Google may reverse course and launch a restricted Google Search in China

Google is working on a censored version of its Google search engine to launch in China if the Chinese government approves it, according to The Intercept. The modified version will not allow access to government-blacklisted websites or searches related to human rights, democracy, religion, or peaceful protest.

Most internet users in China cannot currently access Google Search. The utility is blocked by China’s “Great Firewall.”

Citing internal Google documents and people knowledgeable of the company’s plans who are not authorized to speak for the company and who wish to remain anonymous, The Intercept reports Google has already demonstrated a version of the limited search engine to the Chinese government. The censored version restricts access to content Chinese President Xi Jinping’s Communist Party considers “unfavorable.”

The Intercept claims to have seen documents marked “Google confidential” which detail the filtering in the Chinese version of the search app. All websites blocked by the Great Firewall will be identified and filtered. If a search would bring up a banned website, such as the BBC or Wikipedia websites, the site will be blocked from the first results page along with a disclaimer that states, “some results may have been removed due to statutory requirements.”

Also, blacklisted words and phrases used in queries with the Chinese Google version won’t return any results. The same filtering will work with all features of Google’s search engine, including image searching, spell checking, and search recommendations.

Only a few hundred Google employees know about the modified search engine, according to The Intercept’s sources. Code-named “Dragonfly,” teams of Google engineers and programmers have been working on the project since the spring of 2017. Early versions of the custom Android app were named “Maotai” and “Longfei.”

Google’s search engine hasn’t been available to most people in China since 2010. In March 2010 Google announced it would no longer censor Google Search, Google News, and Google Images on Google.cn, a practice it had followed since 2000. At the time Google cited limitations on free speech, blocked websites, email surveillance, and cyber attacks as reasons for pulling the filtered version. Google was also taking heat from the U.S. Congress for complying with the Chinese government’s policies.

In 2016, after taking over as Google’s new CEO the previous October, Pinchai said at a conference in California, “I care about servicing users globally in every corner. Google is for everyone. We want to be in China serving Chinese users.”

Sources with knowledge of the project told The Intercept that development of Dragonfly sped up after Google CEO Sundar Pichai met with a high-level Chinese government official last December.

According to The Intercept, “The source said that they had moral and ethical concerns about Google’s role in the censorship, which is being planned by a handful of top executives and managers at the company with no public scrutiny.”

If the Chinese government approves the censored Google Search version and if the company is confident the search engine will perform better than Baidu, currently the dominant search service in China, then Google will launch the Dragonfly search app, according to The Intercept’s sources.

Editors’ Recommendations

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• A.I. and Google News: The push to broaden perspectives
• European Commission may slap Google with a game-changing fine over Android
• Bing Visual Search is a Google Lens competitor — with an extra feature
• Google’s updated events search feature will keep your boredom at bay

Android P features you’ll love: App Actions

App Actions can let our phones and other devices help us do something instead of just telling us how we could do it.

App Actions are a new set of tools that allows a developer to interact with Google Assistant, your phone’s Launcher (Home app), the Play Store, and other Google products like Search.

Google has always tried to help point us at the right thing or place with products like Search and Maps. App Actions take this a step further and are a way for developers to point us towards the right action we need to get what we’re looking for.

They are modeled on Google Assistant actions, which you can check out right here. And you totally should. Think of them as shortcuts to do something instead of asking about how you do it and getting the results. With App Actions, developers can tie the same sort of “smarts” into their own app and help you actually get things done instead of just telling you how to get things done.

Google has used an example of booking a car through an app action, where you simply type “I need to book a ride” into the Search bar on your phone and the Lyft app is there ready to help because it’s tied into search via an app action. The same action can be used when you talk to your Google Home; the Lyft app would open on your phone and you enter the details, then wait for your ride.

But App Actions get really smart when paired with App Slices.

Go back to Google’s Lyft example. Now, instead of the Lyft app opening when you type “I need to book a ride” into the search bar, you get a small sliver of the Lyft app that opens right in your notifications and it’s filled with the information you need right now so you can do what you need to be done — booking a car. In the example above you see the quick action to Get a Car as well as information about taking a car home or to work, along with pricing. This is the kind of information we need when we want to book a car. This is really cool.

