Motorola is on a mission. For the last two years, it’s been trying to suss out the finest blend of silicon and style it could get away with selling for just $180. And for the last two years the company has had winners on its hands — can you say “best-selling smartphone in Motorola history”? That level of success makes crafting a second Moto G sequel even trickier: Can Motorola keep its winning streak alive? Have people come to expect more out of a cheap phone than what the company can provide? It’s true that this year’s model doesn’t stray far from the formula we’ve already seen, but make no mistake: The 2015 edition is still the best deal you’ll find on a good Android phone.
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https://www.engadget.com/2015/08/11/moto-g-review-2015/
Monthly Archives: August 2015
Sony HDD HB Portable Drive review: Durable, but overpriced
THE GOOD
The Sony HDD HB portable drive includes Thunderbolt and USB 3.0 connections, delivers solid performance and is highly durable and dirt-resistant. It works with both Windows and Mac right out of the box.
THE BAD
The portable drive has nothing new compared with its competitors, is expensive and includes unnecessary software.
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https://www.cnet.com/reviews/sony-hdd-hb-portable-drive-review/
Aston Martin Lagonda Taraf Preview – Aston Martin’s uber-elite super sedan will be limited to 200 examples
Prominently displayed at the entrance to the 2015 Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance — a prestigious showcase of some of the finest luxury vehicles, old and new — is a new Aston Martin model with a historic name: the Lagonda Taraf.
Like the historic Lagonda of the 1970s and 80s, the new Lagonda Taraf is a four-door sedan that features an upright and angular greenhouse that seems to simultaneously strains against and flows into the long, low slung beltline of a sport grand tourer.
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https://www.cnet.com/roadshow/reviews/2015-aston-martin-lagonda-taraf-preview/
Samsung Galaxy Note 5 Preview – Coming August 21 with 5.7-inch screen, metal-and-glass build, new stylus, 16MP camera, Samsung Pay (hands-on)
So long, faux-leather backing. Samsung’s new Galaxy Note 5 is all slim, shiny, large-screened luster, with a redesigned stylus to match. It’s eye-catching all right, but there isn’t terribly much that’s new.
Inside, the Note 5 is essentially a redux of last year’s Note 4 (but with a smaller battery and no expandable storage). You could also think of the Note 5 as a larger, stylus-equipped version of this past April’s metal-and-glass Galaxy S6 (and S6 Edge), with the same processor, top-tier cameras and built-in wireless charging. The Note 5 also gets the improved fingerprint reader found on the S6 and the Edge, as well as Samsung Pay (for the US and South Korea right now). Complicating matters is a fourth phone that shares the same basic credentials, the curved-side Samsung Galaxy S6 Edge+.
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https://www.cnet.com/reviews/samsung-galaxy-note-5-preview/
Lamborghini rolls out Aventador Superveloce Roadster
Lamborghini has rolled out a new version of its top of the line supercar called the Aventador. The new version of the car made its debut at the Monterey Car week in California. The Lamborghini Aventador LP 750-4 Superveloce Roadster is the open-air version of Lamborghini’s fastest model and gets a 50hp bump in power compared to the normal Aventador Roadster.
That 50hp bump in power brings the car to 750hp and a dry weight of 3472 pounds. That makes it 110 pounds lighter than the standard Aventador LP 700-4 Roadster. The Superveloce roadster has a power to weight ratio of 4.6 pounds per hp.
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https://www.slashgear.com/lamborghini-rolls-out-aventador-superveloce-roadster-17397740/
Project Ara might have hit a snag, Puerto Rico launch ditched
It’s probably too premature to sound the alarm, but Project Ara might be further delayed than it already is. Although more positively and warmly welcomed thanGoogle Glass, Project Ara is also more ambitious and more experimental, which makes sudden shifts in plans not that surprising but still nerve-wracking.
Without much explanation, Project Ara is practically saying that it will no longer have its pilot launch in Puerto Rico, maybe not even this year anymore.
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https://www.slashgear.com/project-ara-might-have-hit-a-snag-puerto-rico-launch-ditched-17397595/
BMW, Mercedes Benz, Chrysler not immune to OwnStar hack
Samy Kamkar is at it again and this time he is leaving no car left unturned. Or unhacked in this case. Following on his warning that GM’s OnStar computer system is not the only one that’s prone to getting infiltrated, the hacker has proved that other car maker’s Internet-based remote control systems are equally susceptible. The list has now grown to include BMW’s Remote,Mercedes-Benz’ mbrace, and Chrysler’s Uconnect, allowing hackers to unlock and track a wide range of “smart” cars that are growing in number and popularity.
