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?
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• 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?

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
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• Oculus Go vs. Lenovo Mirage Solo
• YouTube VR gets bolder with the Gear headset and communal experiences
• Oculus Go review

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

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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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Microsoft will take charge of your Windows 10 device in a new monthly lease

Microsoft is supposedly gearing up to launch a subscription service for Windows 10 that will see customers paying a monthly fee for leasing the entire PC, not just the operating system. Currently dubbed as Microsoft Managed Desktop, the company would do just that: Manage the device on an operating system level, cutting you out of the update process.

The idea stems from the corporate environment. Microsoft already provides Windows 10 as a per-user service, but feature updates and patches can be a nightmare for IT given they can cause major issues. This brings an “unpredictability” element to the corporate environment, costing time and money.

But if Microsoft simply leased the entire device, all feature updates and patches are tested and confirmed stable for that specific hardware set, removing the unpredictability. That’s not the case right now given the vast number of PCs with different hardware components and Windows 10 trying to support every configuration without fail.

Microsoft’s partners already provide something similar to Microsoft Managed Desktop under its Modern Workplace as a Service banner. For instance, CompNow provides a complete package consisting of a device of your choice, Office 365, Enterprise Mobility and Security, Managed IT services and helpdesk and a flexible warranty for one monthly payment.

HP provides a Device as a Service package too although it doesn’t fall under the Modern Desktop banner. For a monthly fee per seat, corporations can choose a specific device and receive technical support, rapid repair or replace, proactive management capabilities, analytics, lifecycle management on a global scale, and more. VMware and Citrix do something similar.

That said, Microsoft Managed Desktop isn’t exactly anything new, but if sources are correct, Microsoft is gearing up to provide its own hardware-based service. Right now, the company serves up a software bundle consisting of Windows 10, Office 365, and Enterprise Mobility + Security for a monthly fee.

Microsoft already leases hardware too. Introduced in July 2016, Surface as a Service provides Surface devices for a monthly fee through the company’s Cloud Solution Providers. Even on a mainstream level, Microsoft offers a Surface Plus program so anyone can get a Surface device for a monthly payment. There’s a version of this plan for businesses, too.

Adding to Microsoft’s arsenal is Windows Autopilot, a service for deploying Windows 10 devices with relatively no IT involvement. According to Microsoft, Windows Autopilot provides setup and pre-configuration tools so that users can get started on their own. Even more, there is no need to re-image Windows 10 if the device is handed to another user.

With all that in place, Microsoft appears ready to provide the supposed Microsoft Managed Desktop service. When and how it will be offered is unknown for now: Will Microsoft lease these devices directly to customers, or will hardware partners provide these devices with added features? A Microsoft spokesperson wouldn’t comment.

Editors’ Recommendations

• Don’t get too comfortable! At Build 2018, Microsoft showed plans to change Windows
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• Windows is back on your phone, and this time it’s a good thing
• The Pixelbook could soon run Windows 10
• It’s still short of a billion, but Windows 10 adoption hits a big milestone

Best Media Streamers for Plex

Plex is a great way to set up a home media server, but to get the best you need to get it onto your TV.

Plex isn’t the only way to set up a home media server but it’s certainly one of the most feature-packed and simplest methods around. And one of its ultimate strengths is how many different platforms it supports.

Plex is all about the experience, though, and where better to enjoy your content than on the largest screen in your house? Some of the latest smart TVs have Plex built in, which is great, but in many cases you’ll be wanting a streaming box.

And that’s where these come in.

• NVIDIA Shield TV
• OSMC Vero 4K+
• Google Chromecast
• Roku Ultra
• Apple TV 4K
• Amazon Fire TV

NVIDIA Shield TV

When it comes to a set-top box for any purpose, the NVIDIA Shield TV should be at the very top of considerations. It may have been around for a few years now, but it’s still one of the most powerful boxes out there and it’s a perfect companion for Plex.

