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Showing posts with label gadgets. Show all posts
Showing posts with label gadgets. Show all posts

The "Nothing" Phone HANDS ON - Does It Meet The Hype?



'Technology should fade into the background and feel like Nothing' claims the new company 'Nothing' who is releasing their debut product.

When the company first shared images of their design, they started getting lots of attention. Finally - the phone is ready for a hands-on look to see if it meets the hype!

Video Courtesy of CNET

Be CAREFUL Out There Today - More Smartphones are Lost/Stolen/Broken on 4th Of July than Any Other Day....

4th of july smartphone losses

Insurance data reveals that more smartphones are lost, stolen, or just stop working on the Fourth of July than on any other day of the year.

Given that boats, pools, and beaches are busier in the summer than at any other time of year, this may not be a huge surprise. It ought to serve as a reminder.

Marvin Maldonado, a device expert with the tech care company Asurion, reports a 37 percent rise in the number of mishaps involving electronic gadgets on July 4 of last year.

Asurion's annual report is based on the number of claims company receives for damaged cellphones and other devices...

 Asurion owns the national chain of device repair centers UBreakIFix. Over the past few years, more insurance claims have been filed on July 4 than on any of the other 364 days. Maldonado reports that the number of visitors increased despite the closure of pools and beaches due to the coronavirus.

"Everyone has been at home, so we anticipate a significant increase in people going on vacation and wanting to leave," he said. "We anticipate an enormous growth, even greater than last year's."

On the Fourth of July, claims and repairs for water damage and damaged screens are the most prevalent. Lost and stolen electronics also rank highly. Some misplaced phones are somewhere at the bottom of a lake, having fallen from a deck or their owners' hands.

"We know that cellphones are water-resistant, but a waterproof case, specifically a floating waterproof case, will prevent this from occurring," Maldonado explains. A floating phone case will keep a smartphone or other gadget afloat until it can be recovered.

While the majority of modern smartphones can survive a brief immersion in water, chlorine and salt can destroy any smartphone if they enter through a port or speaker opening. Instead of using rice, Maldonado proposes placing silica gel packs in a Ziploc bag overnight.

You should not place a damp phone in direct sunlight to dry it because the heat can damage the device. Another cause of smartphone failure is heat.

If your smartphone's screen or back is already broken, you should consider twice before exposing it to extreme heat. The humidity alone can cause irreparable damage to the phone by allowing moisture to leak through the crevices.

Maldonado's top piece of advice is to back up your phone before traveling.

"Ensure that all of your data is secure so that, in the event of an accident, you can always restore your data," he advised.

Enjoy the holiday, but watch out for that pricey phone you're holding.


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Author: Preston Summers
Tech News CITY /Austin Newsroom

Cool or CREEPY?! Amazon Alexa will Soon Be Able To 'Imitate the Voice of Dead Loved Ones'...


Soon, you'll be able to ask Alexa to imitate the voice of a friend or family member, and it will do so. This will bring back fond memories. The company believes that the new feature of Alexa will 'bring back fond memories' and 'enable enduring personal interactions'.

Video Courtesy of CBS Mornings

Apple's VR Headset is Being Shown To High-Level Apple Employees...



Rumors in Silicon Valley are flying about Apple's VR headset - apparently some high level staff have been actually been able to try them out!

Apple has shown its board a new VR headgear it has developed. The gadget has apparently been under development at Apple since 2015, according to rumors. We do not yet know its appearance or many of its characteristics. It could be weeks, months, or even a couple years before an Apple headset is released, but the implication is that the item exists.

The company's foray into virtual-reality devices was met with resistance and objections from Apple executives, notably former Apple design leader Jony Ive. Apple is also anticipated to announce a pair of AR-only glasses in the future, but they are not as far advanced as the forthcoming headgear.

No release date set, but when the headset launches, it will likely disrupt the wearable VR ecosystem. Today, Meta's Oculus goggles generally dominate this market. Meta's marketing for the metaverse has generated a great deal of buzz, promoting a cyberpunk future. Despite this, Meta has gone all-in on its AR and VR goals, wasting $10 billion on its metaverse endeavors.

