50 best games from the Epic Games Store’s mega sale
The Epic Games store is hosting a “mega sale” from May 19 to June 16. It features 18 pages worth of games, adding up to more 700 individual titles.
There are some new games already on sale here — like Tiny Tina’s Wonderlands — as well as older classics like Super Meat Boy or Assassin’s Creed 2. Many of these game are over 50% off their original prices, with some under $5. This is a PC-only sale.
We’ve selected exactly 50 games that you should consider picking up in Epic’s mega sale before it ends on June 16:
There are also free games on the Epic Games store during this period. At the time of this writing, the only free game is Borderlands 3, which is free until May 26. A mystery free game will appear to replace Borderlands 3 on the 26th.
Best phone carriers: Verizon vs T-Mobile vs AT&T and more affordable iPhone plan alternatives
Ready to check out your options for phone carriers? While prices have increased for some of the major carriers this year, the market competition is strong which means compelling offers for those who switch. Read along for a look at the best phone carriers in the US. We’ll cover Verizon vs T-Mobile vs AT&T as well as some of the best affordable iPhone plans from smaller carriers. This guide will also detail how to find real-world coverage maps, how to test a new carrier for free instantly with eSIM, and more.
Best phone carriers: Verizon vs T-Mobile vs AT&T plus budget plans
Free instant eSIM trials
While it’s been a hassle to actually try out a new carrier in the past, eSIM support on iPhone and other smartphones has opened a new opportunity for carriers.
T-Mobile and Visible (Verizon) are taking advantage of the tech which offers potential customers the ability to instantly test out their networks for free right alongside their existing carrier.
Start a T-Mobile eSIM trial
Start a Verizon eSIM trial through Visible
One of the best things with eSIM trials is you can see the signal for both your current carrier and the one you’re testing simultaneously. And you can even decide to keep using your existing carrier and number for phone calls while using the trial for cellular data.
AT&T doesn’t offer eSIM trials at this point but you could grab a prepaid SIM from an MNVO like Cricket or H20 to test out AT&T’s network for a month without having to switch phone numbers.
Coverage
While Verizon has led the best phone carriers as far as having the most customers (and still is) along with the broadest coverage over the last decade, T-Mobile has gained a lot of ground with its Sprint acquisition and quick 5G deployment. That has meant Verizon and AT&T are both playing a bit of catch-up with T-Mobile on 5G coverage as they work on rolling out more mid-band spectrum.
However, Verizon did launch 5G UWB coverage in 1,700 US cities earlier this year.
TL;DR
All of the major carriers’ coverage maps will probably look great on their websites, here are a few tips to actually figure out how coverage will really be:
Check coverage with the independent, third-party Opensignal app
Opensignal gets real-world data from millions of devices and billions of measurements
Do a quick comparison of 4G/5G coverage with Signalchecker for your area
Do a free eSIM trial to test out the coverage (available with T-Mobile and Visible/Verizon)
Talk with friends, family, or people at work who use the carrier you’re considering
Remember, smaller carriers (MVNOs) lease access to networks from the major three US carriers. While you usually get the same performance, there may be data caps and throttling during times of congestion.
Speed
Like coverage, a carrier’s speed will depend on a variety of factors including your location, device, signal strength, network congestion, and more.
And if you live in a major city vs a small town, speeds can be very different. Verizon leads with the fastest 1,000+ Mbps speeds if you have 5G UWB coverage, but T-Mobile has greater availability at the moment with its more moderately fast mid-band 5G.
Here’s a look at how the three major carriers compare for average US speeds in studies from Ookla and Opensignal as of early 2022:
TL;DR
Verizon has the fastest top speeds if and where you have 5G UWB coverage
T-Mobile has the fastest average 5G speeds with more mid-band coverage
Opensignal’s results show average 5G download speeds in the US as of Q1 2022.
Best phone carriers: Price
We’ve recently seen AT&T and Verizon increase prices, but strong competition has kept pricing mostly close between the three.
However, as T-Mobile touts, it does usually offer around 20% lower prices for its unlimited plans compared to AT&T and Verizon. T-Mobile also includes taxes and fees in its advertised prices.
Keep in mind these prices can change based on how many lines you need.
Price
Basic unlimited
Upgraded unlimited
Premium unlimited
In contrast, T-Mobile Connect, Mint Mobile, and Consumer Cellular offer pricing as low as $10-20 per line.
Incentives and deals
All of the major phone carriers offer (at the time of writing) up to $800 for a trade-in when buying a new device. But T-Mobile is the most aggressive with up to $650 for early termination fees or covering a current device balance.
