Author

Stephen Hall

Stephen is Growth Director at 9to5. You can find his current work at 9to5Mac, 9to5Google 9to5Toys, Electrek, and more. If you want to get in touch, follow me on Twitter. Or, email at stephen (at) 9to5mac (dot) com, or an encrypted email at hallstephenj (at) protonmail (dot) com.

Connect with Stephen Hall

stephenjhall

Google adds 40 new companies to the Android for Work program

Stephen Hall Jul 30 2015 - 9:22 am PT

0 Comments

Google’s Android for Work program already has more than 10,000 businesses that are “testing, deploying or using Android for Work” in some capacity, and now the company has announced 40 new partners. Notably, several Android handset OEMs are joining the group, as well as 8 cellular carriers.

The Android for Work program took off with the help of our partners across the Android ecosystem, and today we’re expanding the family to 40 companies to continue the momentum, including new device manufacturers, application makers and management providers.

AT&T, Sprint, Verizon, T-Mobile, HTC, Sony, LG, Huawei, Lenovo, Motorola, Dell, and HP are among some of the notable additions. Google makes note of Blackphone as one of the newly-partnered companies that brings the enhanced privacy and security features on top of the Android platform.

Sony Xperia teases a camera-related announcement for August 3rd

Stephen Hall Jul 30 2015 - 7:46 am PT

0 Comments

Sony has taken to Twitter to tease some kind of camera announcement for August 3rd. Specifically, the company says that it will introduce “a new way to capture split-second photos.” And that’s basically all we know.

It’s possible that this will mean the announcement of some kind of new handset, packed with hardware capable of taking photos like the one you see above. Most recently, the company brought the Xperia Z4v to the United States.

It’s also very much possible that the company is simply going to announce some kind of new software feature. This would admittedly be a lot less exciting, but it makes sense considering the toying the company has been doing with software as of late.

Focus closely now, a new way to capture split-second photos is coming. 03.08.15 #Xperia pic.twitter.com/VVE21DKLyk

— Sony | Xperia (@sonyxperia) July 30, 2015

Render purportedly shows form factor of rumored LG Nexus, might be ‘Angler’

Stephen Hall Jul 29 2015 - 1:01 pm PT

0 Comments

OnLeaks, otherwise known as Nowhereelse.fr’s Steve Hemmerstoffer, has today shared an image of what he claims is a rough render of what the backside of an upcoming LG Nexus will look like. He hasn’t provided any information on any details or specifications of the phone, however.

Expand
Expanding
Close

Tech Industry

9to5Toys Lunch Break: Chromecast w/ $10 Amazon GC $30, Logitech $20 off $49, HTC One M8 $210, more

Stephen Hall Jul 29 2015 - 12:47 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:

google-chromecast-player

Google Chromecast HDMI Streaming Media Player + $10 Amazon gift card: $30 Prime shipped ($45 value)

logitech-back-to-school-voucher1

Logitech $20 off $49: MX Master Wireless Mouse $80 shipped (Reg. $100), gaming accessories, more

HTC One (M8) w/ 32 GB flash storage, 4G LTE, GSM (unlocked): $210 shipped (Reg. $499) | eBay

LG G Flex 2 silver (unlocked) 4G LTE w/ curved OLED: $300 shipped (Reg. $330) | eBay

amazon-launchpad-bluesmart

Amazon’s new Launchpad store offers the latest gadgets from crowdfunding campaigns and startups

More new gear from today:

Daily Deals: Atari Retro Gaming Console $35, 13” Retina MacBook Pro (Mid 2014) $1,499, more

New! PUMA Private Sale up to 75% off: Ferrari Pedale Grid Men’s Shoes $60, much more
New! Munchtime T-Rex chopsticks and more kitchen gadgets that’ll make you go aww
New! ALEX Arts & Crafts Back to School Essentials 40% Off

More deals still alive:

mohu-leaf-50

Cut the cord! Mohu Leaf 50 Ultimate HDTV Antenna (open box): $30 shipped (Orig. $90)

sony-MDR-7506

Headphones: Sony MDR-7506 Professional Folding $70 (Reg. $100), Beyerdynamic DT 1350 $150 (Orig. $300+), more

