Monthly Archives: August 2017

Vizio SB3621 review

You could call it a revolution, or you could call it a trend, but something exciting is happening at the budget end of home theater. In the past you had to spend a lot of money to get great performance. But thanks to brands such as Elac, Pioneer and Vizio you don’t have to spend thousands — you barely have to spend hundreds.

vizio-sb3621-14

At $150, the Vizio SB3621n-E8’s sound belies its compact size and oh-so affordable price. We’d have high praise for this sound bar system even if it was double the price. It’s easily the best sounding affordable sound bar we’ve heard to date.

There are no “features” to speak of, just a wireless subwoofer and Bluetooth, but at this price you don’t really need any more than that. Alongside Google’s Chromecast Audio, the Vizio SB3621n-E8 is now one of the best deals in home theater. You could even pair the two together, hook them up to a TCL Roku TV and you have a really cool wireless streaming AV system for about $500.

Read full post here:
https://www.cnet.com/reviews/vizio-sb3621n-e8-review/

VW Microbus EV reborn: 5 things you should know

You have to wonder why it’s taken Volkswagen so long to reboot the Microbus, but come 2022 the iconic shape will return to the roads. This isn’t the same van that came to epitomize the swinging sixties, mind: previewed by the VW I.D. BUZZ concept, it’s an all-new interpretation of flexible motoring atop an all-new electric platform. That’s a lot to get excited about, so here’s what you need to know.

It’s based on Volkswagen’s big new platform for the future

The Volkswagen Group is big on “platforms”: common architectures that can underpin a surprising variety of cars. That’s why the Audi TT is based on the same underlying “MQB” architecture as the VW Golf and Tiguan. Common components and build processes simplify production, not to mention make things cheaper overall.

Read full post here:
https://www.slashgear.com/vw-microbus-ev-reborn-5-things-you-should-know-21495961/

 

Nvidia GTX 1070 vs. 1080: What’s the Best Value?

Nvidia’s GeForce GTX 10-Series GPUs have gone a long way in closing the gap between laptop and desktop graphics cards. Aside from a few tweaks, the 10-Series laptop GPUs are pretty similar. In the case of the GTX 1080 graphics card, both the laptop and desktop GPUs possess 2,560 CUDA cores.

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Both the GTX 1070 and 1080 are much more powerful than their lower-tier cousins (GTX 1050, 1050 Ti and 1060), but you’re going to pay a pretty penny for all that performance. So when you’re searching for that perfect gaming laptop, should you throw caution (and cash) to the wind and go for 1080 or exercise a bit of restraint and go for the less expensive, but still plenty powerful 1070? The following guide will help you find the right gaming powerhouse for you.

Read full post here:
https://www.laptopmag.com/articles/nvidia-gtx-1070-vs-1080

AGM X2 Review: Best Rugged Smartphone with Dual Rear Camera 2017

To date, most manufacturers have forgotten some of the main specs those phones had years ago: resistance. Many manufacturers are replacing plastic and aluminum in favor of glass, so they are more likely to suffer damage, but luckily there are some who still bet on safe and resilient phones, one of these are AGM. Today we receive a new AGM X2 for the review.

From AGM we have been hearing a lot in recent months, especially for offering totally resistance equipment at ridiculous prices and now come back to load with the AGM X2, a smartphone that will withstand all kinds of damage, IP68 certification and also have a huge battery of 6000mAh with fast charge.

Kết quả hình ảnh cho AGM X2

5.5 inch with 1920 x 1080 Pixels, RAM: 6GB, ROM: 64GB, Battery: 6000mAh, Android 7.1, Snapdragon 653 Octa Core 1.95GHz

Design

Beauty is in the eye of the beholder. This has always been the case and will always be so. The AGM X2 tries to look as simple as possible. Despite the enormous size of 168.5 x 83.4 x 14 millimeters, this also works quite well.

