Monthly Archives: December 2015

Volvo V40 review : Executive hatchback leads class for safety

The Volvo V40 is a small premium hatchback that is praised for its safety. In 2015 it was given a new range of engines and a revised equipment list.

The V40’s closest rivals are the Audi A3, the Mercedes A-Class and the BMW 1 SeriesPrices start from £19,345/$29,017 and if you buy your new V40 using carwow you can save a whopping £3,180/$4,770 on average.

Read full post here:
https://www.carwow.co.uk/volvo/v40

The first thing to do with your iPhone 6s

Those of you that’ve just received a brand-spanking-new iPhone 6s for the holidays – or an iPhone 6s Plus, just the same – you’re going to want to check out one feature before any other. That feature is Live Photos. While you can use the Live Photos feature with your iPhone without any assistance of any other app, we’ve got a couple of directions to point you in on that front here as well. To begin, launch your camera app.

Read full post here:
https://www.slashgear.com/the-first-thing-to-do-with-your-iphone-6s-25419651/

Pokken Tournament controller gets a US release date

Last week we brought you the news that Bandai Namco was making a special controller with a single game in mind. Specifically, this controller was designed for Pokken Tournament, a Pokemon arcade fighter. While it was interesting to see a controller specifically designed for a fighting game, there was one disappointing part to the news: It was only to be released in Japan.

Read full post here:
https://www.slashgear.com/pokken-tournament-gets-an-official-release-date-15423346/

BMW 9 Series and i6 EV tipped for 2020 Tesla headache

BMW is planning a super-luxury flagship and an all-electric retort to Tesla’s Model 3, insiders claim, as the German automaker hunts new niches. While BMW already has a small selection of electric cars and hybrids in its line-up, that looks set to increase come 2020.

On the luxury side, Automobile reports, there’s a high end model which will sit above the BMW 7 Series. Intended to bridge the space between that gadgetry-laden sedan and the Rolls Royce Ghost, it’s believed to be a four-door coupe with an emphasis on luxe and style.

Read full post here:
https://www.slashgear.com/bmw-9-series-and-i6-ev-tipped-for-2020-tesla-headache-24419840/

Drone World DJI Phantom 3 Pro Executive Kit Review

Consumer drones have exploded in the market, so much so that governments are scrambling to rein them in before they get out of hand. With an innumerable selection of drones in the market, ranging from minuscule to gigantic, it might be hard to choose which one to get, especially for this holiday season. But if you’re looking for a professional drone that won’t burn a hole in your pocket, you couldn’t go wrong with DJI’s Phantom 3 Pro. And with Drone World’s Executive Kit bundle, you’ll be getting more than just the basics but also a ton of extras that will turn the drone from Pro to Epic.

Read full post here:
https://www.slashgear.com/drone-world-dji-phantom-3-pro-executive-kit-review-24419801/

Samsung Galaxy A9 officially debuts with 6-inch display

After weeks of waiting, and more than few leaks, Samsung has made its new Galaxy A9 smartphone official with an announcement in China this week.

As the latest model of the Galaxy A line of devices, which sits just below Samsung’s flagship lineup, the new A9 is on the edge of phablet territory with its large 6-inch screen, placing it atop the A7 (5.5 inches), A5 (5.2 inches), and A3 (4.7 inches), which were all announced earlier this month.

Read full post here:
https://www.slashgear.com/samsung-galaxy-a9-officially-debuts-with-6-inch-display-24419808/

JmGO View is an Android-powered projector capable of 180-inch images

With CES 2016 only a few short weeks away, Chinese manufacturer JmGO is planning to use the event to make its debut in the western market, specifically with its new View projector. The device has a beautifully simple design to it, possibly taking a page from Apple’s book with its circular shape, aluminum alloy casing, and only a single button on it — used for powering on and off.

Read full post here:
https://www.slashgear.com/jmgo-view-is-an-android-powered-projector-capable-of-180-inch-images-24419826/

Firefox OS will live on in tablets, keyboards, routers

Firefox OS is dead. Long live Firefox OS! Or something to that extent. Mozillamight have pulled the plug on a Firefox OS smartphone, but it technically hasn’t killed the platform yet. It even hinted that Firefox OS proved to be a scalable Web-based platform and is, in fact, being used for some smart TVs. Apparently, Mozilla might also have plans to go beyond that entertainment appliance. Based on some leaked documents, the foundation is looking into bringing Firefox OS to tablets, standalone keyboards, and even routers.

