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- How to pick the Microsoft Surface that's right for you
- Apple shuts App Store affiliate program, imperiling recommendation sites
- Playing Madden 19 on PC feels so damned good
| How to pick the Microsoft Surface that's right for you Posted: 02 Aug 2018 07:00 AM PDT The family of Surface computers is now large enough to cause a bit of confusion for those who are thinking about buying one. Is the small Surface Go the best fit for your workload? Perhaps the detachable Surface Book 2 is a better choice, despite being more expensive, because of its included keyboard and optional discrete graphics? While these devices look somewhat similar at first blush, there are some pretty stark differences that you should know about. Microsoft's 12.3-inch tablet-meets-laptop is the easiest to recommend for most people. It isn't the fastest, but it's also not the least capable Surface device in the fleet. The same can be said for its price: it's not cheap, but it's also not too expensive. Unlike the Surface Laptop and Surface Book 2, the Surface Pro comes prepped out of the box for tablet mode only, leaving it up to you to supply a mouse and keyboard. If you want a keyboard that suits the Surface Pro's styling, Microsoft's official Type Cover will set you back over $100. With or without the Type Cover, the Surface Pro runs Windows 10 Pro and is ready for your apps and games with full compatibility with x86 and x64 apps. Your accessories will also work with the device's USB-A port. Need to plug in via USB-C? Microsoft's $79 accessory will help you do that. But in addition to the financial expense, it occupies the all-important Surface Connector that's used for charging the Surface Pro, and it's not even that good. There's a good amount of compromise to swallow with the Surface Pro compared to your average laptop at a similar cost, especially pertaining to the performance you're getting for the price — not to mention the added expense for the all-but-necessary accessories. Even so, this Surface is a good fit for those who aren't too picky but still want on-the-fly access to both a capable computer and a touch-friendly tablet. The Surface Go takes the presentation of the Surface Pro and shrinks it down to a device with a 10-inch display. Aside from a drop in performance — though my colleague Dieter Bohn says not to underestimate it — not much else is lost in the change in size. And surprisingly, it has gained a USB-C port, joining the Surface Book 2 as Microsoft's only laptops with a built-in USB-C port. Compared to the Surface Pro, this option can just as easily transition between tablet and laptop. But it similarly relies on pricey proprietary peripherals to make the most of it. The Type Cover costs $99, and the Surface Pen costs another $100 in addition to the Go's $399 base price. On the inside, the Go is currently the least powerful Surface computer available, and it comes with Windows 10 in S Mode by default. This means that only the Universal Windows Platform apps available on the Windows Store can run on it. This won't be an issue for those who rely on a small batch of popular programs, but if you use a wide variety of apps or just enjoy deeply customizing your PC, you'll likely want to take advantage of Microsoft's one-way switch to Windows 10 Pro. If your computer has to be a small one, the Go is the right choice. Just know that with the added accessories, you're quickly getting close to Surface Pro pricing. The Surface Book 2 is loaded with extra power for improved battery and performance in the included keyboard base. Available in 13.5-inch and 15-inch models, the Book 2 competes more directly with Apple's MacBook Pro. Expect more power across the board and a price increase to commensurate with the gains to go along with it. Both the Surface Pro and Go have a kickstand that works nicely on a table, but it isn't the most comfortable or stable experience on your lap. Depending on your size, you may need to hold squeeze your legs together to support it, which can be a trying exercise. On the other hand, the Book 2 and Surface Laptop lay flat across your lap like a traditional laptop computer. Folded up, the Surface Book 2 is compact, though it doesn't close like a true clamshell laptop like other Surface devices. A gap in its design between the tablet and the keyboard leaves it somewhat exposed to dust and dirt, and that may prevent it from easily fitting into your backpack and / or seatback compartments. Aside from its design, the biggest differentiating factor between the Book 2 and the other Surface devices is the power potential. If you have the money to spend, you can craft a thin yet formidable laptop that can handle most creative endeavors with relative ease. Though, if you're a gamer, don't get too excited about its GeForce GTX 10-series graphics. The Surface Laptop is quite literally Microsoft's most cohesive effort yet. It's a full-fat laptop that doesn't allow you to detach it for tablet mode like the other devices. This option isn't the best for those who want shape-shifting versatility above all