Trade-ins
Early termination fee or device balance coverage
Bring your own device credit
Streaming video service included
The major carriers also include a streaming video service for free with some of the unlimited plans. And Verizon offers more than just the Disney+ bundle. Depending on the unlimited plan you can get additional perks like Apple Music, Apple Arcade, and more.
Meanwhile, the uncarrier does “T-Mobile Tuesdays” to give out regular perks and savings to customers.
Both Verizon and T-Mobile give up to 50% of 5G home internet for their cellular customers.
5G home internet comparison: How T-Mobile and Verizon stack up with price, speed, incentives
Best affordable alternatives to major carriers
If cutting the cost of your phone bill is a top priority, check out our full guide on the best affordable iPhone plans.
We go over which of the major networks each provider uses, key features, and more with plans starting from just $10 a line.
Best affordable iPhone plans for 2022
Best phone carriers wrap-up
It’s difficult to pick a single winner when it comes to the best phone carriers. What’s most important to you will decide that, likely between coverage in your location, price, incentives to switch, and how many lines you have.
But hopefully, now you’ve got clarity on how the major carriers compare, how to independently check network coverage, and start a hassle-free trial. Thanks for reading our guide on the best phone carriers!
PlayStation classics have trophy support on new PS Plus
SIE Bend Studio, makers of 1999’s Syphon Filterfor PlayStation, said on Thursday that their landmark third-person shooter will have trophy support when it relaunches on modern consoles through the new PlayStation Plus subscription service later in June.
The by-the way note that was shared via Twitter indicates it is likely that other PSOne classics would also be eligible for trophy support. Indeed, Sony Interactive Entertainment was awarded a patent in March 2021 for a software system that would, using emulation, detect triggering events and award trophies to players on modern consoles.
Incoming From Bend Studio:
Agency intel reports that Syphon Filter will include Trophies when it arrives on the all-new PlayStation Plus. pic.twitter.com/YVdMixZxBR
— Bend Studio is Hiring! (@BendStudio) May 19, 2022
Syphon Filteris among the library of original PlayStation games that will be available to subscribers at the topmost Premium level of the PlayStation Plus service, which launches in Asia on May 24, Japan on June 2, North and South America on June 13, and Europe, Australia, and New Zealand on June 23. Other classics coming to PS Plus Premium subscribers include the Jak and Daxter series, Siren, the Dark Cloud games, and even some third-party remasters of PS3 games, like BioShock.
The new PlayStation Plus is effectively a combination of SIE’s existing PlayStation Now games streaming/download subscription service and the PS Plus subscription necessary for online multiplayer since the PlayStation 4’s launch. Players may continue their existing PS Plus tier of service, now called “PS Plus Essential,” for the same monthly ($9. 99), quarterly ($24. 99) or annual ($59.99).
PlayStation Plus Extra, at $14. 99 / $39. 99 / $99. 99, gives subscribers access to a catalog of 400 PlayStation 4 and PS5 games. PlayStation Plus Premium (Deluxe in some markets) adds another 340 games, with an option to play them via streaming, from the PlayStation 3, PSOne, and PlayStation Portable catalogues — but so far no PlayStation 2 games running under emulation are listed in the service.
North American smartphone shipments grew steadily in Q1 2022 with Google up 380%
The latest report from Canalys focuses on the North American smartphone market. Specifically, the estimated shipments for Q1 of 2022 are in and there are some trends noticed. To start, the overall smartphone market grew by 4% to 39 million units shipped compared to the 37. 6 million shipped in the same quarter last year. This is in spite of “inflationary pressure”.
Google saw the most significant relative growth with 380% increase in shipments YoY. Google sold 1. 2 million phones taking 3% market share for the quarter compared to 0. 2 million it shipped during the same quarter last year. Canalys Research Analyst Runar Bjorhovde
explains “Google is on the offensive to take market share, building on its wide carrier presence and unprecedented investment in the Pixel brand, both on traditional advertising campaigns and a new NBA partnership.”
Meanwhile, Motorola (labeled as Lenovo on the charts) saw significant growth as well, shipping 4 million units this quarter compared to the 2. 6 million shipped in Q2 ’21. “Motorola used its wide carrier presence – particularly with prepaid- and mid-range-focused carriers – to discover and rapidly leverage new opportunities, while also forming new supply partnerships.”
Apple took 51% market share and grew 19% YoY with 19. 9 million units shipped. Samsung ranked second with 27% market share, though number of shipments remained about the same with only a 1% increase YoY – shipping to 10. 5 million for the quarter. TCL ranked number 4 but saw a 21% decline in shipments YoY with 4% market share, shipping 1. 4 million units – still above Google, though slightly.
