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Hiển thị các bài đăng có nhãn pokemon go. Hiển thị tất cả bài đăng
Hiển thị các bài đăng có nhãn pokemon go. Hiển thị tất cả bài đăng

Thứ Sáu, 19 tháng 8, 2016

'Pokémon Go' on augmented reality smart glasses is already (sort of) a thing

Thứ Sáu, 19 tháng 8, 2016 - 2 Comments

In this Friday, July 22, 2016 photo, a Pokemon Go player attempts to catch Charmander, one of Pokemon's most iconic creature, in New Delhi, India.
In this Friday, July 22, 2016 photo, a Pokemon Go player attempts to catch Charmander, one of Pokemon's most iconic creature, in New Delhi, India.
Image: AP/Thomas Cytrynowicz

While the first official Pokémon Go wearable is still several weeks away, that hasn't stopped at least one enterprising developer from hacking together a wearable version of Nintendo's hit mobile game.

Patrick Cho, a developer at Intel, has succeeded in putting a very basic version of Pokémon Go onto his company's augmented reality glasses. Though still experimental, the app is one of a handful of unofficial AR and VR-ready demos that promise to untether Nintendo's app from our smartphones.

Intel was showing off Pokémon Go on its Recon Jet smart glasses at its Intel Developer Forum in San Francisco this week. The glasses, which right now are targeted at cyclists and runners, are powered by a modified version of Android. This allowed Cho to cobble together an unofficial port of the app onto the glasses.

He had to change the orientation of the app in order to make it run in landscape mode on the Jet's display. Once he did, the app's map, which you can see below, loaded on the glasses' display. There, you can see the locations of PokéStops, gyms, Pokémon and just about everything else you'd expect  to see in the normal version of the map.

The map view of Pokémon Go as seen on the Recon Jet smart glasses.

The map view of Pokémon Go as seen on the Recon Jet smart glasses.

Image: Intel

While the fact that Cho was able to get a version of the app up and running is an impressive feat — particularly considering Niantic has been cracking down on unsanctioned use of its API — there are several caveats to this experience. 

First, it's important to note that this was intended as more of a proof of concept than anything else (although Intel says it is open to working with Niantic should the company decide to make an official version available for its glasses.) 

Second, Recon's glasses aren't equipped with LTE — only Wi-Fi, which is pretty limiting for an app like Pokémon Go that requires a mobile connection. One way around this potential obstacle though, which Intel used for the demo I saw, was to use a smartphone to create a mobile hotspot and connect the glasses to Wi-Fi that way. 

The Pokémon Go app icon on the Jet's app launcher

The Pokémon Go app icon on the Jet's app launcher

Image: Intel

Lastly (and most importantly), even the demo version I saw was extremely limited in its current form. Although you could see a detailed map view, you can't actually visit PokéStops, catch Pokémon or participate in any other game play other than walking around which, to be fair, is useful for hatching eggs. Also, being an unofficial version, the app was prone to crashing. 

Still, despite being very much an experiment, the augmented reality version of Pokémon Go serves as an intriguing look at how Niantic and Nintendo could roll the game out to other platforms. Prior to Pokémon Go, the Niantic team made Google Glass apps and the company has previously hinted that it would at least consider making a version for Microsoft's HoloLens, so don't give up hope on a more official wearable version just yet.

Until then, we'll just hope Nintendo's official wristband doesn't get delayed any longer. 

Thứ Bảy, 13 tháng 8, 2016

10 iPhone cases for the 'Pokémon Go' obsessed

Thứ Bảy, 13 tháng 8, 2016 - 0 Comments

Obsessed with Pokémon Go? Then consider a case that will share your love of the game with the world. 

While none of these covers will up your Pokémon-catching skillz, they will definitely give your iPhone some real prestige. Once you've picked one, check out these other Pokémon-themed tech accessories to keep satisfying your Pokémania. 

