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31
Jul

The $160 Acer Chromebook 11 is just one of several Chromebooks on sale right now


Get the device you need.

The Acer Chromebook 11 is down to $159.99 on Amazon. That price is at least $30 off what it regularly goes for, and we’ve seen it go as high as $220 before.

acer-chromebook-11-2p7v.jpg?itok=cO0r7HB
This deal coincides with a price drop we covered on the Asus Chromebook Flip as well as a couple of other popular Chromebook models that have dropped in price.

A device like this is meant to be used with the cloud – specifically Google’s cloud. If you have light work you need to do regularly and a solid Internet connection, the Chromebook will be perfect for you since you can just use Google Docs and similar programs to do everything you need. The Chromebook 11 uses an Intel Celeron N3060 processor up to 2.48GHz. It has an 11.6-inch widescreen LED IPS display with 1366 x 768 pixel resolution, 4GB DDR3 RAM, a 16GB internal flash drive, and a 10-hour battery life. It has Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, integrated graphics, two USB 3.0 ports, one HDMI port, and an HD webcam.

See on Amazon

31
Jul

Chromebooks, streaming devices, label makers, and more are all discounted today


Whether you’re looking for new tech gear or household items, we’ve got you covered.

We found plenty of great deals today that include big discounts on several Chromebooks, Razer’s RGB gaming keyboard, a Brother label maker, the Roku streaming stick+, and more! Most of these prices will be gone when the day ends, so don’t miss your chance to save big!

View the rest of the deals

If you want to know about the deals as soon as they are happening, you’ll want to follow Thrifter on Twitter, and sign up for the newsletter, because missing out on a great deal stinks!

31
Jul

What’s new on Hulu for August 2018


Arnold said he’d be back. And he will be. Along with the OG Jack Ryan.

There are a lot of good flicks coming to Hulu in August 2018. Starting with the likes of Hoosiers and the Hunt for Red October — this business will get out of control and we’ll be lucky to live through it! — on Aug. 1, and wrapping up with The Terminator on Aug. 31. Ain’t nothing like the original.

And that’s just the bookends. There’s so much good stuff on Hulu in August. Have a gander.

Sign up for a free Hulu trial

Coming to Hulu on Aug. 1

  • Heartland (Complete Season 10)
  • 10 Things I Hate About You (1999) (*Showtime)
  • A Conspiracy to Rule: The Illuminati (2017)
  • American Gigolo (1980)
  • American Ninja (1985)
  • American Ninja III: Blood Hunt (1989)
  • Babe (1995)
  • Be Cool (2005)
  • The Beatles: Made on Merseyside (2017)
  • Black Hawk Down (2001)
  • Black Mask (1996)
  • Black Rain (1989)
  • Bluefin (2018)
  • Boomerang (1992)
  • The Brady Bunch Movie (1995)
  • Bratz: The Movie (2007)
  • Bring It On: In It to Win It (2007)
  • Bring It On: Fight to the Finish (2009)
  • Cheri (2009)
  • Cold War (2012)
  • CSNY/Deja Vu (2008)
  • Curse of the Starving Class (1995)
  • Double Whammy (2002)
  • The Elephant Man (1980)
  • Extract (2009)
  • Fled (1996)
  • G.I. Joe: The Rise of Cobra (2009)
  • Get Shorty (1995)
  • Halloween H20: 20 Years Later (1998)
  • Heartbreakers (2001)
  • Hey Arnold! The Movie (2002) (*Showtime)
  • Hidalgo (2004)
  • High Noon (1952)
  • Hoosiers (1986)
  • The Hunt for Red October (1990)
  • The Hurricane (2000)
  • The Hurt Locker (2008)
  • I Went Down (1997)
  • In & Out (1997)
  • Jackie Brown (1997)
  • Jacob’s Ladder (1990)
  • Joe (2014)
  • John Grisham’s The Rainmaker (1997)
  • Kazaam (1996)
  • Leaving Las Vegas (1995) (*Showtime)
  • Loser (2000)
  • Lost in Translation (2003) (*Showtime)
  • The Nasty Girl (1990)
  • The Ninth Gate (2000)
  • No Way Out (1987)
  • Original Sin (2001)
  • Out of Time (2003)
  • Point Break (1991)
  • Pretty Woman (1990)
  • Private Parts (1997)
  • The Rock (1996)
  • Scary Movie 3 (2003)
  • Shanghai Knights (2003)
  • Shaun of the Dead (2004)
  • Sheep and Wolves (2018)
  • Species (1995)
  • Species II (1998)
  • Species III (2004)
  • Stir of Echoes (1999)
  • Stir of Echoes 2: The Homecoming (2007)
  • The Swan Princess: A Royal Family Tale (2014)
  • The Swan Princess: Princess Tomorrow, Pirate Today (2016)
  • Swan Princess: Royally Undercover (2017)
  • Teen Wolf (1985)
  • Teen Wolf Too (1987)
  • The Time Machine (2002)
  • The Thomas Crown Affair (1999) (*Showtime)
  • True Colors (1991)
  • Urban Legend (1998) (*Showtime)
  • The Usual Suspects (1995)
  • Young Guns (1998)
  • Young Guns II (1990)

