Monthly Archives: July 2015

Half-Life on Android-powered LG G Watch? This modder made it happen

You can play Doom just about anywhere these days, from ATM machines, tographing calculators, to even inside Doom itself. That means it’s gotten boring. We need to spice up this whole FPS game on random devices/appliances thing, and it’s time we went with a more modern classic, like Half-Life. Modder Dave Bennett already has the right idea, getting the Valve-made shooter to run on an Android-powered LG G Watch.

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https://www.slashgear.com/half-life-on-android-powered-lg-g-watch-this-modder-made-it-happen-24394243/

Why I won’t be buying a new Moto X or G

Next week Motorola will likely reveal the next Moto X, a flagship phone that’ll be better than any they’ve made before. What we’re exploring today is the idea that Motorola already made a device so good that there’s no reason to upgrade. What I’m suggesting here is that Motorola’s 2014 Moto X is so good in basically every way a smartphone should be, that users might be better off buying that phone than whatever Motorola reveals this year. As we’ve said before, this is also true of the original Moto G.

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https://www.slashgear.com/why-i-wont-be-buying-a-new-moto-x-or-g-24394252/

Xiaomi partners with Uber for hand-delivered phones

Uber has partnered with the smart device company Xiaomi to deliver their newest smartphone to new users. Ordering this new device, the Xiaomi Mi Note, will have the same process as ordering an Uber vehicle for pickup. Inside the Uber app, users will tap the “Xiaomi” button and proceed with ordering the new smartphone. Once they’ve ordered the phone successfully, the phone will be delivered to the user “within a few minutes.” This partnership will be paired with an early launch of the phone for Uber customers exclusively.

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https://www.slashgear.com/xiaomi-partners-with-uber-for-hand-delivered-phones-23394032/

2016 Honda Accord revealed with CarPlay and Android Auto

Honda will launch Apple CarPlay and Android Auto on the 2016 Accord, the upcoming refresh of its full-sized sedan. The iPhone and Android connectivity systems will be an option with Honda’s 7-inch Display Audio touchscreen infotainment system, offered on EX trim cars and above. As we’ve seen with other so-equipped head units, Honda’s implementation will allow Android and iOS devices to take over the dashboard display for apps, streaming media, and navigation. However, Honda says that we can expect a bigger-than-average impact from its involvement.

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https://www.slashgear.com/2016-honda-accord-revealed-with-carplay-and-android-auto-23394127/

Here’s what Honda’s new R&D hub in the Valley is working on

You’re nobody in automotive these days without a flashy R&D center in Silicon Valley, and Honda is stepping up its game as it cooks up new semi-autonomous driving, green engine, and smart car technologies. While it’s not Honda’s first footprint in the Valley – that happened back in 2000 – it’s certainly the biggest play from the firm, with the new facility the company’s largest research & development site outside of Japan. The fruits of the new center will eventually trickle down to production cars, but Honda gave us a sneak peek of what it’s been working on.

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https://www.slashgear.com/heres-what-hondas-new-rd-hub-in-the-valley-is-working-on-24394218/

Fiat Chrysler recalls 1.4M vehicles after hacked Jeep incident

Following this week’s news about a Jeep vehicle that was hacked from a remote location while driving down the road, parent company Fiat ChryslerAutomobiles (FCA) have announced a recall affecting 1.4 million cars in the US. The recall is obviously over potential hole in the security of the software running on the vehicles. In the Jeep incident, which was covered in a report from Wired, the hackers managed to send signals to car’s dashboard over the internet while it was traveling at 70 mph.

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https://www.slashgear.com/fiat-chrysler-recalls-1-4m-vehicles-after-hacked-jeep-incident-24394236/

Librem 13 laptop focuses on privacy with PureOS

Purism found success with its Librem 15 laptop last year, a machine hawked at those concerned with privacy more so than a brand name or a popular OS; it runs an operating system based on Linux called PureOS, which is both free and open source. The laptop has been rehashed as a smaller version which is called the Librem 13. As with the bigger version, Purism is seeking funding for the new version via crowdfunding. So far it has hit nearly a fifth of its goal.

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https://www.slashgear.com/librem-13-laptop-focuses-on-privacy-with-pureos-22390057/

Review: Lenovo IdeaPad 100 — a lightweight budget laptop

Summer, we’re sad to point out, is nearing its end and school’s return is upon us. If you, like many students, are looking to pick up a new laptop for your upcoming round of classes, you’ll notice that PC makers are chomping at the bit to get your attention. Among the roster of companies with new back-to-school products is Lenovo, and it has a few new devices from which it hopes you’ll pick. One of them is the IdeaPad 100, a lightweight and inexpensive laptop that is promised to be, despite its budget-friendliness, both powerful and fit for your educational needs. Does it live up to that promise? Read our full review to find out!

