This week on the Windows Central Podcast: New Insider Preview changes, Paint dies, lots of ranting, and more!
This past week, Microsoft announced some new changes to the Windows Insider Program, new information about a CDMA version of the Elite x3 came to light, Paint almost died, and a whole lot more on this weeks episode of the Windows Central Podcast!
It's cheaper to get the phone with a freebie than without.
HP UK has been known for some whacky pricing on the Elite x3 but this latest one isn't obvious to see. The cashback offer has now ended, but that doesn't mean you can't get one for a lot less than you used to need to fork out.
How does £459 sound with the desk dock thrown in?
The Galaxy Note 8 shows up in a convincing render, and it looks like a squarer, taller Galaxy S8.
We are just over three weeks from the unveiling of the Galaxy Note 8. We know this because Samsung has itself admitted it.
And while we've already seen fairly convincing renders of the upcoming S Pen-enhanced flagship, Evan Blass of Twitter's @evleaks has most recently given us the best look at the phone yet.
Samsung Galaxy S8 next to the rumored Galaxy Note 8.
Here you can see the front of the phone in what looks like a press render, conveniently laid out next to the Galaxy S8. You can see the Note 8 is ever so much taller, and appropriately squarer for the brand. It bridges the gap between the Galaxy Note 7 and the Galaxy S8.
Samsung Galaxy Note8 (in Midnight Black) http://pic.twitter.com/QZii9xFarQ
— Evan Blass (@evleaks) July 31, 2017
The Note 8 is also expected to share a similar spec sheet to the Galaxy S8, including the popular Snapdragon 835 / Exynos 8895 combination that has been so well received this year. But Samsung intends to give the Note 8 slightly more memory, with 6GB of RAM and a 128GB storage option. On the camera side, Samsung's first dual camera setup is expected to debut on the Note 8, with two 12MP sensors with lenses of different focal lengths and both optically stabilized.
Samsung Galaxy Note 8: What we know so far
What do you think of the Galaxy Note 8 so far? Let us know in the comments below!
Another security scare has big consequences.
U.S.-based phone company BLU is back in hot water as Amazon has suspended sales of its phones citing concerns over the security of the software loaded on the phones. Amazon says the move is in response to a "potential security issue," though it's not immediately clear if it stems from the same security worry uncovered in apps pre-loaded on BLU phones late last year.
Most people probably don't have any specific brand affinity for BLU's phones, but it has made some of the cheapest Android devices available on Amazon, which has driven sales as it competes in the ultra-low-end segment. BLU has even partnered with Amazon for a "Prime Exclusive" device that was sold with lock screen ads at a steep discount — just $60. At the time of the previous security scare it was apparently determined BLU had things under control enough to keep the phones on sale — but now Amazon is pulling the plug 8 months later.
Amazon's provided the following statement to CNET:
Because security and privacy of our customers is of the utmost importance, all BLU phone models have been made unavailable for purchase on Amazon.com until the issue is resolved.
The interesting part about this whole thing is how long it took Amazon to put a halt on sales, particularly if this is indeed a continuation of the same issue from November last year. With Amazon's reputation on the line in that it's selling co-branded Prime Exclusive versions of BLU phones, it's surprising that it wouldn't have at least temporarily paused sales while this was ongoing. Now, Amazon is now directing customers to BLU for inquiries on their phones, and continuing to sell other Prime Exclusive phones from the likes of Motorola, Nokia and Alcatel.
It isn't likely that anyone will be too upset by not seeing a BLU phone available on Amazon alongside the many other Prime Exclusive devices, but for those who bought one throughout 2017 there are bigger questions as to how big this security hole is and how responsible BLU will be in addressing it.
Legendary Moltres Raids start July 31, Legendary Zapdos Raids start August 7
Pokémon Go is intended to get you out and about, both on your own and with family and friends. One of the ways Pokémon Go tries to bolster activity is with events. Some of the events get splashy announcements and coincide with big public holidays. Others are quieter and more regular. Here's what's happened already and what's coming up next.
New: How to beat Legendary Raid Bosses | How to catch Legendary Raid Bosses | Best movesets for Legendary Pokémon
Update: Moltres Raids have started to appear. Unfortunately, they began after Raids ended in most of the world, missing Pokémon Go's previously announced July 31 date. As of August 1, however, Articuno Raids should be over and Moltres Raids should be available to everyone.
As part of an update on what went wrong at Pokémon Go Fest Chicago, John Hanke, CEO of Pokémon Go developer Niantic, shared the following event updates on his blog:
- Articuno (Team Mystic) released on Saturday, July 22 and available through Monday, July 31.
- Moltres (Team Valor) to be released on Monday, July 31 and available through Monday, August 7.
- Zapdos (Team Instinct) to be released on Monday, August 7 and available through Monday, August 14.
Catch 'em when and while you can!