GoPro’s newest HERO4 Session waterproof action camera is on sale: $370 (Reg. $400)
USB roundup: RAVPower 36W 4-Port USB wall charger $10, more
VIZIO’s 70-inch 240Hz Smart 4K UHDTV: $1,799 shipped (Reg. $2,200)
QNAP 2-Bay Cloud NAS w/ AirPlay support: $219 shipped (Reg. $300+)
Newegg Monitor Sale: LG 27-inch w/ HDMI $170 shipped (Reg. $200+), more
Free Xbox Live Gold Games for August: Metal Gear Solid V Ground Zeroes, more
Samsung 850 EVO 1TB 2.5-inch Internal Solid-State Drive: $310 shipped (Reg. $3509)
Printers: Dell LED Laser $100 (Reg. $150+), Canon All-In-One Inkjet $70 (Reg. $100)
Etekcity 8GB Voice recorder and USB Stick: $13 shipped
Media: $5 Blu-rays – Rush, This is 40, Public Enemies, more
iOttie Easy One Touch 2 iPhone car mount: $17 Prime shipped (Reg. $25)
Anker Bluetooth iPad Keyboards from $20: Folio Case $30 (Reg. $40), more
Sennheiser Urbanite on-ears for $75 or XL over-ears for $130 (Orig. up to $250), more
Magnetic Air Vent Car Mount Holder for iPhone 6/Plus $6 Prime shipped (Orig. $11)
Timbuk2 Iris Gym Duffel Bag (Black) for $30 shipped (Reg. $54)
Apple-Certified MFi Lightning Cables: 1-ft braided nylon $12, 10-ft $10, 3-ft $5, more
Canon PIXMA Inkjet Photo All-in-One Printer + software $20 shipped (Reg. $40+)
Cook your food perfectly with the Range Smart Thermometer: $60 shipped (Orig. $70)
iFixit Pro Tech Screwdriver Set & Jimmy Tool Bundle: $60 Shipped (Orig. $100)
Shoot cinematic masterpieces w/ iStabilizer: $39 (Orig. $60)
Themes for iBooks Author for $9.99 (50% off)
Designs for Mail for $9.99 (50% off)
Learn to build 11 apps with this exclusive iOS 9 Swift coding course: $59 (Orig. $299)
Blinkist Premium 1-yr Subscription: 1000+ Grasp Nonfiction Books: $30 (Orig. $80)
Complete this Chipotle trivia game & receive a buy one, get one free coupon

New products & more:

The LEGO Architect shows you how to build exact replicas of famous buildings and homes

kodak-sp360-action-camera

Kodak’s 360 degree action camera adds must-see YouTube capabilities

Knock those piggies down in 3D with this oversized Angry Birds arcade cabinet
This Lightning cable cleverly solves an annoyance every iPhone user deals with
Plantronics new BackBeat Sense Bluetooth headphones are loaded with sensor
Make your own miniature 3D printed, Raspberry Pi-powered Game Boy emulator
Hori’s new Tactical Assault Commander 4 brings PC style controls to the PS4
2K announces Terminator as a playable character for WWE 2K16
JBL details new Flip3 & Xtreme portable Bluetooth speakers w/ fresh designs & features
Converse upgrades its Chuck Taylors with new technology for the first time in 98 years
Dad makes a custom Mario Kart 8-inspired nursery and becomes instant internet sensation
The Panono panoramic camera is filled with 36 lenses that total 108MP, available today

Review: Bang & Olufsen Beolit 15 Bluetooth speaker

Review: DODOcase Apple Watch Charging Stand

Review: SanDisk Connect Wireless Stic

Poll: OnePlus 2 and Moto X Pure Edition compared – which is your pick?

Stephen Hall Jul 29 2015 - 7:36 am PT

4 Comments

Both the OnePlus 2 and the Moto X Pure Edition were announced this week, showcasing the best that these two Android OEMs have to offer this year. Both of these devices were horribly-kept secrets in their own ways, so there weren’t many surprises — we already knew almost every detail about both phones before they were announced.

But now that they’re here, which one do you think you’ll be getting? Or if you’re not in line for an upgrade right now, which one would be your pick? Let’s take a look at a few of their differences…
Expand
Expanding
Close

Google Translate app instant visual translation adds 20 languages

Stephen Hall Jul 29 2015 - 7:04 am PT

0 Comments

If you travel internationally, you’re well aware that Google Translate’s visual translation features — which originated as the Word Lens app — are invaluable. Today, Google announced that the app has added support for 20 new languages, bringing the total up to 27.

Today, we’re updating the Google Translate app again—expanding instant visual translation to 20 more languages (for a total of 27!), and making real-time voice translations a lot faster and smoother—so even more people can experience the world in their language.

