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  • Changes We Want to See in the Next iPhone

    Changes We Want to See in the Next iPhone

    Apple’s iPhone X made waves when it was released last year, but maybe not as many as the American tech giant would have liked. While the launch wasn’t a flop by any means, it could have been bigger. What could Apple have done to make the phone more desirable? What changes would we like to see on the next iPhone? Today we’ve got a roundup of the changes we most want to see from Apple. 

    USB-C Port 

    The proprietary port that debuted with the iPhone eventually gave way to the Lightning port. However, as the industry moves to USB-C, a universally praised standard, Apple lags behind. The tactic of using a proprietary port to charge more for replacement charging cables is unsightly. Apple could score serious goodwill for bucking their tradition of brand-specific ports. The Macbook line already uses USB-C exclusively, so this one doesn’t seem outside the realm of possibility.  

    Fast Charging 

    While on the subject of charging ports, we’d love to see Apple catch up to the industry on fast charging. While the Lightning cable allows for reasonable charge times, true fast charging hasn’t hit the iPhone yet. Given that nearly every Android phone has fast charging in the box when you buy it, it’s pretty glaring that the $1,000 iPhone X doesn’t. What gives, Apple? While you can get a Turbo Charger and a USB-C to Lightning converter, you shouldn’t have to use weird workarounds to use industry standard tech on a cutting-edge phone. 

    Ditch the Switch 

    That side switch for controlling vibration and alerts has got to go. The functionality it controls could easily be worked into the control center of the phone. It isn’t convenient to have this arbitrary function bound to a physical button. A button that can be easily flipped accidentally while in a pocket. Thus, causing your phone to ring at full volume during a meeting. Yeah, I’m not bitter or anything. But they should absolutely leave this dumb side switch off for the next iPhone. 

    Most Important Change for Next iPhone: Lose the Notch 

    This is the big one. While many users have grown accustomed to the screen-notch, it’s an eye sore for many potential users. Apple had to find space for the Face ID technology somewhere, that makes sense. But perhaps holding off on edge-to-edge displays until the technology allows the elimination of the notch is better than this compromise. The notch is distracting at worst and bearable at best, which is hardly something you want people saying about your $1,000 phone. If Apple can find a way to make the screen truly edge-to-edge, we’ll all be quite pleased! 

     

  • Switch Flip Grip for Portrait Orientation Play Coming Soon!

    Switch Flip Grip for Portrait Orientation Play Coming Soon!

    Fangamer has reached their Kickstarter goals to release a new Flip Grip for the Nintendo Switch! The Flip Grip promises to make playing games in portrait orientation on Switch a breeze. You might be asking, which games use portrait orientation? Well, a lot of arcade games released through the online store, actually.  

    A Classic Picture Mode 

    A ton of arcade classics have seen re-releases on the hybrid console. Games like Galaga, Punch-Out!!, and Strikers 1945-II were meant to be played in an extra-tall aspect ratio in their original arcade cabinet. While it’s possible to prop the Switch up on something in tabletop mode to play these games in portrait, it’s a pain. Not to mention, the Switch’s Joy Con rails only allow for landscape picture in handheld mode. The solution to these problems is the Flip Grip! 

    The Flip Grip holds the system in portrait mode and can hook the Joy Cons into the sides. This lets you play arcade games as they were meant to be, on the go! 

    Flip Grip Kickstarter Success 

    The peripheral experienced a huge Kickstarter success, meeting its goal after being up for a few days. More than 3000 backers have already pledged more than $50,000 for the unique peripheral. As of right now, a pledge of $12 gets you one of the Grips when they go live. Twice that gets you two grips and a discount on shipping!  

    While this might seem niche, it goes to show just how innovative and flexible the Switch is. The fan community that has grown up around the Switch is very engaged and excited about all releases on the system. As such, it makes sense that Fangamer would experience such success with a neat, off-the-wall concept like this! There’s huge interest in retro-style gaming right now, as evidenced by the success of Nintendo’s Retro Classic series. Those mini consoles have been selling out with each shipment!  

    Fangamer plans to ship their unique new Grip in November of this year. Until then, game on, retro fans! 

