Stephen Hall

• Android
• Google Chrome
• Apps and Updates
• app
• Chrome Beta

Chrome beta gets bumped to version 46, includes CSS features, API updates, more

Stephen Hall Sep 4 2015 - 9:07 am PT

0 Comments

Chrome beta has been updated to version 46 across Android, Windows, Mac, Linux, and Chrome OS. According to Google, this version of the browser is getting some “new CSS animation features, improved performance controls, and a large number of API tweaks.” In other words, this update doesn’t include any exciting user-facing features — it’s mostly a developer-focused update.

Here’s what Google had to say about the update in its blog post:

Animating objects along author specified paths

Previously, animating objects along an author-specified path required complex javascript code that could block important events like rendering and input. Developers can now animate any graphical object along an arbitrary path declaratively as a CSS property, allowing simpler code that doesn’t block rendering or input.

Optimized image loading and service worker instrumentation

Tools like srcset allow developers to serve an optimized image variant in a responsive way, but it can be cumbersome and inefficient to use in practice. Developers can now negotiate with the server to download the best image variant for a device using straightforward HTTP request headers. These headers communicate DPR, Viewport-Width, and the intended display width of the resource being fetched to the server.

In addition to improving image loading, developers can now instrument service workers to gather detailed fetch and script timing. Developers can also measure the startup time of service workers more accurately.

If you’re an avid user of the beta channel of Chrome on Android, you’ll notice that the update is rolling out right now. If you would rather manually update your app, you can do that too.

• Android
• Google
• Samsung
• 9to5Toys
• Deals

9to5Toys Lunch Break: Samsung Galaxy Gear $55, Sphero’s BB8 coming tomorrow for $150, more

Stephen Hall Sep 3 2015 - 1:00 pm PT

0 Comments

Keep up with the best gear and deals on the web by signing up for the 9to5Toys Newsletter. Also, be sure to check us out on: Twitter, RSS Feed, Facebook, Google+ and Safari push notifications.

Today’s can’t miss deals:

Daily Deals: Samsung Galaxy Gear Android Smart Watch (refurb) $55, Smallville Complete Series $85, more

Sphero’s BB8 Star Wars toy lands tomorrow for $150, and we all want it

Samsung Galaxy S6 Edge 32GB (factory unlocked): $500 shipped (Reg. $1,000) | eBay

Pre-orders for the new Moto 360 (2nd gen) and Huawei Watch are now live on the Google Store

LG G Pad V410 AT&T GSM Unlocked 7-Inch 4G LTE 16GB Tablet: $80 shipped (Reg. $200) | eBay

SanDisk Ultra 200GB Micro SD card for Android devices: $200 shipped (Reg. $220+)

LG G3 D850 32 GB unlocked new 32GB blue: $250 shipped (Reg. $400) | eBay

GoPro HERO4 Silver waterproof action camera: $319 shipped (Reg. $400)

Giveaway: $400 Belkin WeMo bundle including the new Lightify Starter Set, multiple winners

More new gear from today:

JBL’s Pulse 2 Bluetooth speaker takes its lightshow next level, previous gen on sale for $100 (Reg. $150)

• Cambond 10-ft MFi Apple-Certified Lightning Cable (multiple colors): $11 Prime shipped (Reg. $14)
• Games/Apps: Captain Toad Treasure Tracker $29, LEGO Star Wars Clone Wars & Deus Ex Ultimate $5 ea.
• Over-Ear Headphones: V-Moda Crossfade LP $90 (Reg. $125+), Parrot ZIK Bluetooth (refurb) $140 (Orig. $400)
• Audio-Technica AT2020USB+ mic & CAD Acousti-Shield $149 shipped ($244 value)

More deals still alive:

Twelve South iPad Air/mini cases: BookBook from $35 (Orig. $80), leather SurfacePad $35 (Reg. $70), more

Incase MacBook Backpacks 50% off in multiple colors w/ free shipping: Cargo $40 (Reg. $80), Staple $30 (Reg. $60)

