Instagram adds nine new editing tools, makes filters adjustable
The problem with trying to be unique on Instagram, is that there are millions of other users spoiling that, using the same darn filters. How dare they. Starting today, things should get a little more varied, as the food photo sharing network has just introduced a host of new features, but most importantly those popular filters are adjustable, too. The new controls include: filter strength, brightness, contrast, warmth, saturation, highlights, shadows, vignette and sharpen. Instagram’s no doubt hoping these new options put it’s free app on a par with some big name paid apps when it comes to editing power. But, unless you like your images square, it might not be a full editing replacement just yet. It’s available for iPhone and Android right now. Fill yer boots.
Filed under: Cellphones, Software, Mobile
Source: Instagram, App Store, Google Play
Moto Stream turns any regular speaker into a shareable Bluetooth one
You’d be forgiven if you looked at the Moto Stream and were immediately reminded of the Nexus Q. But there’s a couple of key differences here. One, this does not connect to your TV and two it’s only $50. The Stream is a pretty basic accessory that turns any speaker or stereo you already own into a wireless audio system. Not only that, but you can connect up to five phones, tablets or computers to it simultaneously using Bluetooth. If you can’t stand that damn Foster the People track your friend insists on looping, you can enter “Heist Mode” and fire up the new Trash Talk record instead. Of course, you probably shouldn’t do that too often, since anyone can connect and hijack the stream if they want. (Just imagine how quickly that could deteriorate into a contest over who has the worse taste.) While you can pair it the old fashioned way, there’s also NFC inside so you can quickly tap to connect. And it’s super tiny, so you can take it with you almost anywhere. You can order it today through Motorola’s website, or pick it up at Radio Shack on June 6th.
Filed under: Peripherals, Mobile
Source: Motorola
Verizon calls up red and gold HTC One M8 options
Verizon will soon offer a Glamour Red and Amber Gold version of the HTC One M8 later this week. Arriving on June 5, the new colors will be exclusive to Verizon and sold online and in retail stores. Pricing should be the same as the standard colors.
To help jump start sales, Verizon will shave $100 off any smartphone that normally runs $199.99 or higher (with a two year service agreement). Indeed, all colors of the HTC One M8 qualify for the savings. It’s unclear how long the promotion will run so be sure to hop on it if you’re weighing a purchase.
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Intel Unveils Fanless PC Reference Design Based on Upcoming Broadwell Chips
Intel today showed off a new reference PC design built around the company’s upcoming Broadwell Core M processor. The Core M is based on a 14 nm process and will the first Broadwell chip to be made available to manufacturers, who are expected to debut the chip in retail products by the end of this year.
With Intel experiencing difficulties and delays with the development of Broadwell, the current Haswell generation has been stretched out somewhat with only modest “Haswell refresh” bumps taking place in recent months to tide users over until Broadwell. With improved performance and efficiency, Broadwell is seen as a significant opportunity for innovation in personal computers.
Intel’s reference design for hybrid tablet-notebook running on Broadwell
At Computex, Intel president Renee James showcased the first Core M device — a 12.5-inch tablet-notebook hybrid that is thinner than the iPad Air, has a fanless design, and provides energy-efficient performance for mobile users.
The innovative design is based on the first of Intel’s next-generation 14nm Broadwell processors that are purpose-built for 2 in 1s and will be in market later this year. Called the Intel Core M processor, it will deliver the most energy-efficient Intel Core processor in the company’s history. The majority of designs based on this new chip are expected to be fanless and deliver both a lightning-fast tablet and a razor-thin laptop.
Apple has been rumored to planning to release a fanless Retina MacBook Air later this year, but it is unclear exactly what technology Apple will use to achieve that design. The Core M processor being shown by Intel today is part of the Broadwell-Y series that runs at just a handful of watts, while the MacBook Air currently includes Haswell-U series chips running in the 15-watt range. Broadwell-U chips are expected, although perhaps not in significant quantities until early 2015.
Intel’s Windows 8.1 Pro Broadwell tablet is thinner than the iPad Air
When Intel announced the new 14nm Core M (Broadwell) processor to enable thinner, fanless convertible devices, I knew the “Llama Mountain” reference design would be impressively svelte. But hearing a spec is different than seeing it; this laptop-tablet hybrid is insanely skinny. At 7.2mm (0.28 inch), the slate is thinner than the iPad Air (7.5mm), and it’s also significantly lighter than two-in-one devices already on the market; it’s a notebook-class PC running Windows 8.1 Pro, yet it weighs just 1.47 pounds, compared to 1.76 pounds for the Surface Pro 3.
The prototype’s light and slim footprint is made possible the Core M’s efficiency and low heat production — the chip allows for a fanless design. Despite its slimness, the slate can fit a 32Wh battery, which should get you at least eight hours of regular use on a full charge. Of course, different OEMs may opt to use a different-sized fuel pack, so once devices running the Core M come to market we could see even longer run times.