Of course, we can’t forget Google Assistant. Developers can use App Actions to build out Conversational Actions for Google Assistant as a companion to their existing app or as a standalone front-facing point for their services. The idea is the same — when we ask for something, why not help us do it if possible. App Actions that open on your phone or a Smart Display could be triggered by asking Google Assistant to, for example, book a car or conversations could be had that help us decide exactly what we want and then give us a way to get it: “OK Google, tell me what toppings Pizza Hut has” could trigger a conversation that tells us what we are looking for then asks if we want to make an order, pay the usual way, and have it delivered to home or work.

As our devices gain the ability to do more things, they can become more complex. Features like App Actions — especially when paired with Slices and Google Assistant — take the complexity away and make our phones work for us, not the other way around.

Android P

• Android P: Everything you need to know
• Android P Beta hands-on: The best and worst features
• All the big Android announcements from Google I/O 2018
• Will my phone get Android P?
• How to manually update your Pixel to Android P
• Join the Discussion

Do you like the use of glass on phones?

It’s all about the aesthetic.

Although smartphone materials can vary quite a bit, the one that OEMs tend to go after more times than not is glass.

The prominent use of glass can be seen on flagships such as the Galaxy S9, OnePlus 6, and upcoming Google Pixel 3. This material (usually) allows for wireless charging to be present, but even so, results in a phone that’s much more fragile compared to metal and plastic counterparts.

Our AC forum users recently shared their thoughts about glass smartphones, and these are just a few of the comments we found:

Mooncatt
07-26-2018 01:18 PM

“

It’s mostly a case of form over function that the manufacturers can charge you more for.

Reply

Morty2264
07-26-2018 07:57 PM

“

My Honor 8 is a glass phone (both sides); and it was a beautiful phone and I loved it. However, my LG G3 and my Pixel 2 felt/feel just as good. It wasn’t as if the glass made the phone feel any more “premium” – but I too would put cases on all of my phones; so I suppose it would be harder for me to comment on that. I just figured that the glass was an extra “benefit” but it was also an extra…

Reply

Mike Dee
07-26-2018 09:13 PM

“

Glass is the worst in my opinion but some swear it makes for a premium feel. I’m not even sure exactly what that means.

Reply

amyf27
07-29-2018 07:54 PM

“

Well, plastic feels cheap. Glass feels heavier and more durable, appears to have a nicer quality.

Reply

Now, we want to hear from you! Do you like the use of glass on phones?

Join the conversation in the forums!

What’s the ideal camera height for PlayStation VR?

Can you improve your tracking for the PlayStation VR by re-arranging the camera set up?

Reddit user Tomathy101 battled the idea of finding better tracking for the PlayStation Eye Camera by changing the height in which it was set up. He argues that, as a man who is over 6 feet tall, that his tracking has improved since he has raised his camera well above his head level. So we did some experiments to confirm or deny this based on the heights of different people. So, if you’ve been curious go on below to see if this would work for you!

Your height makes a difference

While conducting this experiment I tested the tracking problems on the height range of three different people: an 8-year-old child, a 5-foot adult, and a 6-foot, 3-inch adult. This was to test the theory that maybe the camera doesn’t need to be at a 7-foot height for everyone, and perhaps just a little above your head in general.

This theory was proved right correct. A person of 6″3 had the best tracking performance when the PlayStation Camera was at 7″0 of height, while the person of 5″0 suffered even worse tracking with the camera at the same height. To elaborate, this means that the set-up requirement for someone of a significantly different height than you will absolutely be different.

It doesn’t have to be above the TV

When using the PSVR the camera doesn’t have to be above or below your TV, in fact, you are better off moving the camera somewhere you can use a large amount of area to play. The set up we are about to show you allows you to not only find the right height but also to choose where in the room you want your camera. Another good way to secure the camera is to use heavy duty Velcro vertically on the wall. This allows you to place the camera in different places for different heights while it still on the wall and out of the way.

Setting up your PlayStation Eye Camera for better tracking

If you are in a home where the users of your PSVR vary in height I recommend purchasing a mic standoff off of Amazon. This will help ease the constant readjustment you will need to do to accommodate the different heights, as well as giving you a sturdy base for your camera. If all the users of your PlayStation VR are about the same height, do not worry about buying extra equipment unless you don’t have a good base to hold your camera at the new height it will now require.

For ease and peace of mind, purchase a mic stand. (Link below.)
If there is room to set up the mic stand behind your TV so that it is centered in your play area, this is highly suggested. If not, there is not too much worry about it being slightly off-center. It will, however, affect your play space.
Always ensure that whoever is playing has the PlayStation Camera above their head at a minimum of 6 inches and a maximum of 12 inches.
Have the camera at a slight downward angle. You want to ensure the Camera sees you from your head to your toes, but also have enough room to see all the inevitable movement of said head and toes.
To ensure your safety and the function of your headset, follow the instructions below to re-calibrate your play space and see exactly what your camera is seeing.

