Control time in Square Enix’s beautiful ‘Life is Strange’! [Game of the Week]

Update July 20, 2018: Life is Strange has finally arrived on Android complete. You can play the first episode of this time-warping and emotional story-driven game for free!

Life is Strange

Life is Strange is an episodic narrative-based adventure game that arrives on Android this week. It was first released on PC and consoles back in 2015 where it earned cult-hit status for its beautiful hand-drawn art style and an engaging storyline that branches based on the decisions you make. Last year, it was ported to iOS, but it was well worth the wait for Android users as the game arrives all at once and polished for a mobile experience.

Broken in to five episodes, the game focuses on Max Caulfield as she discovers she has the mysterious power to rewind time and relive moments. If you’ve previously played games by Telltale Games, you’ll feel very comfortable with the story-based gameplay but what’s best are the controls. There are three styles of on-screen controls available along with support for Bluetooth controllers. This is important as you’re often required to explore your surroundings and interact with other characters in a timely fashion.

To play the game, you’ll need a device running Android 6.0 or later that supports OpenGL 3.1. Your phone will also need a 64 bit ARM processor and a minimum of 2 GB of RAM. Square Enix recommends the game be played on a Samsung Galaxy S7 or Note 5 and up, Google Pixel or Pixel XL and up — basically any phone released in the past two years should be able to play the game just fine. Older devices might be able to load the game but you may experience laggy frame rates or other bugs.

You can download and play the first episode for free with the second episode available for just $0.99 with the remaining episodes available for $4.99 or a season pass available for $8.99 — the better deal if you fall in love with the game.

Download: Life is Strange (Free w/IAPs)

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Best Sports Games for Android in 2018

Get your game on — even in the offseason — with the best sports games available for Android.

After a few golden years of fantastic entries, it seems that sports games have all but succumbed to the freemium model. There are far too few quality sports games out there that just let you jump into the game without having to deal with player cards, upgrades or waiting for ‘stamina meters’ to refill. Nearly all the top mobile sports game franchises have switched over to a team building system that requires you to unlock (or buy) card packs to upgrade your team.

But there are still great games to be played! We’re covering the five major North American sports here — football, basketball, baseball, hockey, and, ahem, soccer — with two options for each. The first will typically be more sim-based for the hardcore sports fan, while the second is a more arcade-like option for casual players.

• MLB RBI Baseball 18
• MLB Nine Innings 2018
• Badminton League
• FIFA Soccer: FIFA World Cup
• Score! Hero
• Madden NFL Mobile
• Football Heroes Pro 2017
• NBA Live Mobile
• NBA JAM
• Matt Duchene Hockey Classic
• Hockey Hero
• Golf Star
• Snowboard Party: World Tour

MLB Nine Innings 2018

The latest version of the Nine Innings franchise for 2018 features the best graphics we’ve seen yet. The game features all 30 MLB ballparks and over 1,700 players, which have been carefully rendered in 3D for a very authentic gameplay experience.

There are ways to play depending on how much free time you have. You can jump into an exhibition game or play your way through a full season with options to play bat/pitch only or take control of both sides of the game. The game also features a unique “Live Player System,” which will accurately reflect the real-life performance and value of MLB players throughout the season.

You’re also tasked with collecting your favorite players and building your dream team which, coupled with the free-to-play model, means you’re going to have to deal with in-app purchases. If you can get past that, you should have a great time playing this game throughout the season.

Download: MLB Nine Innings 2018 (Free w/IAPs)

R.B.I. Baseball 18

If you’re looking to play full baseball games on your Android device without being pestered with in-app purchase offers, R.B.I. Baseball 18 is your best bet. This paid app was developed by the MLB and is also available on PS4 and Xbox One.

While the game might feel a little lacking on the consoles, it looks and plays quite nicely on Android, featuring beautifully rendered stadiums and all 30 MLB teams available with regularly updated rosters. Choose your preferred game mode and play a quick exhibition game, take your favorite team through a full season, or jump right into the heat of the post-season.

This game is fairly optimized for mobile gaming, allowing you to play a full nine-inning game in under 20 minutes with intuitive two-button on-screen controls. Keep in mind that all those pretty graphics requires a modern phone to play it, which means R.B.I. Baseball 17 only supports devices with memory/processor comparable to the Samsung Galaxy S7 and up. Some people have complained that the game runs awfully on their phone, but if your phone has 3GB of RAM or more you should have no issues at all.