How to beat Lugia, Articuno, Moltres, Zapdos, and all the Legendary Raid Bosses
Pokémon Go is presenting at SIGGRAPH 2017 and 'rare' Pikachu is apparently coming with them. From the Siplh Road on Reddit:
Niantic Inc., the creator of Pokémon Go, will release a rare pikachu.
No one knows what this means yet, which has led to speculation it might be anything from a costume like party hat or Santa hat Pikachu, to Shiny Pikachu.
We'll have to wait for Tuesday, 1 August, 3:45 pm - 5:15 pm, at the Los Angeles Convention Center in room 403AB to find out!
From SIGGRAPH 2017:
Pokémon GO inspired user behaviors indicative of a successful augmented reality application such as sharing of photos with rendered characters and spontaneous real-world gatherings of thousands of people. The evolution of the technical and design choices in Niantic's products through Pokémon GO that achieved a mass-market AR application are described.
UPDATE: Pokémon Go is postponing some of the European Safari Events, and making regionals available in a few cities instead. From Pokémon Go:
In order to guarantee the best possible gameplay experience for European Trainers, we have decided to postpone the events in Europe scheduled for August 5 (Copenhagen and Prague) and August 12 (Stockholm and Amsterdam) until a date later in the Fall. No other scheduled events are affected including the event scheduled for Yokohama, Japan on August 14 and the events scheduled for September 16 in France, Spain, and Germany.
We apologize for any inconvenience and hope you understand that our priority is to ensure a great experience for Pokémon GO Trainers in Europe and around the world. Trainers that might have questions regarding the Safari Zone events should visit the help center.
As a special surprise, we understand that some Pokémon that are rarely seen in Europe will be appearing soon in certain European cities for a brief time. Keep your eyes peeled!
Stay tuned for more information, we will update you as soon as we have the new dates.
Pokémon Go will be partnering with Unibail-Rodamco for a series of Pokémon Go Safari events across continental Europe. As part of the event, region-exclusive Pokémon from other continents will be available to catch in Europe for the first time.
From Pokémon Go:
We're excited to announce that a variety of Pokémon GO Safari Zone events will be taking place at select Unibail-Rodamco shopping centers during August and September!
September 16, 2017 - CentrO—Oberhausen, Germany - Les Quatre Temps—Paris, France - La Maquinista—Barcelona, Spain
All seven Pokémon GO Safari Zone events will give Trainers the opportunity to catch a wide variety of Pokémon in special zones featuring Pokémon originally encountered in the Kanto and Johto regions, including some Pokémon never before encountered in Europe! Additionally, Trainers in attendance will join forces to take on unique and powerful Raid Bosses that will be making appearances at these events.
The next Pokémon Go Nest Migration is expected to occur on Wednesday, August 9, 2017, at 8 p.m. EDT / 5 p.m. PDT.
Pokémon Go nest migrations but they've occurred every two weeks at exactly the same time for months. There's always a possibility that will change but, until it does, the nest migration is a safe bet.
What are Pokémon Go Nests and how do you find them?
If you're in Japan — or want to be! — get ready for Pikachu Outbreak.
The Pokémon Company is organizing "Pikachu Outbreak", a Pokémon event in Yokohama, Japan, in August where they're exploring a unique Pokémon GO experience.
And:
Pokémon GO Park
Fun & safe area will appear in Yokohama's seaside parks for Pokémon GO players!
Date & Time: Aug. 9th(Wed.) to 15th(Tues.) 2017, 10am to 6pm
Venue: Yokohama Redbrick Park (Akarenga Park), CUPNOODLES MUSEUM ParkPokémon GO Stadium
One day only special event for Pokémon GO players to come together! (Pre-registration needed)
Date & Time: Aug. 14th(Mon.) 2017, 6pm to 9pm
Venue: Yokohama Stadium
With Lugia and Great Birds already beginning their runs in Pokémon Go, rumors are swirling that Pikachu Outbreak could see the release of Ho-Oh, and perhaps begin the Great Beasts — Entei, Raiku, and Suicune.
We'll have to wait and see.
Based on past events, there are a few guesses we can make about future events. First, regional holidays don't mean regional events. Halloween isn't an internationally observed occasion but the event was worldwide. U.S. Thanksgiving is only celebrated in the U.S., but was likewise a worldwide event. Granted, Pokémon Go is developed by a U.S. company, but it does indicate that other regional holidays could provide the impetus for other worldwide events.
Also, Pokémon Go has multiple levers to pull. The game can increase rewards, like candy, XP, and stardust. It can decrease requirements, like walking distance. It can increase spawn rates for all or specific Pokémon, like pink colored Pokémon or water-types, and create limited edition Pokémon just for events, like Party Hat Pikachu. It can also give away items or increase their duration, like 1-use Incubators or 8-hour Lures.