1. Hand-painted Pokémon cases

Starting off with something a little special, Etsy seller MintCorner offers a range of hand-painted Pokémon character cases. They are all adorable, but this Eevee option is particularly kawaii. 

Available for: iPhone 5 and up

Cost: From $11.50 

2.   Pikachu Dots Phone Case

This funky geometric design brings some Pokémon fun to your phone in a subtle way. Pika Pika! 

Available for: iPhone 5/5S, iPhone SE

Cost: $19.95 

3.  Pokémon Go team cases

Display your allegiance to Mystic, Valor or Instinct with a case in team colors. 

Available for: All iPhones

Cost: $13.99 each 

4.  First generation Pokémon badges case 

Show off your back-in-the-day Pokémon credentials with this snap-on cover that features Gym Badges from the first generation. 

Available for: All iPhones

Cost: $22.91 

5.  Chibi Pokémon pattern case 

Starring 24 Pokémon from the first generation, we’re keeping it old skool with this sweet “chibi” style design. 

Available for: All iPhones

Cost: $28.70 

6.  Fall Fennekin phone case 

Who doesn’t love a Fennekin in fall? Or indeed at any time of the year. This official case captures the fox-like critter nicely. 

Available for: iPhone 5/5S, iPhone SE

Cost: $19.95 

7.  Adorable Pokémon Pikachu iPhone case


If Pikachu is your fave Pokémon, you should find this cute case electrifying. 

Available for: iPhone 6/6S, iPhone 6/6S Plus

Cost: $13.99 

8. Pokémon Poké Ball case

Keep it classic with this colorful Poké Ball case. 

Available for: All iPhones

Cost: $27.08 

9. Haunter phone case

If you prefer the darker side of the Pokemon universe, this Haunter design kills the cute in favor of a Gengar grin. 

Available for: iPhone 6/6s, iPhone 6/6s Plus

Cost: $20 

10.  Personalized Pokémon phone case 

Made from real wood and engraved with a frickin’ laser, this is the ultimate personalized option for serious trainers out there. 

Available for: iPhone 6/6S

Cost: $19.99 

Chủ Nhật, 7 tháng 8, 2016

5 'Pokémon Go' hacks for every lazy player

Chủ Nhật, 7 tháng 8, 2016 - 0 Comments

Image: Susann Prautsch/picture-alliance/dpa/AP Images

With the whole world playing Pokémon Go, you need every advantage to stay ahead. Here are some of the hacks to get an edge on the competition when chasing pocket monsters, from easy to way advanced.  

Level: Newbie

So you finally cornered a rare Mewtwo Pokémon. It’s time to still your beating heart and capture the critter with a well-timed Poké Ball toss. Shooting straight can be tricky, but this low-tech prop will help you make every shot count: it’s just a piece of screen-wide paper with two sticky notes on both sides to guide your finger along.

In addition to catching monsters in the wild, an important part of Pokémon husbandry is hatching them from eggs. That requires actual walking, as much as 10 kilometers (6.2 miles) for the highest level monsters. Riding in a car or even a bicycle doesn’t seem to work, but strapping the phone to a ceiling fan with a rubber band does the trick. 

Level: Maker

Those that do leave the house, quickly discover that the game excels at draining smartphone batteries. But why buy a charger pack when you can laboriously manufacture your very own custom handheld Pokémon encyclopedia? 

Unless you already own a 3D printer, a trip to a local maker space is in order. Borrow their soldering iron and wire the battery to a handful of components. You’ve just doubled your supply of juice and earned major DIY street cred.

Level: Bot Master

While most of you were skipping around in the sun catching Pidgeys, some people were holed up at home reverse-engineering server traffic and posting in online forums about obscure topics like protocol buffers. 

That’s how the app store is chock-full of third-party Pokémon maps even though the game’s developer Niantic Inc. doesn’t offer an official software interface. Some went further to create bots that can roam the map, collect items and hunt monsters. Before the robots come for your jobs, they’ll take your rare Pokémon first.

