Monthly Archives: May 2015

Why I’m Breaking Down and Buying an Apple Watch

Wearables, , , , ,
Why I’m Breaking Down and Buying an Apple Watch

 

I’ve gone back and forth over the last several weeks trying to decide whether an Apple Watch was for me. After all, I’m not so sure that wearables really are the next big thing like so many others argue and I’m convinced that they need to change dramatically in order to provide a real competition to traditional watches.

But alas, I’m breaking down and buying an Apple Watch.

Some might wonder why I would choose to buy an Apple Watch when, frankly, I don’t see myself wearing it all that often. And truth be told, it’s been a debate inside me for weeks. Do I really need a smartwatch? Will it really provide me with value in my life? Can’t I just get another product that does the tricks I’m looking for?

Ultimately, I decide that I need to get an Apple Watch for one, major reason: Apple’s ecosystem.
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https://www.slashgear.com/why-im-breaking-down-and-buying-an-apple-watch-21380129/

What would you order with an Amazon Dash button?

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Today Amazon announced Dash, a small device that allows you to order a selected product with one push of the button. The button is branded with whatever product it orders so you know what you’re getting, and it backed with a reusable adhesive so you can stick it on a cabinet or appliance. Out of detergent? Well, just push the “Tide” button and Amazon will ship you some. Don’t worry about kids pushing the button again and again either — the button only works once until you receive the order, and you always get a notification on your phone in case you need to cancel.
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https://www.cnet.com/news/amazon-is-going-to-kill-your-dash-button/

Microsoft offers schools a discount on Surface 3 and a cheaper model

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Microsoft is sweetening the pot for schools looking to adopt its new hybrid tablet by giving them a 10 percent discount on the Surface 3, Type Cover and stylus. Normally, they cost $500, $130 and $50, respectively. On top of that, it’s also offering a slightly cheaper Surface 3 model with just 32GB of memory and 2GB of RAM (the base Surface 3 has 64GB of storage). We don’t yet know the price of that cheaper model, but expect it to be well below the $450 for the newly discounted 64GB Surface 3. Educational discounts aren’t anything new — it’s already offering them for the Surface Pro 3, and it’s something most other computer makers do — but Microsoft is clearly trying to position the Surface 3 as an alternative to Chromebooks. Those cheaper Google-powered machines have been a huge hit in schools, thanks to their low prices and easy maintenance, but they can’t run all of the software a full-fledged Windows machine can.
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https://www.engadget.com/2015-04-23-surface-3-education-discount.html

Which keyboards are worth buying?

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Which keyboards are worth buying?

 

When you consider how much time we spend in front of our computers, how we interact with them should be a key concern. That said, unless you’re a gamer or programmer, you probably haven’t done much shopping around. Last month, we took a look at some of the best gaming keyboards that have come out recently. Now, we turn our gaze to some newer models designed for uses other than playing your favorite PC games — including ones for work, controlling your home theater and portable units you can carry around in your bag for typing on the go.
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https://www.engadget.com/2015-05-05-keyboard-review-roundup.html

This smartphone is extra-secure and stronger than steel

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The Turing Phone

 

How do you stand out if you’re a fledgling smartphone maker that can’t compete on specs alone? If you’re Turing Robotic Industries, you pour your energy into clever design — both inside and out. The newly unveiled Turing Phone puts an emphasis on security, with its own server-free encrypted communication between owners and a fingerprint reader that encourages you to lock down your device. There’s also an Apple-like magnetic charging system, so you won’t send your phone flying. However, the real star of the show is the frame. It’s built from “liquidmorphium,” a metal alloy that’s reportedly stronger than steel or titanium. While there’s also aluminum, ceramic and plastic on the body, that exotic structure should reduce the chances that you’ll wreck your handset through a nasty drop.
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https://www.engadget.com/2015-04-23-turing-phone.html

Garmin Vivosmart review: where fitness band meets smartwatch

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There are fitness trackers and there are smartwatches, but there’s only a small number of devices that attempt to be both. The Garmin Vivosmart is one such exception. It’s a $170 band that does everything you’d expect a fitness gadget to do: track your steps, calories burned, distance traveled and sleep. In a unique twist, though, it also has an OLED screen showing things like emails, texts, Twitter and Facebook notifications and incoming calls. In essence, it’s a full-fledged fitness tracker that also acts like a full-fledged smartwatch. The question is, can it do both jobs well?