Pokémon Go can have events to aid in charitable causes, like the highly localized tsunami-relief event in Japan that featured Lapras or Snorlax exclusively for a week. There was also an event simply to promote the new streaks and bonuses. So, if they want to maintain momentum and there's too long a gap between proper occasions, Pokémon Go can invent their own.
So far, Pokémon Go has held the following:
That still leaves several type-events for Pokémon Go to run during the rest of the year:
Since Pokémon Go has shown they're not averse to combining type events, like Fire and Ice, we could see some really interesting combinations.
During the first year, Pokémon Go held events for Halloween, the introduction of streak bonuses, Thanksgiving, the holidays, and New Year. There's no reason to believe at least most of those events won't be repeated this year.
Check out the recaps and links below to see what the previous events offered and what may be offered again soon.
The best indicator of future behavior is past behavior. So, to look forward to the next Pokémon Go events, it's helpful to look back at the events that have already run.
Following up on Pokémon Go Fest Chicago, a slew of bonuses were unlocked, including:
Hopefully we won't have to wait another year for that many bonuses again.
More on Pokémon Go Fest Chicago.
Pokémon Go Fest Chicago was the first major real-world event for Niantic's incredibly popular augmented reality, geo-hunting game. It took place Saturday, July 22, at Grant Park in Chicago, IL, and — the servers crashed and burned.
Still, Pokémon Go made good with refunds, $100 in Poké Coins, and a Lugia for every participant, as well as a 100% catch rate for Legendary Raids around the venue.
More on Pokémon Go Fest Chicago.
Pokémon Go's Anniversary Event ran from July 6 to July 24 with a special Ash-hat Pikachu for players to catch in the wild and discounted Anniversary Boxes and Special Boxes to buy in the Poké Shop. The first Box was underwhelming but the second set delivered.
From June 13 to 21, 2017 (extended a day due to Pokémon Trainer Club (PTC) login issues, Pokémon Go held and event of Ice- and Fire in honor of the summer soultice in the north and the winter solstice in the south. In addition to extra fire- and ice-type spawns, there was 5x XP on hatching eggs, 3x XP on catching Pokémon, and 50% off Lucky Eggs in the Poké Shop.
More on thePokémon Go solstice Ice- and Fire-type event
Pokémon Go had a rock-type event, called Adventure Week, from May 18 to May 25, 2017. During the event, rock-type Pokémon spawned at a higher rate, Buddy candy accrued at 4x the usual speed, Poké Balls were 50% off in the shop, and extra items were dropped at PokéStops!
More on the Pokémon Go Adventure Week Rock-type Event
Pokémon Go held a worldwide bloom event from May 5 to May 8, 2017. During the event, grass-type Pokémon spawns were increased and Lures lasted for six hours.
More on the Pokémon Go grass event
Pokémon Go held a Lure Event for "Golden Week" in Japan, from April 29 to May 7, 2017.
4月29日(土)から5月7日(日)の期間、国内のマクドナルド約2,500店舗の「ポケストップ」に花びらが舞い、ポケモンをたくさんゲットできる「ルアーモジュールコラボイベント」が開催されます！GOルデンウィークはマクドナルドへGO！ http://pic.twitter.com/IL7qv9Hjlz
— Pokémon GO Japan (@PokemonGOAppJP) April 28, 2017
Rough translation, cleaned up from Google:
During the period from Saturday, April 29 to Sunday, May 7, the petals will dance at PokéStops located at about 2,500 local MacDonald's. The "Lure module collaboration event" will be held so that you can get a lot of Pokemon! GO Golden Week goes to McDonald's GO!
Unlike the American Thanksgiving event, which was made international, this event was Japan-only, with McDonald's Japan footing the bill.
Niantic, the developer behind Pokémon Go and Ingress, and the Knight Foundation, and organization focused on community engagement, announced an ongoing partnership that hopes to use location and augmented-reality based gaming to help bring neighborhoods and neighbors together.
The first event was set for May 7 in Charlotte, North Carolina, as part of the Open Streets 704 event in a 2.5-mile area. 16 PokéStops and two Gyms, selected by the City of Charlotte at significant sites along the route, were offer increased spawns to help make it exciting and engaging for everyone.
May 4, 2017 - Niantic, Inc., creators of hit augmented reality games Pokémon GO and Ingress, and the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation have formed a multi-year partnership to advance civic engagement in local communities around the United States through augmented reality experiences. The partnership will foster discovery, bring communities together, and promote engagement within public spaces by leveraging Niantic's mobile location-based technology and experiences at select community events supported by The Knight Foundation.
"We founded Niantic to give people the chance to connect with the world around them using technology and games in innovative ways," said John Hanke, CEO, Niantic, Inc. "The partnership with The Knight Foundation is a great forum to explore how technology can drive civic engagement."
