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Amazon Launches a New Kindle for Kids

Amazon has launched a new Kindle for kids. Called Kindle Kids Edition, the new Kindle for kids is perfect for children who love to read. You’ll pay a little extra than you would for a regular Kindle, but in return you’ll receive some kid-friendly extras.

What Is the Kindle Kids Edition?

According to the press release, the Kids Edition comprises “the latest Kindle, a kid-friendly case, one year of Amazon FreeTime Unlimited, and a 2-year worry-free guarantee”. This means Amazon will replace the device for free if anything happens to it.

Amazon explained its thinking, saying, “First, kids want a device experience designed just for them; second, parents don’t want to worry about the content their kids are viewing; and third, parents want tools they can trust to help manage their kids’ device usage.”

As well as the case, guarantee, and subscription to FreeTime Unlimited, Kindle Kids Edition comes with “features that encourage kids to build their skills as they go.” These include:

Achievement Badges: Kids get pre-defined goals to work towards, and earn badges when they make progress.

Easy Discovery: An enhanced search engine helps kids locate titles without using the correct spelling. And smart recommendations help kids find books related to the authors, titles, and genres they know they already love.

Wise Words: This feature provides simple definitions above difficult words, helping them carry on reading without having to keep stopping.

Dictionary: A built-in Kindle dictionary allows kids to look up other words they either don’t recognize or understand.

Vocabulary Builder: When kids look up words in the dictionary they will be added to the Vocabulary Builder and turned into flashcards.

Kid-Friendly Wallpaper: The Kindle Kids Edition comes with a unique set of lockscreen wallpapers designed for children.

How to Order a Kindle Kids Edition

The Kindle Kids Edition is available to pre-order now and priced at $109.99. It will start shipping on October 30, 2019. And while we have previously argued why you shouldn’t buy an Amazon Fire tablet for your kids, this seems made for children who like to read.

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10 Free Two-Player Online Games You Can Play in Your Browser

If you’re looking for online games to play with friends on different computers, or even on the same machine, you’ve come to the right place. With these two player online games, you can enjoy a little downtime with nothing but a browser window.

Browser games have come a long way in terms of graphics. Whether it’s 1v1 games or team-ups, most modern browsers can support any of these games. We’ve included both online games you can play with friends over the internet as well as locally.

Note: Since Adobe is killing Flash, the 2-player online games in this list are based on other web game technologies like Unity and HTML5.

Online Games to Play With Friends on the Same Computer

1. 8 Ball Billiards Classic

It might be called 8 Ball Billiards Classic (8BBC), but the game is actually good old pool. You play in turns, and have to pocket stripes or solids depending on which type you first sink into a hole. Although it’s a mouse-based game, it’s surprisingly easy to play on a laptop touchpad too.

First, you have to line up the shot using the guideline indicators. Then, move the mouse to the strength meter, and pull back the stick to the desired amount of power you want to hit with. It’s one of the best free executions of a pool game to play with friends online.

• No sign-up necessary
• Maximum two players
• Players play in turns
• Play with friends online, but on the same PC

2. Gunball!

Gunball is like soccer… but with guns! In this pixel-art game, you and your friend control two on-screen characters. Each has a gun, a goal post to protect, and there’s a big red ball in the middle. Shoot the ball into the opponent’s goal to score a point. First to reach five points wins.

This browser game is a great example of how the most simple gameplay mechanics can still be super entertaining. You’ll need to move around the screen rapidly to shoot and defend at the same time, as the keyboard struggles with two people fighting on it.

• No sign-up necessary
• Maximum two players
• Players play simultaneously
• Play with friends online, but on the same PC

3. Firefall

Comet-like fireballs are falling from the sky. You play as the blue or red square smiley on the ground. Move left and right to avoid being burnt to a crisp. Sounds easy, right? Even when the speed of the fireballs increases, the game is not too difficult to play.