 

Garmin Vivosmart review

 

  

 

 

PROS

  • One of the few fitness bands that also acts as a smartwatch
  • Long battery life
  • Adjusts your daily step goal based on recent activity
  • The “move bar” is an effective reminder to get up and walk around

CONS

  • Can’t delete or archive messages from the band; notifications aren’t actionable
  • Garmin Connect fitness app still doesn’t offer much in the way of motivation
  • Can be uncomfortable to wear after long periods of use
  • Scratches easily
  • Limited smartphone compatibility
SUMMARY Garmin deserves praise for being one of the first companies to develop a fitness band that does double-duty as a smartwatch. That said, the device suffers from some uncomfortable ergonomics and an app that offers little in the way of motivation. Meanwhile, the smartwatch-like notifications are not compelling enough to justify the Vivosmart’s relatively high price.
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https://www.engadget.com/2014-11-10-garmin-vivosmart-review.html

Parrot Zik 2.0 review: still the world’s most advanced headphones

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If you’re into drones and wireless audio, then you’ll probably agree that Parrot is the best thing out of France since Daft Punk. Personally, I’ve been most impressed with the company’s wireless headphones, the Zik. In fact, I’ve been a regular user since it came outabout two years ago. Even today, no other brands have attempted anything as advanced as these cans. Which makes sense: These are no ordinary Bluetooth headphones. In addition to being wireless, they feature effective noise cancellation and intuitive touchpad input, all tucked inside a quirky Philippe Starck design, no less. More importantly, the audio quality has gotten better over time as Parrot improved device compatibility via firmware updates.

But of course, there’s always room for improvement; the original Zik is on the heavy side, and not everyone’s a fan of its bulky look. Well, that’s pretty much why we now have theZik 2.0, and fortunately, it offers more than just improved portability. Read on to see if this new model is worth the $399 upgrade.

 

Parrot Zik 2.0 review

 

  

 

 

PROS

  • Impressive noise reduction
  • Intuitive gesture-based control
  • Great audio playback quality

CONS

  • Touchpad not as sensitive as before
  • Charging takes 2.5 hours
  • Still not ideal for voice calls
SUMMARY The Parrot Zik 2.0 is almost perfect with its reduced weight, refined design and new app features, but its call quality could use work.
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https://www.engadget.com/2014-11-03-parrot-zik-2-0-review.html

Google Nexus Player review: a strong, but flawed, introduction to Android TV

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Google has been trying to get into the living room for a long time, but it hasn’t always worked out. The Google TV platform it launched four years ago never really took off and the curiously shaped Nexus Q was so beleaguered by its limited functions and high price that it didn’t stand a chance. Last year, however, Google finally managed to get a taste of success with the Chromecast, an inexpensive video-streaming dongle that was so simple it eschewed the need for a remote control or dedicated UI. Almost too simple, some would say — you still need another device lying around to cast content to it and the lack of a UI means it’s not quite as user-friendly as a Roku or an Apple TV.

 

  

 

 

PROS

  • Voice search is simple and intuitive
  • Simple card-based interface
  • Google Cast gives it Chromecast-like features

CONS

  • Limited storage
  • Search results are limited to Google-related content sources
  • Buggy software
  • Chintzy remote
  • No Ethernet port
SUMMARY The Nexus Player is a great, if imperfect, introductory showcase for Android TV. It doesn’t have an Ethernet port and suffers from a few bugs, but Android TV’s simple interface, intelligent voice search and Google Cast abilities more than make up for it.
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https://www.engadget.com/2014-11-03-google-nexus-player-review.html

Motorola Droid Turbo review: better than the Moto X, but only a little

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Once upon a time, not all that long ago, Motorola released an excellent flagship phone called the Moto X. Sure, it didn’t have the best battery ever and the camera was pretty lousy, but it just oozed charm and didn’t leave me wanting for much. Then, just months later, Motorola (with a perhaps little coaxing from Verizon) released a phone that addressed just about all of the X’s shortcomings. That, in a nutshell, is the story of the Droid Turbo: Just think of it as the Moto X Plus. But is it really that much better than that other phone we fell for? And will Verizon Moto X owners rue the day they extended their contracts?

 

  

 

 

PROS

  • Long battery life
  • Attractive Quad HD screen
  • Powerful performance
  • Camera a clear improvement over the Moto X’s

CONS

  • Less charming design than the Moto X
  • No expandable memory
  • It’s exclusive to Verizon
SUMMARY While it lacks the style and charm of the 2014 Moto X, the Droid Turbo is a powerhouse that manages to outperform its relative in nearly every way that matters. Sadly, it’s a Verizon exclusive so the rest of you (unless you live in Brazil and Mexico and buy a Moto Maxx) need not apply.
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https://www.engadget.com/2014-11-11-motorola-droid-turbo-review.html

EE TV review: a decent set-top box with too many strings attached

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EE has evolved rapidly since it became a household name two years ago after switching on the UK’s first 4G mobile network. Today, it’s more than just a carrier, with a home broadband business and a selection of own-brand mobile devices, among other things. And now, EE’s decided to turn its hand to home entertainment, having recently launchedthe EE TV set-top box. Free and available only to customers of EE’s mobile and broadband services, it’s essentially a Freeview DVR with a few tricks up its sleeve. Tying into EE’s primary focus on mobile, one of the fancier features is the box’s ability to stream live and recorded video to multiple smartphones and tablets simultaneously. But is a free DVR with a couple of advanced capabilities enough of an incentive to get you signed up for the required services (which is sort of the point)? Not really, no.

