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Rabu, 31 Juli 2019

Google testing Play Pass subscription with hundreds of apps and games

Google is looking to take on Apple Arcade with its Play Pass subscription service.

What you need to know

  • Google Play Pass is a monthly subscription service that unlocks hundreds of premium apps and games.
  • Apps and games in the catalog won't have any ads, with all in-app purchases unlocked.
  • The service is currently being tested for $4.99 a month, but the final figure could change.

Evidence of a Play Store subscription service called Play Pass showed up last year, but we haven't heard much after that. The company is now starting to test the monthly subscription service, as spotted by the folks over at Android Police.

Screenshots obtained by the publication show the signup pages for Play Pass, which provides access to hundreds of premium apps and games — with no ads and in-app purchases unlocked — for $4.99 a month, with a 10-day trial:

Explore a curated catalog spanning puzzle games to premium music apps and everything in between. From action hits to puzzles and fitness trackers, with Google Play Pass you unlock access to hundreds of premium apps and games without ads, download fees or in-app purchases.

The blurb mentions premium music apps, so it'll be interesting to see what kind of apps Google bundles with Play Pass. The screenshots show Stardew Valley and Marvel Pinball as being included in the Play Pass catalog, and there's a banner that shows up to try out the service when you're browsing the Play Store listing of an app or game that's in the catalog. Android Police was able to get confirmation from Google that it is testing the subscription service.

It'll be interesting to see if the subscription model works on Android, but in the meantime, would you be willing to try out Play Pass for $4.99 a month? Share your thoughts in the comments below.

For a limited time, you can earn elevated bonuses on Delta Amex cards

Heads up! We share savvy shopping and personal finance tips to put extra cash in your wallet. iMore may receive a commission from The Points Guy Affiliate Network.

These offers have expired

For a limited time (until July 2), you can earn some great bonuses on all three Delta / Amex co-branded cards as well as their business versions. For starters, the entry level card, the Gold Delta SkyMiles® Credit Card from American Express, is offering 60,000 bonus miles after $2,000 in spend in the first three months. Additionally, you would get a $50 statement credit after making a purchase from Delta in those beginning months. Finally, there are no foreign transaction fees and the $95 annual fee is waived in the first year. The business version of the card has all the same perks except the sign up bonus which is 70,000 miles after $4,000 in spend in the first three months.

Entry level

Gold Delta SkyMiles® Credit Card from American Express

See at The Points Guy

In addition to the above perks, you'll get one free checked bag on Delta flights, priority boarding, and 20% off inflight purchases.

The next level up is the Platinum Delta SkyMiles® Credit Card from American Express. The bonus here is 75,000 miles and 5,000 Medallion Qualification Miles (MQMs), which are miles that are earned towards status, after $3,000 in spend. The business version of the card offers 80,000 miles + 5,000 MQMs after $6,000 in spend. Both cards will get you a $100 statement credit in the first 3 months at Delta and an annual companion certificate for travel in main cabin, which means you get to bring a friend on the plane who pays nothing but taxes on the ticket. This companion certificate could save you a lot of money.

Level up

Platinum Delta SkyMiles® Credit Card from American Express

See at The Points Guy

This card comes with a higher annual fee of $195 but also allows you to earn more MQMs towards elite status. You can earn an additional 10,000 MQMs after $25,000 in spend in a calendar year plus another 10,000 MQMs after $50,000 in total annual spend.

Finally, we have the highest tier of Delta co-branded cards. The Delta Reserve® Credit Card from American Express is offering the same bonus as the Consumer Platinum version, but you'll have to spend $5,000 in the first three months as opposed to $3,000. Both Consumer and Business Reserve cards have an annual fee of $450 but also have the most benefits including complementary Delta Sky Club access and an annual companion certificate that can be redeemed in first class.

Premium

Delta Reserve® Credit Card from American Express

See at The Points Guy

Earning MQMs gets even easier with this premium card. Earn 15,000 MQMs and 15,000 regular miles after $30,000 in annual spend. And earn another 15,000 each when you spend $60,000 in a year.

Which Delta to get?

If you're a loyal Delta flyer who is close to achieving status, consider the higher end cards that can nudge you to a new elite tier. On the other hand if you're more economical, the base version offers plenty of bonus miles to fuel several round trip domestic flights.

