What do you use the S Pen for?
So many ways to Note.
There are a lot of reasons people buy Samsung’s Galaxy Note phones. The screens are big, batteries are long-lasting, and the cameras are usually top-notch. However, above-all-else, the main reason the Note continues to stand on its own is thanks to the S Pen.
No other smartphone offers a stylus that’s as feature-rich and polished compared to the S Pen, and whether you need to jot down a quick note or are in a mood for doodling, the S Pen is up to just about whatever you throw at it.
Samsung adds new features to S Pen all the time, and so many functions readily at your disposal, we decided to check in with our AC forum users to see what S Pen features they use the most. Here’s what they had to say!
tatootie67
06-17-2018 10:58 AM“
I work in construction and we use OneDrive alot for our blueprints.
One of my favorite uses is I am able to draw on blueprints, or choose a small section and send it to others to use out in the field.
Everyone carries smartphones these days. We can’t afford to get our paper copies dirty or have one for every worker. This way everyone has the info they need.
Or if I need to send…
Reply
andytiedye
06-16-2018 11:16 AM“
I use the S-Pen for everything, including text input via handwriting recognition.
Reply
Chromium 4
06-16-2018 10:42 PM“
I use it for translating foreign text, scrolling, texting, animated GIFS and Live Messages, taking notes at meetings and trainings.
Reply
jsigmo
06-16-2018 11:20 AM“
Along with the uses mentioned above, I sometimes use it to set the insertion point when trying to edit text because I just can’t get the cursor to go where I want it to be using my finger. Sometimes using a fingertip to position a cursor amongst tiny text is like performing brain surgery using a backhoe.
Reply
If you’ve got a Galaxy Note handset, we’d love to know — How do you use the S Pen?
Join the conversation in the forums!
Samsung Galaxy Note 8
- Galaxy Note 8 review
- Galaxy Note 8 vs. Galaxy S8+
- Which Note 8 color is best?
- Complete Galaxy Note 8 specs
- Join our Galaxy Note 8 forums
Verizon
AT&T
T-Mobile
Sprint
Best Buy
One of Amazon’s best e-readers, the Kindle Voyage, is $50 off today
Yay books.
Amazon’s Kindle Voyage e-reader is down to $149.99. We haven’t seen a deal on the Voyage since October, and we haven’t ever seen it discounted by as much as $50 like it is now.
In the hierarchy of Kindles, the Voyage is near the top. Below the Oasis but above the Paperwhite. The Kindle Paperwhite is Amazon’s most popular e-reader and that thing’ll drop in price at the mention of its name. The Voyage, though, takes everything the Paperwhite does and does it a little better. It’s thinner, lighter, designed to automatically adjust brightness based on ambient light, and has a battery that will last you weeks. It also has physical buttons on the side. The original Kindle had that and it was fantastic, but now you have to pay a premium for a device like the Voyage or learn to swipe your screen like a pleb. Users give it 4.2 stars based on more than 13,000 reviews.
Get serious about reading if you’re getting serious with Voyage. Sign up for Kindle Unlimited and Amazon lets you read millions of books whenever you want.
See on Amazon
These are all the phones LG is releasing in 2018
From the V40 to the Q7, here’s what LG has in store for 2018.
Although it may not be the most popular smartphone brand in the States, LG releases more Android phones than almost anyone else in the West.
Ranging from high-end flagships to budget phones that barely cost $100, LG kicks out a number of handsets throughout the year that are all catered to different demographics. Keeping up with these releases can be a challenge, so in an effort to keep you in the know, here’s a list of all the phones LG’s released in 2018 and what we’re still expecting later in the year.
The phones we’re still expecting
LG V40
The LG V30
LG’s V series is always home to the company’s most powerful (and expensive) phones. We’ve already seen a couple entries this year in the form of the V30S and V35, but later in the fall, we’re expecting something big from LG with the V40.
The rumor mill for the V40 is slowly kicking into gear, but right now, we’re expecting the phone to come equipped with a Snapdragon 845, OLED display, and dual camera setup.
It’s expected that the V40 will be released between August and September, and like it or not, will probably come with a price tag around the $900 range.