This game will set you back $9.99 in the app store, but you won’t have to deal with clunky free-to-play game mechanics which is worth the price of admission.

Download: R.B.I. Baseball 18 ($9.99)

Badminton League

When you think of sports and video games, badminton might not jump to mind. Badminton League for Android is a pleasant surprise, offering a simplified version of the sport on a 2D plane that offers a true challenge whether you’re facing AI or online opponents.

The controls are easy to learn with three different shot types to choose from. Which one you choose is a matter of timing, positioning, and can force your opponent to the backcourt and get them to set you up for a big smash for the point.

It’s a quick and competitive game that features tournament play and also allows you to play locally against a friend when you’re connected to the same Wi-Fi. The game is free to play with ads, and there are also in-app purchases available to remove the ads and get a ton of coins for buying equipment.

Download: Badminton League (Free w/IAPs)

FIFA Soccer: FIFA World Cup

The latest update to the FIFA Mobile Soccer app is a World Cup mode which is perfect if you’re an England fan hoping to retcon the results of that loss against Croatia.

The fact is, FIFA Mobile used to be a standout title and one of the best investments available in the paid app section of the Google Play Store. FIFA 13 remains one of the best mobile games I’ve ever played. Sadly, EA shifted to a freemium model with the entire focus of the game being on building your Ultimate Team.

While I feel like the change in format is a disservice to players, the game itself still plays like a dream and will surely keep any footy fans addicted for some time. There are four game modes to choose from: you start out with Live Events and Attack Mode, and unlock Leagues and Season once your profile reaches level 5. Live Events throw you into different drills and game situations where you can unlock coins, XP, and specific card packs. Attack Mode pits you against other players around the world in turn-based gameplay where you’re each given time on offense to rack up as many goals as you can (hence the name). The newest addition is Leagues, which lets you start or join your own global league consisting of other players. It’s both competitive and cooperative, as you can either compete in a league tournament or collectively challenge another league. Season mode is the single-player mode you’ve come to expect, but you’ll need to maintain an internet connection to play FIFA Mobile, even in single-player mode.

While FIFA Mobile is missing the freedom to play as you like from previous editions, it’s still the best footy game you can play on Android.

Download: FIFA Mobile (Free, with IAPs)

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Score! Hero

For something a little different, look no further than Score! Hero. Instead of putting you in charge of building a team, you create your own player and work your way through a professional career from rookie to legend.

Another difference from other games is the way you control the action. Instead of the free-flowing action found elsewhere, you only take over once your team has control of the ball. Play freezes, waiting for you to swipe at the ball to take your shot or pass to a teammate. It’s an interesting dynamic that really highlights the strategic elements of soccer and a nice change of pace.

Each level sets up the game situation and gives you your mission for completing it, but if the defending team intercepts or otherwise gains control of the ball, you’re forced to restart the level or spends some of your in-app funds to use a rewind to redo your last kick. Sometimes your mission involves scoring back-to-back goals which make those rewinds extra tempting, but you’ll want to avoid relying on them unless you’re intending on dropping real cash into the game. All told, Score! Hero features 420 levels to play through. Can you beat them all?

Download: Score! Hero (Free, with IAPs)

Madden NFL Mobile

Football fans know that Madden is king on consoles, and despite the freemium, card-collecting gameplay at the core of the Android version, Madden NFL Mobile still reigns supreme on the mobile gridiron as well.

Yes, you’re stuck building your team through opening card packs, which can be bought with in-game coins or purchased with real cash. Fortunately, there are many ways to earn in-game currency: Head-to-head match-ups against other users where you exchange offensive drives, a single-player season mode where you play out through a full season against CPU opponents, and multiple daily live events to test your skills. The live events offer some nice nostalgia for those who remember the mini-camp drills from Madden 2004. On the field, the touch controls are on point, and while the graphics are understandably a far cry from those found on the latest PlayStation and Xbox editions, they’re more than serviceable for the bite-sized football action Madden NFL Mobile provides.

Madden NFL Mobile provides good fun whether during halftime or break time at work — as long as you don’t mind being slightly bogged down by the collectibles aspect.

