Micro USB cable die? Amazon offers perfect solution
If you are like me, you have probably ran into a short in your manufacturer provided Micro USB cable at some point. Most replacements are expensive. Dealers often charge $20 – $30 for a charger and even $15 for just a USB cable. The cheap ones imported form Asia on Ebay are just that… cheap. There has to be a better way. Thanks to Amazon, the AmazonBasics line has a great, affordable solution.
While looking for a new cable and being thrifty, every site imaginable was checked until finally discovering the offer from Amazon. Upon first glance at the cable, it was shrugged off as “generic”. That assumption could not have been more wrong.
AmazonBasics offers a thick, gold plated Micro USB cable. The price? A whopping $5.09 for a 3 foot cable (.9 meters) that comes with free shipping if purchased with Amazon Prime. Amazon is also cool enough to put it in hassle-free packaging.
How did the “cheap” AmazonBasics cable hold up? Well after using the cable for about 90 days, the cable is still as sturdy as day one. It has served way beyond initial expectations. Bottom line is if you have a need for a Micro USB cable that doesn’t break the bank, this is the solution to fix your problem.
You can pick up the AmazonBasics USB cable starting at $5.09 on Amazon.
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New Nexus tablet shows up on a Chromium tracker?
Rumors regarding Google’s new Nexus tablet are all over the place. The rumors were initially pointing at LG as the manufacturer of the device and afterwards that spot was taken by HTC. Most rumors point to the fact that the device’s name will be Nexus 8 and that the screen will be somewhat larger than the current gen Nexus tablet, that is 7.9 or 8.9″, we’re heard it both ways. Nothing is set it stone, but this is our guess.
In some new developments regarding the new offering from Google, Myce speculates that the tablet has been mentioned in a Chromium issue tracker report. Codename of the device is “Flounder”, which is an oceanic fish. What makes Myce think this is a new Nexus device is the fact that Google named all of its previous Nexus offerings by a fish, their codenames that is. We can also find a word “fingerprint” in the report, which is probably a fingerprint scanner, but the context is unclear.
Along with the new tablet Google is probably going to release a new version of Android, version 4.5, which is also a speculation at this point, they still might surprise everyone and make that jump to version 5.0.
Do you think this leak is a new Nexus tablet? What do you think it will be called and who will manufacture it?
SOURCE: Myce
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Best apps for mom on Mother’s Day
So you got your mom an Android phone or tablet for Mother’s Day. First of all, congratulations on officially becoming the favorite child. Secondly, you are gonna have to fill that device with great apps for your mother to enjoy (you’re gonna be setting it up for her anyway, so why not). Without further ado, we bring you the best apps for mom on Mother’s Day.
Life360
Life360 aims to be your all-in-one of sorts when it comes to keeping up with the family. Give your mother peace of mind by giving her access to the family’s happenings at the push of a button.
Life360 uses the phone’s GPS to track family members and allows them to check-in when they reach their destination. Users can even track each other to see if anyone’s running late for a family event.
In the event of an emergency, Life360 acts as a lifeline for family. If someone needs help, the app can send messages to others in your circles to alert them to your whereabouts so help can be sent your way.
Life360 also has a find-my-phone feature that will track and locate your phone in the event that it is lost. Users can find their lost phone via the Web or by using another member’s phone.
Glympse
Glympse is another location sharing app, but it is different in that you don’t have to sign up to use the service or create a selected group to send location information. You can send your location to others that have the app, and you can also send your location and ETA via SMS, email, Facebook or Twitter. This app would be great for when mom is away from home and you want to know when she’ll be back to cook dinner.
ShopSavvy Barcode Scanner
Mom will love this app. Shop Savvy is designed to aid in finding the best deal on any product. While shopping, the user can scan the bar code of items to find out if there is a better price locally or on the Web. You can even keep a history of items that you have scanned for viewing later.
justWink
justWink is designed with mothers in mind. A greeting card store in your pocket. I know moms that have greeting card stationary readily available for those times when they forget a birthday, graduation or other holiday. Now, when the occasion presents itself, mom can whip out her phone and create a personalized card to send via email, Facebook, sms or Twitter. Mom can even pay to have it physically delivered in the mail.
Cozi Family Calendar & Lists
Cozi makes managing the hectic family lifestyle easy. The app works cross-platform to brings one cohesive calendar to the whole family. The calendar entries can be color-coded for each member. Everyone can be in sync and know each other’s schedule so no one misses important events. Cozi also has shared shopping and to-do list features that also sync so everyone knows what their designated tasks and/or chores are. Show mom how to add a Cozi widget to her home screen so she never misses your quiz bowl football game again.
Retailmenot
Retailmenot is designed to save you money, period. Get coupons for local stores and online sales. Bookmark favorite stores for easier access to the stores you shop most. Mom can get coupons for the stores she loves and get notifications when a store nearby has a sale going on. Just show the coupon on your phone at the checkout counter to cash in on the deal.
There are way more apps out there that I’m sure mothers would enjoy, so use this post as a starting point for turning your mother into a tech-savvy super mom.
