Risking Your Privacy Is More Fun Than the Librem 5

Our verdict of the Purism Librem 5 :
With a solid operating system and privacy-focused hardware kill switches, the Librem 5 is bulkier than expected and eats through battery. While the philosophy behind the phone is sound, Librem 5 is unlikely to be picked up by anyone other than Linux users and privacy advocates.510

Smartphones deliver untold conveniences into our lives, barely thought of 20 years ago. Mobile internet, email, social networking, gaming, productivity, shopping, even media production. The list goes on—but it comes with a price.

Your phone is tracking you. GPS can detect your position; the mic and camera can eavesdrop; online services record your activity. We’ve traded privacy for convenience at a slow-burning rate that continues to smolder.

Social purpose technology company Purism believes it can change this. It’s developed Librem 5, a Linux-based smartphone with built-in kill switches for internet, Wi-Fi and Bluetooth, as well as the camera and microphone.

It sounds promising, but does the Librem 5 deliver on the promise of a “security and privacy-focused phone” that can replace your Android or iPhone?

What’s Inside the Librem 5?

Two versions of the Librem 5 have been announced: Librem 5, and Librem 5 USA. Purism kindly sent us the original Librem 5 for review.

Inside the phone is a Quad-core Cortex A53, 64bit ARM CPU running at a maximum 1.5GHz. 3GB of RAM is also squeezed in, with a Vivante GC7000Lite GPU. The Librem 5 has 32GB eMMC storage with a microSD card slot for up to 2TB more.

Also behind the 5.7-inch 720×1440 IPS TFT display is a choice of baseband radio (Gemalto PLS8 or Broadmobi BM818), nanoSIM tray, 802.11 a/b/g/n Wi-Fi, and Bluetooth 4. The phone features a TESEO LIV3 multi-constellation GNSS GPS receiver. Note that NFC is not included. However, there is a nine-axis accelerometer, (gyro, accel, magnetometer) and ambient light and proximity sensor.

Two ports are included: a USB-C input for power, data, and DisplayPort, and the “Courage Jack”. This is a 3.5mm headphone jack—Purism states that unlike established competitors, it has “no intention of doing vendor lock-in.”

The Librem 5 features a removable back panel. Here you can access the user replaceable 3,500mAh battery.

As you look at the phone in your hand, the right-hand side features a power button and volume buttons. The left side features the kill switches. These are for Wi-Fi, cellular, and the cameras and mic. Activating all three kill also disable GPS.

An RGB LED is provided for notifications and the phone features two cameras: a front facing 8MP camera and a 13MP main cam with LED flash.

The review device we received included the Librem 5 phone, a USB-C to USB-C cable, mains adaptor, and earbuds.

Do You Need a Secure Phone?

Your phone is leaking data about you all the time. Either that data is recorded by Google, Apple, Facebook, Amazon, or any number of online entities, or your mobile provider is logging activity. A VPN is a smart way to encrypt internet activity, but that doesn’t stop GPS, cellular and Wi-Fi positioning. Cameras and mics aren’t easily encrypted either.

The Librem 5 is described as “a security and privacy focused phone” and comes with software trackers disabled by default.

Throw in the kill switches, the Linux operating system, free and open source software, and drivers, and Librem 5 is secure in a way other phones cannot hope to be.

While it’s straightforward enough to disable GPS, cellular and wireless on an Android or iPhone, kill switches simplify it and give peace of mind. These physical switches can enhance security and privacy wherever you are.

Meanwhile, the Librem 5 is almost unique in not relying on any chips compromised by the Meltdown or Spectre vulnerabilities. This alone makes it more secure than many devices.

Operating System and Software

It doesn’t run Android or iOS—so what is running on the Librem 5?

PureOS is a Linux distribution maintained by Purism for its own devices. Based on Debian, this is an operating system with a focus on privacy. For example, the default web browser is Mozilla Firefox with DuckDuckGo providing search.

