Monthly Archives: October 2015

AEE S60 Plus action cam shoots FHD video, 16MP stills

The action camera market is dominated by a few big-name companies, but that doesn’t mean there aren’t options beyond them. A number of other makers offer their own miniature adventure-ready cameras, one of which is AEE. Joining its existing action cams is the S60 Plus, a new camera AEE introduced in recent days. It has the same small body we’ve come to expect from action cameras, as well as a number of other features, including Full HD video recording, 16 megapixel still images, and support for various accessories.

Read full post here:
https://www.slashgear.com/aee-s60-plus-action-cam-shoots-fhd-video-16mp-stills-19410542/

Pioneer XDP-100R is another hi-res portable music player

Consumer electronics company ww.slashgear.com/tags/pioneer/”>Pioneer wants to take on the Walkman, even after the venerable Sony brand is itself trying to get back its footing in the market now almost obsoleted by smarpthones. It has just announced the upcoming availability of its XDP-100R, a standalone Portable Music Player or PMP. And like many PMPs that are trying to view for attention in a smartphone-obsessed world, like Neil Young’s Pono or the most recent generation of Sony’s Walkman, the XDP-100R is trying to sell the idea of high resolution audio as its killer feature.

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

Toyota Prius c Persona Series is limited to 1500 units

Toyota has announced a special edition of the Prius c hybrid that brings style to the fuel sipper that some buyers will appreciate. The special edition is called the Prius C Persona Series and only 1500 units will be made with sales starting in December. Two versions of the Person series will be offered, differing only in trim color.

The main body color for the Persona series will be black and buyers can choose Electric Lime or Cherry Pearl trim colors to go along with it. The contrasting colors are added to the lower front grille trim, under the headlights, and on trim near the side windows. The trim color also covers the mirrors on each side.

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https://www.slashgear.com/toyota-prius-c-persona-series-is-limited-to-1500-units-19410417/

Kyocera DuraForce XD joins AT&T’s rugged army

Kyocera might not be up there with the big three in the smartphone market, even in the Android segment, but its name resonates when it comes to devices that can withstand the test of the elements. The latest of that breed is the Kyocera DuraForce XD which will soon be available from AT&T’s portfolio. More a phablet actually than simply a rugged smartphone, the DuraForce XD is your stereotypical mix of mid-range hardware specs wrapped inside a shell that would survive your YouTube drop test or bendgate.

Read full post here:
https://www.slashgear.com/kyocera-duraforce-xd-joins-atts-rugged-army-20410570/

MSI GS40 Phantom wants the lightest Skylake gaming laptop title

Gaming laptops are nothing new. They’ve been around ever since chip makers have been able to cram more adequate graphics chips inside smaller spaces. But in exchange for all the power required for decent gaming on the go, these laptops are usually hulking masses compared to more lithe work notebooks. MSI says it doesn’t have to be so, which is why it has unveiled the sixth generation GS40 Phantom gaming laptop with the latest Intel Skylake, which it claims is the thinnest and lightest of its kind.

Read full post here:
https://www.slashgear.com/msi-gs40-phantom-wants-the-lightest-skylake-gaming-laptop-title-20410559/

UE Block Party update turns Boom speakers social

Portable Bluetooth speakers may already be social ways to enjoy music, but an Ultimate Ears update now gives those impromptu groups a way to get involved in the playlist. Block Party, a new addition to the UE app for iOS and Android, opens the company’s wireless speakers up to multiple streaming sources, meaning that no longer can one person force 80s power ballads onto everybody else.

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https://www.slashgear.com/ue-block-party-update-turns-boom-speakers-social-20410414/

Limited edition Evangelion smartphone gets Japan-only release

This year mark’s the 20th anniversary of the extremely popular anime Neon Genesis Evangelion in Japan, and that means the product tie-ups and promotions have been almost non-stop this year in the country.

The latest item is an Evangelion-themed Android smartphone from Sharp, and with only 30,000 units being produced, fans need to sign up for a chance to buy one at Japan’s 7-Eleven stores. With the extremely dedicated following the series has in the country, there’s no doubt that these phones will be snatched up almost immediately.

Read full post here:
https://www.slashgear.com/limited-edition-evangelion-smartphone-gets-japan-only-release-20410680/

Nissan and Scoot bring four wheel Scoot Quads to San Francisco

Scoot has a new way for folks to get around in San Francisco that is the result of a tie up with Nissan. Nissan has put ten of its new electric Nissan New Mobility Concept Vehicles on the Scoot Network service and the concept vehicles are known as the Scoot Quad. These 100% electric vehicles have a range of 40 miles and a top speed of 25mph.