Read full post here:
https://www.slashgear.com/firefox-os-will-live-on-in-tablets-keyboards-routers-24419794/

LG G5 specs leak again, full metal body, dual rear cameras

It’s never too early to have some juicy gossip about upcoming flagships, especially when said flagship will be coming early as well. That is allegedly the case for the LG G5, which is rumored to debut and launch a lot earlier thanLG’s usual convention. So here we’ve got another set of leaked specs for LG’s early 2016 flagship, which confirms the previous set we’ve seen earlier this month but also adds some interesting, and some disappointing, bits as well.

LG G5 specs leak again, full metal body, dual rear cameras

Both leaks agree on a few, perhaps too few, points. There’s going to be a Qualcomm Snapdragon 820 underneath, which casts into doubt recent reports of Samsung exclusivity on the chip until April. Strangely, there will only be 3 GB of RAM. Both also agree that the front facing camera will have an 8 megapixel sensor.

Read full post here:
https://www.slashgear.com/lg-g5-specs-leak-again-full-metal-body-dual-rear-cameras-23419790/

ITC judge rules that NVIDIA infringed on Samsung patents

In a tragic – for NVIDIA – reversal of fates, NVIDIA was found guilty of infringing on some of Samsung’s patent related to graphics technology. This is the latest slap on the graphics chip maker’s face after the ITC also ruled that neither Samsung nor Qualcomm infringed on NVIDIA’s own patents. In a worst case scenario, the ITC could impose an import ban against NVIDIA’s products, like its already very limited mobile and gaming devices. That is, if no settlement is reached in a few months pending a full review by the commission.

 


Read full post here:
https://www.slashgear.com/itc-judge-rules-that-nvidia-infringed-on-samsung-patents-24419786/

 

DJI Zenmuse X5R camera will start shipping in March

In September, Chinese drone maker DJI unveiled its new Zenmuse X5R, the world’s first Micro Four Thirds camera designed for use with UAVs. In a statement on Wednesday, DJI announced the camera is now available to pre-order and will begin shipping to buyers in March 2016. In addition, DJI anticipates its’ Inspire 1 RAW drone with a built-in X5R camera will also start shipping in March.

Both the Inspire 1 RAW and Zenmuse X5R can be pre-ordered starting today through “local dealers,” says DJI. The Zenmuse’s price depends on whether it comes with an SSD and lens — with both of those, the camera costs $3,599 USD. If you don’t get those two optional components, though, it is slightly lower at $3,199 USD.

Read full post here:
https://www.slashgear.com/dji-zenmuse-x5r-camera-will-start-shipping-in-march-23419751/

Leaked HTC Vive images hint at redesigned controllers

Ever since HTC formally admitted that its Vive VR headset, done in collaboration with Valve, won’t be coming until April next year, there has been no end to the speculation as to why that will be so. No official reason has been given, leaving some to wonder about possible problems.

It seems that one of the reasons might actually be because of a redesign of the Vive controllers, which is a very welcome change considering what the developer edition looked like. At least based on this still unverified leak.

Read full post here:
https://www.slashgear.com/leaked-htc-vive-images-hint-at-redesigned-controllers-22419639/

TP-Link to step into the smartphone game in 2016

The smartphone industry is a tough one for many device makers because a few massive firms own the lion’s share of the market when it comes to devices. Apple and Samsung are the big dogs in the fight, with many smaller firms fighting it out for their piece of the pie. In 2016, a new company has announced that it plans to step into the mobile category with smartphones, that company is TP-Link.

If you recognize the TP-Link name at all, it would be from the networking hardware that the company is most known for. Even though routers and range extenders like the ones TP-Link unveiled last month are what it is most known for, it’s not exactly the biggest name in that industry either.


