Elon Musk nearly sold Tesla to Google in 2013
Tesla frequently comes across as a fiercely independent automaker, but that wasn’t always the case… at least, if you ask Bloomberg. Its sources claim that Elon Musk almost secured a deal for Google to buy Tesla in early 2013, when vehicle sales were tanking so badly that Tesla closed its factory. Reportedly, the deal would have kept Musk in charge of his company for eight years, or until Tesla’s mainstream electric car (the Model 3) was on the road. It fell apart simply because Tesla became successful — a last-ditch effort to close Model S sales paid off during the negotiation period, eliminating that need for a lifeline.
Spokespeople from either side aren’t willing to comment on the rumor. Google chief Larry Page, who supposedly shook hands with Musk on the tentative agreement, even goes so far as to claim that a car maker is “far from what Google knows.” That’s an ironic statement given Google’s heavy investment in self-driving electric cars, though, so we wouldn’t be too quick to dismiss talk of a failed buyout.
Filed under: Transportation, Google
Source: Bloomberg
OnePlus no longer requires invites for One smartphone
It will return when the second-gen smartphone launches this fall
OnePlus on Monday announced that it will no longer require potential One buyers to have an invitation. Since launching roughly one year ago the $300 handset has been somewhat difficult to procure for customers. The invitation system has evolved and loosened over time, however, there’s never been a full-blown availability.
Running a modified version (Oxygen) of Android 4.4 KitKat, the One features a 5.5-inch display, 13-megapixel rear camera, and 5-megapixel front-facing shooter. The unlocked device is powered by a quad-core Snapdragon 801 processor with 3GB RAM and includes at least 16GB of storage.
The second-gen OnePlus handset is expected in the third quarter of 2015.
“The OnePlus 2 will bring the challenges that come along with a brand new product, and initially, our invite system will help us to manage that risk. It also helps us to be sure that every OnePlus 2 user gets the amazing experience that they deserve. “
To celebrate the temporary goodbye of the invitations, OnePlus is offering a 75% discount on Flip Covers and Premium Screen Protectors. What’s more, Bamboo StyleSwap covers will also be available without an invite. The deals are valid in the following regions: USA/Canada, the European Union, Hong Kong, and Taiwan.
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Race to the bottom of the cell phone barrel
Not too long ago cell phones were having a race to the top. Every week it seemed like one cell phone company was trying to out do another one. While the competition was great on the outside as it sped up development of getting really good and useful smartphones, it was also frustrating. Smartphone frequently bought a cell phone that was considered “top of the line” just to find out about a week or two later that the new Galaxy or iPhone just came out and beat your new phone hands down.
Those days are over. Most cell phone companies are on an equal playing field. There is little to differentiate between a Samsung or HTC. You can even stretch it and claim besides the operating system that there isn’t much difference between Apple and Samsung. The differences between manufacturers is little anymore mostly falling down into implementation of technology rather than what technology it has that will make or break the device.
While the big companies have been racing for the top there has been a race to the bottom as well. Companies like verykool (Infosonic from San Diego) and Blu amongst others are creating awesome devices for small budgets. These companies are all fighting it out to see who can become the king of cheap devices.
The devices that they are creating aren’t that bad either. They aren’t the cheap, “generic” devices that were created a few years ago. These are actually really decent phones with pretty decent specs. Recently I had the honor to review the Spark II made my verykool and to my amazement this device was probably one of the best sub $400 devices I ever laid my hands on.
This device was a quad-core device with a super bright screen that had a sleek touch of sophistication in the design. Somehow this device only costs $169.00 on Amazon. That is amazing considering that it not only came with the usual extras of a charger and headphones but also a screen protector, a case, and did I mention that it had a dual camera flash for the rear camera and a flash for the front facing selfie camera? Really? All of that for $169?