The app originally supported English, French, German, Italian, Portuguese, Russian and Spanish.

As of today, you can now translate to and from Bulgarian, Catalan, Croatian, Czech, Danish, Dutch, Filipino, Finnish, Hungarian, Indonesian, Lithuanian, Norwegian, Polish, Romanian, Slovak, Swedish, Turkish and Ukrainian. You can also do one-way translations from English to Hindi and Thai.

Tech Industry

9to5Toys Lunch Break: HTC One M8 (unlocked) $210, Mohu HDTV Antenna $30, LG G Flex 2 $300, more

Stephen Hall Jul 28 2015 - 12:53 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:

HTC One (M8) w/ 32 GB flash storage, 4G LTE, GSM (unlocked): $210 shipped (Reg. $499)

mohu-leaf-50

Cut the cord! Mohu Leaf 50 Ultimate HDTV Antenna (open box): $30 shipped (Orig. $90)

LG G Flex 2 silver (unlocked) 4G LTE w/ curved OLED: $300 shipped (Reg. $330) | eBay

Samsung Galaxy Tab Pro 12.2″ Tablet: $350 shipped (Reg. $650) (must be signed in) | Adorama

dell-c1760nw-printer

Color Wireless Printers: Dell LED Laser $100 (Reg. $150+), Canon All-In-One Inkjet $70 (Reg. $100)

amazon-launchpad-bluesmart

Amazon’s new Launchpad store offers the latest gadgets from crowdfunding campaigns and startups

More new gear from today:

Daily Deals: Trendnet N600 Dual-Band Router $10, ZAGG iPad Mini ZAGGkeys Bluetooth Keyboard Cover (refurb) $10, more

sony-MDR-7506

Headphones: Sony MDR-7506 Professional Folding $70 (Reg. $100), Beyerdynamic DT 1350 $150 (Orig. $300+), more

New! Games: Final Fantasy Type-0 HD w/ XV demo $35, Fallout 4 Vault Dweller’s Guide $24
New! Media: $5 Blu-rays – Rush, This is 40, Public Enemies, more
New! iFixit Pro Tech Screwdriver Set & Jimmy Tool Bundle: $60 Shipped (Orig. $100)

More deals still alive:

samsung-850-evo-1tb

Samsung 850 EVO 1TB 2.5-inch Internal Solid-State Drive: $310 shipped (Reg. $350

iPhone 6/Plus $100 off w/ VZW or Sprint 2-yr contract: 16GB $100, more
Etekcity 8GB Voice recorder and USB Stick: $13 shipped
iOttie Easy One Touch 2 iPhone car mount: $17 Prime shipped (Reg. $25)
Anker Bluetooth iPad Keyboards from $20: Folio Case $30 (Reg. $40), more
Sennheiser Urbanite on-ears for $75 or XL over-ears for $130 (Orig. up to $250), more
Magnetic Air Vent Car Mount Holder for iPhone 6/Plus $6 Prime shipped (Orig. $11)
Timbuk2 Iris Gym Duffel Bag (Black) for $30 shipped (Reg. $54)
Apple-Certified MFi Lightning Cables: 1-ft braided nylon $12, 10-ft $10, 3-ft $5, more
Canon PIXMA Inkjet Photo All-in-One Printer + software $20 shipped (Reg. $40+)
Jabra SOLEMATE Portable Bluetooth Speaker $60 shipped (Reg. $90+), more
Urge Soundbrick $18 shipped, waterproof shower speaker $10 shipped, more
Beats by Dr. Dre Studio Wireless On-Ear Headphones in Titanium: $209 shipped (Orig. $380)
Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic II is now available for Mac: $7 (Reg. $10)
Cook your food perfectly with the Range Smart Thermometer: $60 shipped (Orig. $70)
Shoot cinematic masterpieces w/ iStabilizer: $39 (Orig. $60)
Themes for iBooks Author for $9.99 (50% off)
Designs for Mail for $9.99 (50% off)
Learn to build 11 apps with this exclusive iOS 9 Swift coding course: $59 (Orig. $299)
Blinkist Premium 1-yr Subscription: 1000+ Grasp Nonfiction Books: $30 (Orig. $80)
Spigen’s latest Apple Watch dock is made for watchOS 2, pre-order now for $12
Pay what you want for the 7-course Web Hacker Bundle ($1,043 value, currently $6)
Complete this Chipotle trivia game & receive a buy one, get one free coupon
Sennheiser HD650 + Apogee Groove portable DAC/amp $550 shipped ($755 value)
American Express rolls out PayPal competitor, offers $10 statement credit for trying it