See Mic Stand on Amazon

Checking to make sure your play space is still safe, and your Eye Camera can still see you

Press and hold the PlayStation button.
Select Adjust PlayStation VR
Select Confirm your position
This will show you what your camera is seeing. Do a run through to ensure the new setup can visualize your entire play space.
When you are confident the visual is okay, check the lighting. Bright lights will appear as dark circles. If this happens, you might need to adjust your lighting.

And viola! Go forth and play your favorite PlayStation VR games now that your tracking will stop giving you issues!

Thoughts?

Has this helped you? Maybe it made your experience worse? If you’re having any other issues when it comes to enjoying your PlayStation VR check out our PSVR Troubleshooting Guide or let us know in the comments below!

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

Strava Premium is being rebranded as Summit and getting more flexible plans

Premium features now cost as little as $2.99/month.

Strava is one of the leading fitness-tracking apps around, and today, the company announced its Strava Premium paid membership plan is being rebranding as Strava Summit.

With the old Strava Premium model, users could pay $59/year for personalized coaching, real-time safety features, more detailed activity reports, exclusive product discounts, and more. Any exisitng subscribers are locked into that old model, but going forward, Stava Summit will consist of three different plans — the Training Pack, Analysis Pack, and Safety Pack.

• Training Pack — Live performance data, custom training plans, personalized goals, race analysis, leaderboards, and segment efforts.
• Analysis Pack — Power analysis, workout analysis, fitness and freshness, live segments, and relative effort
• Safety Pack — Beacon and personal heatmaps

Additionally, all Packs also come with Summit Support and Summit Perks.

Users have the option of signing up for just one Pack for $2.99/month or $23.99/year or go all the way by signing up for all three for $7.99/month or $59.99/year.

See at Strava

4 reasons I want a Lenovo Smart Display over a Google Home

The Google Home has finally met its match.

Ever since Google first announced its Smart Display platform back at CES in January, I’ve been more than eager to get my hands on one to experience the future of living with the Google Assistant in my home. I use my Google Home and Home Mini every day for a variety of things, and as much as I love them, the idea of essentially having one with a screen slapped on top sounds like a dream come true.

There are a few Smart Displays that have been announced, but so far, the one that’s peeked my interest the most is Lenovo’s.

The Lenovo Smart Display is the very first one to hit the market, and even though it’s a bit more expensive and has a few kinks to work out compared to the tried and true Google Home, there are a few reasons why I’d like to have it over Google’s iconic speaker.

Video support

The screen on the Lenovo Smart Display is obviously the biggest draw to it over the Google Home, and one of the reasons I’m most excited for this new addition is that it means I’ll have a new screen for watching videos on.

Like most people, I spend a lot of my time in the kitchen. Whether I’m cooking dinner, unloading the dishwasher, or scrubbing down the counters, there’s a lot of time spent in that room of my apartment. I typically play a YouTube video on my phone for some background noise while going about these tasks, and while that’s fine, it means having to move my phone around the kitchen with me so I can hear it and glance at what’s on its screen.

With the Lenovo Smart Display, I’ll be able to just ask the Google Assistant to play a YouTube video and have it showcased on a large 10.1-inch display with speakers that are far better than what’s on my OnePlus 6.

I don’t think I’ll be sitting down around a Smart Display anytime soon to watch full-length movies, but for those times when I want something to glance at every now and then while doing chores or preparing dinner for the night, I’m ecstatic to have something that’s been designed with that sort of use in mind.

Deeper control of apps/services

Video support is one feature the Lenovo Smart Displays offer that’s completely nonexistent on the Google Home, but along with charting unexplored frontiers, the use of a screen on Lenovo’s machine also allows for richer experiences that are already available with audio-only Assistant speakers.

For example, I can talk to my Google Home and ask it to dim my Hue Lights or change the temperature with a Nest thermostat all day long. The same exact thing can be done with the Lenovo Smart Display, but after that first command is given, you’ve got access to on-screen controls to fine-tune your lights or AC even more.

The Lenovo Smart Display is taking existing Google Home features and making them ten-times better.

Another way this can come in handy is with music. With the Lenovo Smart Display, you can actually browse through various playlists and decide which one you’d like without having to pick something specifically with just your voice. Once a song is playing, you can quickly glance at the screen to see what it’s called, fast forward, or see how much time is left with that particular track.