Level: Mad Scientist

Under the hood, Pokémon Go relies on the smartphone’s ability to find its location in the world by catching signals from satellites above. It’s possible to fake the transmission using hardware that can be bought for as little as $300 and software available for free.

Although this kind of black magic may get you banned from the game and possibly arrested for operating a signal jammer—you can teleport your Pokémon hunter anywhere in the world. As a coup de grace for a game that’s intended to get you outdoors, add a joystick for enhanced comfort. Pokémon Done.

This article originally published at Bloomberg here

Thứ Bảy, 6 tháng 8, 2016

'Pokémon Go' launches in Singapore but cheaters are ruining it for everyone

Thứ Bảy, 6 tháng 8, 2016 - 0 Comments

Pokémon Go's only been in Singapore for half a day, but cheaters are already ruining the experience for everyone.

The record-breaking mobile game finally hit the city state on Saturday after players waited a month since the game's debut in North America and Australia.

But tap on any of the gyms and you'll see them occupied by powerful Pokémon of around 2000 CP, and trainers at level 30 or more.

Image: mashable screen grab

Image: MASHABLE SCREEN GRAB

Given that the game's only been here since early morning, it's a pretty safe bet that many of these players have been levelling up over the past month by employing a number of workarounds. One of those is GPS spoofing, which feeds a different GPS location to the software, so it thinks you're in another country.

This has allowed players to move around catching Pokémon in the game without needing to physically travel — and cheat in countries where the game's map has been empty, by viewing the map belonging to another location.

The workaround isn't uncommon, but risks a ban from the game since it's cheating and against Niantic's usage policy.

People have been expressing their unhappiness online:

Image: POKEMON GO SINGAPORE PUBLIC GROUP/FACEBOOK

Image: POKEMON GO SINGAPORE PUBLIC GROUP/FACEBOOK

Image: Pokemon GO Singapore Public Group/facebook

Still, with so many waiting for the game, you can expect this weekend to be overrun by Pokémon catching zombies.

The police have released an advisory on Facebook, too.

Thứ Hai, 1 tháng 8, 2016

Did 'Pokémon Go' remove PokéStops because neighbors complained?

Thứ Hai, 1 tháng 8, 2016 - 0 Comments

Seeya.
Seeya.
Image: Canada bay council

Pokémon Go players in Sydney, Australia, may have three less PokéStops from which to get their Poké Balls, Razz Berries and potions.

The western suburb of Rhodes had been inundated with avid Pokémon Go fans since the game launched in July, leading residents to complain about crowds, rubbish and noise. In response, the local Canada Bay council began a campaign to have its PokéStops removed, and it appears to have emerged victorious from this particular battle.

According to Fairfax Media, three intersecting Poké Stops placed in Peg Paterson Park — which reportedly had been responsible for attracting hordes of Pokémon Go players — simply vanished sometime on Monday. 

Whether this is thanks to the recent game update or a separate change by the game developer Niantic is unclear. 

Mashable reached out to Niantic for comment but the company did not immediately respond. 

The council had submitted requests to Niantic to have the PokéStops removed, and encouraged residents to do the same. "The recent phenomenon of Pokémon Go has seen unprecedented numbers of people flocking to Rhodes," Deputy Mayor Helen McCaffrey said in an August newsletter. 

"I would like to thank residents, building managers and businesses for their support and patience as we all try to find an appropriate solution to the ongoing issues of noise, traffic and rubbish, as a result of the game's popularity."

Irate residents had posted pictures of trampled grass and rubbish on the council's Facebook page, ostensibly left behind by gamers. Others shared videos of crowds of people spilling off the footpath and cars circling the neighbourhood as they hunted Pokémon.

"Walking the dog at night suddenly feels like I'm in an ep of Dr Who or Torchwood or the walking dead or some post apocalyptic zombie phone reality where ‪#‎pokémongoaddicts‬ have taken over the kids park and cross roads without looking for cars," another posted.