The collaboration will play out at community events in several cities, including Knight-sponsored Open Streets events. These temporarily close off car traffic so people can use streets for walking, bicycling, dancing, playing and socializing. The initiative will also tap unique facets of a city's public spaces such as parks and libraries to bring together people of diverse backgrounds and build a sense of shared community. Over the next year, Niantic will collaborate with civic leaders in several cities where Knight Foundation supports community engagement. The initiative will work to enhance these events featuring special content within their augmented reality mobile games, Ingress and Pokémon GO.
"Pokemon Go has already showed us the impact technology can have on getting people out into public," said Sam Gill, Knight vice president for learning and impact. "We're excited to work with Niantic to explore new ways to help people engage with each other and their neighborhoods."
The first event in the collaboration between Niantic and the Knight Foundation will be hosted on May 7 in Charlotte, North Carolina as part of the Open Streets 704 event in a 2.5 mile area. Though this first event will be experimental, fans of Pokémon GO can look forward to interacting with 16 PokéStops and two Gyms selected by the City of Charlotte at significant sites along the route. These locations will be highlighted on the official Open Streets 704 route map displayed at the event. To further immerse fans in the real-world experience, the physical location of each PokéStop will be physically marked along the route.
There are some reports that the event wasn't well organized and that many weren't pleased the only thing they got for participating was a set of stickers. Others seem to have really liked it. Either way, I hope we see many more of these, and like these, going forward.
The Pokémon Go Spring Even lasted from April 13 to April 20, 2017. During the event, you got double XP, extra candy from egg hatches, and many 5 KM and 10 KM Pokémon began hatching from 2 KM eggs, including Lapras and Aerodactyl. Lucky Eggs were also offered at 50% in the Pokémon Go Shop.
More on the Pokémon Go Spring / Easter Event
The Pokémon Go Water Festival was done to help raise awareness for various global water days and weeks. During the festival, water-type Pokémon spawned at a much-increased rate, often replacing the typical common and rare spawns almost completely. And yes, that included Lapras!
In addition, a Magikarp hat was made available for trainers to wear, and Shiny Pokémon were introduced into Pokémon Go for the first time in the form of gold Magikarp and red Gyarados.
More on the Pokémon Go Water Festival Event
More on Shiny Pokémon in Pokémon Go
Similar to last fall's Lapras event, Japan's Kumamoto region is getting a Snorlax event to help bolster tourism following the earthquake of 2016.
熊本県全域、及び大分県由布市、別府市で、カビゴンが現れやすくなるとの情報が届きました。ポケモンのふえに起こされたのでしょうか？この現象は3/4から3/13まで続くようです！現地は復興作業が続いている地域、場所がございます。危険な場所には立ち入らず、熊本、大分を楽しんでくださいね！ http://pic.twitter.com/24SbqeLuOI
— Pokémon GO Japan (@PokemonGOAppJP) March 2, 2017
Here's an approximate translation:
We've received information that in the Kumamoto prefecture and in Oita prefecture, Yufu city and Beppu city, Snorlax has begun appearing more frequently. Was it roused by the Pokémon flute? The phenomenon is expected to continue from March 4 to March 13. There are areas and places where local reconstruction work is continuing. Do not enter a dangerous place. Otherwise, please enjoy Kumamoto and Oita!
If you're in Japan or have wanted to go to Japan, and Snorlax is still on your must-get list, now's the time to go!
The Pokémon Day event saw Pokémon Go join the larger festivities by offering a special, limited edition Pikachu in a festive hat that could be caught from February 26 at 1:00 p.m. PST to March 6 at 1:00 p.m. PST.
More on the Pokémon Day event and Party Hat Pikachu
Pokémon Go ran a Valentine's Day event for a whole week! That's right, from February 8 to February 15, 2017.
During the Valentine's event there was double candy, half walking distances, increased spawning rates for pink Pokémon, and Lures that lasted six hours.
More about the Pokémon Go Valentine's event
The Pokémon Go Holiday & New Year Events overlapped, the holiday part running from December 25 through January 3, 2017 and the New Year part, December 30 through January 8.
During the holiday part, it offered and increased spawn rate for limited-time Santa Pikachu, an increased chances of hatching Gen 2 babies Cleffa, Igglybuff, Togepi, Smoochum, Elekid, or Magby, and a free 1-time Incubator from the first PokéStop spin of the day.
During the New Year part, it offered Increased spawn rate for Gen 1 Starter Pokémon and their evolutions, Bulbasaur, Ivysaur, Venusaur, Charmander, Charmeleon, Charizard, Squirtle, Wartortle, and Blastoise, and Lures lasting twice as long.
More about the Pokémon Go Holiday and New Year Events
The Pokémon Go Thanksgiving Event ran from November 23rd through November 30th. It offered Double XP and Stardust for catching, hatching, and evolving Pokémon.
More about the Pokémon Go Thanksgiving Event
From November 11 to November 23, 2016, Pokémon Go made Lapras easier to find in the Iwate, Miyagi, and Fukushima Prefectures of Japan. It was an attempt to help bring tourism back to the region following the earthquake earlier in the year.
