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Smashtastic Cricket

Price Free iOS/Android

 Smashtastic Cricket is an under-the-radar, fast-paced arcade style cricket game for your phone. It is funny, light and the gameplay is superbly fun to interact with. The funny cartoonish graphics are very different to those of other games out there. It gives a Nintendo game vibe. While the game doesn’t have a variety of modes and features, it’s fun to simply pick up and play. Like Stick Cricket, you only get to bat in this game. However, the controls are different. You drag your finger to the side you want to hit the ball. It’s as easy as that. Also, with every batting milestone you get quirky rewards like Epic Tacos, Legendary Kranskys, etc with which you can increase your character’s skill. You also get to level up your character as you play by broadening your player’s attributes like power and fitness.

World Cricket Championship 2

Price Free iOS/Android

 This game is for die-hard cricket fans who’re ready to invest their time as the game is heavy, both on graphics and on content. With its spectacular 3D graph­ics, it is easy to get hooked to the game. It also offers many choices on weather, stadiums, live commentary and pitch condition to suit your interests.

From Hawk-eye views to dozens of camera angles to cinematic animations, the game is a complete package. The tutorial also does a stellar job of intro­ducing you to the game dynamics. But while the game sits in middle of its fancy 3D graphic environ­ment, it feels unpolished. If only the developers could clean up the UI and make things smoother and simpler.

Stick Cricket

Price Free iOS/Android

 Stick Crick­et is probably the best casual Cricket game there on the app/play store. Its simple but addictive game mechanics will keep you hooked for hours. How simple? You use only two buttons—a left stroke button and a right stroke button. In this game, you are always on the batting side and as difficulty level increases you have to chase more runs. Besides chasing runs, you will also start seeing a variation of bowlers (outswing, left-spinners, off-spinners). Swing bowlers are fun to play for the wicked ball-swinging animation and the sound bat and ball makes when you hit a six. The game features World Cup Mode. Pick a team and start playing.

 With the growth of mobile phones, their charging systems have also of late undergone massive updates. After decades of having to switch between different wires to power up mobile phones, and all the tangles that resulted in, wireless charging systems now promise to revolutionize how we charge and operate our phones. Here are three wireless chargers you might want to get your hands on.

*Check if your phone is Qi wireless charging enabled before you buy a wireless charger

WK Wireless Charger (WP-U18)

 Price Rs 1,340 Neo Store

 WK is a new Hong Kong-based brand which incorporates fashion elements, including in their wireless chargers. This 2.1 ampere charger supports all devices compatible with Qi-wireless charging. Otherwise, at this price point, you will only find cheap no-brand Chinese alter­natives which are bound to do more harm than good. While you will not get a fast charging capability, this WK wireless charger will still be optimum to charge your phone overnight without any fear of phone damage.

Incipio GHOST Wireless Charging Pad

 Price Rs 9,000 Oliz Store

 If I had to sum up this wireless charger in three words, I’d choose: Elegant, Efficient and Unobtrusive. It has a three-coil design which makes for large charging surface. Its integrated rubberized surface keeps your phone secure on the pad while its end-to-end charging lets you place your phone freely on any point on its surface to start charging.

It has the look and size of a pow­er bank and allows for easy mobil­ity. It’s amazing for your home; it’s also an amazing product for your travels.

Bella Vehicle Mounted Wireless Charger

 Price Rs 5,500 Oliz Store

 This one is for all four-wheel commuters tired of slow wire-charging on their cars. This mount/charger uses its dual rubber arms to hold your phone at a comfortable angle to allow for easy one-hand operation. While at it, the mount also charges your phone wirelessly, so you can navigate through maps while charging at the same time. What’s more? This device also allows for fast charging so you’ll end up with enough juice to last you the rest of the day. At this price point, this wireless charger delivers amazing value.

WK Design BD200 Wireless Bluetooth Sporting Magnetic Earphone

Price

Rs 2,445 Daraz

 WK is a Chinese tech company that only recently entered Nepal. The WK Design BD200 has a sporty design and an aesthetic, polished look. As this is a Bluetooth headphone, you will need to charge it often. Worry not though; the charging time is only 1.5 hours. On a full charge the earphone gives up to four hours of music time. With a standby time of 80 hours, you also don’t need to worry if you forget to turn it off when you’re done playing music. What’s more, it is water and sweat proof. At its price point, the BD200 provides a wonderful sports earphone experience.  

JBL JBLREFFITBLK Heart Rate Wireless Headphones: Black

Price

Rs 14,900 Evo Stores

 Yes, you read the name right. This ear­phone from JBL is here to help you train, giving you live heart rate feedback right as you train. Wirelessly. Audio wise, this JBL provides the signature sound that’s kept JBL in the heart of its customers for over 70 years. With its IPX5 certification, it can stand the sweatiest workouts. A mere 10 minute charge offers 1 hour of music playback. With a full charge, the earphone delivers a massive 10 hour music, beating the likes of AirPods.