The Google Home can read aloud recipes, but with the Lenovo Smart Display, you get visual step-by-step directions and pictures of the dish you’re making to make the experience even more helpful. You can set timers on Google Home without any trouble, but on the Lenovo Smart Display, watch the seconds tick by without having to constantly ask “Hey, Google, how much time if left on my timer.”

You get my point.

A lot of what the Lenovo Smart Display does you can already do on Google Home, but because of the screen, the way you interact with these commands/questions is much more useful and seamless compared to an audio-only experience.

It’s a digital photo frame for the modern era

Along with all of the smart home control, powerful speakers, and everything else the Lenovo Smart Display has to offer, it’s also the best digital picture frame you can buy in 2018.

Digital picture frames have been around for years, but whether it was due to low-resolution screens, huge bezels, wonky controls, etc., the execution of them has always left something to be desired. The Lenovo Smart Display fixes all of that.

The HD or Full HD panels on the 8-inch and 10.1-inch models, respectively, look great, the bezels aren’t overly large, and best of all, your pictures are seamlessly added through your Google Photos account.

In addition to being able to pull up specific photos with just your voice, you can also set certain albums/pictures to regularly cycle through to ensure you’ve always got a memory to look at when walking by your Smart Display. And, since these are all pulled in from the cloud, you don’t have to mess with loading photos on an SD card.

The price is right

Last but certainly not least, the Lenovo Smart Display absolutely kills it when it comes to price.

For the 8-inch model, you’ll need to hand over just $199. On its own, that’s already a good price. When you compare it to the Google Home and realize it’s just $50 more than Google’s screenless-speaker and $30 less than the Echo Show, it becomes an even better deal.

$199 is the perfect entry price for a product like this.

The larger 10.1-inch variant is more expensive at $249, but it’s still a much better purchase than the Echo Show despite the $20 price increase.

The 10.1-inch screen is certainly nice to have, but for most people, the $199 model offers the same experience in a more compact form factor. And, for technically less than $200, I can see a lot of folks picking this up as a Christmas present come the holiday season this year.

Why do you want the Lenovo Smart Display?

Those are the reasons why I think the Lenovo Smart Display is a better purchase over the Google Home, but what about you? Are you excited for the Smart Display future or are you perfectly happy not having a screen for the Google Assistant? Let me know in the comments below!

See at Best Buy

Samsung Galaxy Tab S4 rumors: Release date, specs, price, and features!

This will probably be the Android tablet to buy in 2018.

Android tablets are pretty much MIA in 2018. Huawei’s got a few different models to check out and Amazon’s still pushing its Fire lineup, but that’s about it.

Within the next couple of months or so, however, Samsung will once again throw its hat in this ring with the Galaxy Tab S4 — a successor to last year’s Galaxy Tab S3. Here’s what we know about the device so far!

The latest Galaxy Tab S4 news

August 1, 2018 — Best Buy listing confirms Tab S4 specs and $650 starting price

The motherload has arrived! It’s still unclear when exactly the Tab S4 will be announced/launched, but in the meantime, Best Buy’s accidentally published its official product page for the tablet with full pricing and spec info.

Around front, you’ll find a 10.5-inch Super AMOLED display with a resolution of 2560 x 1600. The Snapdragon 835 powers the Tab S4 along with 4GB RAM, and a 7,300 mAh battery should provide for plenty of juice.

Other specs include a USB-C port, 3.5mm headphone jack, Android 8.0 Oreo, microSD support, 13MP rear camera, and an 8MP selfie camera. Samsung’s S Pen is included with the Tab S4 and, thanks to “far-field mics”, Best Buy’s listing notes that you’ll be able to “control your Tab S4 from a distance with Google Assistant.” There’s also mention of a DeX desktop interface that appears to run directly on the Tab S4’s screen when using the official keyboard cover.

The Galaxy Tab S4 will have a starting price of $649.99 for the model with 64GB of internal storage, and if you step up to 256GB, you’ll need to cough up $749.99.

July 17, 2018 — Snapdragon 835, 10.5-inch 16:10 display, and more revealed in full spec leak

If you’ve been waiting for a huge Galaxy Tab S4 spec dump, today’s your lucky day.

The folks at SamMobile recently got their hands on a full specification lowdown for the tablet, and as we were expecting, this will be one of the most powerful Android tablets you can buy in 2018.