Coming to Hulu on Aug. 2

  • All at Once (2016)
  • America Divided: 201 Part 1
  • The China Hustle (2018)
  • Ismael’s Ghost (2018)

Coming to Hulu on Aug. 3

  • Animals Season 3 Premiere
  • En Otra Piel Complete Series”
  • Sharp Edges (1986)

Coming to Hulu on Aug. 4

  • Marshall (2017) (*Showtime)

Coming to Hulu on Aug. 7

  • Dating My Mother (2017)
  • Perfect Bid: The Contestant Who Knew Too Much (2017)
  • Wraith (2017)

Coming to Hulu on Aug. 8

  • Bachelor in Paradise Season 5 Premiere
  • Castaways Series Premiere
  • Blood Ties (2013)

Coming to Hulu on Aug. 9

  • America Divided: 202 Part 2
  • Baskin (2016)
  • Desolation (2018)
  • Terminal (2018)

Coming to Hulu on Aug. 10

  • Rosa Diamante Complete Series
  • Tim & Eric Bedtime Stories Complete Season 2″
  • Borg Vs McEnroe (2018)

Coming to Hulu on Aug. 11

  • Baby Driver (2017) (*Showtime)
  • The Cage Fighter (2013)

Coming to Hulu on Aug. 12

  • Ballers Season 4 Premiere
  • Insecure Season 3 Premiere
  • Very Good Girls (2013)

Coming to Hulu on Aug. 13

  • The Powerpuff Girls (2016) Complete Season 2

Coming to Hulu on Aug. 15

  • The Actors (2003)
  • America’s Sweethearts (2001)
  • Duplex (2003)
  • The Monkey King 3 (2018)

Coming to Hulu on Aug. 16

  • 11 Minutes (2016)
  • America Divided: 203 Part 3
  • Marrowbone (2018)
  • Role Models (2008)

Coming to Hulu on Aug. 16

  • Minding the Gap
  • Perro Amor Complete Series
  • Stan Against Evil Complete Season 2

Coming to Hulu on Aug. 21

  • Eva La Trailera Complete Series
  • To The Moon and Back (2016)

Coming to Hulu on Aug. 23

  • America Divided: 204 Part 4
  • Jiro Dreams of Sushi (2011)

Coming to Hulu on Aug. 24

  • Crime & Punishment

Coming to Hulu on Aug. 26

  • Captain Fantastic (2016) (*Showtime)
  • Gangs of New York (2002)
  • Mother! (2017)

Coming to Hulu on Aug. 28

  • Pasion Pohibida Complete Series
  • Deuces Wild (2002) (*Showtime)

Coming to Hulu on Aug. 31

  • The Terminator (1984)