LG V40: How LG’s next flagship can win me over and find success
LG X Power3
The LG X Power2
Each year sees LG release a ton of throwaway mid- and low-range phones, and in 2017, one of the most interesting was the LG X Power2. The X Power2 had pretty forgettable specs, but there was one aspect that made it stand out — a huge 4500mAh battery.
We’d love to see a successor to the X Power2, and while it’s possible that one could still be announced, the chances are getting more and more unlikely with each day that passes. LG announced the X Power2 in February last year, and at the time of publishing this article, we’re well into June.
Changing up release cycles isn’t entirely unheard of for LG, so we’ll keep an eye out just in case the X Power3 does become a reality.
LG Q8+
The LG Q8.
Following the already announced Q7 and Q Stylus, it looks like LG’s next entry in its Q series will be the Q8+.
On June 16, a certification for the phone was found with the KCC (Korea’s version of the FCC here in the U.S.) with the codenames of LM-Q815S and LM-Q815L. The first of those codenames was previously spotted as part of a certification with the Wi-Fi Alliance, and both of them are listed as phones that support Google Play.
It’s unclear what the spec loadout will look like, but seeing as how the Q8 from 2017 was a miniature version of the LG V20, the Q8+ will likely be a smaller, more affordable variant of the V30 or V40.
The phones that have been released
LG V30S ThinQ
At CES in January, LG gave us our very first look at the V30S ThinQ. Of all the phones LG’s released this year, the V30S has to be one of the most forgettable.
Outfitted with the exact same specs as the V30 from 2017, the only new things the V30S introduced were two new colors, 2GB of extra RAM, and software improvements for the camera that boosted its low-light performance and added a few AI features.
The V30S isn’t a bad phone, but considering its fancy software tricks were eventually ported over to the regular V30 anyways, we’re still scratching our heads about why this thing exists.
LG V30S hands-on: A 2017 smartphone with 2018’s buzzwords
LG G7 ThinQ
Following up on the highly-underrated G6, LG’s first big flagship for 2018 is the G7 ThinQ. The LG G7 ThinQ was announced in early May, and while its notch-donning display might lead you into believing it’s just another iPhone X clone, LG made a lot of smart decisions with the G7 that makes it hard to put down once you start playing around with it.
Similar to past LG releases, the G7’s secondary rear camera is a wide-angle lens that allows you to capture much more of a scene around you with just a tap of your screen. This is something few other OEMs offer, and it’s easily one of our favorite uses for a second camera.
Also found on the G7 is a feature called “Boombox.” By using part of the G7’s inside as a resonance chamber, the phone vibrates with power as music is kicked out by its external speaker. Not only does this result in much louder audio on its own, but the effect is amplified when you place the G7 on any hard surface.
Also, if you’re a stickler for good haptic feedback, this is something that LG is destroying all other Android OEMs at.
LG G7 ThinQ hands-on preview: All about that bass
LG V35 ThinQ
The best way to think of the LG V35 is as a stepping stone between the V30 and V40. It’s got the exact same design and screen as the V30 and V30S, but its internals are completely upgraded. There’s a Snapdragon 845, 6GB RAM, 64GB of storage you can expand with a microSD card, and a 3300mAh battery.
The cameras found on the V35 are the same ones you’ll get on the G7, and if you’re anti-notch, you’ll be pleased to know that there’s no cutout at all on the V35’s screen.
As well-rounded of a package as the V35 is, its $900 asking price makes its appeal extremely limited — especially when phones like the OnePlus 6 offer most all of its specs/features for just $530.
LG V35 ThinQ coming to AT&T on June 8 for $900
LG Q7
Looking for a generic mid-range Android phone touting the LG logo? Introducing the LG Q7 series!
Joking aside, the Q7 lineup actually looks pretty solid. There are three models available, and depending on where you live, the phone will be available as the Q7, Q7+, or Q7a.
The 5.5-inch FHD+ display has a tall 18:9 aspect ratio with slim bezels, and to ensure the phone keeps chugging no matter what comes into contact with it, it’s outfitted with IP68 and MIL-STD 810G ratings.
Pricing is still up in the air, but LG says it’s bringing the Q7 to Europe, Asia, and the Americas.