皆さんにお知らせです。岩手県、宮城県、福島県の沿岸部でラプラスが出現しやすくなっていることが確認されました。この現象は11/23まで続くようです。東北の今を感じる旅に是非おでかけください！きっとPokémon GO以外でも素敵な発見がたくさんあると思います。 http://pic.twitter.com/1VPBngRU6v
— Pokémon GO Japan (@PokemonGOAppJP) November 11, 2016
Rough translation:
Listen up everyone! It has been confirmed that Lapras is now easier to find in the coastal regions of Iwata, Miyagi, and Fukushima Prefectures. The phenomenon will continue until November 23. Please go out and journey in Tohoku! There are many wonderful discoveries to be made beyond Pokémon Go.
The Pokémon Go Halloween Event ran from October 26 through November 1. It offered double candy for catching, hatching, and transferring Pokémon, and cut the distance for walking Buddy Pokémon down to 1/4. Increased spawn rates were also offered for Zubat, Golbat, Drowzee, Hypno, Gastly, Haunter, Gengar, Cubone, Marowak, Meowth, and Persian.
More about the Pokémon Go Halloween Event
If you were planning the next big Pokémon Go event, when would you have it and how would you handle it?
A new law in Russia bans VPNs in an effort to prevent citizens from accessing censored websites.
Virtual Private Networks (VPNs) will soon be banned in Russia as part of a new bill signed into law by President Vladimir Putin.
It's time to uncover your family's past.
Every family has their secrets, but the Finch clan has more than its fair share. Cursed by various tragedies, Edith was never given the full story.
For the first time in years she's returning to the family home, and it's time to find out everything that was being kept from her.
This is What Remains of Edith Finch, an acclaimed adventure game finally available on Xbox One.
Our friends at Thrifter are back again, this time with the most affordable way to get into the Philips Hue ecosystem!
We've seen a lot of Philips Hue deals lately, and they've all been quite popular. The folks at Daily Steals are getting in on the fun now, and are offering a refurbished 2nd-gen Starter Kit (white) for just $44.99 when you use the coupon code THRFTRHUE5. This is a $5 discount from the everyday Daily Steals price, and makes it $10 less than buying one at eBay. Brand new versions of this Starter Kit are selling for $64.99 at Amazon currently.
This kit comes with the Philips Hue Bridge and two A19 White LED Bulbs.
If you're picking up the Starter Kit, you'll also want to grab yourself a discounted Hue Motion Sensor for its new low price of just $22. Daily Steals is offering a 90-day warranty on the refurbished kit, and also has a 30-day return policy.
For more great deals be sure to check out our friends at Thrifter now!
Our friends at Thrifter are back again, this time with the most affordable way to get into the Philips Hue ecosystem!
We've seen a lot of Philips Hue deals lately, and they've all been quite popular. The folks at Daily Steals are getting in on the fun now, and are offering a refurbished 2nd-gen Starter Kit (white) for just $44.99 when you use the coupon code THRFTRHUE5. This is a $5 discount from the everyday Daily Steals price, and makes it $10 less than buying one at eBay. Brand new versions of this Starter Kit are selling for $64.99 at Amazon currently.
This kit comes with the Philips Hue Bridge and two A19 White LED Bulbs.
If you're picking up the Starter Kit, you'll also want to grab yourself a discounted Hue Motion Sensor for its new low price of just $22. Daily Steals is offering a 90-day warranty on the refurbished kit, and also has a 30-day return policy.
For more great deals be sure to check out our friends at Thrifter now!
Are you getting errors installing Linux distros on Windows 10? In this guide, we'll tell you exactly what you need to do to fix this issue.
Starting with the Windows 10 Fall Creators Update, Microsoft is making some Linux distros, including Ubuntu, SUSE Linux Enterprise Server 12, and OpenSUSE Leap 42 available in the Windows Store. Additionally, it's no longer a prerequisite to enable Developer mode, which makes the installation of Linux distros a lot easier.
However, a number of users a seeing an error code 0x8007007e as they try to install any of the distros, but it's not a bug in the software. Instead, users are seeing this error because the Windows Subsystem for Linux (WSL), the compatibility layer to run Linux binary executables on Windows 10 is missing.
In this Windows 10 guide, we'll walk you through the steps to successfully install Ubuntu, SUSE Linux Enterprise Server 12, and openSUSE Leap 42 on your device.
Our friends at Thrifter are back again, this time with a must-have Philips Hue accessory!
Update: Amazon currently has an $8.65 on-page coupon that you can clip, dropping the price of the motion sensor to just over $22.
Being able to control your Philips Hue lights from your phone, or via your voice, is awesome, but when you have stuff in your hands or want to be quiet, it's less than ideal. Luckily, there are other options available for controlling your lights, and one of the easiest is the Hue Motion Sensor. Amazon currently has it listed for just $31.98 which happens to be its lowest price yet. It normally sells for $40.