What’s leaving Hulu on Aug. 31

  • 1492: Conquest of Paradise (1992)
  • 2 Days in the Valley (1996)
  • 52 Pick-Up (1986)
  • A Beautiful Mind (2001)
  • A Guy Thing (2003)
  • Across the Universe (2007)
  • Analyze That (2002)
  • Analyze This (1999)
  • Baby Mama (2008)
  • Bad Influence (1990)
  • Barnyard (2006)
  • Beer for my Horse (2008)
  • Blue Like Jazz (2012)
  • Bowfinger (1999)
  • Brokeback Mountain (2005)
  • The Brothers Grimm (2005)
  • The Burbs (1989)
  • Chinese Box (1997)
  • Clue (1985)
  • Criminal Law (1989)
  • Dead Man Walking (1995)
  • Doctor Dolittle (1997)
  • Drive Me Crazy (1999)
  • Drop Zone (1994)
  • East is East (1999)
  • End of Days (1999)
  • Escape from Alcatraz (1979)
  • Event Horizon (1997)
  • Fatal Instinct (1993)
  • The Frozen Ground (2013)
  • Hard Rain (1998)
  • Hellboy (2004)
  • Hot Boyz (2000)
  • House of D (2005)
  • Immigration Tango (2011)
  • Into the West (2005)
  • Men with Brooms (2002)
  • Mindhunters (2004)
  • Mr. Majestyk (1974)
  • Mutant Species (1995)
  • My Left Foot (1989)
  • Nanny Mcphee (2006)
  • Nurse 3D (2014)
  • Over the Top (1987)
  • Panic (2000)
  • Prancer (1989)
  • Primal Fear (1996)
  • Rain Man (1988)
  • Remember the Goal (2016)
  • Restoration (2016)
  • Revenge of the Pink Panther (1978)
  • Spawn (1997)
  • Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street (2007)
  • Tamara (2006)
  • Trainspotting (1996)
  • You Don’t Mess with the Zohan (2008)

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31
Jul

Revisit the good old days with an NES or SNES Classic Edition console in stock at Amazon


You should hurry up.

Update: Both consoles are available for purchase right now! The NES Classic will not be shipping until August 12 currently, while the SNES Classic won’t ship until August 5. There’s no telling how much longer these consoles will be available for, so best get your order in while you can!

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Ah, Nintendo, breaker of hearts and crusher of dreams. How can one company be so good at releasing such limited quantities of the coolest items ever?!

The Nintendo NES Classic Edition has been hard to nab from the get-go. When it was first released, people waited in line for hours in the hopes of snatching one up — myself included. This little gadget hit the reseller market fast after stock was depleted, selling for up to $1,000. Seriously. It was once thought to be gone forever, and it left thousands of fans upset, knowing that they may never have the chance to revisit their childhood favorites on an actual Nintendo machine. (Yes, you can emulate retro games. No, it isn’t the same. Don’t @ me.)

Thankfully, you don’t have to wait for six hours in the freezing Wisconsin snow to get yours like I did. You don’t even have to leave your house. Amazon has the Nintendo NES Classic Edition console in stock for the MSRP of $59.99. No markups, no hassle, and no blood, sweat, or tears. Except for maybe tears of joy.

If you haven’t yet gotten your hands on the Super NES Classic console, you can snag one of those at Amazon right now too for its regular price of $79.99.

The NES Classic is awesome. It has the look and feel of the original console, although it is slightly smaller and sleeker. It includes an old-school controller and it’s packed with 30 games, including Super Marios Bros., Donkey Kong, The Legend of Zelda, Mega Man, and more. It’s worth noting that the controller cord is pretty short, but extenders are available for cheap or you could even pre-order a wireless controller. If you were inclined to do some web searching, you may also find that rumor has it you can hack the console to include hundreds of other games, although you run the risk of bricking your machine, among other things, and an editor such as myself couldn’t possibly suggest that you do such a thing.

This is the first major restock of this console since it was released. If you’re interested, trust me: there are thousands of other interested people, too. Hop to it and beat them to the punch before it sells out again.

See at Amazon

31
Jul

Deals: Sprint’s iPhone 8 Flash Sale, Nike’s Apple Watch Discounts, and Last Call for Exclusive RAVPower Codes


Sprint today announced a new promotion for customers adding a new line of service over the next few days, this time focusing on the iPhone 8. Under the new offer, new and existing customers who add a new line can get the 64GB iPhone 8 for $8 per month with Sprint Flex.

Note: MacRumors is an affiliate partner with some of these vendors. When you click a link and make a purchase, we may receive a small payment, which helps us keep the site running.

The flash sale will kick off tomorrow, July 31, and run through Thursday, August 9, available on Sprint’s website and through over-the-phone orders. Sprint’s announcement also follows the reveal of its new “Unlimited Plus” and “Unlimited Basic” smartphone plans earlier in the month.

