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Tuesday, February 28, 2017
Tech CEO tweets sex hotline number at reporter
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NOAA's GOES-16 weather satellite takes its first solar images
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Press render of the Galaxy S8 leaks, shows off slim bezels and tall display
This is the Galaxy S8 leak we've been waiting for.
With less than a month to go, the Galaxy S8 leaks are coming in thick and fast. The latest leaked image — courtesy of Evan Blass — is that of the official press render, and offers the clearest look yet at Samsung's upcoming flagship.
The render reveals a tall dual curved display which is likely to offer a 2:1 ratio as the LG G6. The lack of a home button up front is the most noticeable change, and the render also confirms earlier rumors which said that the Galaxy S8 would offer thin bezels and rounded corners.
The leak also shows off a set of sensors along the top of the phone, which include the usual front camera and ambient light sensor, and a new addition in the form of the iris scanner. Lining up with previous rumors, the Galaxy S8 features a dedicated button for Samsung's rumored AI assistant, likely to be called Bixby.
The Galaxy S8 is rumored to be offered in two variants: a standard model with a 5.8-inch display and a Galaxy S8+ variant with a 6.2-inch panel. The phone will be powered by the Snapdragon 835 in the U.S., and Samsung's latest Exynos 8895 in international markets. The phone will be making its debut in New York City on March 29.
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NVIDIA reveals its $700 top of the line GTX 1080 Ti
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The Sistine Chapel's masterpiece frescoes have been digitized
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Now the NPR One app is plugged into Amazon's Alexa
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Google brings your Keep notes directly into Docs
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Uber CEO argues with a driver over dropping income
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Ford concept uses drones and self-driving vans for deliveries
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Google-branded laptops, including future Chromebook Pixels, have been shelved
In a roundtable interview with journalists at MWC, Google's hardware chief revealed the company won't revive its premium Chrome OS laptops of the past.
The few generations of Chromebook Pixels that you've grown to love over the past few years? They're the last of its kind. If you've got one, might as well put it into storage for preservation.
Google's Rick Osterloh told TechCrunch and other journalists at Mobile World Congress that the Pixel laptop — the first-ever-of-its-kind premium Chromebook — has officially reached the end of its life.
When asked if Google had plans to make more Pixel laptops, Osterloh replied that the company had none at the moment, nor did it have plans to make more of the previous Pixel laptops that had sold out in August.
Chrome OS is still fine, though. "Chrome OS is a huge initiative in the company," Osterloh reassured. And then he added: "Google hasn't backed away from laptops. We have the number two market share in the U.S. and U.K. — but we have no plans for Google-branded laptops."
In the meantime, Asus and Samsung make some pretty convincing Chromebook alternatives. And if you're still aching for something that's Pixel-branded, but more mobile, there's still the Pixel C and Pixel smartphone for sale.
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Everything you need to know about the Gear VR Controller
The Samsung Gear VR finally has an official contrtoller.
Through Samsung's partnership with Oculus, the Gear VR was the first smartphone-based VR headset with controls built right into the side of the body. This design enables a lot of unique control mechanisms, which has turned into hundreds of fun games and apps every user can enjoy.
In much the same way the headset itself has changed and grown from generation to generation, this control mechanism has been improved to keep things interesting. But it still had its limits, most of which have been addressed by buying a separate gamepad to bring with you when you wanted to play. Now Samsung has a more portable alternative called the Gear VR Controller, allowing for even more flexibility in games and apps.
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Intel meets some of its key diversity goals
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Google adds Keep to G Suite with Docs integration
Keep joins the G Suite and integration into Docs.
Google announced today that it has added its notekeeping app Google Keep to its cloud-based G Suite. If you've got a G Suite-enabled account, you'll now find Keep alongside your other G Suite apps in the G Suite menu. What's more, Google has also added Keep integration right into Google Docs, so you can quickly consult and add note from Keep right into your Google Doc.
This is a smart move by Google, as it fills a void in the G Suite offering which was lacking a quick place for jotting down reference notes, reminders, and images during brainstorming process and beyond. Having the ability to recall those notes right alongside a Google Doc just makes life that much easier.
While not everyone uses notekeeping apps, it's important for Google to continue to expand its cloud-based offerings a growing and competitive space, with Dropbox encroaching with Paper, its version of web-based collaborative docs, and Microsoft's OneNote offering a similar experience for Office 365 users.
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YouTube TV is a slick full cable television replacement
For $35 a month, you can watch a variety of broadcast and cable networks on the same app you use for adorable animal videos.
Google has announced YouTube TV, and it's exactly what it sounds like. It's a $35-a-month TV service that packages a bundle of channels from the broadcast networks and various cable networks. The networks includes Fox, ABC, CBS and NBC, as well as their affiliated cable networks, including Fox News, ESPN, and Bravo.