• 9to5Toys Specials: Moto E & 1-Yr FreedomPop unlimited talk-and-text: $150 shipped (Reg. $120 + plan)
• Ringke Cases from $3 shipped: Galaxy S6/Edge, Nexus 6, iPhone 6/Plus, more in multiple colors/styles
• HP Chromebook 14″ 2.3GHz 16GB storage Chromebook (refurb): $200 shipped (Reg. $220+) | eBay
• You can score Nest’s 2nd generation Learning Thermostat for $199 if you move quickly
• Transistor iOS action-RPG gets its first price drop: $5 (Reg. $10)
• Kanto YU2 Desktop Mini Reference Monitor Speakers: $140 shipped (Reg. $180+)
• Grain Audio OEHP On-Ear Headphones: $149 Shipped (Orig. $199, CA Tax Only)
• Fashion: J. Crew Factory shorts $25, Timex Weekender Watch $14 Prime shipped, Toms Mens shoes $29
• Fitbit Charge HR Activity Tracker in multiple sizes/colors: $120 shipped (Reg. $150)
• Healthkit-supported Bluetooth Smart Bathroom scale with BMI, more: $49 Shipped
• Ringke iPhone 6/Plus Cases from $5 shipped in multiple colors/styles, more
• Harman Kardon Nova 2.0 Bluetooth Stereo Speaker System $150 shipped (Orig. $200)
• Home: Dyson AM07 tower fan $270, Philips Norelco men’s shaver $120, more
• D-Link PowerLine AV500 Mini Adapter Starter Kit: $20 shipped (Reg. $35+)
• Kindle First Books for September: The Prettiest One, Pale Queen Rising, Still Waters, more
• Brother All-in-One AirPrint Wireless InkJet Printer $50 shipped (Reg. $85+)
• Gift Cards up to 20% off: Sports Authority, Domino’s, Jiffy Lube, Steak ‘n Shake, more
• Western Digital 5TB USB 3.0 Desktop Hard Drive: $130 shipped (Orig. $200)
• GoPro HERO4 Silver waterproof action camera: $319 shipped (Reg. $400)
• Motorola SURFboard Cable Modem + Wireless Router: $90 shipped (~$109+ value), more
• Monitors: Acer 23″ $100 (Reg. $140), Dell 23.8″ UltraSharp w/ HDMI $210 (Reg. $240)
• Audio: JBL Micro Bluetooth speaker $28, V-MODA M-80 headphones $80 (Reg. up to $120)
• MicroSD cards: Silicon Power 64GB $20 (Orig. $36), PNY 128GB $51 (Orig. $80), more
• REI extra 20% off: Columbia Fleece Half-Zip $24, Marmot Down Jacket $104, more
• Hot Java Android Coding Bundle: 5 app development courses for $29 (Orig. $657)
• Free Xbox Live Gold Games for September: Tomb Raider Definitive Edition, Battlestations Pacific, more
• Free PS Plus Games for September: Grow Home, Super Time Force Ultra, Twisted Metal, more
• Doxie Go Wi-Fi Scanner: $175 Shipped (Orig. $229, CA Tax Only)

New products & more:

Polaroid’s latest pocket-sized Snap cam instantly prints photos with no ink

Review: Tucker and Bloom’s East to West XL Messenger Bag goes big to handle all your gear

Amazon now offers money back to Prime members after their first Dash button purchase

• Hulu puts pressure on Netflix with new commercial-free subscription plan
• Sony’s new high-resolution headphones have a cringe-worthy name
• Neato details its new iOS/Android connected robotic smart vac
• EA announces upcoming Star Wars Battlefront beta, new gameplay modes and companion app
• Pandora celebrates its 10th anniversary by nixing ads for all listeners
• Nintendo brings new smaller 3DS to North America, Zelda Tri Force 3DS, opens digital store on Amazon
• Leica partners w/ an Italian auto designer to create a marvelous set of limited edition binoculars
• Microsoft details new Xbox One Elite Bundle w/ upgraded SSD, new special edition controller
• Release dates/special editions announced for Uncharted 4 & Deus Ex: Mankind Divided
• Set the clock back to 1875 with the new Tesla Watch from ThinkGeek
• Netflix September Preview: The Walking Dead Season 5, Gotham Season 1, and more
• SmartHalo adds simple smartphone-connected navigation to your bike’s handlebars
• Gears of War creator reveals the first gameplay footage for his new gravity-defying FPS

• Google
• Search
• search
• fun facts

Google’s new ‘I’m feeling curious’ feature is really addicting

Stephen Hall Sep 3 2015 - 6:36 am PT

0 Comments

Google is definitely known for its hidden easter eggs and features in search, and this one is really going to keep you occupied: Searching for “I’m feeling curious” now shows you a widget that rotates through some random and interesting facts about just about everything — from how much a “lifetime airline pass” costed in the 80s to facts about Oprah.