First impressions are odd. After logging in what you see is a blank home screen. The only indication of what comes next is a single chevron, a keyboard icon, and notification icons at the top. Quick note about the keyboard—having it accessible on every screen is an excellent idea. Sadly, implementation of text entry is terrible, from finger accuracy to access to secondary characters. A software keyboard that works shouldn’t be a big ask.

While the app drawer is easy to access via an upward swipe, the Librem 5 is short on apps. Linux apps are available for almost every purpose, but few are suitable for the phone user interface. Happily, HTML5 web apps run the browser. Meanwhile a small number of dedicated apps and games are also available.

In addition, standard Linux apps with ARM compatibility can also run. These are subject to hardware and privacy limitations, however. For example, capturing a screenshot from the Librem 5 proved impossible.

However, a word of warning. The Librem 5’s Linux phone predecessors running on Ubuntu Touch struggled with the reliance on web apps. While in theory web apps are preferable to apps that install on your device demanding resources, they’re slightly less usable. The comparative speed of Firefox limits things further—it’s unclear whether the seemingly slow browser is limited pending optimization tweaks.

Our review of the Librem 5 has taken several weeks, partly due to battery limitations. The review device seemed prone to running dry with just a few hours use. Regardless, I was able to spend more time than usual evaluating the phone and how it feels to use.

Overall, the user experience of the Librem 5 is pleasant—it’s just that using it as a phone is currently limited.

Updates Philosophy for the Librem 5

Purism has clearly spent a lot of time considering the state of the smartphone industry. From the challenge of providing an alternative mobile operating system to working to enhance security and privacy for users, there is much to reflect upon.

An issue with iOS and Android (and other platforms) that is often overlooked is that of updates. Consequently, Purism states it will provide security updates, privacy improvements, bug fixes, and new features for the device’s lifetime.

This is a welcome change from the Apple and Google approach of issuing updates that only cover recent releases.

Booting Librem 5

Switching on the phone is as simple as you would expect. Hold the power button for a second, and it boots up—remarkably fast. I timed it at five seconds, which is about as fast as you can expect for any phone.

At times, however, I found that the Librem 5 would not boot. Despite my initial concerns, this wasn’t a power issue; I tried reseating the battery, recharging again, the usual tricks. Fortunately, I was directed to a support page revealing the solution. Within seconds the phone was up and running.

While frustrating, this support issue was nevertheless effectively solved. Having support pages in place for the phone at this stage is good news for all users of the Librem 5.

But this bulky phone gets hot when charging. No doubt an issue for future correction, you basically need to power if off before plugging in to charge.

Using Librem 5 for Calls

With so few options on the software side, the Librem 5 handles calls and contacts reasonably well.

However, call volume is impossible to change while the call is taking place. Meanwhile, speaker mode is… disappointing to say the least. It appears to push the same audio through the main speaker at exactly the same volume as the call.

So while calls are easy enough to make, and the audio quality is good, basic accessibility suffers.

As a phone you can pick up and take with you, the Librem 5 is unsurprisingly chunky. It weighs 230 grams, a good 100 grams more than average, although this is due to the components and build materials. It feels comfortable in the hand, however, which is always a good thing.

A Glimpse of the Future

The Librem 5 promises much, a whole new attitude towards digital privacy. But there is a long way to go. There’s no working camera app at this stage; the browser is slow; battery life is terrible; desktop convergence mode is absent. Call volume is strangely quiet and speaker mode follows suit.

At this stage, the Librem 5 is far from a write-off, however. In terms of using it as a basic phone, the hardware is sound. The privacy aspects are sound. But it feels that PureOS offers less of a mobile experience than Ubuntu Touch did (and UBPorts continues to do).

While the Librem 5 is available to buy today, it is important to appreciate that it remains a work in progress.

An Ultra-Secure Linux Phone With Potential

Open source phones have long been touted as a secure and workable alternative to Android and iPhone. Firefox OS, Meego, and others have been and gone, while previous Linux attempts such as UBPorts have stalled.

