Adafruit’s Becky Stern knows why we don’t have stylish wearables yet
Becky Stern is probably the world’s foremost expert in do-it-yourself wearable technology, which is why we felt compelled to pick her brain at Expand. Adafruit’s director of wearables believes that the different languages that technology and fashion companies explains why we’ve yet to see a truly stylish wearable. She didn’t have many kind things to say about the Moto 360, either, since she carries the disassembled hardware in a Ziploc bag around with her. It’s not all doom and gloom, however, since the smartphone revolution has made high-end technology cheap enough for everyone to use. That’s part of Stern’s mission to teach everyone how to build their own GPS trackers, light-up hats and, most famously of all, TV-deactivating jackets. On that subject, it’s the infamous TV-B-Gone hardware that she’d most like to see appear in a next-generation smartwatch so she’s got a way to discreetly turn off barroom TVs without attracting attention. If you’d like to be inspired to build yourself some cool technology, you can watch the full video, and keep your eyes pointed toward Engadget for even more cool interviews over the next few days.
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Filed under: Wearables
Apple Grabs Record US PC Market Share On Strong Mac Sales in Q3 2014
As forecasted, the third calendar quarter of 2014 was a stellar quarter for Mac shipments, with Apple gaining ground on its competitors in the US. According to IDC’s quarterly PC tracker (via Re/code), Apple reached its highest PC market share ever reported, a metric that accounts only for Mac shipments and does not include the iPad.
The company gained ground with 13.4 percent of the US PC market, edging out Lenovo (10.7 percent) to grab the number three spot behind HP (27.7 percent) and Dell (24 percent). Shipments in the US climbed to more than 2.26 million in the third calendar quarter of 2014.
Globally, Apple’s market share climbed 5.7 percent year over year, with the company selling a record-breaking 5.5 million units in the just ending quarter. Apple now sits in the number five spot when it comes to global Mac shipments, behind Lenovo, HP, Dell and Acer.
Apple refreshed its MacBook Air and Retina MacBook Pro earlier this year with updated processors and other minor improvements. The company also dropped prices on some models and heavily promoted the desktops during the back-to-school season with a $100 gift card along with a discounted purchase price for both students and educators.
Next year may see even stronger Mac sales as Apple prepares to update its Mac lineup with Intel’s Broadwell processors. A 12-inch MacBook with an ultra thin chassis, a Retina display, and an Intel Core M chip may be one of the first Broadwell machines to ship in the new year.
Google’s now added 7 additional countries to its list of supported Play Store Merchants
Google has broadened international availability of its Play Store Merchant accounts by adding Jordan, Lebanon, Oman, Pakistan, Puerto Rico, Qatar, and Venezuela to the mix.
For those unaware, Merchant accounts are designed exclusively for developers, enabling them to receive payment for premium apps through Google Play. Prior to today’s announcement, developers in the above seven locations were only able to list apps for free.
So, if you’re a developer based in one of the newly-supported countries and want to register for a Merchant account — hit the source link below.
Source: Google
Come comment on this article: Google’s now added 7 additional countries to its list of supported Play Store Merchants
LINKON Power Stick Review
As displays get bigger, specs get heftier, and phones get thinner, battery life is one of the most common complaints among today’s smartphone users. Unless you are next to an outlet all day, portable chargers are your only option to combat the less than stellar battery life of your device. Portable chargers also come with their downsides, however. Many are heavy, get hot when charging your device, and too large to comfortably carry in your pocket or purse. The LINKON Power Stick promises to be the answer to these problems.
Over the last few weeks, I have been carrying around the LINKON Power Stick to charge up my 2013 Moto X. The first thing I noticed was how well built the device was. It is made of aluminum which allows it to be lightweight and still look and feel sturdy. It is only 3.5 inches tall and very light so I could comfortably carry it around in my pocket and barely notice it. One of the main features of this device is the digital display that shows just how much battery is left in the charger. This will keep you from picking it up and thinking it is fully charged and later finding out it was empty when you need to charge your device. This display stays on when the Power Stick is charging and when it is charging another device. The Power Stick also remain cool when both charging and discharging. It also has an automatic shutdown feature that turns of the Power Stick after being disconnected for 30 seconds. The Power Stick can also hold its charge for a long time. You will not have to worry about losing much power when this device is not plugged in.
The Power Stick has a capacity of 3000mAh, but when charging my Moto X, which a battery capacity of 2300mAh, it only charged it to about 90% before running out of power. It was able to charge it in around two hours, but I was disappointed that I did not get a full charge. Also, it has taken up to four hours to charge the Power Stick fully. I expected a much faster charging time when compared to how quickly it charged my phone.
Although the Power Stick is not perfect, it still serves as a fantastic portable charger, and it does solve several problems that seem to plague similar chargers. You can currently pick up a LINKON Power Stick here on Amazon for $24.95 (38% off its regular $39.95 price tag). It comes in five colors (silver, black, blue, pink, and green); however, Amazon appears to only have the pink, silver, and green colors available. In the box, you get the Power Stick, a microUSB charging cable, and interchangeable tips to fit all generations of iPhones and iPads. LINKON has a 14 day money back guarantee as well as a 12 month warranty.
What we liked:
- Small and lightweight for easy portability
- Digital display to show how much battery percentage is remaining
- Stays cool while charging
- Build quality
- Hold a charge for a long time
What we did not like:
- Took a while to charge the Power Stick
- Did not fully charge my phone
The post LINKON Power Stick Review appeared first on AndroidGuys.
FCC Document Details New Apple-Developed Wireless Beats Solo2 Headphones
The first Beats product to be released under Apple’s guidance has been unveiled in documents recently submitted to the FCC, suggesting Apple will soon be releasing a pair of Beats Solo2 headphones that include wireless Bluetooth functionality.
As seen in diagrams, the design of the new wireless Solo2 headphones is nearly identical to Beats’ existing Solo2 line. The Solo2 headphones are the company’s newest product, released in May, just a day after Apple’s Beats acquisition became official.
The Beats Solo2 headphones will contain Bluetooth and BLE radios, allowing them to function wirelessly. Beats currently offers a wireless version of its more expensive Studio headphones, but its Solo2 line is somewhat more affordable. The company’s current non-wireless Studio headphones retail for $300 while the wireless version retails for $379, suggesting Solo2 wireless headphones could sell for approximately $279 if it uses the same markup.
At $3 billion, Apple’s Beats acquisition is its largest in history, and Beats’ line of successful headphones was said to be one of the driving factors behind the purchase. Beats’ aggressive marketing tactics and clever advertising campaigns have skyrocketed its headphones to popularity, and they are very popular with athletes and the younger demographic. A survey released shortly after the acquisition was finalized suggested that a large percentage of students believed Beats would make Apple more “cool.”
The new Solo2 wireless headphones remain under FCC review for the time being and a potential release date is unknown.
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