 

   

 

PROS

  • Fast and intuitive menu interface
  • Mobile streaming feature works great
  • 24/7 recording functionality

CONS

  • Sluggish EPG
  • Little more than Freeview content offered
  • Complex barrier to ownership
SUMMARYEE TV is a pretty good Freeview DVR with some unique functionality. These advanced features, however, aren’t without their limitations, but my main gripe with the set-top box is that you have to commit to buying all of EE’s other services in order to get one.
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https://www.engadget.com/2014-11-19-ee-tv-review.html

HTC RE Camera review: a fun personal shooter with room to grow

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My father’s camcorder was a common sight on childhood vacations. Trips to Mount Rainier, the Oregon Coast, Disneyland, skiing, weddings — you name it, there’s video evidence of my siblings and I enjoying time together. I’m lucky to have grown up in an era where this technology was available, but today these memories can be captured more easily and with less sophisticated (read: less expensive) equipment. We have quick and easy access to cameras at a moment’s notice, thanks to smartphones and tablets, and now another form factor is starting to gain momentum: personal cameras. With the exception of the GoPro, this genre is now seeing an influx of small, hand-held devices that are small enough to put in your pocket or bag and can still take decent photos and videos.

HTC is one of the companies rushing to get into this space with the RE camera(pronounced “Ree”), an awkwardly named gadget that’s shaped like a tube, packs a 16-megapixel camera and 1080p HD video capture and features cross-platform support so Android and iOS users alike can take advantage of it. Can this tiny camera take the place of my father’s camcorder? What else is it good for? And is it worth paying $200 even if you already have a smartphone camera? Keep Reading to find out.

 

  

 

 

PROS

  • Fun to use, inspires creativity
  • Small, lightweight form factor
  • Great for using one-handed
  • Waterproof
  • Can use it without your phone around

CONS

  • Camera quality is okay, but not better than most flagships
  • A little pricey
  • No HDR, flash, viewfinder or manual controls
  • iOS app offers subpar user experience
  • So-so battery life
  • Wide-angle shots can look odd
SUMMARY The RE is a fun personal camera that’s easy to use for travel, concerts, the beach and other events. But its camera is merely average for $200, and you’ll be forced to choose between the convenience of the RE and the image quality of your current smartphone.
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https://www.engadget.com/2014-11-24-htc-re-camera-review.html

Lenovo Yoga 3 Pro review: slim and sexy comes with some trade-offs

Computers & IT, , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

I haven’t reviewed an Ultrabook in months. It’s not because I’ve grown lazy; it’s because there just haven’t been many new models to test. Nearly every laptop that crosses Engadget’s reviews desk these days is a gaming notebook, a Chromebook or maybe one of those super-cheap netbook things. So here I am, dusting off my Ultrabook-testing skills with the Lenovo Yoga 3 Pro, the company’s latest flagship laptop. Like every Yoga that’s come before it, this new model has a 360-degree hinge that allows it to fold back into tablet mode. It also keeps that stunning 3,200 x 1,800 touchscreen. But that’s not what’s interesting to me. No, I’m curious about this because it’s the first notebook I’m testing with a new Intel Core M chip, which allows the Yoga 3 Pro to be 17 percent thinner than its predecessor, not to mention 15 percent lighter. As a result of moving to a lower-powered chip, the battery life should be better too. Sounds like a recipe for an all-around better Ultrabook, right?

 

  

 

 

PROS

  • Thin and light, even for an ultraportable
  • Versatile design
  • Generally fast performance
  • Gorgeous display

CONS

  • Relatively short battery life
  • Keyboard is shallower than on previous Yoga machines
  • Touchpad could use some fine-tuning
  • Start button on the bezel doesn’t always work, but a fix is coming
SUMMARY Lenovo’s third-generation Yoga laptop is as versatile as ever, except it’s noticeably thinner and lighter — so much so that it’s now one of the slimmest Ultrabooks on the market. The battery life has improved too, but it still lags behind the competition, no doubt because that slim design doesn’t leave room for a bigger cell.
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https://www.engadget.com/2014-11-25-lenovo-yoga-3-pro-review.html

HP Stream 11 review: a $200 Windows laptop meant to be a Chromebook killer

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It’s no secret that people like Chromebooks. That can’t be good news for Microsoft, which used to own the market for cheap computers. Not one to take this sort of encroachment lying down, Microsoft came out with a lower-cost version of Windows 8.1 that PC makers could use to build small, lightweight devices inexpensive enough to take on Chromebooks. The HP Stream 11 is among the first of these so-called Chromebook killers: an 11.6-inch laptop running full Windows and priced at just $200. For the money, it looks and performs like a netbook, with a colorful plastic shell and an Intel Celeron processor chugging away under the hood. Then again, though, you also have the option of installing traditional desktop apps, which you can’t do on a Chromebook, and Microsoft is further sweetening the deal by throwing in a terabyte of OneDrive storage and a yearlong subscription to Office 365. So is this just netbooks, redux? Or does an aggressive price make all the difference?