What makes it difficult is the two-player competition. You see, the opponent can’t go beyond you. So use your character to push and/or block your opponent as a fireball rains down upon them. It’s a deliciously evil online game to play with friends.

• No sign-up necessary
• Maximum two players
• Players play simultaneously
• Play with friends online, but on the same PC

4. Gravity Shift

Most two-player online games focus on a 1v1 dynamic. Instead, Gravity Shift makes you team up for a common goal of solving physics-based puzzles. Each player controls an on-screen character, one with the W, S, A, D keys and the other with the arrow keys.

In each level, you need to move the characters so that all buttons are pressed to open the portal to the next level. There are gravity inverting tiles, where you can change your character’s gravity. It’s all about coordination and puzzle-solving as a team.

• No sign-up necessary
• Maximum two players
• Players play simultaneously
• Play with friends online, but on the same PC

5. Money Movers

Here’s another online game to play with friends as a team. In Money Movers, you play as two brothers who have to stage a daring jailbreak. Each level takes you further out of prison, as you use the abilities of each brother to solve the puzzle and get to the exit.

The big burly brother can pick up and throw objects, but has limited movement. The little brother has speed and jumps high. Using a combination of their abilities, you need to flip switches, avoid or incapacitate guards, and think of clever ways to get out of a jam. Some levels are quite tough, and you and your friend will have a great time trying to figure it out. Two heads are better than one, they say.

Plus, once you’re done with the game, there are two sequels to enjoy. Check out Money Movers 2 and Money Movers 3.

• No sign-up necessary
• Maximum two players
• Players play simultaneously
• Play with friends online, but on the same PC

Online Games to Play With Friends on Different Computers

6. Battleship Online

There are plenty of places to enjoy a free game of Battleship online, but this one is our favorite. The rules stay the same as always. Invite your friend by sending a link, set up your 10×10 grids with different battleships, say you’re ready, and begin.

Click anywhere on your friend’s grid to try and sink his battleship, and keep playing till one of you is out of ships. If you don’t have a friend online, play a random game with a stranger. There are always people online for a quick game.

• No sign-up necessary
• Maximum two players
• Players play in turns
• Play with friends online on different computers

7. Lichess

If you want a battle of wits, there is nothing like a game of chess. Lichess is perhaps the best browser game for chess if you want to quickly jump into a game with a real person without even signing up.

The graphics are pleasing to the eye, and you can try different time intervals. Plus, there’s a chatroom, game modes (like Chess960, Antichess, King of the Hill, etc.), and even an analysis board. Our favorite feature is that you can request to take back a move, which is wonderful when playing a game between friends.

• No sign-up necessary
• Maximum two players
• Players play in turns
• Play with friends online on different computers

8. Speed Sudoku

Sudoku is a fun brain-teaser, but you can make it competitive. That’s what Speed Sudoku is all about. Who would have thought you can play Sudoku with friends online over the internet.

Sign up and create a new game or join an existing one. You can have a maximum of four players, but you can also play between the two of you. Password-protect your game to keep it private. While you’re solving, you will also see the other players’ progress in terms of percentage, which keeps your competitive engine running.

• Sign-up necessary
• Maximum four players
• Players play simultaneously
• Play with friends online on different computers

9. Cube Slam

Cube Slam is a cool game from Google that works in any browser, not just Chrome. It’s a virtual version of air hockey or pong, with a few twists and boosters to add to the fun.

Create a new game, and share the link with a friend. You can even allow access to your webcam and microphone to see and talk to each other. Move your paddle with the arrow keys to stop the puck from hitting your side. Each level is a race to three points. Use power-ups when you can, and watch out for advanced levels with tricky designs.

• No sign-up necessary
• Maximum two players
• Players play simultaneously
• Play with friends online on different computers

10. 8-Ball Online

8 Ball Online is one of the quickest ways to start a game of pool online, but it’s tricky to play against a friend. You both will need to be using the game at the same time, and hope to get matched. You can log in with your Facebook or Google account, but signing in isn’t necessary.

