Monthly Archives: August 2015

Mighty No. 9 backers score exclusive demo

The Kickstarter success and hotly anticipated game Mighty No. 9 has become a disappointment for many backers, as the planned release date came and went, and then the second planned release date — next month — was postponed until later on next year. Backers were disappointed the first time around and outright upset the second time, and the makers behind the game feel bad about it all. To give those patient backers something in reward, the makers have announced a new exclusive demo.

Read full post here:
https://www.slashgear.com/mighty-no-9-backers-score-exclusive-demo-28399903/

Tencent QQ Watch wearable for kids is rugged, colorful

We’ve seen wearables for kids in the past, some of them with an educational slant, others designed solely for parents to track their whereabouts. The newest kid-friendly wearable is a mixture of both those things, and comes from Chinese company Tencent. The QQ Watch is colorful and styled in such a way that it resembles a legitimate smartwatch, though the wearable isn’t as functional as something the child’s parent may be wearing.

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https://www.slashgear.com/tencent-qq-watch-wearable-for-kids-is-rugged-colorful-28399888/

Huawei Honor 7 Review

If your perception of a Chinese-made smartphone still involves plastic and cheap knockoffs, then you might not have paid attention to the market for past year or so. Quite a few names have risen above the ranks to show the might of the East and their ability to innovate and blaze their own path, a path that sometimes takes them to the West. Take for example Huawei, one of the biggest names in China. With the entry of the Huawei Honor 7 into the European market, the manufacturer is trying to stay one step ahead of its compatriots. But how does it fare? Read on to find out.

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https://www.slashgear.com/

Kick-Varibike has you pedal with arms instead of legs

Kick-Varibike is a bicycle like no other — in fact, it is more akin to a giant scooter than anything else (a “kickbike”), but with the addition of pedals placed near the handle bars, which also makes it a hand bike. You can ride it like a scooter if that’s your preference, pushing off the ground with your foot to propel it forward; or, you can pedal with your arms and build some upper body strength while traveling around. The model managed to catch the public eye at Eurobike 2015 recently.

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https://www.slashgear.com/kick-varibike-has-you-pedal-with-arms-instead-of-legs-27399704/

Harman AKG N60 NC luxury headphones feature real leather

Harman has introduced a new pair of on-ear wireless noise-cancelingheadphones, the AKG N60 NC. The maker describes these as an ultra compact pair of headphones suitable for traveling, among other things, whether by train, bus or airplane. Aside from being small enough to fit in your bag, the headphones feature what is promised to be a luxurious design, including a headband that is made with real leather and ear cups made of aluminum paired with memory foam.

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https://www.slashgear.com/harman-akg-n60-nc-luxury-headphones-feature-real-leather-27399709/

Lenovo Vibe P1 hands on pics hit the web ahead of IFA 2015

IFA 2015 is just around the corner and ahead of the show where lots of new smartphones will be unveiled, we have some new leaked pics to check out. These images claim to show the Lenovo Vibe P1 smartphone in the flesh. This device is expected to be released at IFA in Berlin next month. Other than the hands on shots, a confirmation on the battery size has surfaced as well.

This smartphone has a gigantic 5,000 mAh internal battery, which should be good for lots of use with each charge.

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https://www.slashgear.com/lenovo-vibe-p1-hands-on-pics-hit-the-web-ahead-of-ifa-2015-28399812/

Android Marshmallow update coming to LG G4, G3, not G2

The next big update for Google’s mobile devices, Android 6.0 Marshmallow, is currently being prepared for a number of LG devices. We’ve been informed that the LG G4 will certainly be receiving the update in a matter of months, if not weeks, while the next LG flagship MAY launch with Marshmallow onboard. Meanwhile the LG G Pad II 10.1 will launch with Android KitKat and may see an Android 6.0 update before the end of the year. It would appear that the cutoff for LG device updates is with the LG G2.