Check out this bonus offer on the Hawaiian Airlines World Elite Mastercard

Heads up! We share savvy shopping and personal finance tips to put extra cash in your wallet. iMore may receive a commission from The Points Guy Affiliate Network.

Are you looking for an easy way to subsidize your summer vacation to Hawaii? You're in luck. The Hawaiian Airlines® World Elite Mastercard® currently has a limited-time bonus offer of 60,000 miles after spending just $2,000 within the first 90 days of account opening. That's a 20% bump from the previous offer of 50,000 bonus miles. These 60,000 miles are worth $540 based on recent valuations.

Hawaiian getaway

Hawaiian Airlines® World Elite Mastercard®

See at The Points Guy

For an annual fee of just $99 (waived in the first year), this card offers a lot of earning potential, particularly for North American travelers who love to visit Hawaii.

Using the miles

The bonus itself would give you enough miles for a round-trip flight between the contiguous US and Hawaii on Hawaiian Airlines. Alternatively, you could use your miles on the airline's partners, which include: Japan Airlines, JetBlue, Korean Air, Virgin Atlantic and Virgin Australia. Or you could even transfer your miles to Hilton, Caesar's, and points.com.

Earning and benefits

Cardholders will earn triple miles on on Hawaiian Airlines purchases; double miles on gas, dining, and groceries; and one mile per dollar on all other purchases. If you book with your card directly at the airline, you get a free checked bag, which would have otherwise cost you $30 on a flight to/from North America. But perhaps the best perk is a one-time 50% off companion ticket discount plus $100 off a companion ticket every card member anniversary. This is only good for round-trip coach flights to/from North America, but can really help couples or even families who like to visit Hawaii.

Bottom line

Again, if you love to visit Hawaii and do so with at least one other traveler, this card could make a lot of sense for you. Take advantage of the companion discounts and its current elevated sign up bonus.

Wells Fargo Cash Wise offers $150 in cash back and protects your phone

Heads up! We share savvy shopping and personal finance tips to put extra cash in your wallet. iMore may receive a commission from The Points Guy Affiliate Network.

Those who are looking for a new credit card but don't travel much and don't care about hotel status are in luck. There are numerous simple and pure cash back cards that might meet your needs. Today we'll talk about one of those options - the Wells Fargo Cash Wise Visa® Card.

Right now, if you apply and are approved, you will earn a $150 cash rewards bonus after spending just $1,000 in the first three months of account opening. That's a pretty nice 20% return on your first thousand bucks. In addition to the bonus, you will earn a flat 1.5% cash back on all purchases. This might lead many to immediately think about the Chase Freedom Unlimited, which also offers the same flat earning rate. However, there's an elevated cash back rate if you use your Cash Wise card through Google Pay or Apple Pay. Instead of the base 1.5%, you'll enjoy 1.8% on all purchases, an increase in the earnings rate of 20%. However, this elevated rate is only applicable for your first 12 months as a cardholder.

Straight cash

Wells Fargo Cash Wise Visa® Card

See at The Points Guy

This is a card for those who want a simple cash back card with no annual fee and 0% Intro APR for 12 months on purchases and balance transfers. And for a limited, cardholders can enjoy an elevated cash back rate by using Google or Apple Pay.

One additional benefit worth mentioning is cell phone insurance. Cardholders can receive up to $600 in protection on damage or theft of their mobile devices. To be eligible, you must be paying your monthly cellular bill with your Cash Wise card. If you're someone who is prone to dropping your phone, this could be a pretty useful benefit.

Though the Wells Fargo Cash Wise Visa® Card might not wow anyone with its perks, it does offer a decent welcome bonus, good cell phone insurance, and charges no annual fee. If these are benefits that attract you, consider adding this card to your wallet.

United Explorer credit card ups signup bonus by 50%

Heads up! We share savvy shopping and personal finance tips to put extra cash in your wallet. iMore may receive a commission from The Points Guy Affiliate Network.

The tiered welcome bonus is back! Earlier this year, United scrapped the two-tiered bonus structure on its Explorer Card in favor of 40k miles after spending $2,000 in three months. But they've decided to bring it back with an offer that ups the total potential bonus by 50%. Now the United℠ Explorer Card offers a welcome bonus of 40k miles after spending $2,000 in the first 2 months.