The PokéStops and Gyms in Pokémon Go were chosen from a data set created by the players of Niantic's previous augmented reality game, Ingress. For the most part, public artworks, historical sites, and unique buildings and local businesses were chosen, Niantic CEO John Hanke told Mashable Australia when the game launched.

Hanke also said the game aimed to keep people safe while getting them out of the house and interacting with the real world. "We're trying to strike a good balance," he said.

Hopefully Niantic will reveal how it decides which PokéStops to remove. There may be some cemeteries and memorials that would like to know.

Thứ Năm, 28 tháng 7, 2016

How to play 'Pokémon Go' if you live in the suburbs

Thứ Năm, 28 tháng 7, 2016 - 0 Comments

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In this Friday, July 22, 2016. photo, random 'pokestops' are deployed in the game Pokemon Go for players to gather Pokeballs and goodies, in Lodhi garden, New Delhi, India.
Image: P Photo/Thomas Cytrynowicz

When it comes to Pokémon Go, not all locations are created equal.

If you don't live in a heavily populated area, then everything from catching Pokémon to locating Gyms can be much more challenging. Luckily, if you live in the suburbs, there are a few steps you can take to maximize your success and minimize your frustration. (If you live in a very remote area, then these tips may be of limited use to you — but they should be a good place to start for people who live in suburbs or smaller towns and cities.)

Know where to look

Unlike densely populated cities like Manhattan or San Francisco, where there are PokéStops and Gyms seemingly on every corner, suburban areas force you to look a little harder.

Keep in mind that while PokéStops and Gyms are often located at local landmarks, including parks, churches and statues, they are also found near local businesses. There's no foolproof way to find them, but the Yelp app can be an extremely helpful tool. 

Of course, you'll need help locating actual Pokémon, not just the PokéStops. Finding the right places to catch new Pokémon can definitely be an exercise in frustration in less populated areas. While it may sometimes be a matter of pure dumb luck, there may be a few things you can do to maximize your chances.

Some users on Reddit have noted that truck stops and rest stops near highways often make for good spots for Pokémon hunting. The theory is that areas where there is increased cellular activity tend to have a higher concentration of Pokémon spawning. 

Pokémon trackers are your friend

If you still need a little extra help, Pokévision, a website that tracks the locations of Pokémon near you, is another excellent resource. The website uses data from Pokémon Go's own servers, making it one of the more accurate Pokémon-tracking services out there. Use the website to scan your location and it will show you all the Pokémon in your area. You can only scan a new location every 30 seconds, however, and the site's Twitter account indicates that, like Pokémon Go, it sometimes has server troubles of its own.

Image: Pokévision

Similarly, there are a handful of third-party apps, like Poké Radar, that aim to help players scout out the locations of nearby Pokémon. 

Don't forget eggs

If you simply aren't having any luck finding new Pokémon nearby, there is another way to get new characters: eggs. 

You can find eggs at PokéStops (see above) and hatching eggs is a great way to get new Pokémon that you may not otherwise be able to find in your area. Of course, as with all of this advice, there is a little luck involved — but with some patience (and a lot of walking) you can use eggs to grow your Pokémon collection on your own.

Thứ Tư, 27 tháng 7, 2016

Sorry, Trainers: The Pokémon Go Plus wristband will arrive in September, not July

Thứ Tư, 27 tháng 7, 2016 - 0 Comments

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See you in September, Pokémon Go Plus.
Image: Nintendo

Uh-oh, Nintendo. The Pokémon Go Plus accessory — a wristband that will alert you to the presence of the little pesky creatures, among other things — will be out two months later than originally announced, the company said in a tweet. 

While Nintendo pointed out that the original launch was planned for the "end of July," it did not specify what time in September the device will be launched. 

This is probably why Nintendo recently made clear that the financial impact of Pokémon Go's stellar success will be limited: It doesn't make the game, it only partially owns the intellectual property rights for the Pokémon franchise, and the only real Pokémon Go-related product it's making will come significantly later than expected. Nintendo's stock price plummeted after Monday's announcement. And it's stayed at roughly the same value since then. 

