Sea of Thieves to get ‘new and improved’ quest system soon

We may get proper quests soon.

Sea of Thieves is an exploration-based pirate game that features great sailing mechanics, but the open-ended plot doesn't appeal to everyone. You have to find your own path and that doesn't sit well with those who prefer single-player experiences. Luckily, developer Rare is aware of these problems and Executive Producer Joe Neate promised a substantial overhaul of the quest system at the Fun & Serious Festival in Bilbao, Spain.

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The winners of Mobile Nations' 2018 Community Awards

Kicking off a new year is always a great time to reflect on the previous year. While on the blogs we tend to look at the best devices, the greatest apps, and things of that nature, there is another section of our sites that deserves attention and appreciation as well: the forums and the volunteers and members that make our communities so amazing.

We take great pride in our community and know that without the people who invest their time voluntarily helping out, answering questions, welcoming newcomers, and generally keeping our sites clear of spammers and junk posts, we wouldn't be the site we are today. With that in mind, we'd like to take the time to show some love and highlight folks who go above and beyond daily to make sure our communities remain awesome for everyone!

We opened up the table for suggestions from our volunteer team for outstanding community members, and the nominations poured in! So without further ado, here are some volunteers and community members that have stood out over the last year!

CrackBerry

Best New Member - Crusader03

Biggest BlackBerry Fan - bb10adopter111

Most helpful member - Conite

CrackBerry volunteer team MVP - ECM

Top Poster in the CrackBerry forums - Conite

Android Central

Best New Member - Kodak2

Biggest Android Fan - Mustang7757

Most helpful member - B. Diddy

Android Central volunteer team MVP - Javier P

Top Poster in the Android Central forums - B. Diddy

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Rocket League is fun, hectic, and only $10 right now

Big demolition energy.

If you haven't played Rocket League yet, literally what are you even doing with your life? This game is a combination of soccer and racing, complete with physics-based gameplay, rocket boosters, demolitions, and the world's wub-wubbiest soundtrack. It's one of the most fun games I've ever played, and if you haven't joined the club yet, now's the time. Rocket League is down to just $9.99 right now, which is half off the normal price.

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Best microSD card for Samsung Galaxy Book2

We've spent a lot of time with the Galaxy Book2 and know that many users will need to expand its storage. Luckily, that's easy to do.

The Samsung Evo Select is an inexpensive microSD card with enough speed to make transferring files quick and easy.

Our pick

Samsung Evo Select

• $25 from Amazon

One of the best values per dollar

The Samsung Evo Select is an incredibly quick microSD card with 100MB/s download and 90MB/s upload.

Why would you want this microSD?

The Samsung Galaxy Book2 only has one storage option, 128GB. That's not a small amount of storage, and might be enough for many students and workers who use the cloud, but if you have larger entertainment files or photos, you'll want to expand your device's storage.

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Get buff and stuff with the $200 PowerBlock Personal Trainer Set

Crush your goals.

Amazon has the PowerBlock Personal Trainer Set on sale for $199.99, which is $75 off the average price. It has excellent reviews and this price is the best in history.

If you're part of the huge amount of people that set fitness goals for your New Year's Resolutions, this set is perfect for you. You'll get a pair of adjustable dumbbell weights that can adjust from 5 to 50 pounds in 2.5-pound increments. The selector pin lets you change weights easily, and these are more compact and balanced than traditional dumbbells. The padded handle protects your wrists, too. Your purchase includes a ten-year limited warranty.

To keep your workout space protected, consider picking up some ProSource Puzzle Exercise Mats while they're discounted.

See at Amazon

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Set the mood with discounted Philips Hue White Ambiance bulbs and more

It's lit!

If you're getting started with you smart home and want to add some more Philips Hue bulbs to your setup, today's deals are for you. You can pick up a pair of Philips Hue White Ambiance bulbs in A19 or BR30 sizes for just $37.99. That's thanks to a price drop to $39.99 from a regular price of $50, and an on-page coupon taking a further 5% off the price at checkout.

White Ambiance bulbs from Hue allow you to not only control the brightness of your lighting, but also choose from a range of white shades from cool to warm to set the perfect mood. You can control your lights via the Hue app or hook them into your smart home with Amazon Alexa, Google Assistant and Apple HomeKit compatibility. To do so, you'll need to link them to a Hue hub if you don't already have one set up.

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What does 2019 hold for Xbox? Here are our predictions for the New Year.