As expected from a United-branded card, it comes packed with valuable airline benefits and rewards. Most notably, it gives you and a guest (traveling on the same reservation) a free checked bag (up to $120 savings per roundtrip) and priority boarding privileges. Every cardmember anniversary you'l receive 2 United Club℠ one-time passes (more than $100 value) to help make traveling a bit more relaxing. On top of that, you'll enjoy 25% off inflight purchases and no foreign transaction fees.

Tiered rewards

United℠ Explorer Card

See at The Points Guy

This card lets you earn 2 miles per $1 spent at restaurants, hotel accommodations, and all United purchases. There's no annual fee your first year then it goes to $95. In addition to the previously mentioned travel benefits, you'll also receive a statement credit of up to $100 for either Global Entry or TSA PreCheck application, making it easy to justify the annual fee.

If you earn the full bonus, your 60k miles are estimated to be worth $840. Your best option for redemption will likely be award travel straight from United. Consider their popular Saver Awards which can help you cover short haul domestic flights for as little as 5k miles one way. These flights typically cover 800 miles in the continental US. Or consider splurging for a round trip economy fare from the US to Europe. Depending on your tastes, there are many good ways to redeem your new miles.

Save on summer travel with these huge credit card sign-up offers

Heads up! We share savvy shopping and personal finance tips to put extra cash in your wallet. iMore may receive a commission from The Points Guy Affiliate Network.

Summer travel planning season (at least for the northern hemisphere) is upon us, which means it's time to think about how to get the most out of the money you spend on travel. Of course, new credit cards are one of the best ways to do so, and Delta has just launched some limited time offers on their Amex co-branded cards. From now until April 3, you might qualify for the following offers:

So what can you do with your new batch of SkyMiles? First of all, Delta is known for having frequent flash sales for domestic travel, sometimes with round-trip economy awards starting at 10,000 SkyMiles. With 60,000 miles, an entire family of three could theoretically book 2 round-trip vacations within the US. Or perhaps you want an easy way to take care of your travel to a few summer weddings. Either way, the 60,000 miles and waived first year fee on the Gold card will help you out significantly. To see all current deals, visit Delta's SkyMiles Deals page. In addition to a trove of miles, welcome bonuses for Platinum Delta SkyMiles® Credit Card from American Express and Delta Reserve® Credit Card from American Express also include 5,000 Medallion® Qualification Miles (MQMs) which help you achieve Medallion Status more quickly.

On the topic of international destinations, perhaps you're eager to boost your mileage accounts at SkyTeam partners. Your new SkyMiles will be redeemable on all SkyTeam partners, including Air France and Korean Air.

If you opt for the Platinum card, just remember that you will have an annual fee of $195, and it will not be waived in the first year. However, there are some additional perks that might make the card worth it:

  1. Receive an annual companion certificate each year after your account renewal. This is good for a free (after taxes/fees) round-trip, main cabin domestic flight. Bring a date to one of those weddings!
  2. Earn a mileage boost of 10,000 bonus miles and 10,000 bonus MQMs after spending $25,000 in a calendar year. Then earn another 10,000 miles and 10,000 MQMs after spending $50,000 in the same year.
  3. Purchase Sky Club Access for a discounted $29 per-visit.
  4. Get your first checked bag free, priority boarding, and 20% in-flight savings. Now you can feel less guilty for buying Wi-Fi onboard to send mid-flight selfies.

If you opt for the Reserve card, you'll be able to get that companion certificate for first class instead of main cabin, and your Sky Club access will be free. However, the annual fee will be a whopping $450, which may not make sense for those who aren't road warriors and Delta loyalists. The true value of the Reserve card is the ability to waive the Medallion Qualifying Dollars (MQD) requirement for Diamond Medallion status, Delta's highest level. However, to achieve that waiver, you'll have to spend a crazy $250,000 in a calendar year. Count me out.

If you're like me, you're mostly interested in the sign on bonus. In that case, I'd recommend the Gold version. It's a great way to boost your SkyMiles account without an upfront fee. In a year's time, you can decide if priority boarding and a free checked bag are worth $95.

Barclaycard Arrival offers largest bonus offer to date

Heads up! We share savvy shopping and personal finance tips to put extra cash in your wallet. iMore may receive a commission from The Points Guy Affiliate Network.