They are designed for driving in urban areas and are in addition to the traditional electric mopeds that Scoot has been offering for rent and marks the first foray into four wheels for Scoot. The little four wheel EV can carry two people sitting in tandem rather than side-by-side as you do in a car.

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https://www.slashgear.com/nissan-and-scoot-bring-four-wheel-scoot-quads-to-san-francisco-20410667/

Polar debuts A360 fitness wearable with optical heart rate monitoring

Fitness wearables maker Polar has announced the A360, its first wrist-worn device that features optical heart-rate monitoring. While the band has a simple design, that’s far from a downside. The A360’s display is a vertical rectangle, similar to the Microsoft Band, with a color touchscreen. This is used in an effective way to display both the time and a number of fitness stats.

 

In addition to tracking a user’s heart-rate, the A360 will monitor steps, calories, daily activity, workouts, and sleep patterns. The only major feature not included is GPS, which Polar’s M400 does offer. That may be a fair trade, however, for no longer needed to wear a chest strap for heart monitoring.

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https://www.slashgear.com/polar-debuts-a360-fitness-wearable-with-optical-heart-rate-monitoring-20410677/

Kyocera Hydro Air smartphone is Walmart Exclusive with AT&T

Kyocera has rolled to a new smartphone that is a Walmart exclusive and operates on the AT&T GoPhone network called the Hydro Air. That means the new device is designed for pre-paid no contract plans. The big feature of the Hydro Air is that the smartphone is waterproof and can survive full submersion in water. People prone to getting smartphones wet will want to pay attention to this device.

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https://www.slashgear.com/kyocera-hydro-air-smartphone-is-walmart-exclusive-with-att-20410671/

Uber starts its street mapping project

Despite being set back in some countries thanks to state laws and a bit of politics, Uber is forging ahead with what some might see as yet another thing to take issue with the controversial transportation company. Although it isn’t exactly a surprise considering it bough the technology from Microsoft way back in June, Uber has apparently given the green light for deploying its Uber “mapping cars” to take shots of roads and highways ala Google Street View, in the hopes of perfecting the art of offering the best driving route.

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

Galaxy Note 5 teardown reveals difficult to repair LCD

For the most part if your smartphone display breaks odds are you will be taking it somewhere to get the screen replaced. If you are the sort who prefers to DIY the repairs a new teardown has landed of the Galaxy Note 5 smartphone. Whether or not you ever plan to open your own Note 5, it’s always interesting to see that our gadgets look like on the inside.

The entire teardown spans 22 steps and some parts of it are listed as very difficult, specifically getting the LCD off the frame. The teardown lists that task alone at a difficulty rating of 5 out of 5. The adhesive used is very strong and the LCD is rather fragile so this step may be the hardest of the entire process.

Read full post here:
https://www.slashgear.com/galaxy-note-5-teardown-reveals-difficult-to-repair-lcd-20410669/

EE Robin tablet aims at kids with robust parental controls

It can be a challenge handing a kid a normal tablet and letting them roam around the web. Adult content and other inappropriate material is as close away as a web search. Many parents seek out tablets that are specifically aimed at children and want parental controls to keep kids away from inappropriate items online. EE has launched a new kids tablet called the Robin that fits this bill nicely.

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https://www.slashgear.com/ee-robin-tablet-aims-at-kids-with-robust-parental-controls-20410674/

Adidas Fit Smart band gains activity tracking features

The Adidas Fit smart band launched with the ability to help users monitor their heart rate and coach them to perform better. Adidas has announced that it is updating the Fit Smart band to offer wearable owners activity tracking capability. That feature turns the band into a complete fitness tool that gives athletes everything they need in one location.

 

The activity tracking features are added to the Fit Smart via a free update to the Adidas Train & Run app. With the app users can set daily activity goals for things like steps, distance, calories burned, and workouts. Daily or weekly goals for workouts can be set in the app.

Read full post here:
https://www.slashgear.com/adidas-fit-smart-band-gains-activity-tracking-features-20410663/

Nexus 6P first impressions: Huawei may’ve made a knockout

On Friday I received the Nexus 6P in the mail, and over the past couple of days I’ve used it non-stop. The Nexus 6P is not the device I expected it to be. The first couple of Huawei devices I’ve used over the past couple of years have been extremely high quality – but they haven’t been working with a brand of Android that I recognized or could use fully. With this Huawei-made Nexus 6P, this largely-China-based device manufacturer gets its chance to really show the US market what they’re capable of.

