TechNews

Rumor has it that Apple has plans for another treat to launch alongside the AirPods 3: a significant upgrade to Apple Music that won’t cost subscribers a cent more.

Hits Daily Double reports that Apple Music will add a new high-fidelity, lossless audio streaming tier taking streams above the current 256kbps AAC format. That means people with high-end speakers or headphones should certainly be able to hear the difference when it’s introduced. 

Microsoft has been planning to cut its Xbox store cut to just 12 percent, according to confidential documents filed in the Epic Games vs. Apple case. The software maker details its store fees and changes in a document from January, where it also lists the 12 percent cut to PC games it announced this week. While most of the important parts of the document are redacted, one page reveals Microsoft also wants to reduce its 30 percent store cut on the Xbox console side.

A table reveals “all games will move to 88 / 12 in CY21,” which means Microsoft had been planning a significant cut to Xbox transactions for some point in the 2021 calendar year. While Microsoft has announced its PC cut, which is also listed in the same table, the company has stayed quiet about any Xbox plans. A change to 12 percent would be significant, particularly because Microsoft, Sony, and Nintendo all currently take 30 percent on digital game sales.

“We have no plans to change the revenue share for console games at this time,” says a Microsoft spokesperson in a statement to The Verge about these documents. That suggests these plans have either fallen through, changed significantly from January, or Microsoft isn’t ready to announce any changes yet. Either way, Microsoft has clearly been planning this change, and wants to cut its Xbox fees somehow.

This document is part of the Epic Games vs. Apple trial that commences on Monday, and there could be questions over Microsoft’s fee plans here. Both Epic and Apple are calling on Microsoft’s Lori Wright, VP of Xbox business development, as a third-party witness next week.

The documents also reveal that Microsoft had been planning to adopt this lower store rate on the PC side with an important caveat. “There is a proposal currently under Gaming Leadership Team consideration to adopt 88 / 12 as a public PC games revenue share for all games in exchange for the grant of streaming rights to Microsoft,” reveals the document. We asked Microsoft whether this proposal went ahead, but the company refused to comment in time for publication. Microsoft is planning to cut its share of revenue for PC games to 12 percent in August, but it’s not clear if the streaming rights clause is still included.

The streaming rights clause would mean developers have to ensure games are available on xCloud for this improved revenue cut. Cloud gaming rights, and in particular Xbox Game Pass, have becoming an emerging battle ground for console exclusivity rights in many contracts recently. Nvidia also generated pushback from publishers and developers after publishing some games to its GeForce Now cloud gaming service without permission.

Any changes to Xbox store fees in exchange for streaming rights would put pressure on Sony, Nintendo, Valve, and even Apple. As we noted yesterday, Microsoft has also been quietly backing Epic Games’ action against Apple. Microsoft has previously defended its 30 percent cut for Xbox digital game sales, and Epic Games has been happy to keep it in place. “Game consoles are specialized devices optimized for a particular use,” said Rima Alaily, deputy general counsel at Microsoft, last year.

Alaily argues that the “business model for game consoles is very different to the ecosystem around PCs or phones,” because Microsoft subsidizes the hardware and consoles “are vastly outnumbered in the marketplace by PCs and phones.” An Epic Games executive also revealed in a court deposition this week that the company has never sought to negotiate with Microsoft to avoid using its commerce engine on Xbox. Despite defending its Xbox cut, Microsoft did admit last year that the company has “more work to do to establish the right set of principles for game consoles.”

Elsewhere, another confidential document shines a light on exclusivity with Xbox games. S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2 is listed with a three-month console exclusivity deal, Tetris Effect: Connected with six months of exclusivity on connected updates, and The Gunk with perpetual exclusivity to Xbox.

Update, May 2nd 6:50AM ET: Article updated with additional streaming rights details.

The PC demo for Resident Evil Village is now available to everyone and below you can find some 4K screenshots from it. These screenshots showcase the game’s PC graphics on Max Settings and with Ray Tracing enabled.

In order to capture these screenshots, we used an Intel i9 9900K with 16GB of DDR4 at 3600Mhz, an NVIDIA RTX 3080, Windows 10 64-bit, and the latest version of the GeForce drivers.

Unfortunately, MSI Afterburner did not work with Resident Evil Village. As such, we could not get an idea of the in-game performance in 4K/Max Settings. From what we could see, the Village area ran pretty smoothly on our GSync monitor (so we’re looking at 60fps in that area). The Castle, on the other hand, had some minor framerate drops when facing the vampire lady.

Resident Evil Village looks a bit washed out with the default settings. This is something that plagued pretty much all Resident Evil games on PC. As such, PC gamers will have to tweak/lower the brightness or use Reshade in order to fix this issue.

Apart from that issue, the game looks great on PC. All of the character models are highly detailed, and their facial animations are top-notch. The environments also look great, and there are some cool lighting effects. Furthermore, the game uses high-quality textures, something that will please a lot of players. However, we also noticed numerous light sources that did not cast shadows.

Enjoy!

John Papadopoulos

John is the founder and Editor in Chief at DSOGaming. He is a PC gaming fan and highly supports the modding and indie communities. Before creating DSOGaming, John worked on numerous gaming websites. While he is a die-hard PC gamer, his gaming roots can be found on consoles. John loved – and still does – the 16-bit consoles, and considers SNES to be one of the best consoles. Still, the PC platform won him over consoles. That was mainly due to 3DFX and its iconic dedicated 3D accelerator graphics card, Voodoo 2. John has also written a higher degree thesis on the “The Evolution of PC graphics cards.”
Contact: Email

With Battlefield 2021 set for reveal sometime this month, it looks like this has also started the leaks for the game, as the first Battlefield 2021 screenshots have apparently leaked!

The screenshots which were shared originally on image hosting site imgur (has since been deleted) has been making the rounds today. Check it out below.

Reliable video game leaker Tom Henderson has also mentioned that yes, these two images are indeed the real deal, too.

I’m not going to RT or share for obvious reasons… But yes, the 2 #BATTLEFIELD images that have been leaked in the past hour are real.