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https://www.slashgear.com/android-marshmallow-update-coming-to-lg-g4-g3-not-g2-27399720/

Archos Diamond Tab 7.9″ Lollipop tablet launches in October

Archos has introduced its new Diamond Tab tablet, the first octa-core tablet it offers with 4G LTE connectivity. As far as specs go, they’re decidedly mid-tier, and in line with the related £179 price tag. The tablet won’t be available until October, but we’ve all the details on what you can expect now. Among it all is a 1.7GHz octa-core Mediatek MT8752, giving it enough oomph to run more demanding apps, including games. The display is on the smaller side at 7.9 inches.

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https://www.slashgear.com/archos-diamond-tab-7-9-lollipop-tablet-launches-in-october-27399707/

New PayAnwhere turns any iOs device into Apple Pay, credit card PoS

One of the biggest hurdles to the adoption of a theoretically more convenient wireless payment system is the lack of compatible terminals to support it. Migrating to the new payment system, or even just adding wireless payment in addition to conventional magnetic strip terminals is now small task. To help push that industry forward, and especially the new Apple Pay, North American Bancard had announced a new PayAnywhere accessory that turns any iOSdevice into a terminal that supports Apple Pay and other payment methods, both wireless and physical.

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https://www.slashgear.com/new-payanwhere-turns-any-ios-device-into-apple-pay-credit-card-pos-28399788/

Xperia Z5 render leak hints “greater focus” is 23MP camera

When it comes to Sony’s IFA 2015 event in a few days, you might be in either of two camps (not counting those who don’t care). Either you’re waiting with interest to see if the Japanese OEM has anything left to offer the mobile world, or you’re no longer interested because you think it doesn’t have a prayer. If this leak of press render images is to be taken at face value, the latter camp may have reason for their indifference, revealing nothing notable other than a higher camera sensor.

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https://www.slashgear.com/xperia-z5-render-leak-hints-greater-focus-is-23mp-camera-28399790/

Alienware X51 R3 brings in Intel Skylake, liquid cooling

It has been a year since we’ve last seen the Dell’s Alienware X51 gaming desktop, back then in its R2 incarnation. And while that classy gaming box didn’t exactly sweep us off our feet, this newest one just might. Yes, on the eve of PAX Prime, Dell has announced the new Alienware X51 R3. As you might have expected, this one boasts of the latest and choicest components, which in this case means a 6th gen Intel Skylake processor, support for a Graphics Amplifier, and for the first time ever, liquid cooling.

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https://www.slashgear.com/alienware-x51-r3-brings-in-intel-skylake-liquid-cooling-28399773/

Metal Gear Solid V custom PS3 shows true depth of obsession

his week we’re not the only ones getting pumped up about the release of Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom Pain. One fan has gone the extra mile to customize their PlayStation 3 for the release. While we’re a bit more partial to the shape of the PlayStation 4 at this point, the customization of this PS3 unit makes us wish we’d had the time to make such a beauty a reality. Sprayed and painted, brushed and polished, this is the coolest (unofficial, one of a kind, believe it or not) MSGV:TPP PS3
….
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https://www.slashgear.com/metal-gear-solid-v-custom-ps3-shows-true-depth-of-obsession-28399854/

Fourth-gen Kia Sportage gets full exterior makeover

The Frankfurt Auto Show is kicking off on September 15 and at the show, Kiawill unveil its all-new Sportage SUV. This will be the fourth generation of the Sportage and it looks very different from the first generation of the car. The biggest change to the front-end design of the SUV is that the headlights are no longer part of the grille. They are now up on the edges of the fender and remind a bit of the Nissan Juke.