It’s unclear why 8-Ball Online doesn’t have a simple option to select an opponent or invite a friend. Thankfully, there aren’t too many people online, so you should be able to set up a game in a few tries. The game’s physics are fantastic, and there’s a helpful indicator to show where the ball is likely to go to.

• No sign-up necessary
• Maximum two players
• Players play in turns
• Play with friends online on different computers

Best Free Browser Games to Check Out

This is a solid list of brilliant two-player games you can play online with friends. However, it isn’t an exhaustive list by any means. In fact, you can search online for other cool games where you can add more than two players as well.

The problem is that you won’t always have a friend who is free to play games online. Sometimes, you can go with a simple free browser game for a single player. Here’s a great list of the best free browser games to help you kill time.

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How to Block Internet Explorer From Accessing the Internet

Internet Explorer, the web’s favorite punching bag, has been relegated to an afterthought for most users. While it’s still included in Windows 10 for legacy enterprise purposes, Microsoft now includes Edge as the default Windows browser.

Despite this, you may still wonder how to disable Internet Explorer (IE). Maybe you don’t want other users on your system working in the clunky browser, or just hate it and want to block Internet Explorer from your system.

1. How to Block Internet Explorer From Accessing the Internet Through Windows Firewall

Windows includes a built-in firewall that allows you to control how programs communicate with the internet. You can set up a new rule here to block all connections through Internet Explorer.

To start, search for Windows firewall and open Windows Defender Firewall with Advanced Security. Click Outbound rules on the left panel, then select New Rule from the right side.

On the resulting Rule Type window, choose Program and hit Next. You’ll then need to browse to the executable file for Internet Explorer.

On a 64-bit installation of Windows 10, you’ll find folders for Internet Explorer in both the Program Files and Program Files (x86) folders. In our testing, blocking the version of IE inside Program Files had no effect, yet blocking the file inside Program Files (x86) blocked both executables from running.

As a result, you should block the following file if you’re on 64-bit Windows:

C:\Program Files (x86)\Internet Explorer\iexplore.exe

If you’re using 32-bit Windows, this will be in the following location:

C:\Program Files\Internet Explorer\iexplore.exe

Moving on, choose to Block the connection and set it to apply to all three of the available location types. Finally, give it a descriptive Name like Block Internet Explorer. You can also set a description if you want.

Once you confirm this, Internet Explorer won’t be able to access anything on the internet.

2. How to Completely Disable Internet Explorer

In case just blocking Internet Explorer from accessing the internet isn’t enough, let’s cover the nuclear option. You can completely disable Internet Explorer on your system, preventing anyone from using it.

As it turns out, you can’t uninstall Windows Internet Explorer like a normal program, since it’s considered part of Windows. Instead, you’ll have to turn it off from the Windows Features menu.

Search for Windows features in the Start menu and select the Turn Windows features on or off entry. This will bring you to a panel with a list of optional features in Windows. Here, uncheck the box for Internet Explorer 11 and click OK.

Windows will take a moment to remove Internet Explorer, then it will prompt you to restart your computer to complete the process. After a reboot, you won’t see any trace of Internet Explorer on your system.

If you ever need to access IE again, simply repeat this process and check the box for Internet Explorer 11 to re-enable it.

3. Block Internet Explorer Using a Fake Proxy

This is the “classic” method of blocking internet access for Internet Explorer. Windows supports the use of a proxy server to connect to the internet. You can take advantage of this to block all network traffic by pointing your computer to a dummy proxy server.

Unfortunately, this trick has a major drawback. Nearly all other browsers (including Chrome and Firefox) use the proxy settings you’ve chosen for Internet Explorer, meaning that doing this will prevent you from getting online with other browsers too. It’s thus almost too effective, as you’ll need to remove the setting when you want to get online.

To change your proxy settings in Windows 10, head to Settings > Network & Internet > Proxy. Here, disable the Automatically detect settings slider at the top of the page.