It isn’t just verykool who is doing this, others are too. They are jamming the most specs and biggest bang for your buck into the smallest package available. The race is on, especially in developing countries where phones with these specs are a hot ticket item. In the long run it will be very interesting to see how this race to the bottom of the pricing barrel will impact the pricing for those flagships on the top of the pricing food chain.
This post was originally published at DavidStrausser.com.
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7 months in, the Moto 360 is still the best Android Wear smartwatch on the market.
When the Moto 360 was released back in September of last year, we found it to be the best Android Wear smartwatch on the market at that time due to its elegant looks and nifty features. That was 7 months ago though, and quite a lot can happen in such a long time span. Today we are taking another look at the Moto 360 by Motorola, as I describe my personal experience with the device during a three-week testing period. During that time, I found the Moto 360 to be the one of the best smartwatches on the market and the best Android Wear smartwatch, period. So, how about we get started then.
Motorola Moto 360
Initial Thoughts
When I got the email notifying me that a package had arrived for me, I quickly mosied on over to my mail center, knowing that I would soon have a shiny new Moto 360 to play with. When I took it out of the box, I was quite surprised. While I had seen many images and videos concerning the Moto 360, having never owned one, I was taken away by the truly elegant and sleek look of the device. The circular body encased in its metal body was just fantastic to look at. It gave it a very futuristic look, and I was quite impressed. The leather straps augmented that look by giving the Moto 360 a cleaner look. While I am a fan of metal bands, I feel that too much metal can make a device look gaudy. No, the leather band suited the Moto 360 by providing a great contrast to the silver, circular body.
After I finished gawking at the Moto 360, I put it back into the box and went on home. I wanted to be able to test the device in a more tranquil location, and the FedEX store was not that. Also, I am pretty sure that the lady at the desk was giving me a weird look, most likely due to the fact that I love gadgets and I tend to get overexcited whenever I get a new one. Anyway, when I got home, I proceeded to take everything out of the box and place them in an ordered fashion on my desk. The dock looked great, as it was small and out of the way. So you could place it almost anywhere and forget that it was even there. I placed mine right next to my bed, making it serve as a nightstand clock.
After I had everything situated on my desk, I took the next logical step and powered on the Moto 360. So began my testing period, and here are my thoughts on the Moto 360, in no particular order.
My first impressions of Android Wear
Android Wear has been around for some time now, and I will admit, when I first heard about it, I was very excited. I thought to myself, “finally, a true smartwatch OS that will make owning a watch a great experience again.” Unfortunately though, after the first devices started hitting the market, I realized that I was not going to get the experience that I wanted. What experience was that you may ask? Well, I honestly can’t really tell you. I wanted Google me an experience that I didn’t know I needed, and that when I got it, I would not be able to imagine not having it. I wanted to be able to quickly check my messages on my smartwatch and be able to reply to them in a quick and easy fashion. I wanted the smartwatch to be an extension of my phone, to be able to make me more productive. I guess what I really wanted, was a tiny virtual assistant on my wrist, which I foolishly thought I would get since I knew that Google Now would be a very prominent feature of Android Wear. Unfortunately, that was not the case and I quickly dismissed Android Wear and returned my LG G Watch, and went back to using my Pebble Watch. While this is not to say that the LG G Watch was inferior to the Pebble Watch, the Pebble Watch at least knew what it was and did not advertise anything else.
Fast forward to our present day, and Android Wear has seen some revisions and improvements that have made it a bit more useful. While it still needs quite a lot of improvements for me to be able to say that I am 100% satisfied with the OS, it has reached a point where I am content with having a device that runs it, which brings us back to the Moto 360.
After having had an unsatisfactory experience with the LG G Watch, I was just going to wait until Android Wear improved, or a device was announced that could make me forget about my previous grievances and make me want to own it. In my case, the latter occurred. When the Moto 360 was announced, I instantly knew that I had to have one, though this time I would wait some time before I purchased the device, since most new devices tend to have issues when they first come out.