After clicking the “Ask Another Question” a few times, it looks like the box pulls information from anywhere and everywhere on the web. A few facts were pulled from Wikipedia, and plenty of others were from History.com, Princeton.edu, People.com, and several other sources. As a bonus, it looks like “thefactsite.com” is going to get some nice extra traffic today.

If you want to check it out, head over to Google and search “I’m feeling curious“. Alternatively, it looks like other similar queries like “fun facts” will also show the widget.

• Android
• Wear OS
• Google Store

PSA: Moto 360 (2nd gen) & Huawei Watch pre-orders are now live on the Google Store

Stephen Hall Sep 2 2015 - 1:20 pm PT

0 Comments

A slew of new Android Wear devices — many of which we knew about long before today — are now arriving at the Google Store. Specifically, at the time of this writing, you can now pre-order the Moto 360 (2nd gen), the “Moto 360 for Women”, and one model of the Huawei Watch — the silver one — straight from the Mountain View company’s online storefront. Head over and check it out…

Both of these watches were made official today. As we told you earlier, the Moto 360 has prices ranging from $299 to $499, and comes in two sizes (alongside the women’s version). The Huawei Watch starts at $349, but currently, only the $399 model is available for purchase from the Google Store. The Moto 360 is currently slated to leave the warehouse in 3-4 weeks, while the Huawei Watch is showing up as available in 2-3 weeks.

As a bonus, the Google Store listings come with the bonus of some really pretty new stock imagery.

• Wear OS
• 9to5Toys
• Moto 360
• Android deals
• Google deals

9to5Toys Lunch Break: Samsung Galaxy S6 Edge $500, Moto 360 (2nd gen) & Huawei Watch available for pre-order, more

Stephen Hall Sep 2 2015 - 1:06 pm PT

0 Comments

Keep up with the best gear and deals on the web by signing up for the 9to5Toys Newsletter. Also, be sure to check us out on: Twitter, RSS Feed, Facebook, Google+ and Safari push notifications.

Today’s can’t miss deals:

Samsung Galaxy S6 Edge 32GB (factory unlocked): $500 shipped (Reg. $1,000) | eBay

Pre-orders for the new Moto 360 (2nd gen) and Huawei Watch are now live on the Google Store

9to5Toys Specials: Moto E & 1-Yr FreedomPop unlimited talk-and-text: $150 shipped (Reg. $120 + plan)

LG G Pad V410 AT&T GSM Unlocked 7-Inch 4G LTE 16GB Tablet: $80 shipped (Reg. $200) | eBay

Ringke Cases from $3 shipped: Galaxy S6/Edge, Nexus 6, iPhone 6/Plus, more in multiple colors/styles

SanDisk Ultra 200GB Micro SD card for Android devices: $200 shipped (Reg. $220+)

LG G3 D850 32 GB unlocked new 32GB blue: $250 shipped (Reg. $400) | eBay

GoPro HERO4 Silver waterproof action camera: $319 shipped (Reg. $400)

HP Chromebook 14″ 2.3GHz 16GB storage Chromebook (refurb): $200 shipped (Reg. $220+) | eBay

Amazon now offers money back to Prime members after their first Dash button purchase

Giveaway: $400 Belkin WeMo bundle including the new Lightify Starter Set, multiple winners

More new gear from today:

Games/Apps: Flick Kick Football & Field Goal go free (Reg. $2 ea), Clear Day Weather $2 (Reg. $4), more iOS freebies

• Gold Box – Up to 40% off select Allen Sports Bike Mounts/Lights: 3-bike carrier $40 (Reg. $60), more
• Transistor iOS action-RPG gets its first price drop: $5 (Reg. $10)
• Protect your MacBook with this felt and leather sleeve for $10 Prime shipped (Reg. $13)
• Daily Deals: Samsung Mono Laser All-in-One Printer $100, SHARKK Bluetooth Speaker $40, more
• Kanto YU2 Desktop Mini Reference Monitor Speakers (multiple colors): $140 shipped (Reg. $180+)

More deals still alive:

Fitbit Charge HR Activity Tracker in multiple sizes/colors: $120 shipped (Reg. $150)