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https://www.slashgear.com/fourth-gen-kia-sportage-gets-full-exterior-makeover-28399824/

You can bend AUO’s flexible phone to navigate apps

While we’re now well into the era of curved screen smartphones, thanks to hits like Samsung’s Galaxy Edge devices, Taiwanese manufacturer AUO has raised the bar with its new flexible phone concept. Unveiled at Touch Taiwan 2015 this week, the screen isn’t just bendable for the sake of showing how strong it is, it’s actually used as a form of input. Corners or sides of the phone can be bent with up to six degrees getting recognized as inputs similar to a stylus or pinch-to-zoom gestures.

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https://www.slashgear.com/you-can-bend-auos-flexible-phone-to-navigate-apps-28399848/

Huawei aims high with $800 gold-plated Watch

Huawei may have accidentally revealed that its Android Wear Watch will cost as much as $799.99 and be compatible with iOS. Earlier today, the company teased a September 2nd arrival at IFA 2015 via Twitter, but a tipster pointed us to a legit-looking Amazon listingthat shows four flavors of the wearable. The basic version in stainless steel starts at $349.99 with a leather strap, but the highest-end model in gold-plated stainless steel goes for $799.99, making it one of the pricier Android Wear devices out there. Intriguingly, the listing also mentions that the Watch is compatible with iOS 8.2 or later devices.


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https://www.engadget.com/2015/08/28/huawei-watch-pricing-and-date/

Google adds some visual flair to Android app searches

Google has transformed Android search for apps and now displays the results in a pictorial, grid-like fashion. For instance, searching for “music apps” (either in Now or a browser) brings up the above grid, and clicking on a given app will take you straight to Google Play, as you’d expect. The feature, spotted by Android Police, appears to have rolled out over the last few days. Regular search results are still displayed below, but the grid images take up the entire first page, in much the same way as Google’s Knowledge Graph. It only works on Android, so far — doing a similar search on iOS yields a regular app list with the option to install.

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https://www.engadget.com/2015/08/28/google-app-search-on-android/?guccounter=1&guce_referrer=aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuZ29vZ2xlLmNvbS8&guce_referrer_sig=AQAAADMhWRxVjSS7QlMs3vTSQ813oiZzb-EBm2YXf2sOjk7f2Ca1hws2Rfcc177UA6XaXAph1uM5FZQW11NgnInOUwUH0OkyBFOKyZD2NAL–QH456fTLMzkhPLpz2scPhAzBBsA3QXGIzLW0Xfn18nVWyADho5WgceTS2yOnyIi4t-r

Asus Transformer Book T300 Chi review: svelte, attractive and more than a little disappointing

Verdict

The Asus Transformer Book T300 Chi isn’t bad as a tablet, but it’s not a very good laptop making it middling value at best.

Although Intel’s fanless, highly power efficient Core M processors were supposed to herald a new generation of ultra-thin laptop-tablet hybrids, such computers have been relatively thin on the ground. The Asus Transformer Book T300 Chi is one of the first Core M-based detachable hybrids we’ve seen and, as expected for an Asus device, it’s certainly the most attractive we’ve seen so far.

Read full post here:
https://www.itpro.co.uk/laptops/24907/asus-transformer-book-t300-chi-review-svelte-attractive-and-more-than-a-little

Motorola Nexus 6 review

VERDICT

At 5.96″, the Nexus 6 might feel a little daunting for some, but with phablets only getting bigger with each new quarter, they are here to stay. To that end, the Nexus 6 could prove a great device to tout for the next couple of years, thanks to its strong chipset and RAM setup. The primary camera too, as well as the battery, will hold users in good stead for the next 18 to 24 months. It’s also a pretty rare device to get here in South Africa, with Orange being one of the only local retailers to stock it at

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http://techsmart.co.za/

Opel Adam Jam 1.0 EcoFlex Review

Adam neat little hatch

R350 000 doesn’t buy you a heck of a lot of car, but strangely R215 000 can get you almost all you need. An entry level executive hatch is like an empty shopping cart wanting for options, so why then are small hatchbacks leading the technology charge? Trevor van de Ven drives the Opel Adam Jam to find out.