Next, go to the bottom and enable Use a proxy server. Set the Address to a dummy value; 0.0.0.0 will work fine. Leave the Port as 80 and click Save.

After saving, these changes should take effect immediately. To reverse them so you can get back online, just disable the Use a proxy server slider.

Prevent Others From Changing the Proxy

It would be an issue if someone could jump into the Settings app and disable the proxy options you’ve set up. To prevent this, you can block access to these settings.

If you’re using Windows 10 Pro, you can do this using the Group Policy Editor. Type gpedit.msc into the Start menu to open it, then browse to the following object:

User Configuration > Administrative Templates > Windows Components > Internet Explorer > Prevent changing proxy settings

Set this to Enabled and it will block access to the Settings page used above, as well as the proxy settings in the old-school Internet Options section of the Control Panel.

Those without Windows 10 Pro should look at how to access the Group Policy Editor in Windows Home. While you can make similar changes via Registry edits instead, they’re a bit clunky for this due to the proxy settings being available in both the Control Panel and Settings app.

4. Use Windows 10’s Family Parental Controls

Windows 10 includes parental control options under the umbrella of “family.” This allows you to restrict what your children can do on the computer. One of the tools it provides is the ability to whitelist and blacklist certain websites using Internet Explorer and Edge.

If you check the Only allows these websites box, you can restrict them to only browsing those pages. Combine this with a blank list, and you’re effectively blocked Internet Explorer from accessing the internet. Of course, this only works for the child’s account, but it’s still useful.

See our guide to Windows 10’s parental controls to get started with setting up a family.

Setting Up the Right User Account

The above methods are the main ways to disable Internet Explorer and prevent it from getting online. Once you’ve set one of them up, it’s important to make sure the users that you don’t want accessing Internet Explorer can’t change these settings and get right in.

To do that, you’ll want to make sure those account are set up as Standard users, not administrators. Head to Settings > Accounts > Family & other users to review the user accounts on your system and make sure they’re set as Standard accounts.

Make sure you also understand User Account Control on Windows. With UAC, admin accounts only run programs as an administrator when necessary. Standard users can’t make system-level changes (such as adjusting firewall rules) without providing administrator credentials.

You’ll know a feature is restricted by UAC when you see the blue and yellow shield next to it. Unfortunately, these aren’t really present in the Settings app, as they mostly appear in the aging Control Panel.

With the proper methods set up and the right restrictions on user accounts, you’ll have Internet Explorer fully blocked. And there won’t be an easy way for someone else to undo your changes. See our guide to locking down Windows user accounts for more ideas.

Blocking Internet Explorer: Success!

We’ve looked at how to block Internet Explorer from accessing the internet. The firewall method is the best choice for most people, while outright removing it from Windows works too. Whatever you choose, make sure you have the accounts locked down that you don’t want accessing IE in the first place.

Remember that most of these tips are pretty narrow in focus. You may want to review our full guide to parental controls for protection on other platforms.

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The 5 Best Portable Web Browsers for Your USB Drive

Most computers you use every day will have a web browser pre-installed. However, there are times when you might need to use a portable browser instead.

Download our FREE Firefox shortcuts cheat sheet to boost your productivity 10x!

But which are the best portable web browsers? We’re going to introduce you to five standalone browsers that you can put on a USB drive and take anywhere.

Why Use a Portable Web Browser?

The use cases are more varied than you might think. For example, perhaps your school or office does not allow you to install browser extensions. If you want to use an ad-blocker or a browser-based VPN, that can be a problem.

Or perhaps you like using a niche browser that’s not typically available on public machines. Again, a portable version of the browser might provide the solution.

And remember, portable browsers will still work on all machines which do not allow you to install your own software.

Which Is the Best Portable Browser?

Convinced you about the benefits of keeping a lightweight, portable browser close by on a flash drive? Good. But which one is the best?

Let’s take a look at our top five favorite portable browsers.

1. Opera Portable

Available on: Windows, macOS

Opera offers an easy-to-use standalone portable browser for Windows.