Video courtesy of CNBC

Are Facebook's New Glasses w/ Built-In Camera "DANGEROUS"?

Facebook glasses rayban stories
Mark Zuckerberg has announced the launch of the first Facebook smart glasses, the Ray-Ban Stories, which shoots photographs, records videos, answers calls, and lets you listen to music. Given that it must be associated with a phone through Bluetooth, they essentially perform the same functions as the phone in your pocket.

What is the Real Reason for Their Existence? Since Snapchat declined his offer to acquire them, Zuckerberg has been obsessed with ensuring that Facebook gets everything Snapchat has, which is why they appeared shortly after Snapchat unveiled its 'Spectacles' spectacles.

These are unquestionably more attractive than Snapchat's Spectacles. On the surface, the spectacles appear to be the classic Ray-Bans.

The temples are somewhat broader, but the design remains unchanged. They come in a variety of colors and are made of several types of glass. The Meteor model, with transparent glass and an olive green frame, was put to the test at ABC. If you're still not convinced, you can get a degree in optics.

The two photographic sensors on the front, which are perforated and allow the user to shoot images and record movies for up to 60 seconds, are what distinguishes these lenses. Each camera has a 5 MP resolution, and the information they capture is of exceptional quality. Particularly if the lighting is nice. They are not suggested for use at night or in circumstances where there is very little light.

The gadget may be used to make a hands-free call or listen to music. It comfortably satisfies two functions, as we were able to verify throughout the testing. Meta, for example, has made it feasible to listen to music on the device without the sound being hardly audible to the rest of the room. Furthermore, the noise of the surroundings is not separated, which is beneficial if they are used to riding a bicycle or running.

Furthermore, by sliding your finger over one of the pins on the glasses, you may adjust the volume or pick up the phone. Ray-Ban Stories are also compatible with Facebook's virtual assistant, allowing users to ask the gadget to shoot a photo or video simply by saying, "Hey, Facebook..." If you like, you may do it manually by pressing the button on the right side of the glasses.

Requires Their App..

You'll need to download the app - yep, another app - Facebook View, which is available for iOS and Android, on your phone to access the images and movies made with the glasses. This requires Bluetooth pairing with the glasses. When collecting content, all you have to do is put on your glasses and open the 'app,' which will begin the download in a couple of seconds.

Which, of course, brings up the subject of privacy...

Apart from worrying what data Facebook can obtain with the required app, some are dubbing them "Facebook Spy Glasses," implying what may be done if a suspicious individual buys a set.

They don't appear like a camera or a phone, and no one near the person wearing them will suspect they're being watched.

An LED light in the right corner of the front of the lenses illuminates whenever the user is collecting material as a warning to the others. Furthermore, it is impossible to disable. But a simple workaround like... covering it with a piece of tape, will make it disappear.

Finally, it is true that a user with malicious intent can film or photograph third parties without alerting them and without using these glasses. Although it is more visible with the telephone, it is possible.


Facebook RayBan Stories VS Snapchat Spectacle 2
Side By Side Facebook VS Snapchat Smart Glasses


All for a ridiculously high price...

Currently, a pair costs roughly $300 US, which is around $150 more (twice the price) as Snapchat's newest and second-generation spectacles, the Spectical2's.

But, to be fair, the extra cost for Facebook's comes from the fact that you're purchasing a pair of Ray-Ban sunglasses, and a side-by-side comparison shows that Facebook's sunglasses do look A LOT better.

I guess I'm not in the target demographic?

I have a GoPro, and there are occasions when I want to film something, but I've never wished my GoPro was strapped to my face. While the convenience of having your hands free is appealing, I can already strap my GoPro to myself, mount it on a tripod, and so forth.

However, if this is the best option for what you're doing and you have the funds, I'd have a look at them before purchasing Snapchat Spectacles.

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Alex Benningram
TechNews.CITY / New York Newsroom



Claim Free Google Nest Thermostats, FREE! Plus Monthly Cash Payments - OHMConnect Review...

ohmconnect review as the team reviews OHMConnect

Now people in 3 states can enjoy what the residents of Silicon Valley and the greater Bay Area have for the last couple years, as now California is joined by Texas and New York to claim a Google Nest, or WiFi smart plug and then get paid monthly cash - all free. Learn more as we review ohmconnect...