Healthkit-supported Bluetooth Smart Bathroom scale with BMI, more: $49 Shipped

• Ringke iPhone 6/Plus Cases from $5 shipped in multiple colors/styles, more
• Jawbone Mini Jambox Bluetooth Speaker in Blue Diamond: $50 shipped (Reg. $87)
• Harman Kardon Nova 2.0 Bluetooth Stereo Speaker System $150 shipped (Orig. $200)
• Home: Dyson AM07 tower fan $270, Philips Norelco men’s shaver $120, more
• D-Link PowerLine AV500 Mini Adapter Starter Kit: $20 shipped (Reg. $35+)
• Kindle First Books for September: The Prettiest One, Pale Queen Rising, Still Waters, more
• Brother All-in-One AirPrint Wireless InkJet Printer $50 shipped (Reg. $85+)
• Gift Cards up to 20% off: Sports Authority, Domino’s, Jiffy Lube, Steak ‘n Shake, more
• Western Digital 5TB USB 3.0 Desktop Hard Drive: $130 shipped (Orig. $200)
• GoPro HERO4 Silver waterproof action camera: $319 shipped (Reg. $400)
• Motorola SURFboard Cable Modem + Wireless Router: $90 shipped (~$109+ value), more
• Monitors: Acer 23″ $100 (Reg. $140), Dell 23.8″ UltraSharp w/ HDMI $210 (Reg. $240)
• Samsung 850 EVO 500GB 2.5-inch Solid-State Drive: $150 shipped (Reg. $175+)
• Audio: JBL Micro Bluetooth speaker $28, V-MODA M-80 headphones $80 (Reg. up to $120)
• App Store Free App of the Week: Nighty Night Circus kids’ bedtime story app ($3 value)
• MFi Lightning Cables: 6-ft. Braided Nylon $9.50 (Reg. $14), 2-ft. Retractable $9 (Reg. $13), more
• Philips Portable Bluetooth Speaker in multiple colors for $15 Prime shipped (Reg. $20)
• Power Banks: Anker PowerCore 15600mAh w/ dual USB ports $25 Prime shipped (Reg. $33), more
• MicroSD cards: Silicon Power 64GB $20 (Orig. $36), PNY 128GB $51 (Orig. $80), more
• REI extra 20% off: Columbia Fleece Half-Zip $24, Marmot Down Jacket $104, more
• Bose SoundTrue on-ears in black $80 (Reg. $120), much more
• AirPrint Printers: Canon Inkjet All-in-One $90 (Reg. $110), more
• Hot Java Android Coding Bundle: 5 app development courses for $29 (Orig. $657)
• Free Xbox Live Gold Games for September: Tomb Raider Definitive Edition, Battlestations Pacific, more
• Free PS Plus Games for September: Grow Home, Super Time Force Ultra, Twisted Metal, more
• Doxie Go Wi-Fi Scanner: $175 Shipped (Orig. $229, CA Tax Only)
• Google Play offers free downloads of Buddy Guy’s Born To Play Guitar album (Reg. $10)

New products & more:

Neato details its new iOS/Android connected robotic smart vac

EA announces upcoming Star Wars Battlefront beta, new gameplay modes and companion app

• Pandora celebrates its 10th anniversary by nixing ads for all listeners
• Nintendo brings new smaller 3DS to North America, Zelda Tri Force 3DS, opens digital store on Amazon
• Leica partners w/ an Italian auto designer to create a marvelous set of limited edition binoculars
• Microsoft details new Xbox One Elite Bundle w/ upgraded SSD, new special edition controller
• Release dates/special editions announced for Uncharted 4 & Deus Ex: Mankind Divided
• Set the clock back to 1875 with the new Tesla Watch from ThinkGeek
• Netflix September Preview: The Walking Dead Season 5, Gotham Season 1, and more
• SmartHalo adds simple smartphone-connected navigation to your bike’s handlebars
• Gears of War creator reveals the first gameplay footage for his new gravity-defying FPS
• Back to school gift guide: essential tech gear every student should be using
• Here’s how you can play Forza 6 nearly a week before its release plus pre-order discounts
• Lara Croft GO hits iOS and Android with puzzle-based gameplay
• Logitech’s new Artemis Wireless Gaming Headsets focus on features and compatibility

• Wear OS
• Moto 360
• Motorola
• update
• moto

This is Motorola’s answer to the ‘Moto 270’ jokes

Stephen Hall Sep 2 2015 - 12:02 pm PT

3 Comments

The new Moto 360 is surely right around the corner, but one thing doesn’t seem to have changed. The 2nd generation Moto 360 — which was just made official — still hasn’t managed to get rid of the dreadful “flat tire.” But according to a very informative slide snapped by our own Seth Weintraub at Lenovo’s press event yesterday, Motorola is having none of the criticism and jokes. Comparing the 360 to the Samsung Gear Live, the G Watch, and the Apple Watch, the Moto 360 wins in display-to-body ratio.