Starting first with the display, the Tab S4 will have a 10.5-inch Super AMOLED panel with a 16:10 aspect ratio and 2560 x 1600 resolution. Under the hood is the Snapdragon 835 processor, 4GB RAM, 64GB of storage, and a 7,300 mAh battery.

Other specs include Bluetooth 5.0, 13MP rear camera, 8MP front camera, Samsung DeX support, and Android 8.1 Oreo.

All the big details

What specs are we anticipating?

Samsung’s Galaxy Tab tablets typically come equipped with top-of-the-line specifications, and with the tab S4, that’s no different.

The below specs are what we’re anticipating thanks to the rumor mill and Best Buy’s product page that went up ahead of the tablet’s launch, and while Samsung has confirmed none of them, we’re reasonably sure this is what we’ll be seeing when the Tab S4 is announced.

Dimensions	9.81-inches tall 6.47-inches wide 0.28-inches thick 17-ounce weight
Operating system	Android 8.0 Oreo
Processor	Qualcomm Snapdragon 835
Screen	10.5-inch 2560 x 1600 Super AMOLED panel 16:10 aspect ratio
RAM	4GB LPDDR4X
Storage	64GB or 256 GB Expandable via microSD card
Cameras	13MP rear 8MP front
Battery	7,300 mAh
Connectivity	USB Type-C 3.5mm headphone jack Bluetooth 5.0 Wi-Fi 802.11 ac
Security	Iris scanning

When will the Galaxy Tab S4 be released?

Similar to the upcoming Galaxy Watch, there are two possibilities as to when we’ll get our first official look at the Galaxy Tab S4.

Samsung’s holding an event on August 9 to announce the Note 9, and while there’s a chance we could see the Tab S4 here, I bet that Samsung will keep this event exclusive for Note 9 talk.

Instead, I think it’s more likely that the Tab S4 will be unveiled during IFA. This is also where Samsung will probably announce the Galaxy Watch and the trade show’s scheduled to take place between August 31 and September 5.

How much will it cost?

According to the Best Buy product page mentioned above, the Galaxy Tab S4 will have a starting price of $649.99 for the base model with 64GB of internal storage.

If you’d like, you can step up to the 256GB variant for $749.99.

Updated August 1, 2018: Updated specs and pricing sections with the latest available info.

Nerf Laser Ops Pro review: Laser Tag, AR, and Nerf gloriously combined

This is my blaster. There are many like it, but this one has my phone mounted on the barrel.

When you hear the name Nerf, there’s only a couple of things that come to mind. Most of the time, it means foam projectiles and lots of giggling from everyone involved. Sometimes it also means swords and axes and shields clashing in various forms of themed combat. Last week, a different experience with the Nerf branding on it crossed my desk. Laser Tag, in packages that look and feel just like many of the classic Nerf blaster I’ve used all my life. And perhaps coolest of all, an Augmented Reality add-on which lets you use your phone for both solo and multiplayer gameplay.

It couldn’t be more clear these were not average Nerf toys, which is exciting. Here’s a quick look at the new Alphapoint ad Deltaburst blasters from Nerf.

Nerf Laser Ops Pro

Price: $45

Bottom line: It’s Nerf, but laser tag. And Augmented Reality. There’s a lot to like here.

The Good

• Look and feel just like Nerf blasters
• Multiple blaster options at decent prices
• Laser Tag system works great
• One app can run multiple blasters

The Bad

• Deltaburst blaster is LOUD
• AR is kind of basic
• Gummy phone strap gets gross FAST

See at Amazon

Nerf Laser Ops Pro: What I like

Out of the box, Nerf offers you either a 2-pack of single-hand blasters or a single larger two-handed blaster, dubbed Alphapoint and Deltaburst respectively. These are simple Laser Tag blasters, with emitters in the barrel and receivers on the top. There’s no chest piece to be worn; everything is contained within the blaster itself. With the Alphapoint blasters, as soon as you drop four AA batteries in you’re ready to start playing. Powering the blasters up lets you choose between the red team or the blue team, and once sides have been chosen you play until someone loses. Simple, straightforward gameplay enhanced by a light up display on the back of the blaster. You have a simple health and ammo indicator. When you’re running low on ammo, there’s a button under the trigger you can press with your hand or slam dramatically against another surface and suddenly you have more energy to blast at your opponent.

Nerf has done a great job making sure the Laser Ops Pro blasters work basically everywhere.

