight, we expect things to keep on at this trickling pace until the team feels confident enough to talk about the game in greater detail..

June 11, 2018 — New E3 trailer!

At E3 2018, Sony and Kojima debuted a new trailer for Death Stranding. The trailer didn’t do much to answer any of the lingering questions we have, but there was quite a bit to be learned.

The trailer also gave us our first bit of gameplay, but it was anticlimactic at best. It shows the main character Sam traversing a variety of different terrain types, as well as wading in water and scaling a mountain cliff. Some of the scenes show some sort of robots following him to wherever he’s going.

Later on in the trailer, we see Sam gearing up for a mission by activating his weird capsule baby and the mechanical arm. He can be seen sneaking past some ghostly, smokey figures, and whatever he has on him is apparently keeping them at bay. At the end, however, something goes wrong and Sam is pulled into the ground by a bunch of shadowy hands.

In a blog post on the PlayStation Blog, Kojima notes about Sam:

Some might have already picked up on this, but Sam is unlike any other hero you may have seen in games before. A typical hero is usually some sort of elite or someone with a military background. Sam is not. He is a working man of sorts — a hands-on professional. Someone with a skillset akin to a blue-collar worker.

We also see a couple of new characters, including Léa Seydoux from Blue is the Warmest Color, and Lindsay Wagner from The Bionic Woman. Two more unnamed characters have been confirmed, and we also now know that the music featured in the trailers to date was made by a group named Silent Poets. Still no release date, folks.

What is Death Stranding?

That’s a good question. The truth is we don’t know a whole lot about the type of game Death Stranding will be right now. Kojima has mentioned that there will be elements of action, adventure, RPG, stealth, and open world gameplay involved. That’s a pretty long list, but he contends it’s not right to try and fit the game into any of these categories as he instead opts to treat the game as its own genre.

While that sounds exciting on the surface, we won’t know what, exactly, he means until we see and learn more. Thanks to a few announcement and teaser trailers, however, the picture is starting to take shape, albeit ever-so-vaguely.

The story so far

It’s unclear what to expect from the story right now. In typical Kojima fashion, we’re left with nonsensical trailers which challenge the player to piece together their own conclusions about Sam (the main character) and what’s going on in the world around him. As attention-grabbing as these trailers are, they just don’t tell us much of anything. Hell, some scenes show naked babies trapped in capsules which are attached to characters via mechanical arms (or, worse yet, down Sam’s throat), and those babies are eventually sent floating up a river. It’s just plain weird and creepy.

Then there’s the Timefall rain mechanic, which seemingly both wears on the world and gives it accelerated growth, and it’ll also affect Sam one way or another. We don’t know how. We don’t know why. We just don’t know.

And it’s not because we aren’t trying to know, either. Even Kojima’s own team has mentioned that they are sometimes confused when he is explaining his vision for the game and the story. We reckon it’ll be one of those things we’ll just have to play through before we know what the hell is actually going on, but we’re still holding out hope that they’ll be a little less tight-lipped before the game’s launch.

The human connection

Interestingly enough, Kojima took a lot of inspiration from a Japanese novella called Rope for the premise of Death Stranding. In that written work, the concept of mankind’s earliest tools was boiled down to two simple things: sticks and ropes.

The thinking here is that the stick is the object you would use to keep unpleasant or violent things away from you. Think of it as your weapon, even if all you ever do with it is keep someone at arm’s length. That’s not to say you’ll be tasked with trying to cut through the apparent skeletal armies present in this game using nothing but a tree branch, but we know that the main character will heavily rely on one.

Then there’s the rope, which is the item you use when you want to keep things close to you like your beloved pet dog on a leash. This is the part where we get a tad confused, though early murmurings from Kojima suggest that the “rope” will shape the concept of “strands” in this game.

So what are strands? Good question – we’re not quite sure yet. (Getting tired of that theme yet?) We do know that it’ll be the basis of a core gameplay mechanic that keeps people in this mystery world connected. And considering co-op play has been confirmed for the title, we’re sure it’ll have a lot to do with the connections you make with both digital and real companions.

Life and death

Kojima’s theme for Death Stranding thus far seems to surround the cycle of life and death. In most games, death typically means either game over or you’re zipped back to a checkpoint to try again.