While it doesn't get as much hype as other travel cards such as the Chase Sapphire Preferred, the Barclaycard Arrival® Plus World Elite Mastercard® deserves recognition for keeping it simple. Each transaction on the Arrival Plus earns 2x miles or 2% back, so you don't have to do any mental calculation based on the product you purchase. Additionally, on top of redeemed miles, you will also receive a 5% rebate on redeemed miles, which ups your effective return to 2.1%. Now that the card is also offering its highest ever 70,000 miles bonus signup, it may be time to add it to your wallet.

Mile high

Barclaycard Arrival® Plus World Elite Mastercard®

See at The Points Guy

The Arrival Plus allows a wide range of travel products for you to redeem your miles on, which includes airlines, hotels, campgrounds, car rentals, cruise lines, and more. And with no foreign transaction fee, this card makes the perfect travel companion.

To obtain the 70,000 bonus, make sure you spend $5,000 on the card in the first 90 days of opening. It's a steep spending requirement but most premium cards have a similar threshold. Additionally, the Barclay Arrival Plus will come with an $89 annual fee, though it is waived the first year.

Still, the welcome bonus is very generous, and after obtaining your miles, you redeem through the rewards portal Barclays provides on its website. You can redeem for travel, gift cards, and merchandise, but the best value comes from travel statement credits. These credits begin at 10,000 miles for $100 and can only be used towards purchases made in the last 120 days. Luckily, as mentioned above, the scope of purchases that fall under Barclays definition of travel is wide. Then after making your selection, your 5% mileage refund should appear credited back into your account in one business day! All in all, we appreciate the Arrival card's simplicity and wide coverage of travel-related purchases. If you regularly make purchases that don't earn bonus points from your current credit cards, the Arrival Plus could be a good addition.

Get playing with the best games for PlayStation Now

PlayStation Now is a huge service these days, with over 700 games in its library. That is a lot of games to look through to find something you haven't played, or might want to play again. We have distilled that list into our top picks for your PlayStation Now experience.

★ Featured favorite

The Last of Us

The Last of Us is a modern classic in video games. With a gripping storyline, compelling characters, and excellent voice acting, the game draws you in and emotionally connects you to the people on the screen. You want them to survive, and you will work hard to help them. Having this fantastic game available on PlayStation Now makes it almost worthwhile just on its own.

Sign up for PlayStation Now

Cross-play

Rocket League

Staff Pick

Rocket League is an action-packed, and often hilarious multiplayer game that was the first truly cross-platform game. The mix of destruction derby and soccer is brilliant fun, and I still play regularly.

Sign up for PlayStation Now

Use the blocks luke

Lego Star Wars: The complete Saga

There are plenty of people out there that will tell you that Lego Star Wars are great games for kids. They are wrong; they are great games for anybody. I highly recommend you play this game if you are a fan of Star Wars.

Sign up for PlayStation Now

Retro goodness

Alex Kidd in Miracle World

I only found out that Alex Kidd was on PS Now while researching this article and now I am stoked! My Master System 2 came with this game built-in, and it is a defining part of my childhood. You should definitely play it if you haven't before.

Sign up for PlayStation Now

Yeehaw Cowboy

Red Dead Redemption

Regarded as one of the best open-world games ever, Red Dead Redemption has a lot to recommend it. If you have ever thought of playing Red Dead 2, you should try this first, to get a taste of the aesthetic.

Sign up for PlayStation Now

I am the night!

Batman: Arkham games

PlayStation Now has every Batman: Arkham game available to play as part of the subscription and they are amazing. Stealthy action, great storylines, and iconic characters all create some of the best third-person action games ever made.

Sign up for PlayStation Now

Use paper with spit

Monkey Island 2: Special Edition

If you were around in the '90s when point and click adventures were all the rage, you would know that the Monkey Island games are fantastic. If you are a young whippersnapper, you should get this game and enjoy the living heck of it. It's funny, witty, and challenging.

Sign up for PlayStation Now

Booker!

The Bioshock series

The entire Bioshock series is available to play on PlayStation Now, including Infinite, one of the best games I have ever played. The storyline, gameplay mechanics and overall vintage/futuristic feel of the environments makes for some of the best games around.