Deltaburst is a little more advanced. It has an LCD screen on the back to give you specific numeric ammo count, as well as more detailed information for your remaining health. It’s also not a single shot like the Alphapoint’s, but instead defaults to a three-round burst every time you pull the trigger. To help simulate this semi-automatic fire, there’s a bolt in the back of the blaster that slams back and forth three times with lots of noise and vibration. The reload button for this blaster is located closer to the front but also positioned for dramatic-looking reload sequences when necessary. While this is a larger blaster, it works just as well as the Alphapoint blasters indoor and outdoor. Which is to say, they all work surprisingly well in both environments.

While it’s easy to jump into a game and just play, the Laser Ops Pro blasters are also designed to pair with a phone app to deliver more elaborate experiences. Through the app, players can gain experience and level up just like a console game. Experience earns you upgrades like more ammo per reload or more health as you continue to play, giving your blaster a competitive advantage as long as your phone is attached. Each kit comes with an armband to mount the phone to your forearm, so you can glance down as you play with friends, but the Deltaburst kit also comes with a mount on the barrel of the blaster. While it’s certainly possible to have the phone mounted here for multiplayer gameplay, doing so partially covers the receiver and gives you a bit of an unfair advantage. Instead, you use this mount for single-player gameplay.

The Nerf app single player mode is an Augmented Reality gallery shooter. Wave after wave of spaceships fly towards you through the display on the phone, and you take them out until you eventually fail. As you do this, you gain the same kind of experience you gain in multiplayer combat. It’s a simple AR game, but as you go deeper into the waves proves to be an impressive challenge. And if you’re playing with friends on a regular basis, a few rounds of this mode will earn you plenty of experience to gain a serious advantage in multiplayer combat.

Nerf Laser Ops Pro: What I don’t like

Nerf has done a great job making sure the Laser Ops Pro blasters work basically everywhere, but by design, I am less likely to want to use them indoors. The Deltaburst blaster, in particular, is always loud, no matter what. The plastic bolt action is terribly loud and there’s no way to turn it off. The Alphapoint blasters don’t have this feature and aren’t as uncomfortable to use indoors, but they also lack the detailed data readout on the back display and don’t come with the single-player mount for the AR phone game.

After a few days of use, this phone mount thing looks like those gumball machine sticky hands every parent on the planet secretly hates.

The AR game itself is also very basic. It’s clear none of the more advanced AR tools are being used for depth management or occlusion detection, so if you’re in a smaller room the illusion is broken with relative ease. On the one hand, adding these tools would have increased the complexity of the app and made it more difficult for younger users to just pick up and use. On the other hand, added realism keeps people playing for longer. It would be cool to see Nerf continue to evolve this feature.

I’m also not thrilled about the mechanism used to strap the phone down to the wrist or the blaster. It’s a sticky, rubbery material that picks up dust and hair from everything it touches. The stretchy material is a good choice for making sure you can put any kind of phone in this set up to ensure it is held firmly in place, but there’s very little you can do to keep this thing clean. After a few days of use, this phone mount thing looks like those gumball machine sticky hands every parent on the planet secretly hates.

Nerf Laser Ops Pro: Should you buy it?

Overall, I’m pretty excited to see Nerf step into the Laser Tag world with a simple set of blasters that anyone can use and enjoy. And the blasters are priced great. The $45 Alphapoint kit lets you get started for just over $20 per blaster, and the $50 Deltaburst blaster gives people who want a larger experience something to be excited about. But most important of all, these blasters grow and change as you continue playing thanks to the app. I’m able to play two-on-one matches with my kids with the simple set up, and because they have taken the time to upgrade through the app, I’m at a huge disadvantage even though I technically have superior firepower. The dynamic is constantly changing, making these more than simple toys.

If you’re a fan of Laser Tag at all, these are well worth taking a look at.

See at Amazon

Facebook and Instagram apps updated with tools to help you use them less

You can set usage limits, mute notifications, and more.

Similar to what we’ve seen from Google and Apple over the last couple months, Facebook just announced new tools coming to the Facebook and Instagram apps that are designed to help you use them less.

Each app is getting a new usage page that aims to make you more self-aware of how much time you’re spending on them. The main page shows how much time you’ve spent on Facebook/Instagram over the last week, as well as your daily average for the past seven days.

Below the graph, you’ll find a couple buttons to help you reduce your usage of the apps.