Android Wear and the Moto 360
Even though Android Wear is supposed to offer the same experience on all devices that carry it, I found that I enjoyed using it much more on the Moto 360 than I had on the LG G Watch. To be fair though, the software did have some time to mature between then and now. Anyway, after I turned on the device, let it run through the setup process, downloaded Android Wear on my HTC One M8, synced them together, and then set things up on the phone, I was ready to start testing and using the Moto 360.
Notifications, which one can argue are the heart of any good smartwatch OS, worked flawlessly on the Moto 360. All of my text messages, Gmails, FB messages, and other forms of communications were delivered to my wrist for easy access. I could then easily delete them, reply to them, or just simply ignore them (which I may have done on several occasions…). It was also nice being able to read entire messages on my wrist, without having to take out my phone to read them. I tend to spend a lot of time in class or in meetings, so being able to discretely read a message when I had a minute or two was a huge bonus for me. One of my favorite features though was able to speak directly to the Moto 360 and reply to text messages using nothing but my voice. This really came in handy when I needed to reply to my friends and let them know that I was going to be late. All in all, the notification system on the Moto 360 worked as it should have, with little hassle to be had, if any.
Sadly though, that was the extent of my usage for the Moto 360. In the sense that I did not find myself using it for much else. I never used the heart rate monitor, nor did I download any apps for it, or much else than use it as a watch and a notification center. I never really found the need or desire to do so. Which is by no means a bad thing, per se. I needed a watch that would allow me to receive my notifications on my wrist so that I did not have to take out my smartphone every single time, and the Moto 360 delivered wonderfully. As for the other features, it was nice knowing that they were there, but I did not find myself needing to use them. This is not a reflection on Motorola though, as Android Wear is a product of Google and not the hardware giant. Google just didn’t really improve that much on the whole smartwatch idea, and it, unfortunately, shows in Android Wear.
Battery life and everyday use
The battery life on the Moto 36o, when it was first released, was horrendous, at least that is what everyone kept saying. I can’t really speak on that since I got mine after many software updates that really helped improve said battery life. I also never had the ambient screen turned on.
I was able to get a full days use of the watch, which is more than I could have asked for. I didn’t mind having to charge it every night since it was as simple as setting it down on the dock and letting it do its thing. Even better, I didn’t have to plug it into anything, due to the Qi Wireless charging capabilities of the Moto 360. When I would forget to charge the device at night, I would quickly set it on the dock and it would charge fully in less than an hour. So in the time that it would take me to get ready for work.
The Mot0 360 is a neatly designed smartwatch and very comfortable to use. I never minded having it on my wrist, and I really enjoyed the compliments that I received on a daily basis while I had it on. This is a testament to Motorola and their great ability to make great products.
Final Thoughts
As I said before, this is by no means supposed to be a detailed review on the Moto 360. Just a short synopsis of my experience with the Moto 360 and some of the changes it has seen since it first came out.
While the Moto 360 did not have all of the features that I would have liked to have seen it carry, it still offered a great experience and I would gladly recommend it to anyone that wanted to get a smartwatch. So if you want a quality smartwatch at a reasonable price, then the Moto 360 is the way to go, as it remains the best Android Wear smartwatch on the market.
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Head to head specs: Sony Xperia Z4 vs. Xperia Z3
Sony on Monday announced its next generation of flagship smartphone, the Android 5.0 Lollipop powered Xperia Z4. Considering it debuted barely a half year after its predecessor we shouldn’t look for too many changes in the hardware. Indeed, that seems to be the case as this year’s model is a slightly evolved release.