New products & more:

plantronics-on-ear-headphones

Plantronics new BackBeat Sense Bluetooth headphones are loaded with sensors

Make your own miniature 3D printed, Raspberry Pi-powered Game Boy emulator
Hori’s new Tactical Assault Commander 4 brings PC style controls to the PS4
2K announces Terminator as a playable character for WWE 2K16
JBL details new Flip3 & Xtreme portable Bluetooth speakers w/ fresh designs & features
Converse upgrades its Chuck Taylors with new technology for the first time in 98 years
Dad makes a custom Mario Kart 8-inspired nursery and becomes instant internet sensation
The Panono panoramic camera is filled with 36 lenses that total 108MP, available today
Stary Board cuts the weight to become the “world’s lightest” electric vehicle

Review: Bang & Olufsen Beolit 15 Bluetooth speaker

Review: DODOcase Apple Watch Charging Stand

Review: SanDisk Connect Wireless Stic

Opinion: OnePlus 2’s lack of Quick Charge & NFC equals a deal breaker

Stephen Hall Jul 28 2015 - 11:47 am PT

10 Comments

OnePlus gets a lot of hype for just about anything they announce (including limited-availability toys for April Fools day). Part of that is because of their genius marketing (I can’t count the number of people who used “#hype” and “#NeverSettle” in their Google+ posts, ironically or not, when mentioning the OnePlus 2 over the last few months), and the other part is that they actually make really good stuff. The OnePlus One is a stellar phone. In my opinion — and many agree with me — it was probably one of the best of 2014.

The OnePlus 2 also looks like it’s going to be a stellar phone, and we’re looking forward to reviewing it in very full soon. It offers a lot of great features, it comes in a physical build that’s marketable as something — much like Apple’s hardware — extremely sexy, and it packs some specifications that contend with top-of-the-line flagships. All of this, and it comes at a price — if you’re buying in the United States, at least — that makes it seem ridiculous to ever buy a Samsung Galaxy S6 or iPhone 6 Plus off contract.

But the #NeverSettle company, which did a pretty good job at bringing a phone with hardly any compromises last year, seems to have introduced something that requires its buyers to make some compromises. From the outside, at least, there are two that stick out to me. First, the OnePlus 2 completely forgoes any NFC hardware. Yes, the recently-made-official Android Pay is going to be completely useless on a OnePlus 2. Secondly, the phone — in exchange for USB Type-C support — ditches any kind of Quick Charge feature…
Expand
Expanding
Close

PSA: ‘Moto X Style’ is simply ‘Moto X Pure Edition’ in the US

Stephen Hall Jul 28 2015 - 9:49 am PT

0 Comments

Motorola announced two new Moto X variants this morning, but the company didn’t do a great job of clarifying in its multi-national livestream exactly how the phones would be marketed in the United States. First, as we mentioned, there aren’t any plans to bring the Moto X Play to the US at all at this point. But secondly, and perhaps more confusingly, the Moto X Style isn’t really coming to the US, either. In the United States, the equivalent of the Moto X Style will simply be called “Moto X Pure Edition”.
Expand
Expanding
Close

Motorola officially announces the 3rd generation Moto G

Stephen Hall Jul 28 2015 - 6:26 am PT

0 Comments

After almost a dozen leaks over the last couple of months, Motorola has today made the 2015 Moto G official. As with previous years, this handset is made for the budget-minded customer in mind, but it definitely is one of the better options in its class and you won’t be sacrificing much in terms of the overall Android experience…

Expand
Expanding
Close

Motorola officially announces the Moto X Style & Moto X Play

Stephen Hall Jul 28 2015 - 6:15 am PT

1 Comment

Motorola has officially unveiled the Moto X Style, its top-of-the-line offering for those looking for a good-looking powerhouse. The company also unveiled a second Moto X called the Moto X Play, which is more rugged and offers better battery, but is less powerful in terms of tech specs.
Expand
Expanding
Close

9to5Toys Lunch Break: LG G Flex 2 (unlocked) $300, Galaxy Tab Pro $350, Samsung EVO 1TB SSD $310, more

Stephen Hall Jul 27 2015 - 12:33 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:

LG G Flex 2 silver (unlocked) 4G LTE w/ curved OLED: $300 shipped (Reg. $330) | eBay

Samsung Galaxy Tab Pro 12.2″ Tablet: $350 shipped (Reg. $650) (must be signed in) | Adorama