The first, called “Set Daily Reminder”, will allow you to set a limit for how long you want to use either app during a single day. Once you hit that limit, you’ll get a notification letting you know you’ve reached your allotted time. There’s nothing stopping you from swiping this away and continuing to look at endless corgi pictures, but if you’ve got enough self-control, it could be the reminder you need to put the phone down and do something else with the rest of your day.

Lastly, you can also use this page to mute any and all push notifications for 15 minutes, 1 hour, 2 hours, 4 hours, or 8 hours.

In Facebook, you can access these features by going to Settings and tapping on the new “Your Time on Facebook” tab. In Instagram, go to Settings and then “Your Activity.”

These tools are rolling out to both apps today and should be available for all users soon.

The Android P feature I’m most excited for will actually help me use my phone less

Best racing games for Android

Speed your way past the competition in these outstanding racers for Android!

We’ve rounded up the best racing games found in the Google Play Store. With so many options to choose from, we’ve compiled a list that covers a whole slew of sub-genres — from stylized arcade racing to highly realistic racing sims — so no matter your preference, you should find an outstanding game that’s right for you. Let’s hit the road!

• Asphalt 9: Airborne
• Riptide GP: Renegade
• Beach Buggy Blitz
• Horizon Chase: World Tour
• Red Bull Air Race The Game
• Repulze
• Colin McRae Rally
• Thumb Drift
• Real Racing 3
• Fast & Furious Legacy
• Death Rally
• CSR Racing

Asphalt 9: Legends

Asphalt 9: Legends is the latest entry in one of the most popular racing game available in the Google Play Store. It skips all pretensions of realism and provides an over-the-top, high-octane game with all the fixings. Players can work (or pay) their way through the career mode to unlock new rides or upgrade the ones they have. You can race against online opponents in eight car races that are wild and fast.

The controls default to “TouchDrive,” which allows you to focus on shifting lanes to hit specific jumps or routes, drifting and using nitro while the game itself handles your acceleration and steering. There are other control options available including on-screen controls and tilt-steering, but honestly, you’re best off playing with TouchDrive on to start until you get a handle on the game.

The incredibly polished graphics and outstanding soundtrack make Asphalt 9 an adrenaline trip you won’t soon forget.

Download Asphalt 9: Legends (Free w/IAPs)

Riptide GP: Renegade

Riptide GP: Renegade is the latest and greatest in futuristic jet ski racing franchise on Android. Harkening back to memories of games like Jet Moto or Wave Race 64, Riptide GP: Renegade features a story-driven career mode alongside options to run a quick race or battle against online opponents. The graphics are top notch, with water and motion blur effects, giving the game a good sense of speed.

It uses tilt-steering to control your hydro jet, which is less than ideal, but Bluetooth gamepads are also supported and make things smoother. Speaking of controls, one key aspect of the game is pulling off insane stunts, which are easy to do with quick swipes. There’s plenty to unlock and upgrade as you play through the career mode, and the AI is top notch, providing a real challenge compared to other racing games for Android. You’ll need a pretty good phone to handle the graphics and gameplay, and also plays great on the NVIDIA Shield tablet and Android TV box.

If you’re looking for some tips before diving in, check out our Beginner’s Guide for Riptide GP: Renegade.

Download Riptide GP: Renegade ($2.99)

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Beach Buggy Racing

Beach Buggy Racing is the sequel to Beach Buggy Blitz and is another easy-going racing game where players cruise along the coast of a tropical beach, trying to hit progressive checkpoints before the timer runs out. Gathering coins along the way helps fund your buggy upgrades, but make sure to avoid the various huts, animals, and fellow racers strewn about the course — impacts will slow you down. The graphics are colorful and smooth, including some nice water, dust, and lighting effects, and there are multiple control options available including support for Bluetooth controllers.

Hop into Beach Buggy Racing if you’re looking for something light and kid-friendly.

Download Beach Buggy Racing (Free w/Ads, IAPs)

Horizon Chase – World Tour

Horizon Chase is a fun retro-style racer with gameplay reminiscent of the of the classic 80s arcade racer Pole Position. Featuring bright and colorful retro graphics over 70 tracks spanning 32 cities, there’s plenty of fun to be had here. You start each race from the back of a 20 car pack and must weave your way past your opponents to take the crown. Keep winning to upgrade and unlock up 16 available cars.

You get to play the San Francisco tracks but then must pay to unlock the full game. Given how beautiful and fun this game is, we bet you will.

Download Horizon Chase: World Tour (Free, $0.99 to unlock full game)

Red Bull Air Race 2: the Mobile Game

Red Bull Air Race 2 is the latest mobile game that recreates the real-life air races that Red Bull holds around the world. Jump behind the controls of your very own plane as you start down your career path to becoming a Master Class pilot. Courses are based on their real-life counterparts and span the globe.