The base package will include roughly three dozen channels. Operators like Viacom (MTV, Nickelodeon) and Time Warner (HBO) will likely not be broadcast since these are either still considered exclusives for pay TV or have successful standalone services already. Showtime is noted on the YouTube TV site as being available for an extra free, but that price hasn't been revealed yet.
Unlike, say, conventional cable, which is typically watched on a television set, YouTube TV will be pivoted as "mobile first." The company expects its subscribers will spend a majority of the time consuming content on smartphones, though they'll also be able to watch it through all the other mediums — including the traditional TV in the living room.
YouTube also heavily pushed the notion of better service to Recode recently. We'll let Peter Kafka explain it:
What YouTube is really pushing, though, is the notion that while it may have the same programming as its competitors, it will have a better service. YouTube product chief Neal Mohan says the company has been working on YouTube TV for two years; he promises that you'll see the results when you actually get to play with it.
Since you can't do that yet, here are some of the features Mohan has talked up:
A cloud DVR with unlimited storage space, included in the base package. (That's a feature Hulu has been talking about selling as an add-on to base package.)
A recommendation system powered by Google's AI.
"Reliability and scalability" — a not-veiled reminder that other digital TV services have had technical struggles when they first launched.
Kafka makes some other noteworthy points about YouTube TV, which will launch later this spring, including the fact that the service is likely to directly compete with Hulu, the other anti-cable streaming service.
Anyone eager to jump on this new way to catch television from your phone can sign up to be notified as soon as the service is available here. Are you signing up for YouTube TV? Drop us a line in the comments!
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Huawei Watch 2 Classic hands-on: Metal and leather make for a less sporty smartwatch
The Classic lacks LTE connectivity, but looks prettier than the regular plastic Huawei Watch 2.
I'm not a huge fan of the Huawei Watch 2's plasticky feel and gigantic bezels. In aesthetic terms, it's a step backward from the universal style of the first Huawei smartwatch — one of the compromises involved in bringing LTE connectivity and a boatload of other features to a wearable in 2017. The Watch 2 Classic, on the other hand, has a slightly more fashionable look. It's still big, and bulky, and undeniably not for everyone. But unless you absolutely must have LTE on your wrist, this is the Huawei wearable you'll want to consider.
Most of the Classic's spec sheet carries over from the regular Watch 2. You get NFC payments through Android Pay — with an antenna embedded in the bezel, not the strap — together with fitness tracking through the built-in heart rate sensor and other metrics, and all the core functionality of Android Wear 2.0, including the Play Store and the ability to install apps directly on the watch. But because there's no 4G connectivity, the watch itself is a little smaller and slimmer, while still packing the same Snapdragon Wear 2100 chip and 420mAh battery.
Huawei promises up to three days of battery life with the Classic connected over Bluetooth and Wi-Fi, a claim which would put its longevity far ahead of other Android watches.
From a distance, the Watch 2 Classic doesn't look dramatically different. The body itself is slightly less angular, with a more reserved, rounded bezel and piston-style buttons. And the form factor and screen size are almost identical, as are the dimensions, though the metal-bodied Classic is four grams heavier.
The difference in build quality becomes apparent when you actually wear the Classic — leather and metal make for a refreshing change after using the plastic-clad, and rather cheap-feeling Watch 2.
But these premium materials don't come cheap. Huawei Watch 2 Classic will sell for €399 in Europe, up from €379 for the LTE Watch 2, or €329 for the non-LTE model — and significantly more than LG's Watch Sport.
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Psychonauts in VR is a pretty great nostalgia trip
This review is going to be a little biased.
I love Psychonauts. I've played through the original more times than I can count, and have a deep appreciation for the world and its characters. If it were possible to camp out behind Double Fine's offices and watch everyone work on Psychonauts 2, I would do so. Yeah, I'm one of those people and I jumped at the opportunity to play Psychonauts In The Rhombus Of Ruin through PlayStation VR. After all, what could be better than being fully immersed in a game world you already know you love?
Truth is, this game is not simply "Psychonauts in VR". When you put the headset on, you're stepping into the weird and wonderful world of Psychonauts, but the way you interact with this world and the unique new way you interact with each of these characters creates an incredible new experience.
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Top 10 things to know about the Moto G5 and G5 Plus
There's a lot to like about the Moto G5 and G5 Plus.
With the smartphone segment getting increasingly competitive, Lenovo is turning to the Moto G series to solidify its footing. The Moto G4 and G4 Plus sold in huge numbers in Latin America and India last year, and going into 2017, Lenovo is offering faster processors, more storage and memory, and a premium design with the Moto G5 and G5 Plus.