What does the future look like for Xbox and gaming at Microsoft? Our gaming editor Jez Corden has some predictions for 2019.

2018 was a year of preparation for Microsoft's gaming ambitions. The company spent a ton of money acquiring some big industry names in terms of employees and studios. That includes inXile Entertainment, led by Brian Fargo of classic Fallout fame. Obsidian, known for its unwavering dedication to RPGs. Ninja Theory, and its award-winning work on Hellblade, and Forza Horizon's Playground Games, which is arguably Microsoft's most successful non-Minecraft studio in recent times.

We've been getting rumors about next-gen consoles in the form of codenames Lockhart and Anaconda, seeing glimpses of "console-quality" game streaming via Project xCloud, and we also have a bit of an idea of what exclusive games are on the horizon.

Let's have a peek into the crystal ball and make some educated guesses on what 2019 may look like for Microsoft, considering where Redmond is now, and where it has been.

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Keep your new smartphone powered up with Anker's Qi Wireless Charging Pad

If you have a phone that supports wireless charging and haven't picked up a wireless charger, you're doing it wrong. Correct that today.

This Anker Qi Wireless Charger is down to just $12.99 at Amazon. This is almost half off its usual price of $24.99 and is limited to today only. If you recently got a new smartphone with wireless charging built-in, you need a wireless charging pad in your life.

The Qi-certified charging pad can power up any Qi-enabled smartphone including the newest Samsung Galaxy series, the latest iPhone models, Google Pixel 3, and many more. If you want an easy way to ensure your phone's battery remains full, add one of these charging pads to your desk or nightstand and you can simply rest the phone and get that battery to 100%. The wireless charger provides power at 5W. If your phone supports fast wireless charging, you may want to take a look at Anker's discounted Wireless Charging stand that can charge at up to 10W.

It's worth noting that your $13 does not get you a wall charger. You can use the existing one from your smartphone or pick up an extra one, such as this $10 two-port model from Aukey.

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What's new in January 2019 on Amazon Prime Video, Netflix and Hulu

Neil Patrick Harris is Count Olaf in Netflix's "A Series of Unfortunate Events."

New year, new originals for the three major streaming libraries.

Streaming video is only projected to increase by something like a jillion percent in 2019. (That's a rough estimate.) And by all accounts Amazon Prime Video, Netflix and Hulu are coming out of the gate strong in January. Consider:

• Gear up for the third season of The Grand Tour. Can't get enough of those guys.
• Netflix is back with the third — and final! — season of A Series of Unfortunate Events. Maybe they'll finally find that damn sugar bowl.
• Season 2 of Future Man finds its way to Hulu on Jan. 11. It's never too late to go back in time to save the future of humanity.

And that's just the tip of the iceberg, folks. There's something for everyone in 2019. This is just the start of it.

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Rainbow Six Siege ‘Mozzie’ and ‘Gridlock’ Australian Operators leak

A wave of new Rainbow Six Siege leaks indicates two Australian Operators are on the horizon.

Ubisoft is gearing up the next major update headed to Tom Clancy's Rainbow Six Siege, kicking off the tactical shooter's fourth year of post-launch content. While its Year 4 Pass recently hit digital storefronts, official details on planned future updates are yet to surface.

Retaining Rainbow Six Siege's prior content structure, Year 4 expected to deliver four separate expansions, each themed around a nation's counterterrorism unit (CTU). Alleged details on Year 4 Season 1 have now emerged, indicating an Australian update is planned for early 2019.

First posted to ResetEra, Year 4's latest leak details two Australian Operators in development. Headlining the duo is Gridlock, an alleged attacking Operator, equipped with proximity-based "red web tracker" gadgets. Once triggered, these devices damage nearby foes and emit an audible alarm. Such an ability could prove valuable in locking down defender rotations.

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Should you buy an Acer Nitro 5 with AMD or Intel hardware inside?

We're a tech company that tests and reviews plenty of laptops every year, including the latest from Acer's Nitro gaming lineup. If you're wondering whether you should go with AMD or Intel hardware in the Nitro 5, we can help.

Acer Nitro 5

Intel hardware

$720+ at Best Buy

Pros

• Better performance than AMD models
• Works with G-Sync monitors
• Two GPU options available

Cons

• Costs more than AMD models

Though you rarely find models with a Core i7-8750H CPU at varying (often unrealistic) prices, 8th Gen Intel Core i5-8300H CPU models are readily available and priced competitively. Intel models also come with optional NVIDIA GTX 1050 or GTX 1050 Ti GPUs. You're going to get similar or better performance from these GPUs, but you'll likely end up paying more.