PROS

The Swiss Army Knife of cars – there’s not much more you can ask for in terms of car tech; EcoFlex Engine; Youthful design and offers hundreds of customisation options.

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http://www.techsmart.co.za/cars/car_reviews/Opel-Adam-Jam-10-EcoFlex.html

HiSense Sero 8 Pro Review: iPad-Like Design, Tesco Hudl Pricing

HiSense might not be all that well known in this part of the world, but in Australia and parts of Asia it’s an up-and-coming maker of smartphones and tablets. The Sero 8 Pro is its latest offering and seeks to combine entry-level pricing with decent specs and design.

It also looks a lot like an iPad, which will no doubt help shift a few units for those who admire Apple’s work. However, at just £99 it’s a lot cheaper than the iPad – and most other Android slates, for that matter. What corners have been cut to reach that price, and is this pretender worth bothering with? We’re about to find out.

Read full post here:
https://www.knowyourmobile.com/

Atomic SmartWatch Review: A SmartWatch With FULL Phone Functionality

Verdict

The Atomic offers an impressive degree of power and connectivity for a device you wear on your wrist, but the issue is that much of the phone functionality isn’t designed to work on a screen this small. If you’re a light mobile user it may make sense, though.

The arrival of the Apple Watch has kick-started another flood of interest in the whole wearables concept, but like its Android Wear rival Apple’s timepiece still requires you to have a phone to make it function. This has been a common trait for smartwatches, which piggy-back off your mobile’s connectivity and – at worst – are only a benefit to those too lazy to extract their phone from their pocket.

Read full post here:
https://www.knowyourmobile.com/

 

Kazam Thunder Q4.5 Review: Android Phone From Ex-HTC Bods

Kazam is a British mobile made up of former HTC executives which aims to shake things up in thesmartphone arena. The Thunder Q4.5 – which is enjoying a renewed push in the UK thanks to the efforts of Ebuyer – is one of the firm’s biggest releases to date, and offers a fresh experience for those shopping for a mobile on a tight budget. Is this forward-thinking company really going to change the way we buy smartphones, or is Kazam just another firm trying to make a profit at the lower end of the Android price spectrum? Let’s take a look and find out.

Read full post here:
https://www.knowyourmobile.com/

2015 Audi S5 vs. Cadillac ATS Coupe 3.6, Lexus RC350 F Sport – Comparison Tests

Sports coupes reside in that Rhode Island–sized space between fully indulgent sports cars and eminently sensible sports sedans. To earn its garage slot, a coupe must adroitly juggle three somewhat contradictory attributes: sex appeal, driving joy, and 2+2 practicality.

The three premium coupes in contention here pit youthful cunning against confident maturity. The Cadillac ATS and Lexus RC350 F Sport are the class’s pop celebs; think Justins, as in Timberlake and Bieber. Hollywood legend Clint Eastwood—with 60 years of acting, directing, and scoring to his credit—is the Audi S5 analogue. Roots reaching back to 2007 didn’t inhibit Audi’s veteran sports coupe from busting BMW’s then-new 435i in our 2014 comparison test, so we took it and threw it against these fresh newcomers.

Read full post here:
https://www.caranddriver.com/reviews/comparison-test/a15106959/2015-audi-s5-vs-cadillac-ats-coupe-36-lexus-rc350-f-sport-comparison-test/

 

Amazon Kindle Voyage vs Kindle Paperwhite comparison: Which Amazon eReader is best?

Amazon’s new Kindle Voyage is a high-end eReader aimed at bookworms looking for the best digital reading experience. It has the best Kindle screen yet, as well as an impressive backlight, super-thin design and pressure sensitive buttons, but all that comes at a price of £169.

But do you really need all of those features, or will the £109 Kindle Paperwhite be enough for you? We explore in our Kindle Voyage vs Kindle Paperwhite comparison.