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https://www.slashgear.com/nexus-6p-first-impressions-huawei-mayve-made-a-knockout-19410247/

2016 Honda Civic first drive

What do you expect from a mainstream car? If you’re talking about the 2016 Honda Civic, then those expectations vary hugely, with what’s considered a “must-have” proving just as broad as the age range of the car’s audience. It’s no small issue, and one Honda can’t afford to ignore. Some drivers prioritize economy above all else; others demand space and luxury features; style is vital but potentially divisive; and even in this mass-market segment, driving feel can’t be ignored.

Read full post here:
https://www.slashgear.com/2016-honda-civic-first-drive-19410267/

Lenovo YOGA 900 hands-on

Clever hinges are in fashion this month, but Lenovo is more confident than most that it has the right way to flip a convertible notebook 360-degrees with the YOGA 900. The latest iteration of the form-factor switching ultraportable, as well as an Intel Skylake upgrade the 1.29kg convertible promises more touchscreen stability as well as greater runtime.

 

Lenovo notebooks have always been known for getting the essentials right, and the new YOGA 900 has a better keyboard than its predecessor. Most notably it gained an extra row, reducing the amount of time you have to spend hitting the Fn modifier.

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

PowerUP FPV Turns Paper Planes Into VR-Controlled Drones

We’re big fans of PowerUp and their clever kit, which lets you turn paper planes into remote-controlled flying machines. I mean, that toy is all manners of amazing. With the new PowerUp FPV, though, paper airplanes don’t just turn into remote-controlled aerial vehicles, but camera-armed drones that can be controlled in virtual reality. Oh yeah.

That’s right, you can now fly your PowerUp planes and look ridiculous at the same time by swaying your head side to side with a VR headset on your face. That way, parents won’t ever let their children come near you while you fly paper planes in the park, ensuring you can enjoy the day without undue interruptions. Yeah… that benefit sounded so much better in my head.

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https://www.coolthings.com/

Outrider USA Horizon Is An Off-Road Vehicle Anyone Can Ride

Exploring the backwoods on an off-road bicycle is all manners of fun. If you suffer from some minor injury or find yourself in less than decent shape, though, pedaling your way around rough trails will probably be equal parts fun and torture. For those situations, ditch the bike and get the Outrider USA Horizon instead.

Designed for exploring off the beaten path, it’s an electric recumbent trike that’s designed to be both accessible to people of varying abilities and very forgiving on the body. Whether you’re recovering from an injury, still getting into shape, or even suffer from a disability, it’s geared to give you a way to partake in the exciting adventures of the outdoors.

Read full post here:
https://www.coolthings.com/outrider-usa-horizon-ebike/

Zendure A8 Pro power bank review: Feature-loaded and sky-high in capacity

FEATURE-LOADED, SKY-HIGH IN CAPACITY

We’re big fans of Zendure’s power banks, ultra-tough, ultra-compact, stylish and loaded with features. The A8 Pro sits at the top of Zendure’s line-up, a monster power bank for those with heavy-duty portable power needs or extended trips away from mains power. We review the Zendure A8 Pro. 

The Zendure A8 Pro costs £59.95/$90 from Amazon UK. That sounds like a lot of money for a power bank, but it’s not so much when you consider what you’re getting for your money.

Read full post here:
https://www.techadvisor.co.uk/review/power-banks/zendure-a8-qc-power-bank-review-feature-loaded-sky-high-in-capacity-3627322/

Apple iPod Touch (6th gen) 128GB review

There’s still life in the iPod Touch yet. Just when you thought it might be swept under the carpet to join the discontinued iPod Classic, up pops another generation, this time the sixth.

While new iPhones appear annually, it has been three years since the five-star fifth-gen model made its debut.

Unlike the latest Nano and Shuffle music players it’s been released alongside, the new model has been treated to more than just new colours.

Read full post here:
https://www.whathifi.com/apple/ipod-touch-6th-gen-128gb/review

iPad Pro vs Surface Pro 3 vs Surface Pro 4 comparison: Windows or iOS 9… which tablet is best?

It had been rumoured for more than a year, but no-one expected Apple to announce an iPad Pro at an iPhone launch event (much less that Microsoft would also appear on stage). But it’s real, and its closest competitor is Microsoft’s Surface Pro 4. Both tablets run Office and both have physical keyboards, but which should you buy? Here’s our iPad Pro vs Surface Pro comparison.

The Surface Pro 4 is the new model, but we’ll compare the iPad Pro with this and with the Surface Pro 3.