Acer Nitro 5

AMD hardware

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How to add Ethernet port to Microsoft Surface Book 2

Ethernet connections provide reliable internet in buildings and areas where Wi-Fi signals can be weak. While the Surface Book 2 doesn't have an ethernet port, you can easily add one to the device using a dock or dongle.

Products used in this guide

• Microsoft: Surface Dock ($130)
• Startech: Startech USB 3.0-A to ethernet adapter ($23)
• Amazon: Amazon Basics Cat-6 Ethernet cable ($7)

How to add ethernet to the Surface Book 2

1. Plug in dongle or dock into the appropriate port on the Surface Book 2.
2. Connect an Ethernet cable to your router.
3. Plug ethernet cable into your dock or dongle.

Windows 10 handles any network setup when you physically connect your router to your Surface Book 2 using an Ethernet cable and adapter. Unless your network has extra security features, it is plug-and-play.

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The unbelievably fast Samsung X5 500GB portable SSD has a new low price

So fast it'll blow your mind.

Samsung's X5 SSD in 500GB capacity is down to a new all-time low price at Amazon at $247.99. The X5 has only been on the market for a few months, but this super-fast storage device has been selling for $300 in since November before dropping to $250 earlier this month. Today's drop marks its lowest price ever. Considering it was $400 at launch, today is certainly the best day to pick one up.

Portable SSDs have always been appealing because hard drives, even great ones like the Seagate Backup Plus Slim, are slower and far more vulnerable thanks to all the moving parts. Solid State Drives have no moving parts. Unfortunately, they are also usually a lot more expensive. Samsung's T5 lineup of portable SSDs have been one of the most successful consumer-level portable SSDs around and they still run a lot more than your average portable hard drive.

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Charge up with these end of year deals on Anker charging accessories

These prices are good for today only, so stock up while you can!

We all have a bunch of devices to keep charged these days, but it's not always possible to have everything charge at the same time or to make sure the devices you want to use are powered up when you need them on the go. Fortunately, as part of its Deals of the Day, Amazon has dropped the price of a number of Anker charging accessories including power banks, wireless chargers, multi-port wall adapters, and more making it easier for you to rid yourself of battery anxiety.

These are some of the best prices we've seen for these items with discounts of up to 48%, so be sure to pick up what you need before the promotion ends tonight.

Some of our favorite deals include:

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Don't keep buying AAA batteries, go rechargeable!

AAA batteries are used in so many of our everyday devices that being without a steady supply can be a real nuisance. Whether it's for your kids' favorite toy or the TV remote, instead of running out or buying endless packs, grab some of these great rechargable batteries instead.

Batteries

Well respected

Panasonic Eneloop

If yoiu want great rechargeable batteries, you want Eneloop. Not only are they well priced and pack a great capacity, Panasonic claims a 2,100-charge cycle lifespan with a 70 percent charge retention and up to 10 years of use. You will need to grab a charger, though, and you can also get these in AA size as well.

$10 at Amazon

Recycled materials

Energizer

These 2,000mAh batteries come pre-charged, so you can pop them out of the packaging and straight into your device. These are also the world's first rechargeable batteries to use a percentage of recycled batteries in their construction. Energizer claims up to five years use from each battery, with a 1,000-charge cycle lifespan, and they're a great pairing with Energizer's own charger.

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These are the very best Xbox One headsets available

We're dedicated gamers, testing hundreds of products every year to help find the best stuff (and weed out the bad) to help you get the most out of your Xbox or PC.

The Turtle Beach Elite Atlas is the best all-around Xbox headset for most gamers, with incredible sound and quality at an incredibly affordable price.

Our pick

Turtle Beach Elite Atlas

• $100 at Amazon

Premium sound for a bewilderingly low price.

The Turtle Beach Elite Atlas brings a premium headset experience for just $100, granting such a large edge in shooters that you'll struggle to find elsewhere.

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These are all the year's best Windows 10 apps

Whether you're keeping up to date with news and social media or getting work done, you'll want to use the best apps available. We look at and review hundreds of applications, and we've gathered the best of 2018 to help you get the most of your Windows 10 devices.

What app is best for photo editing? What app is the best way to get your news? Which of the many apps got the crown of best Windows 10 application? Find out in this roundup of the best Windows 10 apps of 2018:

Best social app

Twitter

Free at Microsoft Store

Fully-featured Twitter.