— Tom Henderson (@_Tom_Henderson_) May 1, 2021

Of course, treat these screenshots with a grain of salt, as DICE nor EA has confirrmed it, but we’ve reached out to EA to see if they have a statement regarding it.

While this year’s Battlefield game still has no official title or release date, EA has confirmed that it’ll be out later this year, and has Criterion, DICE LA and DICE Sweden all working on it presently. And what’s more, the publisher even mentioned that Battlefield 2021 will feature “more players than ever before.”

What do you think of the screenshots so far? Let us know your thoughts down in the comments below.

More Battlefield 2021 Reading:

Quantum computing expert Andrew Fursman is convinced quantum attacks in the future will pose a threat to the security of Bitcoin (BTC).

In a video, Fursman highlights that the massive computational potential of quantum machines could be capable of compromising Bitcoin’s security.

“It’s mathematically proven that if you have a device that looks like the kind of quantum computers that people want to build, then you will be capable of decrypting this information significantly better than could ever be possible with classical devices.”

Fursman argues that regardless of when quantum computers come of age, a solution needs to be found.

“Whether quantum computers come out tomorrow or in five years or in ten years, they are capable of being cryptographically useful. Those devices are going to be capable of doing something that you might not want if you are somebody that’s keeping a secret…

So it’s worth kind of getting into what are the different ways that the blockchains rely on cryptography, and which of those are specifically relevant to the things that quantum computers of the future might do. And how much is that really a problem for people today, versus not a problem at all? And what things are maybe not a problem yet but we might want to be thinking about working on? Better to be safe than sorry.”

While Fursman says that quantum machines may place Bitcoin’s cryptography in jeopardy, he notes that it will not happen anytime soon.

“We might need actually significantly more qubits (quantum bits, or a unit of quantum information) than are currently available. And like I sort of alluded to, we might be at the point where the largest computers that we are building today end up really becoming the foundation of one logical qubit for one of these large devices…

So if we need a thousand times more qubits then we might have in a few years, you sort of have to be thinking about the growth of these things from both the error correction standpoint and the number of logical qubits that you need to go forward…

And I should say some people even put the number as high as millions that you might need. So we are definitely, we are not right around the corner from this. It’s not going to happen next week.”

I

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Featured Image: Shutterstock/agsandrew

This story was originally published 2020/12/29
9:51am PSTon Dec 29, 2020 and last updated 2021/05/01
6:37am PDTon May 1, 2021. 

The Play Store doesn’t always make it easy to discover new and exciting apps for your Android device, and so I’ve taken the time to collect the best apps released on the Play Store in the last year, newly updated for 2021 with eight new listings. This way, everyone can see what they might have been missing out on. Today’s list is comprised of 35 interesting, unique, or just flat-out useful titles that are definitely worth checking out. So if you’re on the hunt for new and exciting apps to load up on your favorite Android devices, this roundup has you covered.

Niagara Launcher 🔹 fresh & clean

New launchers pop up on the Play Store frequently, though most don’t ever gain mass popularity thanks to poor craftsmanship or boring played-out designs. Niagara Launcher is the new kid on the block, and it hit its first stable release earlier in the year. This particular launcher offers a unique minimal design that arranges all of your apps into an alphabetical list on either side of your screen while remaining accessible at all times. You don’t even have to swipe to access it. It’s simply there, which makes launching apps a breeze, even if you have many installed.

Monetization: free / no ads / IAPs from $0.99 – $14.99

Stack: PDF Scanner from Google Area 120

Stack: PDF Scanner + Document Organizer describes its usefulness in the name, and so there is no second-guessing what this app offers. As far as document scanners go, Stack is a solid effort that ties seamlessly to Google Drive for automatic backups. Of course, Google being Google, you can’t create folders, only stacks, and so much like Google Photos, things can grow cluttered quickly when dealing with a large number of files. Still, if you simply want to scan a document here or there, Scan performs this function with aplomb.

Monetization: free / no ads / no IAPs

Poweramp Equalizer

Poweramp Equalizer is based on Poweramps’s powerful equalizer, and so the developer has taken much of the functionality of the EQ from the primary app to create a standalone release that also offers a few improvements. So if you’ve enjoyed Poweramp’s EQ in the past but would like to use it as its own standalone app with the rest of your music players, such as Spotify or YouTube Music, Poweramp Equalizer offers precisely that.

Monetization: free / no ads / IAPs $1.99 apiece

National Park Service

National Park Service comes from, you guessed it, the National Park Service. This is a new and official app for the service, and it offers guides for all 420+ national parks in the US. So if you’re planning to do some camping or exploring this summer, you may want to check out the new National Park Service app. Not only does it offer interactive maps, tours of park places, and on-the-ground accessibility information, you can rest assured the info provided is useful since it comes directly from the organization’s staff and rangers who are inanimately familiar with such things.

Monetization: free / no ads / no IAPs

Pokémon HOME

Pokémon HOME ties into the vast majority of Pokémon games out there. Essentially this app is the replacement for Pokémon Bank, all so fans can easily store their captured Pokémon in the cloud, but as you would expect, this comes at a cost. While those who choose to use the app for free will be able to store up to 35 Pokémon, those who are willing to pay the $3 monthly subscription will be able to store up to 6,000 Pokémon. So thanks to games like Pokemon GO and Pokemon Sword/Shield, the property has seen a huge resurgence in the last couple of years, which is why I’m sure more than a few people will be interested in keeping their catches somewhere safe, even when that comes at a slight cost.

Monetization: free / no ads / IAPs from $2.99 – $15.99

Plexamp

The hint is in the name. Plexamp is a music player that can connect to your Plex Media Server, though you will need a Plex Pass subscription ($4.99 a month) to use this title. More or less, this is pleasant looking music streaming app that works with the audio files stored on your local Plex Server. So if you’re a Plex user that has already stored your music on your server, then Plexamp is definitely an app you should be looking at. After all, who wouldn’t love to curate their own media library instead of relying on the whims of multinational corporations.

Monetization: free / no ads / no IAPs

Look to Speak

Look to Speak is an impressive app from Google Creative Lab that allows people to use their eyes to highlight pre-written phrases in order to have them spoken aloud by the app. Essentially this is an accessibility app, or at least the early development of one. While you can’t use this title’s nifty functionality outside of the app just yet since the tech is sandboxed within, it’s proof Google has something cooking that should ideally help out those that live with communication disabilities. A sign of things to come, as it were, and what’s already provided is pretty impressive.

