Henry Lares is still early into his career as tech reporter but has already had his work published in many major publications including Tech Crunch and the Huffington Post. In regards to academics, Henry earned an engineering degree from Apex Technical School. Henry has a passion for emerging technology and covers upcoming products and breakthroughs in science and tech.
US owners of Sony Android TVs from 2016 and 2017 will be happy to learn that a new update has been released and it brings the long awaited Oreo features to the devices.
The update has been released gradually in last two weeks and it will become available for more devices in the following days. Sadly EU customers may not receive the update in the foreseeable future as the company has remained silent when it comes to EU TVs.
The main feature of the update is a revised home screen that streamlines the user interface while also improving the overall user experience. New customizations options are also available and select content is now highlighted when the home screen is accessed. In order to benefit from these improvements users will also have to updates their apps.
It is expected that updates for the Android TVs sold earlier in 2018 will also become available.
Are the updates safe for my device?
The answer is mostly yes. Some owners of late 2016 models have complained on the official forums that they have encountered a few problems. Among them users mentioned issues with audio after awakening the device form deep sleep mode, incorrect playback of locally saved 4K content and visible frame drops when HD content is streamed. Fixes should arrive soon but owners that enjoy the previously mentioned functions should wait a little more before installing the device.
Data mining has revealed that the Oreo version offered to the A2TV hardware devices (encountered in the models that received the updates first) employs a dated Linux kernel that can be traced to Android KitKat. The update also lacks support for the Project Treble, an API that aims to make updates easier to develop and deliver.
The update also adds improved support for select Netflix content and fixes a variety of issues. It seems that Sony won’t offer an update for models that were released prior to 2016, but the situation may change in the future.
Henry Lares is still early into his career as tech reporter but has already had his work published in many major publications including Tech Crunch and the Huffington Post. In regards to academics, Henry earned an engineering degree from Apex Technical School. Henry has a passion for emerging technology and covers upcoming products and breakthroughs in science and tech.
Being able to build your own world is always fascinating. This might be one of the reasons why Clash of Clans is so popular. However, old players might need something new from time to time. We have prepared a list of alternatives that can replace CoC.
Boom Beach
Boom Beach is a game created by Supercell, which might be a plus. In this game you create your own base on a beach and opponents have to attack it. The game is available for free and it comes with long campaign modes.
Castle Clash: Heroes of the Empire
Even the name is similar here. This is one of the most popular alternatives and it has more than 50 million installs. You can create your own village and you have to protect it from the enemies. You can also attack your rivals and level up your heroes. It’s another freemium game.
Dawn of Titans
Dawn of Titans has appeared recently on the market and comes with some major enhancements. For example, the game has great graphics and the gameplay is worth giving it a shot. Dawn of Titans also comes with a campaign mode and it organises special events from time to time.
Jungle Heat: Weapon of Revenge
This game is clearly inspired by Clash of Clans, so you won’t have to spend time learning how to play it. In Jungle Heat: Weapon of Revenge the characters are well shaped and each one comes with its own abilities. You create a base and you have to defend it. You can also play it on a computer via Facebook.
Age of Empires: Castle Siege
Age of Empires: Castle Siege allows you to choose your civilization and then build an empire. Combat is the next step and you have to train troops to attack others.
Henry Lares is still early into his career as tech reporter but has already had his work published in many major publications including Tech Crunch and the Huffington Post. In regards to academics, Henry earned an engineering degree from Apex Technical School. Henry has a passion for emerging technology and covers upcoming products and breakthroughs in science and tech.
We’ve all heard of WhatsApp Messenger: it’s that free messaging app that’s available for Android, iOS, and others. For you to use it, you need an internet connection, be it Wi-Fi, 2G, 3G, 4G or EDGE – this way, you’ll be able to message and call your friends and family. It’s better than your ordinary messaging app since you can also send am receive (besides calls and messages) photos, videos, voice messages, and even documents.
So why should I use it? What are the features?
There are no fees: you use WhatsApp on your phone’s internet connection so that you won’t pay for every message or call, or thing sent. Also, there are no subscription fees – you’re totally free to use it.
You can send and receive different files, such as videos, documents, photos and Voice Messages.
The calls are free: you can call whoever you want, even if you 2 are not in the same country, because the app uses your internet connection, and not your phone’s plan of minutes. However, in this case, you need to keep in mind that data charges may apply. It might be better to call your provider for more details.
You cannot contact 911 or other emergency services through WhatsApp.
Group chat: you can make group chats with your contacts so you can all talk about different topics in the same chat.
WhatsApp web: this one is for your PC or laptop, you can send and receive messages right from your browser.
There are no internal charges whatsoever: you can send messages to persons from different countries, so it’s way easier to talk to your friends around the globe – without having to pay, as you do with the international SMS charges.
No username or password: you don’t have to worry that you’ll have to remember another username and password, cause you won’t need them. WhatsApp works with your phone number, and all of your WhatsApp contacts are your address book contacts.
What’s new?
Stickers: you can send now stickers in the chat. All you have to do is tap the emoji icon, then the sticker icon.
Swipe: you can swipe right on a message to replay it.
Henry Lares is still early into his career as tech reporter but has already had his work published in many major publications including Tech Crunch and the Huffington Post. In regards to academics, Henry earned an engineering degree from Apex Technical School. Henry has a passion for emerging technology and covers upcoming products and breakthroughs in science and tech.