Not only can you run your Plex Media Server from a Shield, but its codec support is excellent which becomes more important than ever when you’re streaming a variety of content from your collection.

Powered by an NVIDIA Tegra X1 processor, the Shield TV runs the latest version of Android TV, has Google Assistant built right in, will handle 4K and HDR video as well as being a pretty handy games console. It’s simply one of the best value packages around. Pick one up with a remote and game controller for around $200.

See at Amazon

OSMC Vero 4K+

OSMC has quickly become very popular home theatre software, in no small part thanks to its support for the Raspberry Pi. OSMC is built on top of Kodi but with a completely customized interface that’s both beautiful and easy to navigate. OSMC allows anyone to build a very cheap but capable home media center.

But, the best OSMC experience comes on its own hardware, the Vero 4K+. The latest model adds Gigabit Ethernet and faster performance than ever. It’s also very affordable, shipping worldwide from the UK for £99 ($130).

The Kodi platform allows you to add the official Plex add-on, and the hardware supports a wide range of video formats and codecs, with h.265 now in the mix alongside handling 4K video and HDR10. The kit includes everything you need to get going with a remote and TV mounting kit in the box, and you’re promised five years of OSMC software updates.

See at OSMC

Google Chromecast

Google Cast is built into Android TV devices like the Shield, but if you’re looking for something more affordable and you primarily interact with Plex on your phone, a Chromecast might be your best bet.

The Plex app for Android and iOS supports the Google Cast system so you can literally browse your server from your phone and then ping your content over to your TV.

You don’t currently get all Plex features supported over Chromecast, Live TV is a notable absentee, but if you’re looking for a basic, inexpensive way to get your Plex content onto your TV, the Chromecast is just $35. Or you can also indulge in the 4K-capable Chromecast Ultra for just $70.

See at Best Buy

Roku Ultra

The Roku Ultra is another fantastic option if you’re looking to Plex up your TV while saving some cash. At around $85 it offers affordability while still having features you’ll be looking for like 4K and HDR10 support. In most cases you’ll be relying on your server to do the transcoding, especially for 4K content.

Plex is also probably the best way to get live TV on a Roku Ultra since it doesn’t support native MPEG-2 decoding, leaving HDHomeRun and other such products off the table.

Roku also offers a neat private listening feature with a 3.5mm headphone jack on its remote control. It’s pretty simple to use, well priced and a good way to get started with Plex on your TV.

See at Amazon

Apple TV 4K

If you thought you’d need to use a Mac, iPhone or iPad to be able to use an Apple TV you’re thankfully wrong. While Android TV is a little more cross-platform friendly, the Apple TV can now be used fairly well on its own. Apps and content are available natively on the box, which includes Plex.

For $180 you get the 32GB model and an included (highly breakable) Siri remote, and all you need is an Apple ID to begin buying content and downloading apps. The latest model also supports 4K video and HDR10 as well as Dolby Vision, so it’s covering the main bases a 2018 video buff would want.

To get the very best Plex experience on Apple TV, many folks go with the third-party MrMc Media Center application which costs $7, but also acts as a conduit to other local content and generally makes the Apple TV more useful.

The official Plex app is decent, though, but you’ll really be relying on your server to do most of the heavy lifting. As it’s iOS though, Plex is usually very quick to update its Apple TV app with the latest features.

See at Best Buy

Amazon Fire TV Cube

An Android-powered TV box that doesn’t run Android TV, Amazon’s Fire TV and the new Fire TV Cube do at least reap the benefits of the underlying OS. While there’s no Google Play, Amazon’s Fire TV offering is well stocked and Plex is naturally available officially.

The Fire TV is a pretty powerful little box capable of delivering 4K, HDR10 and Dolby Atmos, be that the Cube or the ‘dongle’ style Fire TV. It also supports the latest h.265 format and MPEG-2 for natively decoding live TV from something like a HDHomeRun.

