As technology advances, mobile phones improve and with them so does the online gaming experience. It's quite hard to decide which is the best mobile phone for online gaming in 2018 because we've seen so many great ones launched recently, but there are certain factors that can help us, and you, make a choice.

The best gaming phone should have top hardware and software, sharp screens, large battery power so that you can maintain optimal performance at all times, as well as a great way to cool off so it doesn't overheat, and the potential to display everything in full HD, 3D and HQ.

Depending on what type of gaming you wish to do there might be a number of gaming phones that you could choose between. While some are more suitable for playing online and even trying some live casino games, others will work better with games downloaded from the app store.

Talking about app possibilities, Apple's iPhone is still number one offering a huge number of games and bringing them to you faster than Android devices can. But this is not the only factor, so let's talk about chipsets, Ram, graphics, quality, size, VR support and more, to find out which mobile phone is best for gaming.

 

Razer Phone

This company became well-known by manufacturing some epic gaming accessories and laptops, but they've recently entered the smartphone world to make sure that mobile gamers were happy.

The Razer gaming phone has only one available configuration of 8 GB RAM and 64 GB storage and a Snapdragon 835 chipset. The speakers are unbelievable and offer super immersive sound, but it's the display that steals the show with it's 5.7 inches and 120 Hz refresh rate. The frame transitions are smooth and there's no lag even when playing the most demanding games that need split-second reactions. You also benefit from Razer's Game Booster that controls gaming settings like resolution, frame rate and processing power.

 

iPhone X

The iPhone wasn't built for gaming, but this doesn't mean it can't rock at it. Because app developers have an easier time developing games for iOS than for Android who has many hardware configuration, those that choose this phone will get amazing games faster on the App Store, way before Android gamers will get them. For example, Apple enthusiasts got their hands on Fortnite months before Android gamers were able to.

Android gamers argue that their phones offer more control, but the fastness, the choice, the good optimization and performance of Apple hardware speaks for itself. While all Apple phones will give you a run for your money, it's the iPhone X that steals the show, seeing as it is the latest and top model at the moment. If it's still too expensive for you right now you can also try the iPhone 8 Plus which is great as well and also has a classic look to it.

Xiaomi Black Shark

This one is clearly made for gaming and has a design that screams this with black and bright highlights and an angular look. It not only looks the part, but it also acts it with an octa core CPU, 8 GB Ram, an Adreno 630 GPU as well as an epic cooling system. It also features a dedicated Shark button that will switch the phone to maximum performance and get you into a gaming landscape mode.

 

Samsung Galaxy S9/S9+

Both Galaxy S9 and S9+ are the best Android smartphones available right now. They have a special Game Mode that has both Game Launcher and Game Tools because Samsung wants mobile gamers to feel at home. From the Game Launcher you get access to all your games and the Game Tools will change the screen to support many game with different aspect ratios.

The 5.8-inch AMOLED Infinity curved display of the Galaxy S9 (it's6.2 inches on the S9+) comes with a 18.5:9 aspect ratio, a 1440x2960 resolution that somehow completes a thin and sexy phone. Powered by a 3000 mAh battery, the Galaxies have a Snapdragon 845 processor, an Adreno 630 GPU and 4 GB of RAM (6GB in the S9+).

To top it all off, on Samsung you also get to play VR mobile games in perfect quality because it also has a compatible VR headset.

 

These are the top options for mobile gaming in 2018. While all of them are great, in order to decide which one is best for you, you need to think about what exactly you want from it and also about your personal preferences. While you might feel like an Android device would fit your needs, will you be able to let go of Apple and change?

The world's first smartphone with four rear cameras was just announced officially and it came from Samsung, but what do you think about the Galaxy A9 (2018)? It's still too early to get the consumer's real point of view, but do let us know what you think about this device just from what we know about it so far. I mean, do you think it can compete with the OnePlus 6 or the upcoming OnePlus 6T with its impressive set of cameras? Or do you think the quad cameras are just a gimmick to hide weaker specs? Just in case you are not totally aware of the spec sheet, do take a look at the interesting bits below.

·         6.3-inch, 1080p, Super AMOLED display

·         Qualcomm SDM660 Snapdragon 660 SoC with Adreno 512 GPU

·         6GB/8GB RAM

·         128GB internal storage with micro-SD slot

·         Quad Rear camera setup: 24 MP: f/1.7, PDAF, 8 MP: f/2.4, 12mm (ultrawide), 10 MP: f/2.4, (telephoto), 2x optical zoom, 5 MP: f/2.2, depth sensor

·         Single front camera: 24 MP: f/2.0

·         3,800mAh battery

·         Color options: Caviar Black, Lemonade Blue, Bubblegum Pink

Saikat Kar

As one of the most popular ways to access the internet, WiFi is now used the world over by the public and various businesses. Also known as a wireless network, this innovative technology has paved the way for internet access as we know it, allowing multiple devices to connect to a network using radio signals.

However, it relies on devices being in a certain range, and sometimes this can cause weak or inconsistent connections, depending on how far any given device is from a router. As such, here are some useful ways to boost your WiFi.

Quality Router

 

First and foremost, you will want to make sure that you have a good router to help you access the internet. To this end, you may want to consider investing in an 802.11ac router, which is one of the best types of router currently on the market. They tend to have a much greater range and speed compared to some of the older Wireless G or Wireless N routers.

You may also want to consider using decent, durable parts to connect your router to your computer and the wall outlet. There are plenty of specialist suppliers like RS which stock quality cables which you can explore at your leisure.

