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Kamis, 31 Januari 2019

Should you buy a fight stick for Jump Force?

Best answer: While Jump Force is a fighting game, it's not one that was meant to be used with a fight stick. We'd recommend a Scuf Vantage controller instead, but you should opt for the Razer Panthera if you have to have a fight stick.

Why Jump Force is better with a controller

Jump Force is a fighting game, so surely it must be even better with a fight stick, no? That's sound logic and we don't blame you for thinking that way, but there are a couple of things that make Jump Force better to play with a controller.

For one, the game's action takes place on a 3D plane, which is a style of gameplay that an arcade stick doesn't always properly support. That's because you'll require camera manipulation, and without a right analog stick to do that it'll be tricky to perform optimally.

Plus, Jump Force is a fairly basic game when it comes to mechanics, at least compared to some of its more serious EVO-bound contemporaries. Fight sticks are used to give players precise inputs to more easily pull off more complicated combos. While there will be a lot of moves in Jump Force, many of them don't require more than fairly basic combos and only a couple of button presses to execute.

The Scuf AdVantage

If you're really serious about stepping your game up in Jump Force, you might want to look into a Scuf Vantage controller instead. It's a pricey little $200 thing of a thing, but here's why.

For starters, Scuf controllers are built to offer more durability over the long run, so your buttons and analog sticks should hold up much more nicely to your exploits over time than the DualShock 4 could. And even if it does get worn down, almost all of the buttons and parts on Scuf controllers are modular. This means you can take pieces off at will either to replace them or to clean the controller.

This means you can truly make the controller your own. Don't like vibration? Remove its vibration motors. Prefer a little more resistance or pull on your triggers? Change those with an included adjustment tool. For Jump Force, the interchangeable directional pad will definitely be desirable, as you can change it from a cross-style design to something more akin to a satellite dish, giving you more precise diagonal input, which is perfect for fighting games.

We also can't forget the sax buttons and rear-facing paddles. The former gives you two programmable buttons — one on each side — to make it easier to execute certain actions while still having full control of the others. Meanwhile, the rear-facing paddles each correspond to a face button on the DualShock 4, giving you yet another option to hit the buttons you need without having to do some weird finger gymnastics.

Then there's the fun stuff, which is being able to buy cool designs or even put together a custom design of your own. You can change the color and style of components, as well as whether you want Bluetooth connectivity.

You can still use a fight stick if you want

You know, you don't have to listen to this advice. You can still buy a fight stick to play Jump Force with. It won't be pretty, but if you have your heart set on a fight stick then we'd recommend the Razer Panthera, which we consider to be the best available.

You're going to need its high degree of customization to make it more appropriate to use in games like Jump Force. Even if you can't get the most out of it for Jump Force, there are and will be plenty of 2D-plane fighters launching that will let you get even more out of it.

Scuf Vantage

$200 at Scuf

Take full control of your games.

The Scuf Vantage is the latest high-end controller option from the quality peripheral maker. With interchangeable parts, programmable buttons, and excellent engineering, it gives you as much control over all your games as possible.

Serious Business

Razer Panthera

$200 at Amazon

This arcade pad has everything you need.

Razer offers the best total fight stick package for the PlayStation 4. It has all the customizable fighting buttons you need, plus all the other PlayStation-specific components that others just don't have.

Thursday's top deals: Logitech peripherals, the Xbox One X, and more!

On a daily basis there is no shortage of great deals to be had, but sometimes hunting them down can be a bit time consuming. Don't let that drag you down, though. We've rounded up some of our absolute favorites from today that you simply can't miss out on.

One Day Only Sale

Logitech keyboards, mice, and other accessories

Today's top sale isn't limited to just one item. Logitech's got everything you need down to super low prices, but it's all set to go away at the end of the day. You'll want to act on this one ASAP.

Various Low Prices

See at Amazon

Many of these accessories are back down to previous all-time low prices or have hit new historic lows, so you won't want to miss out. Look at Logitech's G910 Orion mechanical keyboard, the multiple headsets on sale, the Z906 surround system, and more.

Take the Shot

Xbox One X 1TB gaming console NBA 2K19 bundle

When we first shared this deal it was down to a nice low price of $399, but right now it's actually even lower than that. This price matches Black Friday. The console comes with a wireless controller, the full-game download of NBA 2K19, a 14-day Xbox Live Gold free trial, and a full month of Xbox Game Pass.

$371.06 at Walmart

Be the Party

UE Boom 2 portable Bluetooth speaker

This is a refurbished option from Woot, but considering the new ones sell for a minimum of $85 and as high as $150, it's huge savings. The speaker comes with a 90-day warranty, and it can pump sound in 360 degrees around you.

$59.99 at Woot

Personal Cloud

Qnap TS-328 3-bay Diskless NAS System

The code 128RSXS6 brings this personal network-attached storage device down to a great low price. The NAS has several ways to make using it much easier, including the Qsync file syncing service, mobile apps, and Qphoto for automatically uploading photos and videos. It also comes with a two-year warranty from Qnap.

$189 at Newegg

Go away cold

Sunbeam Heated Throw Blanket

It's soft, cozy, and features three different heat settings as well as an auto-off function for peace of mind. These aren't your grandma's heated blankets, either; they're machine-washable and you can also pop them in the dryer. Your purchase includes a five-year warranty.

$48 at Amazon

Tasty

Instant Pot Duo Plus 60 6-quart pressure cooker

The Duo Plus is meant to take the place of up to nine different kitchen appliances: pressure cooker, slow cooker, rice cooker, yogurt maker, egg cooker, sauté, steamer, warmer, and sterilizer. This deal brings it back down to within a few cents of its Black Friday price.