There are no differences between the desktop version and the portable version. That means you can enjoy all Opera’s best features such as ad-blocking, personal newsreader, and the battery saver. All your bookmarks, extensions, and data will only save to your profile on the USB drive, not to the host computer.

You can also make Opera work as a portable web browser for macOS, but it’s a bit trickier to set up:

1. Download and mount the image of the regular version of Opera for macOS.
2. Drag Opera from the disk image to your USB drive.
3. Open the Terminal app and type /Contents/MacOS/Opera -createsingleprofile.
4. Press Enter.

There is no portable version of Opera for Linux, though you can use Wine to get the app to work.

Download: Opera Portable for Windows | Opera for macOS (Free)

2. Firefox

Available on: Windows, Linux (with Wine)

A portable version of Firefox for Windows has been available since 2004. It was the first app to become available on the now popular PortableApps.com website. You cannot download it from the main Firefox page.

Most of the best Firefox features are available, including extensions and automatic updating. Due to speed issues when updating an app on a USB drive, you can turn on the update prompt if you wish. The portable version of the browser also lets you access your own bookmarks and preferred settings.

Some of the key differences between the desktop version of Firefox and the standalone browser include the addition of a default profile, the removal of the default browser check at start-up, a location prompt for every download, and the removal of the disk cache.

Firefox Portable will work with Wine on UNIX systems.

Download: Firefox Portable for Windows (Free)

3. Vivaldi Standalone

Available on: Windows

Vivaldi can be deployed as a portable browser on a USB drive. This time, however, the option to create a standalone version of the browser has been coded into the main app’s installer; there is no separate download.

To set up a portable version of Vivaldi, you first need to grab the app from the company’s official website. Once you’ve downloaded it, follow the step-by-step instructions below.

1. Run the Vivaldi installer.
2. On the first window, select Advanced.
3. In the Installation type dropdown menu, select Install standalone.
4. Choose a destination folder. You can run it on a USB drive, CD, or even in another Windows directory if you want two versions of the app on your operating system. Do not select the Program Files folder.
5. Hit Accept.

Unlike some of the other browsers on this list, your Vivaldi extensions will not be transferred to the portable version of the app. They are encrypted with a computer-specific key.

Download: Vivaldi Standalone for Windows (Free)

4. Avant Browser USB Disk Version

Available on: Windows

Avant Browser USB Disk Version is one of the most lightweight portable web browsers. You will struggle to find any browser on the Windows operating system with lower memory usage.

Some of the browser’s other key features include:

• Video Sniffer: You can download a video off any webpage with a single click.
• Split View: Both the desktop and portable version of Avant offer the Split View feature. You can use it to view—and browse—two different sites at the same time.
• Synced Bookmarks: Your bookmarks will be available on all your Avant apps.
• RSS Reader: If you’re looking for a native and reliable RSS reader, Avant offers a solid solution.

The only significant difference between the desktop browser and the portable browser is where user profiles are saved. On the portable version, they are in the same folder as the Avant app.

Download: Avant Browser USB Disk Version for Windows (Free)

5. Comodo IceDragon

Available on: Windows

Comodo IceDragon is based on Firefox. It has a full desktop version and a portable browser version for Windows.

Of course, Comodo is best known for its anti-virus software, so it’s no surprise to find the browser packed with security features.

The most appealing feature is arguably its secure DNS service. All users can access Comodo’s DNS servers for free. Aside from faster browsing, Comodo’s DNS users will also benefit from malware domain filtering, a real-time block list of harmful websites, and a reduction in DNS poisoning attacks.

In terms of installation, Comodo takes the same approach as Vivaldi. You need to download the regular version of the app, then tick the box labeled Portable version (user profile is stored in destination folder) during the setup process.

Download: Comodo IceDragon for Windows (Free)

Warning: Avoid the Chromium Portable Web Browser

We used to recommend Chromium as one of the best portable browsers; many sites still do. Sadly, it’s no longer a good idea. It hasn’t been updated since July 2017 and runs on Chromium version 61. No further updates are planned.