ASUS announced its own similar computer at Computex yesterday — the Transformer Book T300 Chi — which you’ll actually be able to pick up in stores, unlike Intel’s reference design, which won’t ship to consumers. The ASUS slate, which is only a hair thicker at 7.3 millimeters, also includes a 12.5-inch touchscreen. The Chi’s display features a 2,560 x 1,440 display, and while Intel reps were unable to confirm the Llama Mountain reference design’s resolution, it’s not unreasonable to expect a similar pixel density from other manufacturers.
Since we’re talking about a device category that’s part-work, part-play, it’s only natural that Intel’s reference design includes a separate media dock. To that end, the base of the device — the only edge that isn’t hair-thin — is just barely thick enough to accommodate the requisite dock connector, along with a 3.5mm headphone jack and a USB 3.0 post. It’s kind of hard to imagine tablets getting even skinnier, but with Intel’s ever-evolving technology, they probably will. For now, though, we can all look forward to carrying a tablet (and keyboard base) that’s shockingly thin.
Zach Honig contributed to this report.
Intel’s ‘Devil’s Canyon’ chip will break the 4GHz barrier for $339
Sure, we’ve seen 4GHz base clock speeds before, but never in an Intel chip. Such a part is just weeks away, however, in the form of the refreshed Haswell Core i7-4790K, codenamed “Devil’s Canyon.” The new chip shifts from 4GHz up to 4.4GHz in turbo mode, with the only downside being a slight increase in wattage from 84W to 88W — a change that might be partly mitigated by Intel’s use of a better thermal interface material underneath the lid of the CPU. The $339 price tag is identical to what you’d pay for the existing Core i7-4770K on Newegg (base clock: 3.5GHz), so it’s definitely worth holding onto your cash until the end of the month. There’s also a Core i5-4690K to look out for, priced at $242, which notches base and turbo speeds up by 100MHz compared to the current product — not a huge gain, but enough to send a message that Intel isn’t entirely preoccupied with Broadwell and ultra-portables. Meanwhile, here’s some useful coverage of the latest overclock-friendly Z97 motherboards, just in case you’re looking to accessorize.
Filed under: Desktops, Gaming, Intel
Source: Anandtech
Engadget giveaway: win a pair of Bose QuietComfort headphones courtesy of Amazon!
In case you’ve forgotten, Father’s Day is approaching and it wouldn’t hurt to grease the skids with the old man by setting him up with some fresh technology. Amazon’s Electronics Father’s Day Gift Guide is a great spot to find a variety of gadgets for dear old dad, but the company has also done us a solid by offering up a pair of Bose QuietComfort 20i Noise Cancelling headphones for two lucky Engadget readers. We’re sure you’ll consider re-gifting them when you understand the dual-purpose solution these earbuds can provide. Dad could tune out all your racket by using Bose’s noise cancellation tech and you wouldn’t have to suffer through his golden oldies playlist or daliance with Skrillex’s latest when he has those headphones popped in. And just in case he’s a bigger tech junkie than yourself, you’ll always have some sweet hand-me-downs in your future. Just head down to the RaffleCopter widget below for up to three chances at winning a pair of these Bose earbuds. It’s always good to have a bargaining chip at the table when it comes time to mow the lawn.
- Entries are handled through the Rafflecopter widget above. Comments are no longer accepted as valid methods of entry. You may enter without any obligation to social media accounts, though we may offer them as opportunities for extra entries. Your email address is required so we can get in touch with you if you win, but it will not be given to third parties.
- Contest is open to all residents of the 50 States, the District of Columbia, and Canada (excluding Quebec), 18 or older! Sorry, we don’t make this rule (we hate excluding anyone), so direct your anger at our lawyers and contest laws if you have to be mad.
- Winners will be chosen randomly. Two winners will each receive one (1) pair of Bose QuietComfort 20i Acoustic Noise Cancelling headphones.
- If you are chosen, you will be notified by email. Winners must respond within three days of being contacted. If you do not respond within that period, another winner will be chosen. Make sure that the account you use to enter the contest includes your real name and a contact email or Facebook login. We do not track any of this information for marketing or third-party purposes.
- This unit is purely for promotional giveaway. Bose, Amazon and Engadget / AOL are not held liable to honor warranties, exchanges or customer service.
- The full list of rules, in all its legalese glory, can be found here.
- Entries can be submitted until June 4th at 11:59PM ET. Good luck!
