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Google confirms it has no plan to create a third Pixel-branded Chrome OS laptop http://ift.tt/2l9lBtg During the Mobile World Congress event in Barcelona, Spain, Google conducted a small meeting with journalists. Senior Vice President for Hardware Rick Osterloh took that time to reveal that, for now, Google has no plans to continue refreshing its Pixel-branded laptop family. The company isn’t making any additional units of the current Pixel 2015 models either, which have sold out. That said, head into Google Play’s Devices section and there is no sign of a Pixel-branded laptop. Instead, customers will find Chromebooks from third-party manufacturers. These includes the $449 Samsung Chromebook Plus, the $300 Acer Chromebook R11, the $300 Acer Chromebook 14, and more. More: Make the most out of Google with this list of ‘OK, Google’ voice commands But don’t let Google’s current withdrawal from the laptop market be misleading. The Chrome OS platform will continue as an alternative to Windows and MacOS. Osterloh said that Google has “the number two market share in the U.S. and U.K.” but there’s no plan to continue producing Google-branded laptops at this time. The claim is interesting given that the Windows platform dominates most of the PC market followed by MacOS 10.12 (2.75 percent) and Linux (2.27 percent). Regardless, Chromebooks are a big business in the educational and budget-friendly notebook sectors. Even more, owners love their Chromebooks due to their ease of use, their speed, and their stability. Google’s first Pixel laptop arrived in February 2013. Like its eventual successor, the unit served as a flagship for Chrome OS, showing what third-party manufacturers should strive for when creating their own Chomebook solutions. The second model arrived in March 2015, raising the bar with high-end components, loads of system memory, Wireless AC connectivity, and more. That said, Google’s Pixel Chromebooks didn’t come cheap. The original Pixel sold for $1,300 with Wi-Fi only and $1,450 for the LTE version. The two 2015 models weren’t quite as expensive, selling at $1,000 for the base configuration (i5-5200U, 8GB DDR3 memory, 32GB storage) and $1,200 for the LS configuration (i7-5500U, 16GB DDR3 memory, 64GB storage). Google simply may not need to produce another flagship product because the quality of affordable, third-party Chromebook solutions has increased over the years. The HP Chromebook 13 is a good example with a starting price of $500. The most expensive starting point ($1,040) consists of a sixth-generation Core m7-6Y75 processor, 16GB of system memory, 32GB of internal storage, and a 13.3-inch screen with a 2,560 x 1,440 resolution. Despite Google’s current pause in the laptop market, the Pixel name isn’t dead. Google’s Pixel-based smartphone has proven to be quite popular, causing supply issues and the inability to meet consumer demand. The company also has the Pixel C tablet for $600 which is based on Android 7.0 “Nougat” and not the Chrome OS. More Pixel devices could be on the way. Osterloh indicated that future products may don the Pixel name that are based on Google’s concept of building a product from the ground up that fuses together its own software and hardware. Laptops, it seems, aren’t part of the broader picture for now.
Digital Trends via Digital Trends http://ift.tt/mG1NBn February 28, 2017 at 11:58AM
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KnowRoaming’s virtual SIM makes global roaming a breeze with ZTE Blade V8 http://ift.tt/2lU6YXO If you’re an international traveler, you know that finding a cheap, reliable mobile network can be a challenge. First, there’s the matter of finding a plan that won’t nickel-and-dime you on international calls and texts.Then you have to switch your phone’s SIM for a compatible card. The lucky owners of ZTE’s Blade V8 won’t have to deal with those problems much longer, however. At Mobile World Congress in Barcelona, KnowRoaming, a tech firm that “delivers end-to-end solutions for global connectivity,” announced the launch of the KnowRoaming SoftSIM in the new ZTE Blade V8. Thanks to KnowRoaming’s virtual SIM technology, roaming with the ZTE Blade V8 is a cinch: Users can get unlimited data in 61 countries worldwide without the need for additional SIMs or hardware. (In the U.S., that excludes Verizon and Sprint.) More: Xiaomi Redmi Pro review “We’re proud to partner with ZTE to relieve Blade V8 users of the burden of high roaming fees, and provide the freedom and flexibility to stay connected no matter where they travel,” KnowRoaming CEO Gregory Gundelfinger said in a press release. Managing the SoftSIM is easy. The Blade V8’s native Roam Now app lets users manage real-time usage, choose the country, select the data package, top up their account with prepaid credit, and automatically connect to unlimited data in the aforementioned countries. KnowRoaming’s announcement comes on the heels of tech firm uCloudlink’s CloudSIM. It, like KnowRoamin’s SoftSIM, tricks your the phone into thinking a card has been inserted. But CloudSIM’s services are restricted to the Xiaomi’s Mi Max phone. And uCloudlink must regularly send a signal to a central server in order to detect which local network is the strongest at any given time. More: ZTE Blade V8 Pro: Our first take There’s also the matter of compatibility. Xiaomi phones aren’t sold in the U.S. and don’t support U.S. carrier bands, while the Alcatel and ZTE phones supported by KnowRoaming’s technology are confirmed to work for U.S. GSM carriers. The $240 Blade V8, for the uninitiated, is an affordable phone with uncompromising hardware. It sports a 5.5-inch 1,920 x 1,080 pixel screen, a Qualcomm Snapdragon 624 processor, 2GB of RAM, and 32GB of internal storage. Its dual-camera lens combines images from two adjacent 13-megapixel lenses to create a blurred background (bokeh) effect similar to that on the iPhone 7 Plus, and the 3,140mAh battery compatible with quick charging technology supplies about a day’s worth of juice. KnowRoaming’s Roam Now app will launch worldwide in the second quarter of this year, a company spokesperson said.