else. But if you're after a no-fuss experience right out of the box, the unity of screen and chassis means that there's no need to splurge on additional accessories, like a Type Cover. And compared to the Surface Book 2, this machine takes up less room in a bag and can fit into tight compartments. Unlike the Surface Pro and Surface Book, we haven't yet seen a refresh of the Laptop. Given that it's more than a year old at this point, the fact that it hasn't been updated with Intel's eighth-generation processors should raise a red flag for those who want to get the most out of their purchase. Windows 10 in S Mode is the default operating system here if you buy the base model, which limits users to installing apps that are available on the Windows Store. The Verge has published two reviews of the Surface Laptop: the link above focuses on the experience with Windows 10 in S Mode, while another dives deep into life with Windows 10 Pro. The most affordable Surface Laptop usually costs a bit more than the Surface Pro. What it might lack in the ability to turn into a tablet, the included backlit, Alcantara fabric-covered keyboard might be worth the extra cost — even if you'll need to frequently clean it to avoid discoloration.   The Studio is the odd one out as the sole desktop option. But in keeping with the Surface philosophy, it's quite flexible and multipurpose compared to your traditional all-in-one. Its 28-inch screen can move to assume the position of a high-resolution tablet with minimal input lag, which is beyond handy if you foresee drawing or 3D modeling with the Surface Pen. Starting at $2,999, this machine hasn't seen a worthwhile update since it launched in 2016. It houses an older 6th-Gen Intel Core i5 processor and somewhat lowly — for the price, anyway — GeForce GTX 965M graphics. In more than a few ways, it's tough to recommend, even if its design is still punching above the rest. The form of the Studio is in constant battle with its function to be the most interesting aspect, though none of it's useful at all if you're after a Surface that you can take on the go. This one packs in the design sensibilities of portable Surface devices, but you aren't going anywhere with the Studio. Perhaps none of the Microsoft-made options are right for you. If after reading you feel that's the case, check out The Verge's pick for the best laptop you can buy right now (it may surprise you.) And if you want a machine that can easily handle gaming, we've sorted through a few of the best gaming laptops. |
| Apple shuts App Store affiliate program, imperiling recommendation sites Posted: 02 Aug 2018 08:15 AM PDT  Enlarge / The note sent to affiliate program members letting them know a major source of revenue will be going away. Apple is shutting down an App Store affiliate program that shared a small percentage of revenue generated by third-party links to purchase apps or in-app content. The move will likely have an outsized impact on sites that provide editorial reviews and recommendations of mobile games and other apps, which rely on that affiliate revenue for much of their budget. The announcement, which will become effective October 1, comes just over a year after Apple cut the program's revenue sharing rates for mobile apps from 7 percent to 2.5 percent. Affiliates will still continue to earn a commission on linked sales for iTunes movies, TV shows, music, and books, as well as subscriptions to Apple Music. In a note sent to affiliate program members, Apple said the long-running program is shutting down because of "the launch of the new App Store on both iOS and macOS and their increased methods of app discovery." The implication, it seems, is that Apple's own built-in app discovery algorithms are now so good that it no longer needs to encourage actual humans to recommend and link to specific apps and games via the Web. In 2016, Apple introduced its own "Search Ads" program that lets developers pay for prominent placement on App Store search results. That move has led to some adverse consequences for app discovery, though, as direct searches for popular games and apps on iOS now often return ads for completely different apps as the top result. Apple brought in an estimated $16.3 billion in mobile gaming revenue in the first half of 2018, according to a recent Sensor Tower report, up from $14.2 billion a year ago. It's hard to say how much of that revenue was driven by affiliate links, but Apple's decision to shut the program down suggests it doesn't feel it's a major revenue driver. Google Play has never offered a similar revenue-sharing affiliate program. “I have no idea what we're going to do”Apple’s decision comes as a sucker punch to outlets like mobile gaming news and reviews site TouchArcade, which has long relied on the App Store affiliate program for a significant chunk of its revenue. As TouchArcade editor Eli Hodapp writes in a despairing post, the loss of the "reliable" affiliate revenue stream could very well kill the site, which will now lean more heavily on Patreon donations and Amazon affiliate links to stay afloat. "I genuinely have no idea