Older browsers are notorious for being security nightmares. If you run a browser that’s several years old, you’re asking for trouble.

The Best Portable Browser for USB Drives

So, which is the best portable browser? For us, it’s a toss-up between Opera and Firefox. For Windows users, the easy-to-run USB version of Opera is appealing, but long-time Firefox users might struggle to pull themselves away.

To learn more about portable apps, check out our other article on the best portable apps that don’t require installation and our explanation of how portable apps can make your life easier.

Image Credit: karandaev/Depositphotos

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The 6 Best Cashback Apps That Reward You for Shopping

Who doesn’t want to earn money for making purchases? It might seem unrealistic to actually make money from shopping, but cashback apps make it possible.

Cashback apps reward you for shopping—so the more you shop, the more cash, coupons, and rewards you receive. If you’re ready to start putting money back in your wallet, check out these awesome cashback apps that will pay you based on what you spend.

1. Ibotta

If you want access to cashback at most major retailers and restaurants, download Ibotta—you’ll earn $20 just for signing up! Just check your Ibotta app before your next shopping trip.

The app displays the cashback you can earn by purchasing specific items. For example, if you buy a dozen eggs at any of Ibotta’s partners (like Walmart, Target, and CVS, among others), you’ll receive $0.25 cashback. While that may not seem like a lot of money, it all adds up.

You can also search for cashback offers by store. Once you complete your shopping trip, simply take a photo of your receipt and upload it to the app. Conversely, you can also pay with Ibotta to instantly earn cashback.

If you want to earn even more cash, head to the Earn more tab. Complete enough challenges, and you’ll get bonuses. When you’re ready to cash out, you can receive your hard-earned money through PayPal, Venmo, or gift cards. You can also use Ibotta from your browser, making it one of the best cashback sites around.

Download: Ibotta for Android | iOS (Free)

2. Checkout51

Checkout51 only offers cashback at grocery stores, but that doesn’t make it any less awesome. Unlike other cashback apps, it doesn’t always limit you to specific stores; most offers allow you to spend them at any grocery store. On the other hand, some deals are only for certain stores like CVS, Target, Walmart, Kroger, Safeway, Publix, Babies R Us, and more.

Each week, Checkout51 updates its offers. Instead of cutting coupons, you can claim offers, buy those items, and upload a photo of your receipt. The next time you create your shopping list, make sure to include the app’s featured items!

You can claim most offers up to five times, giving you even more bang for your buck. Turn on your location when you’re shopping, and Checkout51 will instantly provide you with any in-store offers.

Download: Checkout51 for Android | iOS (Free)

3. GetUpside

Tired of paying full price for your gas? GetUpside offers cashback opportunities at the pump. While it does offer cashback at restaurants and grocery stores, those offers are only available in select cities and states. GetUpside is best used for fuel, and it can save you a lot of money in the long run.

GetUpside automatically detects your location and shows you offers at nearby gas stations—you can end up saving up to 25 cents per gallon. Once you claim an offer, you only have three hours to redeem it, so make sure you don’t claim it until you’re ready. After you pump gas, grab your receipt and upload it to the app.

GetUpside doesn’t only work when filling up your tank. You can also receive some money back from car washes and certain services. Cash out at any time, and receive your money through PayPal, a check, or an e-gift card.

Download: GetUpside for Android | iOS (Free)

4. Belly

Belly is an all-in-one rewards card. Instead of functioning as a regular rewards card for a big-box store, it works as a rewards system for local shops. The only catch is that the stores you shop at, and the services you receive, have to be associated with Belly.

You can find participating stores on Belly’s map. When you arrive at the location, simply scan your app on the iPad it has. This will send loyalty points straight to your app.

After you rack up enough points, you can redeem them for awesome rewards at the locations you frequent most. Just keep in mind that if you live outside of a large city, you might not have as many participating shops.