Read full post here:
https://www.techadvisor.co.uk/

2016 Jaguar F-type R Coupe vs. 2016 Mercedes-AMG GT S, 2015 Porsche 911 Carrera GTS – Comparison Tests

For the last five decades, the toughest question for any buyer of a high-end sports car has been: “How do I not end up with a 911?” To describe Porsche’s most famous product as a default choice is a faint-praise damning of what has become the world’s most iconic sports car. But it’s also an acknowledgment that to get a car as capable and well-rounded as a 911, you have to get, well, a 911.

There have been many challengers, of course, including one made by Porsche itself (the 928). But despite what every boxing movie has assured us about plucky underdogs, none have succeeded in wholly unseating this champ, certainly not in the hearts of the people who actually write checks for real cars. It’s a point proven by a trawl around the paddock of any upmarket track day or the parking lot of any plastic surgeon’s clinic.

Read full post here:
https://www.caranddriver.com/reviews/comparison-test/a15106019/2016-jaguar-f-type-r-coupe-vs-2016-mercedes-amg-gt-s-2015-porsche-911-carrera-gts-comparison-test/

Olympus E-M10 II Review — Now Shooting!

In early 2014, Olympus announced the most affordable model of OM-D cameras yet produced in the form of the E-M10. It sported a nice array of many of the higher-end specifications of its storied older siblings the E-M1 and the E-M5 at an entry-level price point. Here in the summer of 2015, Olympus has upped the ante on this entry-level model with the E-M10 II, a camera that brings a few new tricks to the table, particularly the inclusion of the company’s well-regarded 5-axis image stabilization technology.

Read full post here:
https://www.imaging-resource.com/

Asus ZenPad C 7.0 review: Decent tablets don’t come cheaper than this

DECENT TABLETS DON’T COME CHEAPER THAN THIS

At £79.99 the Asus ZenPad C 7.0 is one of the cheapest named-brand tablets you can buy. £20 cheaper than the Hudl 2, the ZenPad matches the Amazon Fire HD 6’s price, but with a larger screen and full Google Play support. Does that make it a good buy? We find out in our Asus ZenPad C 7.0 (Z170Creview. 

The Asus ZenPad C 7.0 has several highlights. It has an attractive, highly portable design, available in black, white, red or ‘Aurora Metallic’, with a stylish chrome-effect trim and grippy textured rear. At this price the ZenPad has a generous amount of storage, which can be expanded via the microSD slot hidden behind a flap on the tablet’s back. And the Asus has a 7in IPS display that, despite its sub-HD resolution and limited brightness, packs in several technologies that help to improve the experience.

Read full post here:
https://www.techadvisor.co.uk/

UMI Iron review: Eyeverify biometric security makes this Android phone ultra-secure

ANDROID IS ULTRA-SECURE WITH EYE-SCANNING SECURITY

The UMI Iron is the Chinese manufacturer’s latest Android phone. It has some high-end specifications but, most notably, eye-scanning security that aims to make this Android smartphone almost impossible for prying eyes to infiltrate.

The Eyeverify system scans the unique vein pattern and precise positioning of your pupils to make a match, and the optional setting that requires you to blink during verification tightens security by ensuring the Iron must be faced with a living, breathing human rather than a cleverly angled photo. It sounds great, but the ability to bypass the eye verification with a four-digit passcode is a chink in its otherwise impenetrable armour.

Read full post here:
https://www.techadvisor.co.uk/

15 Best Cars for Teenagers

1. 2015 VOLKSWAGEN GOLF

Starting price: $18,815

The 2015 Volkswagen Golf is one of the best cars for teenagers on the market. The car is one of the most affordable compact autos on the market today and is available in both two and four-door options for consumers. Even though the Golf is small in size, the large amount of cargo space (46 cubic feet) makes it perfect for teens that have to haul around sports gear and other necessities for high school or college.

Read full post here:
http://www.carophile.com/best-cars-for-teenagers/