Of the two latest Fire TV devices, unless you really want Alexa (think of it as a Fire TV with an Echo Dot included) then you’re better off getting the $70 Fire TV.

Plex: Everything you need to know!

See at Amazon

Your streamer of choice

How do you watch Plex? Let us know in the comments below!

Fortnite for Android: Everything You Need to Know!

The hottest game of 2018 will be coming to Android soon.

Fortnite has been blowing up lately. Millions of people have become obsessed with the game, both as players and just watching popular Twitch streamers play the game.

Interested to learn more about what the heck Fortnite is all about? Just keep reading.

What’s new with Fortnite?

July 30, 2018 — Fortnite for Android might not be on the Play Store and require a manual APK download

Just a few days after it was reported that Fortnite will be launching as a limited exclusive for the Galaxy Note 9, we now have some interesting details about how the Android app will be distributed.

The folks at XDA recently took a look at the source code on Epic’s official website, and while doing so, came across some instructions telling people how to download the Android port. Specifically, it talks about going to Epic’s site and downloading the game’s APK file there rathern thand doing so through Google Play.

With a move like this, there are a few important things to point out.

First off, while manually downloading APK files isn’t all that difficult, it does require you to accept downloads from unknown sources (possibly making yourself vulnerable to security threats) and can be a clunky process for users that aren’t familiar with doing so. On the flip side, Epic gets to avoid Google’s 30% cut of all in-game purchases.

It’s still unclear if this process will be set in stone for the game’s foreseeable future or just during its exclusivity to the Note 9, but all these details should be explained in just a few short days.

July 16, 2018 — Season 5 Battle Pass has begun, still no official Android launch date set

We’re midway through July and still no word from Epic Games as to when specifically Fortnite will be released for Android this summer.

Meanwhile, the Season 5 Battle Pass has begun for all other platforms that Fortnite is available on, which either means that the Android version is imminent or we’re going to have to wait for this season to wrap up and hope it’s released ahead of Season 6. Battle Pass seasons typically last around 10 weeks, which would mean Season 5 should wrap up around the third week of September which lines up nicely with the Autumnal equinox and the official end of summer.

Speculation on the Fortnite forums is rampant, with some posters confident the Android version will be released imminently in the coming weeks, while others are prepared to wait until September. We’ll be sure to let you know as soon as a more concrete date is set.

All the big details

What is Fortnite?

Fortnite is what would happen if you combined two of the most addictive games out there — Minecraft and PUBG.

Fortnite offers a free 100-player Player Vs Player (PvP) Battle Royale game mode. Just like PUBG, you’re dropped onto the large island map and must arm yourself and outlive your competition. But in Fortnite, you always start out armed with a pickaxe which can be used as a melee weapon or for harvest raw supplies for building walls, ramps, and shelters.

It certainly adds extra layers of strategy to the format, creating essentially a perfect storm of addictive gaming action that’s as fun to watch as it is to play. Oh, speaking of storms all the action takes place in the eye of a deadly electrical storm meaning you can’t just hunker down and hide out the whole game. You got to keep moving.

How do you play the game?

Just like PUBG, your goal is to be the last man standing — with up to 100 players involved in each match, that’s no small task.

Each game starts with the players jumping out of the flying “Battle Bus” and parachuting down onto a giant island. Once landed, you must loot nearby buildings for items, guns, and ammo to defend yourself and attack other players.

You also need to keep an eye on the map, as every few minutes the storm closes in on the play area. If you’re caught in the storm, you slowly die so you do not want to forget to regularly check where you are on the map. Eventually, the play constricts to a tiny area for the final showdown between the remaining players — there can only be one winner!

Unlike PUBG, you’re able to carry more than two guns. Instead, you’re limited to the number of weapons and items you can carry at one time. Also, guns are color coded to denote their rarity — from grey (common) to orange (legendary) — and the rarer the gun, the deadlier it is.