Monetization: free / no ads / no IAPs

Bundled Notes – notes, writing, lists, to-do.

Bundled Notes is one of the better to-do apps on the Play Store, and it offers robust organization that’s sure to impress. The app’s theme is slick, and there are a plethora of customization options available. Best of all, the title’s popularity has allowed for numerous updates since its release, so new features are added all of the time. So if you’re a Keep fan but have been looking for something a little more practical, Bundled Notes is here to save the day.

Monetization: free / no ads / IAPs from $1.89 – $17.99

Cubasis 3 – Music Studio and Audio Editor

Back in the day, I remember many of my music production friends were really into Cubase, and it would appear the music application has spread its wings to Android this year. Hence, Cubasis 3 is the result of Steinberg Media’s mobile efforts. You can efficiently perform, record, mix, and share your creations with this app, which makes it an excellent DAW for Android. So if you’re looking for the latest and greatest production-quality music creation app on Android, Cubasis 3 is the newest contender, though, like all Steinberg apps, it comes at a steep cost. Luckily there is a free trial available for those that would like to try before they buy.

Monetization: $54.99 / no ads / IAPs from $5.49 – $7.99

Krita

Krita is probably my favorite drawing app on PC, so I was pretty chuffed to see that it was released on Android in the last year. Unlike the Linux version of the app, this Android release supports pressure sensitivity for pens, all while providing the entire host of features you would expect to find on PC. So if you enjoy digitally drawing and painting, you should definitely check out Krita, especially if you spend a lot of time using a Chromebook or a tablet. So while this is still an early access release that’s in beta, what’s already provided is pretty solid.

Monetization: free / no ads / IAPs $10.99 apiece

GitHub

Back in 2012, GitHub released a mobile app on the Play Store, but it was eventually removed in 2015. Thankfully there is once again an official GitHub app available on Android. This means devs can access their accounts from a mobile app so that they can browse through repositories, share feedback in discussions, and perform searches. While the app is still missing a few useful features, I’m sure they will come in due time.

Monetization: free / no ads / no IAPs

Adobe Photoshop Camera: Photo Editor & Lens Filter

Adobe Photoshop Camera is exactly that. This is a camera app for Android smartphones. Since this camera app is a release from Adobe, you can expect to find a plethora of filters and effects within the title that can be used to edit your photos on the fly. This means Adobe Photoshop Camera offers an AI to help users take the best photos possible, though like all things, the AI isn’t perfect, and so night shots can be a pain for a few features such as face recognition. Still, if you’re looking for a quality third-party photo app that also offers more than a few filters, you can’t go wrong with Adobe Photoshop Camera, especially since it’s a free release.

Monetization: free / no ads / no IAPs

Dolby On: Record Audio & Music

Dolby On: Record Audio & Music can transform your phone into a powerful recording tool by offering noise reduction, a dynamic EQ, stereo widening, compression, and normalization. Basically, it’s a recording app with smart noise reduction baked in, allowing for clear recordings. User reviews have remained positive since the app’s release, and I have to say I agree. Dolby has indeed delivered on its claims, this is an excellent recorder, and it’s totally free to use.

Monetization: free / no ads / no IAPs

MiniReview – Android Game Reviews & Gameplay

If you’re sick of the Play Store’s lack of game discoverability or are utterly tired of seeing the same free-to-play games in every Play Store list, then you’re going to want to check out MiniReview. This is a game discovery app that comes from Nimble Thor, a popular YouTuber that focuses on reviewing Android games on his channel. Well, much like everyone else, Nimble was sick of the Play Store’s lack of filtration options, and so he partnered with a developer to create this game review app. You’ll find tons of video reviews from Nimble within the app, as well as reviews from its mobile gaming community, and you can even rate the games being reviewed to create your own list of favorites. Plus, there are tons of filtering options that allow you to drill down to the specifics you’re looking for. Essentially MiniReview is here to help people discover new and worthwhile games through an interface that’s much more pleasant to use than the Play Store.

Monetization: free / no ads / no IAPs

Kuro Reader Pro/Donate (cbz, cbr, cbt, cb7 reader)

I’m an avid comic book reader, to the point I’ve purchased several high-end tablets over the last few years in search of the perfect digital comic book reading device. As you can imagine, this means I’ve used all of the comic apps available during my search, and I have to say Kuro Reader Pro has replaced CDisplayEx on all of my Android devices. Not only is the dev responsive, but this is the smoothest comic reader on the platform to date. There are a bunch of categorization options for large libraries, and the app can read files stored on an SD card. Even the reading options are fairly robust, whether you want to fit to width or height or even stretch an image to fill the entirety of the screen. And yes, you can set the reading direction, so the app is great for manga too. Seriously, I’ve spent a lot of time looking for the perfect comic reader, and while I’ve yet to find it, Kuro comes the closest, hands-down.

Monetization: $2.99 / no ads / no IAPs

Simple Dialer – Manage your phone calls easily

Simple Dialer is just that, and seeing that it comes from a developer that has a history of creating beneficially simple apps to replace everyday necessities, I suppose it’s no surprise to see that the studio has released a dialer in the last year that fits within the rest of the dev’s catalog. So if you’re the sort that loves minimal apps or simply prefer as little clutter as possible when using an Android device, then picking up Simple Dialer is an easy choice.

Monetization: free / no ads / no IAPs

MarinDeck for TweetDeck

MarinDeck is a new Twitter app, and it comes from a Japanese developer, but somehow the app has gained popularity with an English-reading audience. This popularity has resulted in requests for an English translation, and so the app has been updated with English support after a round of updates. So if you’re looking for a new Twitter app that offers a familiar TweetDeck feel, you may want to take MarinDeck for a spin, especially when it’s completely free to use.

Monetization: free / no ads / no IAPs

Ratio

Ratio is a newfangled launcher that arrived in the last year, and what you get with this release is a pleasant experience that floats pertinent info to the launcher’s primary UI, such as things like weather, notes, and a timer. So if you’re a power user, you’ll like what’s provided, and for those that prefer minimal experiences, there’s a lot to like here, too, thanks to a simple interface that’s easy to read and looks great in action.