We’ve put together a handy chart to show the key differences between the Sony Xperia Z3 and the Sony Xperia Z4.
| Sony Xperia Z4 | Sony Xperia Z3 |
|---|---|
| Android 5.0 Lollipop | Android 4.4 KitKat (upgraded to 5.0) |
| 5.2-inch 1920 x 1080px Triluminos Display | 5.2-inch 1920 x 1080px Triluminos Display |
| 64-Bit Qualcomm Snapdragon 810 CPU | 32-Bit Qualcomm Snapdragon 801 CPU |
| 3GB RAM | 3GB RAM |
| 32GB internal storage | 16GB internal storage |
| 20.7-megapixel backside-illuminated Exmor RS | 20.7-megapixel backside-illuminated Exmor RS |
| 5.1-megapixel Exmor R front-facing camera | 2.2-megapixel Exmor R front-facing camera |
| 2930mAh battery | 3100mAh battery |
| Bluetooth 4.1 | Bluetooth 4.0 |
| LTE Cat. 9 | LTE Cat 4 |
There are a number of details that are identical between the two models including the color options, waterproof and dust rating, and NFC. There are, of course, very slight differences in the dimensions. The Xperia Z4 is a smidge thinner and, therefore, lighter.
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LG shows off the ‘professional grade’ camera inside the LG G4
Camera quality has become an increasingly important feature to LG’s smartphones, and the company has already confirmed that the upcoming LG G4 will feature an improved 16 megapixel, f/1.8 aperture rear camera module. To help showcase the handset’s photography prowess, LG has brought in professional landscape photographer Colby Brown to take a few snaps and talks us through the features. See the video above.
Brown suggests that the smartphone’s camera offers superior color accuracy by automatically recognising indoor and outdoor environments, boasts a flexible “manual mode” to adjust your shutter speed and white balance, and that the f/1.8 aperture allow for brighter, lower noise images in low light conditions.
The collection of the images in the gallery below, taken from the video, all look rather impressive, and were apparently captured with an LG G4.
While a smartphone camera is unlikely to temp a professional or serious amateur photographer away from their gear, closing the quality and feature gap between everyday portable smartphone cameras and expensive, high-quality equipment is goal worth pursuing. We can’t wait to get our hands on it to see if the LG G4 can rival the impressive quality offered by the Samsung Galaxy S6’s camera.
Nokia to stage a smartphone comeback in 2016?
Nokia may have dropped out of the smartphone market in a less than fitting manner for a former market leader, so it might not be too surprising to hear mutterings about a return to the industry as its binding deal with Microsoft draws closer to an end. According to sources briefed on Nokia’s plans who spoke with Re/code, the company is not only planning to re-join the phone market, but also has a range of ambitious technology projects in the pipeline.
Nokia Technologies, the smallest of the three business left after the Microsoft buyout, is apparently at the head of this push for new products. This division licenses out the company’s gargantuan patent portfolio, but also designs and licenses new products, including the Z Launcher and the N1 tablet.
According to insiders, the Z Launcher and N1 tablet are just the beginning
Nokia Technologies has apparently been working on phone and tablet products outside of the Windows Phone space, and also has ideas for virtual reality technology, among others. The unit appears to be scaling up its operations, hiring former Dolby Labs executive Ramzi Haidamus and longtime Cisco executive Guido Jouret.
Former Nokia executive Richard Kerris says that people will be blown away if some of the stuff he has seen in development ever comes to market. But the fate of Nokia’s internal designs are being kept close to its chest and there’s a big difference between interesting designs and products that will thrive in the market.
Late last year, Nokia CEO Rajeev Suri declared that Nokia would not be directly returning to the consumer market, but that the brand would reappear in the consumer world. Therefore, Nokia will most likely stage a potential comeback through strategic agreements and design licensing, rather than direct manufacturing. Nokia has already “lent” its brand to Foxconn, which produces and sells the Nokia N1 tablet in China, and we may see more deals like this in the future. Not only does this play to Nokia’s strengths as a development and licensing company, but also avoids the costs and risks associated with manufacturing and marketing in the highly competitive mobile market.
The Nokia N1, designed by Nokia but manufactured by Foxconn, suggests how the company may re-enter the smartphone business.
For now though, Nokia is prohibited from selling phones under its own name until the end of the year and from licensing out its brand for use with phones until Q3 2016, according to the contract with Microsoft. However, once the licensing deal comes to an end, Nokia designed and branded smartphones may make a reappearance on store shelves, although likely with a different company manufacturing them.