Sign up for PlayStation Now

Hell in the cell

WWE 2K18

Wrestling games have come a long way over the years, and WWE 2K18 is one of the best. The gameplay is so good you can almost see the sweat flying off your wrestler as they jump off the top rope, slamming into their opponent.

Sign up for PlayStation Now

Side scrolling

Terarria

While I personally don't enjoy Terraria, my son (Aged 13) told me I had to put it on this list because it is "one of the best games ever made." I'm glad he likes it, and I know a lot of other kids do too, so I put it on the list for him.

Sign up for PlayStation Now

Cell shaded beauty

Borderlands: Handsome Collection

Borderlands is an iconic game, and the Handsome Collection takes all of the best bits and gives you even more. With Borderlands 3 on its way, it's worth revisiting this classic shooter.

Sign up for PlayStation Now

Which is your favorite game you've played on PlayStation Now?

There are a lot of fantastic games available on PlayStation Now, of course — this list is nothing but good games — but I still think The Last of Us is the best game available. Everything about the game draws you in and makes you want to play it as much as possible.

Games like Monkey Island 2and Alex Kidd fulfill my need for nostalgia while the big-budget shooters like Bioshock and Borderland are great distractions from the world. If multiplayer is more your speed then having Rocket League on PlayStation Now is huge. It's extremely fun and is one of the only true cross-play games available in the world.

Why stop at PlayStation Now?

There's plenty of gear to enhance your gaming experience that you should look into! Whether you want more memory for all those amazing games or a way to be more portable, we have your back!

ASTRO Gaming A10 Headset

$60 at Amazon

ASTRO's entry-level wired headset is one of its most compelling. Made from "damage resistant polycarbonate," the A10 should be able to take a beating in your gaming bag. You're not getting much in the way of fancy features, but you do get a reliable, well-made, great-sounding headset with an inline volume remote, so you never need to take your eye off the game.

Avolusion 1TB USB 3.0 Portable External PS4 Hard Drive

$48 at Amazon

This external hard drive is compatible with the PlayStation 4, connects via a 3.0 USB port, and has 1TB of memory. It comes with a two-year warranty, so you're covered in case there are any issues.

Nyko Smart Clip

$14 at Amazon

Nyko's smart clip attaches easily to your phone without getting in the way of your lightbar, buttons, or the touchpad. It also avoids all of the ports on your DualShock 4 controller so that you can easily plug in to charge without any hassle.

Verizon 5G launches in Washington DC, Atlanta, Detroit, and Indianapolis

With the new additions, Verizon now offers 5G coverage in nine cities overall.

What you need to know

  • Verizon has added 5G service to Washington DC, Atlanta, Detroit, and Indianapolis.
  • Verizon now offers 5G coverage to nine total cities.
  • With the new additions, it puts Verizon on track to its goal of 20 total 5G cities by the end of 2019.

On July 31, Verizon expanded its 5G Ultra Wideband network to four new cities, including Washington DC, Atlanta, Detroit, and Indianapolis. That brings the total number of Verizon 5G cities to nine, with the others being Chicago, Denver, Minneapolis, Providence, and St. Paul.

Speeds on Verizon's 5G network are expected to be 450Mbps on average, with a peak of 1.5Gbps and less than 30 milliseconds of latency. Our own Hayato was pretty blown away when he tested the speeds out for himself in Chicago last May, where he pulled down over 1Gbps in more than one location.

Of course, in order to experience these speeds, you'll not only have to be in an area with 5G coverage, but also have a 5G-enabled phone. At the moment, Verizon offers a few different choices, such as the Samsung Galaxy S10 5G, LG V50 ThinQ 5G, or the Moto Z3 or Z4 with 5G Moto Mod.

After you have a 5G-enabled phone, your biggest hurdle will probably be finding a signal. Even though 5G has been deployed in these four new cities, coverage won't be widespread. Below, Verizon details where you're most likely to get a 5G signal in the newly added cities.