Read full post here:
https://www.awaqa.com/agm-x2-review-best-rugged-smartphone-specs-buy-price/

Intel 8th Gen Core CPUs: What You Need to Know

Quad-core laptops are coming to the masses. Today, Intel announced its new 8th-Generation Core Series CPUs, which double the number of CPU cores on mainstream consumer notebooks and promise performance increases as high as 40 percent over the current, 7th-Generation “Kaby Lake” processors. (The additional cores could lead to stronger performance, especially for multitasking,)

illustration tomsguide 8th gen intel faq mf
Intel is discussing only its U-series Core i5 and Core i7 CPUs for consumer laptops, so we’re still waiting on news for the 8th-Gen Core i3, Y-series, and processors for gaming and business notebooks.

The 8th-gen processors launch today (Aug. 21) and will begin shipping in laptops in September. Both the i5 and i7 CPUs are now quad-core chips even in the U-series, and Intel claims that this generation of chips will span three architectures: a refresh of the currently existing Kaby Lake, as well as Coffee Lake and Cannon Lake.

Read full post here:
https://www.laptopmag.com/articles/intel-8th-gen-core-faq

2017 Tesla Model X review

It’s been over a year now since the Model X stumbled its way to market. It was unfashionably late and the first cars to roll off the assembly line were riddled with problems, but none of that stopped the thing from being a car that put the industry on notice, gathering a lot of attention from a lot of people who generally couldn’t care less about cars — especially SUVs.

But the Model X isn’t just an SUV. It’s an electric SUV, of course, but it’s a lot more than that, too. It’s quicker than most sports cars on the road, yet far more practical and more comfortable. It offers a selection of luxury appointments rarely found on cars not costing well into the six figures and it manages to fit three rows of seats in a distinctive shape in a segment full of me-too crossovers.

The Model X is an interesting proposition, but now in its second year of full production, is it still the car of the future it was in 2016?

Read full post here:
https://www.cnet.com/roadshow/auto/2017-tesla-model-x/specs/

 

Synology DiskStation DS1517+ review

The Essential Review

This is TechRadar’s review summary that gives you all the key information you need if you’re looking for quick buying advice in 60 seconds – our usual full, in-depth review follows.

These days, a network just isn’t complete without a NAS (Network Attached Storage) device and the Synology DS1517+ promises to add loads of high-end functionality. But is it worth the high price?

The DS1517+ isn’t your average five-bay NAS. Sure, it can handle all the normal tasks, from backups to running applications. But Synology takes the DS1517+ a step further, bridging the gap into server territory. This is largely thanks to an included PCIe slot, which can handle the addition of a 10GbE network card for ultra fast data access. Alternatively, it’s possible to drop in a dual M.2 SSD adapter card, to massively increase data caching and give a boost to higher performance applications.

Read full post here:
https://www.techradar.com/reviews/synology-diskstation-ds1517

 

Linx 12 x64 review

The latest Microsoft Surface Pro is among the best tablet PCs ever made. Some might say it is the best tablet, full stop. But its price, at £800/$1200 for even the lowest model, puts it out of reach for many people, particularly as a proper laptop is often a more attractive and practical proposition.

The Surface has, therefore, attracted its fair share of cut-price competitors – Asus’ Transformer Mini range, for example, does brilliant things on a budget, and there are Chinese Surface clones like the Chuwi Hi13 that, while trickier to obtain, deserve attention for their achievements.

It would be easy to slot the Linx 12X64 into that same cheap Surface tablet bracket. Easy and, pretty much, correct: despite its limitations – and there are plenty, which we’ll certainly get to – the 12X is outwardly well appointed.

Read full post here:
https://www.techradar.com/reviews/linx-12-x64/2

Roksan Blak integrated amplifier review

It’s a testament to the quality of Roksan’s Blak integrated amplifier that our biggest issue with it is the deliberately misspelled name.

Blak. Really?

Other than that, it’s a superbly rounded product that’s well made, sensibly featured and capable of very fine sound.

Build

Roksan has decided against the minimalist approach with this design.

If you want just a premium line-level analogue integrated, we would point you towards the company’s still excellent Caspian M2 (£2000/$3000), provided its 85W per channel output is up to driving your speakers to the levels required.