“Sprint’s Flash Sale is delivering a fast, simple and convenient online shopping experience, something we know consumers crave,” said Dow Draper, Sprint chief commercial officer. “This is the first time Sprint has offered iPhone 8 at the unbelievably low price of only $8 a month with Sprint Flex. Now is the perfect time to become a customer because Sprint has the network built for unlimited at the best price. Don’t wait; iPhone 8 for $8 a month will only be available until Aug. 9.”

There are a few other deals going on today, starting off with savings on App Store and iTunes gift cards exclusively for Costco members. Those with a member account can get the $100 iTunes e-gift card for $84.49 and the $25 iTunes e-gift card for $21.49, coming just under the usual 15 percent discounts the cards see at other retailers.

On eBay, customers have the chance to save 10 percent on back-to-school shopping with the company’s latest coupon. This one isn’t a sitewide code, but instead focuses on items including backpacks, laptops, cameras, dorm essentials, and more sold by select sellers (you can find the full list at the bottom of this landing page). Once you find eligible items worth $25 or more, enter the code PUMPED10 at checkout to get 10 percent off your order through 11:59 p.m. PT on August 3.


At Rakuten, third-party seller BuyDig has again discounted the Beats Studio3 Wireless Headphones (Black) to their all-time-low price of $181.90 with code BYD37, down from $219.00 and coming about $50 under the current $240 price tag at Walmart and Amazon. Rakuten has also kicked off a new 15 percent off sitewide sale, giving customers the chance to save on a variety of products using promo code SAVE15.

Another notable sale this week is Nike’s 20 percent off promo code HOT20, which you can apply to Apple Watch and band accessories found on this page. With this sale, the most expensive Aluminum Apple Watch Series 3 model (GPS + Cellular, 42mm) is marked down to $343.20, down from $429.99. Likewise, Nike’s Sport Bands and a few Sport Loops are available for $39.20, down from $49.99.


Finishing off today’s deals is a list of accessories sold on Amazon from companies including Anker, RAVPower, and Choetech, many of which will be expiring as July comes to a close this week so consider this your last-call warning for these discounts:

Last Call: MacRumors + RAVPower Exclusive Codes, expiring July 31 at 11:59 p.m. PT

  • Dual USB Car Charger with 3ft Lightning Cable – $8.39 with code RUMORS025, down from $11.99

  • Ultra-Slim Wireless Charging Pad – $8.49 with code RUMORS083, down from $11.99

  • 2-Pack 3ft + 6ft MFi Certified iPhone Cables – $11.99 with code RUMORS003, down from $15.99

  • 40W 4-Port USB Wall Charger – $13.99 with code RUMORSC26, down from $17.99

  • 10,000 mAh Portable Charger – $20.99 with code RUMORS077, down from $29.99

  • 10,000 mAh Solar Portable Charger – $23.99 with code RUMORS082, down from $29.99

  • 22,000 mAh Power Bank with USB-C – $37.49 with code RUMORS009, down from $49.99

  • 27,000 mAh AC Plug Universal Power Bank – $99.99 with code RUMORS055, down from $129.99

Last Call: Choetech’s Fast Wireless Charging Stand for $13.99 with code MACHOT52, down from $19.99

Be sure to head over to our full Deals Roundup for information on more sales kicking off this week.

Related Roundup: Apple Deals
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31
Jul

Steam game allegedly infected users with cryptocurrency-mining malware


Earlier this year, Steam creator Valve announced that it was opening up the online marketplace to nearly all games, provided that they weren’t illegal. It gives players more choices when they’re browsing, but one game currently available on Steam appears to be infecting users with malware.

The platformer Abstractism, which is advertised on Steam as a game with a “stylish minimalistic design” and “relaxing atmosphere,” appears to install a cryptocurrency-mining program on users’ systems after it is installed. Users who purchased the game have uploaded screenshots showing that the game is recognized as a Trojan virus by their security software, and YouTube user SidAlpha was led to believe that — due to the high CPU and GPU stress caused by the game — this virus was mining cryptocurrency.

It was also discovered that in-game items in Abstractism were being sold on Steam under the guise of being rare virtual items for Team Fortress 2, causing players to spend real money on them without realizing that they were effectively worthless. The game’s developer, Okalo Union, attempted to cover its tracks by renaming these items and changing the associated images, but the original URLs still confirmed they were intended to trick users.