Digital Trends via Digital Trends http://ift.tt/mG1NBn February 28, 2017 at 11:58AM
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DT Daily MWC 2017: A 20-minute phone charge, Gear VR controller, Android One phone http://ift.tt/2m57dBs Mobile World Congress continued today, and while the major announcements have all been made, there’s lots of exciting new tech to discover out on the show floor. Here’s what we found on day two of MWC 2017. Meizu Super mChargeEven the fastest mobile phone charging systems still take at least 80 minutes to fully charge a battery, but Chinese smartphone brand Meizu has the cure for the impatient, power-hungry person. It’s called Super mCharge, and it’s a new battery charging technology that can take a 3,000mAh battery from zero to fully charged in just under 20 minutes. It’s clever, too, and generates little heat, ensuring it remains safe. Meizu intends to incorporate the tech into a phone later this year. Gear VR ControllerGoogle’s Daydream VR has its own remote, and it’s great, so now Samsung has come up with its own remote for the popular Gear VR headset. It’s shaped to fit in your hand and mimic the d-pad controller on the Gear VR. It comes with a trigger button, a back button, and a volume control. It uses Bluetooth to connect the to phone and several sensors to navigate around in virtual reality. We’re still waiting for a price and a release date, but it’s coming soon. Elliptic LabsUsing speakers and a microphone, Elliptic Labs Inner Peace technology uses ultrasonics to detect presence. This means if it’s used in a space like a living room, it could spot unexpected movements like those of an intruder. It can also monitor elderly relatives in case of a fall. Inner Peace will be integrated into smart home products next year. General Mobile GM 6The latest Android One phone, the General Mobile GM 6, is destined for launch in 22 markets around the world, where it introduces people to the joy of low-cost Android smartphone ownership. Like other Android One phones, it comes with Android 7.0 Nougat installed, and gets all the updates in a timely manner. The GM 6, which is coming out in May, has a 5-inch screen, a 3,000mAh battery, an 8-megapixel selfie cam, and a 13-megapixel rear camera. We’ll be back again tomorrow with more show-floor finds from Mobile World Congress 2017. Digital Trends via Digital Trends http://ift.tt/mG1NBn February 28, 2017 at 11:27AM
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Android One is back with General Mobile’s GM 6: Our first take http://ift.tt/2mb1oCU If you thought Android One was next on Google’s kill switch, think again. General Mobile just announced the GM 6, an Android One smartphone made in partnership with Google, and it underscores the need for the program to exist. Google launched the Android One program a few years ago to push its Android mobile operating system onto low-cost phones — but what differentiates devices under this program from other budget Android phones is how they run stock Android with a promise of updates straight from Google. The release of Android One devices have slowed to a crawl, but General Mobile has consistently partnered with Google to release Android One devices for the past few years. Familiar designThe 5-inch GM 6 feels compact in the hand, and the metal frame around it gives off a premium feel. The resemblance to Apple’s iPhone, however, is uncanny. That’s not a bad thing, though. The frame comes in rose gold-, gold-, and space gray-accented colors. More: Google’s ‘Android Global Village’ at MWC is all-out crazy this year There’s a home button on the front that doubles as a fingerprint sensor, which General Mobile said unlocks in 0.2 milliseconds. The power button is on the right, while the volume rocker is on the left. There’s a headphone jack on top of the device. The textured back is made of a rubber-like material, which offers a firm grip. Solid specsThe GM 6 has a 720p display, but it doesn’t look bad at all — largely due to the fact that it’s 5 inches. Some manufacturers use HD resolution on devices bigger than 5 inches and pixels start to become easily visible. It’s powered by MediaTek’s MT6737T processor with 3GB of RAM, and in our brief test it ran incredibly smoothly. Apps launched instantly, and there was no lag when moving through them. It’s likely because the GM 6 runs the latest version of Android — 7.0 Nougat. As it is a part of the Android One program, the device will get timely Android version and security updates straight from Google. The device