The Librem 5 represents an opportunity to change the way we use mobiles. Having the option to physically disable key tracking and surveillance hardware on your phone is obviously a massive advantage.

For this, however, you sacrifice the convenience that comes with an Android or iOS phone.

Like many others, I really want this phone to shape the future of smartphones and mobile technology. On this showing, it’s at least five years out of step. Purism’s good intentions are clear, but the Librem 5 is a far cry from the quality of its laptops. More worryingly for Purism, there’s a strong chance its efforts could be overshadowed by the PinePhone, another Linux project that is far more affordable.

Do we want a future where we have granular control over privacy? Of course we do. And that’s why Librem 5 must be admired. As a concept, it sounds great on paper, but in practice, it leaves much to be desired.

Ultimately, Librem 5 is a privacy-focused phone that limits you to HTML5 apps and a few bundled Linux tools. There is a lot to like here, but not enough for the Librem 5 to go mainstream.

Read the full article: Risking Your Privacy Is More Fun Than the Librem 5

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How to Group FaceTime on Your Mac, iPhone, or iPad

FaceTime offers one of the most secure ways to video call your friends, family, and coworkers. If everyone has an iPhone, iPad, iPod touch, or Mac, you can have group FaceTime chats with up to 32 people for free.

Below we explain everything you need to know about how to use group FaceTime calls. That includes starting a new call, managing your mic or camera settings, and troubleshooting common problems.

How to Start a Group FaceTime Call

FaceTime is one of several stock iOS apps that comes installed on your device by default. Its icon looks like a green video camera. If you deleted FaceTime from your iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch, you can download it again for free from the App Store.

Download: FaceTime for iOS (Free)

To start a new call with FaceTime, open the app, tap the Add (+) button, and type the contact you want to call. On a Mac, use the search bar that appears to find your contacts. Add as many contacts to the call as you want; FaceTime supports up to a maximum of 32 people, including yourself.

Then tap or click the Audio or Video buttons to start the group FaceTime call. The Audio button starts a call without turning your camera on, but you can turn it on at a later time if you want to. If you definitely don’t want to use video, find out how to run an iPhone conference call using the Phone app instead.

When adding people in the FaceTime app, you can search for their name, phone number, or email address. If someone isn’t saved to your contacts, type out their full phone number or email address instead.

FaceTime only lets you add contacts who show up in blue. This happens when their Apple ID is linked to the contact details you entered and their Apple device is currently online.

Unfortunately, FaceTime isn’t available for Android devices.

Start a Group FaceTime Call From Messages

You can also start a group FaceTime call from the Messages app. This is a much more convenient method if you already have a group chat with everyone you want to call. That’s because it’s quicker to get started and lets people join at a later stage without you needing to add them.

To do so, open the group chat in Messages, then reveal the Details for that chat by tapping the profile pictures at the top of the screen. Tap or click the FaceTime icon to call everyone in the group chat over FaceTime.

If some people decline the call at first, they can join again later by returning to the group chat in Messages. This shows an icon letting you know how many people are currently in the call, with a green button to Join the call as well.

How to Use Group FaceTime on iPhone, iPad, or Mac

After starting a group FaceTime call, you’ll find yourself greeted with a selection of square video feeds from each of your contacts. If someone turns their camera off, their initials appear in a box instead of their video feed.

FaceTime automatically arranges the video feeds on your screen to let you see everyone at once. When that isn’t possible without making each feed too small, FaceTime dynamically changes the size of each feed depending on who’s talking. The aim is to enlarge the feed when people start talking so you can see them better, but it doesn’t work perfectly.

You can always take control of this manually by tapping or clicking on someone to make their video larger. Doing so also reveals a fullscreen button, which enlarges the feed and moves it to the center of your screen.