Placing

 

Where you place your router will also make a fairly significant difference to its overall effectiveness. Given that WiFi relies on radio signals being transmitted cleanly, it is important that there are as few obstructions as possible when it comes to finding a home for it.

So, putting it inside a cupboard or in a box will weaken it, but leaving it in an open space (preferably on a wall mount) should help to strengthen the signal and improve performance. It is also good to have it in a central position in the house/building, so that each room has good coverage.  

Wireless Channel

 

Your router should automatically connect to the optimal channel, but some channels are more crowded than others, and sometimes there may be a better channel which is less crowded. Routers in surrounding buildings can interfere with your WiFi if they are on the same channel, so it is well worth looking into how you can look at which channel your router is using and switch it manually if necessary.  

This should help to strengthen your signal and prevent any degradation in the WiFi's signal, prolonging its shelf life.

These are just some of the many methods you can use to improve your WiFi. Be sure to find whatever works for your individual network and you should see a great improvement.   

It's rather early for Galaxy devices to be receiving this month's security patch on most months, but not in October, as Samsung has just released the latest security update for the Galaxy A5 (2017) in India. Not that it was the first device in Samsung's arsenal to get October's update though, the Galaxy Note 9 already received the same patch earlier.

12 Critical Vulnerabilities or CVEs will be fixed by the update, alongside bringing in multiple other bug fixes and patches. As always, there are patches exclusive to Samsung devices (11 in total) included as well. In India, the firmware version sent via OTA is A520FXXU7CRID, so that's what you should be seeing if the update has indeed arrived on your phone. If you are reading this in any other region, don't worry, the same update will be released in your area too, and very soon at that.

Via: SamMobile

Saikat Kar

Game-changing technologies are sweeping every industry and gambling is no exception. One trend that has caught the eyes of the casinos worldwide is the massive surge in mobile gambling. Take a look at these numbers.

In 2016, the share of overall gambling worldwide was close to $400 billion. In contrast, online gambling's share reached $50 billion in 2017. This was an exponential jump within a time span of six years from $30 billion in 2011.

Let's take a look at the key trends sweeping the online gambling industry as well as the effect they are having on the mobile online casinos.

VR takes central stage

Ever since we got Oculus Rift and Samsung Gear, the VR technology is showing no signs of slowing down. Today's virtual reality casinos create an experience so close to the real land casino that it's hard to differentiate. You can find slots, blackjack, roulette and other specialty games complete with all the action, sound, music and lights. 

Slot Millions, one of the first VR casinos offered the slot game "Starburst," which has been a major hit with its outstanding graphics, immersive soundtrack. Even NetEnt dipped its toes in the VR world with "Jack's World," its hugely successful take on the classic slot game Jack and the Beanstalk as a foundation.

Nowadays players also can enjoy live streams that don't need high-profile investment and a combination of 3D graphics and 3D sound.

Cryptocurrencies

 

Cryptocurrencies have made landfall in the gambling world. Various benefits - anonymity, speed, tax-free status, security, and low fee - that comes with using a cryptocurrency like Bitcoin has attracted a lot of players.

It has got the attention of casinos with a lot of crypto coin casinos popping up. Perfect compatibility of cryptocurrencies as a payment method with all the mobile devices is further propping up cryptocurrency as an acceptable trend at all the best mobile casinos.

For example, 1xBit.com, an online multi-cryptocurrency-accepting casino has been widely regarded as a trendsetter. It offers unique software for placing sports bets and playing casino games from the top-providers. Players can easily bet on more than 50 sports.

Better user experience

Online casinos recorded an unprecedented profit (over $40 billion) last year with the advent of technologies like the IoT (Internet of Things). A rise in the connected devices has worked wonders for every industry today with an unbelievable amount of data analytics at the disposal of enterprises, and the gambling industry is also taking note.

Information gleaned from the analytics is being used to offer better user experiences for all the casino games on offer. Online and mobile casinos have an advantage over the land casinos as they can react instantly to every iota of data player give them like the choice of games, the length of time spent on each game, and the best time the players like to play.

That's how the developers of online slot games can decide what works better. Games with powerful supplementary video and audio content, branded stuff, or theme offerings?

More attention to safety & security

All this talk of technology hasn't left the safety and security aspect untouched. The industry is worth billions in the gambling industry with rising hacking attacks on the mobile casino sites.

Online casinos and mobile casinos are now increasingly deploying the latest SSL encryption techniques to layer the important financial and personal data. The RNG (Random Number Generator) technology is being used, which is as close to the universal laws of randomness, as you can get.

Phone providers offer increasingly sophisticated device fingerprinting fraud prevention solutions to identify users.

Also, banks have become vigilant when it comes to online and mobile payments. Then there are a host of regulatory bodies that exercise tight control over land as well as online casinos activities. This ensures that players get a fair deal and their information isn't tampered with.

Live casino games

Mobile gambling has latched on to the fascinating world of live casino games. Ever since the first roulette game was rolled out on the mobile platform, all the casinos worth their salt offer a varied range of mobile gaming solutions.

Microgaming introduced the live dealer games back in 2006. Today's live dealer casinos online offer an unparalleled experience in poker, casino, baccarat, roulette, and slots. Players get advanced socialization experience, which combined with a land-based casino atmosphere, is becoming popular.  The attractive bonuses and VIP programs are also proving to be a huge draw among players.

Conclusion

The coming years will see further growth in online gambling and more players in the market with sophisticated technology.

The key mobile gambling trends discussed should all be good for the player as vendors fight ruthlessly for their attention and more importantly, money.

There will be some winners, and there could be a lot of losers - we wouldn't like to make a bet on it!