has 32GB of internal storage, but there’s a MicroSD card that allows you to expand it up to 128GB. There doesn’t seem to be an NFC sensor, but there’s also no Android Pay in many of the countries the GM 6 will launch in to make much use of it. There’s a massive 3,000mAh removable battery keeping the GM 6 on, and it should make the device last for quite some time due to the lower-resolution screen. CameraThere’s a 13-megapixel camera on the rear, and an 8-megapixel front camera, both of which have flash. We encountered an issue with the camera in live-view mode as it seemed to strip color away from the image, but once you snap a photo,the photographs seem pretty decent. You’ll encounter slight shutter lag and the interface overall feels a little buggy, but the end result is still better than what we’ve seen on a lot of other budget cameras. Pricing and availabilityPricing hasn’t been announced yet, but it’s unlikely the device will cost more than $250. General Mobile said it will be released May to 22 emerging markets. Highs
Lows
Digital Trends via Digital Trends http://ift.tt/mG1NBn February 28, 2017 at 11:27AM
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Photographer demonstrates differences between three separate lighting methods http://ift.tt/2l9DqID Some photographers only shoot in available light and they are often called natural light photographers. Some photographers use a lot of speed lights or ‘flashes’ to illuminate their images. Many photographers use a mixture of the two. But what changes about an image when you choose to light one way vs another? It can be hard to know which way to light your images if you have not seen easy-to-follow demonstrations before, side by side in the same scene with similar settings. Derrel Ho-Shing Photography over on YouTube released this great side-by-side demonstration showing the differences between natural and available light, strobes and flashes, and strobes and flashes with high-speed sync (HSS). It is a quick and easy way to see for yourself some of the advantages and disadvantages of these three methods of lighting. In his first example, we see Ho-Shing’s model leaning up against a wall holding a coffee. The first natural- light shot looks pretty standard from a lighting standpoint, but when he moves onto his first flash/strobe shot we run into his first issue. He can’t shoot wide open on his Sigma 85mm F/1.4 art lens because his sync speed is too low on the camera, which results in an overexposed and washed out image. To compensate, Ho-Shing has to drop his aperture value down to F/5.6, giving him a correct exposure but the downside is that his background is not as out of focus. More: Elinchrom launches a camera light so portable, you can paraglide with it Then, with the high-speed sync technology Ho-Shing is able to sync his camera and strobe at a higher shutter speed, allowing him to be able to shoot his 85mm lens wide open at F/1.4. All of the shots look good from a lighting perspective and whichever you prefer may help you decide how you want to light your own images going forward.
Digital Trends via Digital Trends http://ift.tt/mG1NBn February 28, 2017 at 11:27AM
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AMD’s upcoming Vega-based graphics cards will be called Radeon RX Vega http://ift.tt/2m5gt8S During AMD’s Capsaicin & Cream press event, AMD’s Radeon Technologies Group boss Raja Koduri revealed the official brand for the upcoming graphics cards based on the new Vega architecture: Radeon RX Vega. He said that the Vega name has become so popular that the team decided to incorporate the code name into the official brand. The press event didn’t reveal anything new on the hardware level, but did showcase several upcoming VR games, and announced a collaboration between AMD and Bethesda. Game streaming service LiquidSky also said it plans to stock up its data centers with Vega-based graphics cards, meaning subscribers will be playing PC games running on Vega-based virtual PCs when the cards go retail. More: Upcoming AMD Ryzen 7 1800X CPU achieves new Cinebench world record On the Bethesda front, Arkane Studios’ Raphael Colantonio said that the company teamed up with AMD to optimize the entire Bethesda library for eight-core Ryzen processors and Vega-based graphics. Even more, AMD is working with the Prey team to optimize the game’s rendering on Vega GPUs. That means the upcoming shooter will be ready for AMD’s new hardware on May 5. On a whole, the press event showcased three features of the Vega GPU