Unlike last year, there are several spec differences between the standard Moto G5 and the larger G5 Plus. That said, the fingerprint sensor is now available on all models, a much-needed inclusion. Here's what you need to know about the Moto G5 and G5 Plus.
Full HD display
Like last year, both the Moto G5 and G5 Plus offer Full HD displays, but Motorola has brought the size down to 5.0 inches and 5.2 inches respectively following customer feedback. Although both phones have the same resolution, the 1080p panel on the G5 Plus is better than the one on the standard version.
Moto Display is back, allowing you to preview notifications without unlocking your screen. Motorola has added a new widget, support for additional colors, and the ability to jump into a particular email or a conversation thread directly from the lock screen.
However, a point of contention is the scratch protection, or lack thereof. The Moto G5 doesn't offer any, whereas the G5 Plus comes with Gorilla Glass 3.
Premium design
The Moto G5 and G5 Plus finally sport a metal chassis that looks a far sight better than the plastic designs of previous years. There's still a fair amount of plastic, particularly around the frame, but at least the fingerprint sensor doesn't look like an afterthought anymore.
Google Assistant
Google announced at MWC that all Android phones running Marshmallow and above will receive the Google Assistant, with new phones featuring the AI assistant out of the box. We've seen that with the LG G6, and the Moto G5 and G5 Plus also include Assistant.
Although the AI assistant is still in its infancy, Google has improved its functionality in the four months since its debut. Google hasn't changed a whole lot with its implementation of the Assistant on other phones, offering similar features to what we've seen on the Pixel. That includes the ability to view calendar entries, set reminders, check weather alerts, control the smart lighting in your house, and so much more. The virtual assistant pulls data from your Google account and the knowledge graph to provide you with relevant answers to your questions.
Camera
Motorola finally included a decent camera with last year's Moto G4 Plus, and the camera on the G5 Plus is increasingly looking like its standout feature. The 12MP camera comes with an f/1.7 aperture, 1.4 micron pixels, dual autofocus pixels, and PDAF, and the housing itself is very similar to that of last year's Moto Z series.
The Moto G5, meanwhile, has a 13MP camera with an f/2.0 lens that may turn out to be the same sensor from last year's Moto G4. Both phones have the same 5MP camera up front.
Internal hardware
The Moto G5 is powered by a Snapdragon 430, a capable budget SoC with eight Cortex A53 cores clocked at 1.4GHz, while the G5 Plus features the beefier Snapdragon 625, the same SoC that was used in last year's Moto Z Play.
Both chipsets are more powerful than the Snapdragon 617 that was used in last year's handsets, and should make the Moto G5 and G5 Plus hold up well to the competition in this segment.
Battery and charging
The Moto G5 has a removable 2800mAh battery, whereas the 3000mAh battery on the G5 Plus is sealed in. Both phones support fast charging, with the Moto G5 coming with a 10W TurboCharge charger out of the box, and the G5 Plus with a 15W TurboCharge adapter.
Talking about charging, the phone still features Micro-USB and not the newer USB-C standard. Motorola is citing convenience as the main factor behind the move, stating that its customers would want to use their existing Micro-USB cables with its latest phones. That argument doesn't hold water in 2017.
One Button Nav
The Moto G5 and G5 Plus will run Android 7.0 Nougat out of the box, and Motorola continues to offer a software experience that's close to "pure" Android. You do get a lot of customization options with Moto Actions, and a new feature Motorola is rolling out is called One Button Nav.
The feature offers a gesture-based navigation system that relies on the fingerprint sensor in lieu of the traditional navigation keys. The feature debuted last year on Lenovo's Z2 Plus, and following positive feedback from consumers, Lenovo is introducing it in the Moto G5 and G5 Plus.
With One Button Nav, you can swipe left across the fingerprint sensor to go back, swipe right to access the multitasking menu, and use a long press to invoke Google Assistant. The gestures can be customized, and while it takes some getting used to, the system is quite fun to use. You can always switch back to the on-screen nav keys if you don't like the feature.
Memory and storage
There are six variants of the Moto G5 Plus, each tailored for a different region. Motorola is looking to maximize profits from the Moto G series, and the result is a dizzying array of options for global markets. Essentially, you'll get either 2GB, 3GB, or 4GB of RAM, along with storage configurations of 16GB, 32GB, and 64GB. You get a microSD card with all models. Availability is going to vary across regions, and not all versions will be sold in all markets.
Regional availability
Motorola has already announced that the Moto G5 Plus will be launching in India on March 15, and availability in other countries will be detailed shortly. The company isn't launching both variants in all markets, and has stated that the U.S. will receive the Moto G5 Plus, and not the Moto G5.