Read full post here:
https://www.whathifi.com/roksan/blak-integrated/review

 

Khadas VIM2 Max Review: New TV Box with Amlogic S912 and 3GB of RAM

Every day, TV boxes on Android are becoming more popular and popular. Manufacturers of consoles do not lag behind and I release new models every time. The next model of the TV boxing that hit me was released by the company with the ridiculous title Khadas. A brand new Android TV box with a simple name Khadas VIM2 Max in the review on a good processor Amlogic S912 stands out a little in a series of similar devices. But what exactly, I’ll tell below.

In order not to force you to scroll through the overview in search of this difference, I’ll start right from it. The vast majority of TV boxes are just located next to the TV/monitor and to place them in another place one has to think about it. Developers in Khadas came up with a fairly simple way to solve this problem. They added a sticky base attachment and an IR sensor extension to the kit. Now you can place this TV box on the back of the TV and bring the sensor to a convenient place so that you do not experience problems with.

Read full post here:
https://www.awaqa.com/khadas-vim2-max-review-tv-box-s912-3gb-ram-specs-buy-low-price/

Xiaomi Mi TV 4A Review: New 32-inch TV and cheapest Smart TV 2017

We know that Xiaomi is a brand that does not only focus on smartphones but also focus on other products such as TVs, bracelets and other gadgets. Today we will see the new Xiaomi Mi TV 4A in the review, a really cheap 32-inch Smart TV that comes to reign in the market.

We can find numerous Smart TVs in the market, but without a doubt, the best value for money is in the Asian market. While the TVs sold officially here in Europe can exceed 1000 euros, Xiaomi always drops the price, often even in half, which lets us see the good product that is selling. As their CEO said weeks ago, they do not want them to link inexpensive content to a poor one, and with that, they are showing us that they do not do anything of poor quality.

Read full post here:
https://www.awaqa.com/xiaomi-mi-tv-4a-review-cheapest-32-inch-smart-tv-specs-buy-price/

ASUS ZenFone 4 Max Review: Best Budget Big Battery Smartphone

We review the ZenFone 4 Max!

While they weren’t the first to introduce a big battery, ASUS was the company that made the concept popular, at least in our country. Each iteration of their ZenFone Max smartphone flew off the shelves in record numbers which speaks volumes about the priorities of consumers.

To keep their edge, ASUS has vastly improved the functionality and features of their ZenFone 4 Max to stay competitive with the offerings of their rivals. The ZF4 Max isn’t just a one-trick pony anymore – it’s a great budget smartphone that offers a lot more than just a big battery.

Read full post here:
https://www.unbox.ph/gadget/asus-zenfone-4-max-review-best-budget-big-battery-smartphone/

The 6 Best Waterproof Cameras in 2017

What does it mean to be the best waterproof or underwater camera in 2017? Well if you’re heading off for your summer holidays this year, whether you’re off to the Sunny climes of the Med, or the hopefully Sunny shores of Cornwall, a holiday means one thing… Sun, Sand, and Sea.

Choose the best underwater camera for your 2017 holiday

If you don’t want to risk getting sand and salt in your smartphone and wouldn’t touch a paddling pool with a barge pole with your DSLR, well you’re in luck – we’ve lined up a fabulous selection of waterproof, rugged, and underwater cameras that don’t mind getting up close and personal with a fish or two, and can put up with a bit of sand as well.

It’s not just their ruggedness and suitability to aquatic environments that earned these cameras their place on this list, they’re also up to date with the latest in camera tech, with features including Wi-Fi connectivity to wirelessly transfer your images to your smartphone, and GPS, temperature sensors, compasses, and the latest high quality imaging sensors as well as often including 4K video recording.

https://blog.parkcameras.com/2017/08/6-best-waterproof-cameras-2017.html

Suzuki Swift vs Nissan Micra vs Citroen C3 triple test review

From zero to minor hero and back again – in almost 35 years of trying, the Nissan Micra hasn’t always merited mention in the same breath as the big hitters in the supermini sector.