Download: Madden NFL Mobile (Free, with IAPs)

Football Heroes Pro 2017

Football Heroes Pro 2017 is a full-fledged arcade football game, licensed by the NFLPA. Unlike the more realistic sim-style of Madden, it provides a casual football experience (think Tecmo Bowl) in your downtime when you’re all caught up with the real games. Players build and train their team with their favorite real-life players and unlock new plays by opening card packs. Premium currency can be used to buy card packs, though you’re also able to buy packs with coins earned from winning and by leveling up your players. Gameplay-wise, this one features a lot of button mashing for tackling and breaking tackles.

For those looking for a casual football game to kill time during commercial breaks, Football Heroes Pro 2017 has plenty to offer.

Download: Football Heros Pro 2017 (Free, with IAPs)

NBA Live Mobile

Another sport, another EA Sports title. If you’re a fan of NBA Live on consoles, or even the NBA 2K franchise, you’ll likely dig the mobile offering. Again, with every other sports title offered by EA this year around, there’s the unavoidable emphasis on card collecting to unlock players. If your sensibilities are offended by that, you’ll want to look elsewhere.

Otherwise, what you get here is pretty solid. Dive into daily live events, or challenge other players around the world to a head-to-head challenge where you go back and forth playing one quarter at a time. Season mode lets you play a full NBA season with your team, all the way through to the NBA Championships. Once you’ve reached level 5, you unlock Leagues, which lets you start up a league for you and all your friends, or join a random league. They operate similar to clans and allow for friendly matches between other league members, or for interleague showdowns. Another neat feature of leagues is if someone in your league makes an in-app purchase, everyone in the league gets a gift — essentially an added incentive to engage in that freemium model.

Download: NBA Live Mobile (Free, with IAPs)

NBA Jam

NBA Jam has been available on Android since October 2010, and yet it remains as one of the most polished and fun sports games you can play on the platform.

This remake of the 90s classic features all the fast-paced two-on-two action you remember from back in the day, with upgraded graphics including hilarious big head animations for every player in the game. Touch controls are simple and responsive, making it super easy to set up an epic alley-oop, or sink three shots in a row and hear Tim Kitzrow — the original NBA JAM commentator — yell his infamous line, “HE’S ON FIRE!”

There are four modes of play and no in-app purchases or currencies to deal with, so you can jump into a game right away. On top of quick matches and a Classic Campaign where you can unlock legendary players and other goodies, you can play online (but good luck finding a random opponent) or with a friend over local Wi-Fi.

If you’re an NBA fan or a fan of the original game, NBA Jam should be a mainstay on your Android device.

Download: NBA Jam ($4.99)

Matt Duchene Hockey Classic

For whatever reason, EA Sports’ has not ported their celebrated NHL franchise for consoles over to mobile platforms. It’s a shame, but Matt Duchene Hockey Classic might be the next best thing.

The latest in a line of games attached to rising NHL players (previously Patrick Kane), Matt Duchene Hockey Classic is free to try, but you only get Team Finland and Team Sweden when you download it from the Google Play Store. Fortunately, you’ll need to pay a very reasonable price to unlock the full game, which includes 60 teams and a plethora of game modes including playoffs, outdoor games and “Hockey Giants”, which is essentially big head mode.

As you might have noticed from the title, this game isn’t officially licensed by the NHL, so while, for instance, the team from Boston wears black and yellow jerseys there are no logos nor are there any active rosters. It’s also a bit of a resource hog. You’ll notice some sluggish moments if you play on an older device. But considering the lack of options for full-featured hockey games on Android, Matt Duchene Hockey Classic delivers as well as you’d expect.

Download: Matt Duchene Hockey Classic (Free, with IAP to unlock full game)

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Hockey Hero

Hockey Hero is an outlier on this list, as it’s not exactly a traditional sports game — more a sports-themed entry if anything. However, with its charming retro graphics, simple gameplay, and minimal ads, it’s a great break from the rest of the titles on this list.

The concept is both wacky and simple — tap and hold to control the hockey hero, who must deftly deke past wave after wave of opposing players who are looking for a fight. If you lift your finger off, time slows down allowing you to determine the clear path between defenders. You move on an endless sheet of ice comprised of multiple hockey rinks attached end-to-end so that once you’ve skated to the end of one rink and scored, you immediately skate on towards the next rink. It’s a silly and fun concept for an endless runner style and is a great game you can just pick up and play whenever you have some free time. As you progress further, you unlock different jerseys for your hockey hero, giving you goals to work towards.

