Nintendo’s subscription service for Switch lets you chat in real time, connect with friends online, and a whole lot more, but what do you get for $20 per year?

Nintendo has a special service that Switch owners can subscribe to for a small fee, which gives us access to game-specific content within the Nintendo Switch Online app, online gameplay for compatible games, access to downloading classic Nintendo game titles, and special discounts in the eShop. Here’s everything you need to know about Nintendo’s online subscription service.

What’s new with Nintendo Switch Online?

Aug. 30, 2018: Nintendo Switch Online release window gets smaller and Super Mario 3 gets teased!

In the last month, Nintendo has dropped a few tweets that gave us a little more information about the forthcoming online service.

On Aug. 9, The Nintendo of America Twitter account let us know that we could expect the service to launch sometime in the second half of September. With no word of a specific date as of yet…

Looking to try out iOS 12? The public beta is now available. Here’s how to download it!

iOS 12 is on its way with several new and important features that need to be tested before the software is made available to the general public. As such, Apple is letting interested users check out iOS 12 and provide feedback before it goes into wide release.

If you’re one of those interested users, however, you will have to go through the public beta download and install process. While it’s not complicated, it’s a bit of a departure for how you might normally get software onto your iPhone or iPad. So, we’re going to walk you through it and give you a place to ask questions if you need extra help.

Apple occasionally offers updates to iOS, watchOS, tvOS, and macOS as closed developer previews or public betas for iPhone, iPad, Apple TV and Mac (sadly, no public beta for the Apple Watch). While the betas contain new features, they also contain pre-release bugs that can prevent the normal use of…

If you’re a developer looking to take a peek at iOS 12, here’s how to install the developer beta.

iOS 12 is on its way with new features that require third-party developer input. As such, the company is releasing developer betas so that software engineers can get a head start on making great software for you.

What’s new in iOS 12?

August 31, 2018

Apple has just released the twelfth beta version of iOS 12 for developers. If you have a previous iOS 12 beta installed, you can head to Settings > General > Software Updates and get started downloading. If you were waiting for iOS 12. to get started with beta testing, go ahead and download the latest version.

August 27, 2018

Apple has just released the eleventh beta version of iOS 12 for developers. If you have a previous iOS 12 beta installed, you can head to Settings > General > Software Updates and get started downloading. If you were waiting for iOS 12. to get started with beta testing, go ahead and download the late…

Charge your Apple Watch in style and comfort.

While you don’t need a stand to charge your Apple Watch, it can be both a lovely and practical addition to your bedside table or dresser.

A great stand not only displays your watch and band while you’re not wearing it, but it also helps hide unsightly charging wires and lets you interact with features like Nightstand mode.

If you’re in the market for an Apple Watch stand, here are my top picks!

Elago W3

For the Apple fan boys and girls, you can charge your Apple watch with this adorable mini 1984-era Macintosh. It’s made from soft silicone and is only about 3 inches tall.

$9 – $11 at Amazon

When you place your Apple Watch onto the mount in Nightstand mode, the green, simple design really makes it look like you have a tiny Mac sitting on your desk.

All you have to do is slip your Apple Watch charger into the W3’s perfectly fitting holder, then rest your Apple Watch on its side. It really is the perfect setup for any Apple geek.

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All the power can be yours!

Mophie has announced four new wireless charging devices designed to make life a little easier. If you have a Qi-enabled device like the iPhone X or Samsung Galaxy S9, then you’ll be able to use one of these. The gadgets are designed to be as minimal as possible while still delivering a powerful kick. They can also work through cases as long as those cases aren’t more than 3mm thick.

The charge stream vent mount attaches to an air vent in your car with a four-prong mount and uses rubberized arms for a secure grip. You can display your phone in portrait or landscape mode and engage in some hands-free calls all while keeping the battery topped off. It comes with a Quick Charge 2.0 car adapter for phones with Quick Charge enabled and is currently available for $69.95 through the mophie website. This is a followup to mophie’s charge force vent mount, which is currently available at a much smaller price. The iOttie car mounts also do very similar things as far …

Make the most of your extended weekend.

If you are packing up for an extended Labor Day weekend trip, you’re going to want to make sure you pack a few important things, like a toothbrush, clean socks, an extra pair of shoes, and these apps, which will help you make the trip unforgettable.