There was a European Car of the Year win in ’93, and the early-noughties iteration was a genuine highlight. But the last version, clearly built for the Asian market and foisted upon us Europeans rather than designed and engineered here like Nissan’s most successful cars, was so sub-par we barely wasted our breath on it at all. Except to occasionally mutter about how much better the Fiesta and Fabia were.

But this time Nissan is serious about superminis. And given the runaway success of the Juke and Qashqai, two cars that revolutionised the bread and butter family market, you’d credit Nissan circa 2017 with a good nose for what people want.

Read full post here:
https://www.carmagazine.co.uk/car-reviews/comparison/2017/suzuki-swift-vs-nissan-micra-vs-citroen-c3-triple-test-review/

Should You Wait to Buy a Laptop with 8th Gen Core?

If you’re like most consumers, you only buy a laptop once every several years. So you need to make sure that when you do pull the trigger on a new system, you won’t end up with buyer’s remorse when something far better launches a few weeks later. With laptops powered by Intel’s new 8th Generation Core Series CPUs due out this fall, there’s an obvious question to answer: should you wait?

credit elenabsl shutterstock should you wait to buy mf
Intel claims that 8th Generation Core Series processors will offer as much as 40 percent better performance than the current, 7th Gen “Kaby Lake” processors in every 2017 laptop. In a major improvement over prior generations, the “U Series” chips that appear in most mainstream, consumer laptops will go from two to four cores, which should provide far better multitasking.

Read full post here:
https://www.laptopmag.com/articles/intel-8th-gen-core-right-time-to-buy

Onkyo TX-NR575 review

It’s 2017, and despite the mainstream popularity of sound bars there are still people who prefer the flexibility and power of a real AV receiver. While the mechanics of your basic receiver has never really changed — they still switch inputs and drive large sets of speakers — they now boast more features than ever before.

The Onkyo TX-NR575 is a classic example of a modern receiver. It’s a competent sonic performer, boasts an almost overwhelming number of gizmos, and is reasonably priced. Given that most receivers including the Onkyo sound similar to one another — voiced to sound good with movies and not terrible with music — it’s arguable then that it is the features that will sell this receiver. And there’s few models that will match the TX-NR575 this year or even next in that regard: Dolby Atmos, Chromecast built-in, 4K HDR, it’s got the lot.

Read full post here:
https://www.cnet.com/reviews/onkyo-tx-nr575-review/

 

Samsung’s Galaxy Note 8: What It Needs to Win

Next week, Samsung executives will take the stage at a press event in New York to unveil the next generation of the Korean company’s supersize Note smartphone. This isn’t gonna be just any old product launch; a lot is riding on this particular phone.

Samsung almost had a winner on its hands with the Note 7, a feature-packed phone that dazzled critics —  until it turned into a literal garbage fire. Now, Samsung seeks to recapture the pre-recall magic with the Note 8.

Concept Credit: Benjamin Geskin

Concept Credit: Benjamin Geskin

Samsung faces two hurdles with this launch. First, the infamous recall has made the Note a punchline, and the company needs to turn that around by executing its next Note perfectly. The second challenge is timing: The Galaxy Note 8 is heading to market just weeks before Apple takes the wraps off its 10th anniversary iPhone, and the buzz surrounding that device is already deafening.

Read full post here:
https://www.tomsguide.com/us/samsung-galaxy-note-8-preview,news-25679.html

And finally: LTE Apple Watch might miss a big feature

All the other news stories from the week

The anticipation of a whole new set of wearable goodies to try on is quietly building, and it’s been another week of first looks and updates. For instance, we got a good look at Samsung’s Gear Fit2 Pro, which we learned will have swim tracking and offline Spotify playback.

And finally: Apple and Aetna team up

There was also the Runscribe Plus, which is opening up its platform to the likes of Garmin and Suunto. The Movado Connect also went on sale, so if you’re looking for some premium Swiss style of the smartwatch variety you’re in luck. On the features front, Google Home gained the ability to make calls while the Misfit Vapor lost GPS.