Monetization: free / no ads / IAPs $0.99 apiece

Microsoft Office: Word, Excel, PowerPoint & More

Microsoft’s all-in-one Office app combines Word, Excel, and PowerPoint into one title, and even though the name of the service has seen a few iterations, the functionality of the app is absolutely fantastic. Unlike Google’s options, everything you need is in one place. Sure, tablets were ignored for a while, but they are now supported, which means you can get all of your office work done any form-factor of your choice now that Microsoft Office offers a wide selection of support. Just keep in mind that a paid subscription to Microsoft 365 is still required ($6.99 a month) if you’d like to take advantage of functions such as editing.

Monetization: free / no ads / IAPs from $6.99 – $9.99

Socratic by Google

Socratic is a homework assistance app that was initially released in 2017, and Google picked up the property in 2019 and has released a new version of the app in the last year, complete with access to Google’s AI algorithms to improve performance. So if you’re looking for a homework app that uses AI to help anyone with any subject, Socratic is an excellent choice. This is especially useful for those currently homeschooling their children, so it is a pertinent release for the year as well.

Monetization: free / no ads / no IAPs

byte – video communities

Vine was one of the first short-form video sharing platforms for those that remember, but sadly it eventually went bust. Apparently, there was still room in the market for such an app, and so TikTok is the new leader in short-form video sharing. Of course, now that it’s proven that people love such easily digestible content, the creator of Vine has released an all-new video-looping service called byte, and since this is a developer revisiting their old stomping grounds, it’s no surprise to see that this is one of the more popular releases in the last year.

Monetization: free / no ads / no IAPs

AppNotifier

In November 2019, people started noticing that they were no longer receiving app update notifications from the Play Store. In classic Google fashion, the company simply removed the feature instead of fixing the bug that caused the breakage, and so now no one can receive app update notifications anymore. That was until an enterprising developer released AppNotifier in the last year. This app brings back the functionality Google removed so people can once again enjoy their app update notifications. There’s also a feature to turn back on install notifications too, which is my favorite feature since I tend to install apps from the Play Store webpage on my PC. While I’m personally disgusted that Google broke my typical workflow and left it so out of laziness, at least Android devs are here to help where Google fails.

Monetization: free / no ads / no IAPs

HEY Email

HEY Email is clearly an email app, and it comes from Basecamp, the very tool AP uses daily to organize our content, so this comes from a trusted and responsive developer for sure. HEY is designed from the ground up as an intuitive replacement for current email services, and so it brings a fresh UI as well as many useful features, such as a way to screen your emails. As you would expect, filter options are available in order to keep your essential messages separate from your revolving door of daily emails. Of course, quality email apps don’t come cheap, and so you’ll have to pony up $12 a month or $99 a year.

Monetization: free / no ads / no IAPs

Google AdMob

Somehow Google’s advertising service AdMob hasn’t had a dedicated Android app until this last year. That’s right. Google finally got around to creating an app for AdMob, which will allow users to keep tabs on their earnings while offering useful metrics and trends. Currently, the app is still in early access, and this access is limited, so whether or not you can use this release is a bit of a crapshoot. Still, it’s a good sign of things to come, especially after such a long wait, so it’s definitely a release to keep an eye on if you’re deep into Google’s advertising platform.

Monetization: free / no ads / no IAPs

DontKillMyApp ✌️ Make apps work

DontKillMyApp is an early access release designed to help Android users figure out how their devices handle background processing. As we all know, no two phones are alike, and since manufacturers and developers can’t seem to figure out the best method for background processing, many devices will kill your apps before you’re through with them. So if you’ve been wondering how you can check to see if your device is too aggressive, DontKillMyApp is here to help.

Monetization: free / no ads / no IAPs

TeamViewer Universal Add-On

As the Play Store listing states, this is not a stand-alone app but a plugin for the TeamViewer QuickSupport app that previously did not support many devices. Luckily Universal Add-On is here, so many of the users who previously could not integrate the QuickSupport app on their Android devices now can. Basically, before this add-on was released, users couldn’t remote control Pixel, Xiaomi, and Oppo devices with TeamViewer QuickSupport, so as you can imagine, adding this support through a plug-in was well-received by many Android users that require remote access.

Monetization: free / no ads / no IAPs

Elements Live Wallpaper

I have a soft spot for Live Wallpapers, and seeing that so few are released anymore, it can be challenging to find the good ones that are new. This is why I wanted to highlight Elements Live Wallpaper, a premium release from the last year that offers more than a few settings to customize the app’s beautiful abstract square designs. Not only can you adjust the app’s background color as well as the shapes floating above it, but you can also choose your animation speed, block count, as well as the style of interaction for the moving blocks. This is a full-feature live wallpaper, and best of all, it looks fantastic in action.

Monetization: $2.99 / no ads / no IAPs

Wavelet: Headphone specific equalization

Wavelet is a software equalizer designed for use with headphones. The selling point of this release is that it offers an auto-EQ, and thanks to the app’s 2300 precalculated optimizations, there’s a boatload of supported headphones out there that this app can auto-adjust for the best sound experience possible. Of course, if you prefer to fiddle with your EQ on your own, you have the option to do that too. All in all, this is a robust EQ that offers wide support, so if you’d like to fine-tune your EQ system-wide without the need for ROOT, then Wavelet is what you’re looking for.

Monetization: free / no ads / IAPs $5.99 a piece

FairEmail – open source, privacy oriented email

FairEmail is an excellent open-source email client for Android that supports unlimited synced accounts, a unified inbox, conversation threading, and plenty more. Most notably, it works similarly to Gmail, so if you’re looking for a new email app that offers worthwhile security that doesn’t break the bank while behaving similarly to your most-used email app, FairEmail is one of the better choices released in the last year.