As you can see, at least according to Moto’s data, the 360’s screen has 71.7% of the front face of the watch, while the Apple Watch — probably the 360’s biggest competitor — has a measly 49.1%. Both of LG’s recent offerings come in at around the same number as the Apple Watch, but other competitors, like the Gear Live, are as low as 41.9%. With the flat tire, which sadly makes the 360’s screen a not-so-perfect circle, Motorola can achieve a much better ratio. Oddly missing, however, is the Huawei Watch…

• Apps & Updates
• Android
• Wear OS
• update
• ifttt
• do button

IFTTT’s powerful DO Button app adds Android Wear support

Stephen Hall Sep 2 2015 - 11:52 am PT

0 Comments

The DO Button is a great accessory app to the powerful “If This Then That” service, and now you can use the app with your Android Wear device. Thanks to an update that’s rolling out (via Android Police) on the Play Store right now, you’ll be able to control hundreds of IFTTT-compatible apps — like Tumblr, Drive, Evernote, and more — from your wrist…

DO Buttons are simplified, quick one-tap access to your IFTTT recipes. For example, paired with a Nest thermostat, you can create a recipe that sets your home’s temperature to 72 degrees. These have long been accessible via the Android and iOS apps, but today’s update will put them on your watch. Also, the update packs support for new channels.

Here’s the full change log:

• Apps & Updates
• Android
• Google
• Apps and Updates
• Smartphone
• tablet

PSA: Popular iOS game Alto’s Adventure is coming to Android

Stephen Hall Sep 2 2015 - 8:08 am PT

1 Comment

Alto’s Adventure is one of those fad games that may or may not stick around in the long term, but it has been featured in the App Store a couple of times for good reason. It’s a tranquil and calm pick-up-and-play snowboarding game not all too different than the likes of Tiny Wings, but — just like Tiny Wings — it’s very addicting. Now, thanks to an announcement from NoodleCake (the game’s maker), we know that Alto’s Adventure is coming to Android.

We don’t yet know exactly when the game is making its way to Google’s mobile platform. “We are hoping to have the game out soon enough but we don’t have an exact launch date just yet,” the developers said in a blog post. Assumably, NoodleCake will also be pushing the device to the Amazon Appstore, as the company says that it is coming to Kindle Fire as well. We’ll keep you in the loop. As a fan of the game myself, I’m excited.

• Android
• 9to5Toys
• Moto E
• Deals
• Tech Industry

9to5Toys Lunch Break: Moto E w/ 1-yr FreedomPop unlimited talk-and-text $150, LG G Pad w/ LTE $80, more

Stephen Hall Sep 1 2015 - 12:55 pm PT

0 Comments

Keep up with the best gear and deals on the web by signing up for the 9to5Toys Newsletter. Also, be sure to check us out on: Twitter, RSS Feed, Facebook, Google+ and Safari push notifications.

Today’s can’t miss deals:

9to5Toys Specials: Moto E & 1-Yr FreedomPop unlimited talk-and-text: $150 shipped (Reg. $120 + plan)

LG G Pad V410 AT&T GSM Unlocked 7-Inch 4G LTE 16GB Tablet: $80 shipped (Reg. $200) | eBay

Ringke Cases from $3 shipped: Galaxy S6/Edge, Nexus 6, iPhone 6/Plus, more in multiple colors/styles

SanDisk Ultra 200GB Micro SD card for Android devices: $200 shipped (Reg. $220+)

LG G3 D850 32 GB unlocked new 32 GB blue: $250 shipped (Reg. $400) | eBay

GoPro HERO4 Silver waterproof action camera: $319 shipped (Reg. $400)

HP Chromebook 14″ 2.3GHz 16GB storage Chromebook (refurb): $200 shipped (Reg. $220+) | eBay

Giveaway: $400 Belkin WeMo bundle including the new Lightify Starter Set, multiple winners