$79.99 at Amazon

Get 'em done

H&R Block Tax Software Deluxe + State 2018

The software is ideal for homeowners and investors. It includes step-by-step instructions and details on all available credits and deductions. You can easily itemize deductions, access expert advice, and report assistance on income from things like stock options, real estate, and retirement. You'll be able to quickly import the documents you need, like your W-2 and last year's tax return.

$22.49 at Amazon

This is just a small sampling of the deals that the Thrifter team has uncovered today. If you want to keep up with everything that the crew is uncovering, be sure to follow Thrifter on Twitter and sign up for the daily deals newsletter so you never miss out on anything! thr

Everything you need to know about PlayStation Now before subscribing

Streaming and subscription services are the way of the future that PlayStation looks to capitalize on.

At $60 a pop for most AAA titles, the price of frequently picking up new video games is just too much for a lot of people. That $60 quickly adds up to rival the cost of an entire console if you're buying several games throughout the year. The best way to mitigate this? Try out a streaming service. Which is exactly what Sony has to offer with PlayStation Now.

What is it?

PlayStation Now is an on-demand streaming service similar to that of Netflix, except for video games rather than television and movies. Instead of going out and picking up a game from your favorite retailer, you can browse PlayStation Now's catalogue and decide to start streaming whichever game catches your eye. So long as you maintain your subscription, you'll receive unlimited access to any title in its library.

Get it on PlayStation 4 or PC

PlayStation Now is currently only available on PlayStation 4 and PC.

Previously, you could use PlayStation Now on devices like the PS3, PS Vita, PlayStation TV, Sony Bravia televisions, Samsung televisions, and Sony Blu-ray players, however support for these was ended in early 2017.

How reliable is the service?

PlayStation Now's reliability depends on whether you stream or download the games that you want to play. Though every game in its catalog can usually be streamed, only select titles can be downloaded onto your PS4 — though Sony notes that "most PS4 and PS2 games in the service are downloadable." While PlayStation Now is also available on PC, games in its catalog cannot be downloaded to PC.

Downloading is obviously ideal, as you won't struggle with lag or other latency issues (depending on how fast your internet connection is). If a game gives you the option to download it, you should absolutely do so rather than attempt to stream it.

To stream games, Sony recommends that your internet connection is 5Mbps or greater. This seems like an easy target to achieve for a lot of people, but the connection isn't always reliable even if your speeds are higher than that, meaning that the streaming quality may be reduced dramatically at times. Considering games rely so heavily on split-second inputs and reactions, you'll want to avoid streaming whenever possible.

Available all around the world and expanding in new regions

PlayStation Now is currently available in 12 countries around the world:

  • United States
  • Canada
  • United Kingdom
  • Germany
  • Belgium
  • France
  • Ireland
  • Switzerland
  • Austria
  • The Netherlands
  • Luxemburg
  • Japan

Sometime in 2019, the following European countries will also receive PlayStation Now support:

  • Spain
  • Italy
  • Norway
  • Portugal
  • Denmark
  • Finland
  • Sweden

Offers hundreds of games in a rotating catalog

PlayStation Now offers access to around 700 games ranging from popular indies to the best AAA titles on the market, including those released on PS2, PS3, and PS4. Of these, around 120+ are PlayStation exclusives. New games are added to its library every month, but games are also taken out of its catalog frequently as well.

For a list of all games available at a given time, you'll need to head over to PlayStation's website.

Supports trophies, multiplayer, and more

There's no asterisk when it comes to playing games over PlayStation Now. You're not getting a demo version or anything of the sort; you're getting the exact same copy of the game that someone would if they had purchased it outright and owned it. Trophies, multiplayer, and PS Now cloud save storage are supported. PSVR headsets can also still be used for compatible games.

Pay per month or subscribe for the whole year

PlayStation Now offers 1-month, 3-month, and 1-year subscriptions.

If you decide to subscribe on a month-by-month basis, you'll be paying $19.99/month. Those who opt for the 3-month package can grab it for $44.99, a 25% savings off of the standard monthly price. Your best deal is getting a subscription for an entire year, which will cost you $99.99.

Cancel your subscription any time

Because you're not locked into any sort of contract, you can cancel your subscription at any time. If you don't want your subscription to renew, be sure to turn off automatic payments. Once a payment is placed you will be charged for the remainder of that month even if you cancel during the middle of it.

Start your 7-day free trial

Those wishing to test out the service can start a 7-day free trial. Be sure to turn off automatic payments in your settings as you will be billed at a monthly rate of $19.99 after your 7-day free trial ends.

Your super phone deserves a super wallpaper for Super Bowl Sunday

It's that time of year, folks! Big-screens are on sale, snack food is everywhere, commercials get absolutely insane — seriously, Skittles, a musical?? — and team pride goes into overdrive. The Patriots are no strangers to the Super Bowl; I still remember building a full-blown theme two years ago. This year, however, we have some new blood with the Los Angeles Rams, and that's great news for me because it means I get to go hunt down new wallpapers! Here are some great places to start if you're on the hunt too.

Go for the gold!

Striped LA Rams Wallpaper

I gotta say, I really like the LA Rams color palette. It lends itself well to theming, and while this wallpaper style has been used by NFL fans for years, I had fun building my version in KLWP rather than Photoshop. This was built for the OnePlus 6T, so it should be tall enough for any phone.

Free at Android Central

They're back again

Striped New England Patriots Wallpaper

I built a Patriots version as well, and the results are just striking. Both of these wallpapers pair well with Whicons, or if you really want to get fancy, download Icon Pack Studio and create your own Patriots icon pack with the classic red, white, and navy blue.

Free at Android Central

Every single day

Rams Earn It AMOLED Wallpaper

A number of slogans have arisen among Rams fans this year, but "Earn It" is the one I like the best. This hex black wallpaper is easy on the battery and easy on the eyes; just be sure you grab the 1440x2560 version from the comments for the best look and fit!