While Popcorn Time is a great app there are also a variety of other apps that allow users to stream their desired content. Read below for a comprehensive list of the best streaming apps besides Popcorn Time.
Kodi
Kodi is a fan favorite media player that can also be used as an entertainment center across a variety of platforms like Windows, Mac, Android, iOS and Linux. The program is designed to simulate the experience of a home theater and it is very customizable. While content is not provided by default users can opt to add their own content or use third-party repos that provide streaming capabilities.
WebTorrent
This one is more similar to Popcorn Time as it employs the same mechanism in order to stream content. What sets it apart is the fact that you can stream the content directly from the browser window, without the need to download any extensions, plugins or apps.
Stremio
Stremio is a dedicated media center that allows users to gather the content from several video platforms in a single hub. The service allows you to intuitively stream the content to a variety of devices like smart TVs and AppleTVs without a hitch. The app also provides notification when new content is available. While Stremio is compatible with most streaming services those that are paid will still require an active subscription in order to work properly.
Universal Media Server
This media server allows users to stream their favorite content to a variety of devices that support the DLNA protocol. It is compatible with the most popular operating systems including Windows, Mac and select Linux distributions. Users can stream their content to legacy devices like the PS3 and Xbox 360, a large selection of TVS and other smart devices and players.
Paid alternatives
For those that wish to enjoy the latest content without delay a variety of paid platforms are also available. Netflix, Crunchyroll, Hulu and others offer lots of content and the subscription fees are quite affordable.
Henry Lares is still early into his career as tech reporter but has already had his work published in many major publications including Tech Crunch and the Huffington Post. In regards to academics, Henry earned an engineering degree from Apex Technical School. Henry has a passion for emerging technology and covers upcoming products and breakthroughs in science and tech.
2018 has been a great year for gamers with Far Cry 5 coming in as the best selling game of the year, breaking the Ubisoft franchise record, with $310M in consumer revenue in the first week after its launch. And let’s not forget about the Fortnite dance takeover that took over both the gaming and non-gaming media in 2018, with the Floss being the most recognizable of all.
New gaming technology like the Oculus Go VR headset debuted with high praise this year as critics coined it as, “the first semi-affordable VR headset of its kind.” Saahil “UNiVeRsE” Arora of the Evil Geniuses team came in at the highest paid gamer of 2018 with an estimated $2.8M in earnings during his gaming career. So how do we top a year of new tech, incredible gaming experiences, and top scores? Never fear gamers, 2019 is rolling in hot with new games, advanced gaming tech, and the promise of your best scores yet.
We’ve put together a comprehensive list of everything you need and need to know for gaming in 2019, check it out to stay a league ahead of your top competitors.
Top-Performing Gaming Accessories for 2019
High-performing gamers need the best in gaming accessories, and 2019 is chock full of top-notch accessories we’re looking forward to. Here are some of our favorites:
Backlit blue mechanical switches make this keyboard super responsive so you don’t miss a beat with quick moves.
Durable product made for high-performing daily gamers. Perform aggressive moves and destroy your competition without worrying about your keyboard taking the hit.
Ultra clear and retractable microphone for unparalleled communication so you can collaborate with your team to take down your competition with agility and precision, every time.
Comfortable, padded ear cups and high-quality audio technology so you can catch every detail and fully immerse yourself in your gamescape.
Noise-canceling tech that rivals all others so you can focus on the crucial shot at hand without distraction.
Games You Need in 2019
Some of our favorite games of 2018 were the best horror games for pc including Resident Evil 7: Biohazard by Capcom as one of the best survival games of the year and possibly our favorite rendition in the series. Alien Isolation by Creative Assembly allowed us to encounter the extra-terrestrial in a terrifying tribute to the film, Alien.
2019 definitely won’t disappoint with even more survival, action, and horror games stealing the spotlight. Here are some of the most anticipated games you can expect to see winning over gamers in 2019:
The first edition of the Resident Evil series was originally released in 1996 has become a cult classic, and some would say it paved the way for the popular zombie-centric media we’ve seen in recent years. The second edition has been remade and we’re desperately awaiting its arrival in late January.
Anthem
An all-new action RPG takes players through a gorgeous sci-fi universe with fully customizable suits and superhuman abilities.
Metro: Exodus
Think you can survive post-apocalypse? Metro: Exodus gives you the chance to test your skill in an unpredictable world with horrifyingly realistic gore.
Devil May Cry 5
Devil May Cry 5 is a third-person action game blazing into 2019 with refined, detailed game details and a demon-hunting avatar that seriously slays.
Best Gaming Conventions for 2019
With new games and technology to impress gamers this year, we’re obviously anticipating a huge turnout for the world’s top gaming conventions in 2019. Gaming conventions give gamers, developers, and professionals the opportunity to collaborate and get more details about their favorite features, characters, and upcoming tech to expect in the year to come.
Here are some conventions we’re most looking forward to this year:
Each year gaming gets even more impressive. With new technology, immersive games, and some amazing events coming up, 2019 will surely be a year for gamers to remember.
Henry Lares is still early into his career as tech reporter but has already had his work published in many major publications including Tech Crunch and the Huffington Post. In regards to academics, Henry earned an engineering degree from Apex Technical School. Henry has a passion for emerging technology and covers upcoming products and breakthroughs in science and tech.