That’s not all that happened this week though. If you’d like to indulge yourself further, you can head over to our dedicated news section. And, as always here on And Finally, we have a whole smattering of other news you might have missed this week.

Read full post here:
https://www.wareable.com/apple/apple-watch-series-3-lte-calling-feature-123

FNF Ifive Mini 4S Review: Budget Tablet with 2K Resolution 2017

The computer market is experiencing a complicated but interesting moment. Nowadays, the tablets seem to be losing the market, while on the other hand a new middle class is established. They are cheap laptops, mainly Chromebooks, as well as convertible laptops. The FNF Ifive Mini 4S in the review has one foot in each of the two segments.

The FNF Ifive Mini 4S have a mobile Android 6.0.1 OS. Its two operating systems can be considered as the desktop.

FNF Ifive Mini 4S Review: Budget Tablet with 2K Resolution 2017, low and best price, buy cheaper

7.9 inch with 2048 x 1536 Pixels, RAM: 2GB, ROM: 32GB, Battery: 4800mAh, Android 6.0, Rockchip RK3288 1.6GHz,Quad Core

What is the target audience of this FNF? Although a priori there are few differences, in practice there are, and not only in size.

Read full post here:
https://www.awaqa.com/fnf-ifive-mini-4s-review-budget-tablet-2k-resolusion-specs-buy-price/

Nebula Mars Portable Cinema review

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Anker is known for bargain-priced battery packs for phones, but it’s been branching out lately with a host of other gear, including this $600 Nebula Mars DLP portable projector.

Not quite as small as a “pico projector,” I like to refer to it as a home-theater-in-a-lunch-box. On top of being able to project an image up to around 150 inches, the Nebula has dual JBL speakers built into its chassis as well as a rechargeable battery that delivers up 3 hours of projection time.

Those 10-watt speakers sound much better — and play much louder — than the tiny speaker built into your typical pico projector. It’s a nice step forward for integrated audio in a projector, and that 3-hour battery life is about an hour better than most pico projectors offer.

Read full post here:
https://www.cnet.com/reviews/nebula-mars-portable-cinema-review/

Microwear H1 Review: New IP68 waterproof Smart Watch 2017

Microwear is an Asian manufacturer specializing in smart watches, although it also markets phones. The truth is that I already wanted to try some because they have quite a good reputation, so I have opted for the Microwear H1, which is an exact copy of the Samsung Gear S3, only that, overly, with a much lower price. Although, it’s not less functional, or even far away. So here we go, I hope you like the review.

Gets Free [Giveaway]

At the moment you can get a present Microwear H1. What do you need to do?

All just a simple joke or a quiz, for participation in which is necessary to fulfill a number of specific conditions.

Read full post here:
https://www.awaqa.com/microwear-h1-review-ip68-waterproof-smart-watch-specs-price-buy/

2015-2017 KTM 690 Duke ABS Review

Each version of the Duke since 1994 shed more and more of its vestigial ’dirt bike’ features, and this latest version is a straight-up streetbike. This ride highlights the no-frills pragmatism of the designers with minimal body paneling, exposed frame and afterthought-class rear mudguard. The result is an unimpeded view of the wheels, frame and engine that leaves little to the imagination, and plenty of easy access for maintenance and repairs. Made since 2012, the Duke IV represents the current branch of the family tree, with the 690 Duke serving as the midrange-displacement sibling. Quick and light, the 690 Duke is intended for the entry-level streetbike market.

Design

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2015 - 2017 KTM 690 DUKE ABS - image 726476Our Austrian buddies at KTM have been producing the Duke- model family for over two decades now. The original Duke, or Duke I (first of its name) was built as an off-road machine, and it evolved into the bare bike streetfighter that we know today.