For its part, Okalo Union said Abstracism is not a cryptocurrency miner, despite earlier suggesting it was, and that the programs flagged by antivirus software are necessary to handle the game’s item drops. It seems unlikely that this is the case, but the items you can receive mostly consist of cut up meme images, so you aren’t missing out on that much by skipping it. The developer encourages players to have the game open for increasingly long periods of time, which would make perfect sense if it’s using their system to mine cryptocurrency during that time.

Valve’s decision to open up Steam to a wider selection of games sounded like it could be a good idea, but if users can’t guarantee that a game they download from the service won’t harm their computer, the company has a big problem. It would be wise to reconsider its stance on this policy before things get any worse.

Editors’ Recommendations

  • Games from Space lets you loan your GPU to earn free games
  • Steam advertisement confirms ‘Just Cause 4’ following leak
  • J.J. Abrams’ company Bad Robot forms video games division
  • Volition is a blockchain-powered collectible card game that you print at home
  • Valve will stop regulating Steam, save for illegal content, straight up trolling



31
Jul

AMD’s 32-core Threadripper 2990X could cost a whopping $1,800


Bill Roberson/Digital Trends

AMD’s upcoming second-generation Threadripper CPUs could cost more than twice as much as their predecessors, making them an expensive upgrade despite the doubling of cores and threads they each sport. The AMD Ryzen Threadripper 2990X has made an appearance on a Canadian retailer’s website with a price tag of $2,400 Canadian, or around $1,840 U.S..

Intel has dominated the top tier of desktop and mobile CPUs for the best part of a decade, but AMD’s Ryzen line, released in 2017, gave it some serious competition, especially in multithreaded settings. The prosumer end of the Ryzen spectrum, Threadripper, did more than that, offering comparable performance to Intel’s most expensive CPUs — some as expensive as $2,000 — for less than half the price. Threadripper 2 is expected to debut in the next few months and could do much the same, though it may not be anywhere near as cost effective.

Although far from confirmed as a launch price, the listing on Canada Computers — spotted by Videocardz — suggests that the top-of-the-line, 32-core, 64-thread Threadripper 2990X CPU would cost the equivalent of $1,840. That would make it the most expensive consumer-facing CPU AMD has released in a long time and a far cry from the past-generation’s Threadripper 1950X, which debuted at $1,000. Today, it can be found for as little as $775.

The price of the new chip is substantially higher than we were expecting, with early rumors suggesting the 2990X would debut at around $1,500. It could be that the Canada Computers’ listing is merely a placeholder — it has since been removed from the site.

While it was up though, other details in the listing confirmed that the 2990X will feature 32 cores and 64 threads and will have a massive 80MB of total cache. It will also make use of the same socket as the previous generation, the TR4, and will have a power-draw of 250w. As Wccftech highlights, the 2990X is expected to have a clock speed of 3.4GHz at its base, boosting up to as much as 4.2GHz on a reduced number of cores.

AMD’s new Threadripper CPUs are expected to debut in mid-August.

If you’re a big Intel fan, you could wait for its 28-core CPU, but as impressive as its 5GHz showcase was, it turned out to be a bit of a fantasy.

Editors’ Recommendations

  • Huawei jumps on AMD’s Ryzen bandwagon via an upcoming 14-inch MateBook D laptop
  • Bitcoin’s profitability called into question as energy consumption rises
  • Laptop buying guide
  • Acer Chromebook Spin 11 review
  • Intel throws down a gauntlet with its 28-core extreme CPU



31
Jul

LG’s Signature Edition (2018) phone costs twice as much as the LG V35


Rising prices are a common complaint with recent phones, and with the iPhone X hitting the $1,000 price tag, it’s easy to see why. But why shy away from such a trend when you can embrace it fully and release a phone made from premium materials and a sky-high price? That’s exactly what LG is doing again with the special LG Signature Edition.

Once preserved just for LG’s TVs and fridges, the premium Signature brand was brought to LG’s mobile division last year with the LG Signature Edition. Now, LG is updating its Signature Edition phone for a new year. Here’s what you need to know about the LG Signature Edition (2018).