LG announces Q7 mid-range series with glass designs and slim bezels
LG Q Stylus
LG’s getting rid of its G Stylo branding this year and replacing it with Q Stylus. To kick off the new naming scheme, we’ve got the LG Q Stylus, Q Stylus+, and Q Stylus A.
Similar to the Stylo 3 from last year, the Q Stylus comes with a stylus you can use for jotting down notes, editing screenshots, turning videos into GIFs, and more. When you’re not using the stylus, you can store it inside the phone for easy transportation.
To accompany all your doodles and notes, the Q Stylus has a large 6.2-inch Full HD+ screen with an 18:9 aspect ratio. The battery measures in at 3300mAh, there’s NFC for Google Pay, and IP68 dust/water resistance should keep it safe no matter the environment you’re in.
LG Q Stylus series announced with IP68 water resistance, Oreo, and more
LG K30 / K10 / K8
For its K series this year, LG released the K30, K10, and K8.
All three of the phones are packed with your typical array of mid-range specs, including things like HD displays, plastic designs, single rear cameras, fingerprint sensors, etc.
The K10 isn’t sold in the U.S., but if you’re interested in picking up the K30 or K8, they’re available for $225 and $140, respectively.
See the K30 at T-Mobile See the K8 at B&H
LG Aristo 2 / Aristo 2 Plus
In January this year, LG released the Aristo 2 in the U.S. A few months later in June, the phone received a minor rebranding as the Aristo 2 Plus and made its way to T-Mobile.
Both the Aristo 2 and Aristo 2 Plus come outfitted with a 5-inch 720p display, quad-core 1.4GHz quad-core processor, 2GB of RAM, 16GB of storage, 13MP rear camera, and a 2410mAh battery.
Despite being released in 2018, the phones run Android 7.1 Nougat, and based on LG’s track record for lower-end hardware, it’s incredibly unlikely they’ll ever be updated to Oreo, let alone Android P.
See at MetroPCS
LG Zone 4
In late March, the LG Zone 4 was announced as a new budget option for Verizon Wireless. It’s got a 5-inch 720p HD display, 1.4GHz quad-core processor, 2GB of RAM, and 16GB of expandable storage.
Other specs include a 2400mAh battery, 8MP rear camera, and 6MP selfie cam.
The Zone 4 is sold through Verizon’s prepaid plan and costs $115.
See at Verizon
LG X4+
Next up, we’ve got the LG X4+. The X4+ never made its way to the States, as it was created specifically for LG’s South Korean market, but the many similarities it shares to LG’s other budget phones means we didn’t miss out on much.
Some key specs for the X4+ include a 5.3-inch 720p display, Snapdragon 425 processor, 2GB RAM, and a 3000mAh battery.
The addition of NFC means the phone supports LG Pay, and the MIL-STD 810G is nice to see at this price range. In USD, the X4+ costs around $280.
LG X5 (2018)
On June 18, LG announced the LG X5. This iteration of the X5 is a successor to the phone by the same name that was released way back in 2016, and similar to the X4+, it’s another entry in LG’s neverending lineup of budget Android phones.
With the X5, you’ll find a 5.5-inch 1280 x 720 HD display, MediaTek MT6750 octa-core processor, 2GB RAM, and 32GB of expandable storage.
Android 8.0 Oreo is present out of the box, the rear and front cameras come in at 13MP and 5MP, respectively, and there’s a huge 4,500 mAh battery.
LG’s only selling the X5 in South Korea for the time being, and it works out to about $300.
See at LG
Updated June 18, 2018: Added new listings for the LG Q8+ and LG X5.
Three reasons the RED Hydrogen One could be the most interesting phone of 2018
This is gonna be one hell of a phone.
For a company that’s never made a smartphone before, RED is sure getting a lot of attention with its upcoming debut phone, the Hydrogen One. That’s thanks in part to RED’s massive brand recognition outside of the smartphone space, where it’s known as a leading name in cinematography. Whether you were aware of it or not, most of your favorite movies were likely shot on RED’s digital cinema cameras, along with videos from some popular YouTubers.