Download: Belly for Android | iOS (Free)

5. Dosh

Dosh functions a lot like Ibotta, except it allows for in-person and online cashback deals. Simply link your card to the app, shop at your favorite retailers and restaurants, and earn cashback.

Dosh supports deals for locations like JCPenney, Denny’s, Forever 21, Sephora, and more. To view the full list of retailers, you’ll have to download the app. You’ll be surprised at the opportunities it offers—you can even get money back by booking a hotel!

The app gives you the chance to earn up to 10 percent cashback for spending at retailers, while you can earn up to 40 percent cashback by making a hotel reservation. All this cash will appear in your Dosh wallet, which you can redeem at any time.

Download: Dosh for Android | iOS (Free)

6. Shopkick

Shopkick doesn’t give send cold hard cash back to your wallet, but it does provide you with plenty of gift cards in exchange for shopping in-store and online. So far, the app has rewarded its users with a total of $78 million in the form of gift cards.

With Shopkick, you don’t earn points; you earn “kicks.” All you have to do is download the app, and you’ll immediately receive a $5 gift card. From there, you can start getting more kicks by opening the app in stores, scanning the barcodes of the items on the app, purchasing those items, and scanning your receipt.

Shopkick will also present you with daily shopping challenges that send you on a scavenger hunt for kicks. You can redeem your kicks at several popular stores and restaurants. Using the gift cards you earn from this app will help you save money and shop smarter at Amazon, Target, Walmart, and more.

Download: Shopkick for Android | iOS (Free)

Earn Money While You Shop

Before going on your next shopping spree, make sure to download some of these cashback apps. Doubling up on them definitely doesn’t hurt, as it’ll help you maximize your cashback rewards.

Keep in mind that a cashback app isn’t the only easy way to earn money. You can also get more cash by filling out online surveys. Check out some legitimate survey sites that will pay you for your opinion.

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Take Better Smartphone Movies, with the FeiyuTech Vimble2 Gimbal

Our verdict of the FeiyuTech Vimble 2:
The Vimble 2 is a competent little gimbal. It's affordable, easy to use, and comes in a variety of colors. What more do you need from a smartphone gimbal?910

Gimbals are everywhere now. They used to be big heavy devices limited to the domain of professional filmmakers, but heavy competition has driven prices down and made smooth videography accessible to all. FeiyuTech is no stranger to the gimbal market, and the Vimble 2 represents a culmination of years of design and development. Retailing for $89, is this smartphone gimbal a hidden gem, or should you look elsewhere? Here’s what we think.

Don’t forget to enter our giveaway contest at the end of this review, where we have a Vimble 2 you could win to make smooth smartphone videos of your own.

Specifications

The Vimble 2 features:

• 7oz (200g) maximum payload
• Measures 4.64 x 4.35 x 12.71 inches (118 x 110.5 x 323mm)
• Weighs 15oz (428g)
• 5 hour battery life (9.62 Wh)/2 hour charging time
• Automatic balancing

Vimble 2 Design and Style

The Vimble 2 is a 3-axis stabilized handheld gimbal for smartphones. It’s not pocket-sized, but it will fit into a small bag without much trouble. On the surface, the Vimble 2 looks like any other gimbal. It features an adjustable clamp to hold your phone, a handle to grab on to, and a smattering of electronic controls. On the front, you’ll find a joystick for positioning the motors, along with a power button, shutter button (to start or stop recordings), and a lens zoom control.

The Micro-USB charging port is on the left of this main control panel, and it’s possible to operate this gimbal while it is charging if you use a portable power bank. Finally, the rear of the main handle contains a trigger, which you can hold to change the operation of the gimbal. The bottom houses a standard 1/4-20 tripod mount—just like you’ll find on any camera.

The phone holder is able to accommodate phones as large as the Huawei P9 or Google Pixel 3 XL, providing you remain within the weight limit. This spring-loaded clamp grips your phone, ensuring a stable grip in all but the harshest of movements. It can rotate and “lock” through 90 degrees, enabling you to shoot photos and videos in either portrait or landscape mode. The motors are angled in such a way that you can see the screen at all times, and use either the front or rear cameras.