Hockey Hero is far from a traditional sports title, but with its simple controls and fun concept, it’s definitely worth checking out.

Download: Hockey Hero (Free, with IAPs)

Golf Star

Hit the links in Golf Star, the best golf game for Android!

This game features great graphics and easy controls. Customize your golfer and jump into Career Mode and hone your skills. It’s going to take you a bit of time to figure out the intricacies of the physics and how to properly read the greens and aim your putts, but you’ll pick it up in no time.

Beyond the single-player Career Mode, there are a couple of different ways to play against friends and other online opponents. Tournament Mode lets you compete in one-on-one competitions against live opponents. More game modes are unlocked as you progress your character from beginner to amateur — all the way until you achieve pro status.

Win and you’ll earn rewards, which can also be bought via in-app purchases. Golf Star also requires you to spend a certain amount of hearts each time you play, which you’ll need to wait to regenerate. If you’re alright with dealing with those free-to-play mechanics, you’re sure to enjoy Golf Star for Android.

Download: Golf Star (Free w/IAPs)

Snowboard Party: World Tour

While Android shamefully lacks a port of quintessential snowboarding franchise SSX, it does have its own snowboarding franchise in the form of Snowboard Party.

The latest title in the series is Snowboard Party: World Tour, and it rocks. The graphics are great, the pop-punk soundtrack is fitting, and the touch controls are surprisingly tight. There are also four different mode to choose from — Time-Attack, Freestyle, Big Air, and Halfpipe, along with a multiplayer mode for playing against your friends. There are 16 snowboarders to customize and upgrade, which you can do without spending a dime although in-app purchases are included.

This is an Editor’s Choice on the Google Play Store, and after spending even just a few minutes playing this game it’s clear to see why. This is the best snowboarding game you can play on your phone!

Download: Snowboard Party (Free w/IAPs)

What did we miss?

There’s a ton of sports games in the Google Play Store but if we’re completely honest, most of them aren’t worth your time. If you think we missed one that should absolutely be on our list, let us know in the comments!

Updated July 2018: This article was updated with the latest versions of each game, new buy links, and added Badminton League.

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Dish Becomes First Pay-TV Provider to Support Apple Business Chat

Dish today announced that its customers can now start support conversations using Apple Business Chat, a feature that Apple launched in iOS 11.3 in March that lets users interface with businesses right in the Messages app.

With the new support, users can connect directly to a Dish customer service representative in Messages on iPhone and iPad, marking the first time a pay-TV provider has supported Business Chat. The other companies making use of the feature include Apple itself, Aramark, Discover, Four Seasons, Harry & David, Hilton, The Home Depot, Lowe’s, Marriott, Newegg, T-Mobile, Ameritrade, Wells Fargo, and 1-800-Flowers.

“TV should be simple, so we’ve made reaching our live customer service representatives as easy as sending a text,” said John Swieringa, DISH chief operating officer. “Adding messaging with Apple Business Chat is a powerful way to connect with us, giving another choice so you can pick what fits with your life.”

When talking to a Dish agent in Business Chat, the company says that customers can ask questions, make account changes, schedule and appointment, use an on-file credit card to order a pay-per-view movie or sporting event, and more. Dish promises that contact information is not displayed to agents, “so customers are in complete control of whether they want to share any contact information and can authenticate their account to make changes or purchases.”

Customers can start conversations and pick them up later on different devices signed into their Apple ID, with the company promising that conversations never time out and only end when users delete the message thread in the Messages app. To kick off a Dish Business Chat, search for “Dish” on iPhone or iPad, tap the Messages icon that appears next to the Dish search result, and send your first message.

Tags: iMessage, Business Chat, Dish
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Uber Riders in Select Cities Can Now Buy Snacks, Electronics, and More Following Partnership With ‘Cargo’

Uber this week announced a partnership with startup “Cargo,” which aims to increase the wages of rideshare drivers by providing them with small containers filled with goods that riders can buy during their trips (via TechCrunch). Despite the new partnership with Uber, Cargo will still support drivers of other ridesharing apps.

Cargo works by providing drivers with a free Cargo box filled with free products and free shipping on all product replenishments, as long as the driver has at least a 4.7 rating. When the rider gets in the car, they can browse which items are in their driver’s Cargo box by opening the Cargo mobile site, add the products to their cart, and checkout on their smartphone.