  • What’s Cooking? Greatest Grill Gadget for this Summer!

    What’s Cooking? Greatest Grill Gadget for this Summer!

    You’ve got your friends, your beers and your tunes. It’s time to cook up a storm! Everyone in the neighborhood needs to know you’re the grill master, right? Make sure you grill in style with these awesome grill gadgets! If you’re looking to up your backyard game, look no further! Whether you’re looking for automatic grill-cleaners or grills that can travel with you to the campsite, we’ve got you covered! 

    Refuel 

    There’s nothing worse than getting everyone over to the house just to find out you’re out of propane. A smart gauge for your propane tank, Refuel gives you a live view of how much propane you have. It even alerts you when It’s time to, you guessed it, refuel! Keep in mind, though, this one isn’t in production anymore, so scoop yours up fast before they’re gone! You can get yours for $43 at Amazon.  

    Looftlighter 

    Resembling a lightsaber, the Looftlighter is a great lighter fluid-free fire starter. If you’re looking to light your grill up in style, look no further! The Looftlighter costs $80 and will save you hassle and help the environment! Not to mention, it’s super cool and your guests will be wowed by it! 

    Front Runner Outfitters Spare Tire Mount: Stainless steel BBQ grate  

    For $137 you can have a spare tire holder that doubles as a grill. If you’re out in the wilderness but wanna get your grill on, drop the grate over a fire. It’s designed at the right height to sit comfortably above a fire and let you grill on its steel surface. How cool is that? Perfect for campers who want to go off the beaten path for a picnic! 

    Our Favorite Grill Gadget: Grillbot 

    A robot that cleans your grill for you? Well, that’s exactly what you thought of when you read “grill gadgets,” so, you’re welcome. Yeah, the Grillbot cleans your grill for you. Just plop him down on the gross, blackened grill after you’re done cleaning. Like a badass backyard Roomba, it’ll clean up your grill and let you spend more time enjoying your company and food. Nothing screams “it’s the future” like robotic servants making life easier, huh? You can grab your Grillbot for $90 from Amazon. 

  • Acer Nitro 5: Gaming Muscle, Laptop Price

    Acer Nitro 5: Gaming Muscle, Laptop Price

    Gaming laptops are usually pretty expensive. If you want graphical fidelity and snappy processors, you have to spend a pretty penny. At least, that’s conventional wisdom.

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    Acer wants to change that with the Acer Nitro 5, though. Acer can talk a big game, but does it deliver on its promise of gaming-goodness at a low price?

    First Consideration: Price

    It doesn’t really matter how strong it is if the price isn’t right, though. Thankfully, the Nitro 5 is in the right place with its MSRP. Coming in at a reasonable $670, and available at less than $600 from wholesalers, the Nitro 5 doesn’t break the bank. Where once you’d have to spend more than $900 for a decent gaming laptop, recent innovations in graphics and processors seem to have brought prices down. While the Nitro 5 isn’t the strongest laptop around, it’s certainly the best bang for your buck.

    What’s Inside, Though?

    Okay, so you’re sold on the price. But what’s in it? Well, that’s where things get interesting. The most cost-efficient layout has a 2.3 GHz Intel i5 running the show, 8GB of RAM and a 4GB Nvidia GeForce GTX 1050Ti. While there are slightly cheaper versions of the laptop, we recommend this setup for maximum gaming potential for your buck. So, what does all of that mean? It means this is a surprisingly powerful machine for its price. You won’t be disappointed when the Nitro 5 takes on modern games: graphics will be high-fidelity, and frames will be smooth.

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    Design

    This one looks the part of gaming laptop, to be sure. The keyboard is huge and glows with red back-lights and the vents are stylized and mean. It has a touchpad, which is responsive and gets the job done. It has no dedicated buttons for left or right click, though; you have to click the pad itself. This is awkward for some, but others don’t mind it. All that being said, we recommend gaming with an actual mouse, so the trackpad isn’t a big concern.

    The display is the most important part of the exterior design, though, as it’s what you’ll be viewing the games through. It’s got a solid 1,920×1,080-pixel resolution, but doesn’t have the best colors. Images look slightly washed-out and blah. That said, the images are crisp, just a little bland.