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https://www.slashgear.com/review-lenovo-ideapad-100-a-lightweight-budget-laptop-24394251/

Three things to know about the Lenovo IdeaPad 100

Lenovo has rolled out its back to school offerings, and among the lineup is the IdeaPad 100, a basic laptop that meets budget needs while also covering all the basic computing bases. We recently reviewed the laptop, and you’ll need to give that a look to get all of the details. If you don’t have the time for that right now, however, we have three big highlights that you’ll probably want to know — the launching points from which you can shape your expectations of the machine.

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https://www.slashgear.com/three-things-to-know-about-the-lenovo-ideapad-100-25394323/

Terrafugia shows off Outer Mold Line for TF-X hybrid electric aircraft

Terrafugia first showed off its TF-X hybrid electric vertical takeoff and landing aircraft back in 2013. The aircraft is designed to be able to cruise on the streets as a plug-in hybrid vehicle, and then take off, and land vertically when the driver wants to take to the skies. Terrafugia has announced that it is showing off the new Outer Mold Line (OML) for the TF-X.

The OML was developed in collaboration with Ben Schweighart and Transportation/Automotive Designer Verdan Martinek. In addition to showing off the Outer Mold Line, the company is also testing a one-tenth scale wind tunnel test model of the TF-X that was developed based on the new OML.

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https://www.slashgear.com/terrafugia-shows-off-outer-mold-line-for-tf-x-hybrid-electric-aircraft-22393887/

Microsoft releases Send, a minimal email app for iPhone

In a time where we’ve got our hands full with mobile email apps, there are even multiple offering from the same provider, such as the standard Gmail and alternate take “Inbox.” Now Microsoft is pulling a similar move, with a lightweight, minimal function email app called Send, hitting the iPhone first. To sum it up in one sentence, Send is a bit of mix between email and instant messaging. It was also previously known as “Flow,” an Outlook project that wasleaked back in May.

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https://www.slashgear.com/

iOS beta users can no longer leave App Store reviews

Apple just implemented a small, but important change to its App Store policies that is likely to have app developers crying out with joy. Simply put, users with devices running pre-release versions of the iOS software, such as the recent versions of the iOS 9 beta, can no longer leave reviews for apps. This may seem harsh, or anti-consumer, but it’s actually to protect developers’ apps from having their reputation trashed by negative reviews based on bugs and crashes — things to expect from a beta anyway.

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https://www.slashgear.com/

GoPro to release video-editing mobile app later this summer

During a recent investors call, GoPro president Tony Bates revealed that the action camera-maker is developing a mobile app that let users quickly and easily edit their footage after it’s been shot. Bates added that the app is “in the final phase testing” already, and should be released before the end of the summer. It was clear what platforms the app will hit (though iOS and Android seem likely), but the ability to trim and edit footage almost immediately after shooting will definitely enhance the GoPro experience.

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https://www.slashgear.com/gopro-to-release-video-editing-mobile-app-later-this-summer-22393907/

Will the iPhone 7 return to its “4” design roots?

This afternoon we’re having a peek at a few images of what the iPhone 7 might look like next year. While this year we’re almost certainly set to have another “s” release with the iPhone 6s and iPhone 6s Plus, with similar designs to last year’s hardware, next year we’ll have a seven, and an opportunity for revival. Industrial designer and CAD artist Ivo Maric has a few images he’s shared to shed some light on to this potential retro revision, complete with flat edges.

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https://www.slashgear.com/will-the-iphone-7-return-to-its-4-design-roots-22393919/

Dear analysts: Microsoft did not “beat” the Apple Watch

This morning USA Today compared sales of the Apple Watch to sales of Microsoft smartphones. As if they were the same sort of device. They’ve suggested that the Apple Watch was “beaten by Microsoft’s phone.” USA Today, do you know that these are different products? Do you not realize that Apple also has a smartphone, and that the Apple Watch is not a smartphone? Let’s compare apples to apples instead of apples to orange here, for a moment. Let’s compare smartwatches to smartwatches and phones to phones.