More new gear from today:

Healthkit-supported Bluetooth Smart Bathroom scale with BMI, more: $49 Shipped

• Games/Apps: Borderlands Handsome Collection $35, 1TB Xbox One Halo bundle $360, more
• Nintendo brings new smaller 3DS to North America, Zelda Tri Force 3DS, opens digital store on Amazon
• Pandora celebrates its 10th anniversary by nixing ads for all listeners
• D-Link PowerLine AV500 Mini Adapter Starter Kit: $20 shipped (Reg. $35+)
• Fitbit Charge HR Activity Tracker in multiple sizes/colors: $120 shipped (Reg. $150)
• Kindle First Books for September: The Prettiest One, Pale Queen Rising, Still Waters, more
• Daily Deals: Logitech K350 Curved Wireless Keyboard $30, Urge Basics Bluetooth Speaker $19

More deals still alive:

Brother All-in-One AirPrint Wireless InkJet Printer $50 shipped (Reg. $85+)

Gift Cards up to 20% off: Sports Authority, Domino’s, Jiffy Lube, Steak ‘n Shake, TGI Fridays, Michaels, more

• Western Digital 5TB USB 3.0 Desktop Hard Drive: $130 shipped (Orig. $200)
• GoPro HERO4 Silver waterproof action camera: $319 shipped (Reg. $400)
• Motorola SURFboard Cable Modem + Wireless Router: $90 shipped (~$109+ value), more
• Monitors: Acer 23″ $100 (Reg. $140), Dell 23.8″ UltraSharp w/ HDMI $210 (Reg. $240)
• Samsung 850 EVO 500GB 2.5-inch Solid-State Drive: $150 shipped (Reg. $175+)
• Audio: JBL Micro Bluetooth speaker $28, V-MODA M-80 headphones $80 (Reg. up to $120)
• Home: home/office laminator $15, LED desk lamp $35, electric kettle $20, more
• App Store Free App of the Week: Nighty Night Circus kids’ bedtime story app ($3 value)
• MFi Lightning Cables: 6-ft. Braided Nylon $9.50 (Reg. $14), 2-ft. Retractable $9 (Reg. $13), more
• Philips Portable Bluetooth Speaker in multiple colors for $15 Prime shipped (Reg. $20)
• Power Banks: Anker PowerCore 15600mAh w/ dual USB ports $25 Prime shipped (Reg. $33), more
• MicroSD cards: Silicon Power 64GB $20 (Orig. $36), PNY 128GB $51 (Orig. $80), more
• REI extra 20% off: Columbia Fleece Half-Zip $24, Marmot Down Jacket $104, more
• Home: Best selling Roomba robot vacs up to $100+ off, Electric Fondue Maker from $37 (Orig. $80+)
• Timbuk2 bags, backpacks, and rollers 25% off: Command Messenger Bag $112 shipped (Reg. $150)
• Gaming apparel/collectibles 20% off: Fallout 4 hoodies $48, official PlayStation gear from $10, more
• Bose SoundTrue on-ears in black $80 (Reg. $120), much more
• AirPrint Printers: Canon Inkjet All-in-One $90 (Reg. $110), more
• Griffin ‘Twenty’ Digital Audio Bluetooth Amplifier: $120 Shipped (Orig. $150, CA Tax Only)
• MLB.TV is down to just $10 for the rest of the season
• Hot Java Android Coding Bundle: 5 app development courses for $29 (Orig. $657)
• Free Xbox Live Gold Games for September: Tomb Raider Definitive Edition, Battlestations Pacific, more
• Free PS Plus Games for September: Grow Home, Super Time Force Ultra, Twisted Metal, more
• Doxie Go Wi-Fi Scanner: $175 Shipped (Orig. $229, CA Tax Only)
• Google Play offers free downloads of Buddy Guy’s Born To Play Guitar album (Reg. $10)

New products & more:

Leica partners with an Italian auto designer to create a marvelous set of limited edition binoculars

Microsoft details new Xbox One Elite Bundle w/ upgraded SSD, new special edition controller