Read full post here:
https://www.slashgear.com/tp-link-to-step-into-the-smartphone-game-in-2016-23419671/

Galaxy A9 pics and details land at TENAA

Samsung hasn’t officially announced the Galaxy A9 smartphone yet and already we know all there is to know about the device save a few key facts. Those missing key facts are things like the price and exactly when it will launch. A hoard of leaks has given us details on the hardware, images of the smartphone, and benchmarks already and today the details we know have been confirmed again via TENAA.

TENAA is the Chinese body that gives smartphones approvals needed to go on sale in that country, similar to the FCC here in the US. TENAA has offered up pics of just about every angle of the device and in the pics the A9 is gold clad. The smartphone will have a 6-inch 1080p Super AMOLED screen.

Read full post here:
https://www.slashgear.com/galaxy-a9-pics-and-details-land-at-tenaa-23419665/

Nyko Xbox One external drive enclosure finally released

These days your gaming console needs as much, if not more storage space than your PC. That’s because unlike the days of old, you can’t simply play games of the disc anymore. In order to cut down load times, you need to install virtually all of your games to the hard drive. And since the largest Xbox One clocks in at just 1TB, you need a way to add more storage space.

Thankfully Microsoft has made it significantly easier (and cheaper) to upgrade your Xbox One than it was on the 360. But while you can attach just about any drive to your console, why not make it look good? Or at least, why not make it match the console? If you’re looking for that kind of solution, Nyko has your back.

 


Read full post here:
https://www.slashgear.com/nyko-xbox-one-external-drive-enclosure-finally-released-22419582/

 

Corvette E-Ray trademark tips electric Stingray

The next big uproar in Corvette land could very well be an electric version of the iconic Stingray. Chevrolet’s Ferrari-rival for the everyman may have a legacy of screaming V8 performance, but there are whispers of a potential “Corvette E-Ray” to put an electrified twist on the coveted classic.

A couple of fresh General Motors trademarks spotted by GM Authority spill the beans, with filings for “Corvette E-Ray” and “E-Ray” alone. That certainly implies electric powertrains, though so far Chevrolet is tight-lipped on what future plans it has for the car.

Nonetheless, it’s not hard to see some of the potential benefits electrification might bring. As cars like the Tesla Model S have shown, the instant torque of an electric motor can easily surprise supercar owners when pulling away from lights.

Read full post here:
https://www.slashgear.com/corvette-e-ray-trademark-tips-electric-stingray-22419586/

Acer Predator 17 (2015) review

HIGHS
  • Solid build quality
  • Pleasant keyboard and touchpad
  • Loud, bass-heavy sound system
  • Excellent performance in all areas
  • Surprisingly long battery life
  • Bundled gaming mouse
LOWS
  • Derivative design
  • Mediocre display

Acer Predator 17

Acer has long had a presence in PC gaming, not only through its Predator sub-brand but also through a variety of systems that, while not explicitly design for games, offer strong hardware for the price. The best current example of this is Acer’s Aspire V15 Nitro Black Edition, which packs a GTX 950M for as little as $850, or a GTX 960M for $950.

Read full post here:
https://www.digitaltrends.com/laptop-reviews/acer-predator-17-2015-review/

Toshiba Radius 12 review: A 4K laptop with compromises

Toshiba hasn’t always made the best laptops. The company is perhaps known for the sort of bargain-basement machines you’ll find at big-box stores like Best Buy, and when it has dabbled in flagship systems, its efforts have sometimes fallen short. The Radius 12 could be different, though. It ticks off almost all the right boxes, with a 4K, Technicolor-certified screen option and a 2.9-pound design — particularly impressive for a convertible like this with a 360-degree hinge. And though the entry-level $1,000 model makes do with a lower-res, lower-tech screen, even that configuration offers some impressive specs for the money. All good things, and yet, I can’t recommend it — not now, anyway.

Hardware

The Radius 12 is a halo product, but you wouldn’t necessarily know it at first glance, with the machine powered down. Though the lid is fashioned out of faintly brushed metal, the smooth, plasticky surfaces throughout make the device feel less than premium.