Looking forward, the report notes that inflation puts pressure on US carriers to increase rates while high-discount and high-trade-in value offers are helping to retain customers buying higher-end devices. “The North American market is well placed to avoid any significant volatility in shipments despite the uncertain outlook of its economy.”
D&D Beyond giving away the Acquisitions Incorporated campaign for free
Hasbro, the parent company of Dungeons & Dragons developer Wizards of the Coast, acquired the popular digital toolset and online storefront D&D Beyond. The deal was announced back in April, but to celebrate the acquisition, D&D Beyond announced that it would be giving away the Acquisitions Incorporated campaign book for free.
If you don’t see it in the title, this freebie is actually a pun. With the Acquisitions Incorporated for Dungeons & Dragons book, you’ll get the materials you need to run a fantasy business of your own while taking on a D&D campaign. This special campaign book was inspired by Penny Arcade’s podcast and web series. Usually the hardcover version of the book costs $49. 95, but you can get it on the digital storefront for free. The deal will run until May 25.
The 224-page book will allow you to start up your own Acquisitions Incorporated franchise in the Forgotten Realms or another location in the multiverse. It allows you to roleplay through a scenario where you work your way up corporate ladder of a retrieval agency. If the magical corporate grind doesn’t sound like a good time, well you could always take a crack at forming a union in the magical realm. Your Dungeon Master will decide if those bosses are friendly to union members.
Braun wireless earbuds for audiophiles who value wearing comfort and style
It can be difficult to find a pair that is comfortable, stylish and has ANC. Braun earbuds could help you solve this problem. This is the kind of concept that a designer would love to see.
The wireless earbuds market is flooded with wireless earbuds, but only a few can really claim to be worth their weight in gold. Even though wireless earbuds seem like an easy task, it isn’t. The likes of Sony WF-1000XM4, Bose QuietComfort, Apple AirPods Pro and now the Nothing ear (1) earbuds – all are great choices for ones who demand great sound isolation, crisp audio, comfort and style.
Designer: Ye Hongting (Xie Hong Ting )
Braun is known for its high-quality grooming products and innovative product design, so why not have a great pair of wireless earbuds too? Even though the German company would think twice before branching out into the highly competitive wireless earbuds space, the low barrier entry-level makes for a compelling case. The Braun DNA is deeply embedded in this concept, and it inspires the vision of the Braun Concept.
The earbuds are unique in design and offer comfort without compromising on style. Matte black or white-colored housing with the hint of Braun’s signature color green is the USP of the design. The silicone ear tips match the matte look, and the charging case carries the same theme. The case is all in matte black, with the yellow button at its front. You should look at the top of your earbuds, which has the Braun’s famous patterned design.
Touch controls on the earbuds allow for a seamless audio listening experience – be it high fidelity music or engaging podcasts on the go. Three microphones are standard in every earbud, zoning out noise when necessary. The Braun What If Earbud is a refreshing addition to the already crowded audio accessory market.
The dungeon is going to be the pinnacle endgame content of season 17, so let’s start there first. We don’t know the theme of the dungeon or the location it will take place in Destiny. But we know when it comes out and what type of rewards we’ll see.
Unlike previous seasonal dungeons, the season 17 dungeon won’t launch on May 24 alongside the rest of the new content. Instead, it’ll appear in-game on Friday, May 27, at 1 p.m. ET. It’s also not free-to-play, so players will either need to own the Digital Deluxe Edition of The Witch Queen expansion or pick up a special bundle in the real-money store for about 20 bucks.
The dungeon is packed with rewards. Players can get their hands on four new weapons, two reprised weapons, one Exotic weapon (and its Catalyst), an Exotic accessory (a ship or a Sparrow, Bungie didn’t clarify which), two profile emblems, and a armor set. Players can also earn Artifice armor sets (with more mod slot) by running the Master difficulty version.
Players expecting to play on launch day should be 1550 Power for normal difficulty. Bungie isn’t announcing the Master requirements prior to the release.
Outside of the dungeon, Bungie is making some big changes to the Solstice of Heroes summer event, which will just be called Solstice from now on. Players will have the ability to use their event cards to solve challenges, earn titles and seals as well as unlock special rewards for future events. For players who really love events, they can complete challenges in every event to unlock an overall event title sometime next year.
Finally, Bungie revealed that players are getting 100 more bank slots and new Trials loot in season 17, which includes a sidearm, fusion rifle, and armor set (seen in the image above). However, Trials and its rewards will be on hiatus until June 10 due to the new season.
Bungie will likely reveal the new season’s theming and story shortly before it goes live on Tuesday morning.