Monetization: free / no ads / IAPs $7.49 a piece

Typewise Swipe Keyboard – Big Keys & Privacy

Typewise Keyboard isn’t your typical soft-keyboard for Android. You see, the devs have completely redesigned the layout most people are familiar with to offer something a little more intuitive, but of course, you will have to spend some time with this release to get comfortable with this new layout. Supposedly this keyboard will allow for 80% fewer typos once you get up to speed, which is definitely enticing. Finally, someone has brought something new to the table in the soft-keyboard game, and so far, user reviews are very positive, which shows this app very well could be going places, especially with the new 3.0 release.

Monetization: free / no ads / IAPs from $1.99 – $24.99

Access Dots – iOS 14 cam/mic access indicators!

Apple implemented an alert system for iOS users that reports on apps utilizing things like the camera or clipboard in the background, which made a lot of Android users salty since the permissions on our OS leave a lot to be desired. Well, this glaring hole in the Android market was filled by an enterprising app developer with the release of Access Dots, an app that can mimic the warnings of iOS whenever a third-party app is using the camera or microphone in the background. So if you’re security conscious, you’ll probably want to give Access Dots a proper spin. You might come away surprised by how many apps ask for access to things that are wholly unnecessary for the app to run.

Monetization: free / contains ads / IAPs from $2.49 – $21.99

EdgeBlock: Screen edge touch blocker

For all of you Android users out there that hate accidental touches when using a phone with a curved edge, Edge Block is the answer to all of your problems. Sure, it won’t change the fact that devices with curved screens feel like you’re holding a slippery bar of soap, but it will help alleviate any issues with accidental touches on the curved edges of your device.

Monetization: free / no ads / IAPs $2.99 a piece

FilterBox – Pro Notification Manager

Filter Box is a notification manager that can store all of your notifications in one place for easy readability at a glance. No matter the apps you choose to use, your notifications will be stored within Filter Box so that you can view your notification history in a chronological timeline. You can even set up your own rules in the app to better filter and store your notification to match your personal preferences. Best of all, you can unlock the entire app for a single fee, and there’s a 30-day free trial so you can thoroughly test things before you buy.

Monetization: free / no ads / IAPs $3.99 a piece

SwirlWalls: Interactive UHD Wallpaper Backgrounds

SwirlWalls is for all of you hippies out there that have always wanted to tie-dye their phone but never had the means. Of Action Launcher fame, Chris Lacy has released an interactive wallpaper app that offers swirling backgrounds that feature tons of color. Of course, if you’re opposed to too much color, there are also options available for something a little more muted. Hands down, this is one of the more polished live wallpaper apps on the store released in the last year, so don’t miss out.

Monetization: $4.99 / no ads / no IAPs

Balance: Meditation & Sleep

Balance: Meditation & Sleep is an early access release that has finally made its way from iOS to Android. If you couldn’t tell by the name, this is a wellness app designed to help people relieve stress through meditation. Since the app is still in testing, bugs are expected, but so far, what’s there works well for a fresh release on the Play Store, plus new updates are landing all of the time, so there’s plenty of progress being made.

Monetization: free / no ads / IAPs from $5.99 – $74.99

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When’s the last time you treated yourself? If you can’t remember, it’s been too long. And besides: Don’t you deserve a little something fun to ring in the warm weather?

Amazon is having a massive weekend-long sale on just about everything treat-yourself-worthy — we’re talking markdowns on TVs, tech, fashion, beauty, even robot vacuums! Whether you’re thinking of getting yourself a little spirit-raising indulgence or have resolved to make some bigger-ticket upgrades, there are plenty of options for all needs and any budget.

And oh yeah: If you have Amazon Prime, you’ll get free shipping. Not yet a member? Don’t go having a conniption; you can sign up for your free 30-day trial here. (And by the way, those without Prime still get free shipping on orders of $25 or more.)

Ready? Set? Let’s shop!

TVs

Let’s start with a big-ticket item at a small-ticket price, shall we? On sale for $260 (was $320), the Insignia 43-inch 4K TV — Fire TV Edition features vivid colors and exceptional picture quality — both of which are four-leaf-clover rare in this price range. It really stands out among its peers. The audio, too, is head-of-the-class. 

Meanwhile, this 4K model lets you stream 4K movies and TV shows from Netflix, Hulu, HBO Max, YouTube, Disney+, Prime Video, Sling TV and more without a separate streaming box or stick. And the best part? Alexa is accessible via the remote.

“…I have a Fire Stick and am familiar with the interface and this being built into the TV makes it a lot easier,” raved a delighted five-star reviewer. “Prime Videos that are available in 4K seem to automatically play at the highest resolution…It’s great that this switches easily between streaming and the cable input. You get everything you’d want – great color, awesome clarity, sharp picture and good audio without spending too much.

Story continues

Check out more TV deals below:

• Insignia NS-24DF310NA21 24-inch Smart HD TV — Fire TV Edition, $110 (was $170), amazon.com

• LG 24-inch Class HD TV — 24LF454B (renewed), $104 (was $128), amazon.com

• Westinghouse WR24HX2200 24-inch Class LED Full HD Smart Roku TV (renewed), $129.50 (was $150), amazon.com

• TCL 32-inch 3-Series HD Roku Smart TV, $148 (was $180), amazon.com

• Insignia NS-50DF710NA21 50-inch Smart 4K Ultra HD — Fire TV Edition, $340 (was $380), amazon.com

• Sony X750H 55-inch 4K Ultra HD LED TV, $520 (was $548), amazon.com

• Samsung 55-inch Class Crystal UHD TU-8000 Series 4K Ultra HD Smart TV (renewed), $518.50 (was $548), amazon.com

• Sony A8H 55-inch Bravia OLED 4K Ultra HD Smart TV, $1,498 (was $1,900), amazon.com

Headphones and earbuds

The Beats Studio3 Wireless Noise Cancelling Headphones, which are on sale for $199, or $150 off at Amazon, mix style and performance in one sleek design. These are Beats’ premium noise-canceling cans (that’s right; we’re using professional-audiophile-speak, cuz these are that good) that work seamlessly with just about any Apple device, including the iPhone, iPad and MacBook. It’s almost like magic how they sync to your Apple products, thanks to Apple’s W1 chip for instant pairing. 