Samsung 850 EVO 1TB 2.5-inch Internal Solid-State Drive: $310 shipped (Reg. $350)

Sony 7.2-ch. 4K AV Receiver w/ AirPlay and Bluetooth for $299 shipped (Reg. $400), more

More new gear from today:

Motorola Refurb DOCSIS 3.0 Cable Modems: SB6121 $45 (Orig. $100), SB6141 $55 (Orig. $100)

New! Daily Deals: Lumsing 10400mAh Power Bank $12, LifeCHARGE case $40, more
New! Games/Apps: Zelda Majora’s Mask 3DS $33, 1 yr. PS Plus $40, more
New! Etekcity 8GB Voice recorder and USB Stick: $13 shipped
New! LED light bulbs up to 40% off: 4-pack $17 shipped (Reg. $23+), more
New! Shoot cinematic masterpieces w/ iStabilizer: $39 (Orig. $60)
New! Free McGraw-Hill iOS apps for kids: Monster Squeeze, more (Reg. $2 ea.)
New! Designs for Mail for $9.99 (50% off)
New! Themes for iBooks Author for $9.99 (50% off)

More deals still alive:

VIZIO 43-inch 4K 120Hz Smart LED UHDTV: $500 shipped (Reg. $600)

Anker Bluetooth iPad Keyboards from $20: Folio Case $30 (Reg. $40), more
Tweetbot for Mac hits its lowest price ever: $10 (Reg. $13)
Sennheiser Urbanite on-ears for $75 or XL over-ears for $130 (Orig. up to $250), more
Magnetic Air Vent Car Mount Holder for iPhone 6/Plus $6 Prime shipped (Orig. $11)
Timbuk2 Iris Gym Duffel Bag (Black) for $30 shipped (Reg. $54)
Apple-Certified MFi Lightning Cables: 1-ft braided nylon $12, 10-ft $10, 3-ft $5, more
Canon PIXMA Inkjet Photo All-in-One Printer + software $20 shipped (Reg. $40+)
Jabra SOLEMATE Portable Bluetooth Speaker $60 shipped (Reg. $90+), more
Urge Soundbrick $18 shipped, waterproof shower speaker $10 shipped, more
Beats by Dr. Dre Studio Wireless On-Ear Headphones in Titanium: $209 shipped (Orig. $380)
Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic II is now available for Mac: $7 (Reg. $10)
Save 30% on fashion at Amazon: Herschel Supply Co., Lacoste, PUMA, more
Learn to build 11 apps with this exclusive iOS 9 Swift coding course: $59 (Orig. $299)
Blinkist Premium 1-yr Subscription: 1000+ Grasp Nonfiction Books: $30 (Orig. $80)
Spigen’s latest Apple Watch dock is made for watchOS 2, pre-order now for $12
Pay what you want for the 7-course Web Hacker Bundle ($1,043 value, currently $6)
Complete this Chipotle trivia game & receive a buy one, get one free coupon
Sennheiser HD650 + Apogee Groove portable DAC/amp $550 shipped ($755 value)
Bose SoundTouch Portable Series II Wireless Music System from $269 (Reg. $325)
Aukey USB Chargers: 5-Port USB Desktop Charging Station $22, more
JBL Control One 4″ Indoor/Outdoor Speakers: $80 or 2-pairs for $150 shipped (Orig. $180)
Kmashi 10,000mAh Dual-USB Power Bank: $9.39 Prime shipped (Orig. $50)
American Express rolls out PayPal competitor, offers $10 statement credit for trying it
Free PS Plus Games for July: Styx Master of Shadows, Rocket League, more
Free Xbox Gold Games for July: Assassin’s Creed IV Black Flag, more

New products & more:

JBL details new Flip3 & Xtreme portable Bluetooth speakers w/ fresh designs & features

Converse upgrades its Chuck Taylors with new technology for the first time in 98 years
Dad makes a custom Mario Kart 8-inspired nursery and becomes instant internet sensation
The Panono panoramic camera is filled with 36 lenses that total 108MP, available today
Stary Board cuts the weight to become the “world’s lightest” electric vehicle
Cusby adapters work like LEGO to let you build a custom USB-C hub
ZNAPS gives any Lightning or microUSB charging cable a MagSafe-like connector
Jet.com is ready to battle Amazon and Walmart for your online shopping needs
A-Bike Electric has powered assistance in the “lightest” package in the world
Hot Toys is partnering with Disney to create an 18-foot long Millennium Falcon model
Acer’s $100 Liquid Leap+ Fitness Watch for iOS/Android with a 20% discount
The Remix Mini is a low-cost Android-based PC alternative