Apple AirPods 2

Price

Rs 26,500 (without the charging case) Oliz Store, Babarmahal

 Apple redefined luxury wireless earphones with the AirPods. And the new AirPods stays true to that characterization. The playback is excellent and the same can be said about their charging speeds. With only 15 minutes of charge, you get up to three hours of music time, and a total music playback time of five hours. With its signature H1 chip, it can detect when you’re talking and when you’re listening, and allows you to tap the earphone for independent control. The AirPods are amazing devices. But you might want to go for the charging case as well if you want the entire Apple experience, which will set you back by another Rs 10,000.

 After another scintillating season of the Indian Premier League, the most prestigious cricket tournament in the world looms large: the ICC World Cup 2019. This one-of-kind sporting extravaganza calls for a special viewing experience too. For this season of the world cup we bring to you an easy buyer’s guide to help you pick the right TV for the occasion. All these TVs are 49”, have at least a HD display and are HDR enabled.

Samsung 49” Series 6 49M6300 Full HD LED TV

 Price Rs 120,000

Samsung has always been at the forefront of producing televisions with spectacular dis­plays and this 49” screen is no different. If you enjoy watching movies late night with lights off, the experience is pretty much unbeatable.

PROS:

> Better viewing experience with the curved design, which also makes the TV look absolutely beautiful compared to traditional flat screens

> Beautiful remote control that supports voice recognition, and a smart Hub that looks clean and polished

> Accurate color, HDR and auto depth enhancer makes the visuals look more natural and vibrant

> Superior sound quality compared to other big television brands so you can clearly hear those little nicks. The sound of fans cheering is really unbeatable on this TV

CONS:

> Limited to full HD/no 4k support

> Curved screen may pose a problem if your room is unevenly lit; glares may appear on the sides of the screen

LG 4K 49UH6030 UHD HDR Smart LED TV - 49"

 Price Rs 105,000

 LG TVs have always been big-time value for money and this 4k screen from LG is no different. It is beautiful, packed with features while being affordable. That is saying a lot for a 4k TV.

PROS:

> Offers the best value for money among other 4k TVs on the market and costs 10-15k less than the competition. If you are getting one just for the world cup, this could be a good option

> Its TruMotion 120Hz TruMotion 120Hz technology lets you see sports and other high-speed action with virtually no motion blur

> The multi-step data analysis enhances the detail of all video content, taking the 4k display up a notch

CONS:

> A little thicker compared to other TVs and the bottom chin a little wider

> The remote control looks, frankly, ugly for a high-end TV from LG

> Sometimes due to bleeding, clouding, and flash-lighting, the picture can be an issue when it comes to dark visuals

Sony 49X7000E UHD 49” TV

 Price Rs 114,000

 This product from Sony borrows the design statement from earlier Sony TVs while boasting a UHD screen. Though our Cable TVs do not support a 4k res­olution, watching HD videos on a 4k display is more visually appealing.

PROS:

> Ultra HD 4k display is an investment for the future. For now, you can watch 4k videos from YouTube

> Slim bezels and simple box frame makes the TV look cleaner and professional

> Dedicated YouTube and Netflix buttons make getting to your favorite apps much easier

> Its Reality X-pro features display little details in a video clearly so you capture even the smallest on-field action with camera zoomed in or zoomed out

CONS:

> Sound quality is still under-par. While the company boasts Clear Audio+, you are still better off with a home theater

> Smart features on screen are less friendly to use and can sometimes be a real pain

> Pictures, while clear, don’t appear very vibrant even with a 4k screen

0.4X wide-angle cell phone lens (Red)

Price Rs 369

 With Miniso’s .4X super wide-angle lens, and you get a range of up to 120°, which is per­fect for shooting outdoors. The aluminum alloy housing and opti­cal glass make it easier to take sel­fies in parties or while traveling. So gear your phone up a notch.

Bone cable organizer

Price Rs 129

 How much do we hate han­dling smartphone cables! So wind your cable with this organizer and keep cable hassles at bay.

Mini USB humidifier

Price Rs 1,199

 This humidifier is ideal for your sitting room, bedroom, bathroom or study. Take a step towards a beautiful and fashionable household life. Help clean up the air and moisturize the air with Mini­so’s USB humidifier.

 LED cosmetics mirror

 Price Rs 1,199

 LED mirror might just be some­thing you never knew you wanted. It’s your average rectangular mirror with LED lights! It has a shape of an iPad with a little button at the bot­tom. Press it and your mirror will emit lights from its corners so you can put on your makeup easily.

LEGO Batman

LEGO Batman is the official game from the movie of the same name. Unlike the movie, this isn’t an adventure story, but rather a fun and light Temple Run rip-off. In the game, you play as LEGO Batman. Run, jump and grapple across The Bat Cave, The Street and Rooftops of Gotham &Arkham Asylum. Drive your own Batmobile and use the Batwing to fly to new environments! Battle Villain Bosses such as the Joker, the Penguin and Poison Ivy! That’s not all, the game also allows you to customize your vehicles, unlock items from the movie, etc. So go out and save Gotham!