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https://www.slashgear.com/

T-Mobile overhauls texting with ‘Advanced Messaging’

Text messaging pales in comparison to messaging apps, so much so that you likely reserve texting for those acquaintances you don’t have a connection with on Messenger or elsewhere. T-Mobile wants to change that — or maybe just add another bragging right to its list — and as such has announced that it is the first wireless carrier in the United States to offer texting built on Rich Communications Services, RCS, and it is calling the feature “Advanced Messaging”.

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https://www.slashgear.com/

Apple Watch sales broken down by shipments, units, and revenue

Today we’re breaking down all the information available to us on sales of the Apple Watch in the first quarter it’s been on the market. While we can pinpoint the exact in-store date and pre-order dates for the device, these dates are irrelevant. Apple and Strategy Analytics have already given us all the information we need to get a basic assessment of the number of units sold as well as a basic outline of how much revenue Apple likely makes per Apple Watch sold.

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https://www.slashgear.com/apple-watch-sales-broken-down-by-shipments-units-and-revenue-22393937/

Netflix starts rolling out update to TV apps

Netflix is rolling out an update to its TV apps, the first major update to arrive since 2013. The company announced the upcoming change today, showing off the changes in a GIF (available after the jump). The change is designed to “let the content speak for itself”, and involves having content start playing when you select an item while keeping the content menu on the screen, giving you a change to see what it offers and decide whether you definitely want to watch it.

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https://www.slashgear.com/netflix-starts-rolling-out-update-to-tv-apps-22393950/

Sony’s planning an animated movie about emoji

If you don’t like receiving messages peppered with emojis, Sony’s next movie might make your eye twitch. It has been revealed that Sony Pictures Animation trumped other studios in an auction for an animated movie that will revolve around the ever-present emoji. The project was pitched by Anthony Leondis, who is also going to be co-writing the movie. Three studios were pitched, with Warner Bros and Paramount reportedly being the other two, but Sony is tipped to have been aggressive for the film and, as such, won.

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https://www.slashgear.com/sonys-planning-an-animated-movie-about-emoji-22393953/

It’s the Moto X’s time to smile for the camera

It’s just a few days before Motorola reveals what it has in store for us in its press event next week, but so far it is the Moto G that has been the center of attraction of many leaks and rumors. Now, however, it’s the Moto X flagship’s turn to shine. Sort of. Two photos of what is allegedly the next gen Moto X has popped up on the Internet and one in particular is quite interesting. It reveals what looks like a front flash and what could be a fingerprint scanner.

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https://www.slashgear.com/

Galaxy Note 5 might have microSD card slot after all

It seems that Samsung might have finally heard users’ prayers. At least for now. And at least based on an unverified, and probably unintentional, data source. The User Agent Profile of a major US carrier’s website has seemingly spilled the beans on the specs of the upcoming Galaxy Note 5 as well as the Galaxy S6 edge Plus. And while it mostly confirms what we’ve been hearing about these two to no end, it adds one juicy tidbit that everyone wants to hear: a microSD card slot.

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https://www.slashgear.com/galaxy-note-5-might-have-microsd-card-slot-after-all-22393969/

Sony grapples for relevance with Concept for Android thrust

Despite a few rough starts, and still ongoing rough patches, Sony is committed to the mobile industry, particularly smartphones. But, based on mobile business head Hiroki Totoki’s statements, its vision won’t revolve primarily around the rat race that is smartphone hardware. Instead, it wants to double down on the user experience, which, in this context, practically means the Android experience. Now Sony is taking the first step towards that goal by starting what it calls its Concept for Android Initiative in Sweden to tackle exactly that problem.

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https://www.slashgear.com/sony-grapples-for-relevance-with-concept-for-android-thrust-23393975/

Want an even more premium HTC One M9? Try Goldgenie

HTC would try to remind you every chance it gets about how the One M9 was meticulously designed and crafted like a premium watch, with an attention to detail and materials like no other. Almost to the point that they may have forgotten that they’re trying to make a 2015 flagship. For some, however, especially die hard HTC fans, that just isn’t enough. Fortunately for them, Goldgenie is once again ready to take your money in exchange for one of three exquisitely designed gold, or platinum, HTC One M9.

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https://www.slashgear.com/want-an-even-more-premium-htc-one-m9-try-goldgenie-23393959/

Tesla Model X prototype spied in California with strange sensors adorning

Tesla has been doing very well with its Model S electric vehicle. The Model S is one of the best selling EVs in the country and is the EV with the best driving range, it also happens to be the most expensive EV on the market right now. The next model from Tesla will be the Model X SUV and recently a prototype of that Model X was spied cruising the streets in Berkley, California.