Nokia itself has said that it is “expanding into exciting new areas … with a focus on enabling the human possibilities of the connected world”, but we’ll have to wait and see exactly what the company has in store for us.
OnePlus finally drops invites, but only until its next flagship launches
Now that it’s been on the market a full year, you can finally buy a OnePlus One without an invitation. Sound familiar? The company has opened up sales on the well-liked, $300 smartphone for brief periods before, but today said that “the One will be available without an invite. Forever.” Calling the reviled invitation system a “fascinating, evolving experiment,” the company admitted that “feelings toward (it) vary, and we understand that.” In the same breath, however, it revealed that its next model, the OnePlus Two “will initially launch with invites.”
Nobody will be thrilled to hear that, but OnePlus said the invitation system helps it “manage (the) risks… that come along with a brand new product.” The company also alluded to “a few bumps” on the road to marketing the One, which no doubt include some badly thought-out promotions and issues in India with its partner, Cyanogen. Despite all that, the phone — which is made at Chinese handset maker Oppo’s facilities — has managed to sell over a million units. If you’re interested in finally getting it without jumping through hoops, OnePlus is also offering flip covers and other accessories at 75 percent off.
Filed under: Cellphones, Mobile
Source: OnePlus
It took two days before someone built their own BB-8 ball droid
The first proper trailer may have stolen the show at Star Wars Celebration, but the revelation that spherical droid BB-8 was a physical prop came a very close second. Like a lot of people, when industrial designer Christian Poulsen saw the adorable sentient ball roll onto stage, he decided he had to build one of his own. Unlike plenty of others, however, the BYU student was able to design and build a working copy the following day. Turns out that you can too, as long as you’ve got a Sphereo and a CNC machine lying around the place.
After splitting a first-generation Sphereo in two, all Poulsen had to do was attach a neodymium magnet onto the robot’s stabilization arm. Then he could just craft a dummy head with a similar magnet on the inside, as well as some felt to ensure it could roll along the Sphereo’s surface easily. The only other thing anyone would have to do is provide the empire-approved paint job and you’re good to go.
There is one downside to this, which is that the extra head will unbalance the Sphereo’s built-in gyroscopes. As such, your ersatz BB-8 will only be able to travel in one direction unless you give it a helpful bump to turn it around.
Filed under: Robots
Source: Make, Christian Poulsen
Sony announces the Xperia Z4 with metal body, 5.2″ 1080p display & Snapdragon 810 CPU
Putting an end to the whole leaking business that had spiralled around the upcoming Xperia Z4, Sony Mobiles has finally announced its latest flagship device in a press release. Featuring a 5.2-inch display with 1080p resolution, a 64-bit octa-core Snapdragon 810 processor and 3GB of RAM, the Sony Xperia Z4 will be launched in Japan within a couple of months.
The new Z series model is packed with impressive specifications including 32GB native storage expandable up to 128GB via a microSD card, Android 5.0 Lollipop out-of-the-box, a duo of a 20.7-megapixel rear camera and a 5.1-megapixel wide angle selfie snapper and 2,930 mAh battery back-up.
One of the biggest USP of the device is its metal body that doesn’t add to the bulk as the Xperia Z4 is only 6.9mm thin and weighs around 144 grams, which is 8 grams less than its predecessor. According to the press release, the metal frame has been treated to look more glossy.
Available in White, Black, Aqua Green and Copper, the the smartphone will come with IP5, IP6, and IP8 certification that means it will be more dust and water-proof than previous Z series handsets. According to Sony, the Xperia Z4 can be submerged in to water up to 4.92 feet depth without being harmed.
Some dedicated accessories that will come with the phone include a waterproof Cover Window that will show important information on the screen while still protecting the handset and a desktop holder that will dock the phone and recharge it.
Source: Sony Mobile
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AIVAnet 