Payment methods supported include all major credit cards, Apple Pay, Android Pay, Venmo, and Paypal.

“It’s always a pleasant surprise when you’re in an Uber and the driver offers you a bottle of water or a piece of gum, but up to this point these perks have usually been on the driver’s dime,” said Keith Hensley, Business Development Lead, Uber. “Cargo took note of this and created an innovative model that aims to bring new value to riders and drivers. We’re looking forward to working with Cargo to develop and scale in a way that makes the most sense for our customers.”

When complete, drivers earn $1 per order and average $100 earnings per month, according to the company. Since its launch last summer, about 7,000 rideshare drivers have made more than $1 million with Cargo. On an annual basis, drivers earn an average of $1,200/year, and the top 10 percent of drivers make $3,600/year in income.

Items in Cargo boxes include energy bars, gum, mints, various snacks, beauty items, beverages, electronics like earbuds and small phone chargers, and free samples of many of these products. Riders will still have to leave the Uber app to pay for Cargo items by visiting the mobile site (which they can do by scanning the QR code on their driver’s Cargo box), but Uber says it “envisions” integrating Cargo into its own app down the road.

The partnership with Uber is beginning first in San Francisco and Los Angeles, where Uber drivers can pick up a Cargo box at one of Uber’s driver support locations. Following the initial rollout, Uber says it hopes to continue expanding support for Cargo in more cities.

Tag: Uber
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2018 MacBook Pros Have New ‘Titan Ridge’ Thunderbolt 3 Controller, But DisplayPort 1.4 Isn’t Truly Supported

Earlier this week, the repair experts at iFixit opened up the 2018 MacBook Pro, uncovering Intel’s new JHL7540 Thunderbolt 3 controller, introduced earlier this year as part of its “Titan Ridge” family.

While the specifications for the JHL7540 lists compatibility with DisplayPort 1.4 on Intel’s product database, it’s not as clear-cut as it sounds, as support also relies on graphics, which vary by MacBook Pro model.

MacRumors reached out to Apple for clarification. Here’s what we learned:

• The new 15-inch MacBook Pro with Touch Bar models support DisplayPort at High-Bit Rate 3 (HBR3), a signal standard of both DisplayPort 1.3 and DisplayPort 1.4. Apple says the dedicated Radeon Pro graphics can drive up to two 5K displays at 60Hz, each over a single stream.
• The new 13-inch MacBook Pro with Touch Bar models support DisplayPort at High-Bit Rate 2 (HBR2), a signal standard of DisplayPort 1.2. This is a limitation of the Iris Plus Graphics 655 in these models, as Intel’s integrated GPUs do not support DisplayPort 1.4.

What that means:

• The new 15-inch MacBook Pro theoretically supports DisplayPort 1.4, which Apple confirmed, but at least for now, it still can’t drive an 8K display. It could be possible with VESA’s lossless Display Stream Compression standard, perhaps, but it’s unclear if this can be enabled down the road.
• For now, then, the new 13-inch and 15-inch models have the same compatibility with external displays as the previous-generation MacBook Pro: up to two 5K displays or up to four 4K displays on the 15-inch model, and up to one 5K display or up to two 4K displays on the 13-inch model.

For comparison, 2016 and 2017 MacBook Pro models are equipped with Intel’s JHL6540 Thunderbolt 3 controller, which supports DisplayPort 1.2.

In related news, Apple has also confirmed that all four Thunderbolt 3 ports on the new 13-inch MacBook Pro with Touch Bar are now full speed, compared to only the two left-facing ports on the equivalent 2016 and 2017 models.

Related Roundup: MacBook ProTags: DisplayPort, 4K displays, 5k displays, Thunderbolt 3, DisplayPort 1.4Buyer’s Guide: MacBook Pro (Buy Now)
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Pay-n-pray cybersecurity isn’t working. What if we just paid when it works?

(in)Secure is a weekly column that dives into the rapidly escalating topic of cybersecurity.

Like home security, people would often rather not think about cybersecurity once they’ve paid for it. They’d rather pay and pray.

But how do you know when a security company’s software is working? With all the billions of dollars poured into protecting ourselves and our businesses online, why do hacks seem to be increasing in regularity and damages?