Read full post here:
https://www.engadget.com/2015/12/24/toshiba-radius-12-review/

Alienware Steam Machine Review

THE GOOD
  • Attractive interface
  • Lots of great games
  • Good performance
THE BAD
  • Expensive
  • Peripheral limitations
  • Not as robust as either a console or a gaming PC
VERDICT

The Alienware Steam Machine has a gorgeous interface and powerful specs, but its game selection and extra features fall short.

Read full post here:
https://www.tomsguide.com/us/alienware-steam-machine,review-3303.html

Ssangyong Tivoli review : Mid-size SUV is SsangYong’s best car yet

(+)

  • Spacious for its size
  • Generous standard equipment
  • Cheap

(-)

  • Not as striking as the Juke
  • Quality falls behind the best in class
  • Bland to drive

With Kia and Hyundai now threatening to out do established mainstream manufacturers (such as Vauxhall and Ford), the time has come for SsangYong (yet another South Korean manufacturer) to make its mark in the UK. The SsangYong Tivoli is central to this aim, its built on an all-new platform to compete with cars such as the Nissan Juke, Ford EcoSport and the Vauxhall Mokka in the ever-popular (and still growing) small crossover market.e brand’s faith in its products and the hard work that has gone into making it.


Read full post here:
carwow.co.uk

Huawei G8 review

1. Introduction

Huawei may not be a full member just yet but it’s keener than most to follow the club’s dress code. Elaborate exteriors are the thing that defines the brand and that’s not limited to the premium line of devices. If it is refined design and elegance you are after, Huawei’s phones are consistently on the shortlist.

Naturally, using premium materials and adhering to high build standards results in a premium price tag. As the mobile scene is quickly changing, midrange devices are getting more powerful and feature-rich with every generation. Huawei is genuinely trying to match this on the outside. The P-series and the G-series are now really capable of rivalling their Mate siblings.

The Huawei G8 is a perfect example. It’s been following the premium Mate S all the way from the rumor mill to the production line and currently offers the same excellent design and some of the new and exciting features of its bigger sibling, all wrapped in a package that hopefully won’t break the bank.

Huawei G8 review

Even though the Huawei G8’s more or less conceived as a more affordable alternative of the Mate S, the handset doesn’t really come off as a blatant compromise. Unlike many “lite” versions out there, the G8 has a distinct feel of its own. It is somewhat less delicate than the Mate S, but the real distinction in the general feel and handling comes from the rounded body design more than anything else.

Read full post here:
https://www.gsmarena.com/huawei_g8-reviews-7513.php

Dell XPS 15 9550 review: An expensive laptop – and there are better options for gamers – but there’s much to like, too

The XPS range is where you’ll find Dell’s most desirable laptops. These aren’t all-practical workstations, or budget models. XPS is where Dell’s fanciest designs team-up with higher-end components. The idea is these are laptops you’ll be proud to use.

This is the larger of the two Dell XPS models, the XPS 15. Much more than just a larger version of the XPS 13, reviewed, this one trades away stamina in order to pack in a high-power CPU and a graphics chipset that’ll let you play recent games without making the visuals look like those of an original Xbox title.

The Dell XPS 15 does this by retaining portability too. This is still not a laptop for those after something to use for a day’s work as they sit in Starbucks. But as a mostly home-bound machine that can tackle tasks that’d make a MacBook 12in wince, it’s a winner.

PRICE

These abilities don’t come cheap, though. We’re looking at the very lowest-end Dell XPS 15 spec, which costs £1,029/$1,544 from Dell and makes some fairly significant spec sacrifices to even get down to that price

Read full post here: pcadvisor.co.uk

Yamaha YSP-5600 review

Verdict
  • The YSP-5600 delivers an exciting, immersive performance with superb overhead surround sound and plenty of great features
For
  • Excellent surround sound
  • Good impression of height
  • Expansive, open soundfield
  • Easy to use and set up
  • Plenty of streaming features
Against
  • Could have more insight and dynamic subtlety
  • The large design won’t suit all spaces
  • Expensive

Yamaha, meet Dolby Atmos – the surround sound technology that adds overhead sound to create an immersive cinema experience.