Bonus: 1-800-Flowers
And for those not-so-favorite kids that waited until the last minute to get something for mom, use the 1-800-Flowers app to surprise mom with a beautiful bouquet of last-minute love. Happy Mother’s Day!
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ISPs will send warning letters to illegal downloaders from next year
If you’re suspected of naughtily downloading copyrighted content, then expect the most savage of punishments: a letter asking you to stop. BT, Sky, Virgin Media and TalkTalk have signed a deal with the music and movie industries whereby the ISPs will send out “educational” missives to pirates from next year. The deal is the culmination of four years of negotiation between the big four and the lobby groups, the latter of which wanted much stronger action and access to a database of serial torrenters. Thankfully, the internet companies won out, so the odd letter asking you to re-think your ways is the only thing you’ve got to deal with… for now.
Filed under: Internet
Source: BBC News
Scientists are trying to help taxis beat Uber at its own game
Taxi companies aren’t pleased with Uber and Lyft, but they could be making way better use of ride-sharing technology themselves, according to researchers. A study by MIT and Fujitsu examined why cabs are usually underutilized, but never available during surge periods when you need them. To combat that, they developed on-demand tech that automatically assigns vehicles three possible operating states: taxi, ride-sharing and fixed-route modes. Customers could choose one of those when they order a ride, and immediately receive the boarding times and fares, which would vary by mode. That could save passengers a lot of money, and a test on Tokyo roads resulted in operators making 80 percent more profits too. Fujitsu’s goal is to see it operating in Tokyo by 2016, but it might take some convincing to get it adopted more widely. Still, why not beat the upstarts at their own game?
Filed under: Transportation, Science, Alt
Source: Fujitsu
Samsung Galaxy Gear for just $99, today only
If you’re still interested in the original Samsung Galaxy Gear despite the fact Samsung introduced its next generation of wearable watches Gear 2, Gear 2 Neo and Gear Fit, we’ve got just the thing for you.
You can get a refurbished Samsung Galaxy Gear on Ebay Deals for $99, today only (link below). One can argue that Samsung Galaxy Gear is an obsolete device today considering Samsung’s new offerings (amongst others), but if you’re inclined to get Galaxy Gear today you can get it at a really low price, or at least lower than it was.
Read the original article at SmarterWatching.
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Apple Hires Nokia’s Lumia Photography Lead to Work on the iPhone’s Camera
Apple has hired Nokia’s Lumia photography chief Ari Partinen, reports Engadget. Partinen stated on his Twitter that he will be “starting a new chapter in Cupertino” in June, later confirming that he will join Apple.
The Nokia 808 PureView with 41MP sensor
According to Partinen’s LinkedIn biography, his responsibilities at Nokia included “working with image quality characterization and tuning on camera module level”, while handling camera component production and quality control on a global scale. Partinen also lists the Nokia’s 808 PureView and Nokia N8 as devices he has worked on, which were regarded for their noteworthy photographic capabilities.
Partinen’s hire comes as Apple is reportedly looking to bolster the next-generation iPhone’s camera through optical image stabilization and other improvements. Nokia has focused heavily on the advantages of the camera’s on its devices throughout the past few years, recently launching the Nokia Lumia 1520 with a 20 MP PureView camera.
Apple just hired one of Nokia’s PureView camera experts
Today will be my last day working for the amazing #Lumia family. In June I will start a new chapter in Cupertino, California. Much love!
– Ari Partinen (@Partinen) May 9, 2014
@bharadc23 Thank you for great discussions and feedback! (And it is the company you are thinking assuming you are thinking Apple) =)
– Ari Partinen (@Partinen) May 9, 2014
Filed under: Cellphones, Mobile, Apple, Nokia
Source: Ari Partinen (Twitter)
Colin Pillinger, Britain’s Mars-rover chief, dies aged 70
Colin Pillinger, one of Britain’s most famous space scientists, has died at the age of 70 from a brain hemorrhage. Professor Pillinger was the very definition of a plucky Brit, whose force of personality and optimism enabled him to oversee construction of the Beagle-2 Mars probe. Despite overwhelming odds, the academic convinced the European Space Agency to convey the device on the back of one of its rockets. Unfortunately, contact was never made with the probe, and it is believed to have crashed trying to land on the Red planet. Despite this, Pillinger was able to raise the profile of the British space program and bring together the nation’s various industrial and technical communities.
Filed under: Transportation, Science, Alt
Source: BBC News
Netflix hikes its European pricing, but current users get a two-year freeze
Remember that Netflix price hike we were warned about? Well, it’s finally happening, and it’s affecting potential streamers across Europe. We say potential because although the cost is rising by £1 and €1 in the UK and across Europe, to £6.99 and €8.99 respectively, it’ll only affect those signing up for the first time. The good news is that if you’re already a Netflix subscriber, you’ll pay the same amount you always have for at least another two years. At this time, Netflix remains quiet over it’s US plans (it’s not had the greatest of times when it’s adapted packages and switched pricing in the past) but has said previously that it will raise subscriptions by $1 or $2. Chances are US customers will see something similar to their European counterparts, giving Netflix the opportunity to sink more cash into future seasons of House of Cards.
Filed under: Home Entertainment, Internet, HD
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