    Acer Nitro 5: Worth the Price?

    With the right configuration, the Nitro 5 is a great gaming laptop for mid-sized games. For a laptop to game on lunch breaks or on the bus, you could do much worse. If you’re looking to play through a back-catalogue of older games, or simpler games like Fortnite, this is a great pick. Newer AAA games might not look too smooth, though. If you’re looking for a full-scale gaming PC replacement, it doesn’t quite have the power for that.  That said, the price is right for a portable gaming platform with reasonable power.

  • Hit the Trail! Which is the Best Car for Camping?

    Hit the Trail! Which is the Best Car for Camping?

    Summer time is time to hit the trail! If you’re looking for a car to pair with your outdoors-centric lifestyle, we’ve got a list for you! We’ve picked some of our favorites, and we’ll tell you which the best car for camping is! Believe it or not, there are some great cars out there made with the trail in mind! 

    Scion XB 

    Box-shaped cars are awesome for camping. Okay, that’s our list, go home! Jokes aside, the Scion XB is a great pick. You can fit tons of big, awkward things like tents in this super-tall car. You won’t be riding in style, but you’ll be able to carry all your stuff! It’s also great on gas, making it a good pick in general. Just don’t be surprised when people poke fun at your boxy car. 

    Land Rover Discovery Sport 

    Land Rover has a great reputation for being made for the great outdoors. The Discovery Sport lives up to that legacy! While many Land Rover owners don’t know it, Terrain Response makes their vehicles some of the best off-roaders in the world!  

    Sporting that same Terrain Response and a spacious interior, the Discovery Sport great pick for campers. You can take yourself and six friends nearly anywhere in the world, thanks to the suspension and Terrain Response technology. If you’re looking to lead some seriously rugged expeditions, this is the car you want. It’s also not going to break the bank, coming in at  

    Pontiac Aztec 

    Don’t laugh. Okay, laugh. Yes, this is the ugliest car in the world. Yes, you shouldn’t tell your Tinder dates you drive an Aztec. And yes, the Aztec is awesome on the trail. Hear us out for a second! This one comes with a camping loadout that includes an attachable tent and an air mattress! The center console can be a cooler! The back-hatch swings open! It’s awesome! 

    Okay, maybe this thing is too damn ugly to be anyone’s main car. But as a camping car, it’s the bomb. If you can afford to have two cars and car about camping, consider an Aztec. Come on, stop laughing! 

    Our Favorite Car for Camping: Honda Element 

    You’re reading a list of the best cars for hitting the trail, so you knew this one was going to show up. The Honda Element is well-known among camping enthusiasts for being dependable, rugged and awesome. And square.  

    The box-on-wheels design gives the element a tall ceiling, so you can carry tons of stuff. The back seats can fold all the way down or even be removed, allowing for even more space. The floors are even made of easy-cleaning urethane! We recommend springing for all-wheel drive if you plan on taking this one to the trail. You can also opt for the built-in factory hatch tent! 

  • Top Ten Deals for your Buck During Steam Summer Sale

    Top Ten Deals for your Buck During Steam Summer Sale

    The Steam sale is on, and you know what that means: time to save some money on great games! If you’re looking to find sweet deals, the Steam Summer Sale is the time to do it. Starting with the games that cost the least, we’re showing off some of the hottest sales this summer! Event ends July 5th, so don’t miss these deals! 

    Craziest Deal of the Steam Summer Sale: Left4Dead 2, $2

    Photo Credit: Steampowered 

    The famous co-op zombie shooter is available for two bucks right now. If you ever needed an excuse to experience this intense horror game, here it is! Grab a few copies for some friends while it’s so cheap and get ready to blast zombies, together!  

    Fallout: New Vegas, $3

    Photo Credit: Steampowered 

    Three dollars will buy you a full meal at Taco Bell, or a copy of Fallout New Vegas. Choose wisely. Fan-favorite New Vegas is renowned for its world, story and gameplay. New Vegas follows the adventures of the “courier” through a western-inspired post-nuke Nevada. The player is given a ton of agency in deciding how the story unfolds. Every action has consequences, and the game’s various factions feel very fleshed out and real. If you haven’t played this one before, now’s a great time to try it out. 