Then there’s the crafting element. Every player starts out with a pickaxe which can be used as a melee weapon or used to break down trees and buildings to harvest the raw resources. You can then use these raw resources to build your own structures, whether it be a defensive wall to provide cover from an advancing enemy, a set of stairs to reach the second floor of a building or your own watchtower to snipe players from across the map. The resources you mine will determine the strength. Steel is stronger than brick, which is stronger than wood.

The latest update to the game for the Season 5 Battle Pass has introduced a slew of new map areas and gameplay features including the All-Terrain Kart (ATK) which let you and your squad move around the map faster than ever before. You can read more about the latest tweaks in the full release notes.

When will it be available for Android?

Fortnite has been available for PC, Xbox One and PlayStation 4 for a few months now, and is now widely available on iOS devices after a brief invite-only beta.

There have been no firm dates set for an Android release by Fortnite’s developer, Epic Games, but they have said to expect Fortnite Mobile to launch on Android sometime this summer. For now, Android users can head on over to Epic Games, log in or create your Fortnite Account, and then let the developers know which device you plan to play on which will also add you to the mailing list to be informed when the game eventually drops.

Until then, at least we’ve got PUBG to tide us over.

Yeah, but I found this site that offered an APK file for…

Stop. The game is not out for Android yet, so any website you see offering a version of Fortnite for Android is a scam.

Since Epic Games announced the Summer release window for Fortnite on Android, a bunch of fake websites have popped up claiming to offer an early version of the APK. I’m not going to link to them but unless you see an announcement from Epic Games themselves or we report it here, don’t fall for the scam.

If you want to be notified from the developers as soon as the game is available, you can sign up at the Fortnite Mobile website.

Will it be free to play?

Epic Games has so far released the PvP Battle Royale game for free across all platforms including the mobile version for iOS. The console version also has a paid game mode called Save The World that’s Player vs Environment (PvE). Save The World plays more like Minecraft, where you’re harvesting more resources and stocking up on loot to survive waves of AI enemies in a sort of tower defense-style of gameplay.

The PvE mode will not be available in Fortnite Mobile due to CPU limitations and, frankly, it’s the PvP mode that everyone is crazy for so that’s quite alright with us.

However, the mobile version will offers in-app purchases for cosmetic items to customize your player and people sure have been buying stuff. According to this report from Sensor Tower analtyics, Fortnite Mobile players spent more than $1 million during the first 72 hours of its release on iOS. Wow.

So, to answer the question, you have the option to spend money on Fortnite if you want a cool looking character, but the game is free to play and you won’t need to pay to win.

Will there be support for Bluetooth controls?

Epic Games has indicated that Bluetooth controller support will be coming later, but as of right now only touchscreen controls are available.

Is it cross-platform?

Epic Games have indicated that you will be able to play Fortnite across all platforms. Your Fortnite profile can be connected to all the platforms you play on so you can add to your stats however you connect to the game.

Don’t be worried about getting mismatched as the one mobile player in a server of PC and console players. If you’re playing solo on mobile, you will only be matched up against other mobile players. If you join a squad with friends playing on another platform, then that squad will be matched against a multi-platform population, essentially making cross-platform play opt-in.

• Learn more about Fortnite Mobile

Are you hyped for Fortnite?

We’ll be sure to let you know when the game launches for Android. Until then, you can create your Epic Games account and start playing on one of the other platforms to start getting a handle on the game

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AUKEY USB-C Hub review: A travel-ready Chromebook hub that won’t break the bank

This lightweight USB-C hub is a bit rough around the edges, but it gets me connected and productive with little fuss.

My Google Pixelbook makes me very, very happy almost all the time, except when I need to use it with my wired mouse and keyboard or plug in external storage to salvage media off a misbehaving SD card.