We spoke with Oren J. Falkowitz, a former senior-level employee at the NSA and United States Cyber Command, who has a radical idea for how cybersecurity companies should be making their money.

The problem

Our modern cybersecurity fiasco has many causes. Maybe it’s a lack of government funding and regulation. Maybe it’s large tech corporations not caring enough about privacy. Maybe it’s just a matter of educating the public and explaining in simple terms what’s at stake.

“Companies spend about $93 billion on cybersecurity, with no end in sight …”

Falkowitz has a different take. He believes the real problem is that cybersecurity profits aren’t tied to performance. “For us, it means performance-based cybersecurity and paying for results, not a failure,” he told Digital Trends. “Companies should pay for cybersecurity only when and if it performs as designed.”

That’s not how it works today. Cybersecurity experts, companies, and antivirus software are presented and purchased like an insurance plan. You pay monthly and hope that nothing bad happens. If it does, they’ll help you pick up the pieces — and maybe try to upsell you on more security.

Area 1 Security, Falkowitz’ own cybersecurity company, takes the opposite approach. Area 1 calls out the fact that people “commit to security contracts running three to five years, spending six or seven figures. But they still don’t get what they pay for.” Falkowitz believes clients should pay only for attempted crimes that are stopped. It’s an idea similar to bug bounty programs, which encourage hackers to find – and then disclose – vulnerabilities.

“Companies spend about $93 billion on cybersecurity, with no end in sight, and what’s worse, no end to the severity or frequency of cyber attacks,” Falkowitz said. “Performance-based and accountable cybersecurity will ensure that results are what drive the future innovations and successful outcomes in business models.”

You might wonder how a company could stay in business if it constantly had to prove to customers that attacks are being stopped. Area 1 Security makes it work by focusing its efforts on a particular aspect of cybersecurity — phishing.

It all leads back to phishing

“Phishing is the attack that starts the attack, it’s the root cause for an astounding 95 percent of all damages,” said Falkowitz. “The key to performance-based cybersecurity is stopping phishing.”

“Phishing is a socially-engineered attack that relies on authenticity to evade detection.”

Phishing has become the bane of the internet’s existence. From malware to stolen data, phishing is often the entry point for the worst cyberattacks we’ve seen. It usually takes the form of a fraudulent email, sent to an unsuspecting victim under the guise of an official company or organization.

The email will then prompt the reader to click a link — and once they do, the attacker’s trap is triggered. Though simple, hackers have used phishing for everything from the Clinton campaign email debacle to the devastating 2017 WannaCry ransomware attack.

“Phishing is a socially-engineered attack that relies on authenticity to evade detection,” Falkowitz explained. “It’s designed not to be caught by anyone! That’s why it works so well. Besides being effective, it’s also incredibly cheap. That’s part of why it’s so good economically to be a bad guy on the internet. If you’re an attacker and you have something that works, that most companies can’t defend against, why not keep using it?”

Area 1

Area 1 Security’s system claims to stop 99.99 percent of all phishing attacks, allowing them to keep a log of the attacks they’re preventing. Its philosophy isn’t to hunt down the criminals across the internet, but instead to stop the ones who are already knocking at our doors.

“Until we take phishing as a weapon out of the hands of attackers, we’ll continue on this increasingly dangerous and expensive trajectory.”

Maybe it’s time we started asking more from the companies that claim to protect us. After all, disarming the bad guys sounds like a much better plan than waiting for them to attack.

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How to view your location history in Google Maps

See where you’ve traveled with Google Maps.

Google Maps has a nifty Timeline feature that lets you browse the places you’ve visited along with the routes traveled. The feature was overhauled in 2015, and Google has added the ability to collate images you’ve taken at a particular location, allowing you to get a better overview of your travels.

It certainly comes in handy if you’re looking to see all the images you took at a particular location, or if you’re trying to get a highlight of your weekly or monthly activity.

• How to view your location history in Google Maps
• How to disable location tracking

How to view your location history in Google Maps

Launch Google Maps.
Tap the more button (three horizontal lines) on the top left corner.
Tap your timeline.

Tap the calendar icon to view a particular day.

Swipe left or right to switch months.

Tap a date to view your location history. You’ll see the route traveled, along with the duration and length of the overall journey.

How to disable location tracking

Timeline is certainly a useful feature if you’re interested in looking at your previous travel data, but it also comes off as creepy (Google tracks everything). Fortunately, you can easily turn off location tracking in Maps.