Free at Reddit

Reddit for the win

Patriots Wallpaper Collection

Patriots fans are legion, and among that legion are plenty of fans with time to kill and Photoshop at the ready. We thank them for their devotion and their willingness to share wallpaper galleries like this one. With this much variety, there's something for every Pats fan.

Free at Reddit

Direct from the team

Official Rams Wallpapers

The Los Angeles Rams' Insta is a goldmine of team content, but the Rams social team especially crushed it this year with the mobile wallpapers. If you see one you like as you're cycling through the team's IG story, just screencap the slide and BOOM, instant wallpaper!

Free at Instagram

Look beyond the wallpapers

Patriots Instagram Stories

The Patriots' Wallpapers IG Story is okay, but really, some of the best home screen fodder are found in the game-day stories, such as this Arctic Blast that seems entirely too fitting this week. The 15th slide in this story is a motion poster for Super Bowl LIII that's perfection.

Free at Instagram

The best part of grabbing a kick-ass team wallpaper now is that you don't have to take it off Monday morning if your team loses. A good wallpaper can last a lifetime; you can grab several right now and swap them out throughout the year. And since this is the last game we'll see for seven months, these wallpapers can help sate your cravings and ward off withdrawal symptoms. We're preferential to the LA Rams and Patriots Android Central themes, but that's just us.

Nokia's first phones for U.S. carriers are basic but offer great value

You can finally buy a Nokia phone through a carrier, although maybe not the ones you were hoping for.

Nokia is coming to the North American market, with three devices exclusive to three carriers launching in the coming months. Two of them, the Nokia 2V for Verizon and the Nokia 3.1 Plus for Cricket Wireless are now available, but don't let the price fool you — there's much more to these partnerships than just these budget entries.

Nokia's storied past has always had one check mark — the company never successfully established itself in the U.S. The new Nokia — two years into its existence under the HMD Global banner — is looking to change this and also capture a market where millions of phones are sold each year. You may remember that ZTE once successfully penetrated this market with a range of Blade phones for Cricket, but the company's troubles with the government looked to have opened the door for the renewed Nokia.

Nokia has opted to allow carrier software and pre-loaded apps, in exchange for access to the U.S. market.

The two phones are both versions of devices we've already seen, albeit customized for each carrier network. The big difference versus their unlocked counterparts is the software: Since early 2018, Nokia has exclusively offered phones with Google's Android One experience, but the company has opted for a more traditional Android loadout in order to access the lucrative U.S. market.

Looking at the Nokia 3.1 Plus — the hero in the stable and exclusive to Cricket Wireless —it's clear Nokia has lightly modified the software to accommodate its carrier partner's wishes. That said, it is the first smartphone running Android Pie on Cricket's network, which makes it stand out amongst the competition. The modifications are a small price to pay, especially as it offers a solid experience for its $159.99 price tag.

It features a 5.99-inch HD+ display with 18:9 aspect ratio, which looks pretty good given the price. The display won't wow you, but it's on par with, if not better than, other devices around this price point. One of the stand-out features is the 3,500 mAh battery, which Nokia claims offers two days between charges, and given the overall specs list, this is probably an accurate estimate. It's powered by a Snapdragon 439 processor with 2GB RAM, and 32GB of internal storage, which can be upgraded by 256GB using a microSD card.

The rear features a polycarbonate shell that's a fingerprint magnet but looks stylish in blue, and the metal frame makes the Nokia 3.1 Plus feel quite sturdy. The rear features a 13MP primary camera with phase detection autofocus, and a secondary 5MP camera which captures the depth of the subject. This then allows you to adjust the amount of bokeh both, before and after capture, and while the results aren't spectacular, it's a great feature to have on an entry-level device.

See the Nokia 3.1 Plus at Cricket Wireless

The Nokia 2V runs on the Oreo version of Android Go and features a 5.5-inch HD display. It's powered by a Snapdragon 425 processor with 1GB of RAM and 8GB of internal storage, which can be expanded by a microSD card. The rear features an unremarkable 8MP single camera, while the front has a 5MP fixed focus selfie shooter. The Nokia 2V will come in Blue and Silver variants, and pricing hasn't been confirmed. Given the unlocked version of the Nokia 2 is available for under $99, it's likely the Nokia 2V will be similarly priced.

See the Nokia 2V at Nokia

While both of these devices are quite unremarkable, they do represent a wider opportunity for Nokia; establish brand recognition in a retail fleet which is crucial to success in the U.S. Maurizio Angelone, the head of HMD Global for the Americas, told me in a briefing that "90% of mobile phones go through the carrier channel."

These two devices represent an opportunity for Nokia to establish itself in the US, likely ahead of other devices later this year.

Success in carrier retail ultimately equals success in the U.S. for Nokia, and it's a huge step forward for the company. Pekka Rantala, HMD Global's Chief Marketing Officer, told me that the company has seen incredible engagement for its fans in the U.S, and that this buoyed them to pursue existing gaps in the value segment. Rantala also confirmed that with 30% of smartphone sales in the U.S. priced under $200, its new devices are positioned perfectly to fill the need that Cricket Wireless and Verizon both highlighted.

Does this mean that Nokia is going to bring more devices to retail in the U.S.? The company was tight-lipped when pressed on this question, but success in the entry-level market can only be a boon for HMD Global's expansion plans. We're expecting HMD Global to launch a new smartphone during MWC next month, but it's unknown whether this will be available through any partnerships.

Interested in checking out the Nokia 2V and Nokia 3.1 Plus? They're only available from their respective carriers, but to see them in person head down to your local store. The Nokia 2V will be available from Verizon stores nationwide, while the Nokia 3.1 Plus will be available from any one of 4,000 Cricket Wireless stores.