Of course, it takes more than a fancy name to sell a phone — especially when that phone starts at $1200. On top of its unique design, featuring ribbed sides for easy grip and premium materials like titanium and kevlar, the Hydrogen One is full of features that you won’t find on any other phones. Here are a few reasons why, good or bad, the Hydrogen One is likely one of the most interesting phones we’ll see all year.
See at Verizon
The holographic display
Everybody loves a bit of mystery, right? Though RED has been teasing its glasses-free holographic display since it originally announced the Hydrogen One, only a few people have gotten to actually see and use it — none of whom were allowed to take photos or videos of it, though they’ve all seemed to come away impressed. Here’s the main idea: the Hydrogen One will be able to switch between the normal “2D” display mode and what RED is calling “4V” (or “4-view”) mode.
4V is RED’s glasses-free 3D technology — a category we haven’t seen much development on in years. You’ll need special, 4V-specific content to take advantage of this feature; the Hydrogen One can capture 4V video natively, and RED is creating a content hub called the HYDROGEN Network where you can view and share 4V content with other Hydrogen One owners.
The cameras
RED has already claimed that the camera experience on the Hydrogen One is so good that it can only be bested by the company’s own production-grade cinema cameras, beating out other phones and even DSLR and mirrorless cameras. I’m … weary of that, to say the least, but such a bold claim definitely has me interested in seeing photo and video comparisons against other cameras. If even remotely true, the buyer’s perspective could shift from the Hydrogen One being a gratuitously expensive phone, to being a relatively inexpensive, pocketable camera with cellular capabilities — just think about the excitement the Blackmagic Pocket Cinema Camera 4K caused amongst videographers for roughly the same price.
By default, the Hydrogen One has two rear cameras in a circular housing, capable of shooting RED’s 4V format natively. It’ll simultaneously save a 2D version so you can still share your videos to your non-Hydrogen One touting friends (aka all of them), and the dual front cameras mean that you’ll be able to shoot in 4V in either direction. While I’m doubtful that a phone could possibly outshoot dedicated cameras like the Panasonic GH5 and Sony a7III, RED’s legendary sensors and color science will likely give it an edge over other smartphones.
The modularity
Just like Motorola’s Moto Z lineup, the Hydrogen One features a series of magnetic pin connectors that allow for a collection of hardware mods to expand the phone’s capabilities. It goes without saying that the majority of these attachments will augment the cameras; we’ve already seen an attachment that adds a lens mount to the Hydrogen One, meaning you’ll be able to add real lenses meant for dedicated cameras to the Hydrogen One, undoubtedly improving optics.
We’ve also seen the patents to an entire video rig for the Hydrogen One, adding shoulder mounts, rails, a follow focus, and so on. If you happen to own a RED camera like the Raven or the Epic-W, you can even use the Hydrogen One as an external monitor. We’ll have to wait and see what else RED adds to its mod lineup, but the hardware we’ve seen so far makes it clear that the company is serious about the Hydrogen One as a production tool.
Would you buy one?
It goes without saying that the Hydrogen One’s unique features are as of yet unproven. For all we know, the phone could be full of bugs that ruin the overall experience and fill the few people who order one with regret — or they might all work flawlessly and the Hydrogen One could end up being a sleeper hit for 2018.
Okay, that may be a little overly optimistic, especially considering how few manufacturers manage to pull off a great phone on their first attempt. But RED is no stranger to ambitious hardware, quickly dominating the cinema field in its short 19 years of business. While I didn’t pre-order a unit myself, I’m extremely excited to get my hands on a Hydrogen One when it’s finally released this summer — even if only in the AT&T and Verizon carrier stores it’ll be available at.
Did you pre-order a Hydrogen One? Are you waiting out for the subsequent model once RED irons out the potential bugs, or is the Hydrogen One not even a consideration for you in the first place? I want to know — sound off in the comments below!
See at Verizon
The Sidekick Remote control, as reviewed by CordCutters.com
The Sideclick Universal Remote Control ($29 at Amazon.)
Because your remote control doesn’t have to suck. Or cost a fortune.
Let’s face it — there’s a pretty good chance that the remote control that came with your Fire TV — or your Apple TV, or your Roku, or even a Mi Box or Nexus Player — just doesn’t cut it. Too few buttons, too few functions.