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https://www.slashgear.com/bmw-mercedes-benz-chrysler-not-immune-to-ownstar-hack-17397725/
Alleged LG Nexus 5 2015 appears in real photo
With the Samsung Galaxy Note 5 out of the way, there is now more room for other upcoming devices to grab the spotlight. Like the upcoming Nexussmartphone, or smartphones, whether they be from LG or from Huawei. This latest leaked image is allegedly LG’s third Nexus handset. And this time, it’s no schematic or render but what is supposedly a real device, albeit only the back side of it. And while it does seem to match other earlier leaks, it also raises some doubts as well.
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https://www.slashgear.com/alleged-lg-nexus-5-2015-appears-in-real-photo-17397721/
VW and Mazda recall 600k cars for airbags and steering issues
The last year has been one of huge recalls in the automotive industry. Many of the recalls have been due to defective airbags, in some cases that could potentially throw shrapnel into the face of the driver in the event that the airbag deploys.
Mazda and VW have become the latest automotive manufacturers to recall a massive number of cars due to issues with the airbags and steering.
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https://www.slashgear.com/vw-and-mazda-recall-600k-cars-for-airbags-and-steering-issues-17397738/
The Force is strong with limited Darth Vader PS4 edition
It’s still a good few months before we actually get to see what the Star Warsuniverse has in store after all these years, but that doesn’t mean you can’t hype it to death. And nothing says “hype” like a limited edition product with iconic Star Wars branding plastered all over it. This time, it’s Sony’s turn churn the marketing machine with not one but two Star Wars themed PS4 bundles. And, of course, they will be bearing the face and markings of the most iconic Star Wars character of all: Darth Vader.
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https://www.slashgear.com/the-force-is-strong-with-limited-darth-vader-ps4-edition-16397589/
iPad Air 3 might be a no show this year
Apple is always rumored to be doing many things but not everything comes to pass, naturally. One of the latter, it seems, will be the iPad Air 3. Industry sources in China, suggest that Apple is being conservative about its tablet products and will therefore not be launching a successor to the iPad Air line this year. It will, however, put out a new iPad mini, expected to be announced next month. And in addition to that, of course, will be the largest iPad, the iPad Pro.
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https://www.slashgear.com/
19 Best Roadsters of All Time
1. 1953 FERRARI 250 MM
The 1953 Ferrari 250 MM is one of the most classic and best vintage roadsters of all time. The 250 series debuted in 1953, and continued to see production until 1964. The innovative design for the time featured side vents and recessed headlights that became a signature of the Ferrari style of the time, and was designed to be a distance racer. The car is powered by a V-12 engine with a single overhead cam, and is rated at 240 bhp at 7,200 rpm. Drivers of the car have a four-speed manual gearbox to operate with, and the car sits on a 94.5 inch wheelbase. The 250 series of Ferrari was the most successful of the company’s early lines of car, and it remains a favorite amongst car collectors today.
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http://www.carophile.com/best-roadsters-of-all-time/
Samsung’s 16TB SSD Is The Largest Capacity Hard Drive You Can Buy
Looking for the highest-capacity single hard drive your money can buy? Look no further than the upcoming Samsung SSD, which packs a whopping 16 terabytes of storage inside its shell.
That’s right, Samsung has managed to cram an unprecedented amount of storage inside a 2.5-inch SSD package, exceeding the 10TB threshold that current high-end hard drives come in.
Sure, you’ll probably exhaust it soon enough, too, with all the games you install, the 4K movies you download, and the FLAC files you accumulate, but it’s still pretty badass having all that space inside a single bundle.
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https://www.coolthings.com/samsung-16tb-ssd-largest-capacity/
Hands Free Headgear Is A Comfy Head Mount For Your Google Cardboard Headset
The Google Cardboard is awesome, allowing you to DIY a VR headset using nothing but recycled cardboard and your Android smartphone.
Holding it in your hand while enjoying stereoscopic content, however, definitely isn’t convenient. Hands-Free Headgear is a wearable adapter that lets you safely and comfortably secure Google Cardboard to your face.
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https://www.coolthings.com/hands-free-headgear-google-cardboard/
MicFlip Is The Reversible Micro-USB Cable You’ve Always Wanted
USB-C (you know, that lone port on the new MacBook) finally fixed the problem of trying to stick in a USB plug the wrong way, but what about the micro-USB connectors that have become the non-proprietary standard for most of our phones, cameras, and other mobile gadgets?