What do you think of Nokia's first devices sold through carriers in the U.S.? Are you excited by the potential of more Nokia phones becoming widely available stateside? Should Nokia release another version of Snake? Let us know your views in the comments.

Everything we know about the Samsung Galaxy S10!

2019 is going to be the year of Samsung.

Samsung's Galaxy S phones always give us something exciting to look forward to at the beginning of each year, and 2019 officially marks the 10-year anniversary of when the first Galaxy S flagship was released.

Similar to what Apple did with the iPhone X, we're expecting the Galaxy S10 to be truly special. The Galaxy S9 and S8 were both excellent phones, but in honor of such a big anniversary, Samsung will likely pull out all the stops to release a truly special and jaw-dropping gadget.

If you're ready to learn more about the Galaxy S10 and find out what we could look forward to this February, here's everything you need to know.

The latest Galaxy S10 news

January 24, 2019 — Galaxy S10 and S10+ prototypes fully revealed in hands-on photos

After yesterday's bizarre Samsung Blockchain Keystore leak, we now have a new batch of hands-on photos courtesy of AllAboutSamsung. This leak showcases the Galaxy S10 and S10+, and while the devices shown here are technically prototypes, they look a lot like the final products we're expecting to see on February 20.

As we've seen from other leaks, both phones have large AMOLED displays with very small bezels all around. The S10 has a cutout in the top right corner to accommodate its single front-facing camera, whereas the S10+ has a larger cutout for two sensors.

Both phones also have three rear cameras, a USB-C port for charging, and a 3.5mm headphone jack.

January 23, 2019 — Galaxy S10 leak reveals that Samsung's working on a cryptocurrency wallet

At this point in time, we've seen just about everything there is to see when it comes to Galaxy S10 leaks. Ben Geskin on Twitter recently shared a trio of new hands-on photos of the device, giving us yet another look at the phone's gorgeous AMOLED display with that iconic hole-punch cutout in the top-left.

However, what's really caught our eye is what's shown on the screen.

As you can see, the S10 in these photos is running an app called "Samsung Blockchain Keystore." Under the welcome text is a message that reads:

Samsung Blockchain KeyStore is a secure and convenient place for your cryptocurrency.

Yeah. Looks like the Galaxy S10 is going to come with a built-in crypto wallet.

Another photo shows that you can import an existing wallet if you already have one, or create a new one. A pop up shows that only Ethereum is supported, but we have to imagine that other currencies will be supported by release time.

Will a lot of people use Samsung Blockchain Keystore? Probably not. However, if Samsung does want to get in the crypto game, this seems like a much better idea than creating a phone that's based entirely around this stuff.

January 23, 2019 — New report claims the 5G Galaxy S10 could cost around $1,800

There's been a lot of speculation surrounding what Samsung's Galaxy S10 series will cost, and now thanks to a report from SamMobile, we have new numbers to possibly look forward to.

According to this report, the Galaxy S10 Lite will be the cheapest of the bunch with a price of €779 (possibly $799 USD), the regular S10 will cost €929 ($999 USD) and €1179 for the 6GB RAM/128GB storage and 8GB RAM/512GB storage models, respectively, and the Galaxy S10+ with go for €1049 ($1099 USD) and €1299 for its 6GB/128GB and 8GB/512GB models.

Lastly, for the special Galaxy S10 X with 5G, it's said that it could cost as much as €1599 — around $1,800 USD.

January 19, 2019 — S10 lineup's cameras, names, and sensors shine through Speck case render

Another day, another S10 leak! This one comes from Evan Blass's @evleaks twitter account, showing a full lineup render for what appears to be the S10 version of the Speck Presidio Stay Clear Case.

The beauty — and curse — of clear cases is that you can see where all of the ports and buttons are instantly, and eagle-eyed enthusiasts might spot a few ports of interest here. The cutouts on bottom show a speaker, USB-C port, and headphone jack on all three models, and we've lightened the original image to improve the clarity of the camera configurations on the three models show.

If you look up towards the button configurations of, we also see one of these cases is not like the others. The Samsung Galaxy S10E — previously referred to as the S10 Lite — has a port opening where the S10 and S10+ have regular power buttons, lining up with the rumor that while the S10 and S10+ will have ultrasonic in-display fingerprint sensors, the S10E will sport a side-mounted fingerprint sensor, possibly in the power button like many Sony phones have done in the past.

January 17, 2019 — Latest Galaxy S10+ leak shows off hole-punch cutout

The Galaxy S10 leaks are now coming in thick and fast. The latest leak via Reddit shows off what looks like a Galaxy S10+ in a security case. The graininess of the image prevents us from making too many observations, but what's clear is that the device will sport a hole-punch cutout on the right side of the display that houses the camera array.

According to a commenter, the phone in question is clad in Samsung's flip cover security case on to prevent identification, suggesting it could be a prototype unit.

January 16, 2019 — The Galaxy S10's in-display fingerprint sensor apparently won't work with screen protectors

We're expecting a lot of new tech with Samsung's Galaxy S10 phones, one of the biggest being a new type of in-display fingerprint sensor from Qualcomm that uses ultrasonic technology. The new sensor should be faster and more secure than other in-display sensors we've seen on other phones, but according to case manufacturer Armadillotek, it comes with a pretty big caveat.

Armadillotek says that it's used real Galaxy S10 devices and that, unfortunately, the new ultrasonic in-display fingerprint sensor is not compatible with screen protectors.

Screen protectors with other in-display sensors have worked just fine, but of course, they're not as fast or secure as we're expecting the S10's sensor to be.

Even so, if you can't use a screen protector on the Galaxy S10, will that be a deal breaker for you?