Review: Bang & Olufsen Beolit 15 Bluetooth speaker

Review: DODOcase Apple Watch Charging Stand

Review: SanDisk Connect Wireless Stic

This custom Google Map outlines the road trips of American literature

Stephen Hall Jul 27 2015 - 12:06 pm PT

1 Comment

If you didn’t know, it’s actually not that hard to take Google’s mapping software and make your own custom maps. That’s what Steven Melendez did, outlining all of the most famous road trips from American literature on a beautiful digital map for you to peruse…

As per Atlas Obscura:

The above map is the result of a painstaking and admittedly quixotic effort to catalog the country as it has been described in the American road-tripping literature. It includes every place-name reference in 12 books about cross-country travel, from Mark Twain’s Roughing It (1872) to Cheryl Strayed’s Wild (2012), and maps the authors’ routes on top of one another. You can track an individual writer’s descriptions of the landscape as they traveled across it, or you can zoom in to see how different authors have written about the same place at different times.

Be sure to head over and check it out. Books that made to cut include Wild by Cheryl Strayed, The Cruise of the Rolling Junk by F. Scott Fitzgerald, A Walk Across America by Peter Jenkins, The Lost Continent by Bill Bryson, Travels with Charley by John Steinbeck and more.

Razer’s acquisition of Android gaming box maker OUYA made official

Stephen Hall Jul 27 2015 - 10:38 am PT

0 Comments

We told you that investment bank Mesa Global accidentally let out in June that Razer had acquired flopped-Android-gaming-box maker OUYA, and today the company has made that acquisition official. Ouya’s Android-based gaming box quickly fell flat a couple years ago after receiving millions in funding through Kickstarter.
Expand
Expanding
Close

High-def images likely show the OnePlus 2 leaked in full glory [Gallery]

Stephen Hall Jul 27 2015 - 9:19 am PT

4 Comments

It looks like this could very well be the much-anticipated OnePlus 2 that is set to be announced later today. These images perfectly match what we saw from Chinese telecoms regulator TENAA last week. Head below for the full gallery…
Expand
Expanding
Close

3rd generation Moto G gets unboxed early, comes with 2 swappable back covers

Stephen Hall Jul 27 2015 - 8:46 am PT

0 Comments

Motorola has at least a few major announcements scheduled for tomorrow, but it looks like there aren’t going to be many surprises when it comes to the new Moto G. We’ve seen almost a dozen leaks already (including renders, more renders, real photos, more real photos, and even more real photos), but now we have what is essentially a full reveal. The packaging is in another language, but this unboxing is probably the clearest look we’ve had yet at what the company is going to be showing off tomorrow…
Expand
Expanding
Close

T-Mobile pushes minor battery improvements to its Galaxy S6 and S6 Edge

Stephen Hall Jul 27 2015 - 8:15 am PT

0 Comments

T-Mobile has today released minor updates for the Galaxy S6 and S6 Edge this morning, including some improvements for battery life. Both phones received Android 5.1.1 fairly recently, and now, the “Uncarrier” is releasing a couple of bug fixers. The S6 update notes battery improvements and “various bug fixes and device improvements” for the Galaxy S6, and the S6 Edge adds a “cocktailbar error fix”…
Expand
Expanding
Close

Photos of upcoming Samsung Galaxy S6 Mini leak out [Gallery]

Stephen Hall Jul 27 2015 - 7:58 am PT

1 Comment

Samsung’s Galaxy S6, much like previous generations of the S line, is sure to see a few variants to appeal to various segments of the market. The Korean company first launched the outdoors-friendly Galaxy S6 Active on AT&T (check out our full review), and now it looks like we might see a Galaxy S6 Mini at some point down the line as well (via PhoneArena)…
Expand
Expanding
Close

Lava Pixel V1 is the latest Android One handset for India, sadly lacks 4G support

Stephen Hall Jul 27 2015 - 6:09 am PT

1 Comment

When Google launched the Android One program, its goal was to bring reliably-updated devices at affordable prices to developing countries. We’ve seen the program make its way to nine countries, most recently Pakistan and Myanmar, and now it’s bringing a new device to India. It’s called the Lava Pixel V1, and it has some decent specs and a modest price tag…
Expand
Expanding
Close