Since the Google Pixelbook only sports 2 USB-C ports, so if you want to plug in basically anything besides the power cable, you’re going to need a USB-C hub. USB-C hubs are starting to become more widely available, but prices on most hubs are still a bit high if you want a name brand you trust. Thankfully, AUKEY has a USB-C hub that looks good and travels light without breaking the bank.

AUKEY USB-C Hub

Price: $38.99

Bottom line: It’s a lightweight USB-C hub that packs a lot of ports into its tiny puck of a frame and looks good doing it.

The Good

• Lightweight and easy to pack
• Compact aluminum shell matches Pixelbook perfectly

The Bad

• Ports are a bit stiff when plugging in
• Super-short cable and ultralight construction lead to dangling hubs and awkward angles

See at Amazon

AUKEY USB-C Hub What I like

AUKEY has a couple configurations of USB-C Hubs available, but the model that I find strikes the best balance is the model that sports 3 USB-A ports, 1 USB-C port, an HDMI port, and microSD and SD card readers. This configuration keeps the ports on the two wider sides of the hub, leaves just enough space between ports for bulkier cables to fit alongside each other while keeping the hub the size of my NOMATIC minimal wallet.

Plugging into the USB-A ports on the AUKEY USB-C Hub is a bit on the stiff side, but that also means that flash drives and peripheral cables will plug in and stay in while you shuffle your Chromebook around your makeshift desk at Starbucks. This hub supports USB-PD (Power Delivery), meaning that it supports fast charging for the Google Pixelbook, Apple MacBook, and any future USB-PD Chromebooks or Android phones that come in the future, and the hub doesn’t heat up even when using these quicker charging profiles.

AUKEY USB-C Hub What I don’t like

The hub connects to your Chromebook/MacBook/USB-C phone via a 5.9″ cable, and while built-in cables like these are the norm, especially for travel-oriented hubs like the AUKEY, that super-short cable means that your hub doesn’t have a lot a maneuverability. Often the hub just dangles off the side of my Pixelbook when I use it in tent mode or off the side of the plastic shoebox that doubles as my laptop stand.

The lightness of the AUKEY hub means that it dangling off the side doesn’t really help matters, either, as the two rubberized strips on the bottom of the hub don’t have enough weight pushing down on them for it to keep a grip on anything. Lightweight hubs are better for travel, but that also means they tend to travel across your desk when you’re using them.

I also know that while there isn’t any free space on this hub, I do wish it had a 3.5mm port so that I could plug my desktop speakers into it while I’m plugging in my mouse and keyboard. This would especially be nice if you’re using the hub with a USB-C phone that has abandoned its headphone jack — and yes, I have used the AUKEY hub with my phones. So long as you use an app that will allow 360 screen rotation, the experience is actually really nice.

AUKEY USB-C Hub Should you buy it?

The AUKEY USB-C Hub has served me well over the last six months. I can slip it in my daypack without it feeling like dead weight in my bag, the ports are stiff but hold onto their cables really good, which is great because the hub itself can’t hold on to solid ground. I seldom run out of USB ports, and while I may use SD cards more often than the average user in the age of Google Photos, I’m happy to have it built-in.

3.5
out of 5

At almost $40, the AUKEY hub seems expensive — at least until you look at what other name-brand hubs cost — but it earns its keep quickly and since USB-C is the future, you’ll probably be able to use this hub for years and years to come.

See at Amazon

What’s new on Amazon Prime Video for August 2018

Bring on Jack Ryan, a Gringo, and more!

Finally, August is upon us. (Same time every year, but whatever. It’s been a long one.) And we’re particularly interested in this particular August for Amazon Prime Video for the following reason: Jack Ryan.

OK, we have to wail until the end of the month (because of course we do) to finally get our first taste of John Krasinski in the latest incarnation of the classic Tom Clancy character. And we have got to believe it’ll be worth the wait.

What else is coming up in August? A whole lot of excellent Amazon originals. Check it out.