But you don’t want to spring a hundred dollars or more on a proper remote control. So what to do?
Enter the Sidelick. It’s a little clip-on with programable buttons that can add a great deal of functionality for just a few bucks. (About $30, actually.)
Read the full Sideclick Remote review at CordCutters.com
Introducing CordCutters.com
- The hardware you need
- All about streaming services
- What channels are on which service
- FREE over-the-air TV
- How to watch sports
- Join the discussion
Get the latest deals
Eufy’s $17 mini smart plug is perfect for a smart home beginner or expert
This is the smart plug to buy.
Eufy, a sub-brand of Anker, makes some great home accessories, and the company’s smart outlets are no exception. Mini smart plugs are some of the most popular options because they don’t take up much space and you can stack two of them on top of each other without any issue. For a limited time, you can pick up Eufy’s mini smart plug for $16.99 at Amazon with coupon code PLUGS123, which is the lowest it’s ever sold for.
You can control the outlet using the free iOS or Android app or with your voice through Amazon’s Alexa. Smart plugs are great to have around to control lamps, small appliances, scent warmers, and so much more.
Ready to go all-in on some new smart home gear? Be sure to check out Eufy’s Lumos smart bulb for $20.99 and its ZOLO Halo Bluetooth speaker with Alexa built-in for $29.99 with coupon ZOLOHALO.
See at Amazon
Best photo editor for your Chromebook in 2018
Polarr Photo Editor is the best way to edit pictures on your Chromebook.
One of the most often asked questions about Chromebooks we get is how to edit photos. You see the same questions in the comments of Chromebook posts and in forums and everywhere else. It’s a valid question.
One of the biggest holes in the Chromebook toolbox has always been content creation apps and utilities. If you need to edit video or audio or do more than some quick touch up work on photos, you likely looked towards a Windows or Mac laptop instead of a Chromebook because the tools were few and far between and many of the available ones were little more than a link to an online utility.
That’s starting to change. The old adage of “if you build it they will come” rings a little true. Chromebooks are selling well even with a down market for traditional computers, and more and more schools are giving students a Chromebook to help them with their schoolwork and get them ready for the “outside world.” This puts more eyeballs on great apps, and developers like to have eyeballs on their stuff. Add in Android app support through Google Play and you have a ton of choices to sift through to find the best. We did it for you.
If you’re looking for the best photo editor for your Chromebook you should install Polarr Photo Editor.
Polarr is a stand-alone program developed for Android, iOS, Windows, Mac, Linux, and Chrome. There is even an online version you can use through your web browser. It’s a full-featured program, and not what many people imagine when they think of a Chrome app.
Simply put, it’s the real deal. In fact, it’s one of the best Chrome apps you’ll find and an example of just how good things can be.
Polarr is one of the first Chromebook apps that’s as good as anything on Windows or the Mac.
The feature set is the perfect mix for casual to advanced work, which is exactly where a Chromebook shines. If you just want to add a filter so your photo stands out a little on Instagram, they are there and can be applied with one click. If you just want to let the app do some automatic magic fixes, Polarr can do that, too, and it does a great job smoothing out the noise and sharpening your photo while not destroying the color balance. When you want or need to do more, Polarr has you covered there, too.
You can adjust the color, lighting, detail, vignetting, HSL (hue, saturation, and luminance), RGB channel curves, toning, and distortion. You can even apply photo effects like fringing or film grain. And you can do this on a RAW file up to 40MP in size.
The controls are simple and perfect for anyone who doesn’t have to use Photoshop five days a week to earn a paycheck. All adjustments are in real time so you can see what effect each has and you have a full history panel to undo any or all the changes. You can even drag and drop the controls so the toolboxes work the way you want them to.
Polarr on my Chromebook makes my workflow easy again.
Here at AC taking photos is part of the job, and a big part of that is trying to make sure the stray piece of dust or eyelash doesn’t ruin a photo and the bright screen on Android phones isn’t washed out. That means most of the time our pictures of phones need run through an editing program. I’ve been using Polarr on my Chromebook to do it without any problems. In a lot of ways, I prefer Polarr to Lightroom — I like the tools interface better and the file handling is much better if you only have a few pictures to work on. Most importantly, Polarr does a good job balancing the exposure and cleaning up the noise that gets left behind when your adjusting it.