architecture: High Bandwidth Cache Controller (HBCC), Rapid Packed Math, and Radeon Virtualized Encode. According to Koduri, a big chunk of a graphics card purchase is the on-board memory, which most of the time isn’t fully utilized. HBCC supposedly provides full access to the entire memory amount, providing better performance than a graphics card without this feature. In a demonstration, Deus Ex: Mankind Divided showcased double the minimum framerate performance with HBCC turned on, and 1.5 times average framerates. Ultimately, because HBCC provides full access to the total memory capacity, the amount of physical memory on the card can be reduced. Thus, if only half of a card’s 8GB GDDR5 memory was used before HBCC, the card can be sold with only 4GB and HBCC turned on. As for Rapid Packed Math, this will increase the calculations on Vega-based graphics chips. As an example, a Radeon card with Rapid Packed Math turned off can render around 550,000 strands of hair per second. With the feature turned on, it can render around 1,200,000 strands of hair per second. Finally, Koduri talked about Radeon Virtualized Encode. This is where LiquidSky came in to reveal its collaboration with AMD to provide virtual machines based on Radeon RX Vega GPUs. The Radeon Virtualized Encode feature will be what enables LiquidSky users to stream Battlefield 1 and other PC games in real time at a 1,920 x 1,080 resolution on any device. The show also revealed AMD’s embrace of forward rendering, a technique used to beef up the graphics in virtual reality without sacrificing frame rates. This isn’t new technology, and essentially makes the graphics chip render a frame before the user’s actual input. Asynchronous reprojection is coming to the HTC Vive, too, which fills in holes when the hardware can’t maintain the necessary 90 frames-per-second rate.
Digital Trends via Digital Trends http://ift.tt/mG1NBn February 28, 2017 at 11:27AM
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Allurette lets you keep your filthy paws off your silky drawers when handwashing http://ift.tt/2lR0oDa Even if you’re wardrobe isn’t worthy of a Real Housewife, you may still have a few items that are handwash only: sequin dresses, lace, some wool clothing. Tossing these in the washing machine can cause damage, so it’s best to actually follow the label’s instructions. To make the process a little less messy than swirling your garments in the sink, the company behind portable wash bag Scrubba created Allurette. Smaller and with a less rugged washboard than the Scrubba, the Allurette is a bag that lets you handwash while keeping your hands away from the detergent-filled water. It holds a few garments — a couple of bras, a few pairs of underwear, and a camisole, for example, or a pair of yoga pants — and it takes a few minutes to wash them. More: Whirlpool’s smart washer-dryer combo will change laundry day forever Put your clothes in, add some water (eight cups for a small load, 14 cups for a larger one), pour in detergent, roll down the top and fasten a clip to keep it closed, and then use the valve to let out the air and deflate the bag. For between 30 seconds and three minutes, you rub the bag so your clothes press against the washboard inside the Allurette. Then you pour the water out and add more to rinse. Close up the bag again and shake it gently to get rid of the soap suds. Finally, you want to gently squeeze the water out of your sopping clothes, but gently, so as not to ruin the fabric. I got a chance to test out the Allurette. The bag folds down to a pretty portable size, and the instructions are easy to follow. I tested it out with a couple different items, like bras and a sequined dress. The bag kept the water contained, though it’s still probably best used in a laundry room or bathroom. The valve made it fairly easy to deflate the bag, though I had to open and close it a couple times to get all the air out.
Allurette has a few tips, like using a detergent made for handwashing and keeping the water warm or cold rather than hot. The amount of detergent you should use is sort of ambiguous, and the company suggests checking to see if you still have suds after 30 seconds of rubbing; if so, you should use less soap the next time. The Allurette is currently available on Indiegogo for $37, which is 33 percent off the expected retail price. If all goes well, the company should start shipping in May. As with any crowdfunding campaign, it’s backer beware, even with a company that has a history of producing products like Scrubba.