Tap the more button (three horizontal lines) on the top left corner.
Tap Settings.

Tap Personal content.

Tap the field that says Location History is on under Location Settings.

Tap the switch next to each device for which you’d like to disable location tracking.

There’s also the option to pause tracking for your account as a whole. To do so, toggle Location History to off, and select OK in the dialog box that follows.

That’s all there is to it! I like the timeline feature as it gives me a detailed look at where I’ve been over the course of the month (and how much time I wasted being stuck in traffic).

What are your thoughts on the location history feature? Like it? Feel like it’s an intrusion of your privacy? Sound off in the comments below.

Updated July 2018: This article was updated with the latest steps on how to view your location history within Google Maps.

Spigen Neo Hybrid Case for Samsung Galaxy S9+ review: Dual-layer perfection

Spigen’s hybrid case runs away with the competition — and my heart.

In a sea of smartphone cases, standing out without being tacky, glittery, or in many circumstances, both, can be next to impossible. But some rise to the top for their suave sensibility, their fashionable functionality, and their detailed durability. Spigen is one of the top names in smartphone cases because their cases have risen to the top time and time again for their useful ubiquity, and the Spigen Neo Hybrid case for the Samsung Galaxy S9 is the latest in a long line of Spigen cases to slip the surly bonds of mediocrity and touch the face of perfection.

And if it ever slips the bonds of my pockets, I’m confident the Neo Hybrid will keep my phone safely secure in its sophisticated embrace.

Spigen Neo Hybrid Case for Samsung Galaxy S9+

Price: $15.99

Bottom line: This case is well-styled, well-made, and well protects my Galaxy S9+, and it does it so well that I don’t want to take it off ever again.

The Good

• Stunning colors and rich Herringbone texture
• Wide port cutouts and grippy buttons
• Moderate protection without feeling bulky

The Bad

• Color options should be mix-and-match

See at Amazon

Spigen Neo Hybrid Case for Samsung Galaxy S9+ What I like

I’ve been reviewing quite a few cases in recent weeks, and while there have been a lot of cases I’ve liked, the Spigen Neo Hybrid is the first one that I can say without hesitation that I absolutely adore.

The case’s Herringbone-textured back is smooth but grippy in the hand, and the sculpted curves of the polycarbonate hardshell look stylish and sturdy in equal measure. The port cutouts are wide and well-rounded, playing nice with boxy USB-C cables and OTG adapters, and the slope leading to the fingerprint sensor isn’t as wide as the Ringke Onyx, but it perfectly guides the index finger to the intended sensor.

Hybrid cases are traditionally more protective that single-layer TPU cases, but they also have a reputation for being a bit of a pain to get on and off. Not the Neo Hybrid, which slips off easily when you push at one of the bottom corners. The layers of this hybrid case merge together especially well, sitting beautifully flat where the polycarbonate frame runs across the back of the case near the bottom ports. The Neo Hybrid feels none of the bulk other hybrid cases suffer from, feeling slim and solid in the hand.

Spigen Neo Hybrid Case for Samsung Galaxy S9+ What I’m still wishing for

This case is just about perfect. It’s protective without being too bulky. It’s textured but works well with phone grips. Every USB-C case and headphone cable I tried with the Neo Hybrid fits without any fuss. Even the color options for the Neo Hybrid are great. In fact, the only problem is that you can’t mix and match the colors without buying two cases. I’d love to try the Burgundy with the Satin Silver frame, or the Black with the Satin Silver frame.

Spigen Neo Hybrid Case for Samsung Galaxy S9+

Spigen has hit a home run with the New Hybrid Case for the Samsung Galaxy S9+, and with the classic silver/navy color pairing in the Arctic Silver model, I believe I have a new daily driver case. It’s sophisticated and suave, and from my navy Phonster holster to my daily jeans and graphic tees, this case seems to go with everything, and it complements my Coral Blue Galaxy S9+’s cerulean class in a way even most other blue cases have not.

5
out of 5

At $15.99, the Neo Hybrid isn’t the cheapest hybrid case on the block, but it’s a flawless case with style, sturdiness, and svelte sexiness, and it’s well worth its price tag. As a matter of fact, I think I might spring for that Burgundy model for a little extra pop during special events.

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Grab an original Google Pixel in refurb condition for $200 or new for $300

Don’t miss out.