This is a great addition to any Philips Hue setup that you have. Be sure to grab one now, before the price jumps back up again!
For more great deals be sure to check out our friends at Thrifter now!
SNES: Classic Edition is launching September 29 and pre-orders are imminent. Bookmark these sites to make sure you get yours before they sell out.
Nintendo's Classic Edition mini consoles traditionally sell like hotcakes, or at least the NES: Classic Edition did. It sold out lickety-split and never really remained in stock on the regular anywhere. Chances are the SNES: Classic Edition will be the same. Pre-orders are set to go live any day now and most, if not all of the listed retailers are likely to offer advanced purchasing. You could also try your luck at getting one right off the shelf in person on launch day. Here's where you can get the SNES: Classic Edition in the U.S.
SNES: Classic Edition retails for $79.99 and comes with two wired controllers and 21 games installed in the unit. When searching for SNES: Classic Edition, make sure you're not overpaying and that you've got the real deal, not a knockoff.
Amazon has a listing for SNES: Classic Edition up right now, but it's currently unavailable. You can sign up to receive a notification when it launches. Rumor has it that Amazon will offer pre-orders, so be sure to sign up for information about that. If you aren't able to pre-order, on Sept. 29, log into your Amazon account as soon as you wake up and start hitting the refresh button right away. Amazon has traditionally launched products at 9:00 a.m. PT, but it's been known to make products available at all different times. Amazon is probably the hardest place to get the SNES: Classic Edition because everyone is trying to get one at the same time.
GameStop also has a listing for SNES: Classic Edition but shows the product as available Sept. 29. You can sign up to receive a notification when it will go on sale, and it's not a bad idea. GameStop usually sends out advanced emails to let you know what's going on. It'll probably be difficult to order online, but you might have a pretty good chance of getting the SNES: Classic Edition if you line up early on launch day. Be sure to ask your local GameStop if they are having a midnight sale.
Target will stock SNES: Classic Edition but has not posted a listing for the product yet. The retailer did announce on Twitter that, not only will it be selling the SNES: Classic Edition, but it will also offer pre-orders. You'll have to follow AskTarget on Twitter to find out when pre-orders will be available, as they don't have that information yet.
Excited about SNES release this fall? Good news! We will have this item & it will be available for pre-orders! Get ready for Classic action.
— AskTarget (@AskTarget) July 22, 2017
Best Buy does have a listing for the SNES: Classic Edition, and you can sign up for notifications. I recommend signing up because it's rumored that Best Buy will also have pre-orders available and an advanced email might give you a specific time and date to get in on the pre-order. Otherwise, on launch day, you can try ordering online, or you can head down to your local brick-and-mortar and hope they still have them in stock.
Ignoring Walmart's mistaken pre-order debacle, you will actually be able to pre-order the SNES: Classic Edition from the retailer at some point in the near future. The current website listing does not provide a notification email link, a price, or even information about when the product will be available, but that's likely due to the earlier accidental pre-order that already upset hundreds (thousands?) of people. You can check back on the regular to see if Walmart's pre-order is live, or wait until the Sept. 29 launch, at which point you might do better to walk into a Walmart and try your luck at grabbing one off the shelf.
Toys R Us has been mum about whether it will provide a pre-order for the SNES: Classic Edition or even have it on sale in September. But it's been available as a pre-order in the UK for a while. So it stands to reason it'll be available in the U.S., too. As we get closer to the launch, we'll undoubtedly get an update and a website listing from the toy retailer. But until then, we just have to keep our ear to the ground about availability.
Our friends at Thrifter are back again, this time with a must-have Philips Hue accessory!
Update: Amazon currently has an $8.65 on-page coupon that you can clip, dropping the price of the motion sensor to just over $22.
Being able to control your Philips Hue lights from your phone, or via your voice, is awesome, but when you have stuff in your hands or want to be quiet, it's less than ideal. Luckily, there are other options available for controlling your lights, and one of the easiest is the Hue Motion Sensor. Amazon currently has it listed for just $31.98 which happens to be its lowest price yet. It normally sells for $40.
This is a great addition to any Philips Hue setup that you have. Be sure to grab one now, before the price jumps back up again!
For more great deals be sure to check out our friends at Thrifter now!
Beat the heat in VR with this heatsink!
The fact that Daydream heats up your phone is no surprise, but the fact that you can mitigate this issue can be news to plenty of people. We took the time to test out a heat sink for Daydream and see whether it really did make a difference in our VR experience.
Look like a toned-down Power Ranger with the latest free update for Final Fantasy XV.
Square Enix has pushed out the July update for Final Fantasy XV on both Xbox One and PS4, adding in some new content for players to dive into.
Our friends at Thrifter post some great deals every day, and here are the best ones available right now!