And they’re ideal for taking on the road. “These are the best headphones I’ve ever had,” raved one happy wanderer. “I travel 99 percent of the time for work and am on planes twice a week. I am exhausted and don’t want to talk to people. These are perfect for when you are anti-social on the plane and at the airport. They’re a beautiful color too, and the battery life is awesome at 22 hours. Also, the noise canceling is amazing. Definitely worth the money!”

Check out more headphone and earbud deals below:

• Aukey True Wireless Earbuds, $28 (was $60), amazon.com

• Powerbeats Pro Wireless Earbuds, $170 (was $200), amazon.com

• Sony ZX Series Wired On-Ear Headphones, $10 (was $20), amazon.com

• Apple AirPods Pro, $197 (was $249), amazon.com

• Vankyo C750 Wireless Bluetooth Headphones, $38 (was $59), amazon.com

• Moing Wireless Bone Conduction Headphones, $40 (was $60), amazon.com

• Cowin E7 Active Noise-Cancelling Bluetooth Headphones, $45 (was $60), amazon.com

• Noot K11 Stereo Headphones, $14 (was $20), amazon.com

Smartphones and tablets

You might know TCL as a TV maker, but did you know the tech company also makes wallet-friendly smartphones? It’s true! And this weekend, you can score the TCL 10L Android smartphone for just $175, or $75 at Amazon. This is a 30 percent savings and the all-time lowest price ever on this super-popular model. How popular? So popular that it has earned a perfect rating from more than 1,400 reviewers. Is that popular, or what?

Here’s what you’ll get: The TCL 10 L is equipped with 6GB of memory and 64GB of storage; it also comes with a 6.53-inch Full HD LCD display that’s super-sharp and bright. It’s also upgradable to Android 10 out-of-the-box and features a Quad-rear camera system with a 48-megapixel high resolution lens, an eight-megapixel super wide-angle lens, two-megapixel macro shooter and two-megapixel depth lens with an five-megapixel front-facing camera for video calls and selfies. That’s what we call photogenic! For extra security and paranoia satiation, the TCL 10L has a fingerprint sensor on its back.

“Awesome bang for your buck…. I love this phone!” shared a savvy shopper. “I was a little nervous because the price is so reasonable, but its a killer phone. I’ve had a TCL TV for a long while now so I was just hoping that the quality would carry over, and it seems to be the case. The fingerprint reader is quick and seems to work well when my hands are even a little damp. I use it mainly for GPS, Spotify, and YouTube…Battery life so far is great…”

Check out more smartphone and tablet deals below:

• Apple iPad (10.2-inch, Wi-Fi, 32GB), $299 (was $329), amazon.com

• Moto G7 Plus, $123 (was $250), amazon.com

• Nokia 3.4 Android 10 Unlocked Smartphone, $149 (was $179), amazon.com

• Vankyo MatrixPad S20 Tablet, $127 (was $147), amazon.com

• Vankyo MatrixPad S21 10-inch tablet, $107 (was $127), amazon.com

• Zonko 10-inch Tablet, $113 (was $160), amazon.com

• TCL 10 Pro Unlocked Android Smartphone, $315 (was $450), amazon.com 

• Ulefone Note 9P smartphone, $152 (was $200), amazon.com

• Moto G Power, $230 (was $250), amazon.com

Gaming

Just because warmer temps mean more outdoor frolicking doesn’t mean you won’t be hankering for a gaming hunker-down from time to time. On sale for $20 (down from $50), BioShock: The Collection features all three games in the popular franchise: Bioshock Remastered, Bioshock 2 and Bioshock Infinite. These fun-tastic games explore futuristic science fiction worlds underwater and above the clouds.

“One of the best video game trilogies of modern gaming,” shared a delighted gamer. “All three games play and look fantastic, and 2K has done a great job with the attention to detail with all of them. I’ve had zero performance issues.”

Check out more gaming deals below:

• Carnival Games (Nintendo Switch), $15 (was $60), amazon.com

• Yobwin Wireless Switch Game Pro Controller, $20 (was $30), amazon.com

• Razer Kraken Ultimate RGB USB Gaming Headset, $90 (was $130), amazon.com

• Godfall (PS5), $40 (was $70), amazon.com

• Sid Meier’s Civilization VI (PC), $18 (was $60), amazon.com

• Call of Duty: Infinite Warfare (PS4), $13 (was $40), amazon.com

• Mafia: Definitive Edition (PS4), $30 (was $40), amazon.com

• NBA 2K21 (Xbox Series X), $40 (was $70), amazon.com

• Runmus Gaming Headset, $18 (was $43), amazon.com

Smart home

Isn’t there enough stupidity in the world? Must we tolerate it from our electrical outlets too? On sale for $15 (was $25), the Amazon Smart Plug — which can easily syncs with the Echo Dot — is a small doodad that fits between a power socket and an appliance like a coffee maker, TV or lamp and enables you to operate said device through a smartphone app or a smart-home hub. Finally!

The Amazon Smart Plug empowers you to take care of everyday drudgery like turning off the lights without getting up from the couch or brewing java from bed in the morning with almost no effort. 

“Got this smart plug so I can remotely turn appliances and lights on and off in an Alzheimer’s patient’s home,” shared a satisfied Amazon shopper. “I can remotely make sure things are off by simply [using] the Amazon Alexa app — super simple to use and really helps me out. Now I don’t have to drive over there to make sure the lights, AC or TV are off. Thank you!”

Check out more smart home deals below:

• Gosund Smart Wi-Fi Smart Plugs, $19 with on-page coupon and promo code ‘S7UBA6V4’ (was $27), amazon.com

• Echo Dot (fourth generation), $30 (was $50), amazon.com

• Echo Dot (third generation), $25 (was $40), amazon.com

• Echo Dot (fourth generation) and Amazon Smart Plug, $40 (was $75), amazon.com

• Kasa Smart Plug Power Strip KP303, $25 (was $40), amazon.com

• Kasa Smart Plug Power Strip HS300, $54 (was $80), amazon.com

• TP-Link Kasa Smart HS210 Kit three-way Smart Switch Kit, $33 (was $45), amazon.com

• Amico Smart Light Bulb, $11 (was $19), amazon.com

• EverCross Electric Scooter, $254 (was $369), amazon.com

• Echo Show 5, $80 (was $90), amazon.com

Vacuums

If you think that wall plug was clever, get a load of this brainiac: Unlike many other robot vacuums that just suck up dirt, grime, crumbs and pet hair, the Kyvol Cybovac E31 Robot Vacuum Cleaner — on sale for $199, or $100 off with on-page coupon at Amazon — can also mop up messes (with its included wet mop attachment) with up to 150 minutes of battery life per charge. We were gonna call it the jack-of-all-trades of floor cleaning, but nay, nay, it’s the king!