Pokémon Go has been dominating the top apps charts since its release in early July, but interest in the game has slightly waned from the first (admittedly crazy) couple of days. The ideal time for the launch of Pokémon Go Plus would have been three weeks ago. Nintendo now has no choice but to hope a September launch doesn't prove to be too late. 

Pokémon Go Plus is a bracelet that connects with your phone via Bluetooth and alerts you to nearby Pokémon and PokéStops, hopefully saving your phone's battery. Even better, if you've caught a Pokémon before, you'll be able to catch it again by simply pressing the button on the bracelet instead of throwing a virtual Pokéball at it on your phone every time. 

Thứ Hai, 25 tháng 7, 2016

Gaming CEO slams Singapore government over 'Pokémon Go' comments

Thứ Hai, 25 tháng 7, 2016 - 0 Comments

Https%3a%2f%2fblueprint-api-production.s3.amazonaws.com%2fuploads%2fcard%2fimage%2f156464%2fgettyimages-580017144
Pokémon Go, which has been a smash-hit across the globe was launched in Hong Kong on Monday.
Image: lam yik fei/Getty Images

SINGAPORE — Another day, another Pokémon Go-related drama.

On Sunday, Singapore's minister for communications and information, Yaacob Ibrahim, told reporters that he had serious concerns about the hit game and suggested that it should be closely monitored.

According to Ibrahim, the game risks having a negative impact on Singapore's society, and it was therefore necessary that the government "study very, very carefully whatever is brought into Singapore."

People are obviously not happy with this sentiment. Following Ibrahim's comments, Tan Min-Liang, CEO of gaming company Razer, took to Facebook to post a lengthy rant.

In his post, Tan criticised the government for its "schizophrenic" approach towards the gaming industry in the country.

He went on to describe how such attitudes that belong "in the 19th century" needed to change in order to make way for creativity in gaming to thrive.

"In case you missed it, gaming is an artform, it's also now the biggest medium for creative expression — far outstripping movies and music," he wrote. "And try as you might, you're not going to get very far censoring and banning games willy-nilly because games will always find a way— to game (ba-dum-tss) the system."

Pokémon Go still has yet to launch in Singapore, although there have been rumours that it will be dropping sometime this week. The wildly popular game was released in Hong Kong on Monday, making the city the second Asian stop after Japan.

Thứ Bảy, 23 tháng 7, 2016

This 3D-printed iPhone case will increase your Pokémon-catching rate

Thứ Bảy, 23 tháng 7, 2016 - 0 Comments

Https%3a%2f%2fblueprint-api-production.s3.amazonaws.com%2fuploads%2fcard%2fimage%2f154538%2f3dprintedpokemongocase
Image: My mini factory, mashable composite

Pokémon Go is easy enough for anyone to pick up, but if you want to catch 'em all, you'll need to master the art of throwing Poké Balls.

For the most part, catching a Pokémon in the game is as simple as throwing a Poké Ball straight up at the monster and hoping it doesn't escape. You can also throw a curve ball at Pokémon, but that's a more advanced technique.

To get the perfect straight throw every time, My Mini Factory user Jon Cleaver has created this clever Poké Ball "aimer" case for iPhone.

With the case slipped over an iPhone, players can swipe perfectly straight up whenever they encounter a Pokémon. 

(Click to enlarge)

(Click to enlarge)

"This 3D printable Pokeball aimer ensures your finger never goes astray," says Cleaver. "Simply slip your iPhone into the case, give it a flick, and you’ll be catching Pokemon with ease."

Sure, you'll only be cheating yourself. And deep down in your heart you'll know you used a 3D-printed accessory to help you. But who's gonna know when you show all your friends your near complete Pokémon collection? 

If you own or have access to a 3D printer, you can print your own Pokémon "aimer" case using the free model. 