Filed under: Announcements, HD, Mobile, Alt
Google brings WatchESPN, MLS and more to Chromecast
The response Google’s received since opening up its Chromecast SDK has been phenomenal, as more and more services continue to bring support for the tiny streaming device. As of today, we can add some extra entertainment options to the list. WatchESPN, Major League Soccer, Crunchyroll and the search giant’s own Google+ are all welcoming Chromecast compatibility, thanks to updates to their respective apps on iOS and Android. WatchESPN and MLS Matchday join MLB.tv in letting you Cast live sports right from your smartphone or tablet — that’s assuming you have the right subscription, of course. Additionally, the Google+ iOS and Android applications now let you use the $35 dongle to display photos and videos on a TV near you; Crunchyroll, meanwhile, does the same, but with popular anime shows instead of your own media.
“We’re excited to bring more content to Chromecast and we’ll continue to work with major local content partners,” a Google representative said to Engadget. In other words, you can expect that more of your favorite services and apps will be friendly with Chromecast soon, making its small price tag seem that much better over time. (For example, we’re told Watch ABC and Watch Disney are up next.) The new versions of Crunchyroll, Google+, MLS Matchday and WatchESPN are rolling out as we speak, so be sure to keep an eye on the App Store and Google Play.
Filed under: Home Entertainment, Internet, Software, HD, Mobile, Google
Source: Google Chrome Blog
Life Pure XL by Blu is great, here are my first thoughts
The market right now is flooded with unexciting flagships. I’ve owned the entire Galaxy S line-up and the S5 has the same 2 GB of RAM that we saw in the US variants of the GS3. Aside from minor jumps in the processor, screen resolution, and camera, what’s really changing?
I say not enough, even with the understanding that there hasn’t been a ton of progress in processors, I feel that instead of manufacturers adding niche features that no one requested like a heart-rate monitor or dual-lens camera, if they can’t give us the a worthwhile increase in horsepower, they should focus more on lowering the cost of the device.
Life Pure XL By Blu Products
I had been looking forward to getting m hands on the Blu Life Pure XL since the day I first heard the specs. This beastly device has a 16 megapixel camera on the back, 8 megapixels on the front for truly epic selfies. At $399, this is the first sub $400 device with 3 GB of RAM, which is my favorite thing about the device as I’m so tired of the parade of run-of-the-mill 2 GB we’ve seen as of late.
The Life Pure XL has 32 GB of storage, (will also be available in a 2 GB RAM/16 GB storage variant for $349) and a 5.5 inch 1080p display which you can awaken with a double tap or activate the camera by simply drawing a “C” on the sleeping display. All of this is run by a Qualcomm Snapdragon 800 processor clocked at 2.26 Ghz powered by a 2,500 mAh battery.
See below a size comparison between the Galaxy S 5 and the Blu Life Pure XL:
The Good, The Bad, And The Beautiful
This first look is going to go by quickly, so pay attention. The best things about the device are the GORGEOUS cameras, 3 GB of RAM, the 5.5 inch, full HD LCD, NFC, and the USB OTG capabilities right out of the box. I do also enjoy the fun features of the secondary camera app “CharmCam,” specifically the “PPT” mode which is Blu’s version of a document cam, you can take a photo of a piece of paper (or in their description a projected slide in a presentation) and it will automatically adjust the edges, contrast and brightness of the subject to produce a scanner quality copy, although in my experience the quality has been better than an actual scanner.
The only real drawback of the device is the lack of LTE. However it is also 9.5 mm thick, which while it isn’t that thick, aside from the lack of LTE it’s the only area about which I can complain. The device is perfectly rectangular, which means the corners are 90 degrees, which tends to make my palms itch when playing a game in landscape mode.
The dual speakers point out from the bottom of the device similar to iPhones and the Nexus 5. Blu has included a few features that I had, until now, only seen in customer ROMs, the ability to turn off the soft-key lights. Torch (flashlight) which you can activate from the lock screen. The Life Pure XL also has a system backup utility built right into the settings, however it appears that you can only backup contacts, SMS, call log, calender, and email, hopefully we’ll see application backups in the future.
Website: Blu Life Pure XL
Google+: Blu Products
Twitter: Blu Products
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Sony unveils the ultra-thin mid-range Xperia T3
Sony on Tuesday announced the Xperia T3, a mid-range Android 4.4 KitKat smartphone due before August. Featuring a 5.3-inch 720p LCD display, the phone offers users a 1.4GHz quad-core processor, 1*GB RAM, and 8GB internal storage. The rear has an 8-megapixel camera while the front side gets a 1.1-megapixel shooter; the main camera has image stabilization, red-eye reduction, HDR, panorama, and other touches.
Like the flagship Z2, the T3 has a metallic rim and thin, 7mm profile. It has all of Sony’s design language on the outside as well as the company’s apps and services. Users will find Xperia SociaLife, Stamina Mode, Xperia Care, Xperia Transfer, and Box.
While it might not be the most powerful of devices out this summer, we can’t knock Sony’s efforts in the lower price range. The Xperia T3 will be offered in white, black, and purple color options when it arrives later this summer.
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