“I absolutely love this robot vacuum,” exclaimed a happy Amazon shopper. “I use to hate vacuuming and mopping the floors…it was such a chore that I just didn’t have time for. Now with this robot, I have time to do other things while it does all the work and does a great job at it!”

Check out more vacuum deals below:

• Aposen Robot Vacuum Cleaner A200, $90 (was $200), amazon.com

• Yeedi K600 Robot Vacuum Cleaner, $90 (was $150), amazon.com

• Roborock E4 Robot Vacuum Cleaner, $210 (was $300), amazon.com

• eufy by Anker BoostIQ RoboVac 11S (Slim), $190 (was $220), amazon.com

• MooSoo Robotic Vacuum Cleaner, $140 (was $300), amazon.com

• Yeedi K650 Robot Vacuum, $130 (was $180), amazon.com

• Lefant Robot Vacuum Cleaner, $90 (was $120), amazon.com

• OKP Robot Vacuum Cleaner, $106 (was $300), amazon.com

Work from home

Movie night in the backyard? Don’t mind if we do! On sale for $200 with the on-page coupon, the Vankyo Leisure HD Digital Projector is small yet mighty, with 1,500 lumens of brightness and Full HD resolution at 1080p. It can project movies up to 18 feet high on a flat surface, like a projection screen, a wall, a ceiling or even a big bed sheet. It also makes for a great computer monitor alternative. Imagine your desktop displayed this big — you can cut out the middleman and make your online dating profile as big as a billboard!

Dual speakers turn out superb audio — though you might want to connect portable speakers for a little more power when watching outdoors. We love that its cooling fan is nearly silent, and shoppers are raving about the sharp picture quality.

“Vankyo 530w is a great projector in terms of quality, operability and looks,” shared a savvy Amazon shopper. “…Very easy to connect with laptop and phone (through Wi-Fi)….Overall, I would say that, in this price range, this is among the best projectors to buy.”

Check out more work from home deals below:

• Apeman LC350 Mini Projector, $56 (was $80), amazon.com

• SoQool Laptop Riser for Desk, $18 (was $90), amazon.com

• LifeLong Ergonomic Laptop stand for desk, $60 (was $90), amazon.com

• AndaSeat gaming and office chair, $240 (was $300), amazon.com

• Naipo Shiatsu Back and Neck Massager, $40 (was $100), amazon.com

• ODK Computer Desk 39-inch, $35 (was $70), amazon.com

• Jiose Thermal Label Printer, $122 (was $140), amazon.com

• Rexing A1 Two-Way Action Camera, $160 (was $200), amazon.com

Kitchen

Want to become the prince of pancakes? The sovereign of souffles? The majordomo of meringues? This small-but-mighty mixer can whisk cream, egg whites, dough, batter — wherever your culinary fancy takes you. It boasts nine speed settings, automatic calibration, whisper-quiet scraper beaters, and an ultra-comfortable design….not to mention a detachable storage compartment to make sure you don’t lose the plentiful accessories and attachments.

“What was I doing all my life using any other mixer like a sucker?!!” one spiritually awakened shopper shared. “This mixer is great—the timer turns on once you start, so there’s no setting a separate timer or staring at the clock, and the rubber-coated beaters are a revelation. I haven’t used any of the other two attachments (whisks or a bread-kneader type of attachment) but from what I have used, I love, love, love this mixer.”

Check out more kitchen deals below:

• Kyvol Air Fryer, $89 (was $110), amazon.com

• Bayco 9 Pack Glass Meal Prep Containers, $35 (was $50), amazon.com

• Magic Bullet Blender, $30 (was $40), amazon.com

• Ninja Personal Blender for Shakes, Smoothies, $60 (was $70), amazon.com

• Gotham Steel Smokeless Grill Indoor Grill, $38 (was $50), amazon.com

• Cuisinart HM-90S Power Advantage Plus 9-Speed Handheld Mixer, $72 (was $145), amazon.com

• Elite Gourmet EGC-007 Easy Electric Poacher, $15 (was $30), amazon.com

• Dorothy rapid cold brewer, $49 (was $70), amazon.com

• Geek Chef Air Fryer Toaster Oven, $140 (was $200), amazon.com

• Ozeri ZK14-S Pronto Digital Multifunction Kitchen and Food Scale, $11 (was $15), amazon.com

Beauty

All our lives you’ve been hearing that you need to take your vitamins. Isn’t it time someone told your face? This luxe moisturizer is jam-packed with Vitamin B3 and extra-strength retinol, so it delivers serious anti-aging benefits in a rich, hydrating formula It keeps your skin moisturized for a full 24 hours, so apply it in the evening and make your nighttime skin care routine last well into the next day. It’s also fragrance-free, so it’s gentle on sensitive skin.

“I use this before bed on my face and neck/chest,” one shopper shared. “It has an added benefit of extra exfoliation. It simply works to keep me looking at least 10 years younger!!”

Check out more beauty deals below:

• NATUREWELL Retinol Advanced Moisturizing Cream for Face and Body, $15 (was $23), amazon.com

• INFINITIPRO BY CONAIR 1875 Watt Salon Performance AC Motor Styling Tool, $25 (was $35),amazon.com

• Vitamins Keratin Hair Mask Deep Conditioner, $18 with on-page coupon (was $26), amazon.com

• AuraGlow Teeth Whitening Kit, $39 with on-page coupon (was $60), amazon.com

• Tree of Life Retinol Serum for Face and Skin, $12 (was $17), amazon.com

• LilyAna Naturals Retinol Cream for Face, $20 with on-page coupon (was $30), amazon.com

• REVLON One Step Hair Dryer And Volumizer, $42 (was $60), amazon.com

Style

Leggings are the staple-iest of wardrobe staples; you really can’t have too many pairs! We’d like to introduce you to the newest addition to your repertoire. This squat-proof pair features a flattering high-rise waist (tummy control!) and four-way stretch that feels like a second skin. Wear them to work out, hang around the house, pop out to the store, what-have-you. These are seven bucks off and available in 38 (count ’em, 38) colors. Oh, and here’s a happy surprise: They have pockets!