what TouchArcade is going to do," Hodapp writes. "It’s hard to read this in any other way than 'We went from seeing a microscopic amount of value in third-party editorial to, we now see no value.' ... I don’t know how the takeaway from this move can be seen as anything other than Apple extending a massive middle finger to sites like TouchArcade, AppShopper, and many others who have spent the last decade evangelizing the App Store and iOS gaming." Hodapp isn't alone. "So disappointed with Apple’s decision to remove apps from its affiliate program," AppShopper Editor-in-chief Marianne Schultz tweeted. "Third-party sites have always done a better job of highlighting great apps and deals. Not to mention, I’d rather have a trusted third-party recommend apps to me over Apple, who has a vested interest in selling you every single app in the App Store, regardless of quality or usefulness." Not everyone in the industry is overly concerned about the situation, though. "One thing the iOS App Store does very well though is promoting a variety of games though [sic] its editorial content," Epic's Tim Sweeney tweeted, seemingly in response to the announcement. "That’s clearly a labor of love." To that point, 148Apps Reviews Editor Campbell Bird offered the rejoinder that he was "having a hard time thinking of any labors of love that actively try to squash any and all competition." |
| Playing Madden 19 on PC feels so damned good Posted: 02 Aug 2018 06:00 AM PDT Madden 19 fills a hole in my heart. Forsaking consoles after five(!) Xbox 360s died from a mixture of red rings of death and disc reader errors revealed a weakness to exclusively embracing PC gaming: The lack of big-budget sports games. Sure, you’ll find the established NBA franchises, but proper baseball or golf games are limited to quirky indies. And football? Fuhgeddaboutit. EA’s Madden series holds exclusive NFL rights, and the last entry to grace PCs was Madden NFL 08, which actually released in 2007 with Vince Young (remember him?) on the cover. The drought is real. Or at least it was. The NFL returns to PCs with Madden 19 ($60 on Amazon) on August 10. EA Origin Access subscribers can trial the game today. And friends, it feels capital-G glorious to toss the virtual pigskin around at uncapped frame rates. The series’ console roots show once you dig into the details, but settings snobbery isn’t enough to kneecap the sheer joy of finally playing a football game on the PC. I’ve been playing Madden 19 non-stop since last Friday, but this won’t be a traditional review. It can’t be; like many PC diehards, I haven’t touched the series in years. Instead, this article examines Madden 19’s PC port details and initial impressions as a virgin to modern Madden. Let’s dig in! Madden 19 PC requirementsLet’s start with the good news: Madden 19’s modest system requirements mean it should play just fine on most gaming PCs capable of playing new AAA games. These are the minimum specs to run it:
EA’s recommended specs are largely similar, but boost the GPU requirements to the equivalent of a GeForce GTX 670 or Radeon R9 270X. That level of hardware will match the console experience, EA says, though like with most PC games, ramping up the horsepower can push the game even further. I’ve been playing at 4K resolution on an AMD Ryzen 1800X ($240 on Amazon) and an EVGA GTX 1080 Ti SC2 ($750 on Amazon) and the frame rate usually hovers around 90 fps during on the field action.  Brad Chacos/IDG Madden 19’s PC graphics options. Yes, I said 4K resolution and 90 frames per second. Madden 18 suffered from some frame rate issues on the consoles, but Madden 19 on modern PC hardware doesn’t whatsoever. Madden 19 gives you control over a decent amount of graphics options for a sports game, though it’s far from extensive. The windows modes are limited to full-screen or windowed, for example—no borderless for you! The basics you’d expect are all present and accounted for, though, including support for 4K resolutions, V-Sync, and 30-fps, 60-fps, or uncapped frame rates. But the lack of HDR support is a bummer considering that a post-launch patch added the feature to last year’s Madden 18 on consoles. There’s a setting that enables DirectX 12, but as with other EA games based on the Frostbite engine (like Battlefield 1) it’s inferior, introducing noticeable stuttering. Stick to the DirectX 11 default.  Brad Chacos/IDG You can see the virtual thumbstick to the right of the quarterback in this image. The keyboard and mouse controls hold up surprisingly well after a bit of practice. WASD controls can’t mimic the pressure-sensitive nuance of a controller’s thumbsticks, so rather than tying movement to the keyboard, Madden 19 includes a “virtual thumbstick” managed by your mouse. It appears as a small circle in the right corner of the screen, with an arrow inside pointing toward a direction. When you slowly move the mouse just a little bit, the player you’re controlling saunters in the same direction. (Think of a safety creeping toward the line of scrimmage pre-snap.) Move the mouse farther and players pick up speed. It takes a bit of practice to wrap your head around the scheme, but once you do, the virtual thumbsticks emulate the range of movement and pressure-sensitive speed of physical joysticks pretty effectively. EA also gets bonus points for letting the scroll wheel change camera angles, too.  