Design and display

In terms of looks, the LG Signature Edition (2018) looks almost identical to the last LG Signature Edition — that is, it’s based on the LG V30 and LG V35 ThinQ. That’s not a terrible thing, as the LG V30 is still a good looker, even by 2018’s standards. The V30’s good looks are tempered in a similar way to the last Signature Edition, and instead of a glass body, you will find zirconium ceramic encasing the phone. This premium material is exceptionally hard and tough to scratch — like the Essential Phone — and is usually reserved for high-end watches, rather than phones. Like the last Signature Edition, users can elect to have a name engraved on their phone, too.

The 6-inch OLED display is the same as the LG V30, with an 18:9 aspect ratio and 2,880 x 1,440 resolution for a pixels-per-inch density of 538. That’s crisp and clear, and when coupled with HDR10 tech, makes for an exceptional display. The ceramic body should mean that the phone is able to resist scratches and similar damage, while it’s also fully sealed with an IP68 rating for dust and water-resistance.

Specs and battery

While the outside of the 2018 Signature Edition isn’t much different from the previous year’s model, it is the insides that have seen the largest change from the last device.

Key Specs


CPU: Qualcomm Snapdragon 845


Memory: 6GB


Storage: 256GB


MicroSD storage: Up to 2TB


Screen size: 6 inches


Resolution: 2,880 x 1,440


Connectivity: GSM/CDMA/LTE


Battery: 3,300mAh


Operating system: Android 8.0 Oreo

While the Snapdragon 835 is still a fast processor, it’s nice to see that LG has splashed out on the Snapdragon 845 in the Signature Edition (2018). The Snapdragon 845 is this year’s flagship processor, and it would have been odd for this exceptionally expensive phone to have shipped without it.

The upgraded processor is joined by 6GB of RAM, an enormous 256GB hard drive, and the option to expand storage by up to 2TB of MicroSD card. That’s an awful lot of storage for any one person, and it’s unlikely anyone who splashes out is going to fill their storage any time soon.

Those premium flagship specs are backed up by a 3,300mAh battery. That’s fairly standard, but it should be able to put up a good performance, based on the LG V30’s excellent battery life and the extra power efficiency of the Snapdragon 845. When it does run out, you’ll be able to charge wirelessly, or with LG’s fast charging.

Software and special features

LG has thrown heavily into audio with its last few phones, and while the Signature Edition (2018) won’t be equipped with the LG G7 ThinQ‘s excellent Boombox Speaker, it will have the quad digital to analog converter (DAC) and AptX HD sound that made the LG V30 such an incredible phone for audiophiles.

It’s going to be Android Oreo on the phone, but weirdly, LG hasn’t specified which version it’ll be. We imagine that Android 8.1 Oreo will make an appearance, but at this time that’s not been confirmed by LG to be the case. Expect Android 8.0 Oreo and you won’t be disappointed. LG hasn’t traditionally been heavy-handed with its Android skin, with just a smattering of LG apps pre-installed.

Camera

LG hasn’t varied up its camera tech in some time, and the super-premium price point of the LG Signature Edition (2018) apparently isn’t going to change that. You’ll find a pair of 16-megapixel lenses on the back of the phone — one with an f/1.6 aperture, while the other packs a smaller f/1.9 aperture, but a wide angle 107-degree wide-angle lens. LG’s A.I. camera will also be returning, and this software will attempt to recognize the scene you’re looking at and recommends settings accordingly.

Release date and price

Here’s the big one. We’ve referred to the phone’s cost throughout this, but we’ve held off giving you an actual number until now. The LG Signature Edition (2018) will cost 1,999,800 won — that’s just shy of $1,800. Thankfully, you don’t just get the phone at the asking price — LG will also be giving away a pair of Bang & Olufsen (B&O) Beoplay H9i headphones with the phone. Since they cost 700,000 won (about $620) by themselves, that might help to soften the financial blow somewhat.

Has all this opulence got your mouth watering? Well, you need to be fast, because LG is currently only selling the Signature Edition (2018) in Korea, and there are only 300 units available. Pre-sales for this super-special edition begin on July 30, and the phone releases August 13.