From mobile phones to general tech, home goods and much more, the team at Thrifter is scouring the web every single day to find the best deals. Whether something hits a new all-time low, gets discounted for just a limited time, or has a new coupon code available for it, you won't want to miss out any of them. If you want to know about the deals as soon as they are happening, you'll want to follow Thrifter on Twitter, and sign up for the newsletter, because missing out on a great deal stinks!
So, what are the best deals that you should be looking at right now? Well, let's take a look at them so you can see which ones are best for you!
Bluetooth speakers are great to have around the house, and waterproof ones are even better. Whether you want to sing your heart out in the shower or entertain some friends during a BBQ, a good Bluetooth speaker is essential. Right now you can pick up the AmazonBasics shockproof and waterproof speaker for just above $17. The speaker is both loud and rugged, so you won't have to worry about using it in all types of situations.
If you are a student in the market for a Chromebook or if you're buying for someone who is, the ASUS Chromebook Flip is our top pick. While not the most powerful available, it still has plenty enough where it counts so it can do everything a student or graduate needs in the perfect form factor for someone on the go.
We've seen several new Chromebooks and expect more to arrive, but the value and small size mean the Chromebook Flip is still our top pick.
The bottom line: Small and portable, the Chromebook Flip is great for a busy student. The excellent app support means you'll be able to use it to get things done and be able to play games or watch a video during the downtime.
The 10.1-inch ASUS Chromebook Flip convertible — the screen folds back to provide a tablet experience — has a 1280x800 touch screen, great battery life, and can run apps from the Chrome Web Store and Google Play. Whether it's Google Docs, Wikipedia or Facebook, the Chromebook Flip will serve you or the student in your life well. The best part is that you'll find one under $300.
The MediaTek processor and 2GB or 4GB of onboard RAM (we recommend the 4GB version) do a fine job of surfing the web, watching full-screen videos, or playing some of your favorite Android games from Google Play. Of course, Google Docs and Microsoft's Office apps for Chrome or Android also run very well so the schoolwork can get done, too. The small size and long battery life mean you'll be able to take it with you from class to class or to a coffee shop for lunch or quiet time.
The budget-friendly and super-portable Chromebook Flip just ticks all the boxes for anyone in school.
The Lenovo Flex 11 is the perfect Chromebook for a younger student. Far from the most attractive laptop you'll run across, the Flex 11 more than makes up for it by being built with rugged materials and designed to survive a 2.4-foot drop on a hard surface. Combined with its water-resistant keyboard, the Flex 11 can survive more of the rough-and-tumble treatment a youngster will dish out.
The Flex 11 has an industry standard MediaTek processor with 4GB of RAM and 32GB of storage, so performance and usability are on par with most other models. Android app support is an additional plus, especially when paired with the many educational apps in Google Play.
Bottom line: If you are shopping for a younger student or anyone who is a little accident-prone, the Flex 11 will take a lot more abuse than most other models and has a modest price tag.
The Chromebook R13 offers a lot for its higher-than-average price. It has a solid metal build and nice-looking screen, with a solid (but quite standard) keyboard and trackpad. It isn't particularly light, but much of that is because of its large battery. The only real concern here is performance and configuration options, as you're getting a MediaTek ARM processor and can only choose to get 16, 32 or 64GB of storage — there's no choice to get a higher-end processor or more RAM.
The addition of Android apps and a full touchscreen just add to the list of reasons why this is the right Chromebook for any student who needs something bigger.
Bottom line: If you're happy with the base configuration and don't need something that's hyper-portable, this is going to be a great choice for a student who wants something a little larger than the ASUS Chromebook Flip.
Samsung and Google have built the best Chromebook you can buy with the Samsung Chromebook Pro. It's incredibly well built, has one of the best displays of any laptop and has the horsepower to handle anything you throw at it. And handle it well. That makes it perfect for the student who needs the very best.
The bottom line: For anyone who wants to use a Chromebook on a regular basis, and values getting extra performance and hardware quality at an added price, Samsung has made the Chromebook for you.
One more thing: There's also a Samsung Chromebook Plus, built with a slightly slower ARM processor and available for a bit less money.
A Chromebook is a great — and familiar — experience for anybody in school. The ASUS Chromebook Flip seems like it was specially built for a busy student, but there are also great options with a bigger screen or the ultimate high-end experience. We think these three are your top picks for 2017.
If you are a student in the market for a Chromebook or if you're buying for someone who is, the ASUS Chromebook Flip is our top pick. While not the most powerful available, it still has plenty enough where it counts so it can do everything a student or graduate needs in the perfect form factor for someone on the go.
The bottom line: Small and portable, the Chromebook Flip is great for a busy student. The excellent app support means you'll be able to use it to get things done and be able to play games or watch a video during the downtime.
Update, July 2017: Our pick for best Chromebook for students remains the budget-friendly and portable Chromebook Flip, and we added the durable Lenovo Flex 11 as our pick for youngsters.