If you have a Chromebook or Chromebox — especially if you’re all-in and it’s your only computer — you need to try it. You can install Polarr for free from the Chrome Web Store and get most of the experience. All the tool features are available but some of the advanced adjustments are locked. What you get for free is very usable and works great. If you like what you see and want to go pro, Polarr uses a subscription model and costs $24 per year for the pro version. That’s about $100 per year cheaper than Lightroom ($9.99 per month) and the things most people who don’t need Lightroom would want to do are easy with Polarr. I feel like I got my money’s worth.
Download from the Chrome Web Store
Updated June 2018: Polarr is still the best photo editor for your Chromebook, regardless of your skill level.
Chromebooks
- The best Chromebooks
- Chromebooks in education: Everything you need to know
- Should you buy a Chromebook?
- Chromebook Buyers Guide
- Google Pixelbook review
- Join our Chromebook forums
Google’s investing $550 million into Chinese shopping site JD.com
This is part of a new “strategic partnership” Google’s starting with JD.
Similar to how Amazon is the go-to online retailer in the United States, JD.com is China’s second-largest website for buying everything from smartphones to soda. On June 18, Google announced that it’s partnering with JD.com and plans to invest $550 million in the company.
Per Karim Temsamani, Google’s President of Asia-Pacific Operations:
We want to accelerate how retail ecosystems deliver consumer experiences that are helpful, personalized and offer high quality service in a range of countries around the world, including in Southeast Asia. By applying JD.com’s supply chain and logistics expertise and our technology strengths, we’re going to explore new ways retailers can make shopping effortless for their consumers, giving them the power to shop wherever and however they want.
Temsamani calls this a “strategic partnership” with JD.com, and in addition to the monetary investment, JD.com will also be included as a merchant on Google Shopping in multiple regions
E-commerce is currently exploding in the Asia-Pacific region, with people expected to spend an upwards of $88.1 billion by 2025 on online purchases.
A partnership with one of the world’s largest companies is a huge win for JD.com, and it’ll be interesting to see if Google buddies up with any other shopping brands going forward.
Demystifying Xiaomi’s budget lineup: Should you buy the Redmi Y2, Redmi Note 5, or the Mi A1?
Best USB-C Portable Battery Power Packs in 2018
Keep all your devices charged with the right power pack to fit your needs!
We’re still waiting on USB-C to fully live up to the lofty expectations the tech industry has hyped it to be. In most ways, USB-C does a great job of improving the ease of use and effectiveness of charging our devices. In 2018, all the latest tech products worth buying has shifted over to the new standard — from the latest Android smartphones to Chromebooks other laptops, and a bunch of other accessories.
One of the most convenient ways to keep your phone charged on the go is with a reliable battery pack. These are the best USB-C battery packs you should consider.
- Ventev Powercell 6010+
- Anker PowerCore 13000 USB-C
- Mophie Powerstation Plus XL USB-C
- Anker PowerCore+ 20100 USB-C
- Aukey USB-C 30000mAh Power Bank
Ventev Powercell 6010+
Why will you love this battery pack? For starters, it has a built-in USB-C cable that tucks neatly into the side of the pack itself so you’re never left to deal with keeping an extra charging cable on you at all times. With a 6,000mAh lithium polymer battery, you’ll be able to fully recharge any smartphone or accessories you need along with the second USB-A port that allows you to charge two devices at once. But the best feature is how you recharge the pack itself — simply fold out the outlet prongs and plug it into the wall.
You’re also able to keep charging your device while the pack itself is plugged into the wall, and your device will be topped up before the internal battery does — essentially this is a USB-C cable, battery pack, and wall charger all-in-one. Get this while you can for just $47.
See at Amazon
Anker PowerCore 13000 USB-C
Moving up in battery capacity is this compact power bank from Anker.