• Agatha Christie S1: The Prime Original 3-episode limited series is based on the novel of the same name and follows the Argyll family after a man claims that the black sheep of the family, Jack Argyll, didn’t murder its tyrannical matriarch. The family must come to terms with Jack’s innocence and the fact that one of them may be the real murderer. Agatha Christie will be available in HDR and UHD on compatible HDR devices. (Aug. 10)
• All or Nothing: Manchester City S1: The Prime Original series follows the team’s legendary coach, Pep Guardiola and the stories that unfold within the players’ lives. It chronicles Manchester City’s 2017/18 season from the world-leading training facilities, to interviews with the manager and executive meetings. All or Nothing: Manchester City will be available in HDR and UHD on compatible HDR devices.
• The Stinky & Dirty Show, S2B: The Prime Original series is based on books by Jim and Kate McMullan with original music from Dan Bern and featuring celebrity voices like Mark Hamill (Spacey), Jane Lynch, Andy Richter, Joan Cusack and Wallace Shawn. In season 2b, test friends Stinky and Dirty are back lending a helping wheel to their vehicle friends in Go City. They go on new adventures like building a rollercoaster and meet new friends like Spacey, the super spaceship. (Aug. 14)
• Tom Clancy’s Jack Ryan S1: The Prime Original series starring John Krasinski is a modern reinvention of the famed and lauded Tom Clancy hero. It centers on Jack Ryan, a CIA analyst who is thrust into his first dangerous field assignment and uncovers a terrorist communication pattern in which he’s faced with a new breed of global threatening terrorism. Tom Clancy’s Jack Ryan will be available in HDR and UHD on compatible HDR devices. (Aug. 31)
• Gringo: The Prime Original movie starring David Oyelowo, Charlize Theron, and Joel Edgerton is a dark comedy mixed with white-knuckle action and dramatic intrigue. It explores the battle of survival for businessman Harold Soyinka when he finds himself crossing the line from law-abiding citizen to wanted criminal. Gringo will be available in HDR and UHD on compatible HDR devices. (Aug. 17)

Amazon Prime Video has is one of the go-to destinations for on-demand content, thanks in no small part to devices like the new Amazon Fire TV Cube, the $50 Amazon Fire Stick, the $70 Amazon Fire TV, and even the $229 Amazon Echo Show.

What’s new on Amazon Prime Video on August 1

New movies, August 1

• A Cinderella Story (2004)
• American Gigolo (1980)
• American Ninja (1985)
• American Ninja III: Blood Hunt (1989)
• Be Cool (2005)
• Black Mask (1996)
• Black Rain (1989)
• Book of Shadows: Blair Witch 2 (2000)
• Boomerang (1992)
• Cold War (2012)
• CSNY/Déjà Vu (2008)
• Curse of the Starving Class (1994)
• Double Whammy (2002)
• Fat Man and Little Boy (1989)
• Fled (1996)
• Flight of the Intruder (1991)
• Freedom Writers (2007)
• Frequency (2000)
• G.I. Joe: The Rise of Cobra (2009)
• Get Shorty (1995)
• Heartbreakers (2001)
• High Noon (1952)
• Hoosiers (1986)
• Hurt Locker (2008)
• I Went Down (1997)
• In & Out (1997)
• Jacob’s Ladder (1990)
• Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back (2001)
• Jean-Michel Basquiat: The Radiant Child (2010)
• Joe (2014)
• John Grisham’s The Rainmaker (1997)
• King Corn (2016)
• Kingpin (1996)
• #MeToo: Now What?, Season 1
• Nick of Time (1995)
• No Way Out (1987)
• Original Sin (2001)
• Out of Time (2003)
• Private Parts (1997)
• Pussy Riot: A Punk Prayer (2013)
• Species (1995)
• Species II (1998)
• Species III (2004)
• Stir of Echoes (1999)
• Stir of Echoes 2: The Homecoming (2007)
• Teen Wolf (1985)
• Teen Wolf Too (1987)
• The Blair Witch Project (1999)
• The Elephant Man (1980)
• The Ninth Gate (2000)
• The Prince and Me (2004)
• The Soloist (2009)
• The Time Machine (2002)
• The Usual Suspects (1995)
• True Colors (1991)
• Tunnel Rats (1968)
• Vegas Vacation (1997)