January 14, 2019 — Galaxy S10 X to launch with 5G and 5,000 mAh battery on March 29

With just a little over a month to go before Samsung unveils the Galaxy S10 series, a report from ET News sheds a lot of light on the highly anticipated 10th anniversary version of the phone that will now reportedly be called the Samsung Galaxy S10 X.

According to this report, the Galaxy S10 X will come equipped with a total of six cameras (four on the back, two on the front), a 6.7-inch Super AMOLED display, an in-display fingerprint sensor, 1TB of internal storage, over 10GB of RAM, and a huge 5,000 mAh battery.

A lot of that has already been rumored, but ET News claims that the Galaxy S10 X's standout feature will be something called "Life Pattern":

The Galaxy S10 secret weapon is a 'life pattern' mode. The technology to automate the smartphone function based on the artificial intelligence (AI) based on consumer smartphone usage pattern is applied for the first time.

The 5G version of the Galaxy S10 X is said to be launching on March 29 with the LTE variant coming out in "early March." As for the Galaxy S10 Lite, S10, and S10+, it's noted that these will be available for purchase starting March 8.

January 10, 2019 — The Galaxy S10 will be announced on February 20!

With CES 2019 winding down, Samsung decided to end things with a bang by announcing its big press event for the Galaxy S10.

On February 20, 2019, in San Franciso, Samsung will hold its next Unpacked event where it'll finally unveil the long-awaited S10 series. That's just a few days before Mobile World Congress 2019 kicks off, indicating Samsung's pretty confident in the lineup and deeming it worthy of its own event.

Who's excited?!

January 7, 2019 — Sprint's 5G version of the Galaxy S10 to launch "in summer 2019"

5G is expected to be all the rage in 2019, and on that note, the Samsung Galaxy S10 is what we're anticipating to be one of the first phones to support the new, faster network. Today, Sprint announced that it plans on launching a 5G smartphone this coming summer.

Per Sprint's press release:

Sprint today confirmed plans for an innovative, standards-based 5G smartphone expected to launch in summer 2019 from Samsung. Sprint customers will be among the first in the world to experience the incredible speed, reliability and mobility of 5G on this feature-rich handset.

While Sprint never mentions what Samsung phone it's referring to, it seems quite likely that the Galaxy S10 is the device in question. AT&T, Verizon, and T-Mobile have all already confirmed similar announcements, but this is the first time we've gotten anything more specific than just "2019."

That "summer" timeframe is later out in the year than when we usually see Samsung's Galaxy S-line released, suggesting that the 5G model could be launched later than its 4G LTE siblings.

January 5, 2019 — Possible battery sizes for the S10 series posted by Ice Universe

We're creeping closer and closer to the spring launch of the Samsung Galaxy S10, and while we've seen several leaks surrounding the screen sizes, the camera cutouts and the like, a new leak from Ice Universe features one of the most important specs in a smartphone: the size of the battery!

If you can't quite make out the scribbles on this photo, the claimed sizes for the S10 line are:

  • Galaxy S10+ — 4,000 mAh
  • Galaxy S10 — 3,500 mAh
  • Galaxy S10 Lite — 3,100 mAh

That battery on the S10 Lite is barely larger than the S9's 3,000 mAh battery, but the 4,000 mAh battery on the S10+ is a significant bump from the S9+'s 3,500 mAh capacity, bringing it up to match the Samsung Galaxy Note 9's 4,000 mAh battery. If you think that's going to translate to booming battery life, remember that the S10+ is projected to have a 6.4-inch screen — a bit taller than the Note 9.

We'll have to wait and see what hardware these batteries are powering, and what new optimizations Samsung is bringing to the table with their first phones launched on the newly overhauled Samsung One UI.

January 3, 2019 — Samsung Galaxy S10 shows up in hands-on photo

Following plenty of back-to-back renders and mockups of what the Galaxy S10 is expected to look like, we finally have our first hands-on picture of the phone that shows what it'll look like in person.

The image comes courtesy of Evan Blass and the phone shown in the picture is said to be the "Beyond 1" variant of the S10. Based on what we know so far, that means we're looking at the Galaxy S10 Lite. Compared to past renders we've seen, everything lines up nicely with slim bezels all around and a small hole-punch notch at the top right for the front-facing camera.

No other new details are revealed here, but it's still exciting to finally get a hands-on look at the device.

December 22, 2018 — Samsung Galaxy S10 may have a Night Sight-like "Bright Night" mode in the Samsung Camera app

The Night Sight feature that Google released on the Google Pixel 3 is an impressive feat of smartphone camera processing. It's little wonder that other manufacturers have already started rolling out similar features — like Nightscape on the OnePlus 6T — and honestly, I'm not shocked that new references in the Samsung Camera app reveal Samsung is hard at work on its own version of the feature. Honestly, I'd be shocked if it wasn't working on one.

The name "Bright Night", however, is a surprise, and if I could just send a last-minute wish to Santa, I'd ask if he could name it something else.

<string name="Title_bright_night">Bright night</string>
<string name="smart_tips_bright_night_description"> Suggest mode to take bright pictures even in very dark conditions. </string>
<string name="super_night_guide_capture"> Hold your phone steady. Taking picture. </string>
<string name="super_night_guide_ready"> Brighten up this shot with Bright night. </string>
<string name="bright_night_summary"> Take bright pictures even in very dark conditions </string>
<string name="SM_NIGHT"> Night </string>
<string name="SM_NIGHT_description"> Take multiple shots and combine them to get brighter, clearer pictures in low light without using the flash. </string>
<string name="bright_night_summary"> Take bright pictures even in very dark conditions. </string>

These strings were found by XDA in the Samsung Camera app on the latest Note 9 One UI Beta update, which makes me wonder if the feature will be held until the release of the Galaxy S10 or if it will be released before then. After all, the next Samsung flagship isn't expected to be announced until February at the earliest, and that's a long time to make users wait for a camera feature that other users have been enjoying for two months already.