 

  

 

 

PROS

  • Low price
  • Bright, playful design
  • Comfortable keyboard
  • $25 Windows Store gift card included
  • Includes 1TB of cloud storage and a one-year Office 365 subscription

CONS

  • So-so display
  • Slow boot-up times
  • Touchpad could use some fine-tuning
SUMMARY At $200, the Stream 11 is a good deal, especially compared to pricier Chromebooks, but beware that it comes with many of the same trade-offs as other budget laptops, including a low-quality display and slow boot-up time.
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https://www.engadget.com/2014-11-28-hp-stream-11-review.html

Fitbit Zip: Fitness Tracker Review

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The Fitbit Zip is an economical fitness tracker. Priced at $59.95, it is one of the least expensive trackers on the market. (For comparison, the Fitbit One and Withings Pulse are both $99.95.) But does the Zip’s lower price mean compromising on features? I tested this tracker out for a week to see how it compares to other devices. Here’s a look at how much you get for the bargain price.

Overall Rating: 6/10

If you’re looking for an inexpensive, basic tracker that provides a bit of motivation, the Zip is a good one. But the Zip lacks some of the frills you’ll see with  more expensive devices, including sleep tracking, a lit- up screen, an alarm and a way to track the floors you climb.

Design/Comfort: 5.5/10

The Zip is a small, lightweight device (weighing just 8 grams, or 0.28 ounces), and has a smooth, sleek feel. You can easily slip the Zip in your pocket and forget it’s there. You can also place the Zip in the provided clip, and wear it like a pedometer on your waistband. For those who like a choice of colors, the device comes in five: black, white, blue, lime green and pink.

The screen is easy to read, but it does not light up, so you won’t be able to check your steps in the dark.

The Zip tracks three basic metrics: steps taken, calories burned and distances walked. Unlike its more expensive cousin the Fitbit One, the Zip does not track floors climbed, or hours slept.

You don’t have to worry about charging the Zip — it comes with a watch battery — but you will need to replace the battery every four to six months.
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https://www.livescience.com/44280-fitbit-zip-review.html

Soleus Go: Fitness Tracker Review

Wearables, , , , ,

The Go is a new fitness tracker from watch maker Soleus, and it tracks many of the standard metrics seen in fitness trackers today, including your daily steps, calories burned, distanced traveled and how much you sleep. But unlike some fitness trackers, the Go also tracks your workout time and pace, and it includes a few smartwatch features, such as alerts when you get a call or text, and even shows you the weather.

At $80 to $110, the Go is in the middle of the price range for fitness trackers. Here’s what I found after testing the device for a week.

Overall Rating: 5/10

The pros of the Go include vibration alerts that remind you to move, the ability to receive alerts for incoming calls and texts, the ability to track workout times right on the device and the option to set the device to automatically enter sleep mode.

The cons of the device include a lack of information about what your stats mean, a cumbersome charging device and the need to press buttons multiple times to find certain information, such as your daily steps.
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https://www.livescience.com/48735-soleus-go-fitness-tracker-review.html

Fire TV Stick review: a more affordable streamer from Amazon

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Earlier this year, Amazon entered the crowded field of streaming set-top boxes. But while the Fire TV sounded like a real winner on paper, in practice it was more of a mixed bag. For round two, the internet retail giant scaled back its ambitions and the price. The Fire TV Stickis a streaming dongle similar to the Chromecast or Roku Streaming Stick that’s focused mainly on serving up video and less on gaming. Plus, the $39 price tag dramatically lowers the bar for entry. But, even at less than half the price, the Fire TV Stick would be a hard pill to swallow if Amazon didn’t iron out some of the kinks from its first-generation device. So has a few more months of polish addressed our concerns about Fire OS on the big screen? Without giving too much away, the answer is mostly yes.

 

  

 

PROS

  • Unobtrusive design
  • Vastly improved onscreen keyboard
  • Dedicated Prime Video section
  • List of apps keeps getting longer

CONS

  • Still no HBO Go
  • Included remote lacks voice search button
  • Still some rough edges and inconsistencies in Fire OS
SUMMARY The Fire TV Stick addresses a number of issues we had with the Fire TV and comes with a much smaller price tag. It’s not dramatically better than its competitors, but it’s certainly not any worse. For $39, it’s a perfectly viable streaming-media option, and the best one if you’ve already bought into Amazon’s ecosystem.
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https://www.engadget.com/2014-12-04-fire-tv-stick-review.html

YotaPhone 2 review: niche and expensive, but seriously cool

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YotaPhone was inarguably one of the quirkiest smartphones released last year, with not one, but two displays. This curious marriage of LCD and E Ink was certainly a manufacturing achievement, but limited uses for the secondary screen meant it simply couldn’t live up to its potential. Undeterred, Yota Devices announced earlier this year it wascooking up a sequel, and today it’s ready to launch the new and improved YotaPhone 2. Its fresh design, high-end specs and bigger, higher-resolution displays are welcome upgrades, but most importantly, a thorough overhaul of the handset’s software means you can now make full use of the low-power E Ink screen, which has also been granted touch functionality for this generation.

I’ve spent a fair amount of time with the device, and have to say that it’s the most interesting smartphone I’ve ever used. Like its predecessor, the YotaPhone 2 is still very much a niche proposition with narrow mainstream appeal. That being said, Yota Devices has more or less achieved what it set out to do last year: Make a handset with an E Ink display that has several, legitimate use cases. Whether these will actually tempt you into picking one up is another matter, but the second screen is no longer an oddity; it’s an asset.