Anker is one of those brands that have become ubiquitous with charging accessories, trusted by many of the Android Central staff and millions of people from around the world to keep our phones and devices running. This 13,000mAh battery pack is one of the latest to feature USB-C input to let you charge the pack itself more conveniently. It also features Anker’s PowerIQ charging technology to assure that all your devices are charged as fast as possible and comes with a USB-A to USB-C cable for charging your devices and the pack itself.
Get this portable power pack for just $34 on Amazon.
See at Amazon
Mophie Powerstation Plus XL USB-C
Mophie is a brand synonymous with high-quality batteries, and the Powerstation Plus XL USB-C is no exception. With a built-in 12,000mAh battery attached USB-C cable rated for 18W of charging using the USB-PD standard, this $100 accessory may be on the pricey side, but you get all of Mophie’s beautiful design and proven quality. A USB-C port enables passthrough charging for a second device, and to charge the battery itself, while a USB-A port lets you charge practically any device in your collection at up to 15W.
Mophie also has a series of higher-capacity (and more expensive) USB-C battery packs, incluing the felt-covered 19,000mAh monster Powerstation XXL, for $150.
See at Amazon
Anker PowerCore+ 20100 USB-C
Another very popular battery pack from Anker is it’s larger 20,100mAh PowerCore+. This product includes two USB-A ports that feature the PowerIQ technology, along with a USB-C port that can be used as a third port for delivering power to a phone or laptop if needed.
With its larger battery capacity, Anker says you should be able to fully recharge a laptop, smartphone, and tablet all on a single charge. It’s also got a tall design that lends itself well for travel — simply slip it into your bag and you won’t have to worry about your phone dying on you at an inopportune moment.
This pack comes with a USB to USB-C cable, a Micro-USB cable, and a USB-C to USB-C cable along with a travel pouch, which helps to justify the $66 price on Amazon.
See at Amazon
Aukey USB-C 30000mAh Portable Charger
The folks at Aukey must live by the motto “go big or go home” because this battery pack is massive — both in battery capacity and size.
You get a 30,000mAh internal battery that’s capable of charging all of your USB-C devices multiple times over or charge multiple devices at one time. There are two standard USB ports for plugging in a device, a micro USB port for charging the battery pack itself, and a USB-C port that goes both ways and lets you charge up to three devices simultaneously.
At nearly six inches long and over an inch thick, this thing is an absolute brick of power. If that’s exactly what you need, you can get yours for $77
See at Amazon
Pokémon Go Gaining Ability to Trade Pokémon With Nearby Friends This Week
Two years after its release in the summer of 2016, Pokémon Go will officially add Pokémon trading between friends within the app later this week. The feature is coming via a new “Friends” area, allowing players to connect to real-life friends and trade Pokémon, keep track of their status in the game, and send them items and gifts.
Friends will now get “Trainer Codes” to share with one another, which can be entered to become friends in the app. Once you’re friends with someone there are multiple actions you can perform to increase your Friendship Level, like sending them gifts or participating in raids and gym battles with them. As this level grows, bonuses can be unlocked when you play together, so “Great Friends” can gain in-battle advantages, like attack bonuses.
Friendship Levels can be increased once per day per friend, and the new friend-based mechanics lead into the game’s trading system. If you are near your friend (within 100 meters) and have reached a Trainer Level of 10 or higher, the game will let you trade Pokémon that you’ve caught. Trades cost Stardust, and Niantic says that once your Friendship Level increases players will be able to complete trades “with much less Stardust.”
Special Pokémon like a legendary, shiny, or any Pokémon not in your Pokédex will have their own “Special Trade” rules: they can only occur once per day with a Great Friend or Best Friend, and cost “a lot of Stardust.” Every trade also earns players bonus candy for the Pokémon that has been traded away, and the amount of candy increases if the Pokémon being traded were captured in regions far apart from each other.
Pokémon trading was one of the missing features of Pokémon Go that players asked for after the game launched in July 2016. Months later in early 2017, Niantic CEO John Hanke said that trading would be coming “soon.” Speaking with The Verge, Niantic software engineer Kirsten Koa explained that the nearby trading mechanic has been a focus of development since the game launched: “We wanted to make sure we got this right… It took two years for us to build that feature — that’s how hard it was.”
Tag: Pokémon GO
Discuss this article in our forums