If you’re after a gimbal to match your outfit, then the Vimble 2 is exactly what you need. It comes in a choice of four colors, including Space Gray, Sakura Pink, Snow White, and Dark Black. If that’s not enough, it comes with a semi-rigid foam case, a mini tripod that attaches to the bottom, and a wrist strap. No mains charger is included, however.

The Vimble 2 is hiding a special party trick. Inside this ordinary looking gimbal is a selfie stick of sorts. By pulling the motors and phone mount away from the main controller, you expose the telescopic extension. This extends the gimbal an extra 7 inches (180mm). This lets you get the perfect angle for selfies, low-angle videos, or cinematic shots peering over walls. iPhone 11 Slothie anyone?

The best feature of the Vimble 2 is balancing—you don’t need to do it! Gimbals operate through a balancing act between camera/smartphone, and the electrical trickery provided by the accelerometer and the brushless motors. Gimbals designed for cinema cameras, DSLRs, or even mirrorless cameras need perfect precision with your camera placement, and the slightest change such as removing the lens cap is often enough to upset the delicate balance.

This gimbal is so easy to use because you don’t have to think about the balance. Providing you don’t mount your smartphone at an extreme angle, the motors are powerful enough to handle any phone you can fit on it. This makes setting up and using the gimbal so much more enjoyable than other gimbals and means you are more likely to use it. We wish all gimbals had this feature.

Using the Vimble 2

Once you’ve installed your mobile phone and fired up your camera app of choice, you’re ready to get started. Vimble 2 is very simple to use. Simply by pointing at things you want to film produces smooth results. Far smoother than those possible by holding your phone yourself. This lightweight gimbal is perfect for vlogging (when paired with a suitable microphone). Gone are the days of shaky video, and this affordable device won’t leave you tired after a day of filming.

While pointing a camera at stuff can produce good results, you can get some excellent footage by planning your shots first, and by taking advantage of the unparalleled freedom of movement offered by this wonder-contraption. By moving around subjects in the foreground, or angling the camera ultra-low to get an interesting perspective, you can begin to elevate your videos from good to great. When combined with these cinematic camera tricks, a gimbal can make your videos shine.

By using the joystick on the front you can manipulate the angle of the motors, but I wouldn’t recommend this. These forced motor movements are are rarely smooth. It takes great skill to ramp up to speed and then back down. If you’re not careful, the movement starts and then stops, in a very mechanical and forced looking way. This isn’t the Vimble’s fault. While this problem is less visible on higher-end models ($500+), it still plagues most gimbals. It looks and feels unnatural, and should be avoided at all costs.

The strategically positioned trigger lets you lock one axis. This is perfect for moving the camera vertically or horizontally while restricting movement on one axis. Triggers are making their way into many gimbals now such as the Moza Air 2. To find a trigger on a sub-$100 gimbal is impressive.

Moving on to the telescopic selfie bar, you may be disappointed. It’s not terrible, but it introduces an extra wobble which is not present normally. The flexibility offered for group selfies, extra-low videos or spying over fences may be worth it to you. Due to the slimline nature of the telescopic parts, it’s more unstable than the rest of the product. Still, it’s a nice feature to have.

Should You Buy the FeiyuTech Vimble 2?

The Vimble 2 is one capable little gimbal. While the extension bar is little more than a gimmick, it’s very affordable, and instantly improves your video quality, no matter how modern your camera is, or how experienced you are. It does not need balancing, has a good battery life, and is well made. There is very little to dislike about the Vimble 2. We recommend this to anyone looking to buy a gimbal for the first time.

If you’d like to win a Vimble 2, then all you have to do is enter our giveaway contest below. Make sure you read all the rules for the chance to enter more than once, and good luck!

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FeiyuTech Vimble2 Gimbal Giveaway

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