Whatever the case may be, these strings aren't attached to a live feature yet, so we'll have to wait and see when — and where — Bright Night arrives on Samsung phones. And if it arrives with that name, because hey, things can change in two months and Bright Night and Night Sight is a little on the nose, guys.

December 20, 2018 — T-Mobile is getting a 5G version of the Galaxy S10

The race to 5G is one of the fiercest competitions in the mobile industry right now, and in a blog post bad talking AT&T and Verizon's 5G efforts, T-Mobile quietly confirmed that it'll be getting a 5G version of the Galaxy S10 in 2019.

In a blog post titled 5G for Few vs 5G for All, T-Mobile CTO Neville Ray said the following:

Add to that all the hyperventilating both Verizon and AT&T did a couple weeks ago trying to lay claim to the first 5G phone – a phone ALL of us are working with this OEM to develop, and ALL of us are going to carry. That's right, T-Mobile is working on that phone too – and other 5G devices with other OEMs and chipset manufacturers.

"That phone" mentioned in the post is a Samsung one that was shown off at Qualcomm's Snapdragon Summit earlier in the month and is widely expected to be a version of the upcoming S10.

This news shouldn't come as much of a surprise, but it is nice to get confirmation from TMO that this is happening.

December 20, 2018 — Olixar's Galaxy S10 cases are already up for pre-order

The Galaxy S10 is set to debut at the end of February, but that isn't preventing accessory manufacturers from listing cases for the upcoming flagship. Olixar's range of cases for the Galaxy S10 are now up for pre-order at Mobile Fun, and they give us another look at the purported design of Samsung's 2019 flagship.

Based on the case renders, it looks like the Galaxy S10 will sport three cameras at the back, and the lack of a cutout for the fingerprint sensor suggests Samsung is going with an in-display solution. The bezels up front are also razor-thin, and hint at a punch-hole design for the front camera. If you've already made up your mind about the Galaxy S10, hit up the link below to get your hands on cases for the device. While the cases are very affordable at $10, know that you may have to shell out at least $1,000 for the phone.

See at Mobile Fun

December 12, 2018 — Samsung may announce the Galaxy S10 on Feb. 20, prices starting at $850

Ready for a big pile of Galaxy S10 details? I sure hope so, because thanks to a "major tech retailer" that spoke with Gizmodo UK, we've got quite a bit of new information to dive into.

The most interesting details to come out of Gizmodo's report has to do with pricing and availability for the S10 series. It's said that Samsung will hold an event on February 20 to unveil the phones, just five days before MWC 2019 will kick off in Barcelona. Pre-orders will apparently open that same day with the phones officially launching on March 8.

In regards to price, the 5.8-inch Galaxy S10 Lite will cost £669 in the UK ($850 in the U.S.) with the 6.1-inch Galaxy S10 costing at least £799/$1000 while the S10+ will go for £899/$1130. For the larger S10+, it's further noted that you'll be able to get as much as 1TB of internal storage for a grand-total of £1399/$1760.

The report further reiterates the presence of an ultrasonic fingerprint sensor, Infinity-O style displays, and that a 5G version of the S10 will be available in "late Q2 at the earliest."

December 11, 2018 — This is what the Galaxy S10 Lite might look like

Just a few short days ago, new renders appeared to give us a closer look as to what we can likely expect from the Galaxy S10 and S10+. Today, another render has popped up — this time providing a glimpse of the lower-end Galaxy S10 Lite.

This latest render comes courtesy of Samsung tipster Ice Universe and reveals a phone that looks very similar to the regular S10. There's a camera hole-punch cutout at the far right corner, and while the bezels surrounding the display are very thin, they do appear to be slighter thicker than the S10 and S10+.

There's still no word as to how competitive Samsung's going to get with the S10 Lite's pricing, but if we can get a phone of this caliber around the $500 range, we could be in for something mighty special.

December 5, 2018 — New concept renders bring the Galaxy S10 into fuller focus

We're still a few months away from an S10 reveal at Mobile World Congress, but rumors and leaks are now turning into concept renders. And while these from Ben Geskin are certainly problematic and theoretical, they're an interesting look at what the front and back of the new phones could look like.

Indeed, it's interesting that in avoiding the notch and introducing a "hole punch" in the screen to accommodate the front-facing cameras, Samsung's so-called "Infinity-O" displays could be among the more controversial designs of 2019.

While there's nothing definitive in these renders to say that they'll turn out to be what the S10 series looks like, it's clear that Samsung's status quo is disappearing and that it, too, will move towards a more modern, full-screen design in 2019.

What do you think?

November 20, 2018 — Samsung's ten-year anniversary Galaxy S10 rumored to have six cameras and support 5G

If you've been following the Galaxy S10 rumor mill, you'll know that we've been anticipating three different models — including the Beyond 1, Beyond 2, and Beyond 3. Now, according to a report from The Wall Street Journal, Samsung's working on a fourth variant that's codenamed as "Beyond X."

While Beyond 1, 2 and 3 are expected to be released in February, Beyond X won't come out until later in the spring. It'll be marketed as a special 10-year anniversary celebration of Samsung's Galaxy S series, with two of the highlights being 5G connectivity and a total of six cameras (four on the back and two on the front). This combo will reportedly allow for "richer photos and better spatial perception." The screen will also be quite massive at 6.7-inches.

Should this turn out to be true, Samsung will have a very busy 2019. As of right now, its current lineup is set to include four variants of the Galaxy S10, the Note 10, and its upcoming foldable phone.