    Borderlands 2, $5

    Photo Credit: Humble Bundle 

    Five bucks doesn’t even get you a foot-long sub anymore. It does, however, get you a copy of the best looter-shooter ever made! Borderlands 2 is 100% adrenaline from start to finish. Witty, laugh-inducing writing meets tight gunplay and addictive RPG elements. Rewarding skill trees and fun enemy types keep you engaged through this massive opus. If you’ve ever loved first-person shooters or Diablo-style looters, check this out. It’s awesome, and this deal is nuts. 

    Dishonored: Definitive Edition $10

     

    Photo Credit: Humble Bundle 

    Step into the shoes of trained assassin Corvo for the low price of ten bucks. Corvo Attano is granted otherworldly powers by the Outsider and must solve a murder mystery to clear his name. The dark, foreboding city of Dunwall serves as the backdrop to the stealth-action. This game was great for full retail price, so it’s a steal for ten bucks. 

    Ori and the Blind Forest, $10

    Photo Credit: Steam 

    The flowing, slick platforming action of Ori is top-notch. A stellar indie game, ten dollars is quite a deal on this one. A sequel was teased at E3 2018, so if you’ve been interested in seeing what this platformer is all about, now’s the time! Ori features a beautiful world and a lovable, slick protagonist. Controls are tight, and the world is evocative of such games as Rayman Legends. 

    Dark Souls 2, $10

    Photo Credit: Steam 

    Dark Souls was a revelation when it first released, so a ton of pressure was on the sequel to follow up. It did a great job of filling in for its older brother, though it wasn’t perfect. However, $10 isn’t much to ask for such a stellar game. If you’ve been playing the Remastered version of Dark Souls 1 and want to see where the series went from there, here’s your chance! Prepare to die a lot, though. 

    Fallout 4, $15

     

    Photo Credit: Kinguin 

    The second Fallout title to grace this chart, Fallout 4 came out in November 2015 to great reviews. For only $15 you can experience the tale of the Sole Survivor as they look for their son. Whether you’ve played it before and want to relive the quest or haven’t played it and want to see what the hype is about, $15 is a pretty solid price to pay for it.  

    ARK: Survival Evolved, $20

    Photo Credit: BGR 

    Discounted from a full retail price of $60, this is a great deal. ARK is a game that involves dinosaurs and lasers, so $20 seems fair by any metrics. Okay, jokes aside, this is a fun survival game. You can hunt, or tame, dinosaurs and you try to survive however you can. While the survival genre is a bit past its heyday of 2017, this is still a great game for a great price. 

    Grand Theft Auto V, $20

    Photo Credit: YouTube 

    GTA V may have come out in 2013, but it still retails for around $60. That alone helps show how much staying power Rockstar’s games have. However, it’s on sale for $20 right now, which is a steal. If you haven’t had a chance to play this open-world masterpiece, now’s your chance to snag it for cheap! The online multiplayer for this one is a cherry on top, considering how great the single player is.  

    Final Fantasy XV, $25

    Photo Credit: Steam 

    While this game was released in November 2016, it only saw a Windows release March of this year. That makes the sale price of this version that much more impressive! $25 for a relatively new AAA game is kind of crazy. For PC gamers who may have skipped this one since it was on console, here’s your chance to try it out. Featuring beautiful graphics and a gripping, epic story, Final Fantasy XV is a return to form for the storied series. Here’s hoping they stop making MMOs for future entries, huh? 

  • Best VPN for iPhone

    Best VPN for iPhone

    While it might sound weird that you’d want a VPN for a phone, it’s not a bad idea to have one. While iOS is great at protecting user security, it’s not able to help you when you’re surfing the web. The real reason you’ll want one of these is if you use public Wi-Fi often. Public networks are often unsecure, and any data sent to and from your phone while on them could be intercepted by hackers. If you want to keep your encrypted info safe from prying eyes, try these VPNs! They offer great protection for your mobile browsing.  