One of the strange things that was noticed on the video of the Model X are a bunch of sensors that are suction cupped to the body of the car that haven’t been seen in previous spy footage of Tesla vehicles. The Model X had weird arms sticking off the top and front bumper area of the car.

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https://www.slashgear.com/tesla-model-x-prototype-spied-in-california-with-strange-sensors-adorning-23393987/

Moto G Moto Maker options leak showing lots of customization options

Many people out there feel as strongly about what their smartphones look like as they do how well the smartphones work. For this reason, many manufacturers are offering more and more customization options. Apple still limits you to three main colors and any customizing owners do is done with cases. Motorola on the other hand has some cool customization options for the Moto G.

Details have been leaked that show all the color options and other stuff that buyers can choose for the Moto G smartphone. Buyers will be able to purchase the phone with a front housing in black or white colors. There are ten different colors that buyers will be able to choose for the rear housing.

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https://www.slashgear.com/moto-g-moto-maker-options-leak-showing-lots-of-customization-options-23393991/

E Fun Nextbook 10 2-in-1- Windows Tablet supports Windows 10

E Fun has rolled out a new 2-in-1 Widows powered tablet that can be a notebook or a tablet for use on the go. The device is called the Nextbook 10 and it comes out of the box with Windows 8.1 as the operating system. Many people don’t care for Windows 8.1 and its weird style, the good new is that the machine will be eligible for a Windows 10 update when that OS launches soon.

The Nextbook 10 2-in-1 has an Intel Atom Z3735G processor with 1GB of system memory inside. Storage is to a 32GB drive with a microSD card for storage expansion. As thin as the machine is, I would assume that storage is solid state, but the manufacturer does not specify that.

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https://www.slashgear.com/e-fun-nextbook-10-2-in-1-windows-tablet-supports-windows-10-23394016/

Apple’s new 2015 Back to School offer: free Beats headphones with Mac purchase

While many have been left wondering what happened to Apple’s annual Back to School promotion, last week retail chief Angela Ahrendts promised an update, and here it is: Those who qualify for the education pricing discount and buy an eligible Mac will get a free pair of the Beats Solo2 headphones. Unfortunately for potential iPad customers, no part of the promo applies to tablet purchases, unlike the last few years. The offer is not yet highlighted on Apple’s website, but begins today, July 23rd in retail stores, and on August 6th on the online store.

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https://www.slashgear.com/

3 years later, where are the smartwatches?

A few days ago, the New York Times ran piece that raised doubts about the success of the Apple Watch, pointing out how some popular apps, like Facebook, are nowhere to be found on Apple’s smartwatch. Setting aside some assumptions that the piece makes, which others have already debunked, the piece does raise the ghost of doubt about smartwatches. Not just Apple’s but all smartwatches in general. We’ve heard the pitch. We’ve seen the wares. But the nagging question has always been, “where are the smartwatches now?”

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https://www.slashgear.com/

Pebble Time update brings improved indoor visibility, new vibration settings

Popular iOS/Android-alternative smartwatch Pebble Time has received a new software update that adds new settings to the wearable, in addition to new features for the accompanying mobile apps. Pebble says it has been listening to feedback from owners of the smartwatch, and all the new features come from their requests. Among the changes are visibility improvements and a milder level of vibration. The update is good for both the new Pebble Time and the forthcoming Time Steel.

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https://www.slashgear.com/pebble-time-update-brings-improved-indoor-visibility-new-vibration-settings-23394029/

Galaxy Note 5 vs Note 4: details and spec-war pre-release

Pitting the Galaxy Note 5 against its most recent predecessor, the Galaxy Note 4, we see a device that gets a rather interesting kick in the specs. While the device’s basic premise doesn’t change – it’s still a big phone with a Samsung-made unique stylus inside – the design gets a reboot. Taking after its closest cousin, the Galaxy S6, the detailing on this smartphone becomes refined. Glass instead of plastic, and a return of the metal rim. Now that the form is moving toward elegance rather than worker-friendly, will Note consumers stay the course?

The Galaxy Note 5 has been tipped to work with a frame that’s ever-so-slightly taller than the device it’ll be revealed alongside: the Galaxy S6 Edge Plus. The Galaxy Note 5 will also appear to be slightly wider than the Edge Plus, but this will mostly be due to the “off the edge” look of the Edge device – they’ll be roughly the same amount of millimeters across.

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https://www.slashgear.com/galaxy-note-5-vs-note-4-details-and-spec-war-pre-release-23393944/