Control the Camera, Microphone, and Speaker in FaceTime

On a Mac, hover your mouse over the FaceTime window to show basic FaceTime controls, then click the Sidebar icon to reveal more controls. On an iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch, tapping in a blank space reveals controls at the bottom of your screen; swipe up to expand these controls for more options.

Tap the Mute button (shown by a microphone with a line through it) to mute yourself. This turns off your microphone so other people can’t hear what you’re saying.

Similarly, tap the Camera Off button (shown by a camera with a line through it) to turn off your camera. Unless you also muted yourself, people should still be able to hear you.

On an iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch you also get a Flip and a Speaker option. The Flip button switches from the front-facing to the rear-facing camera on your device. And the Speaker button lets you send the audio to other speakers on your network, like Apple’s HomePod.

Add More People to Your Group FaceTime Call

You can keep adding new people to an existing FaceTime call until you reach 32 participants. To do so on an iOS device, tap in a blank space and swipe up on the control panel that appears. On a Mac, open the sidebar in the FaceTime app.

This panel shows everyone in the call, including people you called who didn’t pick up. Use the Ring button next to these contacts to try calling them again.

Alternatively, use the Add Person option to search for new contacts to add to the call. Search for their name, phone number, or email address, just like when you started the FaceTime call. Then tap the Add Person to FaceTime button to bring them in.

Add Effects to Your FaceTime Call

If you’re using an iPhone 7 or later, you can add camera effects to your FaceTime calls. These include Animoji, filters, text, shapes, and various stickers. All you need to do is tap in a blank space, then hit the Effects button.

Select the type of effect you want to add from the toolbar at the bottom of the screen. Certain effects, like text or stickers, let you choose where to place them on your video feed using drag-and-drop.

You can add as many effects as you want, even combining your Animoji with a filter and some stickers if you wish. To go back to normal, tap the Effects button again to remove all the effects at once.

What to Do If Group FaceTime Isn’t Working

FaceTime is one of the best ways to start a group video call, but it still isn’t perfect. It’s not uncommon for FaceTime to refuse to call particular contacts or struggle with weak connection issues.

Here’s how to fix some of the most common problems with group FaceTime calls.

Check Your Internet Connection

FaceTime works best over Wi-Fi. Open the Settings app and tap on Wi-Fi to make sure you’re connected to a Wi-Fi network, then try loading a video on YouTube to check that connection is working properly. If you can’t get online, restart your router, run through our network troubleshooting steps, then contact your internet service provider if you need more help.

To use FaceTime over mobile data on your iPhone or iPad, you need to allow this in the settings. Go to Settings > Cellular, then scroll down to see a list of apps. Turn on the FaceTime toggle to let it use your cellular data.

Turn FaceTime Off and On Again

On an iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch go to Settings > FaceTime, then use the FaceTime toggle to turn the service off. On a Mac, open the FaceTime app and go to FaceTime > Preferences from the menu bar, then uncheck the Enable this account box.

Wait 30 seconds before turning FaceTime on again from the same settings page, then try to call again.

Update Your Operating System

Outdated software causes all kinds of FaceTime problems. You might find that you can’t call particular contacts, use camera effects, or open FaceTime at all. You can usually fix these issues by applying the latest free software update.

On an iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch go to Settings > General > Software Update. Then download and install any available software updates for your device. On a Mac, open the Apple menu and go to System Preferences > Software Update to check for new updates.

Use a Third-Party App to Call Non-Apple Devices

FaceTime’s biggest problem is that it’s not available on anything aside from Apple devices. You can’t download FaceTime for Android or Windows, which means there are likely lots of people in your life who you can’t add to a FaceTime group call.

Luckily, there are plenty of third-party apps you can use instead. Here’s a list of the best apps for group conference calls. All of them are free, and there are plenty that work across multiple platforms.