    Golden Frog VyprVPN 

    Golden Frog is a clean, well laid-out VPN with a lot to offer. While it doesn’t offer as many licenses per subscription as some of the competition, it’s a solid pick. It’s ten dollars to start and five bucks a month. Sadly, it doesn’t offer any ad-blocking. What it does offer, though, is a free trial and a ton of servers. Your server speeds on this one will be blisteringly fast! If speed is your bag, try Golden Frog. 

    Cyber Ghost VPN 

    Offering seven licenses per $2.75 a month subscription, Cyber Ghost is a good choice. The interface is unique and weird in a good way. Privacy is a major concern of this one, and it does a good job logging very little user data. You can’t location spoof while streaming, though, so if you’re trying to appear as though you’re somewhere else, this isn’t the right VPN. That said, this is still a fine VPN, and it costs $12 to get started. The $2.75 per month deal is limited time, though, so check it out soon! 

    Nord VPN for iPhone 

    If you’ve ever looked into VPNs, you’ve definitely seen the name Nord. They’re well-renowned for a reason, and it’s because they’re good. Their VPN for iPhone offers a ton of servers and great features. Just like Cyber Ghost, it’s $12 to get started and $2.75 per month. Also, like Cyber Ghost, that’s a limited time price. That said, if you’re looking for a strong iPhone VPN, this is a great pick. Offering six simultaneous connections and blocking ads is a pretty mean feat on an iPhone. The app and layout are both friendly and welcoming, too! Great for first-time VPN users. 

    Our Favorite VPN for iPhone: KeepSolid VPN Unlimited 

    Starting a $8.99 per month, this is a fantastic VPN for the money. It supports Open VPN and sports great speeds. KeepSolid boasts servers specifically tooled for streaming, which is awesome. It also offers a personal VPN server for users! That said, it has no free trial, which is a bummer. Compared to Nord it has a small number of servers, too. That said, the interface is excellent, and the user experience is top-notch. If you’re looking for a fantastic VPN for iPhone, this is the one for you! 

  • Intel’s CEO Ejected After Relationship with Employee Revealed

    Intel’s CEO Ejected After Relationship with Employee Revealed

    Brian Krzanich, Intel’s CEO, has been forced from his position and from the board. This move follows Krzanich’s “consensual relationship” with an employee. Such a relationship would violate the company’s non-fraternization policy. While the incident is said to have occurred “some time ago,” it is just now being brought to light.

    Intel’s Statement 

    Regarding the CEO stepping down, the company stated this.  

    “An ongoing investigation by internal and external counsel has confirmed a violation of Intel’s non-fraternization policy, which applies to all managers. Given the expectation that all employees will respect Intel’s values and adhere to the company’s code of conduct, the Board has accepted Mr. Krzanich’s resignation.” 

    According to those familiar with the situation, the relationship occurred, and ended, some time ago. Exactly how long ago, and with whom, has not been said. However, such fraternization is in direct violation of company policies, regardless of when it occurred.  

    CFO Robert Swan is now the acting CEO while the board looks for a long-term candidate for the position.  

    Tough Times for Intel 

    This sudden change in leadership couldn’t come at a worse time for the company. They have led the market in processor manufacturing for years, but there are many threats to their dominance on the horizon. The looming specter of cloud processing and artificial intelligence have been hanging over the company for the past five years or so. More immediately, companies like Nvidia, Qualcomm and Apple have been making strides in their own processor production. Notably, AMD recently showed off a 32-core “Threadripper” processor that handily beat all of Intel’s strongest chips in benchmark tests.  

    No company ever wants their CEO to be suddenly ousted amidst a small scandal. Intel, in particular, though, was in no place for this to occur. With the competition heating up and computing landscape changing, the last thing Intel needed was uncertainty in leadership. While this certainly doesn’t spell doom for the chip-making giant, it doesn’t bode well for investors. The competition is certainly sharpening their knives, though. 

  • The Avengers and the X-Men Crossover is Saved! Disney to Buy Fox

    The Avengers and the X-Men Crossover is Saved! Disney to Buy Fox

    That’s right, we may still be able to see Iron Man and Cyclops onscreen together! In response to Comcast’s bid to buy Fox for $65 billion in cash, Disney upped their bid. What does it take to own a massive entertainment conglomerate? Well, a bid of $71 billion in cash and stocks seems to be the magic ticket. That eye-watering sum is even more impressive when you consider that Fox will have to spin off its news branch and maybe even its sports networks. Why’s that, you ask? Regulatory approval processes are quite complicated. 