The case only fits iPhone 6 and 6S devices, but if there's enough demand (and we bet there will be), Cleaver says he'll consider making versions for other phones.

Another fan 3D-printed a Pokédex. It looks cool and has a built-in battery pack, but it won't increase your success of catching Pokémon as with Cleaver's case.

Thứ Sáu, 15 tháng 7, 2016

We're obsessed with 'Pokémon Go'

Thứ Sáu, 15 tháng 7, 2016 - 0 Comments

Https%3a%2f%2fblueprint-api-production.s3.amazonaws.com%2fuploads%2fcard%2fimage%2f146339%2fmashtalk-pokemon
Image: mashable composite/lili sams

On this week’s episode of MashTalk, Lance, Pete and I tackle the phenomenon that is Pokémon Go (00:50). In a wide-ranging chat, we talk about everything from the growing Pokemon Go economy (04:30), the user experience (09:05) and why Pokémon Go works (11:45). 

Lance shares his take on how the craze will end (17:51), because nothing gold – or Pokémon Yellow – can really stay. 

We share a few thoughts on Prisma (20:00) – the filter app taking over the globe – and discuss how the success of Pokémon Go and Prisma disprove the idea that apps are dead. 

Moving on, Pete breaks down the latest Tesla news (22:50), including the calls from Consumer Reports to rename Autopilot. Note: We recorded this episode before the latest news broke about the Model X rollover crash. There’s always next week. 

Finally, Lance helps shed some light on the major drama happening at Hyperloop One (34:15). And seriously, this Hyperloop One saga is full of twists and turns. 

Listen to the episode on iTunes or on Stitcher. You can also subscribe to MashTalk on iTunes by clicking the button below to get our latest episodes, instantly. If you like MashTalk, please fill out our audience survey.

Have something to add to this story? Share it in the comments.

Thứ Năm, 7 tháng 7, 2016

Spending a day on 'Pokémon Go' is not good for your phone's battery life

Thứ Năm, 7 tháng 7, 2016 - 0 Comments

Https%3a%2f%2fblueprint-api-production.s3.amazonaws.com%2fuploads%2fcard%2fimage%2f137640%2fpokemongo
Pokémon Go is a lot of fun, but it's taxing for people's phone batteries.
Image: niantic/pokemon go

It's fair to say Pokémon Go has sent people wild again for the 20-year-old gaming franchise.

The augmented reality mobile game became available for Australians and New Zealanders on Wednesday morning, as well as Americans later that evening, with grown adults back trying to "catch 'em all" like they once did as children.

It shouldn't be a surprise that the game's heavy use of the phone's camera and GPS makes it a serious battery killer. Users have been chronicling how the game chews up their phone's batteries on Twitter, and it ain't pretty.

A test to see how long non-stop Pokémon Go will last on a phone

Mashable Australia fortunately got the game loaded up on a iPhone 6S, with plenty of time to catch some Pokémon while at work. 

For the purposes of this test, we've turned Bluetooth and Wi-Fi off on the phone, and we'll operate the phone on a 4G cellular network. In the game, Pokémon Go keeps your phone's screen on, unless you manually lock your phone. We'll keep the screen on the whole time for the test.

The game also has a "battery saver" mode which you can activate, although we won't be turning that on for the test. According to the game's developer Niantic, all "battery saver" does is disable your screen when you point your phone downward, but the app will continue to track you and notify of nearby Pokémon. That's sort of useful, we guess.

In the test, we'll also be measuring how much mobile data the app uses, as unlimited mobile data isn't really a thing in Australia unfortunately.

The countdown to a dead battery

1:45 p.m. - 99 percent battery.

The phone's battery is full and we're ready to go. We captured a nearby Poliwag and a Staryu, starting the day off strong.

1:54 p.m. - 89 percent battery.

It's been less than 10 minutes of play on Pokémon Go and we've already decimated a tenth of the phone's battery. On the plus side, we've just reached level 5 in the game.

pokemon

Image: mashable australia

pokemon

Image: mashable australia

2:05 p.m. - 83 percent battery.