Read the full article: How to Group FaceTime on Your Mac, iPhone, or iPad

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How to Share Your Screen on Mobile Using Skype

Since June 2019, Skype has let you share your screen on mobile. This was a popular feature on desktop, which led Microsoft to add screen sharing to the Skype mobile app for Android and iOS as well. And in this article we’ll show you how to do it.

Microsoft has allowed you to share your screen on Skype on desktop for a long time. This enables Skype users on Windows, Mac, and Linux to share their screen with others while in a video call. However, screen sharing was only added to Skype for mobile in 2019.

How to Share Your Skype Screen on Android and iOS

It’s very simple to share your screen on mobile using Skype. When you’re in a Skype call, whether on Android or iOS, just tap the ... more button followed by the screen sharing button that looks like two screens, one directly behind the other.

On Android, that’s it. However, on iOS, you’ll see a confirmation window where you need to select Skype then Start Broadcasting. To stop sharing your screen on either mobile operating system, simply select the screen sharing button again.

As to why you would want to share your smartphone’s screen, there are various reasons, both personal and professional. Perhaps you want to shop online with friends, or collaborate with work colleagues on the go. Either way, screen sharing can help.

Screen sharing is supported on Android 6.0 and above and on iOS 12 and above. However, some older iOS devices won’t support this feature. Either way, you’ll need to make sure you have the latest version of Skype installed on your device.

Download: Skype on Android | iOS

The Best Free Skype Alternatives

Adding screen sharing to Skype is just the latest in a long line of improvements Microsoft has made in recent years. And we’re sure there’s more to come. However, Skype isn’t for everyone, so if you’re looking to switch here are the best free Skype alternatives.

Read the full article: How to Share Your Screen on Mobile Using Skype

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The 5 Best Headsets for Your Home Office

With so many of us now working from home, it makes sense to expand our out-of-office tech. Headsets make taking that important call a lot easier. Many of them come with noise-canceling features and enhanced audio capabilities. This means you can do your work distraction-free.

There are lots of headset options available to you. Here are our top five home office headsets to help keep your work running smoothly.

1. Jabra Evolve2 65

Jabra certainly knows its onions when it comes to office peripherals. One area in which they continue to excel is in the office headset market. The Jabra Evolve2 65 with desk stand illustrates this claim perfectly, offering superior audio for both calls and music alongside comfort and convenience. The headset is double-sided, so it has speakers for both ears. This is excellent for drowning out distractions.

Jabra has built upon its experience with the Evolve range and added some improvements with the Evolve2 65. These include the addition of three professional microphones. Also on board is Jabra’s advanced chipset, alongside its signal processing tech. This ensures clear calls time-after-time. A quick nudge of the mic to the vertical position even mutes your call in case of interruption.

The Evolve2 65 is wireless, giving you more freedom around your office space. It also comes with a handy desk stand, so you can charge the headset between use. Not that you’ll really need to during your working day; it packs a 37-hour battery life, so you’re not going to drop out of an important call suddenly.

2. BlueParrott B550-XT

BlueParrott B550-XT BlueParrott B550-XT Buy Now On Amazon $199.00

BlueParrott has been in the headset game for a long time, so it’s no surprise to find the BlueParrott B550-XT in our round-up. Long the go-to choice headset for users on the move, BlueParrott serves as a great choice if you want to expand your home office. The B550-XT is a great pick if you’re working from home and you have children.

The company claims that its headset cancels out 96 percent of background noise. So, now you can take that important client call without having to also listen to Paw Patrol on full blast. The wireless nature of the headset is enough to make it convenient, but it also features voice activation. This means you can answer calls just by saying, “Hello.”

BlueParrott’s B550-XT headset is made for comfort, so you can take full advantage of the 24-hour battery life. This means you won’t end up with painfully compressed ears if your call lasts a little longer than expected.

3. Plantronics Voyager 5200

Plantronics Voyager 5200 Plantronics Voyager 5200 Buy Now On Amazon $59.96

The Plantronics Voyager 5200 is the only in-ear headset in our round-up. However, don’t let that fool you as this little headset packs quite the punch. Just because it is small and compact doesn’t make it feature-free. Firstly, the Voyager 5200 boasts Alexa as an integrated voice assistant.