                     

                                        

PROS

  • Dual-screened engineering marvel
  • E Ink screen is legitimately useful
  • Gorgeous primary AMOLED display
  • Top-tier performance
  • Cool points aplenty

CONS

  • Very expensive
  • Limited mainstream appeal
  • Mediocre camera
  • Yota’s software still needs work
  • Uncomfortable to hold the ‘other’ way around
SUMMARY The YotaPhone 2 is a stark upgrade over its predecessor, with bigger, better displays wrapped in a much sleeker package. Most importantly, the secondary E Ink screen is actually useful this time around. It has its flaws, of course, is very expensive and won’t be everyone’s cup of tea. Regardless, though, it’s quite simply as cool as they come.
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https://www.engadget.com/2014-12-03-yotaphone-2-review.html

Alienware Alpha review: almost the Steam Machine you’re looking for

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It’s hard to describe the Alienware Alpha. On the surface, it’s a small-form gaming PC, custom-built from laptop components to fit in your entertainment center. But it wassupposed to be a frontrunner in a new category of gaming devices. It isn’t. Valve’s Steam Machine initiative was delayed past its original launch window, leaving manufacturers like Dell to fend for themselves in a market that doesn’t exist yet. It’s a weird, awkward place to be in, but here we are, testing the Alienware Alpha: a Steam Machine before its time. The question is: Can one of the biggest names in PC gaming succeed where others have failed?

 

  

 

PROS

  • Alpha UI creates a solid console illusion
  • Custom gamepad drivers solve most mouse and keyboard problems
  • Makes it easy to play PC games on a TV

CONS

  • Painfully long load times
  • Overprotective console mode blocks some games from running
  • Driver issues can cause trouble with some titles
SUMMARY If you absolutely have to have a Steam Machine right now, you’re not going to do better than the Alienware Alpha. Still, it’s a mere stepping stone towards bigger, better and more complete PC game consoles.
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https://www.engadget.com/2014-12-12-alienware-alpha-review.html

MacBook Pro with Retina display review (13-inch, 2015)

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Nope, it’s not the new MacBook. That review will need to wait until next month. What we have here is the 13-inch MacBook Pro with Retina display. For all intents and purposes, it’s the same one we last tested in late 2013, except for one important thing: It swaps out the old trackpad in favor of a pressure-sensitive “Force Touch” pad that responds differently depending on how hard you bear down on it. (A hard-press on the skip button in QuickTime, for instance, will let you fast-forward at warp speed.) In addition, the new MBP brings all the spec upgrades you’d expect in a system refresh, including faster SSDs, fresh graphics and Intel’s latest Core processors. At $1,299-plus, it’s priced the same as before, and since the design and Retina display haven’t changed, you’re likely to enjoy it as much as you did the last-gen model. I can’t promise you’ll love the new touchpad, though.

Apple MacBook Pro with Retina display review (13-inch, 2015)

 

 

 

MacBook Pro with Retina display (13-inch, 2015)

PROS

  • Gorgeous screen
  • Long battery life
  • Good graphics, even faster SSD speeds
  • Comfortable keyboard

CONS

  • New trackpad takes getting used to; Force Touch gestures aren’t that useful
  • Discrete graphics still not an option on the 13-inch Pro
  • The machine isn’t any thinner or lighter than it was a year and a half ago
SUMMARY The refreshed Retina display MacBook Pro brings faster performance and longer battery life, along with the same stunning screen and comfortable keyboard. This time around, though, Apple also traded in its already-best-in-class trackpad for a new, pressure-sensitive one. While it’s almost as comfortable to use as its predecessor, we’re not convinced these new touchpad tricks were worth making the switch. That said, the 13-inch Retina MBP remains one of the few laptops of this size that offers such long battery life and this kind of graphics clout.
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https://www.cnet.com/reviews/apple-macbook-pro-13-inch-2015-review/

MSI GT72 Dominator review: a worthy successor to a great gaming notebook

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The last time I saw MSI’s Dominator laptop, I was sick of it. There wasn’t anything wrong with it, but at the time, the product name belonged to the GT70: a powerhouse gaming machine that hasn’t evolved much since its introduction in 2012. Back then, I loved the machine’s heavy chassis, superb keyboard and excellent sound — but over time, the machine’s aesthetic trappings began to bore me. Someone at MSI must have felt the same way: Earlier this year, the company released the GT72, a new Dominator with a whole new design. Soon after, it relaunched the machine with NVIDIA’s latest graphics architecture. OK, MSI, let’s see if you can make me fall in love again.