Tech Industry

9to5Toys Lunch Break: Free Chromecast movie rental, Chromebooks $30 off, Galaxy S6 (unlocked) $500, more

Stephen Hall Jul 24 2015 - 12:54 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:

Celebrate Chromecast’s second birthday with a free movie rental

Up to $30 off select Chromebooks from the Google Store

$_57

Samsung Galaxy S6 smartphone 32GB (unlocked): $500 shipped (Reg. $800) | eBay

GoPro HERO4 Black 4K Action Camera for $399 shipped (Reg. $500)

Sony-SmartWatch-3

Sony Mobile Sony SmartWatch 3 SWR50: $147 shipped (Reg. $160+) | Amazon

Acer 11.6%22 Chromebook Intel Celeron 2GB Memory 16GB eMMC Flash Memory White CB3-111-C8UB - Best Buy 2015-05-19 14-27-02

Refurbished Acer White 11.6″ CB3-111-C8UB Chromebook: $130 shipped (Reg. $140)

81IMf0bhv+L._SL1500_

LG ChromeBase 22-Inch All-in-One Cloud Desktop: $284 shipped (Reg. $325) | Amazon

Giveaway: Grain Audio OEHP.01 Over-Ear Headphones are an ideal daily set of cans, $199 value – LAST CHANCE!

More new gear from today:

sleeping-dogs-de-sale-01

Games/Apps: Sleeping Dogs DE from $22, Wii U bundle w/ Pro Controller & Power A kit $300, iOS freebies, more

New! TRENDnet Wireless 802.11n Wi-Fi Range Extender: $16 Prime Shipped (Reg. $25)
New! Daily Deals: Baytek PartyMix Bluetooth/NFC Speaker $22, Sylvania Portable DVD Player $40, more

More deals still alive:

hmhpeaa001-main_1

Acer’s LiquidLeap+ wearable now available: $80 (Reg. $100)

VIZIO 43-inch 4K 120Hz Smart LED UHDTV: $500 shipped (Reg. $600)
Tweetbot for Mac hits its lowest price ever: $10 (Reg. $13)
Sennheiser Urbanite on-ears for $75 or XL over-ears for $130 (Orig. up to $250), more
Magnetic Air Vent Car Mount Holder for iPhone 6/Plus $6 Prime shipped (Orig. $11)
Timbuk2 Iris Gym Duffel Bag (Black) for $30 shipped (Reg. $54)
Apple-Certified MFi Lightning Cables: 1-ft braided nylon $12, 10-ft $10, 3-ft $5, more
Canon PIXMA Inkjet Photo All-in-One Printer + software $20 shipped (Reg. $40+)
Jabra SOLEMATE Portable Bluetooth Speaker $60 shipped (Reg. $90+), more
Urge Soundbrick $18 shipped, waterproof shower speaker $10 shipped, more
Samsung 850 EVO 250GB 2.5″ Internal SSD: $85 shipped (Orig. $140), more
Beats by Dr. Dre Studio Wireless On-Ear Headphones in Titanium: $209 shipped (Orig. $380)
Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic II is now available for Mac: $7 (Reg. $10)
Save 30% on fashion at Amazon: Herschel Supply Co., Lacoste, PUMA, more
Learn to build 11 apps with this exclusive iOS 9 Swift coding course: $59 (Orig. $299)
Blinkist Premium 1-yr Subscription: 1000+ Grasp Nonfiction Books: $30 (Orig. $80)
Spigen’s latest Apple Watch dock is made for watchOS 2, pre-order now for $12
Pay what you want for the 7-course Web Hacker Bundle ($1,043 value, currently $6)
Complete this Chipotle trivia game & receive a buy one, get one free coupon
Sennheiser HD650 + Apogee Groove portable DAC/amp $550 shipped ($755 value)
Bose SoundTouch Portable Series II Wireless Music System from $269 (Reg. $325)
Media: Blu-ray/DVD combos from $8 including Interstellar & Lucy, $1 HD Rentals, more
Router Roundup: Linksys dual-band Smart Wi-Fi Router (refurb) $28 (Orig. $50), more
Sennheiser Momentum On-Ear Headphones in black $65 shipped (Reg. $80)
Aukey USB Chargers: 5-Port USB Desktop Charging Station $22, more
JBL Control One 4″ Indoor/Outdoor Speakers: $80 or 2-pairs for $150 shipped (Orig. $180)
Kmashi 10,000mAh Dual-USB Power Bank: $9.39 Prime shipped (Orig. $50)
Seagate 5TB USB 3.0 Desktop HDD $125, WD Elements 2TB Portable HDD $70, more
Discounted gift cards up to 20% off: JCPenney, and more
4K A/V Receivers: Denon w/ AirPlay $499 (Orig. $999), Onkyo 5.2-ch $200 (Reg. $250)
American Express rolls out PayPal competitor, offers $10 statement credit for trying it
Free PS Plus Games for July: Styx Master of Shadows, Rocket League, more
Free Xbox Gold Games for July: Assassin’s Creed IV Black Flag, more