So, you can not only make and take calls with the headset, but you can control smart devices, too. The ability to take an important call while you, say, control your robot vacuum downstairs, is a godsend. Especially as you’re spending much of your time at home working.

The Voyager 5200 even comes with wind-detection tech. This means it will cancel out the noise of any windy gusts when outdoors. At least you can now conduct business from the comfort of your garden!

4. Sennheiser SDW 5016

Sennheiser SDW 5016 Sennheiser SDW 5016 Buy Now On Amazon $255.99

Sennheiser’s audio chops are pretty excellent. They’ve been going since the 1940s, so you can feel confident that the Sennheiser SDW 5016 headset is going to do the job. The Sennheiser SDW 5016 headset is one-sided. If you need to stay aware of your surroundings, these are ideal. Because they’re single-sided, they keep one ear free in case the doorbell rings while you’re in the middle of your call.

Offering premium audio quality, the headset is wireless, keeping your hands free for multi-tasking. It also comes with a desk stand, so you can charge the headphones when they’re not in use. This means that you can quickly pick up the headset and commence a call without getting tangled up in electrical wires.

The SDW 5016 also supports multiple devices, so you can connect it to your smartphone, tablet, and laptop. You can even connect it to a compatible office phone if you have one at home. One of the best things about the SDW 5016 charging base is that it can connect to multiple devices. If you live with someone who is also a business partner, this can make conference calling incredibly easy and efficient.

5. Mpow M5 Pro Bluetooth Headset

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Like the Sennheiser above, the Mpow M5 Pro Bluetooth Headset is a single-sided device. This makes it perfect for multi-tasking, as you can concentrate on your call and still hear when your coffee is fully-brewed. The brand is a firm favorite for truckers, so there is no reason why you shouldn’t invest in this budget headset.

The headset features Active Noise Cancellation (ANC) technology, which means calls will be crisp, clear, and free of undesired noise. The ANC features will eliminate any background chatter. So, you can stay focused on the task at hand yet still maintain an awareness of your surroundings.

The 18-hour talk time means you can pester your clients and colleagues for an entire working day, should you so desire. If you do happen to run low on battery, the M5 Pro comes with a handy desk stand. This doubles up as your charging station, so you’ll never need to miss closing that important deal.

The Right Headset for You

With so many different features on the go, choosing the right headset for your needs can be a bit of a minefield. The selection above covers a wide range of different needs, so you shouldn’t have too much difficulty picking some out.

If your quest for enhanced office space continues, why not take a look at the best cooling pads for your laptop?

Read the full article: The 5 Best Headsets for Your Home Office

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The Best Social VR Experiences to Hang Out With Friends

When trying to stay in touch with friends, you aren’t limited to video chats. You can actually spend time in the same room as your friends without seeing them in real life.

Do you want to hang out with your friends in a virtual space? Then convince them to invest in a VR headset, and have a blast using one of these fun social VR experiences.

1. Rec Room

Rec Room is one of the best free VR games for Oculus and other major VR headsets. In Rec Room, you and your friends become cartoonish versions of your actual selves.

You can opt to spend some time in the Rec Center, where you can meet other players and interact with the objects in the room (like the frisbee or basketball). If you want to get some virtual sunlight, you can also go to the Park, another public space outfitted with a gazebo, campfire, playfield, and more.

For a more private experience with your friends, you’ll want to head into your own room that you can create using the game’s built-in room builder. Don’t have the time to build a room? Fortunately, you can also choose from the thousands of custom rooms created by other players.

While you can just use these rooms to chill out and chat, Rec Room gets even more fun when you try its minigames. When you’re ready for action, you can play virtual paintball, capture the flag, laser tag, battle royale, dodgeball, disc golf, charades, and more.