Marvel Strike Force

Marvel Strike Force is a free-to-play role-play action superhero video game for mobile devices. An assault on Earth has begun and Super Heroes and Super Villains are working together to defend it! Lead the assault by assembling your superhero squad, including Spider-Man, Doctor Strange, Groot, Rocket Raccoon, Loki, Venom, Captain America and Iron Man, as you enter strategic combat against an all-new enemy threat. The game is complemented by stunning visuals and high-tier action. While this is a Freemium game, the developers have done an incredible job in designing a business model that doesn’t make free players feel worthless.

Guardians of the Galaxy: The Telltale Series

If you’re familiar with Telltale Games, you know what to expect: the same stunning visuals, interactive storytelling, and intuitive puzzles to keep you hooked. Telltale has replicated its magic with GOTG as well. This is the same combo of their magic, plus the humor, adventure and soundtrack that has made the Guardians the fan favorite it is. The Telltale Series delivers a brand new story of the universe’s unlikeliest heroes, the rag-tag band of outlaws who go by the names Star-Lord, Gamora, Drax, Rocket, and Groot. In the wake of an epic battle, the Guardians discover an artifact of unspeakable power. And for those of you who are new to Telltale, the game has an interactive choice-based narrative. Think more the ‘Give yourself Goosebumps’ series; your choices will lead you to different storylines.

You’ve probably heard of Net­flix. Or probably you hav­en’t. Well, either way, it’s a subscription-based service which offers online streaming of a library of films and television programs— sort of a modern-day rendition of cable TV. In the form of an app, Netflix is available on all forms of modern media—TV, laptop, and mobile. Have you heard about shows like ‘Stranger Things’, ‘House of Cards’, and ‘Black Mirror’, or ‘Sacred Games’ and ‘Selection Day’, but never saw them on TV? Because they’re on Netflix. The global popu­lar culture trend is going digital and Netflix is the number one medium to catch up with the entertainment world. It has a total of 125 million hours of content. From TV shows to documentaries to movies—they’ve got you covered.

In this article we explore how we can access the library of Netflix’s digital content from Nepal.

First thing to understand: Netflix is available in Nepal. It even has a specially curated library for Nepal so you’ll see new and old Bollywood flicks as recommendations. And yes, you don’t need to install fishy VPNs to access it. Go to Play Store/App Store, search for the app, and down­load it (or scan the QR code given in this article, above).

Second step is having an account. Netflix is a paid streaming service and as such, you will need an inter­national debit card, PayPal account or a credit card. However, for a month, you get to try the service for free. You can cancel your plan before your free month ends and you will not be charged a paisa.

If you don’t have an International card, you can also find Netflix cou­pons from local third party dealers who will help you pay your fees with a commission. You can find these companies all over Facebook.

After filling in your card details, lastly, fill in your personal infor­mation and Viola! But before you go using #NetflixAndChill without knowing the context, give it a quick Google search.

So cozy yourself up this weekend and stream away!

Nepal last week banned the PlayerUnknown’s Battle­grounds (PUBG), a 16+ age-rated mobile battle royale multiplayer shooter game, following a court order. Rea­sons cited: its contribution to violence in children and their consequent lack of interest in stud­ies. And oh, apparently, ‘psychia­trists’ were consulted.

“Stupid decision obviously. Addic­tion? I blame the parents. There are dozens of similar games. What will the government do about them?” asks Nischal, 19, an IT student in Kathmadu. He says he’ll use a VPN or DNS to bypass the ban.

“I loved playing PUBG but I had my SEE as well. My parents guided me through the process and helped me concentrate on my studies,” says Sweksha, 17, a recent SEE graduate. “Parents give their small children smartphones, which is too early for their age. And obvi­ously there will be consequences,” she adds.

She recalls how the multiplay­er interactive game helped her become more social and open up to new people. “I made many new friends through the game. My friend Mayank, who’s from India, and Fais­al, who’s from Pakistan, really care about me,” she adds. She says the game has also helped them learn each other’s cultures.

“We’re just using our right to entertainment. Unless we’re doing something illegal, the government doesn’t have any right to interfere,” says a furious Pratyush, 18.

After reports of addiction to the game surfaced in India last month, Tencent, the company behind the game, started experi­menting with time restrictions on the game in the Indian market. Report­edly, they are planning to enforce a six-hour daily limit.

Video game addiction is a major health problem and should be tackled like any other addiction. While our government throws around the word addiction as a rationale for the ban, it completely overlooks the consequences for the ‘addicts’ in question.

Addiction isn’t treated cold turkey. A cigarette addiction is treated by slowly limiting the amount of cig­arettes or offering alternatives like e-cigarettes.

Why do I bring this point? Because, apparently, psychiatrists were con­sulted before banning the game. Were they qualified, I wonder?

How do we expect children to cope with their addiction by putting a blanket ban on their favorite pastime?

And like everything else, video game trends are dynamic. Today PUBG is big. Five years ago Candy crush was—and who knows about the future! There are already dozens of PUBG alternatives in the market right now. As the market for them grows, more games will sprout up. What will the government do then?

The only sure way to control vid­eo game addiction is to ban video games altogether. Just like the only way to solve road accidents is to make everyone walk on foot.