“I’ve been searching for a LONG time on Amazon for the perfect leggings,” one connoisseur shared. “I wanted high quality like the expensive Lululemon or P’tula without spending a lot of money. After returning many leggings from other sellers, I came across these. I work out a lot and these by far are the most comfortable to work out in! They def pass the squat test, are not see-through at ALL, and have convenient pockets that I didn’t think I needed but love.”

Check out more style deals below:

• a.Jesdani Women’s Button Down, $30 (was $50), amazon.com

• Amoretu Women Summer Tunic Dress, $15 (was $25), amazon.com

• Leggings Depot Leggings, $16 (was $30), amazon.com

• Ewedoos Women’s Yoga Pants, $22 (was $27), amazon.com

• Milumia Women’s Boho Button Up Split Floral Print Flowy Party Dress, $32 (was $44), amazon.com

Health and wellness

Let’s talk about electronic hygiene. When’s the last time you cleaned your phone — and we’re not just talking all those apps you never use. Somewhere between “rarely” and “never,” we’d guess. Well, time to get on that. This Samsung Qi Wireless Charger uses a SGS UV-C light to effectively sanitize your cell, killing over 99 percent of the nasties living on its surface. You can use it to disinfect pens, watches, keys, anything that’ll fit. And at half off, it’s an absolute steal.

“I have sanitized my phone, mask, keys, and remotes!” a shopper shared. “It is amazing! I highly recommend this to anyone worried about COVID-19. It gives me peace of mind.”

Check out more health and wellness deals below:

• Lement 100 Pcs Disposable Face Masks, $12 (was $17), amazon.com

• Caresour Advanced 75% Alcohol Hand Sanitizer Wipes, 4 Packs of 50, $21 (was $40), amazon.com

• PURELL Foodservice Surface Sanitizer Spray, Fragrance Free, 32 fl oz, pack of 6, $44 (was $55), amazon.com

• Microban Professional Sanitizing Spray, $38 (was $65), amazon.com

• PURELL 962504CT Advanced Instant Hand Sanitizer, $88 (was $148), amazon.com

• Wecolor 100 Pcs Disposable 3 Ply Earloop Face Masks, $12 (was $20), amazon.com

Bedding

Who doesn’t love reading, watching TV, or tooling away on a laptop in bed? Who hasn’t struggled to find a posture that’s more reclining than sitting in a chair but firmer than lying on a pillow? Well, this comfy wedge is the Goldilocks solution you’ve been waiting for. As a backrest or headrest, you’ll find plenty of ways to make it suit your comfort preferences. A godsend for heartburn sufferers and wake-the-neighborhood snorers, you can also prop your knees up on it for back-flattening relief. Time to clean? Just throw the cover in the wash! But first you have to buy one…and now it’s $30 off!

“I never knew what I was missing, until I bought this fantastic addition,” one shopper reported. “The only problem is that I don’t want to get up anymore. It’s turned me into a complete couch potato. Perfect elevation for my legs, and the fact that it’s so adjustable makes me love it even more. SUPER SOFT and so comfortable.”

Check out more bedding deals below:

• Beckham Hotel Collection Gel Pillow (2-Pack), $36 with on-page coupon (was $45) amazon.com

• ELNIDO QUEEN Down Comforter, $48 with on-page coupon (was $80), amazon.com

• Bedsure Sherpa Fleece Blanket Twin Size Grey Plush Blanket, $29 (was $36), amazon.com

• LuxClub 6 PC Sheet Set Bamboo Sheets, $35 for queen (was $57), amazon.com

• Bedsure Satin Pillowcase for Hair and Skin Silk Pillowcase 2 Pack, $9 (was $17), amazon.com

• Utopia Bedding Down Alternative Comforter, $37 (was $57), amazon.com

• Queen Mattress Pad Cover Cooling Mattress Topper, $40 (was $60), amazon.com

Pets

Whether your kitty’s play style runs toward chasing, swatting, or discovery, this toy fulfills all those primal urges. Three tiers of spinning balls make for hours of feline fun. And mystification: She’ll forever wonder why, swat as she may, the magical orbs never seem to run off their tracks. And at more than half off, it’s a downright steal.

“My cat LOVES this,” one shopper shared. “I honestly was not expecting her to like it as much as she did. She started playing with it as soon as it came out of the box…There’s even a nifty little safety bar so she doesn’t get her head stuck in the middle.”

Check out more pet deals below:

• Furhaven Pet – Two-Tone L Shaped Orthopedic Corner Sofa Dog Bed, $28 (was $35), amazon.com

• Paw Jamboree Calming 23″ Dog Bed Donut Cuddler, $17 (was $35), amazon.com

• Outward Hound Hide-A-Squirrel Squeaky Puzzle Plush Dog Toy, $20 (was $30), amazon.com

• Milk-Bone MaroSnacks Dog Treats, $7 (was $12), amazon.com

• Rachael Ray Nutrish Dog Treats, $7 (was $14), amazon.com

• Cat Tree Cat Tower Cat Condo, $81 (was $120), amazon.com

• Interactive Robotic Cat Toy, $35 (was $45), amazon.com

The reviews quoted above reflect the most recent versions at the time of publication.

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Konami will not attend E3 2021, which will run from June 12 to 15, but is in “deep development on a number of key projects,” the company said in a statement. Updates on those projects are planned for the “coming months.”

Get the full message from Konami below.

Due to timing, we will not be ready to present at E3 this year. We want to reassure our fans that we are in deep development on a number of key projects, so please stay tuned for some updates in the coming months. While we are not participating this year, we have great respect for the ESA and know that 2021 will be a great success. We will continue to support the ESA and wish the best to all participants at this year’s show.

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