November 13, 2018 — Samsung Galaxy S10 to have an off-center notch for the selfie camera

During Samsung's developer conference on November 7, one announcement that the company seemed to rush through was a new lineup of Infinity Displays that are coming to future smartphones. In addition to the Infinity Flex panel, we were also introduced to Infinity-U, Infinity-V, and Infinity-O. According to a couple new leaks, the Galaxy S10 will ship with the Infinity-O style screen.

What exactly does that mean? While Infinity-U and Infinity-V are more traditional notched displays, Infinity-O has an off-center camera cutout near the left corner of the screen rather than a dip in the top middle. Evan Blass recently confirmed that the S10 will ship with this kind of display, and shortly after that, Ice Universe shared the above picture on Twitter, which has since been deleted.

It's unclear if the device in the photo is the S10 or a prototype showing off the Infinity-O display, but either way, it gives us an idea of how the front of the S10 will look.

In addition to this, Blass also reiterated a few Galaxy S10 features we were already expecting:

What do you think about the S10's take on the notch?

November 1, 2018 — Galaxy S10 to drop iris scanning in favor of in-display fingerprint sensor

It's been a hot minute since we had an update on the Galaxy S10, but that's changing today thanks to a series of tweets from trustworthy Samsung tipster Ice Universe.

As you can see from the above tweet, Samsung will apparently completely drop iris scanning on the Galaxy S10 and instead have its ultrasonic in-display fingerprint sensor tech be the main form of biometric authentication.

Ice Universe goes on to say that the ultrasonic sensor will be faster than optical in-display sensors like we see on the OnePlus 6T and have a larger surface area (possibly up to 30% of the entire display).

Furthermore, it's noted that the ultrasonic tech (that's being sourced from Qualcomm) will be exclusive to Samsung phones for at least half a year.

July 20, 2018 — The Galaxy S10+ might be the last Plus model for the Galaxy S series

This year's Galaxy S lineup is expected to be one of the biggest ever with three different S10 models being released at the same time, but according to a new report from The Bell, that could be changing next year.

For the past couple of years, Samsung's released one regular Galaxy S phone and then a larger Plus model alongside it. That'll continue with the S10 series, but after that, it's said that Samsung will simply get rid of the Plus variant as it already overlaps the Galaxy Note line so much.

This move is reportedly being made to "defeat profitability deterioration caused by the saturation of the smartphone market."

What's your take on this?

July 16, 2018 — New report says Samsung will use Qualcomm's in-display fingerprint sensor tech for the S10, Note 10, and more

We've already been expecting Samsung to introduce an in-display fingerprint sensor with the S10 series for some time, but thanks to a new report from Ming Chi Kuo at TF Securities, we now have specifics as to what kind of tech will be used for this system.

Per Kuo:

We expect Samsung will promote the ultrasonic FOD aggressively starting from 2019. Shipments of models equipped with this function are likely to reach 60mn units; specifically, the high-end S10 models.

Furthermore, Kuo goes on to say that this technology will also be present in "the most high-end model of the A series" as well as the Galaxy Note 10.

These ultrasonic sensors are developed by Qualcomm, and unlike optical ones from Synaptics, can even measure things like your heart-rate and current blood flow.

July 6, 2018 — The three S10 models will use a mixture of side-mounted and in-display fingerprint sensors

Late last month, a report came out suggesting that Samsung will release three different models of the Galaxy S10 — including Beyond 0, Beyond 1, and Beyond 2. Now, according to reliable Samsung tipster Ice Universe, we have new details on how the fingerprint sensor situation will be handled.

For Beyond 0, the cheapest of the three models, there will be "side fingerprints. "Although we don't know for sure, this will likely be similar to the fingerprint sensor found on the Moto Z3 Play. As for the Beyond 1 and Beyond 2, it's noted that we'll see in-display fingerprint sensors.

Lastly, Ice Universe also confirms that Beyond 0 and 1 will have dual rear cameras while Beyond 2 will offer a triple camera setup.

July 5, 2018 — Samsung may announce the Galaxy S10 after the Galaxy X

Here's something we weren't expecting. According to reliable tipster Ice Universe on Twitter, Samsung will announce the Galaxy S10 during Mobile World Congress 2019 in February. While that isn't out of the ordinary for Galaxy S phones, what Samsung might do just a month earlier is.

In January at CES, we'll officially be introduced to the long-awaited Galaxy X. This is the foldable phone we've been hearing about for years, and should this turn out to be true, this would probably allow Samsung to easily dominate the first half of next year.

June 27, 2018 — ISOCELL Plus technology could result in big camera improvements for the S10

Samsung's long been one of the top players when it comes to smartphone cameras, and on June 27, the company announced its latest innovation in mobile photography — ISOCELL Plus.

ISOCELL Plus can capture considerably more light than Samsung's traditional ISOCELL sensors (first introduced in 2013), with Samsung touting as much as 15% greater light sensitivity. Perhaps even more impressive, Samsung notes that ISOCELL Plus "also enables image sensors to equip 0.8-micrometer (µm) and smaller-sized pixels without any loss in performance, making it an optimal solution for developing super-resolution cameras with over 20 megapixels.

It's not explicitly said that ISOCELL Plus will be present on the Galaxy S10, but I'd be surprised if Samsung didn't include it on next year's phone.

June 25, 2018 — Samsung to release three S10 models, introduce a triple camera system, and swap out iris scanning for an in-display fingerprint sensor

What a news dump today turned out to be for Galaxy S10 rumors!

Jumping right into things, a report from The Electronic Times claims that Samsung will launch not one, not two, but three different models of the S10. The most affordable of the bunch, codenamed Beyond 0, will reportedly ship with a 5.8-inch display that's completely flat. Beyond 1, the mid-tier option, will also use a 5.8-inch screen but feature curves similar to what's found on the S9.

The star of the show, Beyond 3, will boast a large 6.2-inch curved display and feature three cameras on the back — something we've never seen from Samsung before.