Zoom revamps apps with new features as companies move past WFH policies
As companies move past work-from-home policies and try hybrid workspaces, Zoom is highlighting some apps with updates and features to improve collaboration and creativity in meetings.
The Collaborate mode on Zoom makes screen-sharing more interactive. For example, hosts can start collaborative experiences for any app during all-hands meetings, brainstorming sessions, and more. These are just a few examples of Collaborate Mode :
for apps.
Miro is an online whiteboard in Zoom that let meeting participants seamlessly launch a collaborative workspace for everyone to interact, co-create, and capture ideas in real-time.
Coda app for Zoom lets your teammates create with you by keeping meeting attendees on the same page and letting their voices be heard without opening another tab.
Now, if you’re tired of working, #AskAway allows meeting participants to show off what they know about one another or have fun guessing. Every round places a new player on the hot seat, and others have to guess who that person will be.
Zoom is also promoting another important feature of the app called Breakout Rooms, in which participants can break into smaller groups for focused discussions or tightknit collaboration. This function can also be accessed through a variety of apps, according to the videoconference service.
Welo, for example, recreates a collaborative space. Participants can see everyone and move between conversations.
twine for Zoom, on the other hand, is an all-in-one Breakout Room management app that lets hosts create rooms based on custom rules, rotate between timed and back-to-back breakouts, chat across rooms, and more.
Zoom Apps are available inside the app itself or on its App Marketplace here.
Are you planning to use any of these Zoom Apps in your routine? Please leave your comments below.
Related:
Apple delays stricter in-person work requirements, citing an increase in COVID-19 cases
The Sims is getting two new expansion packs in May
Have you ever been worried that you aren’t quite spoiling your Sims kids enough? You’re in luck. On Thursday, the developers announced a set of two new expansion packs for The Sims 4. First, the “Little Campers Kit”, will let you go glamping with blankets in your backyard. The second expansion, the “Moonlight Chic Kit”, gives Sims access to a whole range of Paris-inspired items. Maxis is scheduled to release both expansion packs on May 26.
Generally speaking, Sims kits cost $4. 99 and typically bring a smaller number of items to the game. The Little Campers Kit’s promotional materials show quaint items such as an outdoor project with a bedsheet and tied-up sheets to attach it onto. Other miscellaneous items are also shown in the image, including a blanket fort and a rocket. A little less glamorous, the Moonlight Chic Kit was created by Paola Locatelli (a tweet stated).
Build your backyard for a night of creative family fun With DIY toys, blanket-forts, & even an outdoor projector made out of a bedsheet , your kiddos can enjoy a cozy night at home with their friends in the #LitteCampersKit
In March, Maxis announced a new update that would enhance the Neighborhood Stories feature and give neighbors more free will. Maxis had previously announced an upgrade to Neighborhood Stories that would bring same-sex marriages into the game, as well as a wider range of items for weddings.
Apple releases first iOS 15. 6 and macOS 12. 5 public beta for testing
One day after seeding iOS 15. 6 beta 1 to developers, Apple is now releasing the public beta version to users enrolled in the Apple Beta Software Program. Alongside the first public beta of iOS 15. 6, Apple is also making available the new versions of tvOS 15. 6, macOS 12. 5, and watchOS 8.7.
Today’s iOS 15. 6 beta 1 build is 19G5027e. Different from past versions, Apple hasn’t made available any important features so far. This will likely be the latest iOS 15 major update before the release of iOS 16 later in the fall.
Here’s what Apple announced with iOS 15. 5 early this week:
Wallet now enables Apple Cash customers to send and request money from their Apple Cash card
Apple Podcasts offers a new way to set a limit on the number of episodes you can store and then delete any older
.
Fixes an error that may cause home automation to fail due to people leaving or arriving.
Alongside iOS 15. 6 beta 1, Apple is also seeding macOS 12. 5 beta 1 (build 21G5027d), tvOS 15. 6 beta 1(build 19M5027c), and watchOS 8. 7 beta 1 (build 19U5027c) to public testers.
In a few weeks from now, Apple will hold its WWDC 2022 event, where the company will announce the next milestone for iOS, macOS, iPadOS, tvOS, and watchOS. Rumors so far believe iOS 16 will bring nice improvements.
According to recent rumors, iOS 16 is expected to bring significant improvements to notifications as well as a new interface for iPadOS multitasking. 9to5Mac reported earlier this year that Apple has been working on adding expanded settings for Focus Mode in iOS 16.
If you spot any changes in iOS 15. 6 or the other betas from Apple today, let us know in the comments below or on . Stay tuned for our full hands-on coverage with the releases right here at 9to5Mac if we find anything new.