Although Rec Room is best played with a VR headset, you can still play it without one using Screen Mode.

Download: Rec Room on Steam | PS VR | Oculus Rift | Oculus Quest | iOS (Free)

2. VRChat

VRChat is one of the most chaotically fun social experiences in VR. This game allows you to create your own avatar from scratch using Unity. If you never used this software, it’s a great time to start looking at some Unity 3D tutorials for beginners.

With a custom avatar, there are no limits on what you can become—embody your favorite cartoon or video game character, or even play as a mythical creature. As you talk and move, your avatar’s mouth and limbs move with you.

Learning Unity also comes in handy if you’re interested in creating worlds in VRChat. However, you don’t have to be an expert at Unity in order to have fun—there are plenty of player-created worlds you can instantly hop into. Whether you want to visit a virtual Japanese shrine, dance inside of a club, or view YouTube videos in a theater, VRChat has the world for you.

As you explore each world with your friends, you’ll get the chance to see and meet tons of other players. For even more fun, you can play capture the flag, rob banks, sing karaoke, go bowling, and more.

Download: VRChat on Steam | Oculus Rift | Oculus Quest (Free)

3. PokerStars VR

When you’re unable to take a trip to a casino (or don’t want to gamble with real money), join your friends on PokerStars VR. While you can play this game without spending real money at all, just keep in mind that the game gives you the option to use real money to buy more chips.

In PokerStars VR, you can enter a luxurious casino, and sit down with friends for an intense game of Poker or Texas Hold’em. This game offers eight exotic casino locations, including a futuristic version of Macau, the Galaxy Space Station, Macau Suite, Showdown Saloon, the Void, PokerStars Arena, a volcanic lair, and the Monte-Carlo Yacht.

PokerStars VR acts just like an actual casino. While you’re busy sliding chips across the table, you can dress up your character, interact with props, order virtual food and drinks, or even smoke a cigar.

Buy It Now: PokerStars VR on Steam | Oculus Rift | Oculus Quest (Free)

4. AltspaceVR

Altspace VR is a hub for virtual meetups. You and your friends can choose to hang out in many different worlds, some of which include hot springs, an enchanted meadow, a cabin on a lake, a space museum, and a Brooklyn rooftop. If you’re feeling creative, you can create your own world as well.

In addition to serving as a great way to hang out with friends and watch YouTube videos together, Altspace hosts a variety of exciting events every day. Spend time with friends at an open mic night, a hilarious improv comedy show, or a relaxing meditation session.

You’ll also find a series of educational classes and presentations, as well as meetups of people who have the same hobbies or interests. To browse Altspace’s list of events, check out the event schedule on Altspace’s site.

Download: AltspaceVR on Steam | Oculus Rift | Oculus Quest | Oculus Go | Gear VR | Windows (Free)

5. vTime XR

After you create your avatar, you can enter the world of vTime XR. The game offers extensive avatar customization options as well as virtual gestures—that way, you can really feel like yourself. Not only can you use this VR experience to hang out with friends, but you can also meet new people from around the world.

In vTime XR, you can step into a variety of constantly changing destinations. vTime XR often swaps out these locations so you’ll never get bored hanging out in the same places over and over again.

Right now, vTime XR doesn’t include support for the HTC Vive or Valve Index. However, vTime XR prides itself on being a “cross-reality social network.” That means you can still hang out with friends in VR, AR, or with no headset at all in Magic Window mode.

Download: vTime XR for Oculus Rift | Oculus Go | Gear VR | Windows | iOS | Google VR | Daydream (Free)

Have Fun With Virtual Hangouts

Who says you need to see your friends in-person to have fun? These social VR experiences prove that hanging out with people from a distance can still be exciting. And they let you play sports, meet new people, and see amazing sights without ever leaving the comfort of your own house.

For even more ways to hang out with friends virtually, here’s how to play board games online with friends.

Read the full article: The Best Social VR Experiences to Hang Out With Friends

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