The first day of classes is fast approaching, make sure you have the right tech to survive!
Although we a still in the middle of summer right now, the time for tests, exams, midterms, and yes, dorm rooms is drawing closer with each passing day.
Once you have decided on which laptop you're going to use this fall — MacBook, PC, or Chromebook — you'll need to make sure you grab a few other tech items to help you through the year.
If you're heading to the dorms this fall for the first time, or you're a returning member of the dorm life, here's a list of essentials tech items to help you make it through the grind.
Sometimes life in the dorm can get loud when you need to study, that's where the excellent quality and noise-cancelling power of the Bose QuietComfort 35 (QC35) comes in handy.
The Bose brand has been the gold standard for active noise-cancelling headphones for years, and it's Bluetooth QC35 over-ear model that carries the torch.
Though other brands have come close to matching Bose's quality, I still think Bose is the headphone manufacturer to beat, and I'm not the only one.
iMore's own Serenity Caldwell brings her QC35s everywhere and continues to be impressed.
" I've used them on planes and on the bus. I've used them to drown out animal noises and small children. I am never taking off Bose's QC 35 noise-cancelling wireless headphones."
I know battery life is of extreme concern when it comes to anything that runs on Bluetooth, but the QC 35 has a 20-hour battery life. Plus, even if you do run out of power, you can use the included AUX cable to still listen to the audio. The noise-cancelling feature, however, will not function if the battery is dead.
You can pick up a pair from Amazon for $349.
Living up to its onomatopoeic name, the UE Boom 2 is an impressive speaker, offering 360-degree sound in a truly portable package. Perfect for when you're done studying and want to throw a party in your dorm room.
The Boom 2 has a very high water resistance rating, allowing it to be submerged in 3 feet of water for 30 minutes and emerge just fine. It's also protected against dirt and mud, but you can hand-wash the speaker with warm, soapy water just in case it gets messy.
UE Boom 2's battery will last you approximately 15 hours of play time and has a Bluetooth range of 100 feet, giving you more than enough time and space to enjoy all the sounds you want to hear. Plus, if you find yourself lacking the volume you want from just one UE Boom 2, you have the option to set up another one to make a stereo pair ($199 each) and raise the roof.
The UE Boom 2 also has the added pleasure of a controller app that you can use to skip songs, adjust volume, and pause music without having to touch the speaker at all.
Nothing is worse than having your phone battery died during a full day of classes, but you'll never have to worry about your phone dying if you carry around the Anker PowerCore 20,100mAh.
Dual USB ports let you charge two devices at the same time, making this perfect for everyday use, especially if you like to rock your iPhone and iPad all day long.
You get Anker's 18-month warranty, and your device is protected in the event of over current, overcharge, or overvoltage. Pick up one from Amazon for only $79.
The Seagate Backup Plus Slim 2TB is what I use, and it's perfect for people who don't need a ton of storage and don't want to break the bank.
You won't have to worry about lengthy setups or stressful formatting procedures when you plug in the Seagate Backup Plus Slim 2TB because it's formatted for Mac and Windows right out of the packaging.
CNET enjoyed the performance, portability, and price of the Seagate Backup Plus Slim 2TB in its review.
"Fast and affordable, the Seagate Backup Plus Slim is one of the best deals on the market if you want want lots of storage space on the go."
Not only is this a great budget option, but the Seagate Backup Plus Slim 2TB also comes with Seagate's great Dashboard software and a two-year subscription to Microsoft OneDrive with 200GB of storage for the low price of $75.
While working on your laptop doesn't require a desk, it's certainly an advantage to have a good reliable desk kicking around your dorm room. Not only is the IKEA TÄRENDÖ desk simple in design, but it's also quite compact.
Approximately 43-inches by 26-inches, the TÄRENDÖ is perfect for fitting into small corners, and since it's only four legs and a desk top, the assembly is as easy as IKEA furniture gets.
This little bit of storage space will only cost you $39 and you can get it in black or white.
If you're planning on getting a desk for your dorm room, you'll need a chair, too. IKEA's ADDE chair comes in black or white and is as simple as chairs come.
It will only cost you $12.50, so if for some reason it doesn't survive until the end of the year, your bank account won't be reeling from a purchase you can no longer enjoy.
No one can survive college without coffee. That's why you need to pick up the Keurig K200.
Keurig is a single cup coffee maker that is easy to operate, making it perfect for use in the morning when your brain hasn't woken up yet. Plus, the K200 version of the Keurig brewer comes with a 40oz refillable reservoir, so you don't have to add water for every cup you brew.
You'll need to buy special coffee pods known as "K-Cups," but there are hundreds of different brands you can buy from at your local supermarket. If you're worried about the environmental impact, you can get a reusable K-Cup filter and use your own coffee.
The Keurig K200 will run you about $119.
Let us know in the comments below!