Whether you’re a fan of the race series, or just want to live the dream of being a pilot, this game is legit.

Download Red Bull Air Race The Game (Free w/IAPs)

Repulze

Repulze is proof that not all great racing games require wheels. If you’re a fan of the F-Zero or Wipeout franchises, you’ll love Repulze. Race through 24 winding, gravity-defying tracks in experimental hovercrafts. Another thing that sets Repulze apart from other games is the way you collect turbo boosts. Based on your craft’s polarity, you either aim to go through green or red gates, which unlock boosts. And the whole game is wrapped up in an overarching storyline about the evil corporation controlling everything from the shadows.

Repulze is a fantastic, futuristic racer that’s definitely worth the $0.99 price tag.

Download Repulze ($0.99)

Colin McRae Rally

I recently rediscovered the port of this classic PC game from way back in 1998. Rally car racing is all about whipping your car down gravel and dirt roads while trying to set the fasted time on the course. This offline racer is a great option if you’re less interested in street racing games.

The controls are tight with on-screen and motion-based options available, and the game has a good grasp on real-life physics, which is crucial for rally racing. You’ll need to learn how to follow the on-screen and audio directions given by your co-driver so that you keep your car on the road and avoid smashing into trees. If you do, your car will take damage, which stacks up quick when you’re trying to compete for a championship. There are many tracks to unlock, and all the iconic rally car brands are included.

Despite the lengthy loading times, this is still the best rally car game you’ll find on Android.

Download Colin McRae Rally ($0.99)

Thumb Drift – Furious Racing

Want to race, but only have one hand free? Thumb Drift is the perfect game for you! Featuring charming graphics and a simple premise, your goal is to drift sideways through four increasingly challenging courses. With over 70 cars to buy via in-app purchases, or unlock randomly using coins collected on the track, there are hours of mindless fun to be had here.

Thumb Drift is the casual, endless racer you’ve been waiting for.

Download Thumb Drift (free)

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Real Racing 3




Real Racing 3 is bound to keep gearheads entertained. It puts real brand-name cars on real-world tracks – hence the name. It features an interesting asynchronous multiplayer system whereby lap times are recorded from your friends, and you race against a bot that’s driving at that time. Of course, you can bump them out and affect their track time, and there’s a single-player career worth playing through too. Over time, players earn new cars and can upgrade various mechanical bits with their winnings, but make sure you take it easy on your car — you’ll have to keep your ride in good condition to avoid repair costs.

Real Racing 3 is gorgeous, and the white-knuckled racing action will keep you coming back for more.

Download Real Racing 3 (Free)

Fast & Furious Legacy

Fast & Furious Legacy is a racing game based on the popular action movies. The game features a good mix of different races and missions. Hit the nitro and blast past your opponents in street races, drag races, drift races. Winnings are spent on upgrading rides to take on bigger and badder challenges as you progress through the story mode, featuring all your favorite characters from the film franchise.

Fast & Furious Legacy offers bite-sized racing with varied gameplay and beautiful graphics.

Download Fast & Furious Legacy (Free)

Death Rally

Death Rally is a gritty, combat-heavy top-down racing title. Players deck out their ride with all manner of Mad Max-style weaponry and eliminate competitors in races and straight-up death matches. Weapon parts litter every battlefield, as well as cash bonuses and nitro speed boosts. The nice thing about Death Rally is that even if you don’t place first in a race, you can still walk away with a fair bit of cash just from blowing up opponents.

Death Rally is a great title for those looking to unload a bit of road rage.



Download Death Rally (Free)

CSR Racing



CSR Racing is a clean-cut drag racing game. Players needn’t worry about steering — all you have to do is perfectly time your gear changes. Indicators tell when to make your next shift, and assuming your timing is up to snuff and your ride is amply upgraded, you should pull across the finish line before your opponent, and earn some winnings. Premium currency can be used to buy high-end cars, while the standard currency can be used to buy the others, as well as upgrade specific parts such as the gearbox, engine, intake, and body.



CSR Racing boils down the racing experience to pure twitch reflexes.

Download CSR Racing (Free)

Your turn

What’s your go-to racing game of choice? Let us know in the comments!

Update July 2018: Updated our list for 2018 with Asphalt 9, Beach Buggy Racing, and Red Bull Air Race 2.

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