Instead of creating an entirely new standard like they did with USB-C, it turns out one only needed to reengineer the plug itself, like they did with the MicFlip.
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https://www.coolthings.com/micflip-reversible-micro-usb-cable/
Review : Lenovo S21e-20 laptop — three things to know
Regret never getting in on the netbook craze? Lenovo’s new S21e will solve that woe, as it is essentially a high-end netbook with a low price tag and svelte design. Lenovo lumps it in with its back-to-school offerings, and its’ $219 USD price tag puts it in the price range of most college students.
We recently reviewed the S21e, and we liked what we saw. Be sure to check out the full review for all the details, but in the meantime check out these three need-to-know highlights to get an idea of what to expect.
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https://www.slashgear.com/lenovo-s21e-laptop-three-things-to-know-28394326/
Unreal wants you to mod dinosaur world with the ARK Dev Kit
This week the folks at Studio Wildcard and Epic Games have teamed up with Alienware to encourage creative folks to go wild in dinosaur-land. In the world of ARK, that is, a video game where the ancient world and the modern world mix in an absolutely wild open world environment. To begin, users need to sign up for a free Unreal account and download the ARK Dev Kit – which is no small task due to its size.
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https://www.slashgear.com/unreal-wants-you-to-mod-dinosaur-world-with-the-ark-dev-kit-14397191/
Samsung Galaxy Note 5 vs Note 4: What’s Changed?
Samsung has a new flagship, the Galaxy Note 5, the fifth in its series of popular phablets. With a smarter design, more functional S Pen stylus, and faster connectivity, it’s shaping up to be the best Note yet. Thing is, last year’s Note 4 was no slouch, so the question undoubtedly on many existing users’ mind is “should I upgrade?”
The Galaxy Note 5 is smaller and lighter than its predecessor, though the differences are relatively small: the new phone comes in at 153.2 x 76.1 x 7.6 mm and 171g, while the Note 4 is 153.5 x 78.6 x 8.5 mm and 176 g.
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https://www.slashgear.com/
Google could soon search your desktop, too
Google Search may soon reach desktop user’s application data as a patent shows the search company’s next target this week. The patent goes by the name “computer application data in search results” and covers a wide variety of search abilities and means of execution. Google’s aim here would be to search not only internet-based content with your computer or mobile device, but the contents of your apps on mobile devices and desktop machines.
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https://magglr.wordpress.com/2017/04/13/google-could-soon-search-your-desktop-too/
What you need to know about Samsung Pay
Samsung Pay is coming, but how do you know whether the content of your wallet is about to get a Note 5 upgrade? The launch partner list for Samsung’s response to Apple Pay and Android Pay has some of the biggest names in banking, card providers, and carriers, but all the same there are some notable omissions which could put a hold on your mobile payment plans.
Just as when Apple Pay launched, there’s no guarantee that your bank will support Samsung Pay come September 28. Out of the gate, Samsung has confirmed that Bank of America, US Bank, Citigroup, and Chase customers will be able to use Samsung Pay with their accounts; there’s no word on when others like Wells Fargo might get involved.
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https://www.slashgear.com/
YouTube Live isn’t just on the Galaxy Note 5
Today Sony updated their app “Live on YouTube” prompting many non-Sony Xperia device owners to realize that the app Live on YouTube existed in the first place. While YouTube may be making a new initiative to take on services like Periscope with a “YouTube Live Broadcast” integration feature on devices like the Samsung Galaxy Note 5, Live YouTube apps are already out on the market. Sony’s newest update makes theirs one of the best and most well-working out right this minute.
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https://www.slashgear.com/
Stressed bears suggest drones are animal menace
The FAA aren’t the only ones taking issue with drones, with new research suggesting unmanned aerial vehicles are stressing out animals more than previously believed. The study, carried out in Minnesota, found that repeated UAV flights overhead left black bears in an agitated state, something which had been missed as the animals froze when the drones were nearby.
To measure the actual impact of the UAVs passing the bears’ territory, Mark Ditmer – a postdoctoral researcher in the Department of Fisheries, Wildlife, and Conservation Biology at the University of Minnesota – fitted four bears with GPS collars and heart-rate monitors.