Brad Chacos/IDG Madden 19’s complex PC controls can’t be re-mapped, and you can’t mouse through the tabs in this menu. Playing on a controller feels a lot better, though. Madden 19’s keyboard controls are incredibly complex, using most of the available buttons and then building byzantine keyboard combinations on top of that. The scheme changes depending on whether you’re on offense or defense, which player you’re controlling, and whether you’re pre-snap or in the middle of a play. It’s a lot to wrap your head around, and never feels anywhere near as natural as just picking up a controller. Making matters worse, Madden 19 doesn’t let you re-map the keyboard controls. Given the complexity of the controls I can almost understand why, but re-mappable controls are essentially table stakes on computers. Adding the feature would make PC gamers feel more welcome to the series. That disappointment’s exacerbated by the fact that while the game’s menus works as expected 99 percent of the time, you can’t mouse through the tabs in the Controls sub-menu—though you can everywhere else. You have to use Z and C to tab through the different schemes. Bottom line: You can play Madden 19 on PC with a keyboard and mouse after conquering a learning curve, but you’ll probably want to invest in a controller. Madden 19 PC performanceOnce you’re ready for kickoff, Madden 19 looks gorgeous on the PC if you’ve got enough firepower to throw at it. No, it’s not the prettiest game ever released, and I’ve encountered some of the series’ long-standing camera oddities and clipping issues, but you’ve never seen an NFL game this beautiful. Madden 19 on PC is the definitive way to play.  Brad Chacos/IDG Look at the sweat on those biceps. The overall presentation of the game deserves particular praise. Madden 19 excels at truly feeling like an NFL broadcast between plays, leaning on clever camera angles and far more natural, responsive commentary than what was available when I last played Madden a decade ago. After a game-changing play, Madden 19 oftentimes flows naturally into a replay while the commentators share something unique about that particular player. Cuts to stats and live gameplay analysis occur between snaps. It’s a polished, impressive package—so much so that when my eight-year-old daughter wandered in while the game was introducing my team’s offense, she was utterly convinced I was watching a real NFL matchup, not playing a game.  Brad Chacos/IDG The Red Rifle Last year’s game suffered from frame rate issues on consoles. There’s none of that on the PC, but in my testing, the total frames per second can fluctuate wildly depending on what’s occurring on-screen. I’ve been playing at 4K resolution on High graphics settings with an EVGA GTX 1080 Ti SC2 on Acer’s Predator X27 G-Sync HDR monitor ($2,000 at NeweggRemove non-product link), one of the first displays to support 4K at up to 144Hz. In the middle of a play, frame hits hovered around 90 to 100 fps. When the camera pulled in close during presentation-heavy in-engine moments, I saw dips as low as 49 fps, though the game usually managed 60 fps. That’s a massive swing in frame rate, though thankfully, the pronounced camera angle changes between the two scenarios—mid-play and “presentation mode”—kept the shift from feeling noticeable or jerky, even when I disabled Nvidia’s stutter-killing G-Sync tech.  Brad Chacos/IDGAnother benefit of Madden 19 on PC: Shorter load times. Consoles use slow traditional hard drives, and previous Madden incarnations suffered for it, but many gaming PCs rock lightning-quick SSDs. My test system packs a speedy Samsung 960 Pro. The initial game load takes about 20 seconds to land on the main menu, and booting into a new game takes 10 to 15 seconds. Other than that, loading screens are nonexistent. Other SSD-equipped systems should see similar performance. As for the game itself, well, it’s Madden. This version adds some new moves for ball carriers and defenders via a “Real player motion” mechanic. You can also select offensive and defensive schemes in Franchise mode, as well as create your own draft classes ripe with rookies. The microtransaction-filled Madden Ultimate Team mode also received a slate of fresh features, including weekly solo challenge tournaments, MUT Squad Challenges that pit a three-person team against the CPU, and training upgrades that let you fine-tune the players on your team.  Brad Chacos/IDG Madden 19: It’s good! But those iterative gameplay tweaks aren’t the draw for PC gamers. The mere availability of Madden 19 itself is. For the first time in a long, long time, PC gamers can engage in virtual pigskin fantasies. Madden 19 ($60 on Amazon) looks great, Madden 19 sounds great, and it feels so, so great to play an NFL game on PC. Just be sure to bring your controller. |
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