Read full post here:
https://www.techadvisor.co.uk/review/tablet-pcs/ipad-pro-vs-surface-pro-3625513/

Philips ActionFit Sport Earhooks review: Sports headphones which stay in place

Philips has introduced its new 2015 ActionFit Sports Headphones range for sport and running, which come in three deferent styles. We take a look at the ActionFit Sport Earhooks, which are middle of the range at £39/$58, come in orange, green and pink, and take them thought their paces.

The first thing you will notice when taking them out of their packaging is how light they are. At just 21.5g, once you put them on you forget that you have them on. Which is a big plus, especially if you’re going for a ten mile run. Although the official RRP is £39/$58 you can buy them from Amazon for a cool £19/$29.

Read full post here:
https://www.techadvisor.co.uk/review/headphones/philips-actionfit-sport-earhooks-review-3626932/

Review: The Zeiss Loxia 21mm f/2.8 Has Great Quality But a Grip That Grates

Well, well… what do we have here. Another amazing Sony E-Mount lens from those young, hip lens dreamers over at Zeiss. Perhaps you’ve heard of them, they’re the blue logo’d company looking to take a cool $1,499 out of our collective pockets so we get the pleasure of owning the newest piece of the growing lineup that is Loxia E-Mounts. And you know what, they may have just succeeded… just.

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https://petapixel.com/2015/10/13/review-zeiss-loxia-21mm-f2-8-great-quality-grip-grates/

Apple iPhone 6s Plus vs. Samsung Galaxy S6 edge+

1. Introduction

3D Touch or curved Edge screen? Metal or glass? LCD or AMOLED? iOS or Android? Speed and silky-smooth response or heavy-duty multitasking? These are the questions and no one’s got better answers than you. And if the answers consistently put you on this or that side of the line, you know all there is to know.

Read full post here:
https://www.gsmarena.com/compare.php3?idPhone1=7243&idPhone2=7467

2015 Toyota HiLux, Ford Ranger and Mazda BT-50 review

Work and play, that’s the promise of today’s four-door utes. But the truth is we are increasingly using them as family cars.

Showroom displays tell the story: the latest utes are surrounded by camping and beach gear. There’s not a fluro vest or a hard hat in sight.

Those who sell them say a significant number of trade-ins come from owners of Ford Falcons andHolden Commodores — and family SUVs of all shapes and sizes.

With that in mind we picked the models most suited to the daily grind: the new Toyota HiLux SR5, the Ford Ranger XLT and the Mazda BT-50 XTR.

Read full post here:
https://www.carsguide.com.au/car-reviews/2015-toyota-hilux-ford-ranger-and-mazda-bt-50-review-36349

Bluesound Generation 2 review

When a new company bursts into a competitive marketplace and immediately produces impressive results, we have to believe those in charge when they still say “we can do better”.

And that’s exactly what high-res multiroom brand Bluesound has done, after a hugely successful first year in which it picked up our Product of the Year Award for 2014.

Over the past year, the company listened to feedback and has decided to redesign the range from the ground up, offering a more streamlined look with new features and a few new additions to the range to boot.

Read full post here:
https://www.whathifi.com/reviews/bluesound-generation-2i-system

Sony UK: There Are No A-Mount Cameras Planned

Sony’s A-mount system has seen its activity slowed to a halt as of late while the company continues to launch new E-mount cameras such as the a7R II and a7S II. There were two A-mount lenses refreshed back in April, but the last A-mount camera announced was the Sony a77 II way back in May 2014 — an eternity as far as camera refresh cycles go.

Now speculation about the death of the A-mount is being rekindled after Sony UK made public statements saying that there are “no A-mounts planned.”

Read full post here:
https://petapixel.com/2015/10/17/sony-uk-there-are-no-a-mount-cameras-planned/

How to disable window animations in Windows 10

As with many previous versions of Windows, Microsoft infused Windows 10 with a ton of animations to give it a smoother, more user-friendly feel. It’s a nice touch… unless you’re running an older machine, especially one rocking a spinning hard drive. For those PCs, waiting for an animation to complete adds a few annoying seconds to your Windows experience that don’t need to be there.

If you’re tired of waiting just a little bit too long for the Start menu to pop-up or for windows to appear and disappear, here’s how to disable windows animations in Windows 10.

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

How to fix Windows Update

How to reset Windows update and get your computer going again

As with any new operating system release, you can expect to be downloading a lot of updates and patches in the initial stages of running Windows 10. Microsoft has made automatic updates mandatory for the Home edition, so it’s not easy to decide when you apply the patches. There is a way to get around this particular feature though, which you’ll find in our How to Stop Windows 10 updates guide. But if you find your PC sitting at a certain percentage value indefinitely, then Windows Update is probably stuck in a loop. Here’s a quick way to interrupt this cycle and get the update process back on track.

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