Twitter is an excellent way to stay up to date on any topic in the world. The Windows 10 Twitter app is now a progressive web app (PWA). That means that all the latest updates to Twitter roll out faster to Windows 10 users in addition to the developers at Twitter adding some Windows 10-specific features.

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Does Alienware m15 have an HDMI port?

Best answer: Should you wish to hook up your new gaming laptop to a monitor, you're in luck with the Dell Alienware m15. Not only does this laptop have an HDMI 2.0 port, but also Thunderbolt and DisplayPort as well.

Dell: Alienware m15 ($1,380+)

Welcome to port heaven

Dell did a fine job with the Alienware m15, not only with the design and included components, but also the available ports. You'll not only find multiple USB ports, alongside Thunderbolt and Gigabit Ethernet, but also HDMI 2.0. Should you have a monitor at hand to connect the notebook to, you're good to go.

Why HDMI 2.0 is an important distinction is because it offers support for 4K displays. Not all HDMI ports are created equal and if you have a 4K monitor you wish to use, it's important you have a gaming notebook with at least HDMI 2.0, DisplayPort 1.3, or compatible Thunderbolt ports.

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Is Epic Games Store user data accessible by the Chinese government?

A recent rumor on social media suggested that Epic Games' store might be unsafe for users, owing to Chinese tech giant Tencent's involvement with Epic. Is there any reason to fear?

A thread on reddit rose to the front page recently, decrying Ubisoft for its always-online UPlay PC system, but also the new Epic Games Store.

Epic Games, known for the Unreal Engine and runaway shooter success story Fortnite, recently launched a digital store front to compete with Steam. Core gamers have been plenty sceptical since its launch, owing to continuing fragmentation of digital store fronts on PC, and Epic Games' willingness to pay to block games from appearing on other PC platforms.

The scepticism reached fever pitch in that reddit thread with almost 30,000 upvotes, citing Epic Games' Terms of Service, which seemed to state that any data you generate on the service can be used by Epic however they see fit. The poster extrapolated that it might include the sharing of information with Epic Games' investors, including Tencent.

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How to play Anthem early demos

Anthem is Electronic Arts' highly-anticipated new role-playing franchise, currently on track for a February 22, 2019 debut. While extensive previews have outlined what's to expect, we still have a lot to learn.

If you can't wait for launch, the promise of early access lies ahead for select gamers. Details on these gameplay sessions are now surfacing, with steps to prepare for their arrival. We've broken down what to expect from Anthem pre-launch demos, how to play, and their scheduled release dates.

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Columnist Jason's Ward's extreme 2019 predictions for tech and Microsoft

2018 flew by faster than data zipping across low-latency 5G networks. As we enter 2019, let's ponder the coming year's tech-pectations and what Microsoft may have in store.

Every year techies, analysts, and leaders of multibillion-dollar companies set their eyes toward the future and try to anticipate, "What's next?" For some, this is a time to flex their analytical muscles. For others, it is an act of pure enjoyment.

Still for others, like CEOs of large tech companies including Microsoft's Satya Nadella, Amazon's Jeff Bezos, Qualcomm's Steve Mollenkopf, Google's Sundar Pichai, and Apple's Tim Cook, it is a necessary activity to help guide or modify multiyear strategic plans.

Yet, just as the leaders of the world's leading tech companies, my view of the future is shaped by current and emerging tech, consumer and market behavior, emerging trends, corporate strategies and investments, human nature, history and more. With that said here are some of my 2019 predictions.

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The best SSD external drives for your Xbox One

When running low on room for Xbox One games, an external hard drive is must-buy accessory. Solid-state drives (SSD) are the premium option, upping your console's capacity while outpacing the onboard storage. In short, this means drastically reduced load times across all games. We've rounded up the best SSDs available for Xbox One today.

Need for speed

Samsung T5 500GB Portable SSD

While Xbox-compatible SSDs aren't cheap, Samsung's T5 500GB external drive packs top-tier speed below $100. Doubling the storage of the base Xbox One, offload your most-played titles for that extra boost. Encased in a shock-resistant metal finish, it fits stealthily beside any console.

$95 at Amazon

Action-ready

WD My Passport Go Cobalt 500GB SSD

The WD 500GB My Passport Go embraces portability, touting the robust nature of SSDs in a rubber-lined metal casing. Add drop-resistant up to two meters and it's an outstanding drive for traveling gamers.

$100 at Amazon

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