 

  

 

 

PROS

  • New, improved design
  • Screaming game performance
  • Great speakers, keyboard and display
  • Decent battery life (with GPU switching)

CONS

  • Annoying trial software pack-ins
  • Trackpad has no tactile boundaries
SUMMARY The GT72 take everything that was great about its predecessor and wraps it into a new, more attractive package. The result is a well-built, ridiculously powerful gaming rig that lives up to the “Dominator” name.
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https://www.engadget.com/2014-12-19-msi-gt72-dominator-review.html

Sony Xperia Z3 Tablet Compact review: light in the hand, heavy on the wallet

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Sony’s consumer electronics division is in an ongoing state of flux. Having already given up on PCs and e-readers, the company recently pledged to make fewer TVs and smartphones in a bid to get its books back in the black. How Sony’s strategizing will affect its output of tablets remains unclear, but no doubt a keen eye is being kept on the reception of its latest slate, the Xperia Z3 Tablet Compact (don’t let that mouthful of a moniker fool you — Sony only classes the 8-inch tablet as “compact” to differentiate it from its two previous 10.1-inch devices). The company is renowned for the quality of its premium products, and like the two smartphones that make up the rest of the Z3 family, its newest tablet is a testament to that legacy. Cutting to the chase, it’s an elegant and powerful device, but with prices starting at $445/£300, those credentials might not be enough to make you choose Sony over the competition.

Sony Xperia Z3 Tablet Compact reviews

 

 

 

Xperia Z3 Tablet Compact

PROS

  • Thin and light design
  • Stunning display
  • Fast performance
  • Long battery life

CONS

  • Expensive compared to similarly sized flagship tablets
  • Sony’s Android skin feels dated
  • Poor camera
SUMMARY Sony’s Z3 Tablet Compact is a well-made, thin and light device with a stunning display, brisk performance and robust battery life. Still, it’s difficult to recommend at this price ($445 and up) when there are other thin and light flagship tablets that cost less, many of which offer higher-resolution screens and more capable cameras.
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https://www.engadget.com/2015-01-11-sony-xperia-z3-tablet-compact-review.html

Healbe GoBe review: Can a fitness band really track your calorie intake?

Wearables, , , , , , , ,

In 2015, a simple activity-tracking wearable just doesn’t cut it. Unless, perhaps, it’s cool-looking, or dirt cheap. Being able to keep tabs on how active you’ve been (or not) is certainly helpful; the problem is it’s only one part of the picture. A fitness tracker might know I hustled my way through a 5K run this morning, but it doesn’t know about the waffle-mania breakfast I enjoyed straight after. Some products work around this by letting you log your food intake. I’m prone to “forgetting” to log my meals, though, including the guilty, post-run carb-fest breakfasts. The dream fitness wearable, then, would be one that tracks your activity, auto-logs your sleep and knows what you’ve eaten without you telling it. Enter GoBe, by Healbe, a $300 wearable that promises to do exactly that.

 

  

 

PROS

  • Excellent sleep tracking
  • All-day heart rate tracking
  • Slick, easy-to-use app

CONS

  • Calorie counting — the device’s signature feature — doesn’t work as promised
  • Bulky design
  • Poor battery life
SUMMARY If Healbe can demonstrably improve the calorie-counting abilities of GoBe, it would be the health product of the year — even with poor battery life. Improve that too, and it’s health device of the decade. Unfortunately, while those problems persist, it’s just a $300 activity tracker in an already competitive market.
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https://www.engadget.com/2015-02-09-healbe-gobe-review.html

Sony SmartWatch 3 review: dull design, but great for runners

Wearables, , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

This here is the Sony SmartWatch 3. That might make it sound like it’s the third iteration in a line of gadgets, but really, it’s the first. That’s because even though this is Sony’s third smartwatch (fourth if you count the Sony Ericsson LiveView), it’s actually Sony’s first that comes with Android Wear. Both the original SmartWatch and the SmartWatch 2 ran Sony’s own proprietary platform, which, while Android-friendly, didn’t have nearly the same reach as Google’s Android Wear. It’s great that Sony has finally seen the light, but the SmartWatch 3 has arrived remarkably late to the party, letting rivals like Motorola, LG and Samsung gain ground. On the other hand, the SmartWatch 3 is currently the only Android Wear option with a built-in GPS radio, allowing for more precise workout tracking. Which, as it turns out, could be enough to help Sony stand apart from the pack.

 

  

 

PROS

  • Built-in GPS is ideal for runners and other athletes
  • WiFi and NFC make this more future-proof than other Android Wear devices
  • Relatively long battery life
  • Display is easy to read in direct sunlight

CONS

  • Drab design
  • Screen isn’t as vibrant as on some other smartwatches
  • Not many Android Wear apps currently make use of the GPS, WiFi or NFC
SUMMARY Sony’s latest smartwatch won’t be for everyone, what with its dull design and muted screen. Still, this is currently the only Android Wear device with a built-in GPS radio, making it a smart choice for runners and other athletes interested in tracking their pace and distance.
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https://www.engadget.com/2015-01-02-sony-smartwatch-3-review.html

BlackBerry Classic review: A love letter to fans and few others

Phones, , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Let’s put Apple, Samsung and all their ilk aside for few moments: It really wasn’t that long ago that a homegrown Canadian company called BlackBerry (well, RIM at the time) basically ruled the mobile world. The outfit’s slow decline has been chronicled, opined upon for years, and yet, some of BlackBerry’s most ardent fans still clamor for the days when QWERTY keyboards and teensy trackpads were uber-efficient status symbols instead of the relics they are now.