Now In Northern and Southern California, Texas, and New York...

No longer just for Silicon Valley - the program is now covering the entire state of CA and recently expanded to Texas and New Yotk! 

For CA you need to be a customer of one of the 3 energy providers, PG&E, SDG&E or Southern California Edison - so millions more can now participate! 

For the other states you'll have to take a look at the OHMConnect site for more details. 

City Mayors Partner With Program To Prevent Blackouts This Summer...

Each participating city will be allotted 25,000 free smart thermostats to be distributed to local households who choose to participate. 

Oakland Mayor Schaaf said "OhmConnect has created a win-win-win that works for every household. It's free to sign up for OhmConnect. When you sign up, you'll get a free smart thermostat that will reduce your energy use at times of peak demand. Then you will get paid for these energy savings and you'll decrease your utility bill while helping the state prevent blackouts."

San Jose's Mayor is on board as well, with a positive review from Sam Liccardo saying"OhmConnect's free smart thermostats provide an innovative solution to the catastrophic impacts of blackouts throughout California, by relieving the stress on our electricity grid amid spikes of peak power usage."

"Joining OhmConnect, Fresno residents can actually get paid to save energy. Let's do our part to prevent blackouts - and get paid for doing it!"
added Fresno Mayor Dyer.


NBC Local News Says - It's Smart To Sign Up...

Then Participants Will Start Receiving Monthy Cash Payments...

OHMConnect has already paid Californian's $14 million to save energy. That's because the program pays residents for saving energy when the grid is at risk of using dirty power.

Rather than having power companies fire up gas or coal backups - users will receive a text message asking them to lower their usage. There's no penalty if they don't - but there's cash if they do.

If you're located in Northern California, you can claim your freebies and join the program at https://ohm.co/GreenCA

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Author: Don Kennedy
New York Newsroom

Apple Eve Sports Car: Will Apple's Electric Car Ever REALLY Happen?


Apple's long-awaited electric vehicle has been the subject of a flurry of reports in recent weeks, as conversations with automakers have forced Apple's normal veil of secrecy to unwittingly lift, and now we're getting another sense of how far of a moonshot Apple is shooting for with Project Titan.

Apple appears to be taking precautions to ensure that it is ready. Apple isn't known for entering new markets cautiously, and given how close Tesla has come to attaining the ideal of self-driving vehicles, it wouldn't surprise us if Apple raced Tesla to the punch, developing a consumer Apple Car that's ready to hit the streets on its own as soon as it's permitted.

Video courtesy of Auto-R

The Tough Smartwatch That Could Beat Up Your Apple Watch - Garmin Fenix 7 Review

 

The Garmin Fenix 7 is for anyone who enjoys competing and wants to push themselves to new limits, whether it's a cycling sportive, a half marathon, an Ironman, or the grueling sweat of a CrossFit competition. The Fenix 7 doesn't assume you've already figured out a whole training schedule and how to balance work and rest — instead, it provides tools to help you analyze your current fitness level, establish a realistic goal, and train in a way that will help you reach it.

It includes the same powerful workout tracking and training tools that helped the Fenix 6 become the best multi-sports watch in 2019, as well as some new features that make it more accessible to new users.

The addition of a touchscreen is the most evident enhancement here. The watch retains the five physical buttons found on prior Fenix watches (including a newly reinforced start button), but it's a tremendous assistance when it comes to panning through maps. However, it's been done with caution; the screen is locked by default during workouts to prevent accidental button presses, and Fenix purists may turn off touch completely if they choose.

It includes the same powerful workout tracking and training tools that helped the Fenix 6 become the best multi-sports watch in 2019, as well as some new features that make it more accessible to new users.

The addition of a touchscreen is the most evident enhancement here. The watch retains the five physical buttons found on prior Fenix watches (including a newly reinforced start button), but it's a tremendous assistance when it comes to panning through maps. However, it's been done with caution; the screen is locked by default during workouts to prevent accidental button presses, and Fenix purists may turn off touch completely if they choose.

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Author: Micha Chan
San Diego Newsroom