After letting off some incense in the game to attract wild Pokémon, we've ended up being surrounded by three Zubats. Damn you, Pokémon Go.

2:25 p.m. - 70 percent battery, 3.9 megabytes of mobile data used.

Whoa, that was a big drop in battery life. All we did is visit a PokéStop, with the Zubats disappearing in the meantime. Despite an early surge of action and a big chunk of battery life lost, we've only managed to use 3.9 megabytes of mobile data thus far.

2:36 p.m. - 60 percent battery.

We spent about five minutes trying to capture a Golbat, while being sent outside due to a compulsory fire drill in the building, resulting in another deep plunge in our phone's battery percentage. Overall, our iPhone's battery life has been reduced by 40 percent in only 51 minutes.

pokemon

Image: mashable australia

pokemon

Image: mashable australia

2:52 p.m. - 56 percent battery, 5.2 megabytes of mobile data used.

It's a busy time in the Pokémon Go world. We've captured a Krabby, while also scoring items from a PokéStop. Shockingly, it didn't kill off our battery once and for all, after a dramatic half an hour.

3:15 p.m. - 43 percent battery.

We've done nothing in the game and somehow it has shaved 13 percent of our phone's battery. Thanks for that.

3:32 p.m. - 31 percent battery, 8.4 megabytes of data used, and our first app crash of the day!

The Pokémon gravy train wasn't going to last for long. The game crashed on us for the first time, and it wasn't going to be the last.

3:45 p.m. - 23 percent battery and the second app crash.

Our phone can't handle the Pokémon heat it seems, as the game crashes again. At this point, Pokémon Go has destroyed 77 percent of our phone's battery life in less than two hours.

pokemon

BUT I WANT TO PLAY POKÉMON NOW.

Image: mashable australia

3:48 p.m. - Still 23 percent battery and now the servers are experiencing issues.

It's Pokémon No as the game tells us "our servers are experiencing issues" and to "please come back later," making us quite the annoyed trainer. 

The worst part about the server issues screen is that you have to log yourself in again, which will happen over and over again if you can't get in because of the problem. Not fun at all.

4:13 p.m. - 13 percent battery and we're back in the game.

After trying to get back in the game for 25 minutes, we're back. No clue on what's causing those server issues, by the way.

4:31 p.m. - 1 percent battery!

This is it folks. Hope you had a fun ride. We've captured some Pokémon together, developed some great friendships and had a jolly good time. Kumbaya, my lord.

4:40 p.m. -  The phone is still alive. 

Like the fuel gauge on one's car, "empty" seems to not really mean empty. The same applies to batteries, which seem to cling on to dear life for ages like that woman in the movie Cliffhanger, until they die at the moment you need it.

4:45 p.m. - Now the phone is dead. 

It was a good life. 

How long did our phone's battery last and what's the data usage?

Exactly three hours, although 25 minutes of server issues stopped us from playing. So in actual playing time, we had 2 hours and 35 minutes of pure Pokémon Go. 

The app chewed up 15 megabytes of mobile data, which is surprisingly light for a game that is reliant on it. This will surely increase as you move about from location to location, requiring the game to download new maps and images.

Of course, most people won't be playing Pokémon Go for three hours straight. The game is obviously designed as an accompaniment to our day-to-day lives, as we wander around our city checking emails, look at Facebook or snap photos on Instagram. These activities are hardly easy on a phone's battery either.

If you want to save on battery life, you can try switching on the "battery saver" option in the app's settings, or do the usual battery saving techniques such as turning down your brightness, exiting other power hungry apps, or ones that use background data. 

You can also try and save a bit by turning off the augmented reality option in the top right when trying to capture your Pokémon. This will turn off the camera, defaulting to a generic background instead of your real world surroundings.

But for many people already addicted to the game, the solution to saving battery life is simple: Buy a battery pack.

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