Washington DC

In Washington DC, consumers, businesses and government agencies can initially access Verizon's 5G Ultra Wideband service in areas of Foggy Bottom, Dupont Circle, Cardozo / U Street, Adams Morgan, Columbia Heights, Le Droit Park, Georgetown Waterfront, Judiciary Square, Shaw, Eckington, NOMA, National Mall and the Smithsonian, Gallery Place / Chinatown, Mt. Vernon Square, Downtown, Penn Quarter, Brentwood, Southwest Waterfront, Navy Yard, and nearby Crystal City, VA, as well as around landmarks such as the Ronald Reagan National Airport, United States Botanical Gardens, Hart Senate Building, National Gallery of Art, Lafayette Square, The White House, Freedom Plaza, Farragut Square, George Washington University, Capital One Arena, Union Station, Howard University Hospital, George Washington University Hospital, and Georgetown Waterfront Park.

Atlanta

In Atlanta, 5G Ultra Wideband service will initially be concentrated in parts of the following neighborhoods: Downtown, Midtown, Tech Square, and around such landmarks as The Fox Theater, Emory University Hospital Midtown, Mercedes Benz Stadium, Home Depot Backyard, Centennial Olympic Park, Georgia Aquarium, World of Coca Cola, and parts of Renaissance Park.

Detroit

In Detroit, 5G Ultra Wideband service will initially be concentrated in parts of the following areas: Dearborn, Livonia, and Troy, including areas around the Oakland-Troy Airport.

Indianapolis

In Indianapolis, 5G Ultra Wideband service is initially available in parts of the following neighborhoods, Arsenal Heights, Bates Hendricks, Castleton, Crown Hill, Fountain Square, Grace Tuxedo Park, Hawthorne, Historic Meridian Park, Lockerbie Square, Ransom Place, Renaissance Place, St. Joseph Historic Neighborhood, Upper Canal and Woodruff Place and around such landmarks and public spaces as Garfield Park, and Indiana University School of Medicine.

With the addition of these four new cities, it puts Verizon nearly halfway to its goal of 20 5G cities by the end of 2019. Now, if only it can keep its network up, unlike yesterday where large parts of the east and midwestern U.S. lost coverage. Service was even out in two of its 5G cities, Chicago and Detroit.

5G on Verizon: Everything you need to know

NVIDIA Shield gets Android 9 Pie and the new Hulu!

Wait — how old is this Android TV box again?

What you need to know

  • The Shield is being updated to Android 9.0 Pie today.
  • It'll have the new Hulu With Live TV app built in.
  • Plus improved color for HDR-enabled TVs.

NVIDIA Shield — which remains the only Android TV box you should buy — just keeps getting better and better. Never mind the fact that it's more than four years old — ancient by today's tech standards. (Also never mind that there may finally be an updated version waiting in the wings.) Today the Tegra X1-powered system becomes first Android TV box to be updated to Android 9.0 Pie.

As is the usual case, the "NVIDIA Shield Experience" version is number doesn't quite match up, but don't let that bother you any. Update 8.0 has a lot going on.

In addition to the Pie update — and the Android security updates that come with it, you'll also find:

  • A new featured called Match Content Color Space that will give more accurate colors on an HDR-enabled TV.
  • The new and improved Hulu app — which sports an updated user interface and features, and also has Hulu with Live TV. (You'll still need a subscription, of course.)
  • Updates "Display and Sounds" advanced setting info into two easier-to-navigate menus
  • Adds option to match content color space (Settings > Display & Sound > Advanced).
  • Improves volume dynamic range for USB and Bluetooth-connected headsets
  • Enables 720p refresh rate switching on supported apps
  • Adds "Disconnect Bluetooth accessories" option to quick settings
  • Adds IR power control options to customize on/off functionality
  • Adds option to turn off USB Power when Shield sleeps
  • Adds option to connect to 2.4 GHz or 5GHz Wi-Fi network with shared SSID
  • Updates accessory firmware versions

The update is rolling out to Shield boxes now.

Additionally, the NVIDIA Shield TV Android app has received an update. It's not directly tied to the Shield Experience 8.0 update, but here's what's new anyway:

  • Better pairing with Bluetooth assisted discovery
  • Lower latency and better performance
  • IP pairing is now always an option
  • Allows for user feedback
  • Minor updates to the UI

Android TV

NVIDIA Shield

$179 at Amazon

The best Android TV box, now with Pie

NVIDIA Shield remains the best Android TV box you can buy, built for gaming and streaming. And now it's got Android 9.0 Pie.

Watch this

Hulu With Live TV

From $45 a month

The best originals, plus live TV

Hulu long has been known for its extensive back catalog and original shows. Now it's getting even better with its live TV service.