The Moto G5 will cost €199 for the model with 2GB of RAM and 16GB storage across Europe and Latin America, and €279 for the version with 3GB of RAM and 32GB storage. In the U.S., the Moto G5 Plus will retail for $229 for the model with 2GB of RAM and 32GB storage, and $279 for 4GB of RAM and 64GB storage. The phone will work on all four major carriers — T-Mobile, Sprint, Verizon, and AT&T — and will be sold unlocked direct from Motorola.
NFC
Oddly enough, the Moto G5 Plus that will be sold in the U.S. will not have NFC, but the global variant will include the feature. The move doesn't make much sense considering the U.S. is one of the few markets that has the infrastructure in place for contactless payments. If you're looking to buy the Moto G5 Plus in the U.S., know that you won't be able to use Android Pay or any other form of NFC-based payments system.
That's a quick look at Motorola's latest handsets aimed at the budget segment. Are you looking to pick up the Moto G5 or G5 Plus once it goes on sale in your country? Let us know in the comments.
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Best Touchscreen Gloves for Winter
What are the best touchscreen gloves? The ones that keep your hands warm and actually work!
Updated: February, 2017: Added the 180s Sustain gloves
There are still a few weeks left in winter, and that means that using your phone outside is uncomfortable and makes for frigid digits. That is, unless you have some awesome touchscreen gloves that let you use your phone with toasty phalanges.
Not all gloves of this nature work very well, so here are the best of the best to keep you texting even when Jack Frost is nipping at your butt.
- Mujjo double-layered touchscreen gloves
- Agloves
- The North Face ThermoBall Etip
- Glove.ly Classic Touch Screen Glove
- Moshi Digits
- 180s Sustain
- Nanotips
Mujjo double-layered touchscreen gloves
These dual-layer gloves are Mujjo's response to customers asking for something a bit thicker for colder climes. They added a layer of wool (just like grandma used to do!) so you can now have your phone and keep your hands warm too.
Silicone grips all over the palms of these gloves make sure your phone doesn't slip out of your hands in slippery weather, and Mujjo has made it so that you can use any fingertip, knuckle, and even the palm or heel of your hand. It's almost like you're wearing nothing at all… Nothing at all… Nothing at all!
Agloves
These acrylic gloves have ten-finger functionality, meaning you can use any finger to use your phone, while keeping warm.
They come in black, red, brown, navy, or white. These aren't the thickest gloves around and probably won't do the trick when temps drop below zero, but what are you doing standing around long enough to use your phone when it's that cold anyway?
The North Face ThermoBall Etip
As a Canadian, I can attest to The North Face's quality. The ThermoBall Etips are a little on the bulky side for touchscreen gloves, so movement is somewhat difficult, but they work exceptionally well, even in colder weather.
They come in men's and women's sizes and styles, so there's a ThermoBall Etip for everybody.
Glove.ly Classic Touch Screen Glove
The Glove.ly Classic lets you use any part of your hand to control your phone. They're not for arctic temperatures, but they're warmer than most of the thinner touchscreen gloves you might find.
If your screen gets smudged and dirty, you can use the built-in microfiber label to keep it clean, and magnets hidden under the logo help to make sure you don't lose a glove.
They come in small or medium/large, so make sure you choose the right size.
Moshi Digits
The Moshi Digits are excellent touchscreen gloves that do a great job of keeping your hands warm and work very well when it comes to using your phone while wearing them.
They feature a double-layer of material that helps keep your fingers warm, even when it's quite chilly outside (better than most touchscreen gloves). Each glove also features Moshi's "GripTrak" pattern on the palm to ensure that you never drop your phone, even in icy weather.
Though they're dual-layered gloves, they shouldn't slow down your texting ability, even if you have fingers of lightning.
180s Sustain
If you live where it gets below 20 Fahrenheit, the 180s Sustain will keep your paws toasty while still allowing you to use your phone, thanks to touchscreen-compatible tips. The Wirecutter says they're not exceptional in terms of touchscreen capabilities, but they do work, and they're excellent as heavy duty gloves.
If you wanna keep texting while you're out ice fishing or take a call on your snowmobile, then the Sustain gloves are your best option.
They come in men's and women's sizes, so make sure you choose the right on before checkout.
Nanotips
Don't feel like buying a brand new pair of gloves? Nanotips makes it so you don't have to. Just paint a coating onto the thumb and fingertips of your favorite gloves and they become touchscreen gloves.
The efficacy of Nanotips really depends on the what material your gloves are made of, and you may see varying results with different pairs of gloves. Nanotips does make a leather formula and one for fabric/acrylic, so make sure you choose the correct formula.
Got a favorite?
Do you have a favorite pair of touchscreen gloves? Do you even use them? Let us know in the comments below!
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