• Release dates/special editions announced for Uncharted 4 & Deus Ex: Mankind Divided
• Set the clock back to 1875 with the new Tesla Watch from ThinkGeek
• Netflix September Preview: The Walking Dead Season 5, Gotham Season 1, and more
• SmartHalo adds simple smartphone-connected navigation to your bike’s handlebars
• Gears of War creator reveals the first gameplay footage for his new gravity-defying FPS
• Back to school gift guide: essential tech gear every student should be using
• Here’s how you can play Forza 6 nearly a week before its release plus pre-order discounts
• Lara Croft GO hits iOS and Android with puzzle-based gameplay
• Logitech’s new Artemis Wireless Gaming Headsets focus on features and compatibility
• Samsung introduces new multi-room speakers alongside an improved Android and iOS app
• Amazon’s new Underground app for Android delivers over $10,000 worth of free apps and games
• Sensel’s Morph is an ultra sensitive Force Touch Trackpad look-alike
• These mesmerizing auto-Mario Maker levels will take you on the ride of a lifetime
• Rise of the Tomb Raider Collector’s Edition features a 1-foot Lara statue and more

• Android
• Google
• HTC One A9
• HTC
• Smartphone

HTC teases a phone announcement (HTC One A9?) for September 6th

Stephen Hall Sep 1 2015 - 11:11 am PT

0 Comments

HTC has come out on its official Weibo account to post a picture teasing what looks to be a smartphone of some kind. Notably, September 6th would put the announcement during IFA, so the date seems a bit more than plausibly realistic. Also, HTC has been saying since the flop that was the HTC One M9 that it is planning to try and take at least one more stab at the smartphone market…

HTC’s CEO Cher Wang having promised a new “hero product” coming in October, and most recently, images of what is purportedly an “HTC One A9”  (otherwise known as “Aero”) leaked out. There’s no way to know if those images are genuine, but if they are, it’s definitely an unashamed copy of Apple’s iPhone 6. They do, however, match up with another image leaked purporting to show the A9.

I guess we’re only a few days away from knowing the truth. Here’s the tease:

• Android
• Google
• Moto X
• Smartphone
• release

Moto X Pure Edition is going up for pre-order tomorrow, September 2nd

Stephen Hall Sep 1 2015 - 9:49 am PT

0 Comments

Update: A member of Moto Makers says that the phone will ship starting September 13th.

Update 2: Moto X Pure Edition pre-orders are now live!

Tomorrow, September 2nd, Motorola’s much-anticipated Moto X Pure Edition — also known as Moto X Style, also known as Moto X (3rd generation) — becomes available for pre-order. That’s the word from the official Motorola Google+ page, at least…

Clear your schedule tomorrow! Those of you in the US can finally pre-order the new #MotoX Pure Edition, the phone that loves you back. It’s got a top rated camera, water repellent coating and all-day battery life. Learn more at http://bit.ly/1Fg9CJi. US only.

Up to now, the Moto X Pure Edition web page has only offered potential buyers the chance to sign up for updates. If you did sign up for updates, this was probably the update you were waiting for. Sadly, this is only for US customers at the moment.

Head over to the Moto X Pure Edition page on Motorola’s website tomorrow to hand over your credit card information and get yourself set for the Pure Edition. The phone starts at just $400, and you can only buy it unlocked at the moment.

• Android
• Google
• Wear OS
• Moto 360
• Motorola

Yet another Moto 360 press render image surfaces, possibly shows gold-plated models

Stephen Hall Sep 1 2015 - 9:10 am PT

0 Comments

The original Moto 360 in champagne gold

The Moto 360 leaks just won’t stop. We’ve seen images front, back and all-around of the smaller Moto 360S and larger Moto 360L, but now Evleaks (by the way, didn’t he retire or something?) has shared images of what could be one of the more expensive Moto 360 variants. They’re probably not Apple Watch Edition-level expensive, but more likely close to the price range of the Huawei Watch (another Android Wear device that’s slated to have its availability and pricing detailed at IFA).

As you can see above, there looks to be at least a couple of what are assumably gold-plated models in both the “small” and “large” sizes. As we told you yesterday, the small device is slated to have a 42mm body, while the large is expected to sport a 46mm case. All of the above watches have link bracelets,but Motorola could still offer these with a leather band, perhaps through Moto Maker. We saw a lot of watches leaked in renders yesterday, but none of them looked quite like the gold ones above.

Based on an image we shared with you earlier today, it seems Motorola is prepping to show off the Moto 360 on September 8th. We’re on the ground in Berlin already, and we’ll be keeping you up to the minute on the latest in the world of Android, Android Wear, and anything else that might catch us by surprise over the next week.