Read full post here:
https://www.topspeed.com/motorcycles/motorcycle-reviews/ktm/2015-2017-ktm-690-duke-abs-ar167820.html

Mercedes-Benz E220d All Terrain v Volvo V90 Cross Country comparison

If you’re anything like me, you think SUVs are purpose-built to define drivers as kid-ferrying lemmings. Why can’t you have the ability to haul kids, but the practicality of style and occasional off-road ability. That’s what the people at Volvo and Mercedes-Benz thought when they created the Volvo V90 Cross Country and the Mercedes-Benz E-Class All Terrain.

Mercedes-Benz E220d All Terrain v Volvo V90 Cross Country comparison

Built on their respective sibling station wagon bodies, both vehicles offer increased ride height and the type of rugged appeal one would expect from a form of weekend warrior transport. You know, the likes of cladded wheel arches and black plastic highlights.

Both are priced from around $100,000 before on-road costs and both are aiming to appeal to the buyer who could afford a luxury SUV, but wants to settle for something a little unconventional. So we saddled up and drove toward the country to see whether either made more sense than the other.

Read full post here:
https://www.caradvice.com.au/560255/mercedes-benz-e220d-all-terrain-v-volvo-v90-cross-country-comparison/

Google Home and Chromecast vs. Amazon Echo and Fire TV: Which is the best hands-free TV experience?

Watching TV no longer requires a remote–at least in certain circumstances.

google home and amazon echo

Let’s be honest: Reaching for the remote while watching TV isn’t a major inconvenience. But sometimes, after a long day, it’s nice to expend as little energy as possible. If you can control your TV by voice instead, why wouldn’t you?

To that end, Google and Amazon now offer hands-free TV controls through their respective connected speakers. Amazon added Fire TV voice controls to the Echo speaker and other Alexa devices a couple weeks ago, while Google has offered similar voice controls for Chromecast through its own Google Home speaker since last December. Both combos allow you to launch videos, pause, play, rewind, and fast forward without ever touching a remote control.

Read full post here:
https://www.techhive.com/article/3215193/google-home-and-chromecast-vs-amazon-echo-and-fire-tv.html

Nikon Coolpix W300 Review

Nikon Coolpix W300 Orange - Oooh Shiny!

The Nikon Coolpix W300 features a 16mp sensor, a 5x optical zoom lens, 4K video recording and is waterproof down to 30 metres! The W300 updates the AW130 and features built-in GPS, Wi-Fi, and Bluetooth. The W300 is available for £389/$506, in a variety of colours, including orange, yellow, camouflage, and black.

Features

The Nikon Coolpix W300 is waterproof to 30m, shockproof from a height of 2.4m, freezeproof, and dustproof. Designed as a take anywhere camera, it should survive all minor of mistreatment.

The Coolpix W300 features a 16 megapixel BSI CMOS sensor, with 7fps continuous shooting at full resolution. There’s 4K UHD video recording, with stereo sound, plus high-speed video recording. Optical zoom is available while recording videos, letting you use the 5x optical zoom to get closer to the action. The 5x optical zoom lens, is equivalent to 24-120mm, with a relatively bright f/2.8 aperture at the wide-angle end of the lens.

Read full post here:
https://www.ephotozine.com/article/nikon-coolpix-w300-review-31266/verdict

Lenovo ThinkPad P51 Review

 

When you need a notebook with high-end graphics performance for 3D modeling, video editing, animation or engineering applications, you want a mobile workstation. Lenovo’s 15.6-inch ThinkPad P51 can handle all of those demanding tasks and more thanks to gaudy components such as an optional Intel Xeon processor, an Nvidia Quadro M2200 GPU and a vibrant 4K display. Starting at $1,340 ($2,807 as tested), this chunky laptop doesn’t come cheap, but if you require lots of extra oomph for your workload, it’s worth every penny.

Design

The ThinkPad P51 isn’t exactly the lightest laptop on the block, and, at 5.82 pounds and 1.02 inches thick, it’s significantly bulkier than the Precision 5520 (4.4 pounds, 0.7 inches thick), Apple MacBook Pro (4 pounds, 0.61 inches thick) and HP ZBook 15 G4 (5.13 pounds, 1 inch thick). However, Lenovo also makes the slimmer ThinkPad P51s, which weighs just 4.3 pounds and is only 0.79 inches thick, but that laptop doesn’t have a Xeon processor or Nvidia Quadro M2200 graphics.