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https://www.slashgear.com/stressed-bears-suggest-drones-are-animal-menace-14397209/
LG Nexus X: this may very well be what it looks like
The following images show what the next Nexus smartphone may very well look like, created with specifications leaked from sources of unknown origin. While LG isn’t known to be particularly weak on leaked images, these pictures show renders of a device that have been made with data from “detailed factory schematics provided to accessory-makers” shared by a relatively reliable source. What you’re about to see isn’t a set of photos, and should not be mistaken for photos as such.
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https://www.slashgear.com/lg-nexus-x-this-may-very-well-be-what-it-looks-like-14397206/
Bugatti’s Veyron replacement gets spine-tinglingly vocal
Bugatti may have put the Veyron out to pasture, but the supercar company hasn’t been idle, with a new video teasing its upcoming model and in particular how it will sound. The short video contains the usual hyperbole about “the endless hunt for speed” and how your (insanely expensive) Bugatti will push you “forward by pure instinct,” but more importantly it gives us a brief snippet of the sort of aural pleasure delivered by what’s expected to be an 8.0-liter W-16 engine.
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https://www.slashgear.com/bugattis-veyron-replacement-gets-spine-tinglingly-vocal-14397198/
Apple Watch gets bigger Sports and Link Bracelet options
If you’ve wanted an Apple Watch but your meaty wrists have made Apple’s wearable a no-go, salvation is at hand. A new 42mm Link Bracelet Kit has quietly been added to Apple’s online store, offering six extra stainless steel links that can extend the regular strap for those whose wrists are bigger than 205 mm.
Each of the links uses Apple’s clever tool-free clasp. On the back, there’s a small button that, when pressed with a fingernail, allows it to detach from its neighbor.
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https://www.slashgear.com/apple-watch-gets-bigger-sports-and-link-bracelet-options-14397215/
Audi targets 300 mile range for all-electric SUV
Audi is planning an electric SUV with a 300 mile range, working with Samsung and LG on the battery technology required to deliver the sort of power promise big car drivers demand. Details on the new car are yet to be confirmed, though it’s likely to be reminiscent of the Prologue Allroad concept that Audi showed off back in April.
While electric-assisted SUVs aren’t uncommon, it’s more unusual to find an all-electric model. Tesla’s Model X, delayed several times and distinguishing itself in part with unusual gullwing doors, will be a prominent example.
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https://www.slashgear.com/audi-targets-300-mile-range-for-all-electric-suv-14397193/
Apple patents iPhone Edge style side-display
While no Apple patent necessarily guarantees a final product, today’s for a curved display is particularly interesting – especially now that, as of this week, Samsung has launched three “Edge” devices. Apple’s patent suggests that the company either had plans or has plans to create an iPhone with a display that shows information on a flat plane on the side of their device, with a display that curves (hidden) on the inside of the phone. How strange!
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https://www.slashgear.com/apple-patents-iphone-edge-style-side-display-14397261/
If this is the Moto 360 2, Motorola’s in trouble
Earlier today Motorola revealed a new “okay Moto” video showing a version of the Moto 360 that’d they’d never before shown. This version of the device is a prototype, one we’ve seen one before – in a video from behind the scenes at Motorola’s design studio for the Moto 360 and Moto Maker. Here we’ve got what’s essentially the same Moto 360 as before, only the button on the right is now in the upper-right. We still see the “flat tire” of the non-circular display up front, as well as essentially the same functionality as the original.
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https://www.slashgear.com/
Apple’s autonomous car may be headed to the test track
Apple is negotiating to use a former California naval base to test out its Project Titan car, new documents confirm, hinting that self-driving vehicles may be let loose on the 2,100 acre site. GoMentum Station, near San Francisco, has reinvented itself as a proving ground for self-driving cars and connected vehicle technology but, more importantly perhaps to Apple, its roughly 20 miles of paved city streets and highways are kept secure by military police.
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https://www.slashgear.com/apples-autonomous-car-may-be-headed-to-the-test-track-14397232/
New Apple mouse, keyboard incoming with Bluetooth LE
New Apple accessories for desktop computers appear in FCC listings, likely headed for release later this Summer. Today we’re seeing two wireless devices, on Apple mouse, the other an Apple wireless keyboard. The keyboard has not had a refresh since 2011 while the mouse (also known as the Magic Mouse) has not had a refresh since the year 2009. It’s about time for that to happen. Inside these devices is no longer the Bluetooth 2.1 (BCM2042 inside) they originally came packed with, but Bluetooth 4.2 with Bluetooth LE Low Energy.
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https://www.slashgear.com/new-apple-mouse-keyboard-incoming-with-bluetooth-le-14397335/