Enter the BlackBerry Classic. The name says it all, really: It’s a paean to BlackBerry’s halcyon days, and it’s got a look plucked straight out of 2011, to boot. We took one for an extended spin to see how BlackBerry’s throwback formula holds up today, and (very long story short) it’s mostly the past mashed up with a touch of the modern. The bigger question, as usual, is whether or not it’s worth your time. I suspect you already know the answer, but read on for my full impressions.

BlackBerry Classic review

 

 

 

Classic

PROS

  • Its physical QWERTY keyboard is still aces
  • Lots of good software touches
  • BlackBerry holdouts will love the throwback design

CONS

  • Finding (and installing) apps can be tiresome
  • Hit-or-miss performance
  • Can’t remove the battery
  • Mediocre camera
SUMMARY The BlackBerry Classic hearkens back to the good old days, when a solid QWERTY keyboard and a dense design turned phones into full-blown business partners. Alas, with inconsistent performance and an app ecosystem that takes plenty of getting used to, the Classic is still best suited for absolute die-hard productivity hounds and long-standing BlackBerry devotees.
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https://www.engadget.com/2015-02-10-blackberry-classic-review.html

Fitbit Surge review: a top-notch tracker with a flawed design

Wearables, , , , , , , , ,

Confession time: I’m a bit of a wannabe when it comes to self-quantification. The idea of counting every step I take, every calorie I eat, every day I don’t have a cigarette and every minute I lie in bed restlessly tossing and turning sounds great. I want to be able to look at my life as a series of easy-to-understand numbers that I can act upon to improve myself. And every time I review a new wearable or fitness tracker I think, “This’ll be the one to make it stick.” The latest in the long line of would-be life-changers is the $250 Fitbit Surge. The combination of GPS running watch, step counter and sleep tracker appeals not only to the number nerd in me, but also to the semi-serious runner as well. It also appeals to the “someone trying to cut down on the clutter in their life” part of me. Why do I need a separate pedometer, GPS running watch and a regular watch? But the big question is: Can the Surge lock me into not just an ecosystem, but also a system of life-tracking and life-changing habits?

Fitbit Surge review

 

 

 

Surge

PROS

  • GPS and heart rate monitoring are welcome additions
  • Fitbit finally solved its sleep-tracking problem
  • Food database is robust and easy to use

CONS

  • Design is better suited for the gym than the office
  • Slightly bulky body and strap
  • Pricey for an activity tracker, even one with GPS
SUMMARY The Surge solves some of Fitbit’s problems with better food and sleep tracking, while adding GPS and heart rate monitoring to the mix. But its bulky, utilitarian design and high price will limit its appeal.
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https://www.engadget.com/2015-03-12-fitbit-surge-review.html

Chromebook Pixel review (2015): less expensive, still impractical

Computers & IT, , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

The Chromebook Pixel was the most beautiful laptop that we told people not to buy. With a machined aluminum chassis, pixel-dense screen and a spacious keyboard, it had a design that in some ways outmatched even the Retina display MacBook Pro. The problem: It ran Chrome OS for an operating system, with no support for the sort of desktop apps you’d expect to use on a $1,299 machine. Speaking of the sort, it cost $1,299. Oh, and the battery life was short too — barely four hours on a charge. So much for having a portable machine you could take anywhere. It was, as we said at the time, “a lovely thing that everyone should try to experience, but few should seriously consider buying.”

Chromebook Pixel (2015)

PROS

  • Beautiful, high-res display
  • Incredible build quality
  • Great keyboard and trackpad
  • Long battery life, charges quickly
  • Mix of regular and USB Type-C ports

CONS

  • Chrome OS has come a long way, but still has limitations
  • Still feels expensive for what it is
  • No real change in the thickness or weight
SUMMARYThough the Pixel looks the same as its predecessor, it feels like a big improvement, thanks to its tripled battery life and lower price. Chrome OS has come a long way too, to the point where the idea of doing everything online doesn’t seem like as crazy an idea as it once did. That said, as well-designed as the Pixel is, $999 is a lot to pay for a laptop that only runs Chrome OS, especially when comparable Mac and Windows machines can run all manner of desktop apps — including the Chrome browser.
 As far as Google was concerned, though, the Pixel was just ahead of its time. That, and maybe it needed a little refining. Not to be deterred, the company just released a second-generation model, also called the Pixel. The idea, as Google explains it, is that it keeps everything people loved about the original, while correcting everything that made it a tough sell. That means the design is virtually identical, with an all-metal shell, 12.85-inch, 2,560 x 1,700 touchscreen and a well-spaced keyboard. This time, though, the battery is rated for 12 hours, partly thanks to Intel’s latest Core processors, and there are two reversible USB Type-C ports like the kind used on the new MacBook announced earlier this week (except in this case, there are some regular USB connections too). Meanwhile, Chrome OS is more polished than it was two years ago, and can now run a few Android apps. Most importantly, perhaps, Google dropped the Pixel’s starting price to $999. A 23 percent price cut isn’t exactly a trivial difference, but is it enough to turn the Pixel into a practical purchase? Not quite. But almost.
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https://www.engadget.com/2015-03-11-chromebook-pixel-review-2015.html