Woot is currently offering the 32GB Google Pixel in refurbished condition for $199.99, or you can opt for a new in box unit for $299.99. With the refurb, only the 32GB option is available, and only in black. For the new units, you can pick between the 32GB and 128GB storage capacities, but also only in black. The refurb phones are backed by a 90-day Woot warranty, and the new ones are backed by a 90-day Google warranty.

This is the original Google Pixel, which is still a very good phone by today’s standards, especially at this price.

If you’re looking for a backup phone to load up Android P on or want to replace an aging phone with something better, these deals are worth checking out. At this price, we imagine that they will sell out before the end of the day, so be sure to grab one now. Remember, Woot does add a flat $5 shipping fee to all orders unless you are an Amazon Prime member.

See at Woot

Best HTC Phones in 2018

HTC may be an underdog in the smartphone world, but it’s still making some of the best handsets on the market.

There are a lot of smartphones out there, and Taiwanese manufacturer HTC makes some of the best — even if it doesn’t sell anywhere near as many as the market leaders. Such is life.

New phones are always coming and going, and we get that it can be a little difficult to keep up with things. So this is our continuously updated list of the HTC phones that you need to be aware of. These are the phone’s we’re most likely to be writing about, and the ones you’re most likely to want to consider

HTC U12+

The HTC U12+ takes after last year’s U11+, with a 6-inch, 18:9 LCD panel, a rear-mounted fingerprint sensor, a whopping 3500mAh battery, and Android 8.0 Oreo with the promise of an update to Android P. It features dual cameras, consisting of a wide angle and a telephoto, that take some of the best photos of any phone on the market.

There’s no regular U12, so the U12+ serves as HTC’s sole flagship of 2018. Along with a huge battery, a large display, and three striking color options, the U12+ expands on HTC’s Edge Sense functionality with new squeeze-enabled features, and it can even detect how you’re holding the phone to automatically lock and unlock your orientation. On top of all of this, you get great specs with a Snapdragon 845 and 6GB of RAM.

The new Digital Buttons have had a number of problems, though HTC is actively improving them with software updates.

More: Read our HTC U12+ review

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HTC U11

The U11 reinvented HTC’s design language after years of the the same look with a bold new glass-backed chassis in a range of shimmering colors. And it’s the first smartphone to include Edge Sense, a new shortcut function that lets you squeeze the sides of the phone to jump quickly into the camera, take a photo, or launch your favorite personal assistant.

The U11 is a solid flagship phone with last year’s top-tier specs — a Snapdragon 835, 4 or 6GB of RAM, 64 or 128GB of storage, and an excellent camera. HTC’s Ultrapixel shooter features always-on “HDR Boost” post-processing, similar to the Google Pixel’s HDR+ trickery.

Add to that HTC’s clean, near-stock Sense UI, and last year’s flagship is still a great phone today — and at a price that’s not quite as painful as many other flagships.

More: Read our HTC U11 review

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HTC U11+

The HTC U11+ expanded upon the U11’s design with an 18:9 display, a 3,930mAh battery, and a flatter, more grown-up aesthetic, with software based on Android 8.0 Oreo. What’s more, in the UK you’ll get 6GB of RAM and 128GB of storage as standard, alongside dual SIM functionality.

While the U11+ never made it to the United States, it can be ordered unlocked on Amazon, with price tags that compare favorably to other high-end Android “phablets” like the Google Pixel 2 XL. Of course, the U11+ still has HTC’s signature Edge Sense technology, along with real hardware buttons — the latter of which the newer U12+ lacks.

More: HTC U11+ coverage

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HTC 11 Life

Available with HTC Sense in the United States through T-Mobile, or with Android One internationally, HTC’s mid-level phone mirrors the design language of its flagship counterparts, while downsizing the screen and specs — and most importantly, the price. There’s a Snapdragon 630 processor running the show, packed into an “acrylic glass” exterior with biometric security and a surprisingly decent 16-megapixel rear camera.

On the software side, the Android One U11 Life ships with near-stock Android Oreo, while the T-Mo version originally shipped with Nougat and HTC Sense, though it’s since been updated to Android 8.0.

More: Read our HTC U11 Life review

See at T-Mobile
See at HTC

Updated July 2018: We’ve added the U12+ to the top of the list as HTC’s new best phone.