Digital Trends via Digital Trends http://ift.tt/mG1NBn February 28, 2017 at 11:27AM
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Give your friends a Glympse of your location with this helpful GPS app http://ift.tt/2mqmRbB One of the handier features of any modern mobile operating systems is the ability to share your exact location with friends and family at any given time. Unfortunately, a lot of smartphone users don’t know how to use this functionality, or worse yet don’t even know that it exists. Glympse (available for iOS, Android, and Windows Phone) is hoping to not only change that but make location sharing so quick and easy. The free Glympse app was built to make cross-platform location sharing as simple as possible. It allows users to select which of their contacts can see where they are at any given moment and even allows them to grant tracking privileges for a limited amount of time as well. Additionally, you can select specific destinations on the map, and have Glympse share estimated arrival times and speed of travel via text message with individuals or whole groups of people. The app even allows you to request the location of others so you will know when to expect them as well. More: Have a safe adventure with the mountain conditions report app So how does the location-sharing software help while taking part in our favorite outdoor activities? Well, it provides a nice safety net should an emergency situation arise while we’re in the backcountry. For example, if someone happens to get hurt or lost, they can simply take out their phone and share their current location and condition with one of their contacts. Knowing their exact whereabouts will help search-and-rescue efforts immensely. Beyond that, there are a number of other ways Glympse can come in handy for outdoor enthusiasts. For instance, if you’re going skiing with friends and get separated on the hill, the app makes it easier to find one another. Or, if you’re out riding snowmobiles or ATVs, Glympse will allow you to keep tabs of your party at all times. If you’re planning on meeting friends at a trailhead prior to setting out on a hike or mountain bike ride, the app will let everyone know where and when to meet. Glympse can be accessed on smartphones, tablets, smartwatches, and computers. The service is free and locations can be shared with anyone, even if they don’t happen to have the app installed on their device. Find out more at glympse.com.
Digital Trends via Digital Trends http://ift.tt/mG1NBn February 28, 2017 at 10:51AM
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Google launches business-friendly video-calling version of Hangouts called Meet http://ift.tt/2mCnQ5F Google Hangouts may be on its way out of most people’s lives, but Google hasn’t given up on it yet. In fact, the company has just launched a new app called Meet by Google Hangouts, which is designed to allow businesses to conduct HD video calls. The new app is the latest in Google’s G Suite lineup of business products, and while the app isn’t up and running just yet on the App Store, the website meet.google.com does seem to shed some light on the new service. More: Howdy, neighbor! Google’s new Mountain View office will be open to the public The Meet landing page looks something like the landing page for Google Hangouts, but it doesn’t allow users to start a call or chat. Instead, it simply allows users to enter a code to join a video call, and it shows meetings that you’ve already scheduled. While Hangouts has a 10-person limit, Meet supports HD video with up to 30 people. The app itself seems to be built to make video calling on the go easy. For example, it offers dial-in numbers for travelers, and shows details about upcoming calls, including time, location, subject, and so on. A big, green “join” button also helps users attend a meeting straight from the phone. Google has yet to officially announce Meet, but it’s likely we’ll hear more about the service in coming days. Google may publish a blog post about the new app, which will likely detail some more of the service’s features.
Digital Trends via Digital Trends http://ift.tt/mG1NBn February 28, 2017 at 10:51AM
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Walmart’s app updates aim to help you get more done in less time in its stores http://ift.tt/2m58c4z Your time is money, and it’s not to be wasted in a Walmart line. And Walmart couldn’t agree more. So on Tuesday, the retail giant announced a number of new capabilities in its mobile app that promise to “create a faster, easier, and more convenient experience for pharmacy and money services customers.” Equally important is Walmart’s promise of a new store experience that will allow customers to forgo lines altogether by using so-called express lanes, which simply require busy individuals to scan their Walmart app, pay using Walmart Pay, and receive an electronic receipt. More: Walmart launches free two-day shipping on more than 2 million items “These capabilities are the latest example of how we’re bringing together all of the conveniences of Walmart – great stores, convenient pickup, easy checkout and a top-notch app – to deliver one seamless shopping experience for customers,” said Daniel Eckert, senior vice president for Walmart Services. “We’re delivering a new and better experience in areas of our business that are essential for busy families. By making them faster and easier, we’re living up to our promise – to save customers money and time.” In terms of pharmacy updates, the retailer promises easier refills through the Walmart app. Patients will be able to quickly refill medications, track order status, and view pricing and pickup details. “What our pharmacy business is likely most well-known for is our $4 prescription program that has saved our customers nearly $5 billion,” said Paul Beahm, senior vice president for Walmart Health and Wellness Operations. “Starting today, we’ll be known for saving them more than just money. By developing and combining the best of our app with a service that our customers depend on daily, we’re driving change that makes living better easier.” As for money services, Walmart says it’s going green, allowing customers to avoid messy paperwork and instead enter information securely in the Walmart app before heading to the store. Once they’re ready to complete a transaction, they need only to open the Walmart app and tap “money ready to send,” then enter a PIN or use Touch ID to activate a phone camera. Then they can just scan the code displayed at the register to verify information and make a payment. So the next time you plan a trip to Walmart, just know that you won’t have to plan on too much time.
Digital Trends via Digital Trends http://ift.tt/mG1NBn February 28, 2017 at 10:51AM |
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