But death will take on a whole new meaning in Death Stranding, with the player instead being taken to some sort of purgatory realm whenever they die. It’s not yet clear what you can do in this realm, but we do know you’ll be free to explore it and return to your living form anytime you wish.

Kojima says their desire for changing the role of death in video games stems from the industry’s long misuse of the mechanic. He noted that death checkpoints were designed for arcade machines to keep people popping quarters into the slot, but the gaming industry has largely failed to move on from the mechanic even as arcade machines have become a dying breed. While it’s just as vague and cryptic as Kojima wants it, it still leaves us wondering what, exactly, death will mean in this title.

Top-notch visuals

Though we don’t know a whole lot about the game, story, and characters at large, Kojima has been particularly chatty when it comes to the technology behind it. He revealed that his team met with over 30 studios to find the perfect engine for Death Stranding.

They eventually landed with the engine Guerilla Games created for Horizon Zero Dawn. Their choice was based on a number of factors, including an engine with great graphical capabilities and one that supports open-world development. Many engines fit that bill by default, but Guerilla’s won the ticket due to their willingness to collaborate with Kojima on further developing the engine. In fact, the two have even gone so far as to co-brand the engine with the name ‘Decima.’ The specifics of what and how they’ve changed it aren’t really important, just as long as you know it’ll look good (there’s PS4 Pro 4K + HDR support) and play great.

An all-star cast

Not one to shy away from cinematics, Kojima is pulling top talent to help drive the narrative in Death Stranding. The main character, Sam, seems to be portrayed by Norman Reedus. You may know him as the actor for the character Daryl on AMC’s The Walking Dead. We also know Mads Mikkelson and Guillermo del Toro will be along for the ride.

When can you play it?

If there’s one thing you should know about Kojima, it’s that he’s not going to rush his art (so long as he has no pesky publishers forcing him to, which he doesn’t). To that end, the only expectation we have for Death Stranding’s release date is by the year 2020. That seems like light years away from now, but knowing the ambition Kojima has we’re sure it’ll be well worth the wait.

The company skipped E3 in 2017 as they opted to continue working on the game before showing anything, but it’s possible we may see more at E3 2018 which kicks off June 12th. As for platform availability, the PlayStation 4 is the only safe bet right now, though eventual releases on other platforms such as PC and Xbox have not yet been ruled out.

Updated October 2018: Stay tuned for information about new main characters!

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Do you want IR blasters to return to smartphones?

A fun, forgotten technology.

As technology evolves, it’s only natural for features to come and go. One such feature that was popular a few years back that has since been phased out on smartphones is an IR blaster.

IR (infrared) blasters could be configured with your television, sound system, thermostat, and more to essentially turn your smartphone into a universal remote. It was a genuinely useful piece of tech, but as replacements for infrared solutions popped up, these blasters were steadily removed from just about every phone out there.

Our AC forum members recently shared their thoughts on this topic, and this is what they had to say.

Mooncatt
10-01-2018 07:51 PM

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It’s just a general trend. Take away features, make incremental spec upgrades, wrap it in a fragile paper thin glass body, and charge more for it. The LG V20 is one of, if not the last flagship I’m aware of that had the IR Blaster.

Reply

arunma
10-02-2018 10:55 AM

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I would gladly trade an extra millimeter of thickness for an IR blaster.

And for God’s sake Samsung, don’t take away my headphone jack just to save me the extra millimeter!

Reply

Mike Dee
10-02-2018 04:32 PM

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As much fun as an IR blaster may be for some and useful for others it just doesn’t appear to be a feature that is desired by the masses. I owned two devices that had an IR blaster but that was simply coincidence.
I don’t know anyone outside of this forum that wants one so I can understand it being cut from the list of common features.

Reply

bembol
10-02-2018 05:57 PM

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I love it, sure I change the channels or turn off the TV but it’s useful when I’m at GoodLife working out and don’t exactly wanna watch HGTV (Home & Garden) while I’m relaxing on the massage chair.

Some days or night I can’t stay home to watch NFL so I have to schedule it when I hit the gym.

It wouldn’t be a problem if they gave us access to the remote.

Reply

What say you? Do you want IR blasters to return to smartphones?

Join the conversation in the forums!