TripIt
OpenTable
Poison Maps
Instagram Stories
Trail Wallet
TripIt

TripIt is, in my opinion, quite possibly the best vacation planning app in existence. It organizes your hotel, plane, car, and dinner reservations into trip itineraries and all you have to do is to forward your email confirmations. If you use Gmail, it does it automatically.

When you’re on your vacation, use TripIt to access your travel plans, even while offline. You’ll see a date and time schedules and have access to all of your confirmation numbers without having to dig through your emails. Each destination also connects to Google Maps for quick driving directions. It’s a true time saver when you are lugging around a half doz…

Treat yourself to these!

To celebrate Labor Day, Philips Hue is knocking 20% off its popular smart lights and accessories for a limited time. That’s right, whether you’re looking for a Starter Kit or a few extra bulbs, this sale has you covered. Recently, we’ve seen a bunch of deals on Philips Hue equipment, though it’s very rare to see the entire lineup get discounted.

Smart lights are great because you can control them like regular lights, via an app on your phone, or by just using your voice. If you don’t already have an Alexa-enabled device, this Hue Starter Kit with two Echo Dots is the best way to get started with all of this. More deals include:

Starter Kits

2-Bulb White Starter Kit – $55.99 (Was $70)
4-Bulb White Starter Kit – $79.99 (Was $100)
2-Bulb Color Ambiance Starter Kit – $109.99 (Was $150)
4-Bulb Color Ambiance Starter Kit – $159.20 (Was $200)
2-Bulb Color Starter Kit with two Echo Dot – $149.99 (Was $250)
Bulbs

2-Pack White Bulbs – $29.97 (Was $40)
4-Pack White…

It’s a great basic fighting game for players not familiar with the genre.

Blade Strangers is out now on the Nintendo Switch, bringing a strange and interesting cast of fighters from different universes together for a surprisingly-accessible fighting game. Characters from Cave Story, Shovel Knight, Code of Princess, Binding of Isaac, and more have gathered to battle both online and through the various single player or couch multiplayer modes, all for the honor of becoming a mysterious ”Blade Stranger.”

Blade Strangers is a great first fighting game for players who don’t otherwise delve into the genre, but you may need a bit of help to know where to begin. Here are some basics of Blade Strangers you’ll need to fight your way up the ranks:

See at Amazon

Tutorials first
How to play
Unlocking new content
Tutorials first

Before you jump into any of the modes, I highly recommend checking out Blade Strangers’ tutorial mode first. Before you even do that, open the menu and look at the …

If you’re being given free drinks, it’s because somebody wants you drunk.

A week or so ago, a paper was published outlining just how much — and how frequently — Google collects our personal data through devices running Android and Chrome.

Don’t want to read? Just hit play on the video above. (And subscribe to get more.)

It was written by Douglas C. Schmidt, Professor of Computer Science at Vanderbilt University, who my colleague, Jerry Hildenbrand of Android Central said is:

… very well-versed in Android.

The Google distortion field

The paper is framed as follows:

While the public has been focused on the ongoing Facebook and Cambridge Analytica scandal, Google has largely avoided public scrutiny about its data collection practices despite having the ability to collect far more personal data about consumers across a variety of touchpoints.

Google enjoys a reality distortion field beyond what even Steve Jobs was attributed with at the hight of his…

Best answer: The August Smart Lock Pro supports Apple’s HomeKit, which both integrates the lock with the rest of your smart home setup and offers an additional layer of security for your door.

Amazon: August Smart Lock Pro ($199)

The August Smart Lock Pro puts convenience and security in the palm of your hand (or on your wrist)

Being HomeKit-compatible means the Smart Lock Pro can join the rest of your home automation accessories such as smart lights and appliances. It also means that you can create different automation instructions for the Smart Lock Pro, such as automatically locking or unlocking when you leave or arrive at your home.

If you also have an Apple Watch, any requests made by the August Smart Lock Pro that get sent to your iPhone can also be sent to your watch, letting you approve or decline them without having to pull your phone out of your pocket. This sort of thing can be great if you require your Smart Lock Pro to request permission before it unlocks your door.
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