• Watchmen (2009)

  Coming to Amazon Prime Video on August 2

• America Divided: 201 (2018)

  Coming to Amazon Prime Video on August 6

• Spy Kids 2: Island of Lost Dreams (2002)

  Coming to Amazon Prime Video on August 7

• Having Our Baby (2017)

• It Takes Guts (2016)

Coming to Amazon Prime Video on August 8

• All I See Is You (2016)

• Blood Ties (2014)

  Coming to Amazon Prime Video on August 9

• America Divided: 202 (2018)

Coming to Amazon Prime Video on August 10

• Agatha Christie, Season 1 (Prime Original series)
• Bleed for This (2016)

Coming to Amazon Prime Video on August 14

• Avoiding Apocalypse, Season 1
• I Am Not Lorena (2014)
• The Stinky & Dirty Show, Season 2B (Prime Original series)

Coming to Amazon Prime Video on August 16

• America Divided: 203 (2018)

Coming to Amazon Prime Video on August 17

• All or Nothing: Manchester City (Season 1)

• Gringo (2018) (Prime Original movie)

  Coming to Amazon Prime Video on August 21

• Ambassadors of the Sky (2016)

• Two of a Kind (2014)

  Coming to Amazon Prime Video on August 23

• America Divided: 204 (2018)

  Coming to Amazon Prime Video on August 25

• Disobedience (2017)

• The Escape of Prisoner 614 (2018)

• Woman Walk Ahead (2017)

  Coming to Amazon Prime Video on August 26

• Mother! (2017)

  Coming to Amazon Prime Video on August 31

• Billy the Exterminator, Season 1

• Hangar 1: The UFO Files, Season 1
• Tom Clancy’s Jack Ryan, Season 1 (Prime Original series)

• True Tori, Seasons 1-2

  Available to rent or buy on Amazon Prime Video

• Deadpool 2: August 7 (Purchase) August 21 (Rent)

Available for Streaming on Prime Video Channels

• August 4: Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri, HBO; UFC 227 (PPV) – Dillashaw vs. Garbrandt 2, UFC
• August 11: Murder on the Orient Express, HBO
• August 12: Ballers, HBO, Season 4; Insecure, HBO, Season 3
• August 17: AVP Gold Series – Manhattan, Prime Video (8/17-19)
• August 18: Darkest Hour, HBO
• August 20: Frankie Drake Mysteries, PBS Masterpiece, Season 1
• August 25: Father Figures, HBO
• August 31: AVP Gold Series – Chicago, Prime Video (8/31-9/2)

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Google Chrome is now available in VR with Daydream

You can use it on the Daydream View and Lenovo Mirage Solo.

Google’s Daydream virtual reality platform has a lot going for it, and starting today, it’s getting a big upgrade with support for an official Chrome web browser.

All of the features you know and love from Chrome on your computer and phone are available with its Daydream port, including voice search, any bookmarks you’ve saved, and an Incognito Mode for private browsing.

In addition to those exisitng features, Google’s also added a new Cinema Mode that “optimizes web video for the best viewing experience in VR.”

Also, since Daydream is baked right into Android, you can start a video or article on your phone, hop into your Daydream headset, and pick up right where you left off.

Assuming you’ve got the latest version of Chrome downloaded from the Play Store, you can start using it in VR starting today on the Daydream View and Lenovo Mirage Solo.

Lenovo Mirage Solo vs. Oculus Go: Which should you buy?

Spigen Pixel 2 Slim Armor Wallet Case review: A good alternative to traditional wallet cases

I hope you like thick phones.