As if three different models and a triple camera system wasn't enough to get you excited, The Bell also reported today that the Galaxy S10 will ditch the iris scanner of the S9 and replace it with a 3D facial-recognition system and in-display fingerprint sensor similar to what we've seen from the Vivo X21 and NEX.

All the important details

How many versions is Samsung going to launch?

For the past four years, Samsung's typically launched two models of its Galaxy S series:

  • 2015 — Galaxy S6, S6 Edge, and S6 Edge+
  • 2016 — Galaxy S7 and S7 Edge
  • 2017 — Galaxy S8 and S8 Plus
  • 2018 — Galaxy S9 and S9 Plus

With the Galaxy S10 in 2019, Samsung is expected to shake-up its formula by releasing as many as four different models — codenamed Beyond 1, Beyond 2, Beyond 3, and Beyond X.

Beyond 1 and Beyond 2 will be similar to older S flagships with the former having a flat screen while the other has Samsung's iconic curved display. Beyond 3 kicks things up a notch, expected to offer a larger screen and triple camera system on the back. For all intents and purposes, we're expecting these to be the Galaxy S10 Lite, Galaxy S10, and Galaxy S10+.

Beyond X is the special 10-year-anniversary phone that's also coming, and as of January 14, it's reported that it'll be referred to as the Galaxy S10 X.

The S10 X is expected to feature upgraded specs across the board, in addition to a "Life Pattern" mode that'll use artificial intelligence to automate certain functions based on your usage. This is also the only handset in the entire Galaxy S10 lineup that'll support 5G connectivity.

What will the Galaxy S10 series look like?

While we obviously can't say for certain what the Galaxy S10 devices will look like before Samsung officially unveils them, leaks, rumors, and renders have given us a pretty good idea of what to expect.

The above renders come from Ben Geskin and showcase what the Galaxy S10, S10, and S10+ should look like.

While you won't find a traditional notch at the top of any of the phones, there is a hole-punch cutout in the top right corner to accomdate the front-facing camera. There's just one of these on the S10 Lite and S10, but on the S10+, we can see two lenses.

Also expected is a glass back, USB-C for charging, and a 3.5mm headphone jack.

What kind of specs are we anticipating?

A lot of the specs for the Galaxy S10 series are still up in the air, but even so, there are a few things that we feel fairly confident we can look forward to.

The below spec list is based on the latest news and rumors, so take it with a grain of salt.

Category Galaxy S10 Lite Galaxy S10 Galaxy S10+
Operating System Android 9 Pie
One UI
Android 9 Pie
One UI
Android 9 Pie
One UI
Display 5.8-inch
Flat
Super AMOLED
6.1-inch
Curved
Super AMOLED
6.44-inch
Curved
Super AMOLED
Processor Snapdragon 855 or Exynos 9820 Snapdragon 855 or Exynos 9820 Snapdragon 855 or Exynos 9820
Rear Cameras Two Two Three
Front Cameras One One Two
Battery 3,100 mAh 3,500 mAh 4,000 mAh

In regards to the Galaxy S10 X, we're expecting a 6.7-inch Super AMOLED display, four rear cameras + two front cameras, a 5,000 mAh battery, over 10GB of RAM, and 1TB of internal storage.

When will the phones be released?

Perhaps the biggest question on your mind is "When will I be able to buy the Galaxy S10?".

On January 10, Samsung officially confirmed that it'll hold an Unpacked event on February 20, 2019, in San Franciso to announce the S10 series.

Earlier rumors suggested that Samsung would announce the phones at Mobile World Congress, but with the event being held just a week before the trade show begins, Samsung appears to be confident that its new batch of phones are worthy of their own, standalone event.

Following the February 20 event, one report claims that the Galaxy S10 Lite, S10, and S10+ will be available for purchase starting March 8 with the 5G-capable Galaxy S10 X launching a bit later on March 29.

How much will the S10 cost?

That same Gizmodo report referenced above also shed some light on how much we can expect to pay for the various S10 handsets.

Here's what to maybe expect:

  • Galaxy S10 Lite — £669/$850
  • Galaxy S10 — £799/$1000
  • Galaxy S10+ — £899/$1130

The above prices are for the models with 128GB of storage. The S10 will also be available in a 512GB model that'll supposedly set you back £999/$1250. As for the S10+, it'll be offered in 512GB and 1TB models as well that'll sell for £1099/$1390 and £1399/$1760, respectively.

Following these numbers, a SamMobile report was released on January 23, 2019, reporting the following, slightly tweaked prices:

  • Galaxy S10 Lite — €779
  • Galaxy S10 (6GB/128GB) — €929
  • Galaxy S10 (8GB/512GB) — €1179
  • Galaxy S10+ (6GB/128GB) — €1040
  • Galaxy S10+ (8GB/512GB) — €1299
  • Galaxy S10 X (5G) — €1599

H&R Block's discounted tax software includes a bonus on your refund

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Amazon has H&R Block Tax Software Deluxe + State 2018 on sale for $22.49, which is the best price we've seen for it on Amazon. It occasionally sells for up to $45 otherwise, though $35 is a more common price for it lately. This deal is available for both the PC download and the Mac download versions. Compared to other retailers, like Newegg, that sell this software, Amazon has an extra incentive of a 5% bonus on your federal refund if you choose to get it in the form of an Amazon gift card.

The software is ideal for homeowners and investors. It includes step-by-step instructions and details on all available credits and deductions. You can easily itemize deductions, access expert advice, and report assistance on income from things like stock options, real estate, and retirement. You'll be able to quickly import the documents you need, like your W-2 and last year's tax return. You get five free federal e-files for your personal return along with unlimited federal preparation and printing. The included state taxes program is usually $40 on its own.

See on Amazon