Read full post here:
https://www.laptopmag.com/reviews/laptops/lenovo-thinkpad-p51

2017 Mercedes-AMG GLE43 review

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I finally met one of my neighbors the other day. Miss Sandy is a bold and brassy mid-seventies, dresses with insouciance and has a late-model Mercedes Benz S-class tucked away in her garage. I thought she might be interested in my car for the week, the 2017 Mercedes-AMG GLE43 Coupe.

Miss Sandy, in her infinite wisdom, exclaimed, “You’re driving that? Oh, Lord is that ugly!”

AMG is the performance arm of Mercedes-Benz, building high-horsepower variants of the standard coupes, sedans and convertibles offered by the German automaker. The two-row GLE43 is available as a standard square-backed crossover, but I got to spend time in the more, let’s say controversial-looking, coupe version. You might agree with Miss Sandy about the car’s looks, but Mercedes-AMG is chasing down BMW, which first brought the “coupeover” idea to the market with the X6.

Read full post here:
https://www.cnet.com/roadshow/reviews/2017-mercedes-amg-gle43-coupe-review/

 

 

Nokia 8 vs HTC U 11: What’s the difference?

Nokia announced its 2017 flagship smartphone at an event in August in the form of the Nokia 8. It joins the company’s portfolio of three Android devices that were introduced at the beginning of the year, but it brings more advanced hardware and a couple of stand out polished finishes.

The HTC U11 is another flagship smartphone that offers a slightly more exciting finish, along with a great set of specs. The question is how do the two compare for those in the market for a device so shiny, they’d give a diamond a run for its money? We’ve put the Nokia 8 up against the HTC U11 to find out.

OnePlus 5 vs Nokia 8: Which is the better Android flagship?

2017 Mazda CX-5: 5 Things You Need To Know

The 2017 Mazda CX-5 is a near-complete redesign of the brand’s strong-selling compact crossover, and it comes hot on the heels of last year’s unusual 2016.5 model year refresh. With striking looks, simplified drivetrain offerings, and a focus on answering the complaints lodged by previous owners as well as those from SUV shoppers who passed on Mazda’s entry, the latest CX-5 manages to maintain much of its fun-to-drive edge over the competition in what has traditionally been a dynamically dull segment. Check out these 5 things you need to know about the 2017 Mazda CX-5 crossover.

1. Style-First, Without Much Practicality Compromise

There’s no reason that an affordable people mover like the Mazda CX-5 can’t feature the same detail-focused approach to style of a much more expensive rig, and for 2017 Mazda’s designers went out of their way to prove this point. Of particular interest is the front of the vehicle, where the interplay between the grille, the headlights, and the leading edge of the hood presents a new high water mark in the compact class. It’s a stunningly well-executed design that evolves the older CX-5 without throwing away the silhouette or form factor that was part of its charm.

Read full post here:
https://www.slashgear.com/2017-mazda-cx-5-5-things-you-need-to-know-18495764/

Essential Phone first-impressions

In a crowded smartphone world you need to do something seriously special if you want to stand out. Essential‘s mix is a combination of pure Android, high-end build quality even a Vertu fan would have to give credit, and an ambitious roadmap of modular accessories, multiple form-factors, and a new generation of AI. Today, though, with the Essential Phone in hand and most of the rest still somewhere on a nebulous roadmap, I can’t help but wonder: would it be taken as seriously if it wasn’t the handiwork of Andy “Father of Android” Rubin?

It’s too soon for me to give a conclusive opinion on the Essential Phone. The company only gave out review devices to press a few days ago, are still ironing out bugs with new firmware, and arguably its most intriguing feature – the 360 camera which hooks up with both a magnetic mount and a new, wireless connection – wasn’t part of the review kit. That, Essential tells me, will follow on shortly.

Read full post here:
https://www.slashgear.com/essential-phone-first-impressions-18495628/