Read full post here:
https://www.whathifi.com/yamaha/ysp-5600/review

Sapphire Nitro R9 380X 4G D5 review: A good-value graphics card for those who want to game at 1080p, with 1440p potential

Six months after the introduction of AMD’s most affordable mid-range gaming GPU, the Radeon R9 380, the company launched the slightly faster R9 380X. The original R9 380 came with 256 of its processor cores disabled, leaving a total of 1792 available for use, but now the R9 380X comes with all 2048 cores available for use. Other than that, the two GPUs are the same.

PRICE

You can buy the Nitro R9 380X 4G D5 for £199/$299 from Scan. The part code is 11250-01-20G.

Read full post here: pcworld.co.uk

Skoda Superb 2.0 TDi SE Business review: At the business end

For

Space, design, comfort, CarPlay/Android Auto functionality as standard

Against

Lacks wow factor, interior lacks tech-modernity of Audis, drive lacks sparkle.

Skoda Superb review: At the business end - photo 1

Let’s face it, if you’re going to give your car a name like Superb then you’ve either got a good sense of humour or have great faith in the product. But given that the Superb comes from a brand like Skoda, there’s a reasonable possibility that both are true.

Read full post here:
https://www.pocket-lint.com/cars/reviews/skoda/136225-skoda-superb-review-at-the-business-end

Contour Roam3 Action Cam Review: Quality Compromised

THE GOOD
  • Slim, rugged, waterproof design
  • Rotating lens and laser guide help you shoot level video
  • Clever mounting system
  • Low price
THE BAD
  • Blurry video obscures details, especially when in motion
  • No LCD on device and no Wi-Fi for smartphone control
VERDICT

The Roam3 has a great design and an attractive price, but the video looks too muddy, especially when the camera is in motion.

In a category dominated by super complex cameras from GoPro and Sony, the Roam3’s sleek, spartan design is refreshing. The controls are too simple for you to accidentally enable a horribly wrong video setting, and a rugged, waterproof housing saves you from fiddling with additional cases. Too bad the video quality is too weak to trust this camera with catching special moments.

Keep reading, though, because Contour’s design provides a lot of good lessons for other camera makers.

Read full post here:
https://www.tomsguide.com/us/contour-roam3-action-camera,review-3029.html

Fossil Q Grant review

If you’re looking for a snazzy looking, well-built, Fossil watch and you think you might be interested in some basic fitness tracking, and that vibration alerts from your smartphone would be useful, get a Q Grant. But only if you’re using an iPhone, the Android connectivity is a shambles. If you want a good-looking watch-esque fitness tracker with a bit more oomph in the activity monitoring area, check out Withings Activité range. Battery life of just a week is pretty disappointing and, while the app is nicely designed, it’s basic at best. The Fossil Q Grant range looks great, just don’t expect anything too clever.

Read full post here:
https://www.wareable.com/fossil/fossil-q-grant-review

Lumia 650 might be a low-end phone with a surprising metal body

Nokia’s, and now Microsoft’s, Lumia lines hasn’t really been big on premium materials. While the rest of the smartphone world are donning armors of metal, the Windows Phone models have remained unabashedly plastic. Even the new flagships, the Lumia 950 and 950 XL, defied expectations and wishes and still flaunted a polycarbonate shell. It seems strange, then, that one of the newest Lumia’s to be clad in metal material won’t be a high-end smartphone but rather an entry-level Lumia 650, expected to debut within the first half of 2016.

Read full post here:
https://www.slashgear.com/lumia-650-might-be-a-low-end-phone-with-a-surprising-metal-body-22419509/

YoCam is small and waterproof life camera good to 20-foot depth

There are no shortage of personal cameras on the market today that are designed to record every aspect of your life and the activities you love. The most popular of the small cameras is the GoPro, but it needs an enclosure to be waterproof. A new camera has been unveiled called the YoCam and it claims to combine some of the best features of multiple cameras into one device.

The big feature of the YoCam is its small size tipping the scales at 2 ounces. Despite being small, it is designed to meet IP68 standards and is waterproof to 20-feet. It also supports 1080p, 720p, and 2.7k recording resolutions and has a 140-degree super wide-angle lens.

Read full post here:
https://www.slashgear.com/yocam-is-small-and-waterproof-life-camera-good-to-20-foot-depth-23419673/