Wallet cases have been around for years as a way to abandon your standalone wallet and merge it into your phone. It’s a novel idea and one that appeals to a lot of people, but most wallet cases are often too awkward to use in day-to-day use thanks to their fold-out designs that get in the way more often than not.

Thankfully, Spigen’s got an accessory that it thinks can be a better alternative to these traditional options.

The Spigen Slim Armor Wallet Case for the Pixel 2 tries combining the best bits of a rugged and wallet case into one product, and while it’s a great idea, it may not be for everyone. Let’s take a closer look.

Spigen Pixel 2 Slim Armor Wallet Case

Price: $17.99

Bottom line: If you don’t like traditional wallet cases, Spigen’s option might be worth a look (so long as you don’t mind a lot of extra bulk).

The Good

• Offers great protection
• Discrete holding area for your cards
• Buttons still feel good to press

The Bad

• Adds a lot of bulk
• Can only hold two cards
• Sliding door feels flimsy
• Scratches far too easily

See at Amazon

Good use of space

Spigen Pixel 2 Slim Armor Wallet Case What I like

Even if the execution of the finer details may not be the best (more on that later), I love what Spigen’s going for with this case.

At first glance, it looks like any regular rugged case. The first section of the dual-layer design is made up of a shock-absorbent TPU material that your Pixel 2 is encased in. This layer hugs the Pixel 2 like a glove and allows for Spigen’s excellent Air Cushion Technology to protect against nasty drops.

This form factor is my favorite solution for wallet cases.

Along with that, there’s another hard plastic layer over this that offers even more protection and houses the wallet portion of the case.

From a durability standpoint, Spigen did a great job with this one. All of the phone is enclosed in maximum protection, there’s a lip that comes over the display to guard against scratches, and the rugged cutouts for the power and volume buttons feel fantastic.

When it comes time to pull out your card, simply slide the back portion of the case down and you’ve got easy access to all your plastic. There’s a rubber bottom to keep your cards safe while being stowed away and pulling them out of the case is much easier than I was anticipating.

Hope you don’t carry a lot of plastic

Spigen Pixel 2 Slim Armor Wallet Case What I don’t like

The idea of combining a wallet section into the form factor of a regular case is a great concept, but here, not everything works out as well as I would have liked.

For starters, the actual wallet portion could use some work. You can only really fit two cards in the case at a time, and for most people, I’m assuming you’ve got more than two cards you like to carry with you at all times. I was able to cram three cards in the case at once, but at this point, the sliding door tends to get hung up and become more difficult to use.

Speaking of that door, I don’t have a lot of hope for how well it’ll hold up over a few months of solid use. It opens and closes without any issues, but it feels extremely flimsy and like it could pop off at any given moment. On a related note, I noticed numerous scratches all over the hard plastic after lying it on a table to grab photos for this review. For a case that’s nearly $20, I’d expect greater cosmetic durability.

Lastly, this is probably one of the thickest cases I’ve ever used. I understand there’s no real way to get around that considering the two-in-one design, but it makes the Pixel 2 comically thick. It’s still manageable to use in one or two hands, but it certainly won’t win any awards for its looks and comes with an awkwardly large opening for the fingerprint sensor.

Spigen Pixel 2 Slim Armor Wallet Case

The idea of replacing my wallet with a phone case is one I’ve considered a number of times, but having a case that I need to flip open to use my phone doesn’t appeal to me in the slightest.

Spigen squashes that issue with its Slim Armor Wallet Case, and in my opinion, this form factor is better than what we’ve been used to with flip-open designs for so many years.

A lot was done right with this case between the excellent protection and discrete holding area for your cards, but it’s unfortunately let down by a bulky design and wallet section that needs some more time on the drawing board.

3
out of 5

With that said, if you’ve been looking for a Pixel 2 wallet case and haven’t been impressed with what you’ve found so far, Spigen’s case is still worth your consideration.

See at Amazon