New products & more:

chuck-taylor-ii-allstar1

Converse upgrades its Chuck Taylors with new technology for the first time in 98 years

Dad makes a custom Mario Kart 8-inspired nursery and becomes instant internet sensation
The Panono panoramic camera is filled with 36 lenses that total 108MP, available today
Stary Board cuts the weight to become the “world’s lightest” electric vehicle
Cusby adapters work like LEGO to let you build a custom USB-C hub
ZNAPS gives any Lightning or microUSB charging cable a MagSafe-like connector
Jet.com is ready to battle Amazon and Walmart for your online shopping needs
A-Bike Electric has powered assistance in the “lightest” package in the world
Hot Toys is partnering with Disney to create an 18-foot long Millennium Falcon model
Acer’s $100 Liquid Leap+ Fitness Watch for iOS/Android with a 20% discount
The Remix Mini is a low-cost Android-based PC alternative

Review: Bang & Olufsen Beolit 15 Bluetooth speaker

Review: DODOcase Apple Watch Charging Stand

Review: SanDisk Connect Wireless Stic

Fallout Shelter is coming to Android on August 13th

Stephen Hall Jul 24 2015 - 12:30 pm PT

0 Comments

Fallout Shelter, a mobile game companion to the much-anticipated Fallout 4, was brought to iOS last month with no word on when it would be arriving on Android. Today, the company behind the game, Bethesda, has come out on Twitter to announce that it should be hitting Android devices in less than a month — on August 13th.

The game was met with mixed reviews despite the hype, so Android users anticipating the game became much less excited with iOS players commented on its repetitive gameplay and stability issues. That said, Fallout 4 is definitely one of the most eagerly-awaited games of the year, and until it hits in November, players will have to take Shelter for what it is.

Attention overseers: learn what's new in #FalloutShelter arriving on Android on 8.13 pic.twitter.com/pTEKrNAH6d

— Fallout (@Fallout) July 24, 2015

Full 2015 Moto G spec sheet leaks, includes Snapdragon 410, 5-inch screen, more

Stephen Hall Jul 24 2015 - 11:47 am PT

1 Comment

It looks like there aren’t going to be any surprises at all come next week. Earlier today, we told you that some of the best images of the Moto G we’ve seen yet leaked thanks to LaptopMedia, and now the same publication has studied their device and put together an entire spec sheet…
Expand
Expanding
Close

New images of the 2015 Moto G leak out, give us our best look yet [Gallery]

Stephen Hall Jul 24 2015 - 9:48 am PT

1 Comment

It seems like Motorola might be the new lead contender for worst-secret-keeper-ever. As I said earlier this week, we’ve seen renders, more renders, real photos, more real photos, and even more real photos of the 2015 Moto G leak over the last couple of months. And now, thanks to some new almost-certainly-legit photos (via LaptopMedia), we have what is now our best look yet at the new Moto G…

Expand
Expanding
Close

Google launches improved voicemail transcriptions for Google Voice and Project Fi

Stephen Hall Jul 23 2015 - 4:04 pm PT

0 Comments

Google has announced today that its voicemail transcription service is getting a much-needed update. Hoping to leave behind the days of hilariously bad voicemail transcriptions, Google asked some users for access to their voicemail. Now, the fruit coming thanks to those kind souls who trusted the company with their precious information has been officially announced.

Here’s the word:

So, we asked users if they would kindly share some of their voicemails for research and system improvements. Thanks to those who participated, we are happy to announce an improved voicemail system in Google Voice and Project Fi that delivers more accurate transcriptions. Using a (deep breath) long short-term memory deep recurrent neural network (whew!), we cut our transcription errors by 49%.

According to Google, errors have been cut by 49% post-update. And, good news for those who might not even see this post nor Google’s announcement, you don’t have to do anything at all to reap the benefits of these changes. Just keep using Google Voice and Project Fi as you always have, and you should notice that your voicemail transcriptions are suddenly less horrid.