Lenovo ThinkCentre Chromebox Tiny aimed at schools, enterprise

Wearables, , , , , , , , , , , , ,
At a squat 7-inches tall and a slim 1.4-inches wide, the new Lenovo ThinkCentre Chromebox Tiny doesn’t try to take up too much space. It’s also only 2.2 pounds, so mounting it won’t be a problem for those who like a clutter-free environment. To that crowd, Lenovo is making the ThinkCentre Chromebox available for use with their Tiny-in-one 23-inch monitor. Aimed at education and enterprise, the ThinkCentre Chromebox will be made available in June, and starts at $199.Ouyang Jun, vice president and general manager, Desktop and Visuals, Lenovo, said “Lenovo was the first to introduce a one litre commercial desktop and ThinkCentre Chromebox is a testament to our commitment to the continued evolution of the desktop and our promise to push the boundaries on innovation for our education and business customers. Combined with the ThinkCentre Tiny-in-One, the new Chromebox illustrates our belief in more flexibility for teachers and IT managers to continue to offer desktop solutions in a modern day environment.”

Lenovo didn’t say what internals they’d pack into the ThinkCentre Chromebox. Provided it’s a Chrome OS device meant for deployment — and it’s $199 price tag — we’d assume some very basic specs for this one.

We do know it’ll have 4 USB 3.0 ports, HDMI, audio jack, DisplayPort, and Ethernet.
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https://www.slashgear.com/lenovo-thinkcentre-chromebox-tiny-aimed-at-schools-enterprise-27380961/

No surprise: Qualcomm calls SD810 heat rumors “rubbish”

Wearables, , , , , , , , ,
No surprise: Qualcomm calls SD810 heat rumors “rubbish”

 

After months of somewhat keeping silent, while letting its partnersdo the talking, Qualcomm is finally speaking out on the issues that have plagued what would have been its star chip for 2015, the Snapdragon 810. Naturally, it’s calling the rumors of the chip overheating as hogwash and based on incomplete data. Of course, it’s pointing the finger at “someone” who has been spreading this rumor to its advantage, without specifically mentioning the one company that stands to profit from the Snapdragon 810’s failure:Samsung.

Of course, Qualcomm won’t speak out against Samsung, at least not directly. Despite being shoved out of the Galaxy S6 and Galaxy S6 edge, the two still have a working relationship with respect to Samsung’s other devices. Qualcomm admits that the relationship is like a pendulum, continuously swinging between Qualcomm’s Snapdragons and Samsung’s own Exynos. As bad luck would have it, this time the pendulum moved away from Qualcomm.
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https://www.slashgear.com/no-surprise-qualcomm-calls-sd810-heat-rumors-rubbish-06382465/

Swatch plans long-lasting smartwatch battery release for 2016

Wearables, , ,
Swatch plans long-lasting smartwatch battery release for 2016

 

Swatch has been vocal in the recent past about its smartwatch ambitions, and its focus lies on the battery life — arguably, the Achilles heel of wearables, something often poor enough that many have elected to hold out until better battery tech comes about. Back in February we heard word that Swatch was planning to launch a smartwatch sometime in the next three months, and at the time there was again mention of the company’s battery tech efforts, including a portfolio boasting flexible power packs and bendable batteries.

Swatch’s CEO Nick Hayek recently spoke to the Swiss newspaper Handelszeitung, and he brought up the topic of batteries, specifically a new battery with a long life span designed for smartwatches. The release of that battery is planned for some time in 2016, and more interesting is that the battery is also said to be “applicable to cars”.
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https://www.slashgear.com/swatch-plans-long-lasting-smartwatch-battery-release-for-2016-06382436/

Apple’s alleged anti-competitive App Store hurts Spotify

Wearables, , , , , , , ,
Apple’s alleged anti-competitive App Store hurts Spotify

 

As Apple preps for the upcoming global launch of its “Spotify-killer”,Beats Music platform, industry insiders and competitors are becoming more vocal about the strings Apple is pulling behind the scenes. The latest issue isn’t exactly new, but the recently hostile industry environment is finally primed to dispute it. In question are some of Apple’s App Store policies that make it unfriendly to third parties looking to compete on iOS. Apple has a built-in advantage at a key time when Beats is looking to undercut Spotify and competitors with its new, low-priced subscription service.

The issue at the heart of the anti-competitive allegations is that Apple takes a 30% cut from all App Store and in-app purchases, including subscription services. This means that to make the maintain the same revenue from App Store purchases, Spotify and others need to raise their prices proportionally. At the same time, Apple can offer its upcoming Beats service at a lower price, luring away customers from Spotify and other music subscription services.
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Read full post here:
https://www.slashgear.com/apples-alleged-anti-competitive-app-store-hurts-spotify-06382453/