Editors’ Recommendations

  • LG V35 ThinQ vs. LG G7 ThinQ: Which phone prevails in stablemate showdown?
  • LG G7 ThinQ vs. LG G6: Out with the old, in with the new
  • LG V35 ThinQ vs. OnePlus 6: Can LG’s latest flagship beat an Android favorite?
  • LG V35 ThinQ vs. LG V30: Is the newer model worth the extra cash?
  • LG G7 ThinQ vs. LG V30: Which LG flagship phone is best for you?



31
Jul

Daydream VR users can browse with Google Chrome in virtual space


Bridging the gaps between different platforms, users of Google’s Daydream VR will now be able to use the web browser Chrome, granting the ability to view webpages in Chrome from within their VR-bubble, as well as access all of Google Chrome’s usual features.

Users will be able to access the same features they expect from Google Chrome, including incognito mode, voice search, and saved bookmarks — but Google has also taken the liberty of adding some new features just for Daydream VR use. “Cinema mode” is perhaps the most notable, and promises an optimal way of viewing web video within a virtual environment. Google hasn’t revealed exactly how this works, but it’s safe to imagine it works similarly to other VR video viewers that place you within a dedicated cinema for your viewing pleasure.

Also, since Chrome is now fully integrated with Daydream VR, users are able to easily jump between viewing on their phone and on a Daydream headset. According to Google’s announcement, users will be able to browse webpages on their phones before seamlessly switching to viewing that same page in Daydream VR, whether that page contains news articles or a YouTube video.

To use Chrome in your Daydream VR headset, all you need to do is update your Chrome for Android app to the latest version from the Google Play Store. The app should then appear on your Daydream VR homepage to allow you to view and interact with webpages in virtual reality.

Google’s Daydream VR is available on a variety of Android phones across all price points, through Google’s Daydream View headset. Though it’s available on the Google Pixel range, some of Samsung’s Galaxy range, and more phones, there’s also the option to dump the phone entirely with Lenovo’s Mirage Solo headset.

Despite being the biggest tech leap around just a few years ago, virtual reality has somewhat faded into the background recently, with advancements in augmented reality taking center stage over bulky headsets. Innovation hasn’t halted, though, and there’s still a ton of fun to be found in virtual space. Check out our favorite Daydream VR apps, or check out the alternatives with the best Gear VR apps for the Samsung Gear VR.

Editors’ Recommendations

  • Lenovo Mirage Solo with Daydream review
  • Try before you travel — Kayak launches virtual reality exploration tool
  • Oculus Go vs. Lenovo Mirage Solo
  • YouTube VR gets bolder with the Gear headset and communal experiences
  • Oculus Go review



31
Jul

Magic Leap’s augmented reality interface floats wherever you want it



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magic leap augmented reality interface magicleapui05

magic leap augmented reality interface magicleapui06

There are no standards for what a virtual or augmented reality user interface should look like, but in the case of Magic Leap, it could be a blend of floating icons in wheels and grids. New mock-up screenshots of what users will see through their augmented reality goggles have been released, showing that menus and icons will be used in both 2D and 3D forms, but in each case will float a customizable distance from the user. With enough space, headset wearers will be able to operate several different menus at the same time, even pinning them in place if needed.

In Magic Leap’s operating system, there will be two distinctive classes of menu systems. The first, known as “Landscape” applications, will use traditional grid and wheel designs to showcase content and options across a 2D pane. Where the menu displays its information and at what distance, will be customizable by the user. Several “menus,” such as galleries of images, or a larger virtual display could operate side by side or in front of one another if that was preferable.

“Immersive” apps, will conform to the environment around them, letting them sit atop a tabletop or ‘break through’ a wall, or hang from the ceiling. Like the Landscape apps, the menus in Immersive applications will be customizable by the user, but they will also take more guidance from the geometry of the space around them.

User controls will involve hand-tracking inputs with drag-and-drop ability, as well as pointer-tracked taps. For more in-depth inputs like typing, virtual keyboards can be displayed to the viewer at whatever angle is most comfortable for them. TechCrunch reports that there will also be options for hardware accessories like Bluetooth keyboards for those who prefer the feel of physical peripherals under their fingertips.

All of this information is available in more depth in Magic Leap’s Creator portal, which has a long list of guidelines and recommendations for developers looking to make content for the augmented reality platform. It suggests that Immersive applications need to allow for smooth entry into and out of the experiences, to prevent them from being jarring and that no matter what kind of app is being created, it should be geared toward enabling multitasking.

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