    Fox Wary of Regulatory Approval 

    One reason Fox seems to be seriously considering Disney’s bid is regulatory boards. While AT&T recently won a case to acquire Time Warner, that doesn’t guarantee the same would happen for Comcast. Disney, on the other hand, is an entertainment company, not a telecom. Fox is likely weighing that in their consideration of being bought by the House of Mouse. Additionally, they could realize that there is simply more money to be made by partnering with the massive maker of Marvel and Star Wars. Getting the budget of Disney behind their films would help Fox reach even more audiences and make even more money. 

    Shareholders Signing Off on Disney Deal 

    The deal won’t actually be complete until the shareholders okay it. Which is ironic, as the Comcast deal was going to have to wait until a July 10th shareholder meeting to be approved. Disney’s bid beat that approval to the punch. Still, Fox and Disney shareholders could still oppose the bid. However, such opposition seems highly unlikely at this stage and is really more of a formality.  

    That being said, the deal will also still have to pass regulatory approval. Fox’s assets would be considered and could have to be spun off into new companies if a board deems it necessary for the merger. Avoiding a lack of meaningful competition is an important facet of such boards, so moves like this can be risky for large companies. Disney, for their part, seems convinced that it won’t be an issue. Interestingly, the sale would include Fox’s 30 percent stake in Hulu. Both Disney and Comcast also hold a 30 percent stake in the online media platform. The final ten percent is owned by Time Warner, for the curious.  

    The Future 

    Hopefully the future holds a huge crossover film of the X-Men and the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Is it too much to ask for a good movie version of Avengers vs. X-Men? We don’t think so. Make it happen, Disney! 

     

  • Tesla Employee Sued Over Alleged Sabotage

    Tesla Employee Sued Over Alleged Sabotage

    Following the recent news that Tesla believed it had been sabotaged, the company has sued former employee Martin Tripp. The lawsuit claims that Tripp, who worked at the company’s factory in Nevada, stole trade secrets and sent them to unknown third parties. If true, this could be a partial explanation for the ongoing struggles to meet Model 3 production numbers. Such corporate espionage gives new perspective on statements from CEO Elon Musk that seemed paranoid earlier this week. 

    Tesla’s Statement 

    Regarding the incident, the electric automaker had this to say.  

    “Tesla has only begun to understand the full scope of Tripp’s illegal activity, but he has thus far admitted to writing software that hacked Tesla’s manufacturing operating system (“MOS”) and to transferring several gigabytes of Tesla data to outside entities. This includes dozens of confidential photographs and a video of Tesla’s manufacturing systems. 

    Beyond the misconduct to which Tripp admitted, he also wrote computer code to periodically export Tesla’s data off its network and into the hands of third parties. His hacking software was operating on three separate computer systems of other individuals at Tesla so that the data would be exported even after he left the company and so that those individuals would be falsely implicated as guilty parties.” 

    Public Image 

    The ambitious car company is likely eager to have this issue brought to the light, as it helps paint them sympathetically. Their recent struggles to meet production goals, coupled with recent fatalities related to Auto Pilot, haven’t helped their public image. However, being portrayed as the victims of corporate sabotage could help the company’s image and garner sympathy. Indeed, if Musk is to be believed, Tripp isn’t the only saboteur. While Musk hasn’t elaborated, he tweeted the following. “There is more, but the actions of a few bad apples will not stop Tesla from reaching its goals. With 40,000 people, the worst 1 in 1000 will have issues. That’s still ~40 people.” 

    While the company’s public struggles are well-documented, the company maintains that they’re on track to have a profitable third quarter. Soon, the company will have to divulge production numbers for the Model 3 for the past few months. Short sellers, people who stand to gain money if Tesla’s stocks drop, have been cautioned by Musk that their position will “explode” soon. We’ll see soon how things shape up for the innovative automaker.  

    Feature Image Credit: CNBC